THURSDAY, MARCH 2,
2006
We'd like to advise the Academy ...
I’m basing my Oscar picks this year on how
long a movie stayed with me. So …
Best picture:
“Brokeback Mountain.” I
thought about Ennis Del Mar for days. And
those shirts! I am filled with sadness. The
rest in descending order: “Capote,” “Crash,”
“Good Night, and Good Luck” and “Munich.”
Best picture that wasn’t nominated for best
picture: “Walk the Line.”
Best director:
I love me some Ang Lee (“Brokeback
Mountain”); what range (see “Eat, Drink,
Man, Women,” “The Ice Storm,” “Sense &
Sensibility”; unlike many in these parts,
I’m not a fan of “Ride with the Devil”).
Runner-up: Bennett Miller (“Capote”); what a
debut.
Best actor:
I long for a tie, three ways:
Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix (his
Johnny Cash is better than Jamie Foxx’s Ray
Charles) and Terrence Howard (yay “Hustle &
Flow”!). But man, Philip Seymour Hoffman and
David Strathairn rocked hard, too. If I have
to pick just one … Ledger, again for
breaking my heart for days.
Best actress:
I will not be disappointed if any of the
five fine women win. I’ll go with the
prevailing winds: Reese Witherspoon.
I applaud her range as well and if you
don’t, then you haven’t given “Legally
Blonde” its due.
Best supporting actor:
I was outraged for Paul Giamatti for two
years (snubbed for “American Splendor” and
“Sideways”). He’s fine in “Cinderella Man,”
but I don’t think it’s the one that deserves
the statue. I’m rooting for Matt Dillon
for his multi-dimensional work in
“Crash.” Who was robbed: Ludacris for
“Crash” and “Hustle & Flow.”
Best supporting actress:
Rachel Weisz all the way (although
there will always be a place in my heart for
any alum of “Dawson’s Creek” — except the
Beek). “The Constant Gardener” left me
outraged and exhausted. Does it make sense
to say her performance was elusive and
brilliant? Cuz that’s how it felt.
SHARON
I gave up on the Oscars always doin’ the
right thing years ago, but I just can’t help
myself: I must see every flick nominated for
the big awards and would sooner pull off my
own fingernails than skip the bloated
broadcast. If I had a ballot, here’s how I’d
vote …
Best picture:
“Capote” – when all is said and done,
this is the film I’d see again and again. Am
I sucker for anything to do with “In Cold
Blood”? Yes. Am I a sucker for nuanced
performances, an engrossing screenplay, a
distinctive visual style and haunting
images? Yes.
Best director:
Ang Lee for “Brokeback” – just to mix
it up and award him for his daring career as
well as for his moving movie. But it would
indeed be sweet to see “Capote” cohorts and
BFF Bennett Miller, Dan Futterman
(screenwriter) and PS Hoffman all win the
big one – and bark their way through their
acceptances speeches like they made a pact
to do years ago.
Best actor:
Philip Seymour Hoffman – he’s
versatile, he’s fabulous and he manages to
make Truman Capote engaging, heartbreaking
and infuriating in less than 2 hours. But,
man oh man, the scenes in which Heath’s and
Joaquin’s passion for their beloveds is
palpable – causing heart palpitations
– deserve their own mini Oscars.
Best actress:
Felicity Huffman – because she
does the very best bad acting job ever as
she portrays a man who desperately strives
to be a woman. She makes her character's
mannered attempts at femininity so very
real.
Best supporting actor:
George Clooney – his direction
and screenplay for “Good Night, and Good
Luck” are superb, but in his
triple-nominated year, his performance as
the obsessed CIA agent in “Syriana” is
revelatory.
Best supporting actress:
Rachel Weisz – who shoulda been a
best actress nominee ‘cause with her
unrelenting heart and soul, the “The
Constant Gardner” is HER movie. I would say
unmatched unrelenting heart and soul, but
dang if Amy Adams doesn’t pull off the same
magic in “Junebug.” This is the category
that warrants a tie. These 2 delivered 2 of
the best performances of the year.
The
Oscars done wronged this year:
“The Constant Gardner” as best pic – it’s
the best of the serious political movies;
“Me and You and Everyone We Know” for
Miranda July’s offbeat, insightful
screenplay and direction and John Hawkes as
the desperate dad; Fiona Flanagan as monster
mother in “Transamerica”; and Gary Beach and
Roger Bart in “The Producers” – THE most
hilarious performances in 2005. Sure,
Oscar’s keeping it gay this year, but as
usual, he's not keeping it light.
LINDA
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all Oscar nominees.
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us your Oscar picks.
