Tell it to the Academy

I'm thankful "Dreamgirls" wasn't nominated for Best Picture. "Pans Labyrinth" deserved it more. Pleasantly surprised that the academy recognized Gosling's work. Was thrilled that Prince didn't get nominated for Best Song after his win at the Golden Globes. The only thing worse than that song would've been a live performance of it.

The Oscars aren't very interesting anymore--why would anyone stay up and watch a marathon of predictable speeches from people in movies most of us didn't go see in the theatre? I think NetFlix has more of my interest than most of the films on the "Best Picture" list by the Academy. I think it's time to draw a curtain on the Oscars.

Only suprise is the omission of Dreamgirls in the Best Picture category. Which I totally agree with. Highly overrated. Was it good? Yes. But not one of the top 5. I don't understand what the big hoo-haw is with musicals. I'd like to see The Departed get the win, because I believe that, overall, in all aspects, that film is the best of 06. But it may just be a little to rough around the edges for voters. It really does have everything. Great dialogue, good pacing, top notch acting and obviously great direction. Also happy to see Pan's Labyrinth get some nominations. Your average movie attendee probably doesn't know too much about this film. Letters From Iwo Jima is a strong movie too.

Glad to see Will Smith & Eddie Murphy get nominated. Forrest Whitaker was OUTSTANDING. Jennifer Hudson was WONDERFUL, should have been nominated in the Best Actress category. For once, the Oscars are about 'REAL MOVIES' not that artsy,no body saw or care about movie!

I'm personally shocked that DiCaprio was nominated for Blood Diamond and not The Departed. His performance in the latter is one of the high-points in his career, and it's omission is a real mistake.

What happened to "Thank You For Smoking?" and it's lead actor, Aaron Eckhart? Absolute gem of a film that likely got forgotten because it came out so early in the year. "Pan's Labyrinth" got what it deserved - it was good, but certainly not worthy of a best picture nomination. I'm also thrilled for Penelope Cruz, who I thought gave the performance of the year in Volver.

I really hope "Pan's Labyrinth" win this year. Fantastic movie! It's the seventh nominantion for Mexico and no Oscar so far! I think it's time to recognize the good work they are making south of the border. Congrats also on "The Queen" and "Volver". Good year for independent films and new faces too all over the place. Go Oscars!

Waste of time, just Hollywood pating themselves on the back again. I don't see any other "business" giving out awards like this. Last time I went to the movie house I fell asleep, and the movie was Superman!!!

The acting catagories are easy bets this year. A total lock for Mirren/Whitaker/Hudson/Murphy. I would bet a shinny nickle on this being Scorsese's year as Best Director. The selection for Best Picture is as up in the air as it has ever been. I want Little Miss Sunshine to win, but would not bet the farm on any of the 5 nominees.

No nomination for Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat in the best actor category is INSANE. Whether the movie was great or horrendous is highly debatable, but what's not debatable is the fantastic job Cohen did of playing the character Borat. The character diverges so far from the actual actor that they should make a new award simply for that feat. Isn?t that what acting really is? Meanwhile, people like Denzel Washington do nothing but play themselves time and time again and get endless accolades for doing such.
At least the Golden Globes got it right.

Where is "Children of Men"?! I'm very pleased that "Dreamgirls" is missing from the list of Best Picture. I think Martin Scorsese will finally win though "The Departed" is sadly not even close to his best work.

The reviewer writes:

"[P]erhaps [Dreamgirls'] pop-music story and score did not find favor with a generally older voting population."

The movie isn't about hip-hop, or grunge, or hair bands... it's Motown! Someone who was buying Supremes albums new is 55 to 65 today, and I guarantee that the bulk of Academy voters nominating movies in 2007 aren't doing so from nursing homes.

have the stars look just a bit more greatful for where they are and how far they've gotten! The last few years they didn't look so swell in their million dollar outfits, during the show, and having a dull, unelegant, non-facial look on their face! Hopefull with Ellen, they'll crack a few smiles during the show, but all we can do is hope!

Here is who I thought will win, or deserves the gold statuette also known as the Oscar for the 79th Academy Award Ceremony.

Actor
~Forest Whitaker

Supporting Actor
~Djimon Hounsou

Actress
~Helen Mirren

Supporting Actress
~Cate Blanchett

Animated feature film of the year
~Cars

Art Direction
~Eugenio Caballero
"Dreamgirls"

Cinematography
~Guillermo Navarro
"Pan's Labyrinth"

Costume Design
~Consolata Boyle
"The Queen"

Director
~Stephen Frears
"The Queen"

Documentary
~Davis Guggenheim
"An Inconvenient Truth"

Short Documentary
~Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
"Rehearsing a Dream"

Film Editing
~Steven Rosenblum
"Blood Diamond"

Foreign Film
~"Pan's Labyrinth"

Make Up
~Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
"Apocalypto"

Music-Original Score
~Alexandre Desplat
"The Queen"

Music-Original Song
~'Listen'
"Dreamgirls"

Best Picture
~"Letters from Iwo Jima"

Sound Editing
~"Blood Diamond"

Sound Mixing
~"Flags of Our Fathers"

Visual Effects
~"Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man's Chest"

Original Screenplay
~"The Queen"