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As it turns out, I was only slightly
over-zealous with my review of
The Aviator this year.
This film brought home a few less nominations than I thought, but
numbering at 11 makes it the most honored picture this year.
Hopefully, people will get their butts out to see this film before
it leaves theatres now.
The first thing I ever said about
The Aviator was that it
will win Best Picture, and it is of course nominated. But
lets run the gamut to see the rest of the nominations.
Sound Editing
As it turns out, the Academy is favoring
"animated" feature films for sound editing, especially since there
is no sound to begin with. Therefore, the nominations of The
Incredibles, The Polar Express, and
Spider-Man 2 seem
reasonable. I'm actually not thrilled with this selection, and am
not sure how it will play out. It might be time for a Pixar film to
win, but my money is on
Spider-Man 2...which is practically an animated film.
However, the Academy still likes some live action work.
Sound Mixing
Here the above nominees are added to
with Ray and The
Aviator. While I haven't seen the former, I am confident
that The Aviator
will bring home this golden guy. The sound is incredible in the
film.
Score
I am not really surprised
The Aviator doesn't show
up in this category along with the third Harry Potter,
Finding Neverland, Lemony Snicket's, The Passion of the Christ,
and The Village. The film that jumps out for me in this list
is immediately The Village. The violin based score was the
most original piece of movie music I have heard in a long while. I
have yet to see all the above films, but know exactly why The
Village was chosen, and that is my pick.
Song
Nominated films are Counting Crow's
"Accidentally In Love" for Shrek 2,
"Al Otro Lado Del Río" - The
Motorcycle Diaries, "Believe"
- The Polar Express, "Look
To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" - The Chorus, and
"Learn To Be Lonely" -
The Phantom of the Opera. Hmm...music...song....Phantom.
Yup that's the one.
Visual Effects
Moving to the visual end of film,
Visual Effects are an interesting category. The over use of CGI
has really made this category a playground for the blockbuster
extravaganzas that may not be that excellent or noteworthy.
Quantity, over quality, is often recognized but not necessarily
rewarded. Here, Harry Potter,
Spider-Man 2, and I,Robot are nominated, leaving
The Aviator behind. None
of these films seem that amazing to me. While I,Robot would
be my selection, the effects in
The Aviator really were
outstanding and did what they were supposed to do...forward the
story.
Film Editing
Nominated films include
The Aviator, Finding
Neverland, Ray, Collateral, and Clint Eastwood's Million
Dollar Baby. Again not having see every picture I can't really
even guess. Collateral might be the dark horse here, but any
of these could reasonably win.
Costume Design
Nominees are
The Aviator,
Ray, Finding Neverland, Troy, and Lemony Snicket's. I am pulling for
The Aviator on this
one. The film has such a classic Hollywood flavor to it that I think
the Academy will recognize the film for it with an Oscar. However,
Troy was the best epic this year with the best costumes
reminiscent of the Bronze Age.
Art Direction
This is the first really tough category.
Nominees include The Aviator,
Finding Neverland, Lemony Snicket's, A Very Long Engagement, and
The Phantom of the Opera. If
The Aviator wins, it
will be because of the aforementioned reasons. However, Phantom
and Engagement look incredible. I also think Hollywood
has a soft spot for The Phantom of the Opera.
Make-Up
Shockingly,
The Aviator is omitted
here again! I thought it was incredible, but Lemony Snicket's,
The Passion of the Christ,
and The Sea Inside take nominations. Here, Jim Carrey's
make-up for Lemony Snicket's is in harsh competition for the
beaten body of the savior of the world in
The Passion of the Christ.
Cinematography
Oh boy, this will be tough. Here,
The Aviator doesn't have
a chance against the likes of
The Passion of the Christ,
House of Flying Daggers, The Phantom of the Opera, and A Very
Long Engagement. After recognizing, Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon several years ago, I can only assume House of Flying
Daggers will be a tough competitor. Phantom's soft spot
might be the winner.
I cannot really comment on the
documentaries, but am pretty sure Super Size Me will win
Best Documentary Feature. It should be noted that I am surprised
Michael Moore's Fahrenheit
9/11 was not nominated. That was really an incredible film!
Likewise I cannot comment on Best Foreign Language Film, but
I would be on either The Sea Inside or The Chorus for
this one. Best Animated Feature Film should easily be
The Incredibles beating out Shrek 2 and Shark Tale
in its sleep.
Writing
Adapted Screenplay:
Before Sunset, Million Dollar Baby, The Motorcycle Diaries,
Sideways, and Finding Neverland are nominated. Look for
the latter to be the favorite here.
Original Screenplay:
The Aviator and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
should be the front runners over The Incredibles, Vera Drake,
and Hotel Rwanda. The Aviator
was an incredible script, but Eternal Sunshine was absolutely
amazing. For originality, Eternal Sunshine just might win.
Best Actress in a a Supporting Role
Nominees in this category are Cate
Blanchett in The Aviator,
Laura Linney in Kinsey, Virginia Madson in Sideways,
Sophie Okonedo in Hotel Rwanda and Natalie Portman in
Closer. I think Cate did an awesome job in The Aviator,
and while I haven't seen the other films, I think she is the front
runner for certain.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
The supporting actor category is pretty
interesting this year. I am thrilled with Alan Alda's nod for The Aviator,
and am equally excited for Jamie Foxx for Collateral. I am so
glad that film was recognized! Other nominees are Thomas Haden
Church for Sideways, Clive Own for Closer, and Morgan
Freeman for Million Dollar Baby. My opinion...Alan Alda needs
some recognition for all the fabulous work he has done over the
years. This could be a surprise.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
This year the nominees are Annette
Benning for Being Julia, Catalina Sandino Moreno for Maria
Full of Grace, Imelda Staunton for Vera Drake, Hilary
Swank for Million Dollar Baby, and Kate Winslet for
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Having only seen the
later, I can't say much, but from what the buzz is this year, Best
Actress could be a pretty tight contest. Should be interesting to
see what happens.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
And the nominees are...
Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda,
Johnny Depp for Finding Neverland, Leonardo DiCaprio for The Aviator,
Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby, and Jamie Foxx for
Ray. This is a tough category this year. I love Don Cheadle, but
I don't think he'll get the award this year. Clint Eastwood hasn't
been anything other than himself in a film for...well his career. I
don't think he'll win either. I think Johnny Depp is long over due
for an award, especially after not winning for Pirates of the
Caribbean and DiCaprio was brilliant in The Aviator.
But lets face it...Jamie Foxx should have this one in the bag. Ray
Charles was such a beloved performer and man, I think it impossible
for Foxx to not get awarded for his sensational performance.
Best Director
Nominees are Martin Scorsese for The Aviator,
Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby, Taylor Hackford for Ray,
Alexander Payne for Sideways, and Mike Leigh for Vera
Drake. I'm tired of everyone
drooling over Eastwood's films. Every year you can expect the same
thing. I'm getting tired of it. This year, Scorsese proved to me
that he deserves this award.
Best Picture of the Year
The Aviator,
Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Baby, Ray, Sideways.
First of all, Million Dollar Baby? Sideways...Wow...this is a
surprise, but I don't think its in the running. I think it is a
three way tie, excluding Million Dollar Baby. While Ray was
great...I still say The Aviator
is the winner. Only a few weeks until we can know for sure.
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