The 80th Academy Awards - OSCARS!

I did enjoyed the Oscar telecast, there were great moments but there were some duds and clearly some tighter choices by the director could have kept the show to 3 hours or less but overall it did move fairly well.

I really did not see the Marion Cotillard win so it was an unexpectedly great moment as was her genuine thank you, ever once in awhile the Academy does do the right thing.

I also loved Tilda Swinton's acceptance speech as well.

I also totally thought it rocked that Jon brought back Marketa Irglova to give her thank you, a brilliant speech at that.

Jon Stewart’s comments about the Academy even nominating bad films (i.e. Norbit) was a great bit as well.

Overall there really weren't too many fashion train wrecks but what was up with all those long trains on the dresses, unless your getting married they are stupid and especially when it was wet. Diablo Cody had a most interesting gown to say the least or as I described it, a Wilma Flintstone formal. I did though enjoy her acceptance speech.

Jon Stewart and the writers did a good job with the limited time they had, however, with a little more time they really could have polished the banter.

I think the clips which did not work for me was the random one's regarding the comments of past winners. They were just added fairly abruptly and they had some very odd choices of who was included. I am figuring those were part of the Plan B for the show if the writer’s strike had not been settled but they were just wrong. Barbra was looking kind of rough and Elton looked like he had just gotten out of bed.

I also enjoyed the thank you regarding "Taxi to the Dark Side", that was both genuine and inspiration, the whole we need to get away from the dark side was brilliant.

Overall a pretty good Oscar telecast!

P.S. Not my best prediction year but not my worst. I did get 15/24 (63%) while last year I got 18/24 (75%) but my all time best is 23/24. I would definitely had a much higher percentage had I gone with some of my personal choices.

Until New Year!

My predictions for Oscar Winners (sent by e-mail on 2/22/08)

Below were my predictions in order as they are listed on the official Oscar ballot not in the order they are presented. This is a tough year because there are so many deserving people and don't get me started on the one's who were snubbed.

Performance by an actor in a Leading Role: Daniel Day-Lewis

Outside of Johnny Depp, I actually believe all the other nominees deserve to be in the top spot. I am not sure I would actually vote for Daniel Day-Lewis I am actually torn between Tommy Lee Jones or Viggo Mortensen but I think my personal choice would go to Tommy Lee Jones.

Performance by an actor in a Supporting Role: Javier Bardem

I think the momentum is there for Javier but my personal choice would be Hal Holbrook, he doesn't have much screen time but he makes the most of every second, Tom Wilkinson would be my next choice.

Performance by an actress in a Leading Role: Julie Christie

Julie is brilliant as is Marion Cotillard. Cate Blanchett could read the phone book and make it interesting but my personal choice in this category is Laura Linney and I believe she should win hands down. I enjoyed Ellen Page but I am not convinced she deserved this nomination.
Performance by an actress in a Supporting Role: Tilda Swinton (my personal choice as well)
Cate is going to be cancelled out because of her two nominations and she just recently won, while Ruby did win the screen actors award but I don't think she has enough momentum unless it is just sentimentality because she has never won. Amy Ryan was brilliant and Gone Baby Gone is a very good movie (it is now out on DVD so watch it) I also don't think the movie has had enough publicity or nominations but if she wins I would be okay.

Best Animated Feature: "Ratatouille" (my personal choice as well)

Achievement in Art Direction: "Sweeney Todd" - Dante Ferretti (Art Direction), Francesca Lo Schiavo (Set Decoration)

I am torn between "Atonement" and "The Golden Compass" but I would vote for Atonement - Sarah Greenwood (Art Direction), Katie Spencer (Set Decoration)

Achievement in Cinematography: "There Will Be Blood" - Robert Elswit

Roger Deakins is up twice, once for "The Assassination of Jesse James" and "No Country For Old Men", I think his dual nomination will hurt him. I would go with Atonement (Seamus McGarvey).

Achievement in Costume Design: "Sweeney Todd" - Colleen Atwood

I am torn here as well between "Atonement" and "Across The Universe" but I would go for "Atonement" - Jacqueline Durran

Achievement in Directing: Joel and Ethan Goen "No Country For Old Men"

There are quite a few directors who should have been nominated and weren't but of the 5 I would probably go with Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly).

Best Documentary Feature: "No End in Sight" (my personal choice as well)

I have only seen two of the nominated documentaries, "No End in Sight" and "Sicko". I think Michael Moore has worn out his welcome even though this was one of his best (most likely because he wisely chose not to be in it as much).

Best Documentary Short Subject: "Freeheld"

I have not seen any of the nominations but all the blogs and websites devoted to the Oscars has this race between Sari's Mother and Freeheld. I am just taking a wild guess

Achievement in Film Editing: Roderick Jaynes "No Country For Old Men"

I think my personal choice would be "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" with "The Bourne Ultimatum" coming in a close second.

Best Foreign Language Film: "The Counterfeiters" - Austria

This is a category where I have not seen any of the films but all the blogs and websites are discussing this one. The topic is the Holocaust and this is one topic Hollywood loves.

Achievement in Makeup: Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald "La Vie en Rose" (my personal choice as well)

All I can say is making Eddie Murphy's multiple characters and the fat female in "Norbit" isn't that great of achievement and was handled better in other films, "Pirates of the Caribbean" could pull one over but there is no question that what those artists did with Marion Cotillard was absolutely brilliant.

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score): Dario Marianelli "Atonement" (my personal choice as well)

It was a truly fantastic score.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original Song): Falling Slowly - "Once" Music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

I am never a great predictor of this category but Once is a brilliant movie and this song was great. I think the 3 Disney songs will cancel each other out. I do think "That's How You Know" from the perspective of moving the narrative really worked for me and I just love the song. I would probably vote for that one. "Raise It Up" from August Rush moved me as well.

Best Motion Picture of The Year: "No Country For Old Men"

I think the Coen's are unbeatable at this point but I am torn between "Juno" and "Michael Clayton" but I think my personal choice would be "Juno"

Best animated short film: "I Met The Walrus" (my personal choice as well)

I did get to see all these nominated films. It should be noted this film also walked off with several Grammies as well. The Beatles come on. Last year was the first time I got to see all the films and I missed this category. I have actually done better in the category without seeing the films.

Best live action short film: "Tanghi Argentini"

I did get to see all these nominated films as well (see comments above). This film actually moved me so that is why I am choosing it. The other one I would go with is "The Tonto Woman".

Achievement in sound editing: Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russ, Peter J. Devlin "Transformers"

My personal choice would be "The Bourne Ultimatum" with "No Country for Old Men" coming in next.

Achievement in sound mixing: Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russ, Peter J. Devlin "Transformers"

See above the same comments apply.

Achievement in visual effects: Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, et al "Transformers" (my personal choice as well)

Adapted Screenplay: "No Country For Old Men" - Coen Brothers

I think it is going to be the Coen's night. My personal choice would be Christopher Hampton for "Atonement", he made the story come alive and he provided actual "Atonement" for Briony which the book never actually did.

Original Screenplay: "Juno" - Diablo Cody (my personal choice as well)