The Pre-Show...

Pre- as in we boldly predict, prognosticate and presage the Academy Awards® with our own personal selections...

I won't bore you with all my picks for the Oscars tomorrow night (and I promise to drop my annoying habit of putting ™ and ® after every mention of that word and/or Academy Awards). Suffice it to say I know 3 things:

1. Jamie Foxx will be awarded the Best Actor Oscar for Ray.

2. The Aviator will sweep the craft categories: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Cinematography.

3. A loud noise will cause Joan Rivers overly-plasticized face to collapse in a heap around her ankles.

So beyond those 3 truisms, I think the following films and actors will be awarded the Oscar in their respective categories:

Best Animated Film:
The Incredibles
Hands-down, no contest, not even close. This should have actually been nominated for Best Film. Period.

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Million Dollar Baby
This would have gone to Sideways, until Clint came along and, well...made his own day.

Best Original Screenplay:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The one sure spot this film can win. I'd vote for The Incredibles myself (it is nominated), but I doubt the Academy can bring themselves to let a "cartoon" win a "straight" category.

Best Supporting Actress:
Virginia Madsen for Sideways
Cate Blanchett SHOULD win for her wonderful performance as Kate Hepburn in The Aviator, but the Academy loves this kind of story: B-Movie actress, long career, probably one-and-only chance at an Oscar for Virginia Madsen. She deserves it, too, and Blanchett will have plenty of opportunities to take home the Best Actress Oscar in years to come. Madsen, sadly, will probably not.

Best Supporting Actor:
Morgan Freeman for Million Dollar Baby
Thomas Haden Church is a sitcom actor to the Academy. That's the kind of story they DON'T love. They can't give the Best Actor Oscar to Clint, so they'll give the next best thing to Morgan for the same movie.

Best Actress:
Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby
It's Annette Bening vs. Hilary Swank once again, and Swank is just too incredible in MDB. Sorry, Annette. Go home with Mr. Warren instead of Mr. Oscar. All Hilary has is Chad Lowe, and we all know how forgettable he is. She needs another little gold guy to keep her warm. (And who woulda thunk she'd be up there AGAIN?)

Best Actor:
Jamie Foxx for Ray
Hands-down, no contest, not even close.

Best Director:
Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby
Martin Scorsese deserves an Oscar at some point, but I read somewhere that the Academy doesn't like him. This might be Clint's last hurrah as Best Director. His films are really erratic, and he hasn't had a decent one since Unforgiven.

Best Picture:
Millon Dollar Baby
This is tough, since Sideways is the critical darling. But I think Clint will get almost the whole 9 yards tomorrow night.

So, including the craft awards, I've picked 12 categories. Let's see how I do. Tune in tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time for (FINALLY) LIVE OSCAR BLOGGING!

Comments

[J. Ott]

Well liveblogged.

Here's mine if you'd care to check it out:

http://www.grandviewdv.com/makingthemovie/2005/02/liveblogging-oscars.html#live