Paradise Now

Question: I've heard there's a problem with one of this year's Oscar-nominated foreign films but I don't know what it's all about. Can you tell me?

Answer: The controversy is with Paradise Now, a film that explores the complicated reasons that lead two young Palestinian men to become suicide bombers, and the problem hinges on the ongoing geopolitical tinderbox that is the Middle East. Foreign-language-film nominees are identified not by the names of the producer(s) or director(s) but by the country of origin. Paradise Now was submitted as the official nomination from Palestine, which has created a brouhaha because — as various Israeli spokespeople have pointed out — Palestine isn't internationally recognized as a country. Although the Academy's website currently (three days prior to the televised awards ceremony) lists the film as being from Palestine, an Academy spokesperson says it will be iden read more

Question: What do you think are the most overrated Oscar nominees this year?

Answer: You know, almost any other year I could have come up with a list a foot long. But the 2005 Academy Award nominees are a really strong bunch — among the major categories I can honestly say that there isn't a single one I strongly feel doesn't belong in the running. That said, I don't think John Williams merits two nominations in the category for best original score — for Munich and Memoirs of a Geisha. But I'm consistently at odds with the prevailing opinion on him. I find the overwhelming majority of his compositions overblown and totally ordinary — just because he can orchestrate up the yin-yang doesn't mean he has to do it every single time. He has 36 prior music nominations (all but three for original score), many of which represent two films in a single year; he also has five wins t read more

5:15 pm/PT What will Syriana scene-stealer George Clooney do with his best-supporting-actor trophy? "I'm going to put this on the hood of my car," he quipped. "Is that too much?" Everybody's a joker, George. But this time it's a plus: While Mr. Clooney couldn't resist making that Jack Abramoff crack onstage, at read more