Predictions Update before the holidays

BEST PICTURE
No Country for Old Men (Miramax)
Atonement (Focus Features)
Sweeny Todd (Dreamworks/Paramount)
Juno (Fox Searchlight)
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage)

BEST DIRECTOR
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men)
Tim Burton (Sweeny Todd)
P.T. Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and Butterfly)
Joe Wright (Atonement)

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)
George Clooney (Michael Clayton)
James McAvoy (Atonement)
Viggo Mortenson (Eastern Promises)

BEST ACTRESS
Julie Christie (Away from Her)
Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose)
Ellen Page (Juno)
Amy Adams (Enchanted)
Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War)
Cassey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James)
Tom Wilkinson ( Michael Clayton)
Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There)
Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)
Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)
Saoirse Ronan (Atonement)
Ruby Dee

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Juno
Michael Clayton
The Savages
Ratatouille
Before the Devil Knows Your Dead

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
No Country for Old Men
Atonement
The Diving Bell and Butterfly
Charlie Wilson's War
There Will Be Blood

Marque Mash Ups

National Treasure: Book of Secrets is Charlie Wilson's War. Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Stroy; P.S. I Love You, both!

Finally something to watch and the time to watch.

BEST PICTURE
Atonement (Focus Features)
No Country for Old Men (Miramax)
Juno (Fox Searchlight)
Sweeny Todd (Dreamworks/Paramount)
American Gangster (Universal Pictures)
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage)
Into the Wild (Paramount Vantage)
Michael Clayton (WB)
Before the Devil Knows Your Dead (ThinkFilm)
The Kite Runner (Paramount Vantage)

BEST DIRECTOR
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men)
Joe Wright (Atonement)
Sidney Lumet (Before the Devil Knows Your Dead)
P.T. Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
Tim Burton (Sweeny Todd)
Ridley Scott (American Gangster)
Jason Reitman (Juno)
Marc Forster (The Kite Runner)
Sean Penn (Into the Wild)
Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and Butterfly)

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)
Tommy Lee Jones (In the Valley of Elah)
James McAvoy (Atonement)
George Clooney (Michael Clayton)
Denzel Washington (American Gangster)
Emile Hirsh (Into the Wild)
Viggo Mortenson (Eastern Promises)
John Cusack (Grace is Gone)
Benico del Toro (Things We Lost in the Fire)

BEST ACTRESS
Ellen Page (Juno)
Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose)
Amy Adams (Enchanted)
Helena Bonham-Carter(Sweeny Todd)
Keira Knightly (Atonement)
Laura Linney (The Savages)
Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart)
Julie Christie (Away from Her)
Jodie Foster (The Brave One)
Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
Tom Wilkinson ( Michael Clayton)
Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild)
Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War)
Cassey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James)
John Travolta (Hairspray)
Max von Sydow (The Diving Bell and Butterfly)
Philip Bosco (The Savages)
Ethan Hawke (Before the Devil Knows Your Dead)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There)
Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)
Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)
Marisa Tomei (Before the Devil Knows Your Dead)
Saoirse Ronan (Atonement)
Samantha Morton (The Golden Age)
Romola Garai (Atonement)
Jennifer Jason Leigh (Margot at the Wedding)
Jennifer Gardner (Juno)
Kelly MacDonald (There Will Be Blood)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Juno
Michael Clayton
Before the Devil Knows Your Dead
The Savages
Ratatouille
Once
In the Valley of Elah
American Gangster
Eastern Promises
Knocked Up

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
No Country for Old Men
Atonement
There Will Be Blood
Into the Wild
Charlie Wilson's War
The Kite Runner
The Diving Bell and Butterfly
Sweeny Todd
Away from Her
Zodiac

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Ratatouille
Persepolis
Beowulf
The Simpsons Movie
Bee Movie
Shrek the Third
Meet the Robinsons
Surf’s Up
Alvin and the Chipmunks

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Assassination of Jesse James
Atonement
The Diving Bell and Butterfly
Sweeny Todd
No Country for Old Men
Into the Wild
American Gangster
Lust, Caution
There Will Be Blood
Elizabeth: The Golden Age

BEST ART DIRECTION
Sweeney Todd
Atonement
The Golden Compass
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Hairspray
There Will Be Blood
The Assassination of Jesse James…
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Pirates of the Caribbean at World’s End
3:10 to Yuma

BEST FILM EDITING
Atonement
No Country for Old Men
American Gangster
Sweeney Todd
Into the Wild
The Golden Compass
There Will Be Blood
The Kite Runner
Hairspray
The Assassination of Jesse James…

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Sweeney Todd
Atonement
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Hairspray
The Golden Compass
The Assassination of Jesse James …
Lust, Caution
Love in the Time of Cholera
Pirates of the Caribbean at World’s End
There Will Be Blood

BEST MAKEUP
Sweeny Todd
Hairspray
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
The Golden Compass
Pirates of the Caribbean at World’s End
Love in the Time of Cholera
Fred Claus
300
La Vie en Rose
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Atonement
Ratatouille
The Golden Compass
The Kite Runner
Beowulf
Lust, Caution
There Will Be Blood
Into the Wild
3:10 to Yuma
Enchanted

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Into the Wild “Guaranteed”
Once “Falling Slowly”
Hairspray “Come So Far”
American Gangster “Do You Feel Me?”
Enchanted “ So Close”
Hairspray “Ladies Choice”
Enchanted “How Does She Know”
Sweeny Todd
Enchanted “Ever, Ever After”
Into the Wild “Society”

BEST SOUND MIXING/DESIGN
Transformers
Sweeney Todd
Beowulf
Pirates of the Caribbean at World’s End
Hairspray
Spider-Man 3
The Golden Compass
American Gangster
Ratatouille
3:10 to Yuma

BEST SOUND EDITING/EFFECTS
Transformers
Spider-Man 3
Beowulf
The Golden Compass
Ratatouille
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End
300
3:10 to Yuma
The Bourne Ultimatum
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Transformers
The Golden Compass
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End
Spider-Man 3
300
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Beowulf
Enchanted
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium

BEST DOCUMENTARY
No End in Sight
Sicko
For the Bible Tells Me So
Nanking
Taxi to the Dark Side
The Rape of Europa
White Light/Black Rain
Body of War
War/Dance
Operation Homecoming

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Persepolis
The Orphanage
Year my Parents Went on Vacation
Silent Night
The Counterfeiters
Secret Sunshine
The Edge of Heaven
The Unknown Woman
XXY

Oscar Predicitions Update

With the news from those lucky enough to see "Charlie Wilson's War" and "Sweeny Todd" I have removed "Charlie" from my top five. I am so glad that all my hopes for "Sweeny Todd" may just be confirmed. Of course, like many others I am biased when it comes to Mr. Depp and Mr. Burton, dispite some mis-steps in the recent past. I am still a fan.

Nothing really new at the cinema this weekend. We may be catching up with some missed films, like "American Gangster," or maybe "The Kingdom" at the second run theatre. And I would like to see "Enchanted," maybe. Sometimes I hate chick flicks too.

Time is ... fleeting. Madness ... takes its toll. But listen closely...

Darjeeling Limited

Okay... my better half gave it a B- but then she is my better half. She is much more polite and much more inclined to point out the good in films by directors we enjoy. Me. Not so much. The film is lite, light, and mostly pointless. The ending is satisfactory but getting there is ....is.... well, that would be the point. I know "Lets go to India and shoot a road picture". This film did nothing for anyone concerned. Nothing for the director (what direction?). Nothing for the actors (they seemed to be rehearsing before our eyes). Nothing for the audience (as the post film conversation was quick). Is it better than most things at the multiplex? Well, of course! Is it a must see? Not even close. I give it a C (with an inclination to a C-). I am disappointed as the film does not even fail in an interesting way. WAIT..... I do, however, still want to go to India. What time does the Bengal Lancer pull away from the station?

Marque Mash Ups

Stephen King's The Mist is Enchanted This Christmas; The Hitman, August Rush is I'm Not There won't be here. But, for No Country for Old Men, we will be standing in line for, if there is a line.

Pet Peeve 3

Why we suffer with teenagers working the projection room.
How many of you out there have been to the last showing of the night and find yourselves sitting the dark without a film to watch? I never got to see the very end of "War of the Roses," at the theatre, the film broke right when they came crashing to the floor. It was months before I got to see it, and I was told by others who actually got to see the whole movie how it ended. Needless to say I enjoyed the film up until they fell, and would have howled with laughter at the end. Last night we went to go see not only the last showing of the night, but it was the only showing of "The Darjeeling Limited," for over two hundred miles around. We sat in that theatre for an hour before we decided that the kid with the phone stuck to ear didn't know what he was doing by the time we tracked down the manager he was telling another usher to tell everyone left in the theatre that the show was canceled. I think that we have suffered through three breakdowns in the last twenty years. But unfortunately countless bad screenings, because the people who run those huge projection machines just don't know what they are doing, is it any wonder people stay at home with their home theatres?

Pet Peeve 2.5

I cannot stand poor writing. Guess what! I am guilty of poor writing. One must only look at my last post to see the truth in that. I promise not to post when I am half asleep and suffering from fatigue. Too late. I already broke that promise. Okay... I promise to think before I write. W

What to Watch tomorow?

I've got to stay home with the animals tomorrow night, while my better half is at work. Here are my film choices to get me in the mood but I need help picking one. Any suggestions?

HORROR DVDS WE HAVE AT HOME
The Abominable Dr. Phibes/Dr. Phibes Strikes Again
Alucarda
Anatomy
Army of Darkness Limited Edition
Audition
The Beyond
Black Sunday
The Blair Witch Project
Bollywood Horror Collection vol. 1
Brotherhood of the Wolf
Bubba Ho-Tep
Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter
The Car
Cat O'Nine Tails
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover
The Corpse Bride
Count Yorga Vampire
Cronos (SE) 10th Anniversary Ed
The Crow 2 disc Collector's Series
Dark City
Dawn of the Dead (2004), Unrated Director's Cut
Day of the Dead
Day Watch (Russian) Super Happy Fun DVD
Dead Ringers
Deep Red
The Devil's Backbone
Donnie Darko
Dracula
Edwards Scissorhands 10th Anniversary Edition
Eraserhead
Frailty
Frankenstein the True Story
From Hell
Gargoyles
Hellboy 3-Disc Special Edition
Hellraiser and Hellraiser II Box Set
Hellraiser: Hellseeker
Hour of the Wolf
Ichi the Killer
Imprint
Incubus
Inferno
Jaws Collector's Edition
The Holy Mountain
The Johnsons
Kill Cruse
The Killer
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
The Kingdom (TV) Danish Edition
Kiss Me Monster
Kung Fu Zombie
Kwaidan
Lady in the Water
Legend 2-disc Ultimate Edition
Lenara: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural
Lifeforce
Lips of Blood
Manhunter Limited Edition
Mark of the Devil: Anchor Bay Edition
Martin, George A. Rome’s
The New York Ripper
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Night of the Living Dead
Night Watch (Nochnoy dozor)
Opera (Argento)
The Others 2-disc Collector’s Edition
Pan’s Labyrinth
Phenomena
Pi
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pitch Black the Director’s Cut
Quills
Razor Blade Smile
Ravenous
Repo Man Special Edition – Anchor Bay Collector’s Tin
Return of the Blind Dead – Anchor Bay Edition
Return of the Living Dead – Special Limited Edition
Ringu Anthology of Terror
The Ring Virus Special Edition
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 2-disc set
Rosemary’s Baby
Santo en Atacan Las Brujas
Saw
Seconds
Shaun of the Dead
Silence of the Lambs
Signs
Sleepy Hollow
Spawn
The Stendhal Syndrome
The Stepford Wives
Suspiria – Limited Edition 3-disc Set
Tenderness of Wolves
Tombs of the Blind Dead
28 Days Later
Twin Peaks (TV Pilot)
Unbreakable Special 2-disc Edition
Unholy
The Vampire Collection II
- El Vampiro
- El Ataud Del Vampiro
Vampyros Lesbos
The Village
The Wickerman – Anchor Bay Special Box Set
Young Frankenstein

NO, you can't borrow any, we don't lend them out!

Pet Peeve 2

Okay. I admit that this was handed to me. A friend has this as one of his movie peeves and I can not help but notice it as well (Thanks Dave). Teeth. White as snow teeth. Big giant horse teeth. It seems like every actor in the world has super bright pearly white teeth (as perhaps they should be movie stars and all), or they have those huge fake teeth so it seems they have implanted horse teeth. Their teeth are not a problem until they star in a period piece. The art direction goes to great extremes to get hair and costumes just right. There should be no out of place fabrics or modern hair cuts (hair pieces) but then the actor talks. Giant white teeth from a time when there were no tooth brushes, much less a time with dental cleaning. You becomes distracted by the incongruous teeth. What? Don't the costumers have a way to make the teeth look natural? You will now be noticing this, now that I told you about giant shiny white teeth. Go ahead and smile your shiny smiles in your next western, war, or middle ages film. We will not notice that your smile detracts from all of the hard work that the art director did. We won't notice that your teeth seem to take up the entire frame. Go right ahead and smile. W

Marque Mash Ups

Dan in Real Life Across the Universe Feels the Noise
That's what new around here this weekend.
My first choice? Across the Universe - I didn't think this would EVER get here.
I still want to see Gone Baby Gone very much, so that's a maybe.

Sal Mineo

Did anyone know that the great Sal Mineo did a guest spot on S.W.A.T.. The real star of Rebel without a Cause reduced to episodic television.

Suggestions?

Well we saw 30 Days of Night and we liked it. I have a thing for vampire films and I suspect that I have given it to my lovely wife as well. The trouble is that there are so many bad vampire films, that one has to wade through a lot of muck to get to a good one. So I am open to suggestions about good, perhaps even great, vampire films. I am not going to list my favorites as not to add suggestion to your lists. Don't create a list of what you think I might like but rather to what you like. Please feel free to open this to a wider suggestions of "horror" films. If you can keep to a single topic then so much the better, such as favorite vampire films, zombie films, or nature attacks films. I look forward to your lists.

Vampire, Zombie, Monster, Giant Monster, Killer, Nazi's, Attacking Hamsters.....

What's at the cineplex this weekend?

30 Days of Night - It's that time of year. And Will has gotten me to love vampire films. This will be our first choice.

Gone Baby Gone - Our secnd film of the weekend if we get the chance.

That leaves three others to choose from and maybe one free night next week.
Michael Clayton - which I fear will not be here much longer.

Rendition - I still haven't decided wheather this will be worth going to see or not.

Things We Lost in the Fire - Oh, I do love a good weepy movie, and Benico isn't bad either.

The Best Picture race: my thoughts

1. Atonement – the frontrunner, because I have not read one single bad thing about this film anywhere, although it reminds of “the English Patient.” And I don’t think that is a good thing. I am looking forward to seeing this, although I probably won’t get a chance until after the New Year maybe even only after the nominations come out and it gets those 9 or 10 nominations I’m predicting it to get.

2.There Will Be Blood – The second most critically reviewed film so far. With comparisons to “Citizen Kane,” that could be good for or bad, for a dark period drama with phenomenal acting that may not have wide appeal. Again, unfortunately another film that I won’t get to see until probably some time early next year.

3.Charlie Wilson’s War – With two of America’s favorite actors, though Tom Hanks seems miss-cast, people will go see this film for Tom Hanks and for Julia Roberts, but they may not like it, and more importantly the critics and the Academy may not like it. Especially if we get beat over the head with a message film. It’s got to be great! But we will have to wait and see, and for us it will have to wait probably until the New Year, this is not our priority holiday film.

4.Sweeny Todd the Barber of Fleet Street – (this is our priority holiday film!) It’s Johnny Depp and Tim Burton together again! BUT, it’s a musical… so? So I happen to like musicals. (We don’t get but maybe two Broadway shows down here a year, and not any of the new touring stuff, i.e., “Cats” played for the first time two years ago). We had serious doubts about Johnny in the first Pirates film way back in the summer of ’03; we couldn't’t believe that he was in a Disney movie, and that the film was based on a Disneyland ride. If this film can match just half of that success “Sweeny Todd” could prove golden.

5.This 5th spot is tricky it could be any one of these next five….

Juno – A festival favorite this year’s “Little Movie That Might.” And because of last year’s “Little Miss Sunshine” success, this film has a chance. But it has got to go into a wide release no more than two weeks after its limited release, and go big. (we will not get to see this before the New Year)

American Gangster – Another Gangster/Mob/Cop drama, this type of film, I think can compare to the Western in its 1950’s heyday – everyone loved a western then like everyone loves a bad guy (or rather a gangsta) today. But Ridley Scott will not win for this film, God, I hope he won't. His time WILL come, just not this year with this film.

No Country for Old Men – The Hit n’ Miss Coen Brothers are back,(some people just don’t get them) and most of those people are voting Academy members. The violence might be too brutal but the performances could save it. As Coen Bros. fans, we can’t wait to see it – this is probably our Thanksgiving Holiday film.

Michael Clayton – An Oscar bait film, but George Clooney is not drawing them in with that weak opening weekend, although as this is targeted towards adults, word of mouth and critical success could keep this film from falling by the way side, but the test will be if it survives this weekend.

Gone Baby Gone – So far so good; wait for it … we’ll know more by Friday. This is could take the fifth spot.

Eastern Promises – A very good film, deserving of a nomination, but it can’t compete with what else is out there this year.

3:10 to Yuma – A very good remake, most say better than the original, but it’s still a REMAKE!

Into the Wild – Too small, too early, and too sad. It suffers from the same effect “Little Children” had last year. It’s on everyone’s list but not seriously. Still a must see for me. But like “Little Children,” we won’t get to see this until it hits Netflix.

CLOSE TO THE EDGE
These films are still up in the air, because of their potential and because they are good films, but they only have a slight chance; they need a miracle.

In the Valley of Elah
The Savages
Lions for Lambs
Before the Devil Knows Your Dead
The Great Debaters
Once
Lust, Caution
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

The Differences Between US

The wife and I make frequent trips to the darkness of a cinema. Movies have always been a passion of ours though not always in the same way. We spent our "courtship" going to movies. We left our wedding reception and went to a movie. There is one noticeable difference between us at a movie. It is not how we watch a film. It is not how we choose a film. It is not what we do during the film. What is the big difference between us? Popcorn. Yes, I said popcorn. It is not whether we get popcorn, as more likely than not we do. It is not whether we share as we always do. The difference is how we eat popcorn. This difference goes back to how we first saw movies as children. I was effectively a only child as my siblings were no longer in the home. The lovely wife is one of four. I went to movies alone or with friends. She went to movies with her siblings. I most likely had my own popcorn, unless my friends and I were sharing, but usually I had my own. She always had to share. Here is where the difference is: I learned to eat popcorn slowly so that it would last through the movie: and she learned to get what you can before your siblings eat it all. I would eat one kernel at a time. Sometimes I would eat only half a kernel. Savoring. She would try to get what she could before it was all gone. How do we eat popcorn now? Her way or my way? Hers, of course! Should there be a long episode of previews then most likely the popcorn is gone before the film even starts. She taught me to eat "Family Style" though I should have taught her to eat "single kernel style". We share our popcorn and have almost never quarreled about it. Popcorn was the first thing that we learned to share so, in a strange way, popcorn helped cement our relationship (no jokes about arteries hardening). So heres to Popcorn. Hip Hip Hooray.

What are my Choices this week

Well I didn't get to the cinema this week. So I've missed "In the Valley of Elah," but I still have a chance to catch "The Brave One."

New - Elizabeth: The Golden Age for sure, hey its the Great Kate!

New - Michael Clayton This is probably the best bet, I like George and Will likes Tilda, enough said.

New - We Own the Night - It looks like a good "AMC movie" (where one would welcome the commericals and censorship).

New - Death at a Funeral I may just have to read some reviews about this before hand.

Pet Peeve 1

I am jumping in to the middle of this blog. Please excuse the first of many rants. Hollywood rant number one: I hate when a historical biopic is made and important people are left out simply because they get in the way. If your script is so narrow that you must change history in order to tell "your story" then perhaps you should pay more attention to the historical facts. I have learned that "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" omits any and all of the Younger brothers. The book that the movie script is based on has the Youngers as major characters. History has the Youngers as major members of the James-Younger gang (hence the name). I know what we will do because that pesky brother keeps getting in the way, so we won't even mention Jesse. The complaint is that the general audience knows so little of history that they take "movie history" as fact. Don't believe me? Ask how many people whether JFK the movie is factual correct then look for yourself. Film maker have the ethical responsibility to hold historical fact together. I know... I know... Since when is Hollywood the keeper of ethics? Never, but I propose that every action is in and of itself a ethical action. Film makers know that people are getting history from them so the should try to be correct. Ugh... like this is going to make a difference in the scheme of things.
W

Oh, If I Had the Time...for what's at the nearest theatres this weekend

The New stuff at the theatre this week and the old stuff I still haven't found the time to see.

New - The Heartbreak Kid

- I don't think so. I only find the Farrelly Brothers only mildly amusing, and I only like Ben Still when he is playing a wild character, like Derek Zoolander or White Goodman.

New - Feast of Love

- again I don't think so, this just seems too 'Lifetime Movieish,' not that there is anything wrong with that. Wait a minute, yes there is.

New - In the Valley of Elah

- for as much as I like Tommy Lee Jones, this story just seems too depressing.

New - The Jane Austen Book Club

- O.K. this will meet my 1 chick flick quota for the year.

The Brave One

-Still not seen and my next pick should I ever get to the theatre again.

The Kingdom

-if I don't get a say in what we see or for some reason can't make it for the Brave One

Trailer Woes

Hopefully there should be a trailer for "Sweeny Todd" this week, but it may first appear before "The Heartbreak Kid" before in goes online. Frankly I have no intrest in seeing that movie. But, I just found out that the trailer for "Love in the Time of Cholera" should premier online at msn on October 9th. But the trailer for "Charlie Wilson's War?" I have no clue when this will appear, maybe before showings of "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," which dispite the bad reviews I still want to see.

Trailer Trippin'

After veiwing a couple of trailers this morning for "Reservation Road," and "The Kite Runner." I ask myself, am I having flashbacks to last year or what? I feel like I just saw two sister films for "Little Children" and "Babel."

Am I wrong? Or does anyone else out there feel the same?

Check out the trailer for "Reservation Road"


I don't think that this will get much Oscar buzz other than acting, maybe for Ruffalo. I think that too much is given away in this, and right away it reminded me of 'Little Children,' which was a much better tailer by the way, and just like little children this will also not be seen by enough people, the story is a turn off, and I think that's why they leave the gun shot in the trailer at the end, to give us that,'something's-gonna-happen-thing, but-to-who?


and the for the "Kite Runner" at Yahoo movies

This is the much better story but again its about a world that is not viewed as desireable. This is because we live in the Bush era of everything that is middle eastern is vile and we must beware the evil-doers who wear turbins. It will need the critics push and those who have read and love the book to go see the film and say that Marc Foster did a good job. This is going on my reading list, though.

Trailer Talk

Well I just caught the trailers for "Things We Lost in the Fire" and "Beowulf." I have to say that "Things" does look like huge Oscar bait, it looks like a three hankie film, which sometimes does not go over well with critics, i.e. "Regin Over Me." I know I will be looking forward to it, and I will have to remember to bring tissue. I do like when Del Toro plays the strong silent type. Now "Beowulf," looks like "300," (which I loved) but the question is it animated or real or what, something more like "A Scanner Darkly" I think. The thing I hate about this is that it's directed by Robert Zemeckis, whom I'm not too fond of. He is really is a hit and miss director. But the look of the film is very promising.

What to Think

While I am anxiously awaiting for my Harry Potter book to arrive, I've been checking out what I will be missing at the theatre this weekend. I can't believe the numbers for "Hairspray," Rotten Tomatoes has it a 94% tonight. I don't know when or if, I will get the chance to see it though. For the second time this summer a group of films that were only limited releases have made it to the Valley. I am so looking forward to catching a couple of them once I've finished reading my book. Hopefully later this week I can catch "Sicko," and "The Lives of Others." I would now also like to add "Hairspray." I think we will all have to consider what Oscar bait to cast for "Hairspray," although I will wait to make up my mind after I've seen the film.

It's been a long time since we've done three movies in a week, I remember those fond days when we would do three films in a day. (sigh)
And don't forget next week, "The Simpsons," "Sunshine," and "Rescue Dawn." I think its time to take a second vacation.

Movie Notes " Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"

I am so disappointed with the latest Harry Potter film, I feel so sorry for those of you who have not read the book, because you will be truly lost. This was the worst directed, the worst adaptation and the worst acted to date. How could they make the longest book in the series the shortest movie? That should have been my first clue. I was worried that a man who had never directed a big theatrical film before was a mistake and my worries were realized. Where was the direction? Where was the plot? The look of the film was not any different from what we know of the world of Harry Potter from the past four films. What truly worries me is that the fine plot points that were left out, are intricate to the plot in the next book/film, I don't how Steve Koves is going to fix that. I am puzzled as to why the screenwriter would leave certain things out and then put in scenes that were not in the book. I am both glad and sad that the screenwriter is not coming back for the sixth book, but I am deeply worried that this means the death of a movie franchise that should have been getting better not worse. What this film series needs is a director who can handle the mature change that the story has gone through. I did not like the first couple of books and I actually knotted off during the first film, which I was reluctant to go to. But, I have become a big fan, as the films got better my appreciation of the books grew and grew. I do prefer the books to the films, they can't compare.

Lust Caution Trailer

There is not much to get excited about lately except new movie trailers, and here is a brilliant one, that comes out in September. If it doesn't open wide and if the much delayed construction of the Alamo Drafthouse ever opens, I have no idea of when or if I will get to see this, so I will eat up this trailer and savior.

The Trailer for "No Country for Old Men"

AWESOME! This is one of my most anticipated films this year. And it looks so promising.

Trailer News

I've watched the trailers for "I Am Legend," "30 Days of Night," and "Invasion." I know that we are not going to see Will Smith in another scifi flick again, ever! And I'm not a big fan of Nicole Kidmans either, so that is a maybe. 30 Days sounded interesting before I saw the trailer, then I freaked, what the hell is Josh Hartnet doing in this, I had no idea he was in it, well that just put the kabosh on that film, it had better get good reviews before I fork over seven bucks. The horror mag Rue Morgue said it was their most anticipated film this year, but we will have to wait and see.

BAD/SAD movie news

It is reported that Steve Martin is to reprise his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau in, now get this ... "Pink Panther 2." Isn't that just the most creative title you've ever heard? I had been a fan of his since seeing him on "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" and listening to his "Wild and Crazy Guy" album, which I still have by the way. But for about the last ten years the funny has left Mr. Martin and so has this fan. The last film we paid to go and see was 1999's "Bowfinger." Which by the way was, I thought a nice turn for Eddie Murphy as well. I love his work in the 70's and 80's and one or two films from the 90's but come on does anyone still think that this guy is funny? It just makes me sad.

American Gangster Trailer

These two performances don't strike me as impressive, I mean I don't see anything that I havn't seen from these guys before

The 'Michael Clayton" trailer

This looks a little like, and reminds me of "The Insider," directed by Michael Mann, the role Russell Crowe should have won for. Now, that was based on a true story, while this is not. I don't even know who directed this. I will guess that if the best actor field is weak this year, Geogre Clooney may have a chance at a nomination, but only if he get raves, I don't think thats likely at all, not the raves, but a nomination. Although, it looks like Tom Wilkinson may end up in my top ten supporting actors for the year.

Damn!

That John Rambo footage is bloody as hell. I don't know if I want to see this, not because of the bloody carnage, but it looks pretty stupid. Stallone is way too old for this shit.

I need a movie BAD, this is a tuff week...

and month, and the next dosen't too easy either. Any suggestions?

And now for something different?

My visits to the local cinemas has been scarce these last few months. But I have very good reasons, 1)I'm training three days a week for a CTF National Tae Kwon Do Championship tournament in June, 2)My favorite theatre the old Cine El Rey in downtown McAllen has been hosting live stage shows and not films. And now I've learned that a new potential owner is leasing the historic theatre, he has already begun renovations and there has not been any films shown for over a month now. He says that he intends to continue to show movies, but I know how hard it was to get the films that we have become accustomed to seeing there. So, I doubt he will stay true to his word. Oh, I don't doubt that the Cine del Sol film festival will still show films there this fall, but the local community college film club, that I doubt. And the 3rd reason that I haven't gone to the movies since the weekend that "Hot Fuzz" came out is because of what was offered here. There really is not a film that we are willing to spend more than twenty dollars on, I mean come on a teenage/thriller/remake, Tony Hopkins in the trailer for "Fracture" looks a little too much like Hannibal the Cannibal, so the ending is a dead give away, even if he didn't kill his wife. Another comedy from Will Farrell? Well, yeah, I would still like to see that. On another note, the now infamous 'Spider-Man' weekend went by, and so did my chances to see it. We stayed home and watched "Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny" on DVD. The amount of money that 'Spider-Man' made just discuss me no end and I'm glad I was not apart of that, but don't get me wrong they are going to get my money, I do want to see it despite the reviews.

So, look for the summer movies that I plan to see and the ones I wish I could see. And I've got more updates on my Oscar predictions for the 80th Academy Awards comming soon.

Movie Notes "Hott Fuzz"

"Well, I wouldn't argue that is was a no holes, barred, adrenalin fuelled thrill ride. But, there is no way you can perpetrate that amount of carnage and mayhem and not incur a considerable amount of paperwork."

This was one of my most antisipated films of the year, and it was worth the wait. This is the way movie spoofs should be made. And what a great spoof, cop films, action films and oh, the gore! I espicaly liked the way it is sort of a reworking of "The Wicker Man." I didn't get that at first until the credits were rolling and I caught the name, Edward Woodward. My husband pointed out how this was "The Wickerman," where the cop wins in the end. This was so much fun. These are funny guys. I hope they make more films together, I will be there.

Cannes!

I was checking out the films that will be shown in Cannes this year, and I was quite surprised that I have already seen two of these films, "Zodiac" and "Death Proof," I'm shocked, that has never happend before. Normally I don't get to see any of these films usless they become huge successes. I am looking forward to someday seeing the following films:

"My Blueberry Nights," Hong Kong-France-China, Wong Kar Wai (the opener)
"The Age of Darkness," Canada, Denys Arcand (the closing film)
"Breath," South Korea, Kim Ki-duk
"No Country For Old Men," U.S., The Coen Brothers
"Paranoid Park," France-U.S., Gus Van Sant
"We Own the Night," U.S., James Gray
"Persepolis," France-U.S., Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud

and the rest of the competition:

"4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," Romania, Cristian Mungiu
"Alexandra," Russia, Alexander Sokurov
"Auf der anderen Seite des Lebens," Germany-Turkey, Fatih Akin
"The Banishment," Russia-Belgium, Andrey Zvyagintsev
"Les Chansons d'amour," France, Christophe Honore
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," France, Julian Schnabel
"Import/Export," Austria, Ulrich Seidl
"The Man From London," Germany-France-U.K.-Hungary, Bela Tarr
"Mogari No Mor," Japan, Naomi Kawase
"Promise Me This," France-Serbia, Emir Kusturica
"Secret Sunshine," South Korea, Lee Chang-dong
"Silent Light," Mexico-France-Netherlands, Carlos Reygadas
"Tehilim," France, Raphael Nadjari
"Une Vieille Maitresse," France, Catherine Breillat

Movie Notes "GRINDHOUSE!"

what can I say?
It was silly, stupid, bad, funny, sometimes really bad (QT's cameos), and yet I had a good time. It was like going back in time. Not that I actually got see those kinds of movies, but I grew up in a small town with four theatres, two showed the latest "Hollywood" films, one was a Spanish theatre, where I saw Mexican wrestler films and Cantinflas' films and the other was what we call today the second run/dollar theater where there was a double feature every week. What I remember about grindhouse type films from the late seventies were the previews, though not as wild as those featured with Planet Terror and Death Proof, I do have a clear memory for the double feature of Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead. I also remember being terrified of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre trailer and wishing I could actually watch the karate films that were previewed. Alas I was sheltered as a child, had it not been for the invention of VHS tape, I would have remained a cinematic innocent. Oh the depravity of living in a small town with nothing to do but go to the local video store every weekend where I could rent all the films that I never got to see as a kid.

Of the two films I did like Death Proof more, the car chase scenes did it for me, Zoe Bell was amazing, but during the first half of the film I was so begging for the inane dialogue to end it was boring as hell. Oh, and thank God Quentin was only really in this film for a brief cameo. He pretty much ruined Planet Terror for me, I wish he would stay the hell away from the front of the camera. This film was nothing special, other than to see Jeff Fahey and Michael Biehn again that was cool. But even the soundtrack was lame, just the same old shit. The fake trailers were fantastic. I loved that they were actually directed by Rob Zombie and Eli Roth, though I liked "Werewolf Women of the SS" the most.

I was checking out lists of "grindhouse' films on line the other day and I was surprised that I actually have some of these titles at home like: Ilsa - She Wolf of the SS, Sex and Fury, Vampyros Lesbos, Dawn of the Dead, The Streetfighter and nine other Sonny Chiba films, and films that I actually got to see in a theatre like Zombie by Lucio Fulci.

Everyone has been adding their two cents about why this failed at the box office, and frankly I wasn't that suprised because of the weekend they chose to release it puzzled me no end, what the hell were they thinking? A three hour film during easter weekend, yeah the weather was bad here, but it was wet-cold-stay-at-home weather. So we saw it later during the week, and I watched as a group of people down from us got up to leave after the first film was over, like they had no idea that they paid for more. They are going to be released again sepratley? Yeah, like I'm really going to pay to see them agian. No way I got screwed when I bought Sin City right away and then felt ripped off when another dvd was released later. I'm not giving those two more money than I have too.

50 Films to Look For

Here is a list of 50 films that I think have a good shot at a nomination for best picture, of course I could also be wrong and none of these will make it. But I will bet that out of these there will be four of them that get a nomination.

Charlie Wilson’s War
The Kite Runner
American Gangster
Youth Without Youth
Lions for Lambs
Eastern Promises
Sweeny Todd
There Will Be Blood
Lust, Caution
The Other Boleyn Girl
The Brave One
In the Valley of Elah
Reservation Road
No Country for Old Men
My Blueberry Nights
Rescue Dawn
The Darjeeling Limited
Goya’s Ghost
Before the Devil Knows Your Dead
I’m Not There
Across the Universe
Into the Wild
Rendition
Margot at the Wedding
The Assassination of Jesse James
Love in the Time of Cholera
Closing the Ring
The Feast of Love
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
Things We Lost in the Fire
Atonement
In Bloom
Margaret
The Golden Age
Beowulf
A Mighty Heart
Nothing is Private
His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass
An American Crime
The Savages
King of California
Away From Her
Evening
Gone, Baby, Gone
Leatherheads
Silk
The Children of Huang Shi
Stardust
Michael Clayton
The Hoax

My first film of 2007

Zodiac was the worth the wait. Ah, finnally Fincher gave us a thrid act, well done! If you don't know that the Zodiac killer was never caught, then you will walk away unsatisfied and you are a moron.
Most defiantly the best true crime drama that I can remember. I don't know maybe since In Cold Blood. I know usually when i see a film about unsolved true crime stories I am left wanting a better conclusion, yes, yes I know they never caught the guy, but... I want closer, and when we are given a possible conclusion to what probably happened I am left unsatisfied and full of more questions as to why the writer and director went with that conclusion. When ficional elements are introduced to move the plot or give us character development it subtracts substance from the story and it ultimately fails the true crime and the victums. David Fincher stayed well away from adding fictional elements to the story or go the other route and shorten the telling in a nice, neat and tidy little way, you know and turn it into the TV thriller of the week. He stuck to the story and it draws you in and won't let go.
I was particuarlly impressed the attention to detail, the period setting in a time that I grew up in was a very uniqe experience to watch on screen (all except Gyllenhaal's Levis shirt with the little red tag - wrong era.) I have no complaints with this film, just when I felt that the story had run out of gas we were taken in a different direction and it was worth the ride and the almost two and a half hours. I was so happy to see Anthony Edwards again and in fine form also Charles Fleishcer, I've always liked that guy, and he creeped me out!

My Oscar Night post - how I did

ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION
The Winner: Pan's Labyrinth
My Predicted Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
Who else?

MAKEUP
The Winner: Pan's Labyrinth
My Predicted Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
Yeah! Pan’s is on its way.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
The Winner: The Danish Poet
My Predicted Winner: The Little Matchgirl
My Alternate: The Danish Poet
Well this is my first miss.

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
The Winner: West Bank Story
My Predicted Winner: West Bank Story

SOUND EDITING/EFFECTS
The Winner: Letters from Iwo Jima
My Predicted Winner: Letters from Iwo Jima

SOUND MIXING/DESIGN
The Winner: Dreamgirls
My Predicted Winner: Dreamgirls

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
The Winner: Alan Arkin
My Predicted Winner: Murphy
My Alternate: Alan Arkin
The first and biggest surprise of the evening.

ANIMATED FEATURE
The Winner: Happy Feet
My Predicted Winner: Cars
My Alternate: Happy Feet
This was a very, very happy surprise.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Winner: The Departed
My Predicted Winner: The Departed

COSTUME DESIGN
The Winner: Marie Antoinette
My Predicted Winner: Dreamgirls
My Alternate: The Curse of the Golden Flower
The Dark Horse: Marie Antoinette
Again, I missed another one here; I should have stuck with Marie Antoinette, which was my favorite choice.
Yeah, Dreamgirls didn’t get it!

CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Winner: Pan's Labyrinth
My Predicted Winner: Children of Men
My Alternate: Pan’s Labyrinth
The third big surprise of the night, only a disappointment because I missed it. I started figuring out here that Pan’s could walk away tonight with the most awards.

VISUAL EFFECTS
The Winner: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
My Predicted Winner: Pirates of the Caribbean 2

BEST FOREIGN FILM
The Winner: The Lives of Others
My Predicted Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
My Alternate: The Lives of Others
I feel so bad now; did I jinx it and spoke too soon? Now I really have to see The Lives of Others.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The Winner: Jennifer Hudson
My Predicted Winner: Hudson

SHORT SUBJECT
The Winner: The Blood of Yingzhou District
My Predicted Winner: The Blood of Yingzhou District

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
The Winner: An Inconvenient Truth
My Predicted Winner: An Inconvenient Truth

ORIGINAL SCORE
The Winner: Babel
My Predicted Winner: The Queen
My Alternate: Pan’s Labyrinth
The Dark Horse: Babel
Again, only my second big miss of the night. And I’m not happy about it. Sadly I think this will be the only win for Babel.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Winner: Little Miss Sunshine
My Predicted Winner: Little Miss Sunshine

ORIGINAL SONG
The Winner: An Inconvenient Truth
My Predicted Winner: “Listen” from “Dreamgirls”
My Alternate: An Inconvenient Truth
I can't tell you how happy I was that Dreamgirls lost. I was screaming.

FILM EDITING
The Winner: The Departed
My Predicted Winner: Babel
My Alternate: The Departed
Again, I should stick to my origianl picks sometimes.

BEST ACTRESS
The Winner: Helen Mirren
My Predicted Winner: Mirren
But of course.

BEST ACTOR
The Winner: Forest Whitaker
My Predicted Winner: Whitaker
The only performance of the five I've seen. He was scary.

BEST DIRECTOR
The Winner: Martin Scorsese
My Predicted Winner: Scorsese
I don’t remember a more nerve racking moment in all my years of watching this show. I was so afraid he wouldn’t win.

BEST PICTURE
The Winner: The Departed
My Predicted Winner: Little Miss Sunshine
My Alternate: The Departed
I took a chance this year and went with a hunch. I underestimated the Hollywood affection for Marty.
What I learned? Forget hunches, go with the consensus and your gut, and remember the curse of the Spirit Awards and THE FORMULA.

I didn’t do so great this year with my predictions only 14/24 (56%), but counting my alternates I got 22/24 (if only).

Maybe next year will remember this year’s lessons …. NOT!

Join in the competition

Hey wanna see if you can beat me? Check out these contests.

Offical Oscar.com Contest
PredictTheOscars.com
Oscar Pick 'Em, efilmcritic
The Road to Gold, The Envelope
Daily Press
FilmGuru.net
Oscarwatch's 8th Annual Predict the Oscar Contest
Box Office Mojo
Beat the Crowd
Film Fluff
movies.com
Oscar World Open - this is my favorite, I finished among the top ten last year, and I finished third the year before that.

My Final Predictions

BEST PICTURE
My Predicted Winner: Little Miss Sunshine
My Alternate: The Departed
The Dark Horse: Babel

BEST DIRECTOR
My Predicted Winner: Scorsese
My Alternate: Eastwood
The Dark Horse: Frears

BEST ACTOR
My Predicted Winner: Whitaker
The Dark Horse: O’Toole

BEST ACTRESS
My Predicted Winner: Mirren
My Alternate: Streep
The Dark Horse: Dench

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
My Predicted Winner: Murphy
My Alternate: Alan Arkin
The Dark Horse: Walhberg

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
My Predicted Winner: Hudson
My Alternate: Breslin
The Dark Horse:Kikuchi

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
My Predicted Winner: The Departed
My Alternate: Notes on a Scandal
The Dark Horse: Children of Men

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
My Predicted Winner: Little Miss Sunshine
My Alternate: The Queen
The Dark Horse: Babel

ANIMATED FEATURE
My Predicted Winner: Cars
My Alternate: Happy Feet
The Dark Horse: Monster House

BEST FOREIGN FILM
My Predicted Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
My Alternate: The Lives of Others
The Dark Horse: Days of Glory

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
My Predicted Winner: An Inconvenient Truth
My Alternate: Deliver Us from Evili
The Dark Horse: Jesus Camp

CINEMATOGRAPHY
My Predicted Winner: Children of Men
My Alternate: Pan’s Labyrinth
The Dark Horse: The Illusionist

FILM EDITING
My Predicted Winner: Babel
My Alternate: The Departed
The Dark Horse: Children of Men

ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION
My Predicted Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
My Alternate: Dreamgirls
The Dark Horse: Pirates of the Caribbean 2

COSTUME DESIGN
My Predicted Winner: Dreamgirls
My Alternate: The Curse of the Golden Flower
The Dark Horse: Marie Antoinette

MAKEUP
My Predicted Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
My Alternate: Apocalypto

VISUAL EFFECTS
My Predicted Winner: Pirates of the Caribbean 2
My Alternate:

SOUND MIXING/DESIGN
My Predicted Winner: Dreamgirls
My Alternate: Pirates of the Caribbean 2

SOUND EDITING/EFFECTS
My Predicted Winner: Letters from Iwo Jima
My Alternate: Pirates of the Caribbean 2

ORIGINAL SONG
My Predicted Winner: “Listen” from “Dreamgirls”
My Alternate: An Inconvenient Truth

ORIGINAL SCORE
My Predicted Winner: The Queen
My Alternate: Babel
The Dark Horse: Pan’s Labyrinth

SHORT SUBJECT
My Predicted Winner: “The Blood of Yingzhou District”
My Alternate: “Recycled Life”

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
My Predicted Winner: The Little Matchgirl
My Alternate: The Danish Poet

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
My Predicted Winner: West Bank Story
My Alternate: Binta and the Great Idea
The Dark Horse: The Savior

Great new site, click here

Check out this great new site. I love watching movies, but at this site I can now listen to them at work on my computer. There are some great films here. I love it!

listentoamovie.com

I can't help it

As much as I hate Oprah, I will watch her Oscar Special tonight, because she is not in it. I gave up Barbara Walters Oscar Speicals a long time ago.

"Get used to disapointment"

Could we be in for some suprises on Sunday night? What about upsets? Or, will we once again be scratching our heads and vowing never to watch this show again or care. Come on I know there were those of you out there who were heartbroken (escuse the pun) about the best picture result last year. What if Scorsese looses this year?

I kind of like that the best picture race is so open this year. I do hate being wrong about what I think will win, but trying to guess what will win is fun! Especially when your good at it.

Well, we could be quite disappointed come sunday night, or at least mildly surprised.
Here are some nice suprises I would gladly welcome

Alan Arkin beating Eddie Murphy for Best Supporting Actor
Curse of the Golden Flower winning for Best Costume
"I need to Wake Up" winning for Best Song
Notes on a Scandal winning for Best Original Score
Children of Men beating the Departed for Adapted Screenplay
Happy Feet beating Cars for Animation

Film Independent’s 2007 Spirit Awards (My Picks)

This is simply for fun. I have only seen maybe five of the films that are nominated, but I love to watch the show.

BEST PICTURE
Half Nelson

BEST DIRECTOR
Johnathan Dayton & Valerie Faris “Little Miss Sunshine”

BEST FIRST FEATURE
Man Push Cart

BEST ACTOR
Ryan Gosling in “Half Nelson”

BEST ACTRESS
Catherin O’Hara in “For Your Consideration”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin “Little Miss Sunshine”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Mary Beth Hurt in “The Dead Girl”

BEST SCREENPLAY
Thank You for Smoking

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Little Miss Sunshine

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Pan’s Labyrinth

BEST FOREIGN FILM
The Lives of Others

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Road to Guantanamo

The Good and the Bad

I do love to make lists, and I was board so here are my personal favorites for the best and worst Oscar winners.

Oscar’s Worst ‘Best Pictures’ Ever!
Broadway Melody (1928/29)
Cimarron (1931)
Cavalcade (1933)
The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
You Can’t Take It With You (1938)
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Going My Way (1944)
Gentlemen’s Agreement (1947)
All the King’s Men (1949)
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Gigi (1958)
Tom Jones (1963)
My Fair Lady (1964)
Oliver! (1968)
Patton (1970)
The Sting (1973)
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Ordinary People (1980)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Terms of Endearment (1983)
Out of Africa (1985)
Rain Man (1988)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Forrest Gump (1994)
The English Patient (1996)
Titanic (1997)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Crash (2005)


The Very Best ‘Best Pictures’ Ever!
Casablanca (1942)
The Godfather (1972)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
On the Waterfront (1954)
All About Eve (1950)
Schindler’s List (1993)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Annie Hall (1977)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
An American in Paris (1951)
Wings (1927)
Amadeus (1983)
The French Connection (1971)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1947)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Unforgiven (1992)
LORT: Return of the King (2003)
Rebecca (1940)
It Happened One Night 91934)
The Bridge On the River Kwai (1957)
All Quiet on the Western Front (1929/30)
Sound of Music (1965)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Apartment (1960)
West Side Story (1961)

"The Suspence is terrible... I hope it lasts"

I'm bored out of my mind. Winter sucks. Being sick sucks! I couldn't get to the cinema this weekend to see "Letters from Iwo Jima," so I stayed home and watched all six Star Wars films in order. And still I'm bored, bored, bored.

Two weeks til' the big show and all I can do is keep changing my mind on who will win best pictrue. Is this as boring as I think or is it just me? Here's what I've got now.

BEST PICTURE
My Predicted Winner: Little Miss Sunshine
My Alternate: The Departed
The Dark Horse: Babel

BEST DIRECTOR
My Predicted Winner: Scorsese
My Alternate: Eastwood
The Dark Horse: Frears

BEST ACTOR
My Predicted Winner: Whitaker
My Alternate: O’Toole
Who Will Win: Whitaker
Who Should Win: O’Toole
The Dark Horse: O’Toole

BEST ACTRESS
My Predicted Winner: Mirren
My Alternate: Streep
Who Will Win: Mirren
The Dark Horse: Dench

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
My Predicted Winner: Murphy
My Alternate: Alan Arkin
Who Should Win: Jackie Earle Haley
The Dark Horse: Walhberg

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
My Predicted Winner: Hudson
My Alternate: Kikuchi
Who Should Win: Kikuchi
The Dark Horse: Breslin

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
My Predicted Winner: The Departed
My Alternate: Notes on a Scandal
Who Should Win: Children of Men
The Dark Horse: Children of Men

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
My Predicted Winner: Little Miss Sunshine
My Alternate: The Queen
Who Should Win: Babel
The Dark Horse: Babel

ANIMATED FEATURE
My Predicted Winner: Cars
My Alternate: Happy Feet
Who Should Win: Happy Feet
The Dark Horse: Happy Feet

BEST FOREIGN FILM
My Predicted Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
My Alternate: The Lives of Others
The Dark Horse: Days of Glory

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
My Predicted Winner: An Inconvenient Truth
My Alternate: Deliver Us from Evili
The Dark Horse: Jesus Camp

CINEMATOGRAPHY
My Predicted Winner: Children of Men
My Alternate: Pan’s Labyrinth
The Dark Horse: The Illusionist

FILM EDITING
My Predicted Winner: The Departed
My Alternate: Babel
The Dark Horse: Children of Men

ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION
My Predicted Winner: Dreamgirls
My Alternate: Pan’s Labyrinth
The Dark Horse: Pirates of the Caribbean 2

COSTUME DESIGN
My Predicted Winner: Marie Antoinette
My Alternate: Dreamgirls
The Dark Horse: The Devil Wears Prada

MAKEUP
My Predicted Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
My Alternate: Apocalypto

VISUAL EFFECTS
My Predicted Winner: Pirates of the Caribbean 2
My Alternate:

SOUND MIXING/DESIGN
My Predicted Winner: Dreamgirls
My Alternate: Pirates of the Caribbean 2

SOUND EDITING/EFFECTS
My Predicted Winner: Letters from Iwo Jima
My Alternate: Pirates of the Caribbean 2

ORIGINAL SONG
My Predicted Winner: “Listen” from “Dreamgirls”
My Alternate: An Inconvenient Truth

ORIGINAL SCORE
My Predicted Winner: Notes on a Scandal
My Alternate: Pan’s Labyrinth
The Dark Horse: Babel

SHORT SUBJECT
My Predicted Winner: “The Blood of Yingzhou District”
My Alternate: “Recycled Life”

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
My Predicted Winner: The Little Matchgirl
My Alternate: The Danish Poet

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
My Predicted Winner: West Bank Story
My Alternate: Binta and the Great Idea
The Dark Horse: The Savior

Documentary Shorts

This is basically all I could find for these films. I have read a few great reviews for "The Blood of Yinghou District," and "Recycled Life." I think it will be hard to choose between two wonderfull socially conscious films, the same old story of young and talented disadvantaged youth and a personal triumph story. I'll go with the this first one for now.

The Blood of Yingzhou District a film by Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon



Young Gao Jun, a Chinese AIDS orphan, faces possible rejection by his surviving relatives, who are torn between family tradition and their fear of the disease.

Recycled Life a film by Leslie Iwerks and Mike Glad

At the vast, toxic Guatemala City Garbage Dump, generations of families eke out a living picking through the trash in search of items they can recycle.

http://www.leslieiwerks.com/

Rehearsing A Dream a film by Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon

Filmmakers Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon's 34-minute documentary Rehearsing a Dream chronicles the experiences of a number of 17-year-old performers, as they apprentice under such luminaries as vocalist, actress and former Miss America Vanessa Williams; ballet god Mikhail Baryshnikov; and the conductor, composer and pianist Michael Tilson Thomas. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Two Hands a film by Nathaniel Kahn and Susan Rose Behr - My Architect (2003)

When pianist Leon Fleisher lost the use of his right hand in 1965, he began a decades-long struggle to find a cure for his mysterious ailment while reshaping his career to accommodate his loss.

Also Found ...

I also found yesterday a few of live action shorts on line, "Binta y la Gran Idea," "Eramos Pocos," and "The Saviour." The first two are without English subtitles, and my spanish is elementary at best, but I enjoyed them both. The first was a bit hard to follow and the it was long, I lost the much in my very limited translations, but this was the most complete film of three. My favorite was "The Saviour" I found quite funny and well acted. I found "Eramos Pocos" to be not much better, I don't think it will win at all. The film I wanted to see the most was "West Bank Story," but I was only able to find a trailer for it, although there is a wonderful little website for it here http://www.westbankstory.com/



A seven-year-old African girl tells the stories of her cousin, who longs to go to school, and her father, who has an idea that he hopes will change the world.



Malcolm, a door-to-door Mormon evangelist, is in love with a married woman.



When his wife leaves him, Joaquín and his son turn to her mother for help with the cooking and cleaning

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A musical comedy set in the fast-paced, fast-food world of competing falafel stands on the West Bank.

http://www.westbankstory.com/

Searching for Shorts

I spent yesterday afternoon looking online for all the nominated shorts. I found four animated shorts, "The Danisht Poet," "The Little Match Girl," "Matstro," and "Not Time for Nuts." All I was able to find of Pixar's "Lifted" was a very short clip, which intriged me more than the short films I actually saw. For now my favorite is "The Little Match Girl." Here is what I found....








Ice Age - No Time For Nuts - video powered by Metacafe

My Oscar Predictions for this week

BEST PICTURE
My Predicted Winner: The Departed
My Alternate: Little Miss Sunshine
My Favorite: The Departed

Who should win, but won’t : Letters
The Upset: Babel
The Dark Horse: Little Miss Sunshine
Who Should NOT be here: The Queen
Who SHOULD be here: Children of Men and Pan’s Labyrinth

BEST DIRECTOR
My Predicted Winner: Scorsese
My Alternate: Eastwood
My Favorite: Scorsese

Who should win, but won’t: Greengrass
The Upset: Eastwood
The Dark Horse: Greengrass
Who Should NOT be here: Frears
Who SHOULD be here: Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Caron

BEST ACTOR
My Predicted Winner: Forest
My Alternate: O’Toole
My Favorite: O’Toole

Who should win, but won’t: O’Toole
The Upset: OToole
The Dark Horse: O’Toole
Who Should NOT be here: Smith and DeCrapio
Who SHOULD be here: Matt Damon “The Good Shepherd” and Ken Watanabe “Letters from Iwo Jima”

BEST ACTRESS
My Predicted Winner: Mirren
My Alternate: Streep
My Favorite: Mirren

The Upset: Streep
The Dark Horse: Dench
Who Should NOT be here: all worthy
Who SHOULD be here: Maggie Gyllenhaal

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
My Predicted Winner: Eddie
My Alternate: Alan Arkin
My Favorite: Jackie Earle Haley

Who should win, but won’t: Jackie Earle Haley
The Upset: Alan Arkin
The Dark Horse: Walhberg
Who Should NOT be here: Dijomon
Who SHOULD be here: Brad Pitt, Sergi Lopez, Ben Afleck

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
My Predicted Winner: Jennifer Hudson
My Alternate: Abigail Breslin
My Favorite: Rinko Kikuchi

Who should win, but won’t: Rinko Kikuchi
The Upset: Abigail Breslin
The Dark Horse: Rinko Kikuchi
Who Should NOT be here:
Who SHOULD be here: Emily Blunt, Emma Thompson, Catherine O’Hara

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
My Predicted Winner: The Departed
My Alternate: Borat
My Favorite: Children of Men

Who should win, but won’t: Children of Men
The Upset: Anything else would be an upset
The Dark Horse: Borat
Who Should NOT be here: Borat
Who SHOULD be here: Thank You for Smoking

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
My Predicted Winner: Little Miss Sunshine
My Alternate: The Queen
My Favorite: Pan’s Labyrinth

Who should win but won’t: Pan’s Labyrinth
The Upset: The Queen
The Dark Horse: Babel
Who Should NOT be here: All worthy
Who SHOULD be here:

ANIMATED FEATURE
My Predicted Winner: Cars
My Alternate: Happy Feet
My Favorite: A Scanner Darkly

Who should win, but can't: A Scanner Darkly
The Upset: Happy Feet
The Dark Horse: Monster House
Who Should NOT be here: Monster House
Who SHOULD be here: A Scanner Darkly

BEST FOREIGN FILM
My Predicted Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
My Alternate: The Lives of Others
My Favorite: Pan’s Labyrinth

The Upset: The Lives of Others
The Dark Horse: Days of Glory
Who Should NOT be here: After the Wedding
Who SHOULD be here: Volver

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
My Predicted Winner: An Inconvenient Truth
My Alternate: Deliver Us from Evil
My Favorite: An Inconvenient Truth

The Upset: Deliver Us from Evil
The Dark Horse: Jesus Camp
Who Should NOT be here: My Country, My Country

The Results

I did poorly in my picks this year compared to the last couple of years, I only got 31 correct out of 40, and only 36/40 with my alternates.

BEST PICTURE
Yeah! No "Dreamgirls!" I never had faith in this nomination, I was going along with everyone else. But I had reservasions from the beginning. I thought "Letters" was such a dark horse, I did not even list it as such. I never should have doubted how much the Academy loves Clint. Having recently seen "The Queen," I think this is the weakest pick and should not be here. It's a glorified TV movie, more on that later. Look for split between "The Departed," the heavy favoirte, I think and a possible upset win for "Little Miss Sunshine," but the shocker could be "Letters," or "Babel." Right now its a toss up.

BEST DIRECTOR
Yeah! No "Dreamgirls!" Both my alternate and my dark horse made the list. Again here I would love to take "The Queen" off and replace it with Guillermo del Toro for "Pan's Labyrinth"

BEST ACTOR
Come on gimme a break Leo DeCrapio for "Blood Diamond?" I haven't wanted to see this movie BECAUSE of him! Frankly I think Matt Damon got robbed, his role in "The Good Shepherd was and will be the performance that was over looked years from now as the best performance of the year and his career.

BEST ACTRESS
This is a no brainer. Helen Mirren will win and she deserves to win. This was another film that everyone (I mean the critics) got on the SAME bandwagon about how great it was. I am dying to watch HBO's "Elizabeth I" to compare the two. What if this film was theatrically released? What if Stephen Frears didn't direct "The Queen" would it have shown on TV or theatrically? I think there really is not difference between the two and both should be on television where they belong.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR/ACTRESS
I am so happy for Jackie Earle Haley, I was a child fan of the child actor. Although it imagine it will be some time before I actually get to see his performance.

ADAPTED/ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYS
"Borat" replaces "Thank You for Smoking?" How is that possible? I guess they had to give it something. This time I was glad I was wrong about "Dreamgirls," I'm still dying to see "Notes on a Scandal" maybe with four nominations it might show up in the next couple of weeks. I am shocked about the omission of "Stranger than Fiction" and "Volver."

My Predictions for tomorrow

My final Oscar nomination guesses.

BEST PICTURE
The Departed
Babel
Dreamgirls
The Queen
Little Miss Sunshine
Alternate: United 93

BEST DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese (The Departed)
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel)
Stephen Frears (The Queen)
Bill Condon (Dreamgirls)
Little Miss Sunshine
Alternate: Paul Greengrass (United 93)
Dark Horse: Clint Eastwood (Letters from Iwo Jima)

BEST ACTOR
Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)
Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness)
Peter O’Toole (Venus)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed)
Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson)
Alternate: Sasha Baron Cohen (Borat)

BEST ACTRESS
Helen Mirren (The Queen)
Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal)
Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada)
Kate Winslet (Little Children)
Penelope Cruz (Volver)
Alternate: Annette Bening

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)
Jack Nicholson (The Departed)
Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine)
Brad Pitt (Babel)
Mark Walhberg (The Departed)
Alternate: Dijomon Hounsou
Dark Horse: Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Houston (Dreamgirls)
Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sundhine)
Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal/Babel)
Rinko Kikuchi (Babel)
Adriana Barraza (Babel)
Alternate: Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Babel
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen
Stranger than Fiction
Alternate: Volver
Dark Horse : Pan’s Labyrinth

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Departed
Thank You for Smoking
Dreamgirls
Little Children
Children of Men
Alternate: The Devil Wears Prada

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Children of Men
Pan’s Labyrinth
Apocalypto
The Departed
Babel
Alternate: Letters from Iwo Jima

ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION
Dreamgirls
Marie Antoinette
Pan’s Labyrinth
Children of Men
Apocalypto
Alternate: Curse of the Golden Flower

FILM EDITING
Babel
The Departed
Dreamgirls
United 93
Letters from Iwo Jima
Alternate: The Queen

COSTUME DESIGN
Dreamgirls
Marie Antoinette
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
The Devil Wears Prada
The Queen
Alternate: The Illusionist

MAKEUP
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pan’s Labyrinth
Apocalypto
Alternate: X-Men: The Last Stand

ORIGINAL SCORE
Notes on a Scandal
The Queen
Babel
The Painted Veil
The Da Vinci Code
Alternate: Apocalypo

ORIGINAL SONG
Dreamgirls
Happy Feet
An Inconvenient Truth
The Pursuit of Happyness
Bobby
Alternate: Cars

SOUND MIXING/DESIGN
Dreamgirls
Apocalypto
The Departed
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Children of Men
Alternate: Casino Royale

SOUND EDITING/EFFECTS
Cars
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Superman Returns
Alternate: The Departed

VISUAL EFFECTS
Pirates 2
Superman Returns
X-Men: The Last Stand
Alternate: Poseidon

ANIMATED FEATURE
Happy Feet
Cars
Monster House

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Pan’s Labyrinth
Volver
The Lives of Others
The Black Book
Days of Glory
Alternate: Water

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
An Inconvenient Truth
Deliver Us from Evil
Shut Up & Sing
The War Tapes
Jesus Camp
Alternate: Iraq in Fragments

SHORT SUBJECT
Recycled Life
The Diary of Immaculee
The Blood of Yingzhou District
Rehearsing a Dream
Dear Talula
Phoenix Dance
Two Hands

Globe Reactions

I liked the show in general, although it was quite boring and long. I liked Meryl Streep's acceptance speech, and I loved Sacha Baron Cohen's, it was the best of the night. The Warren Beatty presentation of the Cecil B. de Mille award was boring, major bathroom break there.

I was surpised by the Best Screenplay and Score winners they were out of the blue so to speak. As for the television stuff, well I don't watch 'Grey's Anatomy' frankly I hate that show. I was very glad to see wins for House, The Closer and Ugly Betty, shows that I love and watch.

Overall I got only 13 out of 25 right last night, which was about my average for this show.

What the show did for me was to solifiy some of my choices for Oscar nominations. I've posted an updated list for this week, I might make some changes next Monday before the announcements on Tuesday. I'll work on the rest of the nominations this week and post them before next Tuesday as well.

Film Notes "Pan's Labyrinth"

This is my new number one movie! It was all I expected it to be and more. I just saw the 7:30 show with a nearly sold out crowd. It was beautiful, it was fantastic, it magical, I fell in love with this film. Clearly and without a doubt the best from the "three amigos." Yes, senior del Toro I do believe in fairy tales, again. Thank you.

Gloden Globe Predictions

Best Picture, Drama
Babel, Winner
The Departed, alternate

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy
Dreamgirls, Winner
Little Miss Sunshine, alternate

Actor, Drama
Forest Whitaker,Winner
Leonardo DiCaprio, alternate

Actress, Drama
Helen Mirren, Winner
Kate Winslet, alternate

Actor, Musical or Comedy
Sacha Baron Cohen, Winner
Johnny Depp, alternate

Actress, Musical or Comedy
Beyonce Knowles, Winner
Meryl Streep, alternate

Supporting Actor
Eddie Murphy, Winner
Jack Nicholson, alternate

Supporting Actress
Jennifer Hudson, Winner
Rinko Kikuchi, alternate

Director
Martin Scorsese, Winner
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, alternate

Screenplay
Guillermo Arriaga, Winner
William Monahan, alternate

Foreign Language
"Pan's Labyrinth," Mexico; Winner
"Volver" Spain;alternate

Animated Film
Happy Feet, Winner
Cars, alternate

Original Score
Gustavo Santaolalla, "Babel"; Winner
Alexandre Desplat, "The Painted Veil"; alternate

Original Song
"Listen" from "Dreamgirls"; Winner
"A Father's Way" from "The Pursuit of Happyness";alternate

Things are looking up.

According to Box Office Mojo, Pan's Labyrinth expands to 150 theatres. Well I am jumping for joy because it will open at two theatres here on Friday! How did that happen? Guess what my next movie is? Oh yeah, Dreamgirls, The Curse of the Golden Flower and Stranger Than Fiction (at the second run theatre) also open on friday, and I've got about a hundred dollars left on my gift cards, and a three day weekend this week. Yeah!

Interesting, very interesting...

The DGA nominations were just announced. They are exactly the same as the PGA nominations.

Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen
Babel
The Departed

What does this mean? Is there hope for Little Miss Sunshine? The Babel train is now full steam ahead?

Film Notes "Children of Men"

“I can't really remember when I last had any hope, and I certainly can't remember when anyone else did either. Because really, since women stopped being able to have babies, what's left to hope for?”

That quote from the lead character in the trailer of Children of Men explains the essence of what the film is about the loss of hope for the future of life on earth, and the ultimate price one pays to preserve that hope. Theo Faron is that man, a man who is living with the pain of that loss in the horror of a world without (though some would argue that it would be a horror) children, it is this collimation of the loss of life renewed that leads to a world filled with destruction, terror and death. I found myself emotionally and visually evolved in each scene and continuously shocked as the world gets more and more violent and scared at how it so closely resembles a world not that far from our own today. Yet I was taken on an incredible journey with Theo for the chance that hope in the form of Kee, the fist pregnant woman in 19 years, could once again exist for mankind. Theo realizes that Kee and her baby are the promise of hope for the future; he carries on with stalwart determination that Kee’s baby will be the chance that was lost to him and the world. The result is a cinematic wonder with artistry that has not yet been seen in any film. A wonderfully acted film that will break your heart and yet give you hope.

2006 Top Ten Update

I have a new film to add to the top of my list now, Children of Men!

I just saw Children of Men and I'm still digesting it, I woke up this morning thinking about it and now I'm reading everything I can about it. I can't stop thinking about this film.

Oops. I forgot, what would it replace, well that's easy, I would take Inside Man off my top ten list. And Children of Men would move to the top of the list. There are quite a few films coming my way in the three weeks, that I am so looking forward to.

Oscar Diary

I have posted some changes to the top eight categories for my nominations predictions on the left. I doubt that there will be any major changes before the nominations are announced in three weeks. I'm hoping to keep my streak going, I have gotten 35 right out of 40 the last two years.

and the rest of the categories are....

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Children of Men
Dreamgirls
Letters from Iwo Jima
The Departed
Babel

ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION
Dreamgirls
Marie Antoinette
Pan’s Labyrinth
Children of Men
Letters from Iwo Jima

FILM EDITING
Babel
The Departed
Dreamgirls
United 93
Letters from Iwo Jima

COSTUME DESIGN
Dreamgirls
Marie Antoinette
Curse of the Golden Flower

MAKEUP
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Queen
Pan’s Labyrinth

ORIGINAL SCORE
The Queen
Apocalypto
Notes on a Scandal
Babel
Good German

ORIGINAL SONG
Dreamgirls
Cars
Happy Feet
Dreamgirls
Bobby

BEST SOUND DESIGN
SOUND MIXING (5, music, action)
Dreamgirls
Flags of Our Fathers
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
Pirates of the Caribbean 2

BEST SOUND EFFECTS EDITING SOUND EDITING
(3, animation, action)
Flags of Our Fathers
Cars
Pirates of the Caribbean 2

VISUAL EFFECTS
Pirates 2
Superman Returns
The Fountain

ANIMATED FEATURE
Happy Feet
Cars
Flushed Away
Over the Hedge
Monster House

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Volver
The Lives of Others
Pan’s Labyrinth
Letters From Iwo Jima
Days of Glory

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Deliver Us from Evil
An Inconvenient Truth
Shut Up & Sing
The War Tapes
Storm of Emotions

BEST SHORT SUBJECT
Recycled Life
The Diary of Immaculee
The Blood of Yingzhou District
Rehearsing a Dream
Dear Talula
Phoenix Dance
Two Hands
A Revolving Door

Oscar Diary

I have posted some changes to the top eight categories for my nominations predictions on the right. I doubt that there will be any major changes before the nominations are announced in three weeks. I'm hoping to keep my streak going, I have gotten 35 right out of 40 the last two years.

and the rest of the categories are....

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Children of Men
Dreamgirls
Letters from Iwo Jima
The Departed
Babel

ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION
Dreamgirls
Marie Antoinette
Pan’s Labyrinth
Children of Men
Letters from Iwo Jima

FILM EDITING
Babel
The Departed
Dreamgirls
United 93
Letters from Iwo Jima

COSTUME DESIGN
Dreamgirls
Marie Antoinette
Curse of the Golden Flower

MAKEUP
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Queen
Pan’s Labyrinth

ORIGINAL SCORE
The Queen
Apocalypto
Notes on a Scandal
Babel
Good German

ORIGINAL SONG
Dreamgirls
Cars
Happy Feet
Dreamgirls
Bobby

BEST SOUND DESIGN
SOUND MIXING (5, music, action)
Dreamgirls
Flags of Our Fathers
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
Pirates of the Caribbean 2

BEST SOUND EFFECTS EDITING SOUND EDITING
(3, animation, action)
Flags of Our Fathers
Cars
Pirates of the Caribbean 2

VISUAL EFFECTS
Pirates 2
Superman Returns
The Fountain

ANIMATED FEATURE
Happy Feet
Cars
Flushed Away
Over the Hedge
Monster House

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Volver
The Lives of Others
Pan’s Labyrinth
Letters From Iwo Jima
Days of Glory

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Deliver Us from Evil
An Inconvenient Truth
Shut Up & Sing
The War Tapes
Storm of Emotions

BEST SHORT SUBJECT
Recycled Life
The Diary of Immaculee
The Blood of Yingzhou District
Rehearsing a Dream
Dear Talula
Phoenix Dance
Two Hands
A Revolving Door