What a night for great dreams! And what a pleasure to see several amazing stories brought to our attention this year! A few favorites include Little Miss Sunshine, a small independent film with a large heart, fabulous cast, and a refreshing look at dysfunction. Several favorite films weave a common thread through them about what it means to stay together as a family today.
Babel left the theatre with me, four stories across four continents in 24 hours, snapshots of people trying to live their lives in a complex world. Screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga said that he'd "been obsessed through all my life with what is the particular day, the special day that makes you different, (so) that you will never be the same from that point." Babel captures "the last day of innocence," "the last day of a sense of loss," "the last day of substitution," and "the last day of resentment." Babel manages to bring our microcosms together, at the end of the day, each story reveals it's about communication.
I reviewed The Queen months ago, mostly about Helen Mirren's performance. Peter Morgan should win for his exceptional original The Queen screenplay. Forest Whitaker has had my attention for years. Best supporting actor category proves a bit tougher, it could go to Wahlberg or Murphy. I'll pick one and be happy with either. Best supporting actress nominees share really good performances though Jennifer Hudson deserves this year's statue.
Here's my Oscar picks in a few categories:
Best Picture:
Best Actor:
Best Supporting Actor:
Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls (I'd be happy with Mark Wahlberg)
Best Director:
Alejandro González Iñárritu - Babel
Best Original Screenplay:
Peter Morgan - The Queen
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Best Animated Feature:
Happy Feet (It will probably go to Cars)
Best Foreign Film:
The Lives of Others
Best Documentary:
An Inconvenient Truth (will win whether it should or not)
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