Tonight the Academy Awards arrive a bit early at 8pm (EST) on ABC. Here now are my pics (and this is my first time putting them up for public scrutiny so be kind.)
Best Picture (Winner - Lord of the Rings: Return of the King)
I'm going with Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. I don't see how it can lose. It will win more for the trilogy as a whole since the other films lost in previous years, even though the first was one of the top movies I've ever seen. In fact, it's going to be a sweep.
Best Actor (Winner - Sean Penn for Mystic River)
This one is tricky. Sean Penn is the favorite, but I really like Bill Murray, as do many others. They could split the vote and end up givingit to Johnny Depp, which would be a travesty. He has deserved it for many other films, but not this one. I'm going with Bill Murray and crossing my fingers.
Best Actress (Winner - Charlize Theron for Monster)
This one is much easier. Charlize Theron will win. The Academy loves to award pretty women that dirty up and I understand she does one hell of a job in this role.
Best Supporting Actor (Winner - Tim Robbins for Mystic River)
As much as I would love to see Alec Baldwin win, Tim Robbins will take this award.
Best Supporting Actress (Winner - Renee Zelwegger for Cold Mountain)
As much as I would love to see Holly Hunter win, Renee Zellweger will take this award.
Best Director (Winner - Peter Jackson for Lord of the Rings: Return of the King)
This one is much harder than picture. Eastwood has won before, and Coppola should be happy with the nomination. The wild card could be Peter Weir for Master and Commander. Still, Peter Jackson has surpassed all filmakers with his tour de force trilogy and I want to see him wearing shorts with his tux! He will win.
Best Foreign Language Film (Winner - The Barbarian Invasions)
I have not seen all of these, but I'm going to assume the winner will be The Barbarian Invasions because of all the great things I have heard about it. Always a tough catagory to pick.
Best Original Screenplay (Winner - Lost in Translation)
Here is where Sophia Coppola will get her love and she deserves it. Lost in Translation was a great little film and terribly original idea.
Best Adapted Screenplay (Winner - LOTR: Return of the King)
Since I'm going for the sweep, LOTR:ROTK is my pick, but American Splendor could sneak past by a nose.
Best Cinematography (Winner - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World)
None of the giants are up this year, so it's hard to tell who will win. I'm going to go with Russell Boyd for Master and Commander.
Best Art Direction (Winner - LOTR: Return of the King)
LOTR:ROTK, baby. It's a sweep this night and these guys deserve this award.
Best Costume Design (Winner - LOTR: Return of the King)
Once again LOTR:ROTK, though it's possible that The Last Samurai might sneak past.
Best Film Editing (Winner - LOTR: Return of the King)
This is always a hard one for me to choose. Good editing means you don't really notice it, but I'm actually going to break up the sweep and say Master and Commander gets this award.
Best Sound Editing (Winner - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World)
I'm picking Master and Commander for this one as well...
Best Sound Mixing (Winner - LOTR: Return of the King)
...however, LOTR:ROTK will pick up this award
Best Original Score (Winner - LOTR: Return of the King)
Here are the giants of the night. Among the nominees are Danny Elfman, Thomas Newman, James Horner and Howard Shore. Shore will take home the Oscar for LOTR:ROTK
Best Original Song (Winner - Into the West from LOTR: Return of the King)
Some interesting nominations here and always a fun catagory. Possible winners could be among Annie Lenox, Elvis Costello and Sting. What's more, Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole are up for "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" from The Mighty Wind. I don't think it will win, but I sure hope they have Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara sing it. However, the winner will be The LOTR folks. Hope Lennox shows up this time.
Best Make-Up (Winner - LOTR: Return of the King)
Easy - LOTR:ROTK
Best Visual Effects (Winner - LOTR: Return of the King)
And once again, LOTR:ROTK
Best Animated Feature (Winner - Finding Nemo)
This is really a stupid catagory, but OK - Finding Nemo wins. It was possibly the very best film of last year.
And the rest is simply a crap-shoot since I have rarely ever seen one of these:
Best Documentary Feature - The Fog of War (Winner - The Fog of War)
Best Documentary Short - Asylum (Winner - Chernobyl Heart)
Best Short Film, Animated - Harvie Krumpet (Winner - Harvie Krumpet)
Best Short Film, Live Action - Two Soldiers (Winner - Two Soldiers)
As well as all of the above, I know that Blake Edwards will be receiving an honorary award tonight, so that should be cool. Too bad Peter Sellers is dead (for a whole bunch of reasons!). I would have loved to have seen him there to present it to Edwards. Maybe Julie Andrews will instead. Should be a good show, and let's watch to see how the five second delay plays into things. I sure hope they don't try to cut anyone's political speechifying - that's always one of the most fun parts seeing who sticks their foot in their mouth about what. Anyway, let's see how I do. That is all.
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