The Oscars 2007
Just a bit of fun - my tips for the Oscars and who I'd have voted for if I could.
I promise I won't change my predictions after the winners are announced! 2005's and
2006's
attempts both went surprisingly well so there's a lot to live up to, and with only a couple of clear-cut favourites this
year, it could be an embarrassing year for me!
Best Picture
Nominees: Babel,
The Departed,
Letters from Iwo Jima,
Little Miss Sunshine,
The Queen.
My prediction: This isn't clear by any means - any of these could pull it off.
Although I haven't seen Iwo Jima yet, I can't see that or The Queen winning, but Little Miss Sunshine could pull off a coup.
I'll go with The Departed.
My opinion: Well I don't think we've had any outstanding movies this year - but Children of Men came
closest. I wouldn't have voted for any of the nominees.
Was I right? Yay!
Best Leading Actor
Nominees: Leonardo DiCaprio (for Blood Diamond),
Ryan Gosling (for Half Nelson),
Peter O'Toole (for Venus),
Will Smith (for The Pursuit of Happyness),
Forest Whitaker (for The Last King of Scotland).
My prediction: Forest Whitaker - pretty sure about that one. Peter O'Toole could pull it off as it's
probably his last chance and the Academy may play the sympathy card, but I'll stick with Forest.
My opinion: Will Smith, though I do think Johnny Depp deserves a nod for his Jack Sparrow.
Was I right? Yes!
Best Leading Actress
Nominees: Penelope Cruz (for Volver),
Judi Dench (for Notes on a Scandal),
Helen Mirren (for The Queen),
Meryl Streep (for The Devil Wears Prada),
Kate Winslet (for Little Children).
My prediction: Helen Mirren - I've never been so sure about an Oscar result in my life. If I get
this one wrong, you should never listen to me again.
My opinion: Helen Mirren deserves this one.
Was I right? Yes, but everyone knew that one!
Best Supporting Actor
Nominees: Alan Arkin (for Little Miss Sunshine),
Jackie Earle Haley (for Little Children),
Djimon Hounsou (for Blood Diamond),
Eddie Murphy (for Dreamgirls),
Mark Wahlberg (for The Departed).
My prediction: Eddie Murphy ... though my money's actually on Djimon Hounsou.
My opinion: I'm tempted to go for James McAvoy in The Last King of Scotland
or even Danny Dyer for Severance, Bill Nighy for his Davy Jones.
None of this lot though. Mark Wahlberg? Are they MAD?
Was I right? No, Alan Arkin repeated his BAFTA triumph by picking up this one.
Best Supporting Actress
Nominees: Adriana Barraza (for Babel),
Cate Blanchett (for Notes on a Scandal),
Abigail Breslin (for Little Miss Sunshine),
Jennifer Hudson (for Dreamgirls),
Rinko Kikuchi (for Babel).
My prediction: Jennifer Hudson
My opinion: I really can't think of any. Bryce Dallas Howard was good in
Lady in the Water, but hardly Oscar-worthy. I'll go with Jodie Whittaker for
Venus, although you could argue that's a leading role.
Was I right? Yep.
Best Director
Nominees: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (for Babel),
Martin Scorsese (for The Departed),
Clint Eastwood (for Letters from Iwo Jima),
Stephen Frears (for The Queen),
Paul Greengrass (for United 93).
My prediction: Martin Scorsese - pretty confident about this one too.
My opinion: Alfonso Cuaron for Children of Men.
Was I right? Yes again. Doing well so far.
Best Animated Feature
Nominees: Cars,
Happy Feet,
Monster House.
My prediction: Cars - though you can't rule out those penguins.
My opinion: I'll agree with Cars - though Flushed Away
was right up there.
Was I right? This is where it starts going horribly wrong ... those pesky penguins took it.
Best Original Screenplay
Nominees: Babel,
Letters from Iwo Jima,
Little Miss Sunshine,
Pan's Labyrinth,
The Queen.
My prediction: I've had a hunch ever since I saw it that
Little Miss Sunshine would take this one.
My opinion: I'll concur... though I can't help thinking I've forgotten something better...
Was I right? Yes!
Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominees: Borat,
Children of Men,
The Departed,
Little Children,
Notes on a Scandal.
My prediction: This is a tough one to call, I'm going with the rank outsider
Little Children, though The Departed looks like a
strong contender.
My opinion: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, though I can't resist giving
Borat a nod - just brilliant.
Was I right? No, the second choice The Departed got it.
Best Cinematography
Nominees: The Black Dahlia,
Children of Men,
The Illusionist,
Pan's Labyrinth,
The Prestige.
My prediction: When one movie is so far ahead of the others, it really has to win -
Children of Men.
My opinion: No contest - Children of Men.
Was I right? Gah! Somehow this one went to Pan's Labyrinth!
It's a travesty!
Best Art Direction
Nominees: Dreamgirls,
The Good Shepherd
Pan's Labyrinth,
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest,
The Prestige.
My prediction: Pan's Labyrinth.
My opinion: Snakes on a Plane - no, just kidding -
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.
Was I right? Yep.
Best Special Effects
Nominees: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest,
Poseidon,
Superman Returns.
My prediction: I'm torn ... I'm going to predict Pirates, but
I just can't resist a couple of quid on Poseidon at those long odds.
If Superman gets it, it's a fix.
My opinion: I have to go with Children of Men, purely because you
can't tell where the effects stop and the live action begins. In a traditional whizz-bang sense though, it has to go to
X-Men: The Last Stand.
Was I right? Yep, Pirates it was.
Best Foreign Language
Nominees: After the Wedding,
Days of Glory (Indigenes),
The Lives of Others.
Pan's Labyrinth.
Water.
My prediction: I must admit I've only seen Pan's Labyrinth -
but I'll be amazed if the award goes anywhere else.
My opinion: Angel-A, if it qualifies for this year.
Was I right? No - a bit daft of me to predict this one not having seen the others, but it went to
The Lives of Others.
The Bernard Matthews Award
Turkey of the Year was the dire Ultraviolet for most of the year, but
then Christmas came, and with it was the tiresomely terrible Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause -
but even that was trumped by the hateful pile of reindeer droppings Deck the Halls.
If you ever get captured by rebels in a foreign torture-happy land, they'll make you watch it on repeat. Shudder.
Actor of the Year
A special mention goes to Hugh Jackman, who has shown immense versatility in a string of top class performances:
The Prestige, Happy Feet, Flushed Away,
The Fountain, Scoop and of course X-Men: The Last Stand. Long may it continue.
Overall results
Couldn't maintain the standard - eight right from thirteen predictions. Ah well, could've
been worse!
All done
That's it for another year. What will next year's hits be? Will the Transformers movie have a plot as well
as awesome effects? Will the second Dukes of Hazzard movie see the light of day? Will Wolverine and Spider-Man 3 be able
to carry on the good work of their ancestors? See you back here throughout 2007 to find out.
|