Did the 2005 Oscars get it right?

About ten years, he said.

I get his point.

Each awards season, its about, at best, what feels like the best film right then.

But the one that you watched once, and affected you once.

Its the only way, anyway, I can think of whyA Beautiful Mindwon a Best Picture Oscar.

This weekend, then, is the Academy Awards once more.

How many of us harp on about how great a movieRayis, a decade later?

And whilstThe AviatorandFinding Neverlandhave their moments, neither seems like a flat-out classic, or close to it.

I wonder if its a one-watch film, in truth.

Other 2004 releases that Id class as better thanRayandFinding Neverland?

None of them got a look in.

But what about Christian Bale inThe Machinist?

Billy Bob Thornton inFriday Night Lights?

Or Javier Bardem inThe Sea Inside?

My love ofSideways, though, would have edged Giamatti for this one.

The moment where he describes his perfect bottle of wine is just wonderful.

I cant, in my heart, begrudge her two Oscars.

So who was overlooked?

The decision to overlook Michel Gondry forEternal Sunshinein place of Taylor Hackford forRaylooks downright scandalous in hindsight.

But then, didnt Brad Bird deserve a nod too forThe Incredibles?

In truth, though, this should have been Gondrys Oscar.

So many moments in that film still strike.

But she was excellent inKinsey, its just the film itself didnt have the necessary buzz and momentum.

Never mind thatScent Of A Womanremains far from Pacinos best work.

Just consider it the Oscar we owe you forDog Day Afternoon.

Morgan Freeman should have won forSeven.

Morgan Freeman should have won forThe Shawshank Redemption.

Heck, Morgan Freeman had a case forLean On Metoo.

Lots of the cast ofFriday Night Lightsfor one, whilst Bill Murray inThe Life Aquatic With Steve Zissouwas wonderful.

Ive a sneaking regard for the cast of Danny BoylesMillionstoo, which never got a sniff at anything.

But I do think that Jamie Foxx was the heart ofCollateral.

There were things that the 77th Academy Awards clearly got right.

Furthermore, Thelma Schoonmakers editing ofTheAviatorwas hard to grumble with.

This has been an interesting experiment for me, though.

And, Id wager, get watched and appreciated more often too…