Oscar Nominations Reflect a Good Year for Progressive Films

Posted by Adam Howard, AlterNet at 1:40 PM on January 22, 2008.

The Oscar nominations came out this morning and for the most part there were few surprises (Finally, it looks like the Coens are going to win one!). But if you're a progressive film fan there were a lot of reasons to celebrate. First of all, as Think Progress points out:

The nominees for the 80th Academy Awards were announced this morning and the nominees in the "Best Documentary Feature" category are almost all progressive films, including ThinkProgress favorites SiCKO, No End In Sight and Taxi To The Dark Side

"No End in Sight" (Magnolia Pictures) A Representational Pictures Production: Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs

"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience" (The Documentary Group) A Documentary Group Production: Richard E. Robbins

"Sicko" (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company) A Dog Eat Dog Films Production: Michael Moore and Meghan O'Hara

"Taxi to the Dark Side" (THINKFilm) An X-Ray Production: Alex Gibney and Eva Orner

"War/Dance" (THINKFilm) A Shine Global and Fine Films Production: Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine

In the acting categories one of the most biggest and most pleasant surprises was a nomination for Tommy Lee Jones for the Iraq War-themed melodrama In the Valley of Elah a film which received rave reviews when it was released earlier last year but bombed at the box office in what became an unfortunate trend for serious films addressing the war.

Also, unapologetically progressive Hollywood stars George Clooney and Sean Penn saw their critical favorites of 2007, Michael Clayton and Into the Wild receive Oscar nominations. Clooney especially had a good morning. His film (in my opinion one of the very best of last year) was nominated for Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress and Best Actor for Clooney himself.

Of course, the biggest story out of the Oscars this year may be that they never take place at all. The Writer's Guild strike is still very much on and there doesn't appear to be a resolution in sight. This morning several of the nominees made it clear under no circumstances would they cross a picket line to attend the Academy Awards:

"I would never cross a picket line ever. I couldn't," said Tony Gilroy, a directing nominee for Michael Clayton. "I'm a 20-year member of the Writers Guild. I think whatever they work out is going to be one way or the other but no, I could never cross a picket line. I think there's a lot of people who feel that way."

Viggo Mortenson, who received a best-acting bid for his performance as a Russian mob member in Eastern Promises, he won't go if the strike is still on.

"But I have a feeling they'll solve it," he said. "I hope they do. I'm sure my mom would like to see my on TV and so forth. But if there's a strike I'm not crossing the line."

Some of you may not give a rat's ass about award shows, if they go on, when they go on, who's wearing what and all that jazz and I don't blame you. But it's important that great work that often gets overlooked while it's in theaters gets the free publicity that an Oscar nomination can provide. So especially in the case of the progressive films nominated for Best Documentary that's a good thing. Who knows, maybe if the strike is settled in time, Michael Moore will get to give another memorable acceptance speech!

Tagged as: film, academy awards, moore, clooney, penn, wga

Adam Howard is the editor of PEEK.