Movie News:

Headline: Oscar Preview 2007!
12th February 2007
Posted by: Gary Gray

It is that time of year. When the little golden guy beckons us back to the Kodak Theatre where we can crown the best of American cinema.

Oscar is one crafty guy. Even during one of the weakest cinematic years in recent memory he finds a way to push some films onto a pedestal and makes us want to take a look at them once again.



When the nominations for Best Picture were announced I wasn’t that surprised. Like it has been with every awards ceremony this season, I felt that the films selected were not a direct reflection on what were the best films of the year. I agreed with the nominations for “The Departed” and “Letters from Iwo Jima” but not the rest. I would have rather have seen “Blood Diamond” or “Little Children” up there. Or how about nominations for Ben Affleck in “Hollywoodland” or Ken Watanabe in “Letters from Iwo Jima”.



I was shocked to see so many nominations for “Babel” and “Dreamgirls” which were both average films as I saw them. But that is just one opinion.



You do have to hand it to the Academy this year for slipping in some dark horses into the acting nominations though. It was a wild delight to see the heartbreaking performance by Ryan Gosling in “Half Nelson”, the rough and rugged cop Mark Wahlberg in “The Departed”, sweet and innocent Abigail Breslin in “Little Miss Sunshine” and Jackie Earle Haley as the trying to reform pedophile in “Little Children”. All these were bold choices and in some ways I have to agree.



Then you have to look at the “bridesmaid” nominations. In other words, people who have been nominated a bunch of times but have never won. Bridesmaids include Peter O’Toole (8 Best Actor nods), Judi Dench (5 Best Actress nods), Kate Winslet (5 Total Oscar nods) and Martin Scorsese (7 Best Director nods). It is still amazing to me that none of these great talents have won.



As I do every year, I will start off with my “Dream List” of people I would love to see win. Then finish off with strategically who will win.

Soothsayer’s Dream List:

Performance by an actor in a leading role (Best Actor):

The nominees:

• Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond

• Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson

• Peter O’Toole, Venus

• Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness

• Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

Winner: Forest Whitaker for “Last King of Scotland”

Why?:

Worst Case Scenario: Will Smith for “The Pursuit of Happyness”

Why?: I really like Will Smith and I really think that one day he will win but this year just isn’t his year.

Performance by an actress in a leading role (Best Actress):

The nominees:

• Penélope Cruz, Volver

• Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal

• Helen Mirren, The Queen

• Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada

• Kate Winslet, Little Children

Winner: Kate Winslet

Why?: As I said in my review, Winslet’s performance was the best performance I saw from an actress all year. She was bold, innocent, magical and heart-wrenching. I also would like to see Cruz win because she is utterly brilliant when she acts in Spanish also “Volver” is probably the best she has ever been. Mirren has this category locked and no one has a chance of up-setting her.

Worst Case Scenario: Meryl Streep for “The Devil Wears Prada”

Why?: Nuff said.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role (Best Supporting Actor):

The nominees:

• Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine

• Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children

• Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond

• Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls

• Mark Wahlberg, The Departed

Winner: Djimon Hounsou

Why?: I do have a soft spot for Murphy and Wahlberg but Hounsou’s performance in the Oscar neglected “Blood Diamond” is riveting and what his character has to go through is such a revealing journey. Hounsou has been so good ever since he burst onto the scene in 1997’s “Amistad”. This is his second Oscar nomination in this category.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role (Best Supporting Actress):

The nominees:

• Adriana Barraza, Babel

• Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal

• Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine

• Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls

• Rinko Kikuchi, Babel

Winner: Adriana Barraza

Why?: I think Hudson winning here is practically a given. But for me I would have to go with Barraza only because her nanny role in “Babel” for me was the best performance of the film. She was brilliant.

Achievement in directing (Best Director):

The nominees:

• Babel, Alejandro González Iñárritu

• The Departed, Martin Scorsese

• Letters from Iwo Jima, Clint Eastwood

• The Queen, Stephen Frears

• United 93, Paul Greengrass

Winner: Martin Scorsese

Why?: Marty has a string of nominations reaching all the way back to 1981’s “Raging Bull”. The man is a legend and it is time to honor him for the man he is.

Best motion picture of the year (Best Picture):

The nominees:

• Babel

• The Departed

• Letters from Iwo Jima

• Little Miss Sunshine

• The Queen

Winner: The Departed

Why?: “The Departed” is the best film of those nominated. I will be really surprised if it wins director and picture given the recent track record of splitting up director and picture. I really do hope so though.

Worst Nomination:

There were some but this one stuck out:

Winner: Meryl Streep for “The Devil Wears Prada”

Why?: Do I really have to explain myself? The woman makes a movie and no matter what it is she seems to get a nomination. That theory is now proven right with this nomination. The academy should be ashamed.

Who will win, strategically? My predictions:

Best Actor: Forest Whitaker for “Last King of Scotland”

Best Actress: Helen Mirren for “The Queen”
Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy for “Dreamgirls”
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson for “Dreamgirls”
Best Original Screenplay: Babel

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Departed
Best Director: Martin Scorsese for “The Departed”
Best Picture: Babel



In conclusion, all I have to say about the nominations this year is that I hope that some “bridesmaids” finally get their chance to become brides. There are so many great talents out there that need to be cherished and we often neglect just how great they are.

So Says the Soothsayer

Visit our Movie Information Page for more on !

User Comments:

You need to register or log in to comment on news articles!

Latest Movie News Headlines:

23rd July 2008: Bryan Singer Capeshooters!
Warner Bros. has acquired Capeshooters, a comic book adaptation that...
22nd July 2008: Michael Vartan is Demoted!
Michael Vartan and David Cross will play bitter tire store...
17th July 2008: Will Ferrell has Two Face's!
Will Ferrell is attached to star in Two Face, a...
16th July 2008: Pitt/DiCaprio Inglorious Bastards?!!!!
Yes you read that headline right. Rumour today has Brad...
15th July 2008: Kate Hudson joins Nine!
The Weinstein Company announced today that Academy Award nominee Kate...
14th July 2008: School of Rock 2!
For those about to Rock again, we salute you! ...
11th July 2008: Robert Downey Jr. is Sherlock Holmes!
Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) is set to star in...