Whether you like the Oscars or not (or awards season in general), it is time to start sifting through the possible contenders. Just announced are the 15 documentaries that have made the short list from which the final round of 5 nominees will be chosen. The Documentary Branch Screening Committee has apparently watched all 101 eligible films for this round of voting and have narrowed it down to:
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Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (Alex Gibney)
Enemies of the People (Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath)
Exit through the Gift Shop (Banksy)
Gasland (Josh Fox)
Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (Michele Hozer and Peter Raymont)
Inside Job (Charles Ferguson)
The Lottery (Madeleine Sackler)
Precious Life (Shlomi Eldar)
Quest for Honor (Mary Ann Smothers Bruni)
Restrepo (Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger)
This Way of Life (Thomas Burstyn)
The Tillman Story (Amir Bar-Lev)
Waiting for Superman (Davis Guggenheim)
Waste Land (Lucy Walker)
William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe (Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler)
What? No mention of Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage? It’s bad enough the Rock ‘N Roll Hall Of Fame keeps ignoring them…
I was really hoping to see A Small Act and/or Marwencol in there, but I’m delighted to see Waste Land make the cut. I expect Inside Job or The Tillman Story to pick up the little gold guy (maybe Guggenheim’s look at public education has a shot as well), but Walker’s tale of an artist who makes art from garbage and finds far more than just fodder for his work within the confines of the world’s largest garbage dump (in Brazil) is extraordinary – funny, moving, beautiful, ugly and very human.
The 83rd Academy Awards nominations get announced on January 25, 2011 and a month of hype later on February 27th, the Oscars get handed out.
Wow, it felt like I caught a lot of Docs this year, but I’ve only seen 3 on that list (Gasland, Inside Job, Waiting for Superman)! (well at least I’ve heard of most of them this year. Sad to miss The William Kunstler doc while it screened at the Bloor, ditto Wasteland)
I guess that means that TABLOID is not going to see a commercial release in 2010 then…
Have seen Restrepo which will be nominated, Exit Through the Gift Shop (best doco this century) which might get nominated, Superman & Inside Job will both get in, both coming to Oz in Feb, This Way of Life played for only one week at local arthouse, Wasteland was very good and worth nomination, Genius Within was okay but it weak compared to other on shortlist, seeing Gasland on Monday, know that The Lottery is another ‘buzz’ film.
One of these years I’m actually going to watch the documentaries that find themselves contending for nominations. Definitely interested in seeing Wasteland.
“The Lottery” is actually on NetFlix streaming in Canada (and is another public education doc). Unfortunately, I haven’t seen much on the list – Inside Job and Waiting For Superman are still in theatres here so I should probably try to catch those quickly.
William Kunstler is a very good doc. Glad to see it got nominated. Shame that Winnebago Man didn’t make the cut. I can understand why, but as far as entertaining docs go its top of the heap this year.
Saw Waste Land yesterday & second Bob’s enthusiasm for the doc. Absolutely brilliant. I laughed and cried great big tears watching it. Moving & thoughtful.
Saw WASTE LAND yesterday & second Bob’s enthusiasm. I laughed, I cried great big tears. Brilliant.
Recently caught up with THE LOTTERY on Netflix. Enjoyed it quite a bit & interested to see how it stacks up against SUPERMAN. Only one I should have seen but missed was EXIT… bummer.
I have only seen 3 of these as well, but planning on catching Client 9 this weekend, and The Lottery on Netflix.
I wonder – if EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP made the final five nominees, would Banksy actually go public to attend the ceremony?