OSCAR PREDICTIONS

Here we go again around the golden statue one more time! Now granted these so called “predictions” are what I sure wish would happen but then again people in hell want ice water. So I’m going to do double duty here – I’ll share with you what I personally would like and then I’ll tell you what I think Hollywood will do.

                                                             WHO SHOULD WIN:            WHO WILL WIN:

Best Picture                                        Inglorious Basterds                      Precious

Don’t even get me started on this category. The film PRECIOUS is fine but it is not the best picture. Tarentino or even Bigelow has brought something this year that is clearly new and original. PRECIOUS is a pete of a repeat in story telling, its that simple.

Best Actor                                          Colin Firth                            Jeff Bridges

If you have not seen A SINGLE MAN it is a glorious film from start to finish. Written and directed by Tom Ford (yes, the fashionita Tom Ford) from set design to lines spoken it is a beautiful piece of work. Firth is just stunning. Why am I anti-Bridges…well, in fact I am not! I just don’t think this is his best performance and again it is a pete of a repeat. I’ve seen this story line before…nuff said.

Best Actor (Supporting Role)               Stanley Tucci                        Christoph Waltz

Another tough call on my part. Waltz is eerie, freaky and disturbing…wow, all the things I love in a character which is WHY I am a Tucci fan. Whether you liked THE LOVELY BONES or not you can NOT disagree that Tucci’s character is eerie, freaky and disturbing. He is riveting to watch and going from his own supporting role in JULIE/JULIA, which is divine, is proves this actor has versatility and the cahones to explore his characters.

Best Actress                                       Sandra Bullock                       Sandra Bullock

Although everyone is tooting the horn of Streep I am one of them. I thought JULIA/JULIA was a marvelous piece of work! That being said I think Bullock’s character in THE BLIND SIDE has that extra punch that viewers love. It is difficult enough to get good female parts (no pun intended) but Bullock takes this role and just goes balls to the walls with it. Yes, I am a huge Bullock fan!

Best Actress (Supporting Role)            Mo’nique                              Mo’nique

If I had to find a reason to love PRECIOUS it is Mo’nique. I KNOW her character very well having lived with someone exactly like her. It takes a lot to make a character reach inside me and say “hey, remember me?” She did it well, she did it with pride and she found something outside her comedic persona to bring the bitch out to play.

Best Animated Feature                       Fantastic Mr. Fox                 Up

Its plain and simple why UP will win: it is a Pixar film and everyone loves everything Pixar does and two, everyone loves grumpy old men, funky animals that make you laugh and sad stories with lessons learned. It’s enough to make me hurl actually, be that as it may…I am a FANTASTIC MR. FOX FAN…period. It is funny, with a cast that is just amazing. I can’t explain it nor should I need to…if you haven’t seen – SEE IT.

Best Art Direction                                 Avatar                                     Avatar

It is no secret that although I enjoyed AVATAR I don’t feel its all that and a bag of chips thank you very much. Unfortunately I’m not easily swayed by pretty blue things and cute graphics unless there is an original story behind it – and lets be honest people – military taking land from natives is not an original story. Now, having got that out of my system – this is a good award for AVATAR to win, period.

Best Cinematography                                Inglorious Basterds              Inglorious Basterds

Oh come on…do I really need to explain why?

Best Costume Design                                    Young Victoria                       Young Victoria

I just adore period pieces and love them even more when the costumes invite me into the story, the characters and the film in general, YOUNG VICTORIA does just that.

Best Director                                                 Kathryn Bigelow                    Kathryn Bigelow

This is where I think Hollywood needs to make a stand and call it like it is. Bigelow took a story and made it work and work well. There has been a lot of teasing going around about Bigelow and I am placing my faith in Hollywood that they truly reward awesome work!

Best Documentary                          The Cove                           The Cove

Anyone who has seen this would never go to Sea World ever again without thinking about what these beautiful and majestic creatures goes through to survive. Japan needs to come clean and stop the madness…see THE COVE.

Best Documentary (Short)             The Last Truck                  The Last Truck

About the closing of the GM plant…madness, absolutely madness.

Best Film Editing                                    District 9                                Avatar

Yep, whether blue or from South Africa the aliens rule this one. I personally think the blue had ruined one to many brain cells. DISTRICT 9 is original, awesome, and how they did some of that stuff is just what Hollywood and film editing is all about. I don’t wanna know…just wow me…they did.

Best Foreign Language Film                   Ajami                                      Ajami

I just found this to be a wonderful film. Beautifully done and a well told story.

Best Music (Original Score)             Avatar – James Horner            Avatar

See….I don’t hate Avatar!

Best Music (Original Song)               Don’t Care                            Crazy Heart
                                                                                                        The Weary Kind
Honestly, there is no song here that gets my goat (no, I don’t have goats). So I shall bypass my selection and get to the obvious.

Best Sound Editing                                    The Hurt Locker               Avatar

Do I really need to discuss this?

Best Visual Effects                                    District 9                                Avatar

DISTRICT 9 is absolutely fantastic with visual effects. I was just delighted beyond belief to know that Neil Blomkamp didn’t spend billions to entertain me yet he got the job done!

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)   An Education              Precious

Okay folks…if you haven’t seen AN EDUCATION you are truly missing something special. Mulligan is just fantastic in the coming of age young woman who finds the world is just a little more than she expected. You already know how I feel about PRECIOUS so I shall not be a member of the pete repeat club!

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There you have it folks…my list for Santa but he’s on vacation in the Bahamas. I await being wrong in some of these categories and hope that my list rules! The red carpet has started and I’m giddy with excitement watching some incredible people walk down the carpet of fame!

2009 was a weird year of more downs than ups…more bad than goods…but, we love our films, theatres, and popcorn. We love our shared experience in the dark and it would be impossible to remove it from the face of our history!

So, here’s to 2009 coming to its theatrical close and onward to 2010 and more shared experiences!!

See you in line!!

Your Movie Maven