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Sunday, February 27, 2005 |
The 77th Annual Academy Awards will go down as the year that almost was for Martin Scorsese. Heading into the final moments of the broadcast, the momentum seemed completely with Scorsese and his masterful film The Aviator, wracking up awards for nearly all the categories they were nominated in-- Best Costume, Art Direction, Film Editing, Cinematography, Supporting Actress. But when Kaufman grabbed the Original Screenplay award, which was not a surprise at all, the magic seemed to eck away.
Tonight will go down as the year Clint Eastwood and his truly beautiful and endearing film Million Dollar Baby, gave a one-two punch and TKO'd Scorsese, winning the top two awards -- Best Director and Best Picture. Million Dollar Baby was also recognized for its acting, winning Best Actress for Hillary Swank and Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman.
The Oscar ceremony started off with a tribute to the power of the movies over us, tying the themes of the old movies in with the new. Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, I enjoyed this line: "Good movies stay with us no matter what year they were released....they are timeless."
Chris Rock, who was emceeing the show for the first time, came out to a standing ovation. He sputtered along for a few minutes until he hit stride with his commentary on Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bush's deficit and Iraq war-- if this happened to someone working for Gap, there is no way they would still have their job.
Morgan Freeman, who won the award for Best Supporting Actor, received a standing ovation. He thanked everyone that had anything to do with the film, but especially Clint Eastwood and Hillary Swank. He concluded his remarks saying that working on the film was like a labor of love.
Thelma's remarks for winning the award for Best Film Editing were thoughtful and touching, declaring that this award was as much Marty's (Scorsese) as hers because he films like an editor, "he gave us such dazzling material to work with."
There were no surprises in the writing categories--they followed the wins of the WGA wins. Charlie Kaufman won Original Screenplay for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Alexander Payne won Adapted screenplay for Sideways.
Jamie Foxx, who brought his daughter with him to the ceremony, received a standing ovation for winning Best Actor. Upon taking the award, he thanked Ray Charles for an incredible legacy. He gave a memorable speech, revealing his conversation with the legendary African American actor Sidney Poitier and how they discussed Foxx picking up the mantle of responsibility and carrying it on. He thanked his grandma for being his first acting coach and teaching him how to be a Southern Gentlemen,
Other highlights of the evening:
- Touching tribute to Johnny Carson.
- The Best Song award went to the first ever Spanish song nominated, "Al Atro Lado Del Rio,"(The Motorcycle Diaries).
- The president of the Academy dedicated the awards show to the men and women serving the country.
- Honorary Oscar awarded to Sidney Lumet, whose acceptance speech recognized filmmakers who influenced his work and the writers who helped inspire his own work.
- Best Foreign Film went Alejandro Amenabar's The Sea Inside (Spain).
10:11:06 PM  | |
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I'm thrilled at the prospect of an exciting Oscar Awards show tonight with Chris Rock as the maestro of ceremonies. But in all actuality, it doesn't matter who the emcee is. The Oscars are all about the nominees, the fashion, the presenters, the music, the Envelope, and the winner's speech. I've grown up from a very young age watching the Oscars. To say that is part of my life would be an understatement.
This year, I am an advocate of most all of the films nominated. And I will be thrilled to see any number of these films, actors, actresses, and directors win. Yet, I do have my hopes and at the top of the list in the Hope Department is that Martin Scorsese will be awarded the Best Director by his peers at the Academy. I feel The Aviator is going to win the majority of the awards it is nominated for, except for the Best Picture, which, though I feel it is overall the better film, I think Million Dollar Baby will get that one.
2004 was a great year for film and the nominations are a reflection of that. And no matter how Fates of film reveal their story and make 2004 history, I feel the winners will be a magnificent representation on the quality of films on the list.
Here is the list of the major categories.(I didn't see enough of the short films-- live action, animated, or documentary -- to make a qualified decision. But from what I did view, I am rooting for "Little Terrorist" from India to win the Best Short Live Action Film.) the I wanted to represent in some way the nominees I'm rooting for so I placed a blue circle with an "M" next to those nominees I want to win. The "star" symbol represents who I predict the Oscar will go to. Have a great night everyone! And good luck to all of the nominees!
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Don Cheadle in HOTEL RWANDA |
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Johnny Depp in FINDING NEVERLAND |
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Leonardo DiCaprio in THE AVIATOR |
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Clint Eastwood in MILLION DOLLAR BABY |
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Jamie Foxx in RAY |
| Actor in a Supporting Role |
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Alan Alda in THE AVIATOR |
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Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS |
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Jamie Foxx in COLLATERAL |
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Morgan Freeman in MILLION DOLLAR BABY |
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Clive Owen in CLOSER |
| Actress in a Leading Role |
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Annette Bening in BEING JULIA |
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Catalina Sandino Moreno in MARIA FULL OF GRACE |
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Imelda Staunton in VERA DRAKE |
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Hilary Swank in MILLION DOLLAR BABY |
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Kate Winslet in ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND |
| Actress in a Supporting Role |
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Cate Blanchett in THE AVIATOR |
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Laura Linney in KINSEY |
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Virginia Madsen in SIDEWAYS |
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Sophie Okonedo in HOTEL RWANDA |
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Natalie Portman in CLOSER |
| Animated Feature of the Year |
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THE INCREDIBLES (Buena Vista) Brad Bird |
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SHARK TALE (DreamWorks) Bill Damaschka |
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SHREK 2 (DreamWorks) Andrew Adamson |
| Achievement In Art Direction |
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THE AVIATOR |
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FINDING NEVERLAND |
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LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS |
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THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA |
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A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT |
| Achievement in Cinematography |
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THE AVIATOR, Robert Richardson |
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HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, Zhao Xiaoding |
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THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, Caleb Deschanel |
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THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, John Mathieson |
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A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, Bruno Delbonnel |
| Achievement in Costume Design |
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THE AVIATOR, Sandy Powell |
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FINDING NEVERLAND, Alexandra Byrne |
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LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, Colleen Atwood |
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RAY, Sharen Davis |
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TROY, Bob Ringwood |
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THE AVIATOR, Martin Scorsese |
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MILLION DOLLAR BABY, Clint Eastwood |
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RAY, Taylor Hackford |
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SIDEWAYS,Alexander Payne |
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VERA DRAKE, Mike Leigh |
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BORN INTO BROTHELS |
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THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL |
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SUPER SIZE ME |
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TUPAC: RESURRECTION |
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TWIST OF FAITH |
| Achievement in Film Editing |
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THE AVIATOR |
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COLLATERAL |
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FINDING NEVERLAND |
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MILLION DOLLAR BABY |
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RAY |
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AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, Sweden |
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THE CHORUS, France |
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DOWNFALL, Germany |
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THE SEA INSIDE, Spain |
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YESTERDAY, South Africa |
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LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS |
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THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST |
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THE SEA INSIDE |
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FINDING NEVERLAND |
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HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN |
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LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS |
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THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST |
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THE VILLAGE |
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"Accidentally In Love" from SHREK 2 |
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"Al Otro Lado Del Río" from THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES |
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"Believe" from THE POLAR EXPRESS |
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"Learn To Be Lonely" from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA |
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"Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" from THE CHORUS |
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THE INCREDIBLES |
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THE POLAR EXPRESS |
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SPIDER-MAN 2 |
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THE AVIATOR |
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THE INCREDIBLES |
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THE POLAR EXPRESS |
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RAY |
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SPIDER-MAN 2 |
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HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN |
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I, ROBOT |
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SPIDER-MAN 2 |
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BEFORE SUNSET, Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke |
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FINDING NEVERLAND, David Magee |
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MILLION DOLLAR BABY, Paul Haggis |
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THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES, José Rivera |
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SIDEWAYS, Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor |
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THE AVIATOR, John Logan |
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ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND,Charlie Kaufman |
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HOTEL RWANDA, Keir Pearson & Terry George |
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THE INCREDIBLES, Brad Bird |
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VERA DRAKE, Mike Leigh |
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THE AVIATOR |
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FINDING NEVERLAND |
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MILLION DOLLAR BABY |
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RAY |
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SIDEWAYS |
Who do you want to win?
11:32:05 AM | |
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