These are the official Filmverdict 79th Oscar predictions. In my case (I'm Rich, by the way), a lot of these are just based on gut instinct. These are not my personal preferences! Some do coincide, however. Those that don't include a prediction from Joel are ones he has no thoughts on. I just guessed the more obscure categories (what's the point of having a sound editing and a sound mixing Oscar? What's the difference?). I've excluded the short film categories, by the way. Anyway, let's find out how wrong we are in a month's time.
Performance by an 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 [Rich's pick] [Joel's pick]
Notes: Forest Whitaker is amazing in TLKOS, and deserves to win, which he seems pretty certain to do.
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Arkin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jackie Earle Haley - LITTLE CHILDREN
Djimon Hounsou - BLOOD DIAMOND
Eddie Murphy - DREAMGIRLS [Rich's pick]
Mark Wahlberg - THE DEPARTED [Joel's pick]
Notes: I can see Murphy getting it. It's the first good thing he's done in ages.
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penelope Cruz - VOLVER
Judi Dench - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Helen Mirren - THE QUEEN [Rich's pick] [Joel's pick]
Meryl Streep - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Kate Winslet - LITTLE CHILDREN
Notes: This one seems pretty obvious.
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Adriana Barraza - BABEL
Cate Blanchett - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Abigail Breslin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jennifer Hudson - DREAMGIRLS [Rich's pick] [Joel's pick]
Rinko Kikuchi - BABEL
Notes: Pretty wide open, this one, but Hudson seems to be the frontrunner.
Best animated feature film of the year
CARS [Joel's pick]
HAPPY FEET [Rich's pick]
MONSTER HOUSE
Notes: My preference would definitely be Cars, but America sure likes those penguins.
Achievement in art direction
DREAMGIRLS [Joel's pick]
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
PAN'S LABYRINTH [Rich's pick]
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
THE PRESTIGE
Notes: All worthy, really.
Achievement in cinematography
THE BLACK DAHLIA [Joel's pick]
CHILDREN OF MEN [Rich's pick]
THE ILLUSIONIST
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE PRESTIGE
Notes: I'm predicting Children of Men out of hope, more than anything.
Achievement in costume design
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
DREAMGIRLS
MARIE ANTOINETTE [Rich's pick] [Joel's pick]
THE QUEEN
Notes: Considering the movie was only about the costumes (according to some), I'm guessing Marie Antoinette.
Achievement in directing
BABEL [Rich's pick]
THE DEPARTED [Joel's pick]
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
THE QUEEN
UNITED 93
Notes: I just can't see Scorsese winning. I'd like him to, for past efforts mainly, but Oscar voters like 'issue' movies. Like Babel.
Best documentary feature
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH [Rich's pick] [Joel's pick]
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
JESUS CAMP
MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY
Notes: Only one I've heard of.
Achievement in film editing
BABEL
BLOOD DIAMOND
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE DEPARTED [Joel's pick]
UNITED 93 [Rich's pick]
Notes: Could go to any of them. Except Blood Diamond.
Best foreign language film of the year
AFTER THE WEDDING
DAYS OF GLORY (INDIGENES)
THE LIVES OF OTHERS
PAN'S LABYRINTH [Rich's pick]
WATER
Notes: It wouldn't make sense if Pan's didn't win this. But then when have making sense and the Oscars had anything in common?
Achievement in makeup
APOCALYPTO
CLICK
PAN'S LABYRINTH [Rich's pick]
Notes: Just because the makeup was so prominent, really. Click is an awful film, and now it can call itself 'Oscar nominated'.
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
BABEL
THE GOOD GERMAN
NOTES ON A SCANDAL
PAN'S LABYRINTH [Rich's pick]
THE QUEEN
Notes: The Pan's score is popular, so that's my guess.
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"I Need to Wake Up" - AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
"Listen" - DREAMGIRLS
"Love You I Do" - DREAMGIRLS
"Our Town" - CARS
"Patience" - DREAMGIRLS
Notes: No predictions = no idea. Three for Dreamgirls in one section??
Best motion picture of the year
BABEL [Rich's pick] [Joel's pick]
THE DEPARTED
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
THE QUEEN
Notes: Going by the Golden Globe win, really.
Achievement in sound editing
APOCALYPTO
BLOOD DIAMOND
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST [Rich's pick]
Notes: Complete guess.
Achievement in sound mixing
APOCALYPTO
BLOOD DIAMOND
DREAMGIRLS [Rich's pick]
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
Notes: Because it has music in it, therefore 'sound' is important. That's my logic.
Achievement in visual effects
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST [Rich's pick]
POSEIDON
SUPERMAN RETURNS [Joel's pick]
Notes:POTC2 has this sewn up if you ask me.
Adapted screenplay
BORAT CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
CHILDREN OF MEN [Joel's pick]
THE DEPARTED [Rich's pick]
LITTLE CHILDREN
NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Notes: How is Borat an adapted screenplay?
Original screenplay
BABEL
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA [Joel's pick]
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE [Rich's pick]
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE QUEEN
Notes: Could go to any of them, but I just have a hunch.
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