Well with this film I've now seen every best picture nominee since 1970. Not to say that was the reason I saw the film, I would have seen it regardless, and certainly based on Innaritu's last couple of efforts. I think the film was reaching too high. I didn't connect with these characters the way I did with the unhappy trio in 21 Grams or Amores Perros. The Japanese Story seemed out of place, and although in and of itself it may have made a decent film, the connection was weak and it seemed to seriously bog down the story. The fragmented narrative is something I've come to expect and easily understand by now. Here however I feel like the film might have been more fragmented, and out of chronological order the way 21 Grams was. Like that previous film, this picture has a very splendidly designed sound concept that seems to have been lost on most people. The score was first rate throughout and the acting was good all around. Its comparisons to Crash are unjustified for both films, and I think both Pan's Labyrinth and more specifically Children of Men could have better served Mexican filmmakers with a best picture nomination.

Long story short, of the nominees, The Departed was the best film.