Here's my "O" face

Woo-hoo it’s time for my Superbowl and the “teams” were announced this morning. Ok, screw the sports metaphors because The Academy Awards don’t need to be compared to anything, they’re pretty damn important on their own. For the first time in years I am almost completely satisfied with the nominees—why no Best Picture nom for Children of Men?!? But let’s not sour the incredibly deserving and diverse choices. Instead, lets go through the major categories and talk about em’

Best motion picture of the year
BABEL
THE DEPARTED
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
THE QUEEN

I am so happy Dreamgirls wasn’t nominated. Don’t get me wrong, it was an enjoyable film but nowhere near worthy of the title “One of the top 5 of 2006”. The five films that did make the cut do in fact deserve that moniker. If I were a betting man, I’d say this is going to come down to a head-to-head between Babel and The Departed. Iwo Jima is lucky to have made the cut and was clearly the fifth choice, especially considering it should be in the Foreign Film Category. Little Miss Sunshine is a fun crowd pleaser but not a film of technical achievement. The Queen would be nothing without Helen Mirren’s performance, which is why she’ll be recognized and the film will not. Leaving the foreign follies of Babel to duke it out with the dudes of The Departed. And the winner is: Babel

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Leonardo DiCaprio - BLOOD DIAMOND
Ryan Gosling - HALF NELSON
Peter O'Toole – VENUS
Will Smith - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
Forest Whitaker - THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND

As overjoyed as I am that Dreamgirls did not get nominated for Best Picture, that’s how thrilled I am that Ryan Gosling was acknowledged for his brilliant work in Half Nelson. But he won’t win, and neither will anyone not named Forrest Whitaker.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Arkin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jackie Earle Haley - LITTLE CHILDREN
Djimon Hounsou - BLOOD DIAMOND
Eddie Murphy – DREAMGIRLS
Mark Wahlberg - THE DEPARTED

Marky Mark now gets to have the words Oscar Nominee precede his name for life! Didn’t see that one coming. Why him over Nicholson? I mean, I guess Jack’s performance could be seen as too over-the-top, but Marky is basically playing himself, and isn’t that why Beyonce wasn’t nominated for Dreamgirls? But I digress. Alan Arkin is hilarious in LMS, and comedic roles have a better history of winning in the Supporting categories but with 3 other such worthy dramatic performances, he might have to settle for the chocolate Oscar at the after party. Jackie Earle Haley is insanely creepy in Little Children, but a “reformed” pedophile isn’t anyone’s idea of a party. Neither is an out for revenge daddy looking to find his son and a giant diamond but Djimon grounds his desperation in reality making his performance feel real. So I’d love to see him win over Eddie Murphy, who has been raking in the pre-Oscar awards but I didn’t feel was as revelatory as other people are insisting.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penélope Cruz – VOLVER
Judi Dench - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Helen Mirren - THE QUEEN
Meryl Streep - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Kate Winslet - LITTLE CHILDREN

Did you see The Queen? Yea, so did the Academy and that’s why Helen Mirren is going to win.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Adriana Barraza – BABEL
Cate Blanchett - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Abigail Breslin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jennifer Hudson – DREAMGIRLS
Rinko Kikuchi - BABEL

This seems to be Jennifer Hudson’s year. And her performance is great, but personally I’d love to see Adriana Barraza win because she absolutely broke my heart in Babel. Oh, and let’s give it up to Abigail Breslin who I suspect screamed like her character Olive when she heard about her nomination.

Achievement in directing
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu - BABEL
Martin Scorsese -THE DEPARTED
Clint Eastwood - LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
Stephen Frears - THE QUEEN
Paul Greengrass - UNITED 93

Slightly surprised not to see Guillermo del Toro’s name on this list considering Pan’s Labyrinth was the coolest and most visually inventive film I have seen in years. But it’s still a solid list. Scorsese is getting the big buzz, so he’ll probably win but never count out Paul Greengrass for United 93. His inclusion shows that the Academy was paying attention and just because it covers tough subject matter, doesn’t mean it should be excluded.

Best foreign language film of the year
AFTER THE WEDDING
DAYS OF GLORY (INDIGÈNES)
THE LIVES OF OTHERS
PAN'S LABYRINTH
WATER
I am shocked that Volver isn’t on this list, but whatever because even if it was, Pan’s Labyrinth would win—by a landslide.

Adapted screenplay
BORAT
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE DEPARTED
LITTLE CHILDREN
NOTES ON A SCANDAL
I’d love, love, love to see Children of Men win this award, but I imagine that the Adapted Screenplay Oscar is going to go to a film that has more than 3 nominations (2 of which are in technical categories) Additionally, how is Borat an adapted screenplay? Simply because the character is based on a previously filmed TV show? There has been a lot of negative campaigning against Notes on a Scandal as being misogynistic, but regardless, it was a real treat to watch but the negative industry buzz could hurt it. The Departed had shocks galore, but it’s not enough to propel it to a win. Little Children was amazing and I think it has the best shot in this category.

Original screenplay
BABEL
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE QUEEN

Ah yes, now this is a tough one to pick. Prevailing wisdom would lead one to believe that Babel, Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine or The Queen would win because they are nominated for Best Picture but something tells me that Pan’s Labyrinth has a great chance to take home the little statue simply because it was the most creative, different and daring film out of the five.

agree? disagree? what do you want to win?