For those who enjoy David Fincher’s enchanting Benjamin Button as much as I, Apple has a good behind-the-scenes interview with the normally elusive director. Isn’t it odd how the current crop of modern auteurs (Nolan, Aronofsky, Gondry, Anderson) largely avoid talking about their films in commentaries, interviews, et al? Yet Brett Ratner will speak to anyone who’ll listen.

They may have discovered the identity of the Zodiac killer. And David Fincher was wrong.

“The identity of the Zodiac Killer is Jack Tarrance. He’s my stepfather,” says Dennis Kaufman.

Of course, Kaufman also has this to say about a knife he found in his late stepfather’s possessions. “It could be a knife he barbecued with or a knife he murdered someone with.”

I’ll wait for official lab results …

Baz Luhrmann's Australia

I’m one of those critics who becomes obsessed with the annual Oscar race. I like reading about potential Oscar contenders, tracking marketing campaigns from various studios, and absorbing coverage from key festivals (Toronto, Cannes and Telluride being crucial stopping points for many a Best Picture winner). More often than not, the pre-Oscar races are more exciting than the Academy Award ceremony itself.

One of the first shots has been fired, from a media standpoint. MovieCityNews.com put up their Best Picture chart, listing the films that have yet to open which might find themselves in contention. On this list, I’m most looking forward to Baz Luhrmann’s Australia, David Fincher’s Benjamin Button, John Hillcoat’s The Road, Eastwood’s The Changeling and Doubt, based on the award-winning play.

Will they be in the Best Picture race? Who knows? It’s the thrill of anticipation that gets me most of the time. What are you most looking forward to?

We have a post about Heath Ledger’s Oscar chances. We have a post about WALL-E’s Oscar chances. And all the while the question remains: What’s the value (or fun) of talking about the Oscars in July?

How little I know. There’s an LA Times forum, from the section known as ”The Envelope,” that’s devoted to the subject. And many happy readers are speculating on the entire lineup of possible Oscar nominees / winners. For instance, one post dated May 30 has Clint Eastwood (Changeling), David Fincher (Benjamin Button) and Sam Mendes (Revolutionary Road) as Best Director “frontrunners.”

Whoa! This kind of talk is all about politics and expectation, and has nothing to do with the quality of the films. An interesting take on the business of movies.