RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Features
  • | Columns
  • | Guides
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
News
Fifteen Documentaries Vie for Oscar Consideration
War is the undisputed subject of the year.
by Jeff Giles | November 20, 2007
Discuss Article
A little over a week after reporting the names of the dozen films being submitted for Oscar consideration in the animated feature film category, Variety has given readers the 15-film shortlist for the awards' feature-length documentary prize.

The majority of the nominees focus on war -- particularly the war in Iraq, which provides the central subject for Body of War, No End in Sight, Taxi to the Dark Side, and Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience. Other war-themed films include White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, The Rape of Europa, and Nanking.

Michael Moore's Sicko, arguably the year's highest-profile documentary, is also being submitted for consideration. Notable omissions from the shortlist are In the Shadow of the Moon, The King of Kong, and Terror's Advocate. The last batch of submissions, from the article:

Rounding out the list are Sean Fine and Andrea Nix's "War/Dance," Tony Kaye's "Lake of Fire," Weijun Chen's "Please Vote for Me," Daniel G. Karslake's "For the Bible Tells Me So," Bill Haney's "The Price of Sugar," Peter Raymont's "A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman" and Tricia Regan's "Autism: The Musical."

It now falls to the Academy to winnow the list of 15 down to five nominees, to be announced January 22.

Source: Variety

Related Items
Movie: Body of War
Autism: The Musical
The Price of Sugar
For the Bible Tells Me So
Lake of Fire
War Dance
Sicko
Nanking
The Rape Of Europa
White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Operation Homecoming: Writing The Wartime Experience
Taxi to the Dark Side
Awards Tour 2007
Bookmark and Share
Comments (1-14 of 14 posts) | Reply
CaptMal
CaptMal writes:
on Nov 20 2007 06:42 AM

The only ones there I've seen are Sicko and No End in Sight, and while both are excellent, I'd give it to Sicko.

(Reply to this)
opTIMus Nerd
opTIMus Nerd writes:
on Nov 20 2007 07:10 AM

That's a tough call right there CaptMal! I really thought both were quality flicks, I tend to lean towards handing it to 'No End In Sight' due to Moore already winning in the past. No End In Sight is also more objective in it's presentation. I need to add the rest to the ole cue as I haven't seen most of them.

(Reply to this)
johnsomc
johnsomc writes:
on Nov 20 2007 07:23 AM

Both are excellent; "Sicko" is really a better all-around film than Farenheit 911, probably Moore's best work yet. But "No End in Sight" was absolutely chilling and frankly horrifying in terms of what it reveals about this country's leadership...or lack thereof. I was sort of disappointed to see that "The King of Kong" didn't make the short list - haven't seen it but have heard great things about it. Would be nice to see a lighter documentary selected for a change.

(Reply to this)
Sideshowcecil
Sideshowcecil writes:
on Nov 20 2007 08:34 AM

I know that it was left off of the list, but I've seen both SICKO and NO END IN SIGHT and I'd give the award to THE KING OF KONG. It's the only movie I've been to in the last five years that the audience genuinely stood and cheered for.

(Reply to this)
opTIMus Nerd
opTIMus Nerd writes:
on Nov 20 2007 09:06 AM

I REALLY want to see "King of Kong!"

(Reply to this)
Bardego
Bardego writes:
on Nov 20 2007 09:55 AM

Since I believe that this whole health care crisis is a myth, Sicko did not impress me at all. Personally, from that list I would give Lake of Fire the Oscar.

(Reply to this)
The Biggest Lebowski
The Biggest Lebowski writes:
on Nov 20 2007 10:48 AM

Not only was The King of Kong the best documentary (closely followed by Sicko), but one of the better films all year. The omission of this movie doesnt surprise me. Pompous a$$ Academy board.

(Reply to this)
BrianInSD
BrianInSD writes:
on Nov 20 2007 12:16 PM

Hands down, the award will go to Weijun Chen's "Please Vote for Me." You know, because he said "Please."

(Reply to this)
Drunken Mastermind
Drunken Mastermind writes:
on Nov 20 2007 03:03 PM

No love for King of Kong? bull****.

(Reply to this)
BrianInSD
BrianInSD writes:
on Nov 20 2007 04:30 PM

In reply to this comment (#1292254)
I don't know enough about King of Kong to say what it might be but there is probably something that disqualified it from being on the list and it isn't a case of being snubbed. The Academy has all sorts of wacky rules that apply to the submission of documentaries and Kong probably didn't meet one or more of them. Fahrenheit 9/11, for example, was disqualified from Oscar consideration because it appeared on television prior to the nominations being selected (or something to that effect).

(Reply to this)
Loserman
Loserman writes:
on Nov 20 2007 08:48 PM

"...the health care crisis is a myth..."

Regardless of the merits (or lack thereof) of Michael Moore or "Sicko", dismissing the train wreck reality of the U.S. health care system as a myth is, well, sick. There are many, many people suffering because the health care providers don't own up to their responsibilities.


(Reply to this)
Zengine
Zengine writes:
on Nov 20 2007 11:42 PM

I don't give a **** one way or another about the morality of Micheal Moore, but Manufactured Dissent was pretty good. It's the only Documentery I've watched this year....damn.....

(Reply to this)
BrianInSD
BrianInSD writes:
on Nov 21 2007 08:57 AM

In reply to this comment (#1291633)
"this whole health care crisis is a myth"

Where do I sign up for the blissful HMO you belong to?


(Reply to this)
Floor Man
Floor Man writes:
on Jan 19 2008 10:18 PM

"...I believe that this whole health care crisis is a myth..."

Wow. It's people like you that make people like me inspired to not be like you, part of the glaringly ignorant majority of the American people. It's kind of depressing, really.

(I don't know if the sad-but-true facts about Health Care [or our government, for that matter] are just a concept some people don't want to believe because it seems so horrifying; if the problem is genuine, stupidity-driven ignorance; or if it's just some sort of sick joke.)


(Reply to this)
Read More Comments
Page | 1
Post Your Comment
You must be registered to post comments. Login or Register.

Related Links

No End in Sight
  • Pictures
  • Posters
  • News
  • Forum

Related Articles

  • YouTube Screening No End in Sight Opens in new window (9)
  • Netflix Closes Red Envelope Opens in new window (1)
  • Juno, No Country for Old Men Among Writers Guild Award Nominees (5)
  • No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood Top Critics' Lists in Toronto, San Diego, Austin (5)
  • There Will Be Blood, No Country For Old Men Top Critics' Awards (30)
  • Fifteen Documentaries Vie for Oscar Consideration (14)
  • RT on DVD: Spider-Man 3 Arrives, My So-Called Life Re-issued! (10)
  • Critical Consensus: Woo-Hoo! Simpsons Is Certified Fresh; No Reservations Is Bland; Rescue Dawn Shines (10)
  • RT Talks Iraq with No End in Sight Director Charles Ferguson (5)

Most Discussed

  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar, Sherlock, and Alvin Team Up To Break Records (354)
  • Critics Choose Must-Sees and Worsts of 2009 (165)
  • RT Editors Choose Their Favorite Films of 2009! (116)
  • RT's Ten Most Popular Movies of 2009 (45)
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project (37)
  • Total Recall: New Year's Eve Movies (33)
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: 9 and Paranormal Activity (30)
  • Friday Harvest: Sherlock Holmes, Toy Story 3, and more! (10)
  • Critics Consensus: The White Ribbon Is Certified Fresh (7)
  • What We're Watching on Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox! (2)

Latest News

  • Critics Consensus: The White Ribbon Is Certified Fresh (7)
  • RT's 2010 Movie Preview -- Happy New Year! (0)
  • RT's Ten Most Popular Movies of 2009 (45)
  • Total Recall: New Year's Eve Movies (33)
  • Critics Choose Must-Sees and Worsts of 2009 (165)
  • RT Editors Choose Their Favorite Films of 2009! (116)
  • What We're Watching on Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox! (2)
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: 9 and Paranormal Activity (30)
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar, Sherlock, and Alvin Team Up To Break Records (354)
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project (37)

Latest Interviews

  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson (72)
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview (21)
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland (2)
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist (17)
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview (12)
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary (24)
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview (8)
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview (16)
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus (24)
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview (9)

Latest Features

  • RT's Best of the Decade! (188)
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson (72)
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are (37)
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 2 (8)
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1 (37)
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington (60)
  • Exclusive: The World of Where the Wild Things Are (10)
  • Sundance 2010: RT's 10 Most Anticipated Movies (44)
  • 10 Horrifically Profitable Films (48)
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies (108)

Sponsored Links

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo
About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.