Usually a hot topic category, so the Iraq war wins out. No way the Academy will let Moore take the stage again.
Best Editing
- Christopher Rouse – The Bourne Ultimatum
- Juliette Welfling - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
- Jay Cassidy – Into the Wild
- Roderick Jaynes - No Country for Old Men
- Dylan Tichenor – There Will Be Blood
Long running times increase the chances in this category, but the blending of the drama and action genres shown in Bourne and No Country make them front runners. Go with Rouse because “Jaynes” is already getting an Oscar for directing.
Best Original Score
- Dario Marianelli - Atonement
- Alberto Iglesias – The Kite Runner
- James Newton Howard – Michael Clayton
- Michael Giacchino - Ratatouille
- Marco Beltrami – 3:10 to Yuma
Giacchino is my personal pick and Newton might be due after seven nominations for score/songs, but Marianelli takes it.
Best Original Song
- “Falling Slowly” from Once - Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
- “Happy Working Song” from Enchanted - Music by Alan Menken, Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
- “Raise It Up” from August Rush - Music and lyric by Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas
- “So Close” from Enchanted - Music by Alan Menken, Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
- “That’s How You Know” from Enchanted - Music by Alan Menken, Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
Three times is not the charm here. Amy Adams will sing “Happy Working Song” at the awards plus Menken and Schwartz are very talented, but one nomination is all Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova need to win.
Best Makeup
Norbit gets a nomination thanks to Rick Baker’s makeup work and Eddie Murphy’s tolerance for fat suits (remember the turnstile scene), but Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End will likely beat Norbit and La Vie en Rose.
Best Visual Effects
Transformers takes the prize here for complexity. Golden Compass and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End are the other nominees.
Jon Stewart returns as host (hopefully for many more years to come). Be sure to watch Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, live on ABC beginning at 8 p.m. EST.
Article comments
1 - icthyophile
Best adapted-TWBB? Really? Over NCFOM? How often do people win more than one Oscar for the same category in their careers? I know it's not too common...but does TWBB have enough to really beat No country?
2 - El Bicho
You seem to hedge your picks by naming more than one potential winner.
Why on earth would Knocked Up get an Oscar nomination? It's a mediocre comedy.
"the rest were independents." Not really.
Juno = Fox Searchlight Pictures, a division of Fox
NCfOM & TWBB = Paramount Vantage, a division of Fox, & Miramax a division of Disney
"Would’ve been great to see the late Adrienne Shelly get a nomination for Waitress."
Why? Its cliched characters were basically a rehash of an "Alice" episode and the story was terrible.
I don't see any reason their winning for Fargo would disqualify the Coens from Best Adapted Screenplay. Plus they already won the WGA award.
Good luck with your picks.
3 - laureeB
Good picks (um, he only did one each and they're in bold) and analysis. It's good to see the little studios (even if they are divisions, they started independently - I guess people's definitions differ) get most of the nominations. Would be interested to see your thoughts in other categories, but that would make it extra long.
4 - El Bicho
Yeah, but he hedged, like with Director where he lists two others who have chances. They all have chances.
"even if they are divisions, they started independently"
Except for Miramax, that's not right because the other two divisions were started by the studios.
5 - Jordan Richardson
Talking about who has a chance to win and hedging ones bets are two different things, though. I'm not really sure what your point is, as the author only selected ONE film/director/etc. for his own personal selection. It kind of seems like argument for argument's sake, now.
6 - Tall Writer
Hello all,
Appreciate the comments/feedback/support. Let's keep the discussion lively. It's a celebration of film with excitement and analysis of what could happen Sunday night.
I value everyone's opinions. Let's keep the semantics to a minimum. Thanks.
7 - Nick T
I agree with Jordan. Not sure what El's point is either.