Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Movies


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published January 26, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified February 13, 2007 at 1:28 PM

E-mail article     Print view

"Babel" just might have that "Crash" vibe going

As we recover from the jolt that was Tuesday morning's Oscar-nominations announcement (one lingering question: Who told the beautiful Salma...

Seattle Times movie critic

As we recover from the jolt that was Tuesday morning's Oscar-nominations announcement (one lingering question: Who told the beautiful Salma Hayek that a tent dress was a good idea?), let's kick off our weekly Oscar Watch examination of best-picture nominees with Alejandro González Iñárritu's "Babel."

An elegantly filmed tangle of stories, spreading across several countries and time periods and revealing intricate connections between its characters, "Babel" just might have the appeal to Oscar audiences that "Crash" did last year. A multiple prizewinner upon its Cannes International Film Festival world premiere last spring, it has yet to find a wide audience, though it's been booked into additional theaters since its Golden Globe win (for best picture — drama) last week. At just under $24 million since its late October opening, its box-office total is the second-lowest of the best-picture nominees. ("Letters from Iwo Jima," playing in a far smaller number of theaters, is the lowest.)

While its cast includes bona fide movie stars — Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett play an American couple traveling in Morocco — its acting nominations went to two virtual unknowns. Adriana Barraza movingly played a Mexican nanny who, torn between her job and her family, made a decision with devastating consequences. Rinko Kikuchi, as a troubled teen acting out in the wake of her mother's death, stole the film. Both are nominated for supporting actress.

The film's seven nominations also honor its editing, original score, directing and writing. That last may bring some tension on Oscar night: Screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga (who worked with Iñárritu on "Amores Perros" and "21 Grams") and Iñárritu may have some friction between them. The Los Angeles Times reported that Iñárritu banned Arriaga from the Cannes premiere, annoyed that the writer claimed much of the credit for the success of "21 Grams." A big win for "Babel" seems unlikely on Oscar night — but then again, "Crash" seemed unlikely too.

And finally, our weekly Oscar trivia begins with this puzzler: While accepting her Golden Globe award last week, Meryl Streep (now the proud recipient of her 14th Oscar nomination) smilingly noted, "I think I've worked with everyone in this room." With how many of this year's fellow Oscar nominees has Streep shared a movie screen? Answer: See next week's Oscar Watch.

Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company

More Movies headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Train promoting Disney's upcoming "A Christmas Carol" makes a Seattle stop

Movie review: "Moon": Inspired lunacy from Sam Rockwell

At a Theater Near You: Live in Fremont: The undead gather to break a record, watch a film

Movie review: "Captain Abu Raed": A heartwarming tale from afar

Movie review: "Evangelion 1.0": More than just machines drive this action-packed anime

Advertising

Video

AP Video

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech

Marketplace

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising