The Pendulum ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Thursday, February 9, 2006 • Page 21

Feb. 9 Jim Houlik, tenor Kate Ferris sax Columnist Whitley The tide is changing in 7:30 Hollywood as small independent films dominate this awards season. The last day in January brought Feb. 9 -1 2 the nominations for the Academy Urihetowji- the Awards, the final major awards Musical show of the 2005 season and, to many, the most prestigious. McCrary In the past years, we have seen 7:30 Thurs-Sat, large Hollywood productions take 2:00 Sun the top honors such as “Gladiator” (2000), “A Beautiful Mind” By ticket only- (2001), “Chicago” (2002), “Lord $12 or Elon ID of the Rings; Return of the King” Photo courtesy of KRT Campus (2003), and “Million Dollar ^ m a l l films like "Munich" (above) and 'Capote" (below) are growing in popularity, especially at this year's Oscars. Baby” (2004). Feb. 15 Large moneymaking block­ The Last Ten Best Pictures Kevin Boyle and busters taking the top honors are a Richard Lee, continuation of a trend seen as far 1995-“Braveheart” poetry and fiction back as the 1980s. Most of the Best 1996- “The English Patient” Picture winners in the last few 1997-“Titanic” reading decades have appealed to large audi­ Isabella Cannon ences, but often lack the depth, orig­ 1998“ “Shakespeare in Love” Room inality or critical worth that a movie 1999- “American Beauty'* with top honors should have. 2000^ “Gladiator’’ 7:30 PM Instead, they are formula-made movies, which bring in the money 2001-“A Beautiful Mind’’ Feb. 15 but leave out any attempt to chal­ 2002-^‘Chicago” lenge their audience. 2003” “Lord of the Rings: Return Faculty This year, nominations shy Rehearsal- Linda away from the typical big block­ V of the King” Cykert, flute; buster, $100 million plus movie 2004- “Million Dollar Baby” production, to smaller films with Photo courtesy of KRT Campus Fabrice complex issues. The five films story of two cowboys who meet in backgrounds collide. Spielberg’s political thriller about Dharamraj, violin: nominated for the honor of Best 1963 and form an unexpected life­ Other films nominated include: the 1972 massacre of Israeli ath­ Victoria Fischer Picture are “Brokeback long connection that affects their “Capote,” the biography of letes at the Olympic Games, with attempts to carry on with their Truman Capote during his five nominations. Faw, piano Mountain,” “Crash,” “Capote,” “Good Night, and Good Luck” lives over the next three decades. research for his famous book “In While “Brokeback Mountain” Whitley and “Munich.” The film received eight Cold Blood,” with six nomina­ is considered the favorite, there is 7:30 Unlike previous years, the Academy Award nominations. It tions; “Good Night, and Good no clear-cut winner anticipated films nominated for Best Picture is the favorite to win, but the Luck,” the story of broadcast jour­ this year, something that in past did not have tremendous success Screen Actors Guild passed on it, nalist Edward R. Murrow as he years was easily predicted. in the box office, as each film’s giving the Best Picture award to exposes Senator McCarthy, a man The 78th annual Academy theme appealed to smaller, more “Crash,” a movie in which stereo­ who played on America’s fear of Awards will air March 5 on ABC. defined audiences. types are generally believed and Communism, with six nomina­ Contact Kate Ferris at pendu- “Brokeback Mountain” is the several people of different racial tions; and “Munich,” Steven [email protected] or 278-7247.