My Oscar Picks!

The 2005 Academy Awards hosted by Chris Rock. We are used to seeing him on the MTV Video Music Awards, however he is going to be hosting Hollywood biggest night. His plan on hosting is a great and shows him that hes a great entertainer. He stated that this will be the peoples Academy Awards. Where he will make the person who never seen Sideways but seen Bourne Surpremecy two times seen apart of the Oscars. The following are my picks…. like it or love it.
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Don Cheadle in “Hotel Rwanda”
Johnny Depp in “Finding Neverland”
Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Aviator”
Clint Eastwood in “Million Dollar Baby”
Jamie Foxx in “Ray”

Jamie Foxx really deserves this award, its hella tight seeing him from the Jamie Foxx Show to his role in Ray and Collateral. I believe he will win and should win, however Don Cheadle is one of my favorite actors. He also should win this award. It would be between them. Dont think i dont see the other nominees, these are some heavy hitters.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Alda in “The Aviator”
Thomas Haden Church in “Sideways”
Jamie Foxx in “Collateral”
Morgan Freeman in “Million Dollar Baby”
Clive Owen in “Closer”

Again i would love to see Jamie Foxx get this award. However Alan Alda i think will win this award. Morgan Freeman had an excellent performance in Million Dollar Baby but he has done roles like this before and it wouldnt be any departure.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Annette Bening in “Being Julia”
Catalina Sandino Moreno in “Maria Full of Grace”
Imelda Staunton in “Vera Drake”
Hilary Swank in “Million Dollar Baby”
Kate Winslet in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”

Hands down i want Kate Winselet to win. HANDS DOWN. This i can say was my favorite movie of 2004. However, Hilary Swank’s performance and transformation into this buff chick will take the Oscar away, no doubt.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in “The Aviator”
Laura Linney in “Kinsey”
Virginia Madsen in “Sideways”
Sophie Okonedo in “Hotel Rwanda”
Natalie Portman in “Closer”

Cate Blanchett is the favorite. Natalie Portman was pretty hot in Closer. However i believe Virginia Madsen will win. Her role was more unique to me than the other nominees in the other movies.

Best animated feature film of the year
“The Incredibles”
“Shark Tale”
“Shrek 2”

I dont see much with Shark Tale. However Incredibles had a great concept, but man Shrek 2 was a funny movie.

Achievement in directing
“The Aviator” Martin Scorsese
“Million Dollar Baby” Clint Eastwood
“Ray” Taylor Hackford
“Sideways” Alexander Payne
“Vera Drake” Mike Leigh

Martin Scorsese, cmon. One of the friggin greatest directors ever. But if he would have competition, it would be from the man… CLint Eastwood.

Best documentary feature
“Born into Brothels”
“The Story of the Weeping Camel”
“Super Size Me”
“Tupac: Resurrection”
“Twist of Faith”

Very very very informantive. Junk food is sooo sick. If you havent seen it, you have to watch this movie

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Accidentally In Love” from “Shrek 2”
Lyric by Adam Duritz and Daniel Vickrey
“Al Otro Lado Del Río” from “The Motorcycle Diaries”
Music and Lyric by Jorge Drexler
“Believe” from “The Polar Express”
Music and Lyric by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri
“Learn To Be Lonely” from “The Phantom of the Opera”
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyric by Charles Hart
“Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)” from “The Chorus (Les Choristes)”
Music by Bruno Coulais
Lyric by Christophe Barratier

Very likely to win, not being bias since Josh Groban is the one who sang the song. But it is going to be performed at the Oscars, like i said in a previous post. T-Minus 22 days until Josh Groban in Vegas!

Best motion picture of the year
“The Aviator”
“Finding Neverland”
“Million Dollar Baby”
“Ray”
“Sideways”

The only ones to pick from this category is either Aviator or Million Dollar Baby. Aviator is the favorite but i will have to go with Million DOllar Baby

Achievement in film editing
“The Aviator”
Thelma Schoonmaker
“Collateral”
Jim Miller and Paul Rubell
“Finding Neverland”
Matt Chesse
“Million Dollar Baby”
Joel Cox
“Ray”
Paul Hirsch

All i can say, is it was edited nice??

Best foreign language film of the year
“As It Is in Heaven”
Sweden
“The Chorus (Les Choristes)”
France
“Downfall”
Germany
“The Sea Inside”
Spain
“Yesterday”
South Africa
Original screenplay
“The Aviator”
Written by John Logan
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”
Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman
Story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre Bismuth
“Hotel Rwanda”
Written by Keir Pearson & Terry George
“The Incredibles”
Written by Brad Bird
“Vera Drake”
Written by Mike Leigh
Adapted screenplay
“Before Sunset”
Screenplay by Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke
Story by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan
“Finding Neverland”
Screenplay by David Magee
“Million Dollar Baby”
Screenplay by Paul Haggis
“The Motorcycle Diaries”
Screenplay by José Rivera
“Sideways”
Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor
Achievement in sound editing
“The Incredibles”
“The Polar Express”
“Spider-Man 2”
Achievement in sound mixing
“The Aviator”
“The Incredibles”
“The Polar Express”
“Ray”
“Spider-Man 2”
Achievement in visual effects
“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”
“I, Robot”
“Spider-Man 2”
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Finding Neverland” Jan A.P. Kaczmarek
“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” John Williams
“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” Thomas Newman
“The Passion of the Christ” John Debney
“The Village” James Newton Howard
Achievement in makeup
“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”
Valli O’Reilly and Bill Corso
“The Passion of the Christ”
Keith Vanderlaan and Christien Tinsley
“The Sea Inside”
Jo Allen and Manuel García
Achievement in costume design
“The Aviator”
Sandy Powell
“Finding Neverland”
Alexandra Byrne
“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”
Colleen Atwood
“Ray”
Sharen Davis
“Troy”
Bob Ringwood

I would love to see Troy win. However you have seen the whole epic greek or ancient look done with Lord of the Rings. The Aviator will take this due to the time period it was based in. The costumes were amazing and the glamor was clearly shown.

Achievement in art direction
“The Aviator”
Art Direction: Dante Ferretti
Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“Finding Neverland”
Art Direction: Gemma Jackson
Set Decoration: Trisha Edwards
“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”
Art Direction: Rick Heinrichs
Set Decoration: Cheryl Carasik
“The Phantom of the Opera”
Art Direction: Anthony Pratt
Set Decoration: Celia Bobak
“A Very Long Engagement”
Art Direction: Aline Bonetto

Ill have to go with Finding Neverland, however i have a feeling The Aviator could take this away. I havent seen Phantom of the Opera and plan on checking that out.

Achievement in cinematography
“The Aviator”
Robert Richardson
“House of Flying Daggers”
Zhao Xiaoding
“The Passion of the Christ”
Caleb Deschanel
“The Phantom of the Opera”
John Mathieson
“A Very Long Engagement” (Warner Independent Pictures)
Bruno Delbonnel

Hands down this has to go to House of Flying Daggers. This movie is so visually stimulating. Great colors, great contrast.