Oscar Night is Here!

Where did the time go? I've been meaning to write this for over a month now, and here I an writing it the night before. So, sadly it will probably not be as detailed as I would have liked. What it will have, though, are my predictions, my wishes, and any odd side notes. I hope you enjoy it, and I will be back later in the week with my take on the actual results.

BEST PICTURE

• THE AVIATOR
• FINDING NEVERLAND
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY
• RAY
• SIDEWAYS
• Prediction: The Aviator
• Personal Pick: Sideways
• Notes: I think the race is between Million Dollar Baby and The Aviator, which could allow Ray to sneak in for the win if the votes get split.
• Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Hotel Rwanda, and Kill Bill Vol. 2.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

• Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA
• Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND
• Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR
• Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
• Jamie Foxx - RAY
• Prediction: Jamie Foxx
• Personal Pick: Don Cheadle
• Notes: This is Foxx's to lose, he gave an absolutely incredible performance, but I feel that Cheadle gave one of the most moving roles of the year.
• Snubs: Jim Carrey, Paul Giamatti, Tom Hanks, Jim Caviziel.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
• Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS
• Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
• Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
• Clive Owen - CLOSER
• Prediction: Morgan Freeman
• Personal Pick: Jamie Foxx
• Notes: I was surprised to see Alda nominated here. All of the performances here were excellent, I just think that Foxx's was the biggest eye opener of the bunch.
• Snubs: David Carradine

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

• 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
• Prediction: Hilary Swank
• Personal Pick: It's a toss up, either Kate Winslet or Catalina Sandino Moreno
• Notes: Hilary seems to be almost a lock for it, although Bening also seems to have some good buzz. I loved Winslet's performance, and Catalina gave a brave performance.
• Snubs: Bryce Dallas Howard, Uma Thurman, Maia Morgenstern

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR
• Laura Linney - KINSEY
• Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS
• Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
• Natalie Portman - CLOSER
• Prediction: Cate Blanchett
• Personal Pick: Cate Blanchett
• Notes: This is a close race that I think could go to Blanchett, Madsen, or Portman, with one of the others possibly sneaking in between a split vote.
• Snubs: Natalie Portman (Garden State), Cloris Leachman, Dakota Fanning

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

• THE INCREDIBLES
• SHARK TALE
• SHREK 2
• Prediction: The Incredibles
• Personal Pick: The Incredibles
• Notes: This is an absolute lock. Plus, I can't get over Shark Tale even getting nominated.
• Snubs: Polar Express, Team America: World Police

ART DIRECTION

• THE AVIATOR
• FINDING NEVERLAND
• LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
• THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
• A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT
• Prediction: The Aviator
• Personal Pick: A Very Long Engagement
• Notes: Any of these films would be worthy of winning, they all looked fantastic.
• Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Saddest Music in the World

CINEMATOGRAPHY

• THE AVIATOR
• HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
• THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
• THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
• A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT
• Prediction: The Aviator
• Personal Pick: TIE House of Flying Daggers and The Passion of the Christ
• Notes: There were some beautifully shot films this year, whoever wins is deserving.
• Snubs: Million Dollar Baby, The Village

COSTUME DESIGN

• THE AVIATOR
• FINDING NEVERLAND
• LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
• RAY
• TROY
• Prediction: Ray
• Personal Pick: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
• Notes: Tough pick, this could be Aviator's night, but I bet there will be a lot of love for Ray.
• Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Kill Bill Vol. 2, The Passion of the Christ, Catwoman

DIRECTING

• Martin Scorsese - THE AVIATOR
• Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
• Taylor Hackford - RAY
• Alexander Payne - SIDEWAYS
• Mike Leigh - VERA DRAKE
• Prediction: Martin Scorses
• Personal Pick: Alexander Payne
• Notes: Two way race between Scorses and Eastwood could be close, with Scorsese's past and Eastwood's controversy.
• Snubs: Michele Gondry, Quentin Tarantino, Mel Gibson

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

• BORN INTO BROTHELS
• THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL
• SUPER SIZE ME
• TUPAC: RESURRECTION
• TWIST OF FAITH
• Prediction: Super Size Me
• Personal Pick: Super Size Me
• Notes: Could possibly go to Born into Brothels, which was also excellent. Michael Moore maneuvered himself out of a near lock for his docu-drama, and I'm happy for it.
• Snubs: Control Room, The Corporation

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

• AUTISM IS A WORLD
• THE CHILDREN OF LENINGRADSKY
• HARDWOOD
• MIGHTY TIMES: THE CHILDREN'S MARCH
• SISTER ROSE'S PASSION
• Prediction: Sister Rose's Passion
• Notes: I haven't had the chance to see any of these yet, so this is just a shot in the dark.

FILM EDITING

• THE AVIATOR
• COLLATERAL
• FINDING NEVERLAND
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY
• RAY
• Prediction: The Aviator
• Personal Pick: Collateral
• Notes: Collateral was a wonderful film, and I think it is the best choice here, but it will go to one of the big three.
• Snubs: The Passion of the Christ, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

• AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
• THE CHORUS
• DOWNFALL
• THE SEA INSIDE
• YESTERDAY
• Prediction: The Sea Inside
• Personal Pick: none
• Notes: Believe it or not, I have not seen any of these.
• Snubs: I'm Not Scared, Bad Education, Hero, House of Flying Daggers

MAKEUP

• LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
• THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
• THE SEA INSIDE
• Prediction: The Passion of the Christ
• Personal Pick: The Passion of the Christ
• Notes: I think THe Passion is a lock for this one.
• Snubs: Dawn of the Dead, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

MUSIC (SCORE)

• FINDING NEVERLAND
• HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
• LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
• THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
• THE VILLAGE
• Prediction: The Passion of the Christ
• Personal Pick: The Village
• Notes: The Village's score is beautiful, The Passion's is also great, the others didn't make an impression on me.
• Snubs: House of Flying Daggers, Van Helsing

MUSIC (SONG)

• "Accidentally In Love" - SHREK 2
• "Al Otro Lado Del Río" - THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
• "Believe" - THE POLAR EXPRESS
• "Learn To Be Lonely" - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
• "Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" - THE CHORUS
• Prediction: Accidentally In Love
• Personal Pick: Learn to be Lonely
• Notes: Nothing really to add here.

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)

• BIRTHDAY BOY
• GOPHER BROKE
• GUARD DOG
• LORENZO
• RYAN
• Predicton: Birthday Boy
• Notes: I haven't had the chance to see any of these yet, so this is just a shot in the dark.

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

• EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY MUST
• LITTLE TERRORIST
• 7:35 IN THE MORNING
• TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT
• WASP
• Predicton: Little Terrorist
• Notes: I haven't had the chance to see any of these yet, so this is just a shot in the dark.

SOUND EDITING

• THE INCREDIBLES
• THE POLAR EXPRESS
• SPIDER-MAN 2
• Prediction: Spider-Man 2
• Personal Pick: Spider-Man 2
• Notes: This seems to be an easy enough choice, although I would not be surprised to see a win by the Incredibles.
• Snubs: I, Robot, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

SOUND MIXING

• THE AVIATOR
• THE INCREDIBLES
• THE POLAR EXPRESS
• RAY
• SPIDER-MAN 2
• Prediction: The Aviator
• Personal Pick: Spider-Man 2
• Notes: Another one of those pick'em type categories.
• Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

VISUAL EFFECTS

• HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
• I, ROBOT
• SPIDER-MAN 2
• Prediction: Spider-Man 2
• Personal Pick: I, Robot
• Notes: All three of these films have some great effects. Although they do have a tendency to be over used these days.
• Snubs: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

• BEFORE SUNSET
• FINDING NEVERLAND
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY
• THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
• SIDEWAYS
• Prediction: Million Dollar Baby
• Personal Pick: Sideways
• Notes: Some very good writing this year, Sideways definitely gets my vote for delivering a great screenplay.
• Snubs: The Passion of the Christ

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

• THE AVIATOR
• ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
• HOTEL RWANDA
• THE INCREDIBLES
• VERA DRAKE
• Prediction: The Aviator
• Personal Pick: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
• Notes: A wide variety of films sampled here, each with their good points. I truly hope that Sunshine can pull out the victory, I loved that film.
• Snubs: Garden State, Closer

That brings us to a close. All we have to wait for now is to see how wrong I am on all counts.