colinr0380 wrote: I think I might now be prejudiced against DiCaprio's performance after stumbling across an interview where he talks about not having any idea of what a South African accent sounded like until he arrived on location
Well, there isn't a great deal of exposure to South African culture in North America, especially considering there isn't as much news about the region now that the apartheid era is over, and whatever news coverage there is now usually doesn't focus on the Caucasian communities. So, it's kind of understandable that a North American around DiCaprio's age isn't very familiar with the South African accent other than hearing Charlize Theron occassionally drop her American accent in favor of her mother tongue.
Michael wrote:Barmy, can you give me an example of "Bush" movie? Big Momma's 2? Nativity?
In other news, I still can't believe that if any child actor is going to get nominated, it was Abigal Breslin instead of the beautiful and tragic performance of the little girl in Pan's Labyrinth. But isn't that what awards season is all about?
Meryl Streep's acceptance speech, which credited her fellow nominees and was a quiet plea for filmgoers to demand smaller films get screening time at their local multiplexes, was very very classy.
I saw a clip of this last night and thought Streep must not have a very thorough understanding of how films are booked into multiplexes. Demand a better selection of films from the theatre manager? Why not make one's case to the janitor or concessions clerk?
Michael wrote: Anyway, Anne Hathaway is a boring actress. I love to imagine Parker Posey and Meryl Streep as rivals.
Michael, I couldn't agree more! Streep was actually the only thing that made me go and see this movie. Totally worth it, of course. And there should be a sort of Nomination for Best Accessorized Character in a Film or something -- she would be nominated for this one too!
I would have bet good money that Streep would be nominated (and win) the Supporting Actress category for the role. It's the kind of thing the Academy loves (venerable actor has change of pace and enjoys big commercial hit). The part and performance is surely way too thin for a Leading Role nod, however.
Of course, she should have got a Supporting Actress nomination for Prairie Home Companion.
Of course, she should have got a Supporting Actress nomination for Prairie Home Companion.
But then she'd have to share it with Lily Tomlin!
Helen Mirren is the surefire bet for Best Actress. Academy is obsessed with actors who play real life characters - Ray Charles, Aileen Wuornos, Brandon Teena, June Carter, Virginia Woolf, and soon Elizabeth II.
I keep hearing that Jennifer Hudson is a lock, but I also happen to live in Chicago, and the city seems to be under the impression that a local actor getting national recognition is an earth-shattering event.
What's the outside consensus on the hometown girl? Whether I bother with Dreamgirls or not will depend largely on whether she or Eddie Murphy are as outstanding as the Golden Globes would make one assume. Is Jennifer golden or can I chalk most of the local press up to a side effect of city pride in the wake of Bears fever?
toiletduck! wrote:I keep hearing that Jennifer Hudson is a lock
It seems to be the surest bet outside of Mirren for Best Actress. Cate Blanchett was nominated because she's Cate Blanchett, the two women from Babel were nominated because (I've been told) they are the best things about the movie. Her only serious competition is Abigail Breslin, whose film is actually up for Best Picture and Best Screenplay (unlike Hudson's). And while the Academy loves a newcomer, it also loves little girls (see Tatum O'Neal and Anna Paquin).
Best Picture - The Departed (mainly because there are squabbles at the moment about producer credits for Babel and LMS so the Academy would like to avoid another producer squabble like last year's Crash)
Best Actor - Forest Whitaker (very close second is Peter O'Toole for the sympathy vote)
Best Actress - Helen Mirren
Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin (I think its great Mark Wahlberg was nominated and recognised)
Wow I just noticed Will Smith was one of the actor nominations. Now THAT'S pretty sad.
Also, per Variety:
The Academy has decided which three producers of "Little Miss Sunshine" are Oscar contenders, while rejecting the request of Paramount Pictures chairman Brad Grey to be added to the Acad's producer credits on Warner Bros.' "The Departed."
The trio for "Little Miss Sunshine" are David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub. Also receiving onscreen credit are Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa. Acad rules state that only three producers are eligible.
About 20 producers who sit on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' executive committee made the decision Thursday night, naming Graham King at the only producer of "Departed."
The Producers Guild of America had earlier denied Grey credit on the pic. The Academy uses PGA decisions as a guideline, but reviews the ruling if the guild decision is contested.
On Jan. 21, all five "Sunshine" producers were given the PGA award because the guild does not limit the number of producers.
and yeah, i'd pretty much hate it if abigail breslin won too. here are my personal favorites for the 'big categories' - it's way too early to predict, though:
Best Picture - Letters from Iwo Jima
Best Director - Clint Eastwood
Best Actor - Forest Whitaker
Best Actress - Penelope Cruz
Best Supporting Actor - Jackie Earle Haley (I hate hate hate hate hate hate this movie, but he's far and away the best thing about it - there's a line of dialogue that he delivers in the big pool sequence that's maybe the best line delivery of the year). I also like Wahlberg in this category.
Best Supporting Actress - Man, I hated all of this. I'll phone in a vote for Gong Li in Miami Vice or Luminita Gheorghiu in The Death of Mr. Lazarescu over any of this.
Best Original Screenplay - Iris Yamashita, Letters from Iwo Jima
Best Adapted Screenplay - Alfonso Cuaron et. al. - Children of Men
Now, that most of the pre-Oscar awards have been announced, these are pretty much the obvious winners now:
Best Picture - Little Miss Sunshine
Best Actor - Forest Whitaker
Best Actress - Helen Mirren
Best Supporting Actor - Eddie Murphy
Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson
Best Director - Martin Scorsese
Best Original Screenplay - Babel
Best Adapted Screenplay - The Departed
Travis wrote:I tend to agree. Except I think LMS will win OS.
I was thinking that too. It was a toss up but I think the Academy will want to acknowledge Babel in some way.
Also, I think Little Miss Sunshine shot itself in the foot by having two directors which is a no-no with the Academy so hence their snub for Best Director over Paul Greengrass for United 93.
Yeah, but the enemedia is trying to convince us that THE RACES ARE WIDE OPEN.
Bologna.
Babel will have to win at least one of those. OS is a joke (anyone can write a script where stuff is just jumbled together), but I can see Best Picture.
How is Little Miss Sunshine the obvious winner? I don't get it.
Quite frankly, only two films since 1980 (A Beautiful Mind, and Ordinary People) have won Best Picture and lost Best Editing. Only two of this year's Best Picture nominees are even nominated in the Editing category: Babel and The Departed. Both are likely winners, but I'll lean towards Babel, given its liberal hand-wringing subject matter and "difficult" editing (read, multiple storylines, a la Crash). Scorsese will likely take home the Director award (which is unfortunate given that The Departed, while a fine entertainment, doesn't rank near his greatest films).
Via_Chicago wrote:How is Little Miss Sunshine the obvious winner? I don't get it.
I just feel that Little Miss Sunshine is getting some momentum here winning the SAG Awards for Best Drama Ensemble and the Producers Guild Award for Best Picture. I think Babel is too much like Crash, both achingly to be so-important pictures with their multiple storylines meshing together towards the climax. I can't see them giving Best Picture to another self-important "message" film. I think The Departed is too violent and very pessimistic for the Academy. Little Miss Sunshine is the one getting all the momentum and it will win Best Picture.
Quot wrote:I wouldn't count out O'Toole just yet. Just the sort of thing the Academy loves.
Good point. I also like Alan Arkin for Best Supporting Actor. However, in recent years when I want the Academy to stray from the "obvious" winners, it has always let me down but, I guess, you never know.
Alan Arkin was the best part about Little Miss Sunshine for me. I'd love to see him win it. As for LMS as a whole, I think it's the least deserving of those nominated for Best Pic.
