The Oscars - Best Picture

[Matterhorn Fan]

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.

[Prudence]

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.

[Alex]

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.

[Prudence]

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.

[Gemini Cricket]

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

[Gemini Cricket]

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...

[Gemini Cricket]

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

[Alex]

Mizrahi is horrible. I've changed the channel.

[Gemini Cricket]

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

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

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Mizrahi is horrible. I've changed the channel.

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!