Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Academy Awards Nominations Announced!

Well, it's about that time again: Oscar Season 2005! The nominations were just announced this morning, and though there were no real shocks, there were a few mild surprises. Among them: Alan Alda for Best Supporting Actor in The Aviator; Mike Leigh for Best Director for Vera Drake; and no Paul Giamatti for Best Actor in Sideways. Looks like Clint Eastwood took his place. Clint is nominated for Best Director and Best Actor. Has anyone in the history of the Academy Awards ever won Best Actor and Director at the same time? If not, I don't think Clint will be the one to do it since he's up against Jamie Foxx in Ray. I was also happy to see Don Cheadle get nominated--his first. Also nominated: Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby. Now, Morgan was good in that film, but not as impressive as others. However, Morgan has never won an Academy Award--that's a damn shame, and my money's on him winning this year.

Here's a list of nominees in the big categories and my picks as of today (these are subject to change and probably will). A full list of nominees can be found by clicking on the link. Enjoy!

Best Picture
The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
Ray
Sideways

I was happy to see Ray nominated. I wish Hotel Rwanda was there instead of Finding Neverland. It doesn't matter though: the race is between Aviator, Million Dollar Baby, and Sideways. Aviator has the most nominations (11) and that's usually an indicator of what will win, but I don't think people love that movie enough. My money's on Million Dollar Baby, which got seven nominations total. Plus, its a way to award Clint, since he won't win Director or Actor. Watch for a big push in the weeks ahead. Sideways will probably take Best Adapted Screenplay so don't look for it to win here.

Best Actor
Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda
Leonardo DiCaprio, Aviator
Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland
Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby
Jamie Foxx, Ray

This is the one category I really feel strongly about. Jamie Foxx deserves to win, and will win. He is unbelievable in Ray.

Best Actress
Annette Bening, Being Julia
Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace
Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake
Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby
Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This looks like it will be a rematch of the '99 Oscars: Bening v. Swank. My money's on Hilary Swank. People love Million Dollar Baby, and who the hell has even seen Being Julia? Plus, Bening's Golden Globes speech sucked. I'd like to see Kate Winslet come in and steal it from the two of them, but I don't think it will happen.

Best Director
Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby
Taylor Hackford, Ray
Alexander Payne, Sideways
Martin Scorsese, Aviator
Mike Leigh, Vera Drake

Finally, I think Martin Scorsese will win Best Director. Eastwood could win, but he's won already for Unforgiven. Scorsese has never won. All of the film's 11 nominations are leading up to this one.

I'll just run down my picks for the rest:
Best Supporting Actor: Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, Aviator
Best Adapted Screenplay: Sideways
Best Original Screenplay: Hotel Rwanda
Animated Feature: The Incredibles
Art Direction: Phantom of the Opera
Cinematography: Aviator
Costume: Aviator
Documentary Feature: Born into Brothels
Documentary Short Subject: The Children of Leningradsky
Film Editing: Aviator
Foreign Language Film: The Sea Inside
Make Up: Passion of the Christ
Original Score: Finding Neverland
Original Song: Phantom of the Opera
Short Film (animated): Gopher Broke
Short Film (live action): Little Terrorist
Sound Editing: The Incredibles
Sound Mixing: Aviator
Visual Effects: Spider-Man 2


You heard it here first folks.

5 Comments:

At 1:10 PM, Blogger Jeff said...

Morgan Freeman was good, but he could have played that role in his sleep. Why doesn't the Academy start awarding people when they deserv it, instead of giving people awards as an apology for past fuck-ups. Ex. Aviator will probably win as an apology for "Goodfellas" losing in 1990 (it was 1990, right?)

 
At 1:16 PM, Blogger Jeff said...

By the way, how was "Assault on Precinct 13?"

Also, I can't post comments on Julie's blog ever since the layout change. Maybe it's time for Julie to get a blogspot account.

 
At 1:38 PM, Blogger Hammer said...

Movie Rundown 2005 is updated frequently w/ new entries. Check it out if you want to see what I've thought of the newest flicks. Assault on Precinct 13 was **1/2 movie. I wasn't that impressed, but I generally had a good time with it.

 
At 8:57 PM, Blogger slugger o'toole said...

because cate's as kate as kate is kate.

 
At 9:07 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi John, It's your mother-in-law. I will always agree with your picks because I haven't seen any of the movies. Have a great Day!!

 

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