I hated the movie from beginning to end, but the editing nom makes me particularly snarly because I suspect what's actually being nominated is the script (which is all about people's lives randomly intersecting each other in unwatchably contrived ways). The editing was standard Hollywood invisible editing -- it could have been done by a robot. There wasn't a single creative choice in the entire fucking movie.

Capote and Good Night And Good Luck aren't out on DVD until after the Oscars. Don't make me leave my house, people!

You're in LA, aren't you? That's what friends with Academy screeners are for!

My best Academy connection moved to Arkansas last month. The other--he'd be very suspicious if I rekindled our friendship this time of year.

I've been slacking terribly. I can't be caught this way next year.

But this is the first year that so many of the movies I haven't seen yet aren't available--usually it's my time that's the bottleneck. But there are only three or so I feel the urge to see this year anyway.

I'm a bit bummed Ralph Fiennes wasn't nominated for Constant Gardener

Me too. I just saw it this weekend and was pretty stunned by it.

I suspect what's actually being nominated is the script

ah. Which of the films in that category deserve to be nominated do you think?

(Am remembering for the first time in a very long time how much I absolutely loved editing back when I was in film school.)

Good Night And Good Luck is the one I regret not having caught while it was in theatres here. At least I'm pretty sure it's not showing anywhere now. Maybe somebody will bring it back before the Oscars though like they sometimes do.

The editing was standard Hollywood invisible editing -- it could have been done by a robot.

It's been a while since I've seen the film, but I suspect they're confusing 'many intersecting storylines' with 'creative editing' as you said.

The crop of nominated films this year strikes me as very politically charged. I should probably try to see some of them while they are in the theater, but they feel a bit like homework, or performing a civic duty or something.

Which of the films in that category deserve to be nominated do you think?

Constant Gardner and Munich. I'd also have gone with Good Night and Good Luck and The New World (though that one's tricky since the Academy saw a different version than the one in theatres). Maybe Brokeback Mountain. Oh, and Syriana!

I need to see Capote.

I hated the movie from beginning to end

I am apparently Jessica.

It was terrible.

I've only seen two of the five Best Picture nominees.

I've seen zero. But that's normal. It's been years since I saw any best picture nominee before the winners were announced. If I root for/against particular movies based on vague impressions and hearsay, I'm probably coming closer to the average Academy voter's experience.

I did intend to see Good Night and Good Luck. But even George Clooney could not overcome my inertia.