MSNBC: Will F/911 be nominated for an oscar? (Poll and story)

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Halfway to Oscar

COMMENTARY
By Michael Ventre
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 11:29 a.m. ET July 20, 2004

Jesus Christ versus George W. Bush.

In real life, the two are reportedly close. But when the Academy Awards roll around next year, they will likely be pitted against each other in the race for Best Picture. Given their respective clout, that promises to be quite a donnybrook.

At the halfway point of 2004, the only two feature-length motion pictures generating the kind of buzz that merits Oscar consideration are Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” and Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11.” Both have received largely favorable reviews, although the latter was more uniformly hailed by film critics than the former. Both have been popular sensations, with “Passion” holding this year’s box office crown thus far with over $450 million worldwide.

And both are about something, which helps with Academy voters. “The Passion of the Christ” is a graphic and powerful look at the life of Jesus leading up to the crucifixion. Gibson pulls no punches, or lashes of the whip, in illustrating the sacrifices Jesus made for his believers. The film turned off many, but it moved many more, becoming the Hollywood breakout success story of 2004.

Right behind is “Fahrenheit 9/11,” in which Moore makes his case that the Bush administration lied to the country about the real reasons for the war in Iraq. It appears to be playing to packed houses not only in Democratic blue states but in Republican red as well, selling out in places like Fort Bragg, N.C. Going into its third weekend of release, it has amassed over $61 million.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5379018/

[CO Liberal]

1. Link, Please

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3. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5379018/

[aden_nak]

2. They have to at least hit it up for Best Documentary.