 |
|
     |
|
The 79th Annual Academy Awards!!! February 25, 2007 - 2:50 pm 
Today's the day! It's Oscar Day!!! Just about 5 more hours, and then the ceremony begins! Only 3 more hours until the pre-show begins! Gorgeous gowns, dapper tuxedos, shiny golden statues, teary-eyed speeches...oh, could this day be any more exciting! My only plans for the day are to post my predictions, buy a bottle of wine and enjoy all things Oscar! The perfect Sunday! I've got an Oscar pool going at work, so I'm excited to see who wins. To be honest, I would gladly be wrong on every single category if it means a night full of mind-blowing surprises...a night where I'm jumping up and down, screaming at my television! That's what it's all about. Let's get on with my predictions!
This was, by far, the best movie of the year. Just like 'The Aviator' was a couple years ago, this movie captures all the elements that a 'Best Picture' should own. There are incredible people behind every facet, and I'm not just referring to famous names. I'm referring to extraordinary talent. You couldn't ask for a better ensemble cast. Little Miss Sunshine had a great cast too, and I did enjoy that movie, but with The Departed, every single character, every single line delivers a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat 151 minutes of pure excitement. This isn't even a genre I normally like, but Scorsese can work his magic on just about anything. Who will win: The Departed I'm pretty sure this category is going to come down between The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine. Little Miss Sunshine is different from all the other nominees. On the surface it's about a dysfuntional family, but underneath there's a real sweetness. I wouldn't call it a comedy really, but it's the most light-hearted of all five contenders. It's about family and being different. It's a feel-good movie. The Departed isn't exactly Sunshine's polar opposite, but close to it. There is a lot of deception involved, and the ending is just tragic. So, were voters more compelled by family togetherness OR sharp, yet calamitous story-telling? The Departed is a more complete Best Picture, and my opinion is that voters will recognize that.
Ok, so I know I'm kinda cheating by saying I want one of two nominees to win. But I'm seriously torn between these two, and I just can't choose. It's such a surprise that Ryan got nominated, and if he hadn't, then I be cheering hard-core in Leo's corner...like I did during the Golden Globes. Leonardo had SUCH a great year. His back-to-back performances in The Departed and Blood Diamond were just dripping with talent. I've always been a fan of his, but not one that shouted from the roof about his abilities. He REALLY woke me up this year, and I firmly believe he's one of the best actors out there. He's definitely a powerhouse, and if he doesn't win this year, he WILL win eventually. It's inevitable. Ryan on the other hand...I've loved him ever since I saw him in The Believer. I saw him first in Murder By Numbers, which is a little campy, but Ryan is so unique. He really stood out, and it prompted me to rent his other films. I tell everyone to watch The Believer if they want to know what Ryan can really do. There is so much hate in the movie, but Ryan delivers a performance that can move mountains. I will be a die-hard fan of his forever, and it's all because of that movie. I'm so pleased that voters recognized him this year. Who will win: Forest Whitaker I don't think there is really any question with this category on who's going to win. Forest has won every single major award for his portrayal of Ugandan President Idi Amin. As much as I love my Ryan and Leo, I'm really happy for Forest. He's been in the game for SOOO long, and has never really been recognized. He did a fantastic job too. The movie doesn't even feel like a movie. It has this yellowish hue, and you just disappear into this violent, African world. Forest (supported SO wonderfully by James McAvoy) takes you on a roller coaster ride in his dangerous world. Forest, do me one thing though. PLEASE, for the love of the Oscar gods, PLEASE have a speech prepared tonight. You can't keep pulling off the surprised, deer-in-headlights acceptance. C'mon, make me cry! You can do it, I know it! One more thing...it's worth noting that Peter O'Toole has a good chance of winning. The only Oscar he's ever won is the honorary Oscar. If voters realize this, (and they will) they might be inclined to vote for Peter just so they can sleep at night. If Mr. O'Toole were to pass on without legitimately winning a statue, that just does not seem right.
I really loved Little Children, but I truly believe it wouldn't have been as amazing as it was without Kate Winslet. She is such a fantastic actress...another Meryl Streep in the making. She has the ability to take any character and make you totally empathize with her. Her character in Little Children isn't an angel. You could even call her a home wrecker. But you find yourself liking her and understanding her justification for what she's doing. Of all the nominees, I think Kate did the best job, but unfortuneately, she doesn't stand a chance. Don't fret, Kate. You will win someday. I promise! No other actress has been nominated as many times as you by the time they were 31...not even Meryl! Who will win: Helen Mirren This is another no-brainer. Helen, like Forest Whitaker, has won all the major awards. I enjoyed The Queen a lot. Helen did a great job at embodying every aspect of Queen Elizabeth II. She looked exactly like her and all her mannerisms were spot-on. She definitely deserves the nomination. I'm not going to be upset if she wins, because I know she will....but I think Kate's performance was better. Oh well...Helen hasn't won either. I even think Meryl was better (or at least even), but Meryl doesn't need another statue. Judi Dench isn't even going to be at the ceremony, so she definitely shouldn't win. I know she's having knee surgery, but c'mon! It's the Oscars! Schedule your surgery some other time! The nomination is enough for Penelope. She did a good job, but she is NO Kate, Meryl OR Helen.
I have to admit that I wasn't familiar with Jackie before seeing Little Children. I learned of his past after seeing his creepy, yet heartbreaking performance in Little Children. He was the best possible choice to play this part. He is a little creepy looking anyways, but I can't imagine a Christopher Walken or Steve Bucemi being able to pull this off either. I'm so happy the Academy gave him this nomination. He has such a great comeback story. Sadly, I don't think he has any chance of winning, but I really hope this opens up a whole bunch of opportunities for him. Who will win: Eddie Murphy I don't like Eddie Murphy. He's always kind of annoyed me. He can be funny, but I've never thought he was rolling-on-the-floor kind of funny. Mostly it's his attitude that has always turned me off. He's so arrogant and egotistical, and he has shied away from most publicity since the 90s....which just made him seem more arrogant. There are quite a few people in the industry that share this opinion, but the Academy is also known for being very forgiving. As much as I can't stand him, Eddie was good in Dreamgirls. I feel he really stepped out of his comfort zone and expanded on how people know him best. I'm not going to hit my television or anything when they announce his name tonight...but I won't be excitedly happy either. I would rather any other nominee win than Eddie. He deserved his nomination, but that's as far as it should go.
There aren't too many powerhouses nominated this year in the supporting female category. Cate is the only one who's been nominated (and won) before. Abigail Breslin was the heart and sole behind Little Miss Sunshine. I can't imagine another little girl playing the role as unique, yet normal as Abigail did. And thank GOD they didn't cast Dakota Fanning. Gag me! Abigail's Olive was my favorite part of the movie, and she well deserves this nomination. Who will win: Jennifer Hudson Here's another one in the bag for Dreamgirls. I guess I'm fine with Jennifer winning. She hasn't done anything before, and I kinda feel if this weren't a musical, then she wouldn't be nominated. And this is the OSCARS, not the GRAMMY'S! But she did own every scene she was in (even though she was singing in most those of scenes). I'm just happy that Beyonce wasn't nominated. I would have been livid! The words Beyonce and Oscar do not belong in the same sentence (besides this one). Ok, so I know you're going to win, Jennifer. I'm expecting a tear-invoking speech. I won't accept anything less!
Martin needs to win this year. I don't understand why he hasn't won yet, but the Academy better give him the statue this time around. I will be very unhappy if another name is called. The Departed was the best movie of the year, and it's because Martin was behind it. HE got those performances out of the actors; HE guided the script into a flawless execution. I can't wait to hear your speech, Marty!!! I wanted to note that I saw United 93 a couple days ago, and Paul Greengrass MORE than deserves this nomination. That movie disturbed me beyond belief...gave me a whole night full of hijacked plane nightmares. While the subject matter was enough to send me into a tailspin, the fine-detailed direction (& editing) provided all the elements to tell a dramatic, emotional story. I can't even imagine being the director on a movie like this. Well done, Paul! Well done! Who will win: Martin Scorsese I have made this prediction before, and I was wrong. I was so sure that Marty would win for The Aviator. He was up against Clint Eastwood then too. Not only did Million Dollar Baby give Eastwood the Best Directing Oscar, it also stole Best Picture away from The Aviator. I'll be damned if this is going to happen again this year! I'm so sick of Clint Eastwood getting a nomination simply because he's Clint Eastwood. Million Dollar Baby was a good movie, but it wasn't the Best Picture of 2004, and it certainly didn't deserve the Directing award either. Same situation this year...Letters From Iwo Jima cannot even compare to The Departed. The Academy REALLY needs to wipe the brown off their noses and GET OVER Clint Eastwood. Geez! Enough is enough already...just give Scorsese his Oscar! It better happen tonight! All right! These are my predictions for this year's Oscars! Again, I hope there are lots of surprises (and Dreamgirls walks away with nothing!). The only surprise I definitely DO NOT want to happen is in the Best Director category. Martin Scorsese needs to win. The Departed is definitely a worthy enough movie to finally allow him to take home the gold. Ok, so it's now 4:51 pm...only one hour to the pre-show! I gotta go get my wine now! Have a fun night everyone! If you'd like to contact me: tmf222@yahoo.com |
|
