February 2007 Archives
2006 Oscars Recap Posted on February 26, 2007
And another one is over. Prediction-wise I was 16/24 just like last year, 6/8 in the main categories. Perhaps I should go with my favorite in the supp. actor category rather than best picture next time :).
The Departed was the winner of the night with 4 wins including Best Picture and Best Director. Pan's Labyrinth won 3 (missing out on Best Foreign Film though), Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine and An Inconvenient Truth had each 2 wins.
What else was memorable?
(more)Final Predictions Posted on February 24, 2007
With a bit over 24 hours left until the awards ceremony, I am throwing in the towel and classifying the current predictions as final predictions. I could reason back and forth between Babel, Departed and Little Miss Sunshine and argue why and how each of them could get enough votes to win. Right now I know I am leaning towards my personal preference, but... oh well.
All categories have some more detailed comments when the race warranted it. Enjoy and tune in for live comments during the broadcast and tally of the results.
(more)2006 Predictions are up Posted on February 21, 2007
A bit after the ballots were due, my predictions for all categories are finally up.
Of course, as a pundit, I have a few more days to finalize the predictions, especially on the big categories, so look for updates and more detailed comments to sneak into each page up until Saturday.
(more)Technical Categories Posted on February 21, 2007
Marked below are my predictions as to who will win and who could win (my 2nd guess). For my comments and opinions on who should win, scroll all the way down. Most open races are Editing, Art Direction and Score.
Cinematography
- Black Dahlia
- Children of Men
- The Illusionist
- Pan's Labyrinth
- The Prestige
Editing
- Babel
- Blood Diamond
- Children of Men
- The Departed
- United 93
Art Direction
- Dreamgirls
- Good Shepherd
- Pan's Labyrinth
- Pirates of the Caribbean 2
- The Prestige
Costume Design
- Curse of Golden Flower
- Devil Wears Prada
- Dreamgirls
- Marie Antoinette
- The Queen
Makeup
- Apocalypto
- Click
- Pan's Labyrinth
Visual Effects
- Pirates of the Caribbean 2
- Poseidon
- Superman Returns
Original Score
- Babel (Gustavo Santaolalla)
- The Good German (Thomas Newman)
- Notes on Scandal (Phillip Glass)
- Pan's Labyrinth (Javier Navarrete)
- The Queen (Alexandre Desplat)
Relative surprise here. Very soon after the Brokeback Mountain win, Santaolalla gets a second. May this indicate strong support for Babel in Best Picture as well?
Sound Editing
- Apocalypto
- Blood Diamond
- Flags of Our Fathers
- Letters From Iwo Jima
- Pirates of the Caribbeans 2
A bit surprising. Can this award foreshadow some more surprising wins for Iwo Jima?
Sound Mixing
- Apocalypto
- Blood Diamond
- Dreamgirls
- Flags of our Fathers
- Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Original Song
- Cars (Our Town)
- An Inconvenient Truth (I Need to Wake Up)
- Dreamgirls (Listen)
- Dreamgirls (Patience)
- Dreamgirls (Love You, I Do)
Was this a political vote too? Either way it was not completely surprising, although I still think Listen was the best song of the group but also suffered from split Dreamgirls votes.
(more)Standalone Categories Posted on February 20, 2007
Foreign Film
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| Indigenes (Algeria) |
Water (Canada) |
After the Wedding (Denmark) |
The Lives of Others (Germany) |
Pan's Labyrinth (Mexico) |
Should Win: Pan's Labyrinth/Lives of Others Could Win: Pan's Labyrinth Will Win: The Lives of Others
Indeed, for those that saw both movies, Lives of Others took the edge over Pan's Labyrinth
Documentary
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| Deliver Us from Evil | An Inconvenient Truth | Iraq in Fragments | Jesus Camp | My Country, My Country |
Should Win: (not seen enough) Could Win: Deliver Us from Evil Will Win: An Inconvenient Truth
Animated Feature
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| Cars(Pixar/Disney) | Happy Feet (Warner Bros) |
Monster House (Sony Pictures) |
Should Win: Monster House Could Win: Happy Feet Will Win: Cars
A small surprise. It's good that Pixar didn't win for a movie that's not really that great, but Monster House would have been the more edgy choice.
Documentary Short
- The Blood of Yingzhou District
- Recycled Life
- Rehearsing a Dream
- Two Hands
Live Action Short
- Binta Y La Gran Idea (Binta and the Great Idea)
- Éramos Pocos (One Too Many)
- Helmer & Son
- The Saviour
- West Bank Story
One of the best acceptance speeches in a long time. Brief, to the point and full of message (peace in the West Bank between Palestinians and Israeli) without being preachy.
Animated Short
- The Danish Poet
- Lifted
- Little Match Girl
- Maestro
- No Time For Nuts
Best Screenplay Posted on February 11, 2007
Original Screenplay
- Guillermo Arriaga (Babel)
- Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis (Letters from Iwo Jima)
- Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine)
- Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth)
- Peter Morgan (The Queen)
I dare say that if Pan's Labyrinth doesn't win, whoever the winner here is, will also win Best Picture. Little Miss Sunshine! Well... I hope I'm right.
Adapted Screenplay
- Borat
- Children of Men
- The Departed
- Little Children
- Notes on a Scandal
Best Supporting Actress Posted on February 09, 2007
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| Adriana Barraza (Babel) |
Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal) |
Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) |
Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) |
Rinko Kikuchi (Babel) |
Should Win: Cate Blanchett Could Win: Abigail Breslin Will Win: Jennifer Hudson
A true Hollywood story for Hudson for sure. But... will she ever act in a role without singing?
(more)Best Supporting Actor Posted on February 09, 2007
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| Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) |
Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children) |
Djimon Honsou (Blood Diamond) |
Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls) |
Mark Wahlberg (The Departed) |
Should Win: Alan Arkin Could Win: Alan Arkin Will Win: Eddie Murphy
I wish I had gone with my favorite here ;) but regardless it is too soon to tell if the win indicates more support for Little Miss Sunshine or it was just a recognition for the 73 years old Arkin.
(more)Best Actress Posted on February 09, 2007
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| Penelope Cruz (Volver) |
Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal) |
Helen Mirren (The Queen) |
Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada) |
Kate Winslet (Little Children) |
Should Win: Helen Mirren Could Win: Helen Mirren Will Win: Helen Mirren
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Best Actor Posted on February 02, 2007
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| 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) |
Should Win: Forest Whitaker Could Win: Peter O'Toole Will Win: Forest Whitaker
A just choice, despite for sure every voter felt sorry for not writing O'Toole's name down.
(more)Best Director Posted on February 01, 2007
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| Clint Eastwood (Letters from Iwo Jima) |
Stephen Frears (The Queen) |
Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (Babel) |
Paul Greengrass (United 93) |
Martin Scorsese (The Departed) |
Should Win: Clint Eastwood Could Win: Clint Eastwood/Paul Greengrass Will Win: Martin Scorsese
Standing ovation. "Could you double-check the envelope?".
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