Unofficial Academy Awards Discussion Board

Wikipedia has this to say: The Corrections is an upcoming movie based on the novel The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Robert Zemeckis is set to direct, and it is reported to star Judi Dench, Brad Pitt, Tim Robbins and Naomi Watts. This is the first I've heard of Zemeckis directing. Frankly, I was...

Conversely, I don't see how anyone can think best actor is weak. You've got legends (Peter O'Toole, Jack Nicholson), well regarded character actors (Forest Whitaker, Ryan Gosling), stars in prestige and/or bait films (George Clooney, Will Smith, Matt Damon, Leonard Dicpario, Jude Law, Richard Griff...

What's still most surprising to me, though, is that Brokeback lasted as long as it did without a backlash, surviving all the way to the very...last...second before losing the biggest prize of all. I continue to be surprised at the immediate backlash against Crash, but I am glad that critics and com...

Bobby's worshipful what-iffing calls to mind nothing so much as A.E. Housman: "Now you will not swell the rout/Of lads that wore their honours out/Runners whom renown outran/And the name died before the man." Speaking of Housman, has anyone ever read or seen Tom Stoppard's play "The ...

Need we forget other modern singer-turned-actresses who failed to get nominations despite critical support for their performances: Courtney Love and, to a smaller extent, Madonna, failed to get nominations. Though, the Diana Ross comparison may be what she needs to get nominated, but I'm not so sur...

Afflek and Arkin are the weakest and could be replaced by James Cromwell for The Queen. Over Michael Sheen? Really? I sincerely hope not. I also don't want Ben frackin' Affleck anywhere near the list of nominees. Do you really envision a complete and total shut-out of Little Children? I know the bo...

What's Come Early Morning? This is the first I'm hearing of it. These are some interesting top fives that I don't think are entirely objectionable. The lead categories are solid, especially Best Actor. Is Annette Bening still being considered a serious contender? I'd probably stick with Dench who i...

I haven't seen Borat yet, so I can't comment on Cohen's deservedness, but has an "improvised" performance ever been nominated for an Oscar? Well, Altman performers have never had a problem being nominated and a lot of the dialogue is improvised in his movies. If Catherine O'Hara gets a no...

I'm referring to the comments you have made about films in general, Reza. Of particular note is the fact that we are in agreement about Kevin Kline's and Glenda Jackson's wins (the latter for A Touch of Class). I think we're the only two on the board who think that. I know it's an unpopular opinion...

Big Magilla wrote:Gosling suddenly seems like a real contender - this year's Cinderella story.

Suddenly? I was the first to throw his name out there on this board as a strong contender in September, a prediction that curried mostly indifference.

I agree with criddic -- Syms just doesn't have enough to do in The Queen, however, the few scenes she does have are quite memorable, especially the moment when she finds out her funeral plans have been absconded. James Cromwell was fine but nowhere near awards-worthy. Personally, I'm really pulling...