Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Oscar Nominations

So the Oscar nominations came out this morning. They were good and bad. The Academy continues its love affair with all things that Clint Eastwood touches (yeah, that's right, the "Dirty Harry" guy) and Million Dollar Baby came up with six major nominations (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay). The Aviator suprisingly came up with six major ones as well (Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Director, Original Screenplay). I haven't seen either of these movies (nor many of the others that were nominated...I live in the Midwest...some of this stuff isn't even out yet), but below is a list of all the nominations and my opinion on who will win and who should win.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Clive Owen - CLOSER

I've only seen two of these movies (Collateral, Sideways). Alli saw another one of them (Closer). We are going to see the Aviator before the Oscars and I would like to see Million Dollar Baby too. Nobody really impressed me all that much, although Alli said that Clive Owen was good and I like him so we'll say that he should win it, but my guess is that Thomas Haden Church will win it...I can't understand all the buzz about Sideways...it was terrible in my opinion, but my opinion doesn't really matter.
WILL WIN: Thomas Haden Church
SHOULD WIN: Clive Owen
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED: James Garner, The Notebook

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR
Laura Linney - KINSEY
Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS
Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
Natalie Portman - CLOSER

I've only seen Sideways, so I can't really judge this flick. I thought Natalie Portman had a great year though. Would have liked to see her nominated for Garden State, but alas, Garden State was pretty much ignored, unfortunately.
WILL WIN: Natalie Portman
SHOULD WIN: Natalie Portman

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
SHREK 2

This one is easy. Shark Tale was overrated and Shrek 2 takes multiple viewings to appreciate. The Incredibles stands above the other two and could have contended for Best Picture this year. Pixar continues to dominate everything else.
WILL WIN: The Incredibles
SHOULD WIN: The Incredibles

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
SIDEWAYS

This is an extremely interesting category. I really really want Before Sunset to win this category. I haven't seen a movie with better dialogue this year. Finding Neverland would be another good choice, and then you have both Million Dollar Baby and Sideways in the category.
WILL WIN: Sideways (unfortunately)
SHOULD WIN: Before Sunset

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
VERA DRAKE

I really want Eternal Sunshine to win this. It was, in my opinion, the best movie of the year, certainly worthy of more accolades than it got. I wonder if people are just sick of Charlie Kauffman's craziness (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation), but to ignore this movie is a shame. I also think it was a travesty that Garden State was completely overlooked.
WILL WIN: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
SHOULD WIN: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED: Zach Braff, Garden State

DIRECTING
Mike Leigh - VERA DRAKE

Another interesting category. Scorsese certainly has the sentimental vote considering he got shut out for Gangs of New York by convicted felon Roman Polanski. I would think that this is his year if Clint Eastwood were not in the category. I think that they are the top 2 choices with Payne being the dark horse.
WILL WIN: Clint Eastwood
SHOULD WIN: Martin Scorsese

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA
Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND
Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR
Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Jamie Foxx - RAY

I really think this category is Jamie Foxx's to lose. Johnny Depp was terrific in Finding Neverland, but he is always terrific. Look for him to get nominated next year for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Don Cheadle is a dark horse in this category. Such a terrific actor and it's good to see him finally getting some recognition. Leo, better luck next time...
WILL WIN: Jamie Foxx
SHOULD WIN: Jamie Foxx

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Annette Bening - BEING JULIA
Catalina Sandino Moreno - MARIA FULL OF GRACE
Imelda Staunton - VERA DRAKE
Hilary Swank - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Kate Winslet - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

My favorite, Kate Winslet, doesn't have a chance. Hilary Swank is going to win, but with all of the nominations that Vera Drake received, I wouldn't be surprised to see Imelda Staunton win. She's my dark horse.
WILL WIN: Hilary Swank
SHOULD WIN: Kate Winslet

BEST PICTURE
SIDEWAYS

I'm so unbelievably irritated that Eternal Sunshine didn't get nominated that I want to puke. There has not been a more original movie in 5 years (and probably won't be for another 5). This is a hard category to pick. I am really crossing my fingers that Sideways walks away with nothing and I really think it won't win this one. However, out of these movies, I've actually only seen one. I have no idea how to judge this, but I'll do my best.
WILL WIN: The Aviator
SHOULD WIN: Finding Neverland
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Overall, it was a pretty good year for movies. I don't think we'll see the utter domination like last year's Lord of the Rings, but if it will come from anyone, it will likely come from The Aviator. I really think this is Martin Scorsese's year and everyone knows how hard he worked on it. But no one really knows. This is just knee-jerk reaction right now. We'll see come February 27th.

Sidenote: The Razzie nominations are out too. Sucks to be Halle Berry...


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