“The acting is terrific, especially Barraza, who manages to carry the entire segment by herself.” Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette
Cate Blanchett as Sheba Hart in Notes on a Scandal
This is Blanchett’s third Oscar nomination. She previously won in 2005 for her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator.
What the critics have said:
“A tour de force performance by Judi Dench drives the film, but Cate Blanchett and Bill Nighy also are marvelous in powerful, if more restrained, roles.” -Claudia Puig, USA Today
Abigail Breslin as Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine
This is Breslin’s first Oscar nomination.
What the critics have said:
“…an absolute gem of a performance from Breslin.” –Matt Pais, Metromix.com
Jennifer Hudson as Effie White in Dreamgirls
This is Hudson’s first Oscar nomination. She is the favorite to win.
What the critics have said:
“The movie belongs to Hudson as the proud, self-destructive Effie. When she’s center stage, Dreamgirls transports you to movie musical heaven.” David Ansen, Newsweek
Rinko Kikuchi as Chieko in Babel
This is Kikuchi’s first Oscar nomination. What the critics have said:
“The entire ensemble cast give terrific performances, particularly Kikuchi, whose heart-breaking performance is simultaneously shocking, funny and moving.” Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
It is the story of how one event can affect several lives. Spanning four countries, told in five languages and affecting four families, Babel is a poignant tale of family, truth, consequence, love, tragedy, and redemption.
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, written by Guillermo Arriaga, starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Adriana Barazza, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Rinko Kikuchi.
Babel is nominated for seven Academy Awards.
What the critics have said: “This is not a fear-mongering movie, but it is unpredictable and shocking, with compassion hanging on for dear life” — Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter
Classic good cop versus bad cop. There are undercover cops in the mafia and undercover mafia working with the police. A great thriller.
Directed by Martin Scorsese, written by William Monahan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, and Vera Farmiga.
The Departed is nominated for five Academy Awards.
What the critics have said: A relentlessly violent, breathtakingly assured piece of mean-streets filmmaking, the film shows the legendary director dropping the bids for industry respectability that have preoccupied him over the past decade and doing what he does best. — Ty Burr, Boston Globe
The dysfunctional Hoover family from Albuquerque sets out in a VW Bus to attend the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant.
Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, written by Michael Arndt, starring Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Paul Dano, Alan Arkin, and Abigail Breslin.
Little Miss Sunshine is nominated for four Academy Awards.
What the critics have said: “a scrappy human drama that takes an honest path to laughs and is twice as funny and touching for it” — Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Letters from Iwo Jima (dir. Clint Eastwood)
As the companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima tells the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese.
Directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Paul Haggis and Iris Yamashita, starring Ken Wantanabe.
Letters from Iwo Jima is nominated for four Academy Awards
What the critics have said: “Superbly acted, unblinking and unhysterical, it looks beyond politics into the hearts and minds of the men we needed to call ‘the enemy,’ and lets us see ourselves.” — David Ansen Newsweek
Set during the week following Princess Diana’s death, The Queen paints an intimate portrait the Royal Family and the traditions that guide them.
Directed by Stephen Frears, written by Peter Morgan, starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen and James Cromwell.
The Queen is nominated for six Academy Awards.
What the critics have said: “As an insightful, unique take on what makes us human… it’s simply marvelous. Or, shall I say, majestic?” — Jeffrey Chen, Reeltalk Movie Reviews
When I was browsing rottentomatoes.com for some critics quotes, I noticed something. The Departed, The Queen, Little Miss Sunshine, and Letters from Iwo Jima all have ratings higher than 90%. Babel, on the otherhand, has a 68% rating, yet Babel is the other major frontrunner to win Best Picture. Strange how those things work out.
Then again, Little Miss Sunshine could totally pull an upset and win. Wouldn’t that be ineresting?
Tonight at 8pm on NBC are the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Warren Beatty will receive to Cecil B. DeMille Award and countless others will honored for their contributions to films and television in 2006.
Tim Allen, Jessica Biel, Steve Carell, Sean Combs, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Dustin Hoffman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Djimon Hounsou, Joaquin Phoenix, Charlie Sheen, Sharon Stone, Steven Spielberg, Naomi Watts, and Renee Zellweger are set to be presenters.
Here are this year’s nominees and who I believe should win and who will win.
Best Motion Picture – Drama Babel
Bobby
The Departed
Little Children
The Queen
Should Win: I have yet to see Bobby, so I can’t really judge it but I think it’s safe to say it won’t win. The Queen and Little Children are great and wonderfully intriguing films but Babel and The Departed are the top competitors in this category. I was disappointed by Babel and blown away by The Departed. The Departed should win. Will Win:<The Departed. But don’t be shocked if Babel pulls out a win.
Best Actress – Drama
Penelope Cruz – Volver
Judi Dench – Notes on a Scandal
Maggie Gyllenhaal – Sherrybaby Helen Mirren – The Queen Kate Winslet – Little Children
Who Should Win: I have only seen The Queen and Little Children (I’m planning to see Notes on a Scandal this week). Despite this small sampling, I’m convinced that Helen Mirren’s performance as The Queen deserves every accolade she has received so far. Who Will Win: Helen Mirren
Best Actor – Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Departed
Peter O’Toole – Venus
Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland
Who Should Win: I have been watching Forest Whitaker guest star on E.R. this year as a crazy man who stalks his doctor. But when I watched The Last King of Scotland last night, to see him in a completely different role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin is absolutely terrifying. Who Will Win: Forest Whitaker. He has no competition.
Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine
Thank You For Smoking
Should Win: There are three strong competitors in this category: Borat, Dreamgirls, and Little Miss Sunshine. Little Miss Sunshine deserves the win the most, but it doesn’t stand a chancce against the movies with more hype. Will Win:Dreamgirls. How can it not?
Best Actress – Comedy or Musical
Annette Bening – Running With Scissors
Toni Collette – Little Miss Sunshine
Beyonce Knowles – Dreamgirls
Meryl Steep – The Devil Wears Prada
Renee Zellweger- Miss Potter
Should Win: Once again I have only seen three performances. Nevertheless, choosing Meryl Streep above the others is easy. Like really easy. >Will Win: Meryl Streep. The other actresses in this category are only nominated because five slots had to be filled. Meryl Streep is the only legit nom.
Best Actor – Comedy or Musical
Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Johnny Depp – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Aaron Eckhart – Thank You for Smoking
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Kinky Boots
Will Ferrell – Stranger Than Fiction
Who Should Win: Johnny Depp has a great shot (he was passed over for the first Pirates movie) but I think his best opportunity to win in this category will be next year, when the Pirates trilogy is complete. In a perfect world, Chiwetel Ejifor will win (see Kinky Boots now if you haven’t) but he won’t because of… Who Will Win: Sacha Baron Cohen and Borat. I don’t feel as though I need to explain this one at all.
Best Animated Feature Cars Happy Feet Monster House
Should Win: Well, I only saw Happy Feet and I must have missed something because everyone else seemed to love it. I really believe another movie deserves to win. Will Win: But who am I kidding? Happy Feet has been receiving the most awards for animated feature so far this award season.
Best Foreign Language Film Apocalypto (USA)
Letters From Iwo Jima (USA/JAPAN)
The Lives of Others (GERMANY)
Pan’s Labyrinth (MEXICO) Volver (SPAIN)
Should Win: I haven’t seen any but by the looks of it… Will Win:Pan’s Labyrinth or Volver will win. Then again, everyone seems to in love with Letters from Iwo Jima right now. I honestly have no idea.
Best Supporting Actress
Adriana Barraza – Babel
Cate Blanchett – Notes On A Scandal
Emily Blunt – The Devil Wears Prada
Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi – Babel
Who Should Win: Even though I have not seen Notes on a Scandal yet and Rinko Kikuchi has already received many awards for Babel and Adriana Barraza performance is equally good, if not better and Emily Blunt was a fabulous delight in The Devil Wears Prada… Who Will Win: It’s going to take a lot to beat out Jennifer Hudson. But she still deserves every award, just to burst Beyonce’s bubble a little but further.
Best Supporting Actor
Ben Affleck – Hollywoodland
Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson – The Departed
Brad Pitt – Babel
Mark Wahlberg – The Departed
Who Should Win: I’ve seen all the performances and all are deserving of a nom, but Eddie Murphy and Jack Nicholson are the best two. Murphy should win because in Dreamgirls he delivers his best work is years. Who Will Win: Eddie Murphy. But, then again, everyone loves Jack so just be ready for him to accept the prize.
Best Director
Clint Eastwood – Flags of Our Fathers
Clint Eastwood – Letters From Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears – The Queen
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu – Babel
Martin Scorsese – The Departed
Who Should Win: It’s between Inarritu and Scorcese. Who Will Win: Martin Scorcese. Because I said so.
Best Screenplay
Guillermo Arriga – Babel
Todd Field & Tom Perrotta – Little Children
Patrick Marber – Notes on a Scandal
William Monahan – The Departed
Peter Morgan – The Queen
Who Should Win: Peter Morgan for The Queen. It’s a great script. Who Will Win: Peter Morgan but William Monahan has been winning a lot for The Departed. He could win too.
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There are my predictions for the Golden Globes. Remember, they begin at 8pm est on NBC!
Enjoy the show and I’ll be back either tonight or tomorrow with a full recap.
The Screen Actors Guild Nominations were announced yesterday. Babel, Little Miss Sunshine, and Dreamgirls led the pack with three nominations each.
The SAG Awards will be presented on January 28.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson Peter O’Toole – Venus Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happyness Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Penelope Cruz – Volver Judi Dench – Notes on a Scandal Helen Mirren – The Queen Meryl Streep – The Devil Wears Prada Kate Winslet – Little Children
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Alan Arkin – Little Miss Sunshine Leonardo DiCaprio – The Departed Jackie Earle Haley – Little Children Djimon Hounsou – Blood Diamond Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Adriana Barraza – Babel Cate Blanchett – Notes on a Scandal Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls Rinko Kikuchi – Babel
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Babel Bobby The Departed Dreamgirls Little Miss Sunshine
The SAG Awards, I feel, are more representative of the Academy Awards than the Golden Globes Awards. Mostly because the major awards are not split between the genres. The actors nominated for SAG Awards will most likely be nominated an Oscar.
It’s interesting that big names such as Beyonce (Dreamgirls), Brad Pitt (Babel)and Jack Nicholson (The Departed) were passed over for nominations. I don’t expect Beyonce or Brad Pitt to be nominated for Oscars, but I definitely think Nicholson will be.
Aside from Nicholson not being nominated, I really have no problems with any of the SAG nominations. There seem to be no other major snubs and no major surprises either.
But maybe you see things a bit differently. So feel free to let me know.
Cate Blanchett as Sheba Hart in Notes on a Scandal 
Jennifer Hudson as Effie White in Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi as Chieko in Babel
@Cinefille 