2006 Flak Film Also-Ran Awards: The Steak Knives

As the standard exercises in pomp and circumstance close out the year in film that was 2006, it has been noted how low-key many of Oscar's Best Picture nominees are, reflecting primarily the work of the independents operating within the major studios (and therefore properly called the dependents) as opposed to the major studios' own releases. But — surprise, surprise — those nominees are largely from the same pond that all the other award-givers had already overfished. The Internet makes it easy to ensure that no beloved movie goes down without a fight, and we at Flak are happy as always to get our licks in as well.

To be eligible for the Steak Knives, candidates must not have been recognized by the Oscars, the Golden Globes, the Independent Spirit Awards or in the top tier of the Village Voice Take Seven Critics' Poll. To see the ineligible nominees, click here. In addition to Flak stalwarts Aemilia Scott, Andy Stilp, Chris Shadoian, David Essex, James Norton, Sean Weitner and Stephen Himes, we were joined this year by Tim Grierson, an editor of The Simon, an online publication of culture, politics, and humor.

New categories will be posted all week as a palliative to the last week of Oscar hype. We've traded in the red carpet for a nice area rug and the golden statues for a set of Raising Arizona bobbleheads. Let the shout-outs commence.

Second-Best Actor
Second-Best Actress
Second-Best Screenplay
Second-Best Director
Second-Best Picture

— graphic by Derek Evernden (derek@ocellus.net)