OSCAR TIME!!!

One of my favorite times of the year. Can't say why. The other shows aren't the same, the Academy Awards are just... the top.

Anyway, here is a list of the nominees and below is some comments.

First off, glad Farenhiet 9/11 didn't get any noms. Sad that The Passion of the Christ didn't get something higher than cinematography, but hey, it got a few, that is the maint thing.

Surprised about Der Untergang. It is a film about Hitler that I have heard alot about. Supposed to be very good.

Animated Feature... if The Incredibles doesn't win this, the world will end. It is CLEARLY better than Shark Tale, and I think much stronger than Shrek 2.

Visual Effects... now that Lord of the Rings is gone... SpiderMan 2 might make it. I thought the effects in Harry Potter were good, but... Frankly all the nominees had great effects.


Sound Editing... have to go with The Incredibles. I really liked it, and sound was very integral to making the animation work. Interesting that the only live action feature in this category is Spiderman 2.

Achivement in Sound... well... any of them could run away with it. Aviator did a great job of getting you inside the airplanes... if Aviator wins this, look for it to win BIG.

Best Makeup... have to go with Passion. Mostly because I thought it was good, but also because the makeup really carried the film. If it hadn't worked, the film wouldn't.

Best Song... of course, Phantom is the one I think everyone thinks will win. I liked the song in Motorcycle Diaries, but... I don't know. None of the songs really jumped out at me. Had they nominated Music of the Night... ah, there would be a tune!

Best Score... WOW. John Williams did a great job with Harry Potter, but I also really liked Thomas Howards for Lemony Snicket. Of course, another Howard is nominated for The Village, and there is Finding Neverland. I don't remember the scores to those two very well.

I have to say, I think that Passion should win this. The score is so... moving and worked so well. This is a tough decision.

Costume Design... can't believe Troy will now be an "Oscar Nominated Film". Oy. Other than that, good list all are films set in different time periods, and none in the here and now.

Art Direction... all the nominees were good, and had VERY different styles. I think Phantom should have been more gothic, but... all looked great.

Editing... All were good, I think Collateral was the most impressive. None really jumped at me saying "this is great editing". At least, I don't remember any of them that way. Aviator might win just because Thelma Shoonmaker did the editing, and she is really good.

Cinematography... Passion all the way. It had the most glorious look to it of any of the films. All looked good, but I think Passion married the look to the film best. Of course, House of Flying Daggers looked wonderful too...

Adapted Screenplay... this is a fight between Million Dollar Baby and Sideways, and so might end in some other deserving film winning.

Screenplay... I hope Incredibles takes it, mostly because it took a superhero film and gave it a moral center and depth. That said, Eternal Sunshine was well written, and it didn't confuse (which it could have done very easily). The others were more... basic.

Directing... I think Scorsese will win this. Aviator was good, and they will vote for him because he deserves it for his other films (he did seminal films for each decade, some are classics). I think Eastwood did a great job, showing all the world what a real pro can do. But, who knows, the Sideways thing may jump up and win, or it may go to someone who can take advantage of the emotion for Scorsese, respect for Eastwood and love of Sideways.

Supporting Actress... I think Blanchett was channeling Hepburn. And I think it would be cool for her to win for playing the woman who won more Oscars for acting than anyone:)

Supporting Actor... I think Freeman may be able to take advantage of his never having won an Oscar. He did a great job. The others were also wonderful. Surprise here is Alan Alda, who was perfect in Aviator.

Best Actress... I think Swank was WONDERFULL. I only saw 2 of the nominees, and I thought Kate Winslet was... fine, but not as good as Swank. Swank just had this tough, emotional thing and really became her character, and she is not the type who would be that way either. She is small, thin and not a boxer type at all.

Best Actor... again a great list. Everything from seasoned pro showing how it is done (Eastwood) to young talent showing he isn't just a pretty boy (DiCaprio). I hope Depp wins, just because he is so cool and hasn't won one, but... I really think any of them deserve it.

Best Picture... Wow. I am surprised by Finding Neverland (it was really good, but not that well promoted) being in this list! All the nominees are good, I think Baby is the best overall. Tight, well acted, directed, looks great, well written (even if I think it comes to the wrong ending, but that is a moral thing). I don't know. I hope Finding Neverland walks away with it. Just because.

Look for what happens on February 27th!!!