2005 Film Nominations for [AFC]2 … so far …

Time to resurrect this post, if only to point out how lame the year 2005 is when it comes to movies in U.S. theaters.

(Notice how carefully I said that. Elsewhere in the world, there are, no doubt, amazing films being revealed, films that U.S. distributors don’t understand and won’t let you see.)

The soon-to-be-renamed Arts and Faith Film Critics Circle haven’t nominated much of anything for consideration at the end of the year, and it’s already April.

Can you think of any suggestions we’ve missed that we should consider?

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The Arts and Faith Film Critics Circle – more than a dozen Christian film critics taking films seriously as works of art – are already busy suggesting and considering films for next year’s [AFC]2 Film Awards. From time to time, I’ll post the growing list here.

At this stage, here are films that have been nominated. The cool thing about the [AFC]2 awards … YOU are welcome to suggest films for their consideration in these categories as well. So email me at [email protected], or just leave a comment here, and I’ll amend the list as the year goes on. In January 2006, the [AFC]2 critics will vote, narrowing the lists to a few nominees each, and then vote again for a winner.

The [AFC]2’s home, where last year’s winners are posted, is at The Matthews House Project.

MOST SIGNIFICANT EXPLORATION OF SPIRITUAL ISSUES
Born into Brothels
Millions
The Merchant of Venice
The Ballad of Jack and Rose
The Woodsman

BEST NARRATIVE FILM
The Merchant of Venice
Dear Frankie

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Born into Brothels
Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Murderball

BEST ACTOR
Yûya Yagira (Akira) – Nobody Knows
Samuel Jackson – Coach Carter
Dennis Quaid – In Good Company
Daniel Day-Lewis – The Ballad of Jack and Rose
Anthony Lapaglia – Winter Solstice
Kevin Bacon – The Woodsman

BEST ACTRESS
Emily Mortimer – Dear Frankie
Joan Allen – The Upside of Anger

BEST CHILD ACTOR (12 or under)
Alexander Nathan Etel – Millions
Hannah Pilkes – The Woodsman

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Al Pacino – Merchant of Venice
Jeremy Irons – Merchant of Venice
Kevin Costner – The Upside of Anger

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Catherine Keener – The Ballad of Jack and Rose
Maggie Gyllenhaal – Happy Endings
Lisa Kudrow – Happy Endings
Zhang Ziyi – 2046

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
Nobody Knows
2046
Happy Endings
Serenity

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Frank Cottrell Boyce – Millions
Rebecca Miller – The Ballad of Jack and Rose
Andrea Gibb – Dear Frankie

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Anthony Dod Mantle – Millions
? – Somersault
Christopher Doyle – 2046
Harry Savides – Last Days

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle – Millions
Michael Radford – Merchant of Venice
Shona Auerbach – Dear Frankie
Sokurov – The Sun
Claire Denis – L’Intrus
Wong Kar-wai – 2046

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Alex Heffs – Dear Frankie

BEST FILM FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Millions

MOST SIGNIFICANT NON-2005 RELEASE OF THE YEAR
(Theatrical re-releases, revivals, big screen special editions)

BEST FILM WE OVERLOOKED LAST YEAR (due to poor distribution, late opening)
In Good Company
The Merchant of Venice
The Woodsman