Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ, Luca Lionello as Judas in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ
The nominees for the 2005 American Society of Cinematographers Award in the feature film category are:
- Dion Beebe and Paul Cameron, Collateral
- Bruno Delbonnel, Un long dimanche de fiançailles / A Very Long Engagement
- Caleb Deschanel, The Passion of the Christ
- Pawel Edelman, Ray
- Robert Richardson, The Aviator
Somewhat surprising in this year's ASC list was the absence of critics' favorites Christopher Doyle and Xiaoding Zhao for their work in the Chinese films Hero and House of Flying Daggers, respectively. Finding Neverland's Roberto Schaefer was also another notable absentee.
On the other hand, the inclusion of The Passion of the Christ cinematographer Caleb Deschanel shouldn't come as a surprise — except for those who were expecting some Jewish-organized, Michael Moore-led, anti-Christian, Liberal Hollywood boycott against The Passion.
Deschanel, by the way, has already won an ASC Award for a Mel Gibson film, The Patriot (2000), in addition to having been nominated for Fly Away Home (1996). He received Academy Award nominations for both films, as well as for The Right Stuff (1983) and The Natural (1984). Strangely, Deschanel was not nominated for an Academy Award for The Black Stallion (1979), one of the most stunning-looking films ever made. (Perhaps as a result of some sort of anti-equine boycott — or perhaps because Deschanel wasn't seen as belonging to the ASC's clique in those days.)
Frequent Oliver Stone collaborator Robert Richardson was previously nominated for ASC awards for Born on the Fourth of July (1989), JFK (1991), A Few Good Men (1992), Heaven & Earth (1993), The Horse Whisperer (1998), and Snow Falling on Cedars (1999). Richardson won an Academy Award for JFK, and was nominated for Platoon (1986), Born on the Fourth of July, and Snow Falling on Cedars.
Bruno Delbonnel and Pawel Edelman were previously nominated by both the ASC and the Academy for, respectively, Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain / Amelie (2000) and The Pianist (2002).
Dion Beebe and Paul Cameron are first-time contenders.
Last year's ASC winner was John Schwartzman for Seabiscuit, though the cinematography Oscar went to ASC nominee Russell Boyd for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.
The ASC awards presentation will take place on February 13 at the Grand Ballroom at the Hollywood & Highland complex. (The event had been previously scheduled for February 20 at the Century Plaza Hotel.)