Shots Across The Bow

The Oscars: And the Winner Is...

Yeah, I know. I said I was going to see "Finding Neverland" but real life and a nasty cold/flu got in the way. The Oscars will be given out this Sunday and my schedule is such that I won't have a chance to see any more nominated performances so I'll give you my picks now, based on what I've seen.

Best Supporting Actor

• Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
  
• Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS
  
• Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
  
• Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
  
• Clive Owen - CLOSER

This one comes down to Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman. The other three were all good, but these two stand out from the pack. I'm giving the edge to Owen here but only because his part required a much greater range.

Best Supporting Actress

• Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR
  
• Laura Linney - KINSEY
  
• Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS
  
• Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
  
• Natalie Portman - CLOSER

This one is much tougher to call. Natalie Portman, Sophie Okendo, and Cate Blanchett were all remarkable in their roles and really any of the three would be a great choice, but I'm giving the nod to Portman, who really surprised me in Closer. (And yes, if you're keeping track, I've given two Oscars to a movie I didn't like. Sue me.)

Best Lead Actress

• Annette Bening - BEING JULIA
  
• Catalina Sandino Moreno - MARIA FULL OF GRACE
  
• Imelda Staunton - VERA DRAKE
  
• Hilary Swank - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
  
• Kate Winslet - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

This category is much easier since I only saw two of the performances. Hilary Swank wins this one by a KO in the first round.

Best Lead Actor

• Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA
  
• Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND
  
• Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR
  
• Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
  
• Jamie Foxx - RAY

As I said above, I've seen all of these except for Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland and it's a tough tough choice. Jaime Fox was awesome as Ray Charles, so much so that at times, I forgot he wasn't Ray Charles. But is mimicry enough to win the Oscar? Clint Eastwood is excellent as well, but this is a role he could play in his sleep. Leonardo DiCaprio is good as Howard Hughes, but not great. In the end, I give the Oscar to Don Cheadle. Always excellent in everything he's done, here he reaches a new level.

Best Editing

• THE AVIATOR
  
• COLLATERAL
  
• FINDING NEVERLAND
  
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY
  
• RAY

How do you judge editing? How much of what is seen on the screen is due to the editor and not the director? It's hard for an outsider like me to know for sure, which makes this category very difficult to judge. But I'm going with the dark horse here and picking Collateral, as good editing can add a lot of tension to a suspense movie.

Best Cinematography

• THE AVIATOR
  
• HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
  
• THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
  
• THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
  
• A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT

I've only seen the Aviator in this group, but I find it hard to imagine that any of the other contenders could top this one. The sequence recreating the filming of Hell's Angels" alone is worthy of the Oscar.

Best Direction

• THE AVIATOR
  
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY
  
• RAY
  
• SIDEWAYS
  
• VERA DRAKE

Sorry Mr's. Hackford and Scorsese, you created excellent movies, but you were outgunned by the Man With No Name. Clint Eastwood was able to keep the first two thirds of the movie from being cliche, while subtly setting us up for the final third.

Best Picture

• THE AVIATOR
  
• FINDING NEVERLAND
  
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY
  
• RAY
  
• SIDEWAYS

Million Dollar Baby, no question about it. No movie in the past several years has moved me as much as this one. It's simply the best movie of the year without question.

Ok folks, those are my opinions. What do you think?

Posted by Rich at February 25, 2005 11:51 AM | TrackBack