SAG Predictions

Best Ensemble Cast: Babel
Alternate: Little Miss Sunshine
Should Win: The Departed
*** Though I don't want this to happen, I am predicting that Babel will solidify it's lock status here, and a probable win for best picture in the Oscars. Little Miss Sunshine, if it wins will only make it more hard to predict as to who will win. Dreamgirls, if it wins, then how sad would that be. If The Departed wins, we now have a clear winner in our hands and deservingly so.

Best Actor: Peter O'Toole (Venus)
Alternate: Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland)
Should Win: Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson)
*** I think O'Toole will take the legend sympathy vote. But Whitaker is still a lock in this category, O'Toole is an upset. Though Ryan Gosling is a welcome surprise.

Best Actress: Helen Mirren (The Queen)
Alternate: Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal)
Should Win: Meryl Streep (Devil Wears Prada)
*** Only a miracle would stop Mirren from wining this one. And how sweet it would be to see Streep winning!

Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine)
Alternate: Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)
Should Win: Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children)
*** Though I have a weird feelin diCaprio is taking this one, I'm still predicting Arkin, to win this one. Though Eddie Murphy is still hot from his Golden Globe win, he is still a strong contender, but since there is a weak support from Dreamgirls, I'm predicting he won't win here.

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)
Alternate: Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine)
Should Win: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)
*** If they are going to award dreamgirls at least one win, here is where they could easily bag it. Though if they went fore cute, they will go for Breslin, since as we all know they have a very soft spot for very young actresses.

Delayed Oscar Reaction

for the most part I think, Oscars was predictable, even the Letters from Iwo Jima Inclusion was kinda predicted also. Though Dreamgirls bagged the guilds and the golden globes, I guess it is not enough to get it nominated. To think that it got 8 nominations but none of which is best picture.

So what did the Oscar nominations tells us. Here are my thoughts:

• Dreamgirls could go home empty handed. Though unlikely, but still possible, they could lose best song to Etheridge. Hudson could be outrun by Breslin, and Murphy by Arkin.
• If we use history statistics, then the battle of best picture is between The Departed and Babel. Last year, Brokeback Mountain did not score a film editing nod which is sometime correlated to Best picture race. This year, two of the BP nominees showed up in the Film Editing category, so they go neck to neck here.
• Babel could win best picture. Say Dreamgirls got only one nod for best song so that trims their noms to 6, means that Babel leads the nominations with 7. plus it scored in the top eight categories. But the subtitle phobia, could indicate otherwise. But then again they nominated two subtitled movie in the best picture race, so that factor may be cancelled out.
• Academy loves Eastwood. Aren't we all happy that she wasn't in the running for best actress? I think Nathaniel R or FilmExperience is right when he said that Eastwood got nominated for just being Eastwood. He does not need the guilds to support him, nowadays if your film has Eastwood or Haggis attached to it, then you have a contender. I'm not bitter though, I think Letters is a solid film, but I kinda wished that Babel was the one out-seated because it is the weakest of the 6, including Dreamgirls.
• O'Toole can still upset Whitaker, they might be thinking that we should finally award this gizzard, even though he does not deserve it at all.
  

5 Good things that came out of a bad night

• Children of Men receiving multiple nods in technical categories. I just wish that the movie was released on an earlier date. This could be a major contender. ditto Pan's Labyrinth.
• Devil Wears Prada nominated for Best Costume Design. Finally a contemporary nominee. ditto The Queen. but i wasn't that blown away with the queen's costume.
• Alexandre Desplat finally got his long awaited super delayed over due nod. But for the wrong film.
• Ryan Gosling sneaked in! I thought he wasn't going in.
  
• Mark Wahlberg! Mark Wahlberg! Mark Wahlberg! Finally! I'm gonna start my own campaign!
  

5 Crappy Crap Craps

• Click Best Make-up. Oh! Come On!
• Djimon Hounsou. Though he was good, but mind you this is a lead performance. And that does include you Cate Blanchett.
  
• Volver missing in the Foreign Language film category. I loved Volver, and I am kinda super pissed that it is not in the running. :(
• Blood Diamond, Blahbel. topical yes. important, maybe. good. uhm. Blahbel is ok though, but Blood Diamond is the ugliest diamond.
  
• Clint Eastwood.
  

wahahaha

visit oscarwatch.com for the nominees. still a bit stunned with hwo things turned out, semi-predictable, but generally pissing with all the snubs. more angry thoughts tomorrow...

Final predix Part2

Best Cinematography: Dreamgirls, Children of Men, Babel, Apocalypto, Pan's Labyrinth
Alternates: The Illusionist, The Good Shepherd

Best Film Editing: The Departed, Dreamgirls, Babel, The Queen, United 93
Alternates: Little Miss Sunshine, Casino Royale

Best Art Direction: Children of Men, Marie-Antoinette, Curse of the Golden Flower, Dreamgirls, Pan's Labyrinth
Alternates: Superman Returns, Flags of our Fathers


Best Costume Design: The Painted Veil, The Black Dahlia, Marie-Antoinette, Dreamgirls, Curse of the Golden Flower
Alternates: Devil Wears Prada, Pan's Labyrinth

Best Make-Up: Apocalypto, Pirates of the caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pan's Labyrinth
Alternate: X-Men 3: The Last Stand

Best Original Score: Apocalypto, The Painted Veil, Babel, The Queen, The Da Vinci Code'
Alternates: Notes on a Scandal, The Fountain

Best Visual Effects: Superman Returns, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, X-Men 3: The Last Stand
Alternate: Casino Royale

Best Animated Film: Happy Feet, Cars, Monster House

Best Foreign Film: Water, Volver, Pan's Labyrinth, Days of Glory, The Lives of Others

Best Documentary Feature: An Inconvenient Truth, Shut Up and Sing, Jesus Camp, Deliver us From Evil, Iraq in Fragments
Alternates: My Country My Country, The War Tapes

Best Original Song: "Love You I Do" (Dreamgirls), "Listen" (Dreamgirls), "I Need To Wake Up" (An Inconvenient Truth), "A Father's Way" (Pursuit of Happyness), "The Song of The Heart" (Happy Feet)
Alternates: Bobby, Charlotte's Web

Best Sound Mixing: Babel, Dreamgirls, The Departed, Flags of Our Fathers, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Alternate: Blood Diamond, Children of Men

Best Sound Effects Editing: Cars, Flags of our Fathers, Superman Returns, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Happy Feet
Alternates: The Departed, Casino Royale

Im crossing my fingers, for the Departed and Leonardo diCaprio. Borat is a Welcome suprise, World Trade Center is a bad bad surprise!

Final Predix Part1

Since I can't get my computer to work, I cannot edit my website, so I decided to just post my final predictions here.

(no particular order)

Best Picture: Babel, The Departed, Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen
Alternates: Letters From Iwo Jima, United 93

Best Actor: Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland), Peter O'Toole (Venus), Will Smith (Pursuit of Happyness), Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat), Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson)
Alternate/s: Leonardo diCaprio (The Departed/Blood Diamond)

Best Actress: Kate Winslet (Little Children), Helen Mirren (The Queen), Meryl Streep (Devil Wears Prada), Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal)
Alternate/s: Maggie Gyllenhaal (Sherrybaby), Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine)

Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls), Jack Nicholson (The Departed), Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond), Jackie Earle Hailey (Little Children), Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine)
Alternate/s: Leonardo diCaprio (The Departed), Mark Wahlberg (The Departed)

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls), Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal), Adriana Barraza (Babel), Rinko Kikuchi (Babel), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine)
Alternate/s: Emily Blunt (Devil Wears Prada), Vera Farmiga (The Departed)

Best Director: Martin Scorsese (The Departed), Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (Babel), Stephen Frears (The Queen), Clint Eastwood (Letters From Iwo Jima)
Alternate/s: Jonathan Davis/Valerie Faris (Little MIss Sunshine), Paul Greengrass (United 93)

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Departed, Children of Men, Devil Wears Prada, Little Children, Thank You For Smoking
Alternates: Notes on a Scandal, Borat

Best Original Screenplay: The Queen, Little Miss Sunshine, Babel, Pan's Labyrinth, Volver
Alternates: Stranger than Fiction, United 93

Technical and Stand Alone Categories, later...

Final Predictions Tomorrow

I'll be posting my final predictions for the Oscars tomorrow, soon after I can get this computer to work properly...

2006: A Year in Music

If you guys haven't guessed it by now, I am a huge music addict, but not a par my movie addiction. I have a band with my friends, nothing serious, for now it is just for fun. now enough with me let's talk about the songs released last year.

There weren't that much good songs released last year. We are still fed with the usual, almost-kinda-sounding-alike R&B hip hop songs, and same noisy rock singles. But thank God for giving us good to great pop and alternative songs last year.

Best Songs of 2006 (not arranged, just popped right out of my head)

"Irreplaceable"
Beyonce Knowles
I know, R&B, but this late release from Beyonce got me singing "to the left, to the left". This is what she is good at, she shouldn't be shouting all the time like what she did in "Ring the Alarm". She has great pipes, and she need not stretch too much. I think that this is one of the best singles she has ever released, from her days as a destiny's child up to her Dreamgirls days.

"Dreaming with a Broken Heart"
John Mayer
John Mayer released a helluva album. It is better than "Room for Squares", which I think was also one of the bests that year, and definitely way better than his previous album, the name i forgot. Dreaming with a Broken heart is one of the best songs in Continuum. It's unique heartfelt and it is the kind of song you want to hear when you are feeling sad.

"Born to Lead"
Hoobastank
Their Every man for himself is not a par their previous albums, though they are my favorite band, this album was a bit of a letdown. but kudos, for trying out something new. Born to lead is best cut of the album. This song makes me wanna be good at playing the guitar and belting it out singing "we are born to lead!".

"Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
KT Tunstall
One of the catchiest tunes of 2006. Thanks to Katherine McPhee for making this song well-known. Very Weird title though, but very apt for the song. This song makes you want to just jump around and be crazy. This song is also great to listen to if you play the slapbox, I do but I am not very good, I am quite bad.

"When You Were Young"
The Killers
Though the album is not as good as "Hot Fuss", this song is a par "Somebody Told Me" and "Mr. Brightside" for being very catchy. Kinda off putting though to see the song not doing that well in the Billboard charts.

"9 Crimes"
Damien Rice
One of the best songs by Damien Rice. This is heartfelt, poignant, touching and highly memorable. Damien Rice continues to make songs that gets stuck in you head and continues to haunt you in you sleep. I kept on repeating this song in my iPod.

"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"
Jennifer Hudson
One of the best covers ever. Jennifer Hudson, aside from Clarkson, is my favorite American Idol finalists. This Jennifer Holiday cover is the song that will put Jennifer Hudson in the Oscar History books, they better put her there. Who knew she could act too?


"Atoms for Peace"
Thom Yorke
Yorke is one of the best rock singers around. For me he is a legend already. His vocal range was pushed through the limits in this single, and not to mention the tune was highly engrossing and memorable. Not to mention also that this is very very well written.

"My Love"
Justin Timberlake
SexyBack proved that he is a bona fide hitmaker, My Love proved that he can make a good songs, not good, great song. The beat is infectious, it make you want to dance even if you don't know how to.

"Thin Blue Flame"
Josh Ritter
Simply put one of the best singles I have heard in my entire life. Don't care how long this song is, this is mind blowing. You won't even notice that it is long, that's how perfect the song was. The song slowly build its power and unleashed it towards the climactic end. And before you knew it, you have been playing the song ten times already.

"Dress up in You"
Belle & Sebastian
Finally a song about fitting in that is close to perfection. This one is a song for teenagers, something to learn from. The song is the best cut in the Life Pursuit Album. Thanks to Mike for lending me this great record.

And finally all the songs from the "Shortbus" soundtrack. The soundtrack, the movie, is a masterpiece. John Cameron Mitchell has great taste, and great ear, not to mention, Great Eye for directing the movie. Boys of Melody is the best song for me. You should buy this one, and watch the movie afterwards.

Golden Globes: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

BEST MOTION PICTURE (DRAMA) : Babel
BEST MOTION PICTURE (COMEDY OR MUSICAL) : Dreamgirls
BEST DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese (The Departed)
BEST ACTOR (DRAMA): Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)
BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA): Helen Mirren (The Queen)
BEST ACTOR (COMEDY OR MUSICAL): Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat)
BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY OR MUSICAL): Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)
BEST SCREENPLAY: Peter Morgan (The Queen)
BEST FOREIGN FILM: Letters From Iwo Jima (Clint Eastwood, director)
BEST ANIMATED FILM: Cars (John Lasseter, director)
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: "The Song of the Heart" - Performed by Prince (Happy Feet)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Alexandre Desplat (The Painted Veil)
CECIL B. DEMILLE AWARD • Warren Beatty

BEST DRAMA SERIES: Grey's Anatomy
BEST COMEDY SERIES: Ugly Betty
BEST MINISERIES: Elizabeth I
BEST ACTOR (COMEDY): Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY): America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
BEST ACTOR (DRAMA): Hugh Laurie (House)
BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA): Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
BEST ACTOR (MINISERIES): Bill Nighy (Gideon's Daughter)
BEST ACTRESS (MINISERIES): Helen Mirren (Elizabeth I)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jeremy Irons (Elizabeth I)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Emily Blunt (Gideon's Daughter)

The Good:

• Emily Blunt drop dead gorgeous winning a golden globe
• America Ferrera showed Ugly is Beauty, winning her very first GG, though i preferred, Mary Louise Parker. Ugly Betty won GG too!, but kinda preferred Weeds. But Ugly Betty is one of my faves too.
  
• Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy solidifying their status. both giving humble heartfelt speeches
  
• Tom Hanks awarding Warren Beatty
• Meryl Streep winning, and not to mention the wonderful speech.

The Crowning Glory

• Alexandre Desplat finally!
• Sacha Baron Cohen winning and winning and hilarious speech.

The Bad

• Beyonce's Listen lost to a Prince
• Earl losing to Alec Baldwin!
• Cars??!!
• Michael Hall losing to Hugh Laurie
• Letters from Iwo Jima category cheat! i would be happy if it were given to another movie other than Litters oops Letters and Apocalypto.
  

The UGLY

• Renee Zellweger is drop dead ugly
• Cameron Diaz wearing a curtain with red lipstick smudged to her face
• Grey's Anatomy! suckiest medical dramedy won over Lost, heroes, 24.
• BABEL!? frickin' Babel!? Though i kinda expected this upset, this upset I don't want to happen. I am sensing a Crash Redux! Oh nO!!!!
  

Best Dressed:

1. Emily Blunt (i love you marry me)
   
2. America Ferrera (young, peppy and vivacious)
   
3. Jennifer Hudson (curvacious, and the hair compliments her dress)
   
4. Mark Wahlberg (ever so manly)
   
5. Meryl Streep (looked more Queenly than Mirren)
   
6. Felicity Huffman (she is getting more pretty every year, i don't know why)
   
7. Rachel Weisz (pretty in red)
   
8. Sacha Baron Cohen (who thought he looks like this?)
   
9. Adriana Barraza (beautiful)
   
10. Mary Louise Parker (the eyes!)
    

Worst Dressed:

1. Renee Zellweger (dress was ok but the face, Oh my the face!)
2. Cameron Diaz (curtain annd red lipstick ensemble)
   
3. Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (the hair! is the ventilation that strong)
4. Hilary Swank (Matt Damon?)
5. Sienna Miller (You can cook an egg on her face)
   

For Your Consideration for Best Actor: Hugh Jackman in The Fountain

This is a year of great acting. There are those who went missing from the Oscar race for quite a number of time or what we call "Come Back-ers" (see Eddie Murphy, Alan Arkin); there are those who will be receiving their very first Oscar Nods if things go their way (See Ryan Gosling, Jackie Earle Haley); there are the perennial nominees but still not a winner (See Leonardo diCaprio, Kate Winslet) and there is the actor/actress that surprise you that they have this level of depth in their acting skills. This is where Hugh Jackman's: Tomas, Tommy, Dr. Tom Creo; whose desperate multi-layered performance, which gave out the best in Wolverine.

I had very high expectations for The Fountain, since it is Aronofsky's work after all. Having loved Requiem for a Dream and Pi profusely, I came in the theater knowing that I am watching a very good film. And when I came out still feeling that way and even more, thanks to Hugh Jackman's presence in the Fountain. In The Fountain, Jackman, plays three roles: Tomas, Tommy, and Doctor Tom Creo. All of them trying to do one thing, and that is to save Izzi (Rachel Weisz) from certain death.Tomas is a revelation.
Who would've thought that Wolverine has this hidden depth in him. Jackman sunk in the character, he made it seem as though we are watching a person actually suffering because he's losing someone he loves. We are kinda used to seeing Jackman portraying a hunk (Scoop) or an object of one's lust (Someone like You, Kate and Leopold) or a blisteringly super hot protagonist (Swordfish, X-Men Trilogy, Van Helsing). Now in this film, he left all the hunky hunkiness aside and instead we see a grieving man. What strikes me is his eyes, they convey everything, the longing, the pain, the desperation.

We are all Tomas-es one way or another.
Jackman's Tomas is present in all of us. We all want to save the one's we love even though we know that we are fighting a losing battle. What we are doing actually is fighting too much and not wanting or at least trying to make the best out of the tiniest time left. Tomas failed to see that Izzi wanted to spend more time with him, instead, he spent his time inside his laboratory trying to find a breakthrough, a cure for Izzi. Though not all of us may have encountered tragic family deaths in our lives, but everyday we are faced with circumstances that would push us. We can interpret it this way: Izzi is our past, and we embrace out past too tightly. Sometimes, as hard at it may seem, letting go is the only way.


This is supposed to be his year.
He is like in a gazillion movies this year, and not to mention the animated films too. His works ranged from good (Scoop) to great (The Prestige) to perfect (The Fountain). If I was a member of the academy I would stop with usual suspects (Will Smith, Peter O'Toole, Forest Whitaker) and take time looking around. They may be surprised that there are greater and far better acting performances this year, and one of them is Hugh Jackman's performance in The Fountain.

Though this may not be one for the history books (Heath Ledger's Ennis del Mar, Richard Farnsworth's Alvin Straight), let it be remembered that this year, Hugh Jackman gave us one of the most subtle heartfelt and probably his career-best performance to date.

2006: A Year in Review

I do not like honoring the worsts to the year's actual worsts, instead i award the films who claim greatness but actually they are not. usually the year's overrated films appear here. So here goes nothing.... But before that here is my actual ten worst films of 2006:

• Scary Movie 4 - the third installment was funny, but this was way over the top that it was very irritating to watch.
• Eragon - this movie made Narnia (f'd up nominee last year) look like a masterpiece.
• Just My Luck - I was excited to see this because Mean Girl made so so much promise to Lohan, but this was really made nothing..
• Mission Impossible III: I did not get it
• My Super Ex-Girlfriend : Good premise, the were ok parts but of em was just plain bad.
  

Continue Reading....

The F'd Up, The Underrated and The Overrated

SAG: Leo is double-dipping

Best Ensemble:

Babel, Bobby, The Departed, Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine

What The? : Not that surprising though even with the inclusion of Bobby. Dubbed as the year's Trash, Bobby will not win any awards here and also in the Oscars.
What will win:: Babel, though I absolutely love The Departed, I'm pulling a surprise win and upset here, I think Babel is going to win this one.
Who could win?: one of the best ensemble casts ever created, The Departed, if they win this one, will be the one to beat in the Oscars, but don't count out Dreamgirls. There seems to be a lack of love for the departed since leo's is pushed supporting, nicholson is out and so is my wahlberg.
Who Should Win: The Departed
Snubs: Iwo Jima: missed this one and might come back in the Oscars a-la Munich

Best Actor:

Leonardo diCaprio (Blood Diamond), Ryan Gosling (Half-Nelson), Will Smith (Pursuit of Happyness), Peter O'Toole (Venus), Forrest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)

What The? what is Leo's blood diamond doing here? yay! for Gosling. Gosling was snubbed in the Globes and with this his chances are finally better than Borat.
Who Will Win? : Who else, Forrest Whitaker
Who Could Win? : time for O'Toole to step in Whitaker's chances?
Who Should Win? : Gosling, ain't that fun to see him win this one?
Snubs: Sacha Baron Cohen, looks like he is not that funny at all

Best Actress:

Penelope Cruz (Volver), Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal), Helen Mirren (The Queen), Meryl Streep (Devil Wears Prada), Kate Winslet (Little Children)

What The? : This is the Oscar line-up.
Who Will Win?: Who Else? Mirren will solidify her status here... and i think she already done that
Who Could Win? : Two veteran's are slugging this one, Dench and Streep
Who Should Win?: Meryl Streep with the year's scariest performance hehehe
Snubs: Bening, if there is a way for her to be in this race, this would be it

Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), Leonardo diCaprio (The Departed), Jackie Earle Hailey (Little Children) , Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond), Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)

What the? is Leo's performance in the Departed supporting? HOUNSOU!!!???
Who will win? : I'm guessing that, leo's double dipping could pay off here...
Who Could Win?: murphy: the year's comeback
Who Should Win? : Since Leo should not be here, Hailey should win this one
Snubs: WAHLBERG, Pitt, Sheen and the list goes on... this is the murkiest race...

Supporting Actress:

Adriana Barraza (Babel), Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls), Rinko Kikuchi (Babel)

What The? Like the best actress race, this looks like the Oscar's lineup. but Breslin is very iffy
Who Will Win? : Jennifer Hudson and And I am Telling You I'm Not going is going to prove that she is the American Idol
Who Could Win?: Blanchett and Kikuchi, could win this one too
Who Should win?: The film's best thing, Hudson is very much deserving
Snubs: Emily Blunt awwww

SAG: Leo is double-dipping

Best Ensemble:

Babel, Bobby, The Departed, Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine

What The? : Not that surprising though even with the inclusion of Bobby. Dubbed as the year's Trash, Bobby will not win any awards here and also in the Oscars.
What will win:: Babel, though I absolutely love The Departed, I'm pulling a surprise win and upset here, I think Babel is going to win this one.
Who could win?: one of the best ensemble casts ever created, The Departed, if they win this one, will be the one to beat in the Oscars, but don't count out Dreamgirls. There seems to be a lack of love for the departed since leo's is pushed supporting, nicholson is out and so is my wahlberg.
Who Should Win: The Departed
Snubs: Iwo Jima: missed this one and might come back in the Oscars a-la Munich

Best Actor:

Leonardo diCaprio (Blood Diamond), Ryan Gosling (Half-Nelson), Will Smith (Pursuit of Happyness), Peter O'Toole (Venus), Forrest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)

What The? what is Leo's blood diamond doing here? yay! for Gosling. Gosling was snubbed in the Globes and with this his chances are finally better than Borat.
Who Will Win? : Who else, Forrest Whitaker
Who Could Win? : time for O'Toole to step in Whitaker's chances?
Who Should Win? : Gosling, ain't that fun to see him win this one?
Snubs: Sacha Baron Cohen, looks like he is not that funny at all

Best Actress:

Penelope Cruz (Volver), Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal), Helen Mirren (The Queen), Meryl Streep (Devil Wears Prada), Kate Winslet (Little Children)

What The? : This is the Oscar line-up.
Who Will Win?: Who Else? Mirren will solidify her status here... and i think she already done that
Who Could Win? : Two veteran's are slugging this one, Dench and Streep
Who Should Win?: Meryl Streep with the year's scariest performance hehehe
Snubs: Bening, if there is a way for her to be in this race, this would be it

Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), Leonardo diCaprio (The Departed), Jackie Earle Hailey (Little Children) , Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond), Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)
What the? is Leo's performance in the Departed supporting? HOUNSOU!!!???
Who will win? : I'm guessing that, leo's double dipping could pay off here...
Who Could Win?: murphy: the year's comeback
Who Should Win? : Since Leo should not be here, Hailey should win this one
Snubs: WAHLBERG, Pitt, Sheen and the list goes on... this is the murkiest race...

Supporting Actress:

Adriana Barraza (Babel), Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls), Rinko Kikuchi (Babel)

What The? Like the best actress race, this looks like the Oscar's lineup. but Breslin is very iffy
Who Will Win? : Jennifer Hudson and And I am Telling You I'm Not going is going to prove that she is the American Idol
Who Could Win?: Blanchett and Kikuchi, could win this one too
Who Should win?: The film's best thing, Hudson is very much deserving
Snubs: Emily Blunt awwww

DGA: Eastwood out, Sunshine brighter

• Bill Condon - Dreamgirls
  
• Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris - Little Miss Sunshine
• Stephen Frears - The Queen
  
• Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu - Babel
  
• Martin Scorsese - The Departed

Shockingly thought, Clint Eastwood, after making two critically appreciated films last year was shut out of the race. It's ok to me but I guess many who think Letters from Iwo Jima is a masterpiece may think otherwise. Just to show that Iwo Jima and Eastwood may not be as strong as we think he is. Plus not to mention that it is widely considered that Eastwood is the only one standing in the way of Scorsese for nabbing that Oscar and after this nominations, i think it is clearer now that Scorsese, who is very much deserving and long overdue, is going to win this year's oscar for best picture. But in the Oscar's though, I think that there is a very probable possibility that the Little Miss Sunshine duo is getting the boot to give way to Eastwood. Plus upsets from Almodovar and Cuaron and not to mention, Del Toro are still possibilities. Inarritu, Frears, Condon and most specially Scorsese are clear shoo-ins, but with Oscar's track record, we'll never know...