NA, you really liked Wallace and Grommit that much? Maybe it was because I saw it on an airplane, but I thought it was just OK. I watched Corpse Bride the other night, and that was just good. I've never heard of the other nominee.

I've finally seen Corpse Bride, but no other nominated movies. I have Wallace and Grommit, but haven't had time to watch it yet. Doesn't stop me from making predictions!

Performance by an actor in a leading role:
Philip Seymour Hoffman - easy call.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:
A bit harder, but I'm going to go with Paul Giamatti. Could go to Clooney, but I think that's an outside chance.

Performance by an actress in a leading role:
Felicity Huffman. Academy loves a gender bender. Possibililty of Resse Witherspoon if they feel Walk the Line needs recognition.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role:
Toss-up between Catherine Keener and Frances McDormand, but I think Keener has the edge. No way it will go to Michelle Williams.

Wallace and Gromit really left me flat. There were some clever sequences but overall just "meh."

I thought Corpse Bride was horrible, so obviously the only choice, in my view, is Howl.


iSm, what do you mean I didn't invent it? People may have done them for yeras before me but I've applied for a patent anyway ("A method for making people care about who wins the Best Sound Editing Academy Award"). Once I get it approved (because the USPTO approves all applications without a second look, apparently), I'll be expecting the $0.50 checks to flow in from around the country.

Dammit! hit post too soon. (Boris is trying to help with the predictions.)

Best animated feature of the year:
Wallace & Grommit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Corpse Bride is too much like NBC and Howl's Moving Castle is too Japanese.

Achievement in art direction:
Good Night and Good Luck or Memoirs of a Geisha. I'm going with Good Night and Good Luck.

Achievement in cinematography:
This one goes to Memoirs of a Geisha.

Achievement in costume design:
I have no flippin' clue, but I'm picking Mrs. Henderson Presents.

Achievement in directing:
Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain. *IF* best picture goes to Brokeback, this will go to Clooney.

Best documentary feature:
March of the Penguins.

Best documentary short subject:
uh? I have no idea what these are about. I'll pick God Sleeps in Rwanda.

Achievement in film editing:
Crash gets a token award.

Best foreign language film of the year:
The only one I've heard of is Paradise Now, and there's no way in hell that will win. I'll go with Tsotsi.

Achievement in makeup:
Narnia.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score):
Brokeback Mountain.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song):
The Academy goes "edgy" with "It's hard out here for a pimp."

Best motion picture of the year:
Capote.

Best animated short film:
One Man Band. (Since Pixar doesn't have a feature this year.)

Best live action short film:
Random guess: The Last Farm.

Achievement in sound editing:
King Kong.

Achievement in sound mixing:
Walk the Line.

Achievement in visual effects:
The Chronicles of Narnia.

Adapted screenplay:
Might go to Brokeback Mountain.

Original screenplay:
I think it will be Good Night and Good Luck, but there's an outside chance it could go to Crash.

Here are my picks. I'm not sure how I'll do with them this year. Not too many sure things this year... I did see 'Constant Gardener' last night and was blown away by it. Amazing flick.
----------------

Best Motion Picture of the Year:
Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Diana Ossana, James Schamus

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:
Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line (2005)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:
George Clooney for Syriana (2005)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:
Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener (2005)

Best Achievement in Directing:
Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:
Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) - George Clooney, Grant Heslov

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:
Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana

Best Achievement in Cinematography:
Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Rodrigo Prieto

Best Achievement in Editing:
Munich (2005) - Michael Kahn

Best Achievement in Art Direction:
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) - John Myhre, Gretchen Rau

Best Achievement in Costume Design:
Pride & Prejudice (2005) - Jacqueline Durran

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score:
Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Gustavo Santaolalla

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song:
Transamerica (2005) - Dolly Parton ("Travelin' Thru")

Best Achievement in Makeup:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) - Howard Berger, Tami Lane

Best Achievement in Sound:
King Kong (2005) - Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, Hammond Peek

Best Achievement in Sound Editing:
King Kong (2005) - Mike Hopkins, Ethan Van der Ryn

Best Achievement in Visual Effects:
King Kong (2005) - Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, Richard Taylor

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year:
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) - Steve Box, Nick Park

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year:
Paradise Now (2005) - Hany Abu-Assad (Palestine)

Best Documentary, Features:
Marche de l'empereur, La (2005) - Luc Jacquet, Yves Darondeau

Best Documentary, Short Subjects:
God Sleeps in Rwanda (2005) - Kimberlee Acquaro, Stacy Sherman

Best Short Film, Animated:
One Man Band (2005) - Mark Andrews, Andrew Jimenez

Best Short Film, Live Action:
Six Shooter (2005) - Martin McDonagh

Little bit of liveblog action here:

Watching E! right now. Ryan Seacrest looks like he had his eyebrows done and his foundation looks a little too light. Mizrahi is hysterical, but not much of an interviewer...

Naomi Watts borrowed the Haunted Mansion bride's dress for the Oscars...

Mizrahi is horrible. I've changed the channel.

Keira Knightley is absolutely stunning. Beautiful. And she's only 20! Wow.

Eric Bana, Clooney, Heath... hot hot hot.

:)

Agreed. But I'm keeping the channel where it is. He's getting some A list interviews. Which is always good.

Michelle Williams' dress is ugh-ly!