Oscar nominations are revealed on the 25th. Are you ready to make your predictions for which films are going to be nominated for Best Picture?
Here are my thoughts:
Be assured that The Aviator and Sideways are probably already written on the bloomin' ballots.
The Aviator picked up two major awards at the Globes on Sunday-- Best Dramatic Picture and Best Actor in a Dramatic Role (Leonardo DiCaprio).
In another important win earlier in the month, Martin Scorsese picked up the Best Director award at the Broadcast Film Critics Assocation awards. Could this be the year that Scorsese wins his first award, out of seven or eight nominations?
Sideways picked up the Best Screenplay (Alexander Payne) but it is more the fact that it has dominated the top ten lists from the critics that has given it staying power going into Oscar season. Tack on an additional Best Picture, Best Ensemble Acting, and Best Writing wins at the Broadcast Film Critics Association awards and you can get an idea how respected and liked this little-film-that-could is.
The third slot may just go to Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby. Baby picked up two significant awards -- Best Director (Clint Eastwood) and Best Actress in a Dramatic Role (Hillary Swank) at the Golden Globes.
The fourth slot, I believe, is going to belong to Finding Neverland. This film seems to have Oscar written all over it, meaning it is the type of film that Oscar loves -- great acting, heartwarming script, beautiful cinematography, and music. Besides, Finding Neverland picked up two impressive Broadcast Film Critics awards -- Best Family Film and Best Young Actor. And it also won the first Best Film award of the year from the National Board of Review.
The fifth slot might be more solid than I think it is. With wins by Clive Owen and Natalie Portman at the Golden Globes for both Best Supporting Actor awards, Mike Nicol's film Closer just might round out the list.
Here come the big buts:
Personally, I would love a nomination for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. (You'll find out why when I get around to finishing my top ten list, created in a shockwave interactive application.) Like Sideways, Sunshine is also one of the most respected and loved films of the year.
It is unlikely, but I would also love to see a nomination for the amazingly artistic The House of Flying Daggers. (And the theme song, "Lovers" sung by Kathleen Battle, is one of the most beautiful film recordings I can recall. It wasn't nominated for a Golden Globe, however. Maybe Oscar will be kind.)
The last nomination could also belong to the films Kinsey, The Sea Inside, or even Spider-Man 2.
What are your thoughts?
