Who Should Win

With the 78th Annual Academy Awards a little more than a week away, the folks at Entertainment Weekly have published their picks most likely to win gold, come Sunday March 5th. Over the years, their batting average, if you will has been pretty accurate when it comes to picking the winners--be sure to pick up the March 3rd issue, if for instance, you are in an office pool...

Rather than summarize EW's choices though, and then agree or disagree with those choices, as promised here's what I would like to see happen come the night of the ceremony...and why:

Best Picture: Crash-Anyone who has been reading this blog on a regular basis, already knows that is my pick for the best film of 2005. I would love to see the film pull a major upset. The film is the only one on the list capable of beating front runner Brokeback Mountain.

Best Director: Paul Haggis. Crash, like Brokeback, tackles a very difficult social issue, that needs needs attending to. Haggis weaves a multi-layered tapestry with brutal honesty and craftsmanship.

Best Supporting Actor: Matt Dillon. As Officer Ryan in Crash, Dillion proves he has the acting chops and gives the best performance of his career. Ryan is a racist cop through and through and Dillion exposes just how ugly that can be.

Best Supporting Actress: I'm going with Michelle Williams here, because it would be nice to see a relative film novice snatch it from the seasoned pros on the list.

Best Actor: Terrence Howard. Since he wasn't nominated for his great work in Crash, I'll settle for him taking the prize for his performance as DJay in Hustle And Flow.

Best Actress: Judi Dench. I know she already has won in the past. But after the way she has been snubbed by the press recently, as being "too old" an interview, for a younger crowd. It would be great if she wins and then they would have to interview her anyway. Or maybe she could give them a taste of there own medicine?

Best Adapted Screenplay: A History Of Violence is a great graphic novel and I hear screenwriter Josh Olson did a great job adapting it. I would love to see something based on a "comic book" win in this very tough category.

Best Original Screenplay: Haggis and Robert Moresco for Crash Nuff said

Best Original Score: Double Nominee John Williams (for Munich & Memoirs Of A Geisha) deserves to win his sixth statue on output alone. 2005 had this industry master deliver more quality work then most composers half his age will deliver throughout their entire career.

Best Original Song: “In the Deep” from “Crash”
Music by Kathleen “Bird” York and Michael Becker Lyric by York As if you had to guess.

Best Documentary Feature: March of the Penguins I'm just happy I can actually say I saw a film in this category! Seriously... Read On The March and you'll know why it's my pick.

Best Documentary Short Subject:A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin--recounting one of the best radio programs in history. Why should it lose?

Achievement In Editing: Crash. Hughes Winborne did a super job pacing a film that had many story lines running through it.

Achievement In Makeup: Star Wars: Episode III Anakin to Vader/Palpatine to Emperor Way Cool!!!

Achievement In Visual Effects: KONG should be KING. Read The "Kong" Show to find out why.

Achievement In Sound Mixing/Editing: The teams that worked on the War of the Worlds remake deserve the prize for making the sound cool.

Best Animated Short Film: One Man Band--Nobody does it better than Pixar Animation Studios.

Best Foreign Language Film:“Don’t Tell" from Italy-It's all about supporting my heritage

Best Cinematography: Batman Begins. Wally Pfister's work...put the Dark in Dark Knight.

Best Costume Design: Colleen Atwood must have had a great time dressing up the cast of Memoirs Of A Geisha.

Achievement In Art Direction: Bringing old time New York City to life help sell King Kong, especially for the climax. Grant Major, Dan Hennah and Simon Bright should make it to the winners circle.

Best Animated Feature: I'm rooting for Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. It was funny, creative, and filled with his unique vision. Props must also go to a great voice cast.

Best Live Action Short: When I investigated the films in this category, Six Shooter stood out as the film with the most interesting premise.

There you have it. Remember, these choices are my preferred picks,--not who I think will win--That would be a different list entirely. It's true that I haven't seen many of the nominated films this year, (not much of the general public has for that matter) but it's still fun to take a shot.