Yeah, the nominations for tonight's Oscars are indeed pretty damn dull. Not much to root for or against. I did love Sideways and am going to be rooting for Thomas Hayden Church to take home a statue of a naked gold man. But other than that... I have this thing against Million Dollar Baby. I don't know why, I guess it's due to some of the crap I've read about it on filmbrain and a couple of other places. That Rochi guy on Netflix gave it a pretty thorough reaming as well saying it just beat out Van Helsing for crap-fest of the year. There’s just something about it that rubs me the wrong way. Is there really anything new going on in this movie? The movie feels like something that was written for these guys when they first started out their careers, and now they’re cashing in their Get A Free Oscar card. Maybe I’ll put it in the queue sometime, maybe not.
Sideways was great and overrated at the same time. Whatever, it was still one of the best things I saw last year. And Eternal Sunshine, which I saw way the fuck over a year ago still reigns supreme. So these are my guesses for the two screenplay winners.
I wish I’d seen Aviator before tonight—I also have this wish that Scorsese would win for something other than a period bio-drama. Oh well, I still think he’s going to beat out Clint for the director and best picture awards… I only say this as I think Clint’s been bestowed with enough praise by the Academy over the years and they’re going to take this opportunity to give Marty their golden shower this year.
Actors – I’d like to see Cheadle win. The man’s been making a living with great supporting roles and getting by with straight-for-cable flicks for long enough that he deserves an award but this year it seems Jamie “Booty Call” Fox has this one wrapped up. For supporting it’s gotta go to Mr. Church—it’s a great performance and going from Wings to an Oscar is proof that most Hollywood movies go for safe/boring casting way too often. But Closer was a great movie too, but Clive Owen was the most one-note of all the roles in that one.
Actresses – My vote’s for the Ms. Staunton from Vera Drake. Now, I regretfully have not caught this movie but Mike Leigh is one of my favorite all time writer/directors and this lady had me in the trailers alone. Kate Winslet was amazing, of course, but it will most likely go to Ms. Swank anyway—hopefully the only award MDB gets. And let’s give it to Natalie Portman for Closer in the supporting category. I knew she could act but after the Star Wars debacles and Garden State I’d completely forgotten, easily the best surprise I’d had at the movies in a while. But I’m guessing Virginia Madsen might take it home—I have a feeling they’re willing to pat her on the back for staying in the game through semi-obscurity for so long this past decade or so.
Like I said, not very exciting is it? So thank the gods they put Chris Rock in front of a mike for this thing. Possible updates to follow later tonight…
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