Oscar Oscar

The Oscar nominees are up. A cursory glance at the list tells me two things. Thing One: For the films I’ve seen, Oscar has a pretty keen eye for what was really good in 2004. Thing Two: There are so many ’04 films I have yet to see. However, rarely have I allowed incomplete data prevent me from making an educated guess or three, so here are some of my out-of-the-box/off-hand Academy Award predictions:

  • Actor in a Leading Role: Johnny Depp – FINDING NEVERLAND
  • Actor in a Supporting Role: Jamie Foxx – COLLATERAL
  • Actress in a Leading Role: Kate Winslet – ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
  • Actress in a Supporting Role: Cate Blanchett – THE AVIATOR*
  • Animated Feature Film: THE INCREDIBLES
  • Directing: RAY
  • Best Picture: RAY
  • Writing (Original Screenplay): ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

I could cast guesses at the rest, but I really need to catch up. In the next month, I need to see The Aviator, Million Dollar Baby, Hotel Rwanda and probably Sideways. At one film a weekend, it can be done …

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January 25, 2005 – 9:05 am | By Thomas | Posted in Observations, Reviews | Comments (8)
  • http://www.grabbingsand.org/wordpress/index.php/archives/2005/02/06/the-sweet-science/ GRABBINGSAND – You got me writing lyrics on postcards. » 2005 » February » 06

    [...] lves as you walk out of the theatre. My review of Million Dollar Baby is up at JIVE. And my earlier predictions about Best Picture and Best Actress? No [...]

  • http://www.grabbingsand.org/wordpress/index.php/archives/2005/02/06/the-sweet-science/ GRABBINGSAND – You got me writing lyrics on postcards. » 2005 » February » 06

    [...] lves as you walk out of the theatre. My review of Million Dollar Baby is up at JIVE. And my earlier predictions about Best Picture and Best Actress? No [...]

  • http://www.radicalgeorgiamoderate.org Rusty

    Hillary Swank was great in Million Dollar Baby, but I missed Eternal Sunshine, so I can’t say if she was better than Kate Winslet.

  • Nikki

    Eternal Sunshine is on teh DVD, so you should see it. It is quite good.

  • Amanda

    Why not Jamie Foxx for Ray? You think they will pick him for supporting with Tom Cruise? Like so much of a Cuba? That would be sad indeed.

  • http://www.grabbingsand.org Thomas

    I’m going with Depp for Best Actor because he is due. I was stunned to no end by Jamie Foxx in Ray and would’ve considered him a shoo-in … until I saw Finding Neverland. Pretty-boy looks or not, Depp is one of the most versatile actors working today and probably should’ve won last year against Sean Penn’s turn in Mystic River. So … it is Depp’s for the taking this year.

    But back to Foxx … so much of a Cuba, indeed. Since winning Best Supporting in 1997, Gooding has never been able to recapture his talent. Foxx is like Cuba Gooding in reverse, because he’s already done his stint in low-end comedies like Booty Call. So while the fallen Cuba is calling his agent and begging for a spot in Snow Dogs 2, Foxx’s work in Collateral and Ray has positioned him for roles that will stretch him even more. This year’s Jarhead, for instance, should be especially challenging and might bring him yet another nod.

  • http://www.immediatetheatre.org/hblog h

    Methinks seeing Sideways will change some of your predictions. Take it out of the ‘probably’ list and put it in ‘next’. You won’t be sorry.

  • Nikki

    He will have to beat me best out of ten in Rock, Paper, Scissors to see Sideways before Million Dollar Baby.