Like many people, I don’t love the Oscars like they are meant to be loved. I think it was the 2000 Oscars that finally did me in. Julia Roberts over Ellen Burstyn? Gladiator over Traffic? Sure, The English Patient did some damage years prior, but I’ve learned to live with it. But how did Chicago win anything, let alone get nominated for stuff?
What can you do. Every year, I don’t find myself making predictions, like most; instead I have wishes. Predictions are easy. Everyone is pretty sure that Brokeback is going to do some damage. Personally, I was a little disappointed in that film myself. I liked it, it was good, but nowhere near as great as everyone is labeling it as. People and films I think should win, no matter how large the odds are against them. This year, here are my wants for tonight’s big show.
Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote) or Terrence Howard (Hustle and Flow)
Best Actress: Felicity Huffman (Transamerica) or anyone but Keira Knightley.
Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney (Syriana) and I hope the Academy tells Matt Dillon, “No…”
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener)
Best Director: Steven Spielberg (Munich)
Best Original Screenplay: Stephen Gaghan (Syriana)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jeffrey Caine (Constant Gardener) or Josh Olson (A History of Violence)
Best Cinematography: Rodrigo Prieto (Brokeback Mountatin) or Robert Elswit (Good Night, and Good Luck)
Best Documentary: Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro (Murderball)
Best Animated Film: Steve Box and Nick Park (Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit)
I know most of these won’t win but it’s still nice to dream. Good luck nominees.
