Founded in 1987 and based in Oakland, California the Pacific Institute is an independent, nonpartisan think-tank studying issues at the intersection of development, environment, and security.The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has nominated "An Inconvenient Truth" for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. The announcement was made this morning. Prepare yourself for savage overuse of the phrase "liberal Hollywood elite" and its permutations between now and the February 28 awards show.
Al Gore, unsurprisingly, is thrilled that the 3rd highest-grossing documentary of all-time has been recognized by the academy.
"The film ... has brought awareness of the climate crisis to people in the United States and all over the world," Gore said in an e-mail statement. "I am so grateful to the entire team and pleased that the Academy has recognized their work. This film proves that movies really can make a difference." Source
"An Inconvenient Truth" will compete against such light fare as "Deliver Us From Evil" (Catholic church sex abuse scandal), "Iraq in Fragments" (Sunni-Shiite conflict), "Jesus Camp" (just what it sounds like), and "My Country, My Country" (the 2005 Iraq elections). And while Hollywood can get nasty with its Oscar campaigns, we wonder if the science muddiers will join this fray.
The documentary actually got a second nomination. But to earn two Oscars, Gore will have to take down Beyoncé.
"An Inconvenient Truth" will also be competing against the musical "Dream Girls" -- in the category of Best Song. You may remember the Melissa Etheridge number "I Need to Wake Up" during the closing credits/tips for reducing energy consumption. We remember it as the time we nearly wept openly on an airplane (we first caught the documentary on a Frontier flight). In case your memory needs jogging, check out the music video.
"Dream Girls" is actually nominated for three songs, which could split the academies vote all sorts of ways. And always-nominated Disney songwriter Randy Newman already has an Oscar. So while Documentary may be a toss-up, we think the smart money is on Melissa and "Truth."
But obviously the documentary category has greater significance, which leaves one question: Will Federal Way School District drama teachers be allowed to discuss the Oscars without discussing the documentaries that weren't nominated?
