CRASHING THROUGH

On March 5th, the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles will play host to the 78th Annual Academy Awards. And one can only hope that they?ve learned a lesson from last year?s debacle and can clean up their act. After all, if you recall, last year?s ceremony was an embarrassment to the nominees, the award winners, and the audience that bared witness to the three hour tour. On the verge of becoming as trashy as the MTV Movie Awards, nominees were introduced as a group on stage and gradually voted off, while others were presented with their awards from the aisles. And believe me, nothing says ?class? like receiving an Oscar for costume design in front of your peers from the mezzanine. Tragically, the famed Oscar telecast lost a large chunk of the glitz, the glamour, and the prestige last year and it had absolutely nothing to do with Chris Rock.

This year, however, the Academy has selected a new host for its awards telecast, that of Jon Stewart. And I could not be happier. Stewart, anchor of Comedy Central?s "The Daily Show," has become one of the most influential political comedians on television today, winning 7 of 10 Emmy award nominations. With such campaigns as "Indecision 2000" and "2004," Stewart used "The Daily Show" to mock the Presidential races with biting satire. And his books, Naked Pictures of Famous People and America: A Citizen?s Guide to Democracy Inaction have gone on to the top of The New York Times? Bestseller?s Lists. And he?s certainly no stranger to film, having made appearances in such films as "Death to Smoochy," "Big Daddy," and "The Faculty." Simply put, Stewart is an entertainer. And much like Bob Hope and Billy Crystal, superb Oscar hosts before him, he has an uncanny ability to think on his feet. Along with his own brand of intellectual humor, Stewart is unafraid to jib and jab. But will he have enough spontaneity and freedom to do what he does best? Engaging and witty, this New Jersey native is the perfect choice for hosting Hollywood?s biggest bash.

Additionally, things appear to be a little more conservative and a little more focused than in year?s past. To kick things off, 50 students from Inner-City Filmmakers, a training and development program for socially and economically underprivileged children, will carry all 50 Golden Statuettes along the red carpet and to the staging area - a very nice, socially conscious touch. And speaking of the red carpet, the Academy has also decided to expand the torturous pre-show from 30 minutes to a full hour to give audiences the opportunity to get acquainted with the nominees and their good and poor fashion choices. But best of all, the Academy has chosen Robert Altman to be the recipient of an Honorary Academy Award, after a career that spans some 37 films, 16 of which were also written by him. A bridesmaid, never a bride, Altman earned 5 Academy Award nominations for "M*A*S*H," "Nashville," "The Player," "Short Cuts," and "Gosford Park." And he is a true, filmmaking pioneer.

As for the year 2005? It was mainly a disappointing year for Hollywood, obsessed with big production sequels and a lucrative horror niche. Films such as "Saw II," "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," and "The Ring Two" helped recoup some of the losses taken from such flops as "Stealth," "The Island," and "Kingdom of Heaven." And just when the summer looked like it might whimper, along came "Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." "Sith" dominated the 2005 box office, raking in over $380 million, roughly $100 million more than its closest competitor, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" ($288). More specifically, 2005 represented a dramatic shift in film production as the major studios began to shy away from the risky, less bankable, independent oriented stories. And this shift is the reason why all of the Best Picture nominations are low budget, specialized projects. In fact, not a single one resides in the top 25 box office leaders for 2005.

At the head of the box office and leading all Oscar Best Picture candidates with the most nominations is "Brokeback Mountain," a slow moving, unorthodox cowboy romance. The film is being considered for Best Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, 3 Acting nods, Best Original Score, and Cinematography. And it has caused quite a stir over the last few months, lassoing in the majority of awards with the Broadcast Film Critics, National Board of Review, and Hollywood Foreign Press just to name a few. And without "Walk the Line," the other Golden Globe Best Picture recipient up for the night?s top award, the road appears to be paved for "Brokeback." But a few weeks ago, in a surprising upset at this year?s SAG awards, "Crash" took home the year?s honor for Best Acting Ensemble, proving that no film is safe. Not even way up on Brokeback Mountain.

SURPRISING NOTES

DISAPPOINTMENTS

SET YOUR CLOCKS

The Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, March 5th at the Kodak Theatre and televised live on ABC Television at 5 p.m. PST.

2006 Academy Awards Preview (CONTINUED)

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