The Atlantic Yards documentary, “Battle for Brooklyn,” has a fighting chance to take home one of Tinseltown’s top trophies.
Suki Hawley and Michael Galinsky’s exhaustive history of the Prospect Heights mega-project and 14 other true-life tales have been short-listed for an Oscar nomination in the Documentary Feature category by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The husband-and-wife team of filmmakers from Clinton Hill spent eight years making the documentary, but said the possibility of winning a little gold man was the farthest thing from their minds when they started the project in 2003.
“I’m not placing odds on us [winning],” Galinsky said. “I’m very excited that we even have a chance.”
The documentary is a lengthy step-by-step (by step) account of the tainted approval process that paved the way for Bruce Ratner $5-billion development, which includes the Barclays Center and 16 proposed residential towers.
The land-use saga tells its story through Daniel Goldstein, the Yards opponent who fought to keep his home from being seized by the state via eminent domain. Goldstein failed, of course — and the rest is history.
Still, Goldstein believes that the film’s success gives him a victory that eluded him.
“The Oscar recognition will loudly amplifiy the community’s voice of opposition and further expose the corrupt Atlantic Yards boondoggle,” he said. “It also provides clear evidence that the community’s fight in Brooklyn has universal interest.”
Five nominees from the list will be announced on Jan. 24, one month before the 84th annual Academy Awards. The shortlist, which was whittled down from a group of 124 award-winning documentaries, includes “Jane’s Journey,” about chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall; and “Hell and Back Again,” the story of one Marine’s return to normal life after serving in Afghanistan.
Well, it was fun while it lasted.
“Battle for Brooklyn” at Brooklyn Heights Cinema [70 Henry St. at Orange Street in Brooklyn Heights, (718) 596-7070], Nov. 30, 6 pm.
Reach reporter Daniel Bush at dbush@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-8310. Follow him at twitter.com/dan_bush.
