The Oscar Rant

Okay, so I haven't been exactly good about posting over on this blog. Part of it is that I haven't seen a lot of movies that inspired me to write anything. I've seen one great movie since The Queen and, when I watch it again on DVD (I already ordered it!), I'll post my thoughts here. So there.

Anyway, the Oscar nominations were announced yesterday (I think) and I usually have all sorts of things to celebrate and complain about. However, I just don't care quite as much this year. Of the five nominated pictures, I've only seen The Queen and Little Miss Sunshine--both of which I loved, by the way. But I really don't have any desire to see Babel or The Departed and only a marginal desire to see Letters from Iwo Jima (give me a break, it has subtitles!)

But, I do have this tradition to keep up, so here you go. Here are my thoughts and predictions, in abbreviated form. In other words, I will not start ranting about cinematography or film editing or whatnot.

Best Picture
As stated above, I've only seen The Queen and Little Miss Sunshine. To tell the truth, I came very close to peeing my pants while watching Little Miss Sunshine and, while I hate to talk about complete strangers, I think the woman next may have actually experienced some leakage. The Academy doesn't like comedies, but they also don't like stuffy British films--so the odds of either The Queen or Little Miss Sunshine winning are pretty small. Still, between those two movies, I think Little Miss Sunshine might have the edge

Best Actor
Okay, I haven't seen any of these movies, but I do have a very stong belief that a MAN should win this award, so anyone besides Leonardo di Caprio (who I still think is a girl) winning is okay by me.

Best Actress
Helen Mirren should win this...this should be a slam dunk...but it's not. You can play a British Monarch better than the British Monarch herself and you'll still lose the blonde American--just ask Judi Dench (who lost to Helen Hunt) and Cate Blanchett (who lost to Gwyneth Paltrow). Of course, this year is not that cut and dried. There is only one blonde and that's Kate Winslet, who is not American. There is only one American, and that's Meryl Streep, who was not blonde in The Devil Wears Prada. I can, however, see a case for Ms. Streep since she was blonde in A Prairie Home Companion (for which I think she also deserved a nomination!) However, maybe the lack of a true blonde American will help Helen Mirren get the Oscar she deserves.

Best Supporting Actor
Wouldn't it be cool if Eddie Murphy became "Academy Award Winner Eddie Murphy?" If that happened, I would be far less embarrassed about seeing The Golden Child about 10 times. However, since I have yet to see Dreamgirls, I have to go completely on his performances in The Golden Child, The Distinguished Gentleman, and the classic Bowfinger.

Best Supporting Actress
I really liked Jennifer Hudson on American Idol and it's great to see her do so well. But, I gotta go with the kid. I'm hoping that the fact that Abigail Breslin is in this category and not up against Helen Mirren works in her favor.

So, there you go. Have fun watching the awards...Ellen Degeneres should be funny--at least funnier than Jon Stewart.