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The countdown to the 78th Oscar Ceremony officially has begun, bringing with it a frenzy of excitement and opinions about which films of 2005 are worthy of the little gold man. We at Bookreporter.com are looking forward to this year’s awards with baited breath, and not just because we love to "ooh" and "ahh" over the dresses and laugh at the celebrity foibles or wince during the musical interludes. This year we’re especially excited to tune in because an unprecedented number of the films nominated for the top awards are adaptations of some of our favorite books.
This year, 13 of the frontrunners for the Academy Award are movies based on books --- and what a varied lineup they are! From the much-lauded Brokeback Mountain, to the action-packed War of the Worlds and the sumptuous visual spectacles that were Memoirs of a Geisha, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Chronicles of Narnia, the films poised to strike Oscar gold this year are dazzling in their diversity. But one thing they have in common is a shared sense of obligation to remain faithful to the work from which they have been adapted.
Stellar performances like Rachel Weisz’s stubborn, headstrong and stunningly pregnant young wife in The Constant Gardener and the burly Phillip Seymor Hoffman’s astounding transformation into the soft-spoken and diminutive Truman Capote are a credit to the actors' and directors' desire to bring nuanced and complex aspects --- the essentially literary qualities --- to their films. The movies adapted from books that are nominated for this year’s Oscars are more than just entertainment; they are a tribute to the works on which they are based.
THE 78TH ANNUAL ACADEMY
AWARDS NOMINEE LIST:
Brokeback
Mountain
Best Picture
Director: Ang Lee
Actor: Heath Ledger
Actress: Michelle Williams
Supporting Actor: Jake Gyllanhaal
Cinematography
Music (Score)
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Based on: BROKEBACK
MOUNTAIN by Annie Proulx
Set against the sweeping vistas of Wyoming and Texas, Brokeback
Mountain tells the story of two young men --- a ranch-hand and
a rodeo cowboy --- who meet in the summer of 1963, and unexpectedly
forge a lifelong connection, one whose complications, joys and tragedies
provide a testament to the endurance and power of love. This film,
winner of the Golden Lion Award for Best Picture at this year's
Venice International Film Festival, is based on the short story
by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx and adapted for the
screen by the team of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Larry McMurtry
and Diana Ossana.
Capote
Best Picture
Actor: Phillip Seymor Hoffman
Supporting Actress: Catherine Keener
Director: Bennett Miller
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Based on: CAPOTE:
A Biography by Gerald Clark
On November 15, 1959, the brutal murder of a family in a small Kansas
town sent shockwaves through the nation and captured the attention
of one of the most distinctive minds of our time. One-of-a-kind
author Truman Capote was sent to Kansas to pen an article about
the crimes for The New Yorker magazine. He ended up writing
one of the most celebrated books of the century. Capote follows
Truman Capote on his odyssey to create the landmark bestseller IN
COLD BLOOD.
With signature style and mordant wit --- and his friend Harper Lee
in tow --- Capote attempts to charm the locals and work his way
into the story behind the murders. He's soon shocked, however, to
find himself forming a friendship with one of the killers, Perry
Smith. As the book nears completion and execution day approaches,
Capote is torn in directions he never anticipated and is forever
changed by his experiences.
Newmarket Oscar Tie-In Book:
CAPOTE:
The Shooting Script
screenplay by Dan Futterman
Introduction by Gerald Clarke
The
official screenplay book tie-in to the "one of the best films of
the year" (Rolling Stone, Newsweek), starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
as legendary writer Truman Capote on his six-year journey to research
and write his masterpiece In Cold Blood.
Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory
Costume Design
Based on: CHARLIE
AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY by Roald Dahl
Charlie Bucket comes from a poor family and spends most of his time
dreaming about the chocolate that he loves but usually can't afford.
Things change when Willy Wonka, head of the very popular Wonka Chocolate
Empire, announces a contest in which five gold tickets have been
hidden in chocolate bars and sent throughout the country. The kids
who find the tickets will be taken on a tour of Wonka's chocolate
factory and get a special glimpse of the wonders within. Charlie
miraculously finds a ticket, along with four other children much
naughtier than him. The tour of the factory will hold more than
a few surprises for this bunch...
The
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
Sound Mixing
Visual Effects
Makeup
Based on: THE
LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE by C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis's timeless adventure follows the exploits of the four
Pevensie siblings --- Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter --- in World
War II England. They enter the world of Narnia through a magical
wardrobe while playing a game of "hide-and-seek" in the rural country
home of an elderly professor. Once there, the children discover
a charming, peaceful land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns,
centaurs and giants that has become a world cursed to eternal winter
by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Under the guidance of a noble and
mystical ruler, the lion Aslan, the children will fight to try to
overcome the White Witch's powerful hold over Narnia.
The
Constant Gardener
Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz
Film Editing
Music (Score)
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Based on: THE
CONSTANT GARDENER by John le Carre
In a remote area of Northern Kenya, activist Tessa Quayle is found
brutally murdered. Tessa's companion, a doctor, appears to have
fled the scene, and the evidence points to a crime of passion. Members
of the British High Commission in Nairobi assume that Tessa's widower,
their mild-mannered and unambitious colleague, Justin Quayle, will
leave the matter to them. They could not be more wrong. Haunted
by remorse and jarred by rumors of his late wife's infidelities,
Quayle surprises everyone by embarking on a personal odyssey that
will take him across three continents. Using his privileged access
to diplomatic secrets, he will risk his own life, stopping at nothing
to uncover and expose the truth --- a conspiracy more far-reaching
and deadly than Quayle ever could have imagined.
Newmarket Oscar Tie-in Book:
THE
CONSTANT GARDENER: THE SHOOTING SCRIPT
Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine
The official screenplay book tie-in to the highly acclaimed international
thriller from bestselling novelist John le Carre and Academy Award-nominated
director Fernando Meirelles (City of God), starring Ralph Fiennes
and Rachel Weisz.
Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Art Direction
Based on: HARRY
POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE by J.K. Rowling
In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry faces his greatest challenges
and dangers yet. When he is selected under mysterious circumstances
as a contestant in the Triwizard Tournament, Harry must compete
against the best young wizards from schools all over Europe. During
his preparations, signs begin to point to the return of Lord Voldemort.
Before long, Harry is playing not just for the Cup, but for his
life.
A
History of Violence
Supporting Actor: William Hurt
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Based on: A
HISTORY OF VIOLENCE by by Vince Locke and John Wagner
Based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, A
History of Violence is the tale of Tom Stall. Tom is a loving
family man and well-respected citizen of a small Indiana town. But
when two savage criminals show up at his diner, Tom is forced to
take action and thwart the robbery attempt. Suddenly heralded as
a hero who took the courage to stand up to crime, people look up
to Tom as a man of high moral regard. But all that media attention
has the likes of mobsters showing up at his doorstep, charging that
Tom is someone else they've been looking for. Is it a case of mistaken
identity, or does Tom have a history that no one knows about? Either
way, someone's about to find out if there's a history of violence.
Memoirs
of a Geisha
Art Direction
Cinematography
Music (Score)
Sound Editing
Based on: MEMOIRS
OF A GEISHA by Arthur Golden
In 1929 an impoverished nine-year-old named Chiyo from a fishing
village is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and subjected
to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo.
Her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo,
until she is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's
bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the
geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic and social skills
a geisha must master in order to survive in her society. As a renowned
geisha she enters a society of wealth, privilege, and political
intrigue. As World War II looms, Japan and the geisha's world are
forever changed by the onslaught of history.
Newmarket Oscar Tie-in Book:
MEMOIRS
OF A GEISHA: A Portrait of the Film
by Peggy Mulloy
Foreword by Arthur Golden
Introduction by Rob Marshall
Photography by David James
An exquisite,
high-quality art/photography book with more than 150 images that
showcases the artistry and romance of the new film from director
Rob Marshall (Chicago), based on the Arthur Golden bestseller --
a major holiday release from Columbia Pictures -- that came out
December 9, 2005, backed by a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign.
Munich
Best Picture
Directing: Steven Spielberg
Film Editing
Music Score
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Based on: VENGEANCE
by George Jonas
Munich is the true story of the 1972 Olympic massacre of
11 Israeli athletes by Palestinian extremists and the secret mission
that followed in which Mossad agents were sent out to exact revenge
on the men responsible for the killings.
North
Country
Actress: Charlize Theron
Supporting Actress: Francis McDormand
Based on: CLASS
ACTION by Clara Bingham and Laura Leedy Gansler
When Josey Aimes returns to her hometown in Northern Minnesota after
a failed marriage, she needs a good job. A single mother with two
children to support, she turns to the predominant source of employment
in the region --- the iron mines. The last thing the miners want
is women competing for scarce jobs --- women who, in their estimation,
have no business driving trucks and hauling rock anyway. When Josey
speaks out against the treatment she and her fellow workers face,
it takes her farther than she ever imagined, ultimately inspiring
countless others and leading to the nation's first-ever class action
lawsuit for sexual harassment.
Pride
& Prejudice
Actress: Keira Knightley
Music (Score)
Based on: PRIDE
AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen
This classic tale of love and values unfolds in the class-conscious
England of the late 18th century. Mr. Bennet is an English gentleman
living in Hartfordshire with his overbearing wife and five daughters:
the beautiful Jane, the clever Elizabeth, the bookish Mary, the
immature Kitty, and the wild Lydia. In the unfortunate event that
Mr. Bennet dies, the family's house will be inherited by a distant
cousin whom they have never met. So their future happiness and security
is dependent on the daughters marrying well.
Syriana
Supporting Actor: George Clooney
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Based on: SEE
NO EVIL by Robert Baer
From the players brokering backroom deals in Washington to the men
toiling in the oil fields of the Persian Gulf, Syriana's
multiple storylines weave together to illuminate the human consequences
of the fierce pursuit of wealth and power.
As a career CIA operative begins to uncover the disturbing truth
about the work he has devoted his life to, an up-and-coming oil
broker faces an unimaginable family tragedy and finds redemption
in his partnership with an idealistic Gulf prince. A corporate lawyer
faces a moral dilemma as he finesses the questionable merger of
two powerful U.S. oil companies, while across the globe, a disenfranchised
Pakistani teenager falls prey to the recruiting efforts of a charismatic
cleric.
Each plays their small part in the vast and complex system that
powers the industry, unaware of the explosive impact their lives
will have upon the world.
War
of the Worlds
Visual Effects
Sound Mixing
Sound Editing
Based on: THE
WAR OF THE WORLDS by H.G. Wells
Ray Ferrier is a working class man living in New Jersey. He is estranged
from his family and trying to pull his life out of the gutter. But
when aliens descend en masse to destroy Earth, he is faced
with even bigger problems. As the world descends into chaos while
its inhabitants battle the invaders, Ray must do everything he can
to protect his children.
H.G. Wells's tale of a Martian attack on Earth was first published
in 1898 and then made famous by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre
troupe, who performed a live version of it on the radio in 1938.
Newmarket Oscar Tie-in Book:
WAR
OF THE WORLDS: THE SHOOTING SCRIPT
Introduction by David Koepp
Screenplay by Josh Friedman and David Koepp
The only official tie-in book to the global box-office hit directed
by Steven Spielberg and starrting Tom Cruise features the complete
screenplay and a color photo section.
OSCAR TIE-IN BOOKS
FROM NEWMARKET PRESS
CAPOTE: The Shooting Script
screenplay by Dan Futterman
Introduction by Gerald Clarke
The
official screenplay book tie-in to the "one of the best films of
the year" (Rolling Stone, Newsweek), starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
as legendary writer Truman Capote on his six-year journey to research
and write his masterpiece In Cold Blood.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK: Bringing the True Story of the Legendary
Edward R. Murrow/Joseph McCarthy Broadcast to Film
Screenplay by George Clooney and Grant Heslov
The only official companion book to the award-winning new film,
complete with the original shooting script, extensive historical
material, and commentaries.
MEMOIRS
OF A GEISHA: A Portrait of the Film
by Peggy Mulloy
Foreword by Arthur Golden
Introduction by Rob Marshall
Photography by David James
An exquisite,
high-quality art/photography book with more than 150 images that
showcases the artistry and romance of the new film from director
Rob Marshall (Chicago), based on the Arthur Golden bestseller --
a major holiday release from Columbia Pictures -- that came out
December 9, 2005, backed by a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign.
THE
CONSTANT GARDENER: THE SHOOTING SCRIPT
Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine
The official screenplay book tie-in to the highly acclaimed international
thriller from bestselling novelist John le Carre and Academy Award-nominated
director Fernando Meirelles (City of God), starring Ralph Fiennes
and Rachel Weisz.
THE
SQUID AND THE WHALE: THE SHOOTING SCRIPT Screenplay by Noah
Baumbach
Winner
of the 2005 Sundance Film Festival Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
and the 2005 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Directing Award, a
tender, funny, and ultimately moving coming-of-age story, starring
Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney.
WAR
OF THE WORLDS: THE SHOOTING SCRIPT
Introduction by David Koepp
Screenplay by Josh Friedman and David Koepp
The only official tie-in book to the global box-office hit directed
by Steven Spielberg and starrting Tom Cruise features the complete
screenplay and a color photo section.
CINDERELLA
MAN: THE SHOOTING SCRIPT
Introduction by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Cliff Hollingsworth, and
Akiva Goldsman
Screenplay by Cliff Hollingsworth & Akiva Goldsman
Story by Cliff Hollingsworth
Academy Award -winning producer Brian Grazer, director Ron Howard
and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (all Oscar winners for 2001?s A
Beautiful Mind) are reunited with Oscar winner Russell Crowe for
the Universal Pictures-Miramax Films-Imagine Entertainment production,
Cinderella Man, inspired by the life of legendary athlete Jim Braddock,
a once-promising light heavyweight boxer forced into retirement
after a string of losses in the ring.
TIM
BURTON’S CORPSE BRIDE: An Invitation to the Wedding
by Mark Salisbury
Foreword by Tim Burton
A fascinating, in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the making of
the latest stop-motion animated film from Tim Burton, complete with
250 color images, including film stills, sketches, paintings, and
Tim Burton’s own drawings; sections on character realization, set
development and construction, puppet fabrication, costuming, and
stop motion filming; and the illustrated story of the film
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