Where did the time go? I've been meaning to write this for over a month now, and here I an writing it the night before. So, sadly it will probably not be as detailed as I would have liked. What it will have, though, are my predictions, my wishes, and any odd side notes. I hope you enjoy it, and I will be back later in the week with my take on the actual results.
BEST PICTURE
- THE AVIATOR
- FINDING NEVERLAND
- MILLION DOLLAR BABY
- RAY
- SIDEWAYS
- Prediction: The Aviator
- Personal Pick: Sideways
- Notes: I think the race is between Million Dollar Baby and The Aviator, which could allow Ray to sneak in for the win if the votes get split.
- Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Hotel Rwanda, and Kill Bill Vol. 2.
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
- Prediction: Jamie Foxx
- Personal Pick: Don Cheadle
- Notes: This is Foxx's to lose, he gave an absolutely incredible performance, but I feel that Cheadle gave one of the most moving roles of the year.
- Snubs: Jim Carrey, Paul Giamatti, Tom Hanks, Jim Caviziel.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
- Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
- Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS
- Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
- Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
- Clive Owen - CLOSER
- Prediction: Morgan Freeman
- Personal Pick: Jamie Foxx
- Notes: I was surprised to see Alda nominated here. All of the performances here were excellent, I just think that Foxx's was the biggest eye opener of the bunch.
- Snubs: David Carradine
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
- Prediction: Hilary Swank
- Personal Pick: It's a toss up, either Kate Winslet or Catalina Sandino Moreno
- Notes: Hilary seems to be almost a lock for it, although Bening also seems to have some good buzz. I loved Winslet's performance, and Catalina gave a brave performance.
- Snubs: Bryce Dallas Howard, Uma Thurman, Maia Morgenstern
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
- Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR
- Laura Linney - KINSEY
- Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS
- Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
- Natalie Portman - CLOSER
- Prediction: Cate Blanchett
- Personal Pick: Cate Blanchett
- Notes: This is a close race that I think could go to Blanchett, Madsen, or Portman, with one of the others possibly sneaking in between a split vote.
- Snubs: Natalie Portman (Garden State), Cloris Leachman, Dakota Fanning
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
- THE INCREDIBLES
- SHARK TALE
- SHREK 2
- Prediction: The Incredibles
- Personal Pick: The Incredibles
- Notes: This is an absolute lock. Plus, I can't get over Shark Tale even getting nominated.
- Snubs: Polar Express, Team America: World Police
ART DIRECTION
- THE AVIATOR
- FINDING NEVERLAND
- LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
- THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
- A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT
- Prediction: The Aviator
- Personal Pick: A Very Long Engagement
- Notes: Any of these films would be worthy of winning, they all looked fantastic.
- Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Saddest Music in the World
CINEMATOGRAPHY
- THE AVIATOR
- HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
- THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
- THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
- A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT
- Prediction: The Aviator
- Personal Pick: TIE House of Flying Daggers and The Passion of the Christ
- Notes: There were some beautifully shot films this year, whoever wins is deserving.
- Snubs: Million Dollar Baby, The Village
COSTUME DESIGN
- THE AVIATOR
- FINDING NEVERLAND
- LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
- RAY
- TROY
- Prediction: Ray
- Personal Pick: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Notes: Tough pick, this could be Aviator's night, but I bet there will be a lot of love for Ray.
- Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Kill Bill Vol. 2, The Passion of the Christ, Catwoman
DIRECTING
- Martin Scorsese - THE AVIATOR
- Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
- Taylor Hackford - RAY
- Alexander Payne - SIDEWAYS
- Mike Leigh - VERA DRAKE
- Prediction: Martin Scorses
- Personal Pick: Alexander Payne
- Notes: Two way race between Scorses and Eastwood could be close, with Scorsese's past and Eastwood's controversy.
- Snubs: Michele Gondry, Quentin Tarantino, Mel Gibson
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
- BORN INTO BROTHELS
- THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL
- SUPER SIZE ME
- TUPAC: RESURRECTION
- TWIST OF FAITH
- Prediction: Super Size Me
- Personal Pick: Super Size Me
- Notes: Could possibly go to Born into Brothels, which was also excellent. Michael Moore maneuvered himself out of a near lock for his docu-drama, and I'm happy for it.
- Snubs: Control Room, The Corporation
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
- AUTISM IS A WORLD
- THE CHILDREN OF LENINGRADSKY
- HARDWOOD
- MIGHTY TIMES: THE CHILDREN'S MARCH
- SISTER ROSE'S PASSION
- Prediction: Sister Rose's Passion
- Notes: I haven't had the chance to see any of these yet, so this is just a shot in the dark.
FILM EDITING
- THE AVIATOR
- COLLATERAL
- FINDING NEVERLAND
- MILLION DOLLAR BABY
- RAY
- Prediction: The Aviator
- Personal Pick: Collateral
- Notes: Collateral was a wonderful film, and I think it is the best choice here, but it will go to one of the big three.
- Snubs: The Passion of the Christ, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
- AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
- THE CHORUS
- DOWNFALL
- THE SEA INSIDE
- YESTERDAY
- Prediction: The Sea Inside
- Personal Pick: none
- Notes: Believe it or not, I have not seen any of these.
- Snubs: I'm Not Scared, Bad Education, Hero, House of Flying Daggers
MAKEUP
- LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
- THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
- THE SEA INSIDE
- Prediction: The Passion of the Christ
- Personal Pick: The Passion of the Christ
- Notes: I think THe Passion is a lock for this one.
- Snubs: Dawn of the Dead, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
MUSIC (SCORE)
- FINDING NEVERLAND
- HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
- LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
- THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
- THE VILLAGE
- Prediction: The Passion of the Christ
- Personal Pick: The Village
- Notes: The Village's score is beautiful, The Passion's is also great, the others didn't make an impression on me.
- Snubs: House of Flying Daggers, Van Helsing
MUSIC (SONG)
- "Accidentally In Love" - SHREK 2
- "Al Otro Lado Del Río" - THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
- "Believe" - THE POLAR EXPRESS
- "Learn To Be Lonely" - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
- "Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" - THE CHORUS
- Prediction: Accidentally In Love
- Personal Pick: Learn to be Lonely
- Notes: Nothing really to add here.
SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
- BIRTHDAY BOY
- GOPHER BROKE
- GUARD DOG
- LORENZO
- RYAN
- Predicton: Birthday Boy
- Notes: I haven't had the chance to see any of these yet, so this is just a shot in the dark.
SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
- EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY MUST
- LITTLE TERRORIST
- 7:35 IN THE MORNING
- TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT
- WASP
- Predicton: Little Terrorist
- Notes: I haven't had the chance to see any of these yet, so this is just a shot in the dark.
SOUND EDITING
- THE INCREDIBLES
- THE POLAR EXPRESS
- SPIDER-MAN 2
- Prediction: Spider-Man 2
- Personal Pick: Spider-Man 2
- Notes: This seems to be an easy enough choice, although I would not be surprised to see a win by the Incredibles.
- Snubs: I, Robot, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
SOUND MIXING
- THE AVIATOR
- THE INCREDIBLES
- THE POLAR EXPRESS
- RAY
- SPIDER-MAN 2
- Prediction: The Aviator
- Personal Pick: Spider-Man 2
- Notes: Another one of those pick'em type categories.
- Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
VISUAL EFFECTS
- HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
- I, ROBOT
- SPIDER-MAN 2
- Prediction: Spider-Man 2
- Personal Pick: I, Robot
- Notes: All three of these films have some great effects. Although they do have a tendency to be over used these days.
- Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
- BEFORE SUNSET
- FINDING NEVERLAND
- MILLION DOLLAR BABY
- THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
- SIDEWAYS
- Prediction: Million Dollar Baby
- Personal Pick: Sideways
- Notes: Some very good writing this year, Sideways definitely gets my vote for delivering a great screenplay.
- Snubs: The Passion of the Christ
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
- THE AVIATOR
- ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
- HOTEL RWANDA
- THE INCREDIBLES
- VERA DRAKE
- Prediction: The Aviator
- Personal Pick: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Notes: A wide variety of films sampled here, each with their good points. I truly hope that Sunshine can pull out the victory, I loved that film.
- Snubs: Garden State, Closer
That brings us to a close. All we have to wait for now is to see how wrong I am on all counts.
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