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.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
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
object width="425" height="350">
A musical comedy set in the fast-paced, fast-food world of competing falafel stands on the West Bank.
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
object width="425" height="350">
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
Ice Age - No Time For Nuts - video powered by Metacafe
Friday, January 26, 2007
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
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
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
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."
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."
Monday, January 22, 2007
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
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
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
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.
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.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
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.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
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
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
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
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!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
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?
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?
Monday, January 08, 2007
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
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
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
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
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