ROTTEN TOMATOES: Fifteen Documentaries Vie for Oscar Consideration

Fifteen Documentaries Vie for Oscar Consideration

War is the undisputed subject of the year.

by Jeff Giles | November 20, 2007

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:	War Dance
	White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
	Body of War
	Taxi to the Dark Side
	The Rape of Europa
	The Price of Sugar
	For the Bible Tells Me So
	Nanking
	Lake of Fire
	Sicko
	Autism: The Musical
	Operation Homecoming: Writing The Wartime Experience
	Awards Tour 2007

(1-14 of 14 posts) | Reply

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 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.

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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.

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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 writes:
on Nov 20 2007 09:06 AM

I REALLY want to see "King of Kong!"

(Reply to this)

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.

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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 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."

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Drunken Mastermind writes:
on Nov 20 2007 03:03 PM

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

(Reply to this)

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 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 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 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 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)

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