OK, the Oscars start in less than 30 minutes, and I want to go on record with my picks. Just for grins.
This is a strange year for the Academy. No blockbusters that are "worthy" of the Academy's nod. In fact, the total box office for all of the Best Picture nominees are less than the total of those who went and enjoyed "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." At least the show itself should be more entertaining than recent year's offering from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (or now from the Kodak Theater). Jon Stewart is a truly funny guy. Those million or so of us who enjoy Stewart's wit on Comedy Central's Daily Show four nights a week will welcome an additional 40 million to the ranks of Stewart fans after tonight.
Much of the pre-Oscar press has gone to "Brokeback Mountain" because of the gay theme. It is quite possible that the Academy will give the Best Picture statue to this film solely to make a social statement, which incidentally is what Ang Lee has been endlessly talking about despite the fact that the film's publicity has run, not walked away from that theme and images. That strikes me as really disingenuous.
That said, here's my picks for tonight's really big shew... well, at least the major ones:
Best Picture: "Capote." This film was a riveting study in human nature and motivations. Hoffman's performance was stunning, but the whole of the work was equally astounding. Like most of America, I didn't see "Brokeback" but it couldn't possibly have been in the same class as this film. It will be a classic, studied by film students for generations to come.
Best Actor: Phillip Seymour Hoffman. His performance in "Capote" is one for the ages. Hands down the best historical character study I have ever seen. He played an outrageously extravagant, quirky and downright strange individual, but he didn't give us a caricature of Capote. He became Capote. If Hoffman doesn't win Best Actor, I will never watch an Academy Awards show again.
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon. She was great in "Walk The Line." Made you realize that Johnny Cash would have self-destructed had June and her family not saved him.
We'll see around 1:00 am this morning if I was right or not. If I'm still awake, which I highly doubt.
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