OK, I have been out of the loop for awhile (due to some major construction at the homestead) and there are several significant movie reviews forthcoming. However, I cannot miss out on the annual Oscar picks. I have seen most of the major films but I have not been able to catch up to the middle of the pack e.g. Syriana
Here we go and I went with my heart on the top awards even if it went against the popular consensus.
PICTURE-BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN was not the strongest movie of the year but its central theme struck a chord that should sweep it into history.
ACTOR-PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN’s role of a lifetime that he makes the most of.
ACTRESS-Reese Witherspoon seems to have the popular edge by a mile. I choose FELICITY HUFFMAN’s more challenging though under seen role in Transamerica, but what do I know?
SUPPORTING ACTOR-If there is justice in the world, PAUL GIAMATTI’s gutsy performance in Cinderella Man will win a split decision over popular juggernaut George Clooney.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS-RACHEL WEISZ was the soul of The Constant Gardener even though Amy Adams leaped out of Junebug
DIRECTOR–for a versatile career, the award goes to ANG LEE especially in a relatively weak field.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY-CRASH works because some very fine actors brought a great screenplay to life.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY-BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN emerged from a short story and with an assist from western expert Larry McMurtry
ANIMATED FEATURE-WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE- RABBIT was in fact one of the best films of the year.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE-MARCH OF THE PENGUINS will march down the aisle
ART DIRECTION-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
CINEMATOGRAPHY-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA might be upset by Brokeback Mountain
COSTUME DESIGN-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
FILM EDITING-CRASH’s multiple storylines presented a great editing opportunity
SOUND EDITING and SOUND MIXING-KING KONG
VISUAL EFFECTS-KING KONG
MAKEUP-CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM-TSOSTI
ORIGINAL SCORE-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
ORIGINAL SONG-“Travelin’ Thru”-TRANSAMERICA
I won’t get into the short films which I have not seen.
I think that Memoirs of a Geisha will take some technical awards and could actually win the most Oscars. ENJOY!
