They’re on the Short List

“The Truman Show,” the highly praised movie about a man whose entire life is televised, was considered a shoo-in for a best picture Oscar nomination when it was released way back in June. “The movie of the decade,” trilled one reviewer. “Adventurous, provocative, even daring,” declared another. But in what may be a case of forgetfulness, the academy overlooked the Jim Carrey film Tuesday for best picture and best actor.

Just as surprising was the best actor nomination snagged by Edward Norton for his role as a neo-Nazi in “American History X,” the troubled and troubling film from New Line that was disavowed by its director.

Several highly touted films in addition to “Truman” received disappointing news, including “The Celebration”--a Danish film that made a number of reviewers’ best-of-the-year lists, but was shut out of the nominations.

The “Truman” snub was perhaps the most surprising, because of the extravagant praise lavished on the movie and because Carrey drew particular attention in the touching role of a man who learns his entire life has been a lie.

The movie did get nominations for director Peter Weir, Ed Harris for supporting actor and Andrew Niccol for original screenplay.

Spokeswomen for Carrey, Weir and producer Scott Rudin said they would not comment. Niccol released a brief statement that regarded the film community with snide humor: “A man is followed by cameras and constantly lied to. I can’t imagine why anyone in the movie industry would relate to that.”

When Carrey received the Golden Globe Award last month for best dramatic actor for “The Truman Show,” he slipped in a thank you to the academy. As the audience howled, he added, “I’m sorry . . . I was thinking of something else.”

It became obvious Tuesday, though, that the academy wasn’t thinking about him.

“I’m sure he’ll survive,” said Harris about the busy Carrey. “It’s good to be working when you get news like this.”

Norton came out of the blue to win his best actor nomination. His performance was widely praised, but his movie has been largely overlooked and was not a commercial success.

“The five nominations all send a message to me that the actors’ branch looked at performances this year” rather than box-office grosses, said Steve Tisch, the movie’s producer.

Criticism of “American History X” by its own director, Tony Kaye, may have drawn attention from the movie and damaged the way it was perceived within the industry, Tisch said. Kaye campaigned against the film for weeks by taking out full-page ads in the trades and giving interviews in which he claimed control of the picture had been taken away from him.

Perhaps no one should be surprised by who does or does not get Oscar nominations--it is a guessing game every year, with merit not always figuring into the equation--but a number of critically praised movies and performances were overlooked.

“A film like ‘The Celebration’ is a little bit beyond their grasps,” said Bingham Ray, co-president of October Films, which released the movie. He criticized the makeup of the committee that selects foreign-language films, charging that the academy traditionally overlooks daring, narratively inventive movies in the category.

Ray said the committee is dominated by older academy members who prefer sentimental movies and lavish costume epics. Younger members should be added, he said, to improve the prospects for less traditional movies.

Brenda Blethyn is nominated for supporting actress for “Little Voice,” a British comedy distributed by Miramax. But the movie also boasted stand-out performances by Michael Caine as a sleazy talent agent and Jane Horrocks in the title role as a shy woman who shines only when she’s impersonating musical stars of the past. Caine won the Golden Globe last month for best actor in a musical or comedy.

Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein wasn’t entirely surprised by their failure to win nominations, citing Caine’s choice to be entered for best actor rather than best supporting actor and Horrocks’ decision not to do promotion.

“With Michael, the big thing was would we put him up for supporting or best actor,” he said.

“Not only do I think he would have had a better shot [at being nominated in best supporting], but I think we would have won the award,” Weinstein said.

As for Horrocks, he said it is difficult for her to travel and promote the film because she is pregnant. “Brenda [Blethyn] worked hard and made the rounds,” he said. “But Jane was family first, and I don’t blame her for that decision.”

Also passed over were Bill Murray, who was praised for his supporting role in “Rushmore,” and John Boorman, who was touted for his direction of “The General.”

Less surprising, perhaps--because the film was a commercial dud--was the academy’s treatment of “Beloved.” The lavishly presented adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was nominated in only one category: costume design. Performances by Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Beah Richards, Thandie Newton and Kimberly Elise had drawn rave reviews from critics.

Likewise, Holly Hunter’s critically lauded performance in “Living Out Loud” may have been hurt by the movie’s failure to ignite the box office.