And the Oscar goes to…

In an apparent attempt for a ratings boost, the Academy Awards this year will be hosted by Chris Rock. The move seems to be aimed at grabbing the attention of the highly coveted 18- to 30-year-old market, and so far, it’s working. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rock joked that only gay men watch the Oscars, and was quoted as saying “awards for art are [expletive] idiotic.” His comments infuriated many of the stuffy old men at the Academy, but ultimately, the controversy has done nothing more than increase interest in the awards ceremony.

His comments were intended as a joke, but he makes a good point. Does it really make sense to give awards for art? Is there anything in this world more subjective than artistic creation, and enjoyment of it? One man’s steak is another man’s Spam, so there really are no true “best pictures.” That being said, here are my predictions for this year’s biggest awards, along with my personal favorites.

BEST PICTURE

Nominees: The Aviator, Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Baby, Ray, Sideways

If I had a vote, it would go to…

Spiderman 2. And maybe that’s why I don’t have a vote. Mark my words—Spiderman 2 will go down in history as one of the greatest adventure movies of all time, easily ranking alongside The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Jurassic Park, and Return of the King. Why then, is it not deserving of Oscar consideration? A great movie is a great movie, regardless of the genre.

Of the five nominees, however, I would definitely pick Million Dollar Baby. Unfortunately, this movie is not yet available on Saipan, but I’ll be sure to remind you when it’s released on DVD. Invigorating and heartbreaking at the same time, Million Dollar Baby could very well be the best sports movie ever made, but to call it a sports movie would be unfair. More than anything else, this movie is about the powers of love and dedication.

My prediction:

Before it was even released in theaters, all the talk was about The Aviator. It’s a very well-made movie, to be sure, but it doesn’t carry anywhere near the emotional weight of Million Dollar Baby, so I think, ultimately, the Academy voters are going to be swayed towards Eastwood’s latest masterpiece.

BEST DIRECTOR

Nominees: Martin Scorsese (The Aviator), Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby), Taylor Hackford (Ray), Alexander Payne (Sideways), Mike Leigh (Vera Drake)

If I had a vote, it would go to…

Sam Raimi, for Spiderman 2. Blasted Academy, and their obsession with “serious” films! A lot of people are also wondering why Mel Gibson is not on there, for Passion of the Christ. Interesting snub.

My prediction:

As previously noted, Million Dollar Baby really hits you right at your heart, whereas The Aviator, in my opinion, lacks any real emotion. For that reason, I think Eastwood is more deserving, but I think Scorsese is destined to pick it up, as sort of a “lifetime achievement” award.

LEAD ACTOR

Nominees: Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda), Johnny Depp (Finding Neverland), Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Aviator), Jamie Foxx (Ray)

If I had a vote, it would go to…

Jamie Foxx. This one is a no-brainer. In Ray, he doesn’t impersonate Ray Charles, he becomes him. The rest of his competition pales in comparison.

My prediction:

Everyone is Hollywood seems to love Leo DiCrapio. I don’t get it. Never been a big fan. But he’s got a loyal following, and that could be enough to get him the award. Maybe. I’m predicting the voters at the Academy are not totally insane, however, and will pick Foxx.

LEAD ACTRESS

Nominees: Annette Bening (Being Julia), Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace), Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby), Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)

If I had a vote, it would go to…

Hilary Swank. I almost want to say Kate Winslet, because she is so infectiously charming in Eternal Sunshine, but Swank’s performance in Million Dollar Baby is infinitely engaging, and does not allow for any dry eyes in the audience, whether from tears of joy or sadness.

My prediction:

This one’s not as easy to pick as the men’s category. Moreno’s performance in Maria Full of Grace (a good movie, by the way; available on DVD) is good, but not Oscar-worthy. Winslet, Staunton and Bening are all brilliant in each of their respective roles, however, providing stiff competition for frontrunner Swank. There’s talk that Bening might get the award, as recognition for her long, praiseworthy career, but I doubt it. Five years after beating out Bening to win an Oscar for her performance in Boys Don’t Cry, Swank is going to do it again, with Million Dollar Baby.

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nominees: Alan Alda (The Aviator), Thomas Haden Church (Sideways), Jamie Foxx (Collateral), Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby), Clive Owen (Closer)

If I had a vote, it would go to…

Thomas Haden Church, but to be honest, that’s largely just because I love the movie he’s in so much. In a field of five deserving candidates, I don’t see any clear frontrunner.

My prediction:

Morgan Freeman should’ve received an award for his work in The Shawshank Redemption, but he wasn’t even nominated. This is a perfect opportunity for the Academy to fix their earlier blunder, by recognizing his talent in Million Dollar Baby. Come to think of it—what movie has Freeman ever been in, in which he didn’t deserve Oscar consideration?

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Nominees: Cate Blanchett (The Aviator) Laura Linney (Kinsey) Virginia Madsen (Sideways) Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda) Natalie Portman (Closer)

If I had a vote, it would go to…

Maia Morgenstern, for Passion of the Christ. Alas, she was not nominated. Bringing Katherine Hepburn to life is no small task, but Blanchett makes it look easy. I think The Aviator would’ve been a much better film if it had been about Hepburn instead. Blanchett soars in her role and this is, in my opinion, the finest work of her career.

My prediction:

There’s really no competition. Blanchett should win, easily.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Nominees: The Aviator (John Logan), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Charlie Kaufman), Hotel Rwanda (Keir Pearson & Terry George), The Incredibles (Brad Bird), Vera Drake (Mike Leigh)

If I had a vote, it would go to…

Charlie Kaufman. Hands down. Eternal Sunshine is a wild, fantastical ride through a man’s soul, and only Kaufman could make sense of it. I think it’s nice to see Brad Bird recognized for his work on The Incredibles, by all accounts a fun movie, but Kaufman’s script is by far the most ingenious.

My prediction:

All the buzz is pointed toward Kaufman.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Nominees: Before Sunset (Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke), Finding Neverland (David Magee), Million Dollar Baby (Paul Haggis), The Motorcycle Diaries (Jose Rivera), Sideways (Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor)

If I had a vote, it would go to…

Payne and Taylor, for Sideways. Besides keeping the audience in hysterical laughter, this movie is subtly touching. And really, what makes Sideways come alive is how true to life it all is. In Sideways, we never feel like we’re watching actors act; these are just normal guys, the same ones you went to college with. The acting, of course, is a large reason for its success, but the bulk of the credit belongs with the screenwriters.

My prediction:

Million Dollar Baby. Hollywood has fallen in love with this movie, and for good reason. It really is terrific. Reportedly, the script was so good that it never went through any revisions, and was shot, in its entirety, in its original first draft form.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Nominees: Shrek 2, The Incredibles, Shark Tale

There’s no competition, at all, in this category. The Incredibles is a lock. I’m only wondering why The Polar Express is not on the list.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Nominees: Jan A.P. Kaczmarek (Finding Neverland), John Williams (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Thomas Newman (Lemony Snicket’s a Series of Unfortunate Events), John Debney (The Passion of the Christ), James Newton Howard (The Village)

If I had a vote, it would go to…

Danny Elfman, for Spiderman 2. But he’s not even nominated?! Heresy. Absolute heresy. I can understand how they left out Spiderman 2 and Raimi from Best Picture and Director consideration, since in those categories they lean very heavily toward “serious” movies, but this category often goes to adventure movies. Elfman’s snub, above all else, exposes the madness of the Academy voters.

My prediction:

I’m too upset to make a prediction on this one. Elfman gets no respect. (Joe Weindl, Special to the Saipan Tribune)

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The 77th Annual Academy Awards Presentation will be broadcast live from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 27.