Sunday, December 27, 2009

Favorite All-Time Film Performances...On Hold

While working on my lists for the best of 2009 (and of the decade), I decided to put this monstrosity on hold until I finish those lists first (wouldn't want to spoil those lists). I have (obviously) been really busy in keeping up with this blog, as most of my attention has been with the For Your Speculation podcast. If you have been listening to them, I hope you enjoy them.

Please feel free to drop us a line at foryourspeculation@gmail.com or friend us on Facebook (ForYour Speculation) or follow us on Twitter (@4URspeculation).

~Ted

Sunday, September 6, 2009

The For Your Speculation Podcast!

I haven't forgotten this massive project, but I wanted to make sure that I pimp the podcast that I am currently co-hosting. The link is at the top of the links column (to the left of this post) or, you can just follow the link below.

For Your Speculation Podcast Page

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Favorite All-Time Film Performances...#93


93. Margaret Hamilton, The Wizard of Oz (Director: Victor Fleming, 1939)
“I’ll get you, my pretty…and your little dog too!” Imagine. You are five or six, sitting down in your living room and your parents have popped in a movie into the VCR (yes, imagine this is the early 90s). The movie is called The Wizard of Oz. You have never heard of it. After reeling from the excitement of seeing the movie go from the sepia tones to a vibrant kaleidoscope of colors, the Wicked Witch of the West has made her entrance. Oh what an entrance she makes! You realize that she’s vaguely familiar (doesn’t she look like Miss Gulch from the beginning of the movie?). And after hurling some nasty vitriol at Dorothy, our beloved heroine, she goes and really pisses everyone off. She went after Toto.


Let’s call it out like it is. I have never seen Margaret Hamilton in any other film or television show she made. Having read her history online, I can see that she did get a lot of work all through her life. That said if your only lasting impression in your lifetime is a character that will outlast you, a character that still leaves us with chills down our backs (AFI ranked the Wicked Witch of West at #4 on the All-Time Villains list) and a character that has been the subject of books and a musical; that is an impressive feat. It's only fitting that I was able to get to this performance the same day that we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the film's release. And really, if you had suffered severe burns because the fire effects came out too early, would you have returned a month later, back on the job? That just proves how much of a badass Hamilton was.

Top 25 Actors

Taking a break from the 100 Favorite Film Performances to respond to Nathaniel R.'s challenge at FilmExperience.

In no order...





River Phoenix, Sean Penn, Peter O'Toole, Don Cheadle, Morgan Freeman







Tommy Lee Jones, Edward James Olmos, Peter Sarsgaard, Gene Wilder, Jeff Daniels







Clive Owen, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gene Hackman, Ewan McGregor, Brad Pitt







Jack Lemmon, Johnny Depp, Jeff Bridges, Delroy Lindo, Tom Hanks







Jude Law, Jack Nicholson, Gael Garcia Bernal, Daniel Day-Lewis, Chris Cooper

Friday, August 21, 2009

Favorite All-Time Film Performances...#94


94. Thelma Ritter, All About Eve (Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1950)
Birdie took no shit from anyone. Even though she was only Margo Channing’s dresser/maid, she would always call her out on her bullshit. So it comes as no surprise that Birdie was the first to figure out what Eve was trying to pull off by befriending the celebrated actress (“what a story…everything but the bloodhound snapping at her rear end”). When Margo finally asks her why she doesn’t like Eve, Birdie tells her that Eve seems to be “studying” her. At first dismissive, Margo realizes that Birdie may be on to something, when Eve mentions that she called Bill pretending to be Margo. Clearly, Birdie is a maid that shouldn’t be taken for granted.


Thelma Ritter may always be remembered for this role, but it’s deserved. Mankiewicz expressly wrote the part for Ritter, fully knowing what she would bring to the role. Ritter was not the first to play the sarcastic employee of a diva, but she is the one that is most remembered (and all in 11 minutes). She pretty much set up the ruler by which all “maid performances” are measured. Though only her seventh film role, Ritter established her reputation as a consummate character actress with this performances. The only complaint is that she’s barely in the film (an extended cameo, even?) and we never get any closure on her character. And while she might not been a winner with the Academy (a record six losses in the supporting actress category), she will always be one with us.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Favorite All-Time Film Performances...#95



95 (TIE). Madeline Kahn and Tatum O’Neal, Paper Moon (Director Peter Bogdanovich, 1973)
Okay, so I cheated, slightly. It’s going to happen a lot when I want to combine two performances in one slot. Deal. Moving on, Paper Moon is a bit of a hodgepodge. It’s a Great Depression-era film, yet it has plenty of hilarious moments, due in great part to both Madeline Kahn and Tatum O’Neal. The former plays a stripper and the latter plays a young con artist. Addie (O’Neal) refuses to leave Moses’ (Ryan O’Neal, Tatum’s ne’er-do-well father) side until he gives her the $200 that was meant for her. Miss Trixie Delight (Kahn, see, even her character name inspires an immediate chuckle) gets all the attention from Moses when he picks her up (until Addie has something to say about it).


Kahn and O’Neal not only elicit lots of laughs within their performances, they also have moments of sincere emotions. O’Neal gets a lot of mileage from the final scenes of the film (“You still owe me $200”), while Kahn has her incredible monologue, on the hill with O’Neal, that ends with one of the funniest lines of all-time (and she’s delivered a few choice ones in her other films, especially her work with Mel Brooks). Both ladies were nominated for Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards and even though O’Neal was the one that took home the trophy (arguably a leading role and clearly only in this category because of her age, not screen time) both performances are too excellent to leave the other unrecognized. And yes, I know Bogdanovich had to do a lot of work to get that performance out of Tatum O’Neal, so props to him as well.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Favorite All-Time Film Performances...#97


97. Stockard Channing, Grease (Director: Randal Kleiser, 1978)
And this is where I stress that I’m honoring my favorite performances of all time, not necessarily the best performances of all time. Rizzo is by far, the most interesting character in this musical turned movie. She starts the film as the cliché role of bad girl, but we are left rooting for her by the film’s end. It’s the film’s ballad, “There Are Worse Things I Could Do,” that gives the possibly pregnant Rizzo her finest number (and Channing nails it). Of course, there’s also the pure “Mean Girl” delight she has in “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” performance in the first act of the film.


Sure Stockard Channing was 34 (!) when she played the 18-year-old Rizzo, but damn if she didn’t seem perfect for the role. The character, of course, lends itself to be someone who has more experience then everyone else in the film. It’s no wonder she snarls, “cause he sounds like a drag” during “Summer Nights.” She’s had more than enough of her share of guys. Plus credit where credit is due…Rizzo’s hickeys in the film? Channing let Jeff Conway (Kenickie) go to town instead of using makeup. That’s suffering for your art.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Favorite All-Time Film Performances...#98


98. Dustin Hoffman, Tootsie (Director: Sydney Pollack, 1982)
This should not have worked. Dustin Hoffman as an out-of-work actor who cross-dresses to get a job on a daytime soap opera. It even sounds ridiculous typing that out. But in the tradition of Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in Billy Wilder’s 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot, it totally works.
Hoffman is known for his dramatic chops (see his Oscar wins for Kramer vs Kramer and Rain Man), but more than anything, it’s Hoffman as the comedian that really doesn’t get a lot of love. He manages to steal the show in most of his comedic films; you can tell he’s having a ball not only here, but also in Hook and in Meet the Fockers, two movies that are, by no means, great. Hoffman might never top this performance, but at the very least it was a wonderful to witness Dorothy Michaels in all her glory.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Favorite All-Time Film Performances...#99


99. Lionel Barrymore, It's a Wonderful Life (Director: Frank Capra, 1946)
The film is known for being a staple during Christmastime, particularly for all the heartwarming scenes between James Stewart’s George Bailey and his family. But without a doubt, the standout of the film has to be Mr. Potter. The true embodiment of evil, a guy who owns half of Bedford Falls and wants nothing more than to continue to bulk up his wallet. Despite the fact that Potter never gets his comeuppance, we are still left with some hope when the residents of Bedford Falls come to Bailey’s rescue.

Lionel Barrymore was already an Oscar winner when he stepped into Mr. Potter’s wheelchair, but the performance should have given him another. While known for playing the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1938 A Christmas Carol, watching Barrymore chew up the scenery as the town Scrooge (who never reforms) is a sight to see. That many other villainous characters in the years after Mr. Potter appeared on the big screen, continue to try their best at reaching his heights of nefarious actions only proves the lasting legacy of Barrymore’s performance.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Favorite All-Time Film Performances...#100


100. Chalo Gonzalez, Quinceañera (Directors: Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, 2006)

Tio Tomas is the perfect example of the type of uncle (or grandfather/father/older relative) you wished could be part of your family. His love for his young nephew and niece is unconditional. He doesn’t care about their mistakes, their attitudes or anything else that they have done that has caused the rest of their family to cast them off. He embraces them for all they do.

Chalo Gonzalez was the only actor in this Sundance indie with previous experience, but he never forgot to help the younger actors. The chemistry that he shared with Emily Rios and Jesse Garcia made the audience feel the love that this family gave to each other. Gonzalez gave a simple and honest performance that we can’t help but smile when he is on screen.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The 100 Favorite All-Time Film Performances Project!

Gotta keep busy during the summer and this will be one way of doing that.

I realize that I haven't seen EVERYTHING. I know I have some nerve even trying to attempt this without having watched The Godfather, Gone With the Wind or even On the Waterfront. Sue me.

Here are my own self-imposed rules. 100 Performances. Must be from a film that was screened in theatres (so no cheating with Wit, Angels in America or Anne Frank). And the kicker? I can only pick an actor or actress for ONE performance (so I have to figure out which I like more, Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice or in The Bridges of Madison County or in Adaptation. or...). I know. This is going to be fun. Also, nothing from 2008, since I'm not done watching all the stuff from last year. ALSO! I should stress, this list is going to be my favorites, not necessarily "THE BEST." Hence, a lot of performances that don't normally make a Best of list.

Actor With Most Eligible Performances...Johnny Depp with 7


Actress With Most Eligible Performances...Meryl Streep with 8


And here's the eligibility list...all 900 of them (I know, right)!

F. Murray Abraham, Amadeus
Amy Adams, Enchanted
Amy Adams, Junebug
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Casey Affleck, Gone Baby Gone
Shohreh Aghdashloo, House of Sand & Fog
Alan Alda, Crimes and Midemeanors
Norma Aleandro, The Official Story
Phillip Alford, To Kill A Mockingbird
Joan Allen, The Contender
Joan Allen, The Crucible
Joan Allen, The Ice Storm
Joan Allen, Pleasantville
Joan Allen, The Upside of Anger
Woody Allen, Annie Hall
Woody Allen, Scoop
Lauren Ambrose, Can’t Hardly Wait
Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews, The Princess Diaries
Julie Andrews, The Sound of Music
Julie Andrews, Victor/Victoria
Jennifer Aniston, The Good Girl
Christina Applegate, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead
Enrique Arreola, Duck Season
Peggy Ashcroft, A Passage to India
Claire-Hope Ashitey, Children of Men
Adriana Asti, The Best of Youth
Margaret Avery, The Color Purple
Kevin Bacon, Mystic River
Kevin Bacon, The Woodsman
Mary Badham, To Kill A Mockingbird
Saleh Bakri, The Band’s Visit
Christian Bale, Empire of the Sun
Christian Bale, Velvet Goldmine
Eric Bana, Munich
Anne Bancroft, The Graduate
Victor Banerjee, A Passage to India
Ivana Baquero, Pan’s Labyrinth
Javier Bardem, Before Night Falls
Javier Barem, No Country for Old Men
Adriana Barraza, Babel
Drew Barrymore, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
Drew Barrymore, Ever After
Drew Barrymore, 50 First Dates
Drew Barrymore, Riding in Cars With Boys
Drew Barrymore, Scream
Lionel Barrymore, It’s A Wonderful Life
Kim Basinger, The Door in the Floor
Angela Bassett, What’s Love Got To Do With It
Jason Bateman, Juno
Anne Baxter, All About Eve
Kate Beckinsale, Serendipity
Jaime Bell, Billy Elliot
Jaime Bell, Undertow
Maria Bello, The Cooler
Maria Bello, Coyote Ugly
Maria Bello, A History of Violence
Annette Bening, The Grifters
Wes Bentley, American Beauty
Marisa Berenson, Barry Lyndon
Ingrid Bergman, Autumn Sonata
Ingrid Bergman, Casablanca
Ingrid Bergman, Notorious
Gael Garcia Bernal, Amores Perros
Gael Garcia Bernal, Bad Education
Gael Garcia Bernal, The Science of Sleep
Gael Garcia Bernal, Y Tu Mamá También
Halle Berry, Monster’s Ball
Halle Berry, Things We Lost in the Fire
Juliette Binoche, Caché
Juliette Binoche, The English Patient
Juliette Binoche, The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Thora Birch, American Beauty
Thora Birch, Ghost World
Brad Bird, The Incredibles
Jack Black, The School of Rock
Cate Blanchett, The Aviator
Cate Blanchett, Coffee & Cigarettes
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Brenda Blethyn, Secrets & Lies
Cate Blanchett, The Shipping News
Emily Blunt, The Devil Wears Prada
Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca
Ray Bolger, The Wizard of Oz
Alessio Boni, The Best of Youth
Timothy Bottoms, The Last Picture Show
Billy Boyd, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Kenneth Branagh, Hamlet
Marlon Brando, A Streetcar Named Desire
Eileen Brennan, Clue
Beau Bridges, The Fabulous Baker Boys
Jeff Bridges, The Big Lebowski
Jeff Bridges, The Door in the Floor
Jeff Bridges, The Fabulous Baker Boys
Jeff Bridges, Fearless
Jeff Bridges, The Last Picture Show
Jim Broadbent, Iris
Jim Broadbent, Moulin Rouge!
Matthew Broderick, Election
Matthew Broderick, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Adrien Brody, The Pianist
Josh Brolin, No Country for Old Men
Albert Brooks, Broadcast News
Mel Brooks, History of the World Part I
Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Ellen Burstyn, The Last Picture Show
Ellen Burstyn, Requiem For A Dream
Richard Burton, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Steve Buscemi, Fargo
Steve Buscemi, Ghost World
Steve Buscemi, Reservoir Dogs
Red Buttons, They Shoot Horses Don’t They?
Nicolas Cage, Adaptation.
Nicolas Cage, Leaving Las Vegas
Nicolas Cage, Matchstick Men
Nicolas Cage, Moonstruck
Nicolas Cage, Raising Arizona
Michael Caine, Alfie
Michael Caine, California Suite
Javier Camara, Talk to Her
Bobby Cannavale, The Station Agent
Steve Carell, The 40-Year Old Virgin
Art Carney, Harry and Tonto
David Carradine, Kill Bill: Volume Two
Jim Carrey, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Jim Carrey, The Truman Show
Pat Carroll, The Little Mermaid
Helena Bonham Carter, Howards End
Helena Bonham Carter, A Room with a View
Lugi Lo Cascio, The Best of Youth
Keisha Castle-Hughes, Whale Rider
Diego Cataño, Duck Season
Darlene Cates, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Stockard Channing, Grease
Stockard Channing, Six Degrees of Separation
Gerladine Chaplin, Talk to Her
Chevy Chase, Three Amigos
Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda
Cher, Moonstruck
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Julie Christie, Hamlet
Erika Christensen, Traffic
Hayden Christensen, Life As A House
Hayden Christensen, Shattered Glass
Thomas Haden Church, Sideways
Patricia Clarkson, All the Real Girls
Patricia Clarkson, The Station Agent
George Clooney, O’ Brother Where Art Thou?
George Clooney, Three Kings
Glenn Close, Dangerous Liaisons
Glenn Close, Fatal Attraction
Glenn Close, Reversal of Fortune
James Coburn, Affliction
Sacha Baren Cohen, Borat
Toni Collette, About A Boy
Toni Collette, The Hours
Toni Collette, The Sixth Sense
Toni Collette, Velvet Goldmine
Clifton Collins Jr, Capote
Paddy Considine, In America
Jennifer Connelly, Requiem For A Dream
Billy Connolly, Mrs. Brown
Chris Cooper, Adaptation.
Chris Cooper, American Beauty
Chris Cooper, Matewan
Brady Corbett, Mysterious Skin
Abbie Cornish, Somersault
Kevin Costner, The Upside of Anger
Marion Cotillard, A Very Long Engagement
Daniel Craig, Sylvia
James Cromwell, Babe
Russell Crowe, L.A. Confidential
Billy Crudup, Almost Famous
Billy Crudup, Big Fish
Penélope Cruz, Volver
Macaulay Culkin, Saved!
Rory Culkin, Mean Creek
Alan Cumming, X2: X-Men United
Jamie Lee Curtis, A Fish Called Wanda
Jamie Lee Curtis, Freaky Friday
Tony Curtis, Some Like It Hot
Joan Cusack, In & Out
Joan Cusack, Toy Story 2
John Cusack, Bullets Over Broadway
John Cusack, The Grifters
John Cusack, Say Anything
John Cusack, Serendipity
Matt Damon, The Departed
Matt Damon, The Good Shepherd
Matt Damon, Good Will Hunting
Matt Damon, The Talented Mr. Ripley
Claire Danes, Shopgirl
Claire Danes, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet
Beverly D’Angelo, Coal Miner’s Daughter
Jeff Daniels, Pleasantville
Jeff Daniels, The Purple Rose of Cairo
Jeff Daniels, The Squid and the Whale
Jeff Daniels, Terms of Endearment
Blythe Danner, The Great Santini
Jeremy Davies, Saving Private Ryan
Jaye Davidson, The Crying Game
Bette Davis, All About Eve
Geena Davis, The Accidental Tourist
Geena Davis, Thelma & Louise
Hope Davis, American Splendor
Hope Davis, The Secret Lives of Dentists
Judy Davis, Husbands & Wives
Judy Davis, A Passage to India
Viola Davis, Solaris
Paul Dawson, Shortbus
Daniel Day-Lewis, The Crucible
Daniel Day-Lewis, Gangs of New York
Daniel Day-Lewis, In the Name of the Father
Daniel Day-Lewis, My Beautiful Laundrette
Daniel Day-Lewis, My Left Foot
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Daniel Day-Lewis, The Unbearable Lightness of Being
James Dean, East of Eden
Jan Decleir, Character
Ellen DeGeneres, Finding Nemo
Julie Delpy, Before Sunrise
Julie Delpy, Before Sunset
Benicio del Toro, Things We Lost in the Fire
Benicio del Toro, Traffic
Benicio del Toro, 21 Grams
Judi Dench, Iris
Judi Dench, Mrs. Brown
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Judi Dench, A Room with a View
Judi Dench, Shakespeare In Love
Robert DeNiro, Raging Bull
Robert DeNiro, Taxi Driver
Sandy Dennis, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Johnny Depp, Dead Man
Johnny Depp, Edward Scissorhands
Johnny Depp, Ed Wood
Johnny Depp, Once Upon A Time In Mexico
Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Johnny Depp, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Zooey Deschanel, All the Real Girls
Camerona Diaz, Being John Malkovich
Cameron Diaz, A Life Less Ordinary
Cameron Diaz, There’s Something About Mary
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Departed
Leonardo DiCaprio, Marvin’s Room
Leonardo DiCaprio, Titanic
Leonardo DiCaprio, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Leonardo DiCaprio, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet
Stephen Dillane, The Hours
Peter Dinklage, The Station Agent
Michael Douglas, Wonder Boys
Robert Downey Jr, Heart & Souls
Olympia Dukakis, Moonstruck
Faye Dunaway, Network
Kirsten Dunst, Bring It On
Kirsten Dunst, crazy/beautiful
Kirsten Dunst, Drop Dead Gorgeous
Charles Durning Jr, Tootsie
Eliza Dushku, Bring It On
Robert Duvall, Apocalypse Now
Robert Duvall, The Great Santini
Shelley Duvall, 3 Women
Clint Eastwood, The Bridges of Madison County
Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby
Buddy Ebsen, Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Emilio Echevarria, Amores Perros
Aaron Eckhart, Erin Brockovich
Cliff Edwards, Pinocchio
Kimberly Elise, Set It Off
Ronit Elkabetz, The Band’s Visit
Jesse Eisenberg, Roger Dodger
Shareeka Epps, Half Nelson
Edie Falco, Judy Berlin
Edie Falco, Sunshine State
Gary Farmer, Dead Man
Mia Farrow, Broadway Danny Rose
Mia Farrow, Hannah and Her Sisters
Mia Farrow, The Purple Rose of Cairo
Marty Feldman, Young Frankenstein
America Ferrera, Real Women Have Curves
Joseph Fiennes, Shakespeare In Love
Ralph Fiennes, Schindler’s List
Peter Finch, Network
Albert Finney, Big Fish
Albert Finney, Erin Brockovich
Linda Fiorentino, Dogma
Iaon Fiscuteanu, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
Laurence Fishburne, What’s Love Got To Do With It
Louise Fletcher, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Henry Fonda, On Golden Pond
Jane Fonda, On Golden Pond
Jane Fonda, They Shoot Horses Don’t They?
Frederic Forest, Apocalypse Now
Jodie Foster, The Silence of the Lambs
Jodie Foster, Taxi Driver
Jon Foster, The Door in the Floor
Vivica A. Fox, Set It Off
Jamie Foxx, Collateral
Morgan Freeman, Driving Miss Daisy
Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby
Morgan Freeman, Se7en
Brenda Fricker, My Left Foot
Sasson Gabai, The Band’s Visit
Peter Gallagher, sex, lies & videotape
Jesse Garcia, Quinceañera
Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz
Jennifer Garner, Juno
Jennifer Garner, 13 Going On 30
Teri Garr, Tootsie
Teri Garr, Young Frankenstein
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Cruel Intentions
Luminita Gheorghiu, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
Paul Giamatti, American Splendor
Paul Giamatti, Sideways
John Gielgud, Arthur
Brendan Gleeson, The General
Danny Glover, The Color Purple
Whoopi Goldberg, The Color Purple
Whoopi Goldberg, Ghost
Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act
Chalo Gonzalez, Quinceañera
John Goodman, The Big Lebowski
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brick
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mysterious Skin
Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson
Topher Grace, In Good Company
Cary Grant, Notorious
Cary Grant, The Philadelphia Story
Hugh Grant, About A Boy
Joel Gray, Cabaret
Rachel Griffiths, Hilary & Jackie
Richard Griffiths, The History Boys
Christopher Guest, Waiting for Guffman
Tom Guiry, Mystic River
Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, El Norte
Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain
Jake Gyllenhaal, Donnie Darko
Jake Gyllenhaal, Jarhead
Jake Gyllenhaal, Moonlight Mile
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Happy Endings
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Secretary
Gene Hackman, The Royal Tenenbaums
Jean Hagen, Singin' In the Rain
Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Linda Hamilton, Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Margaret Hamilton, The Wizard of Oz
Daryl Hannah, Kill Bill: Volume One
Daryl Hannah, Splash
Tom Hanks, Big
Tom Hanks, Cast Away
Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Philadelphia
Tom Hanks, Splash
Marcia Gay Harden, Mystic River
Marcia Gay Harden, Pollock
Brett Harrelson, The People vs Larry Flynt
Woody Harrelson, The People vs Larry Flynt
Ed Harris, Pollock
Neil Patrick Harris, Starship Troopers
Laurence Harvey, The Manchurian Candidate
Anne Hathaway, Ella Enchanted
Anne Hathaway, The Princess Diaries
Ethan Hawke, Before Sunrise
Ethan Hawke, Before Sunset
Ethan Hawke, Gattaca
Ethan Hawke, Hamlet
Ethan Hawke, Tape
John Hawkes, Me and You and Everyone We Know
Goldie Hawn, The First Wives Club
Salma Hayek, Frida
Dan Hedaya, Dick
Tippi Hedren, The Birds
Levon Helm, Coal Miner’s Daughter
Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday
Katharine Hepburn, The Lion In Winter
Katharine Hepburn, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Katharine Hepburn, On Golden Pond
Katharine Hepburn, The Philadelphia Story
Barbara Hershey, Hannah and Her Sisters
Pat Hingle, The Grifters
Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild
Judd Hirsch, Running On Empty
Tyler Hoechlin, Road to Perdition
Dustin Hoffman, The Graduate
Dustin Hoffman, Hook
Dustin Hoffman, Kramer vs Kramer
Dustin Hoffman, Tootsie
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
William Holden, Network
William Holden, Sunset Boulevard
Celeste Holm, All About Eve
Anthony Hopkins, Howards End
Anthony Hopkins, The Silence of the Lambs
Anthony Hopkins, Shadowlands
Bob Hoskins, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Felicity Huffman, Transamerica
Tom Hulce, Amadeus
Linda Hunt, The Year of Living Dangerously
Holly Hunter, Broadcast News
Holly Hunter, Home For the Holidays
Holly Hunter, The Incredibles
Holly Hunter, A Life Less Ordinary
Holly Hunter, The Piano
Holly Hunter, Raising Arizona
Kim Hunter, A Streetcar Named Desire
Isabelle Huppert, 8 Women
William Hurt, Body Heat
Ruth Hussey, The Philadelphia Story
Anjelica Huston, The Grifters
Timothy Hutton, Ordinary People
Jeremy Irons, The Lion King
Jeremy Irons, Reversal of Fortune
Burl Ives, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Hugh Jackman, The Fountain
Samuel L. Jackson, Pulp Fiction
Derek Jacobi, Hamlet
Famke Janssen, X2: X-Men United
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Secrets & Lies
Richard Jenkins, North Country
Scarlett Johansson, Ghost World
Scarlett Johansson, Girl With A Peal Earring
Scarlett Johansson, Lost In Translation
Glynis Johns, Mary Poppins
Ben Johnson, The Last Picture Show
Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
Tommy Lee Jones, Coal Miner’s Daughter
Tommy Lee Jones, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Ashley Judd, Bug
Ashley Judd, De-Lovely
Raul Julia, Romero
Madeline Kahn, Blazing Saddles
Madeline Kahn, Clue
Madeline Kahn, Judy Berlin
Madeline Kahn, Paper Moon
Madeline Kahn, Young Frankenstein
Buster Keaton, The General
Diane Keaton, Annie Hall
Diane Keaton, The First Wives Club
Diane Keaton, Marvin’s Room
Harvey Keitel, Thelma & Louise
Gene Kelly, Singin’ In the Rain
Catherine Keener, Being John Malkovich
Catherine Keener, The 40-Year Old Virgin
Catherine Keener, Lovely & Amazing
Ryan Kelley, Mean Creek
Anna Kendrick, Camp
Nicole Kidman, Birth
Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge!
Nicole Kidman, The Others
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel
Q’Orianka Kilcher, The New World
Greg Kinnear, Auto Focus
Tommy Kirk, Old Yeller
Mia Kirshner, The Black Dahlia
Kevin Kline, A Fish Called Wanda
Kevin Kline, The Ice Storm
Kevin Kline, Life As A House
Kevin Kline, Sophie’s Choice
Owen Kline, The Squid and the Whale
Lisa Kudrow, Happy Endings
Lisa Kudrow, The Opposite of Sex
Lisa Kudrow, Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion
Shia LaBeouf, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
Christine Lahti, Running On Empty
Martin Landau, Crimes and Midemeanors
Martin Landau, Ed Wood
Martin Landau, The Majestic
Diane Lane, Unfaithful
Nathan Lane, The Birdcage
Jessica Lange, Big Fish
Jessica Lange, Frances
Frank Langella, Good Night, and Good Luck
Angela Lansbury, Beauty & the Beast
Angela Lansbury, The Manchurian Candidate
Jude Law, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
Jude Law, Cold Mountain
Jude Law, Gattaca
Jude Law, The Talented Mr. Ripley
Josie Lawrence, Enchanted April
Cloris Leachman, The Last Picture Show
Jean-Pierre Léaud, The 400 Blows
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Heath Ledger, Monster’s Ball
Sook-Yin Lee, Shortbus
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Fast Times At Ridgemont High
Vivian Leigh, A Streetcar Named Desire
Tómas Lemarquis, Nói
Jack Lemmon, The Apartment
Jack Lemmon, Missing
Jack Lemmon, Some Like It Hot
Melissa Leo, 21 Grams
Robert Sean Leonard, Tape
Ted Levine, The Silence of the Lambs
Eugene Levy, American Pie
Gary Lewis, Billy Elliot
Juliette Lewis, Husbands & Wives
Delroy Lindo, The Cider House Rules
Delroy Lindo, A Life Less Ordinary
Laura Linney, Kinsey
Laura Linney, Love, Actually
Laura Linney, Mystic River
Laura Linney, P.S.
Laura Linney, The Squid and the Whale
Laura Linney, You Can Count On Me
Christopher Lloyd, Back to the Future
Alison Lohman, Matchstick Men
Jennifer Lopez, My Family
Jennifer Lopez, Selena
Courtney Love, The People vs Larry Flynt
Joanna Lumley, The Cat’s Meow
Diego Luna, Y Tu Mamá También
Federico Luppi, Men With Guns
Melanie Lynskey, Shattered Glass
Bernie Mac, Life
Kelly Macdonald, Gosford Park
Andie MacDowell, sex, lies & videotape
Anthony Mackie, Brother to Brother
Shirley MacLaine, The Apartment
Shirley MacLaine, In Her Shoes
Shirley MacLaine, Postcards from the Edge
Shirley MacLaine, Terms of Endearment
Fred MacMurray, The Apartment
William H. Macy, Fargo
Michael Madsen, Reservoir Dogs
Virginia Madsen, Sideways
Tobey Maguire, Wonder Boys
John Mahoney, Say Anything
Karl Malden, A Streetcar Named Desire
John Malkovich, Being John Malkovich
John Malkovich, Dangerous Liaisons
Leslie Mann, Knocked Up
Miriam Margoyles, The Age of Innocence
Annamaria Marinca, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
James Marsden, Enchanted
Judy Marte, Raising Victor Vargas
Steve Martin, All of Me
Steve Martin, Little Shop of Horrors
Steve Martin, Parenthood
Steve Martin, Shopgirl
Steve Martin, Three Amigos
Fele Martinez, Bad Education
Margo Martindale, Paris, je t’aime
Raymond Massey, East of Eden
Carmen Maura, Volver
Carmen Maura, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Joseph Mazello, Shadowlands
Rachel McAdams, Mean Girls
James McAvoy, Atonement
James McAvoy, The Last King of Scotland
Frances McDormand, Almost Famous
Frances McDormand, Fargo
Frances McDormand, Friends with Money
Frances McDormand, Laurel Canyon
Frances McDormand, Wonder Boys
Malcolm McDowell, A Clockwork Orange
Malcolm McDowell, The Company
Ewan McGregor, Big Fish
Ewan McGregor, A Life Less Ordinary
Ewan McGregor, Moulin Rouge!
Ewan McGregor, Trainspotting
Ewan McGregor, Velvet Goldmine
Ian McKellan, Gods & Monsters
Ian McKellen, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Scott Mechlowicz, Mean Creek
Una Merkel, The Parent Trap
Bette Midler, The First Wives Club
Bette Midler, Hocus Pocus
Penelope Ann Miller, Carlito’s Way
Hayley Mills, The Parent Trap
Liza Minnelli, Cabaret
Daniel Miranda, Duck Season
Helen Mirren, The Clearing
Helen Mirren, Gosford Park
Helen Mirren, The Queen
John Cameron Mitchell, Hedwig & the Angry Inch
Gretchen Mol, The Notorious Bettie Page
Alfred Molina, Frida
Marilyn Monroe, Some Like It Hot
Dudley Moore, Arthur
Julianne Moore, Boogie Nights
Julianne Moore, Far From Heaven
Mandy Moore, Saved!
Mary Tyler Moore, Ordinary People
Agnes Moorehead, Citizen Kane
Esai Morales, My Family
Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace
Rita Moreno, West Side Story
Trevor Morgan, Mean Creek
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Viggo Mortensen, A History of Violence
Emily Mortimer, Lovely & Amazing
Samantha Morton, Minority Report
Carrie Ann Moss, Memento
Zero Mostel, The Producers
Ben Mouton, All the Real Girls
Brittany Murphy, Riding in Cars With Boys
Cillian Murphy, Breakfast On Puto
Eddie Murphy, The Nutty Professor
Eddie Murphy, Shrek
Bill Murray, Broken Flowers
Bill Murray, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
Bill Murray, Lost In Translation
Bill Murray, Rushmore
Patricia Neal, Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Liam Neeson, Kinsey
Liam Neeson, Schindler’s List
Bebe Neuwirth, Tadpole
Paul Newman, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Paul Newman, Nobody’s Fool
Jack Nicholson, About Schmidt
Jack Nicholson, Batman
Jack Nicholson, The Departed
Jack Nicholson, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Jack Nicholson, Prizzi’s Honor
Jack Nicholson, Terms of Endearment
Nick Nolte, Affliction
Edward Norton, Primal Fear
Kim Novak, Vertigo
Donald O’Connor, Singin’ In the Rain
Sandra Oh, Sideways
Catherine O’Hara, A Mighty Wind
Michael O’Keefe, The Great Santini
Sophie Okonedo, Hotel Rwanda
Gary Oldman, The Contender
Lena Olin, The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Edward James Olmos, Selena
Edward James Olmos, Stand & Deliver
Nancy Olson, Sunset Boulevard
Tatum O’Neal, Paper Moon
Lupe Ontiveros, Chuck & Buck
Lupe Ontiveros, El Norte
Lupe Ontiveros, Real Women Have Curves
Lupe Ontiveros, Selena
Lupe Ontiveros, Storytelling
Haley Joel Osment, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
Haley Joel Osment, The Sixth Sense
Peter O’Toole, The Lion In Winter
Peter O’Toole, Ratatouille
Miranda Otto, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Clive Owen, Closer
Clive Owen, Gosford Park
Al Pacino, Carlito’s Way
Al Pacino, Dick Tracy
Chazz Palminteri, Bullets Over Broadway
Gwyneth Paltrow, Proof
Gwyneth Paltrow, The Royal Tenenbaums
Gwyneth Paltrow, Shakespeare In Love
Gwyneth Paltrow, Sylvia
Joey Pantoliano, Memento
Anna Paquin, The Piano
Guy Pearce, L.A. Confidential
Guy Pearce, Memento
Gregory Peck, Roman Holiday
Gregory Peck, To Kill A Mockingbird
Josh Peck, Mean Creek
Elizabeth Peña, Tortilla Soup
Sean Penn, Carlito’s Way
Sean Penn, Dead Man Walking
Sean Penn, Fast Times At Ridgemont High
Sean Penn, Mystic River
Danny Perea, Duck Season
Rosie Perez, Fearless
Joe Pesci, Raging Bull
Mehki Pfeifer, O
Michelle Pfeiffer, Batman Returns
Michelle Pfeiffer, Dangerous Liaisons
Michelle Pfeiffer, The Fabulous Baker Boys
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
River Phoenix, My Own Private Idaho
River Phoenix, Running On Empty
River Phoenix, Stand By Me
Jada Pinkett-Smith, Set It Off
Brad Pitt, Se7en
Brad Pitt, 12 Monkeys
Jeremy Piven, Serendipity
Mary Kay Place, The Big Chill
Martha Plimpton, Parenthood
Martha Plimpton, Running On Empty
Sarah Polley, Go
Sarah Polley, My Life Without Me
Ellen Pompeo, Moonlight Mile
Natalie Portman, Anywhere But Here
Natalie Portman, Closer
Natalie Portman, Garden State
Parker Posey, The House of Yes
Parker Posey, Party Girl
Pete Postelwaite, In the Name of the Father
Melvil Poupaud, Time to Leave
Robert Preston, Victor/Victoria
Lou Taylor Pucci, Thumbsucker
Dennis Quaid, Far From Heaven
Queen Latifah, Set It Off
Claude Rains, Casablanca
Claude Rains, Notorious
Anne Ramsay, Throw Momma From the Train
John Randolph, Prizzi’s Honor
Victor Rasuk, Raising Victor Vargas
Stephen Rea, The Crying Game
Lynn Redgrave, Gods & Monsters
Donna Reed, It’s A Wonderful Life
John C. Reilly, The Good Girl
Burt Reynolds, Boogie Nights
Debbie Reynolds, Singin’ In the Rain
Christina Ricci, The Ice Storm
Christina Ricci, Now & Then
Christina Ricci, The Opposite of Sex
Miranda Richardson, The Crying Game
Miranda Richardson, Enchanted April
Ralph Richardson, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Emily Rios, Quinceañera
Thelma Ritter, All About Eve
Jason Robards, Parenthood
Tim Robbins, Mystic River
Tim Robbins, The Player
Julia Roberts, Closer
Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich
Julia Roberts, Notting Hill
Julia Roberts, Pretty Woman
Cliff Robertson, Charly
Roger Robinson, Brother to Brother
Sam Rockwell, Matchstick Men
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Cecilia Roth, All About My Mother
Mickey Rourke, Body Heat
Paul Rudd, Knocked Up
Mark Ruffalo, You Can Count On Me
Geoffrey Rush, Shakespeare In Love
Geoffrey Rush, Shine
Keri Russell, Waitress
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Winona Ryder, The Crucible
Winona Ryder, Heathers
Winona Ryder, Little Women
Winona Ryder, Mermaids
Winona Ryder, Reality Bites
George Sanders, All About Eve
Laura San Giacomo, sex, lies & videotape
Antonia San Juan, All About My Mother
Susan Sarandon, Bull Durham
Susan Sarandon, Dead Man Walking
Susan Sarandon, Moonlight Mile
Susan Sarandon, Thelma & Louise
Peter Sarsgaard, Boys Don’t Cry
Peter Sarsgaard, Shattered Glass
Rebecca Schull, Flannel Pajamas
Liev Schrieber, The Manchurian Candidate
Carly Schroeder, Mean Creek
Jason Schwartzman, Shopgirl
Campbell Scott, Roger Dodger
Campbell Scott, The Secret Lives of Dentists
Kyra Sedgwick, Heart & Souls
George Segal, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Andy Serkis, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Chloe Sevigny, Boys Don’t Cry
Tupac Shakur, Poetic Justice
Michael Shannon, Bug
Molly Shannon, Year of the Dog
Ally Sheedy, The Breakfast Club
Martin Sheen, Apocalypse Now
Michael Sheen, The Queen
Martin Short, Three Amigos
Elisabeth Shue, Leaving Las Vegas
Alexander Siddig, Syriana
Ron Silver, Reversal of Fortune
Alicia Silverstone, Clueless
Frank Sinatra, The Manchurian Candidate
Brooke Smith, The Silence of the Lambs
Maggie Smith, California Suite
Maggie Smith, Gosford Park
Maggie Smith, A Room with a View
Jimmy Smits, My Family
Ian Somerhalder, The Rules of Attraction
Mira Sorvino, Mighty Aphrodite
Mira Sorvino, Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion
Sissy Spacek, Carrie
Sissy Spacek, Coal Miner’s Daughter
Sissy Spacek, In the Bedroom
Sissy Spacek, Missing
Sissy Spacek, 3 Women
Kevin Spacey, Se7en
James Spader, sex, lies & videotape
Kim Stanley, Frances
Maureen Stapleton, Airport
Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake
Mary Steenburgen, Melvin & Howard
James Stewart, It’s A Wonderful Life
James Stewart, Vertigo
David Strathairn, Good Night, and Good Luck
Beatrice Straight, Network
Meryl Streep, Adaptation.
Meryl Streep, The Bridges of Madison County
Meryl Streep, A Cry in the Dark
Meryl Streep, Kramer vs Kramer
Meryl Streep, One True Thing
Meryl Streep, Marvin’s Room
Meryl Streep, Postcards from the Edge
Meryl Streep, Sophie’s Choice
Gloria Stuart, Titanic
Donald Sutherland, Ordinary People
Donald Sutherland, Six Degrees of Separation
Hilary Swank, Boys Don’t Cry
Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby
Gloria Swanson, Sunset Boulevard
Tilda Swinton, The Deep End
Ione Syke, Say Anything
Amber Tamblyn, Stephanie Daley
Russ Tamblyn, West Side Story
Jessica Tandy, Driving Miss Daisy
Channing Tatum, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
Elizabeth Taylor, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Elizabeth Taylor, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Charlize Theron, Monster
Emma Thompson, Howards End
Emma Thompson, Love, Actually
Emma Thompson, Sense & Sensibility
Billy Bob Thornton, Bad Santa
Billy Bob Thornton, The Man Who Wasn’t There
Uma Thurman, Kill Bill: Volume One
Uma Thurman, Kill Bill: Volume Two
Uma Thurman, Pulp Fiction
Uma Thurman, Tape
Maura Tierney, Insomnia
Jennifer Tilley, Bullets Over Broadway
Jennifer Tilley, The Cat’s Meow
Marisa Tomei, In the Bedroom
Marisa Tomei, My Cousin Vinny
Lily Tomlin, 9 to 5
Jasmine Trinca, The Best of Youth
Kathleen Turner, Body Heat
Liv Ullmann, Autumn Sonata
Jo Van Fleet, East of Eden
Mario Van Peebles, Baadasssss!
Maribel Verdu, Pan’s Labyrinth
Maribel Verdu, Y Tu Mamá También
David Villalpando, El Norte
Erich von Stroheim, Sunset Boulevard
Max Von Sydow, Hannah and Her Sisters
Mark Wahlberg, I <3 Huckabees
Christopher Walken, Around the Bend
Julie Walters, Billy Elliot
Melora Walters, Magnolia
Lesley Ann Warren, Clue
Lesley Ann Warren, Victor/Victoria
Sharon Warren, Ray
Denzel Washington, Glory
Denzel Washington, Training Day
Emily Watson, Gosford Park
Sigourney Weaver, The Ice Storm
Sigourney Weaver, Working Girl
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
Rachel Weisz, The Fountain
Orson Welles, Citizen Kane
Wil Wheaton, Stand By Me
Dianne Wiest, Bullets Over Broadway
Dianne Wiest, Edward Scissorhands
Dianne Wiest, Hannah and Her Sisters
Dianne Wiest, Parenthood
Gene Wilder, The Producers
Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Gene Wilder, Young Frankenstein
Tom Wilkinson, In the Bedroom
JoBeth Williams, The Big Chill
Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain
Robin Williams, Aladdin
Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society
Robin Williams, Good Will Hunting
Robin Williams, Mrs. Doubtfire
Robin Williams, One Hour Photo
Oprah Winfrey, The Color Purple
Debra Winger, Shadowlands
Debra Winger, Terms of Endearment
Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kate Winslet, Hamlet
Kate Winslet, Iris
Kate Winslet, Little Children
Kate Winslet, Sense & Sensibility
Kate Winslet, Titanic
Shelley Winters, The Diary of Anne Frank
Ray Wise, Good Night, and Good Luck
Reese Witherspoon, Election
Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde
Reese Witherspoon, Vanity Fair
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line
Alfre Woodard, Heart & Souls
Fenella Woolgar, Bright Young Things
Sam Worthington, Somersault
Robin Wright-Penn, Forrest Gump
Michelle Yeoh, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Susannah York, They Shoot Horses Don’t They?
Gig Young, They Shoot Horses Don’t They?
Steve Zahn, Riding in Cars With Boys
Renée Zellweger, Bridget Jones’s Diary
Renée Zellweger, One True Thing
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chicago
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Traffic
Ziyi Zhang, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Anyone got predictions?

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Oscar Predictions - 6/27/09

Best Picture:
Amelia
Avatar
An Education
Invictus
The Lovely Bones
Nine
Precious
Shutter Island
Untitled Nancy Meyers Project
Up



Best Director:
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Peter Jackson, The Lovely Bones
Rob Marshall, Nine
Lee Daniels, Precious


Best Lead Actor:
Matt Damon, The Informant
Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Viggo Mortenson, The Road
Peter Sarsgaard, An Education


Best Lead Actress:
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Michelle Pfeiffer, Cheri
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Untitled Nancy Meyers Project
Hilary Swank, Amelia


Best Supporting Actor:
Ben Kingsley, Shutter Island
Steve Martin, Untitled Nancy Meyers Project
Ewan McGregor, Amelia
Alfred Molina, An Education
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones


Best Supporting Actress:
Patricia Clarkson, Whatever Works
Judi Dench, Nine
Mo'Nique, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Emma Thompson, An Education


Best Original Screenplay:
Broken Embraces
An Education
Untitled Nancy Meyers Project
Up
Whatever Works



Best Adapted Screenplay:
Amelia
Invictus
The Lovely Bones
Nine
Precious



Best Animated Feature:
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Ponyo
The Princess and the Frog
Up



Best Art Direction:
Amelia
An Education
Nine
Public Enemies
Shutter Island



Best Cinematography:
Invictus
The Lovely Bones
Nine
Public Enemies
Shutter Island



Best Costume Design:
Amelia
Cheri
An Education
Nine
The Young Victoria



Best Film Editing:
Avatar
Invictus
Nine
Shutter Island
Up



Best Makeup:
Amelia
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Wolf Man



Best Original Score:
Avatar
Broken Embraces
Cheri
The Princess and the Frog
Up



Best Original Song:
Nine
The Princess and the Frog
The Princess and the Frog



Best Sound Mixing:
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Nine
Star Trek
Up



Best Sound Effects Editing:
Avatar
Nine
Star Trek
Transfomers: Revenge of the Fallen
Up



Best Visual Effects:
Avatar
Star Trek
Where the Wild Things Are



And projected winners...

Best Picture:
Avatar


Best Director:
James Cameron, Avatar


Best Lead Actor:
Morgan Freeman, Invictus


Best Lead Actress:
Carey Mulligan, An Education


Best Supporting Actor:
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones


Best Supporting Actress:
Mo'Nique, Precious


Best Original Screenplay:
An Education


Best Adapted Screenplay:
Precious


Best Animated Feature:
Up


Best Art Direction:
Nine


Best Cinematography:
The Lovely Bones


Best Costume Design:
Nine


Best Film Editing:
Avatar


Best Makeup:
Wolf Man


Best Original Score:
The Princess and the Frog


Best Original Song:
Nine


Best Sound Mixing:
Avatar


Best Sound Effects Editing:
Avatar


Best Visual Effects:
Avatar

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

American Idol - Season 8: Top 3

Tonight's American Idol is...Top Three Night!

Danny Gokey "Dance Little Sister" by Terence Trent D'Arby
Bad song choice (*eyes Paula) and a pretty ridiculous performance. Definitely one of his worst performances.


Kris Allen "Apologize" by OneRepublic
Great song choice, and although the performance was a bit lackluster, his vocals were very strong.


Adam Lambert "One" by U2
Nice song choice, but the arrangement was awful. Blame that on Simon. Lambert's vocals were still good.


Danny Gokey "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker
His best in awhile, but somewhere Taylor Hicks is laughing his ass off because his version was better.


Kris Allen "Heartless" by Kanye West
Best performance of the night and if he stays, it's because of this performance. Wow!


Adam Lambert "Cryin'" by Aerosmith
A nice little bitchslap to Gokey for trying to do Aerosmith. This is how you rock.


Rankings:
1. Kris "Heartless"
2. Adam "Cryin'"
3. Kris "Apologize"
4. Adam "One"
5. Danny "You Are So Beautiful"
6. Danny "Dance Little Sister"


Goodbye to...
Danny Gokey.

Put. The. Go. In. Gokey!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

American Idol - Season 8: Top 4

Tonight's American Idol is...Rock!

Adam Lambert "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin
Interesting song choice. Nice performance. Great way to start the week.


Allison Iraheta "Cry Baby" by Janis Joplin
Quite possibly her best in a long ass time. Wow. She nailed it.


Danny and Kris "Renegade" by Styx
Awful song choice and Danny did nothing but yell over Kris. Messy performance all over.


Kris Allen "Come Together" by The Beatles
Not his best, but it was good and it successfully erased Carly Smithson Hennessy's version from last year. Yay!


Danny Gokey "Dream On" by Aerosmith
Michael Johns called and he said efff you sir. Puppy Johns left with that song (not his best, but not the worst that night, ahem, VOCAL REST), and really it would be SWEET justice is the same happened to the Gokey.


Adam and Allison "Slow Ride" by Foghat
That was the best thing of the night. What a fantastic way to close the show. If Kris has to go, I hope this is what the finals will look like.


Rankings:
1. Adam/Allison
2. Allison
3. Kris
4. Adam
5. Danny/Kris
6. Danny


Bottom Two Predictions:
No sense in leaving us with a bottom three, so the bottom two will be Danny and Kris. This will be done purely to get Gokey's fans to have them all call in next week to push him past Allison.


Goodbye to...
Kris Allen. The bus came out tonight, but it wasn't as bad as the night it picked up Elliott Yamin or Jason Castro. Kris knew what was coming and the ONLY way he's escaping the bus, is if America refuses to push through Gokey's scream at the end of his song. Phew. Go Allison!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

American Idol - Season 8: Top 5

Tonight's American Idol is...Rat Pack Standards (aka Jazz Week...aka Big Band Week...aka Jamie Foxx? Really?)

Kris Allen "The Way You Look Tonight"
Great song choice. Great arrangement. Nice vocals. Simon's nuts for trying to sandbag him tonight.


Allison Iraheta "Someone to Watch Over Me"
Not as enthused about the song choice, but her vocals were good. Again, I'm not understanding why Simon would try to send the bus at her.


Matt Giraud "My Funny Valentine"
He was fine, but Melinda Doolittle's version of this song from two seasons back is untouchable. So points off for picking a song that someone already did it justice to.


Danny Gokey "Come Rain or Come Shine"
Awful song choice, good arrangement, decent vocals. By default the worst, but it was his best in a long time. That said, put the Go in Gokey please. Bleh.


Adam Lambert "Feeling Good"
I love this version by Muse, so I'm glad Adam went for it. His best "moment" of the season (better than "Mad World" I thought).


Rankings:
1. Adam
2. Kris
3. Allison
4. Matt
5. Danny


Bottom Three Predictions:
Allison, Kris and Matt. What Simon wants, he's going to get. So that means we'll see Allison and Matt again be in the bottom and Kris will finally join them. I suppose they could do "The Huff" this week by having someone be in the middle of two groups, but I doubt it. Kris will be safe (he seems to be getting more text votes than the other two), which will leave us with Allison and Matt.


Goodbye to...
Matt Giraud. I think Simon was nice to him, so his fans won't go crazy to vote for him. He wants him to leave on a high note, and that's what will happen. Better top 5 finish than top 7 (Matt deserves it over Lil and Anoop, but also over Danny, *sigh). There's a little part of me that's worried for Allison, since going second on top 5 night is the kiss of death (save for David Cook and Jordin Sparks, although that was a top 6 night, part deux and she was shiitttty that night with her lame attempt at rock with Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer"). Anyway, I doubt the last girl leaves this early, so she'll be #3. Goodbye Matt!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

American Idol - Season 8: Top 7...Redux!

Tonight's American Idol is...Disco Night (blergh)!

Lil Rounds "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan
Unoriginal, trite and obvious. AWWWWFUL. Go home.


Kris Allen "She Works Hard for the Money" by Donna Summer
Wow. Killer arrangement and a tremendous vocal outing. Wonderful.


Danny Gokey "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire
Anwar called. He wants his song back. Biiiiiiitch pleeeeeeeeze!


Allison Iraheta "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer
Wrong song for her, but she was pretty good. I would fault her on her wardrobe choices, but she's 16. That's how they dress.


Adam Lambert "If I Can't Have You" by The Bee Gees
Wow, another stunner. It would have been my #1 had it not been for his patent screech.


Matt Giraud "Staying Alive" by The Bee Gees
I gotta agree with Simon. That was desperate and not good. What a waste of a save.


Anoop Desai "Dim the Lights" by Donna Summer
Not familiar with the song, but what he did with it, well, I didn't like it. Not as bad as Matt or Lil though.


Rankings:
1. Kris
2. Adam
3. Allison
4. Danny
5. Anoop
6. Matt
7. Lil


Bottom Three Predictions:
Danny, Lil and Matt. I'm not sure how they're going to do this, but I hope they do "The Huff." Have Gokey in the middle and then pick the top 3 and the bottom 3. I would love for it to be Matt, Lil and Anoop on one side and Allison, Adam and Kris on the other and then Ryan tell Gokey to switch with Anoop because they're the bottom three. But then he'll send him back to the couches.

Goodbye to...
Lil Rounds and Matt Giraud. I can guarantee Matt is leaving (what a waste of a save) but I'm not sure who will leave with him. I'm going to guess Lil, but really, I think Adam is the only safe one tonight.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

American Idol - Season 8: Top 7

Tonight's American Idol is...songs from movies!

Allison Iraheta "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" by Aerosmith
This was horrible. I don't know if it was the crappiness of the song, the arrangements, or Allison's voice (she sounded kinda sick), but this was all sorts of wrong. This should have been a lot better. Boo.


Anoop Desai "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams
The song is super-cheese, but it's the guilty kind. That said, Anoop did a nice job with the vocal, although you can tell QT's instruction of growling it out was difficult for him.


Adam Lambert "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf
Not a surprising song choice, but it was a terrific vocal and performance. I laughed when Simon compared it to The Rocky Horror Picture Show because my brother said the exact same thing as Adam was performing.


Matt Giraud "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman" by Bryan Adams
Of the two Oscar-nodded songs by Bryan Adams, this one is worse because it's way, way, way too cheesey that it goes from bad to good and back to bad. Matt tried to make it interesting, but I think he failed. He's been very inconsistent this season.


Danny Gokey "Endless Love" by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
Sweet Jesus, really? His vocal was one of his better ones, but this was the third time, he ignored a mentor's suggestion. QT told him to avoid using his hands and what does he do? Use them. Eh.


Kris Allen "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
I looooove this song (so happy it won the Oscar two years back). I'm surprised that Kris knew it, but it shows that he was thinking about what song would best suit him. It was good, although I do think he was a little sharp at some places (def. not off pitch Randy), and I'm not sure if the arrangement was the best.


Lil Rounds "The Rose" by Bette Midler
This should have been amazing, but it seemed like Lil was trying to have her cake and eat it too. I'm glad Simon called her out again and while I'm glad she *finally* grew a pair to talk back to Simon, I hope this is the end of the road for her.


Rankings:
1. Adam
2. Kris
3. Anoop
4. Danny
5. Lil
6. Matt
7. Allison


Bottom Three Predictions:
Anoop, Kris and Matt. These were the three that Randy and Kara got to judge (and that whole thing was COMPLETE bullshit!), so I think TPTB are trying to tell us something. I think what will happen is (because it's top 7 night), these three will be on side of the stage and then Allison, Lil and Adam will be on the other side and Gokey will have to pick the highest vote getters. Bleh. I'm going to say Anoop gets sent to the couches, which will leave Kris and Matt.

Goodbye to...
Kris Allen. I think TPTB put the bus on full speed and aimed for Kris tonight. Even during the recap, they clearly played the dress rehearsal clip, where Kris didn't sound that well. Plus, even though I think it's pretty kick ass that "Falling Slowly" got to be done on the Idol stage, and even thought it won the Oscar, it is a pretty obscure song that Middle America doesn't recognize. What doesn't make sense is that Kris is the right kind of artist to market right now in a world dominated by Jason Mraz and John Mayer. Gokey does urban music, but he's white. Adam does powerrock shit, but he's gay. The girls won't win and the other guys won't win either. Idiots.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

American Idol - Season 8: Top 8

Tonight's American Idol is...songs from the year you were born!

Danny Gokey "Stand By Me" by Mickey Gilley
Do. Not. Like. I thought no one could eff up "Stand By Me" more than Archie did last year. I was wrong.


Kris Allen "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" by Don Henley
Bad song, but Kris tried his best to change it up. Didn't work.


Lil Rounds "What's Love Got To Do With It" by Tina Turner
Only one I predicted correctly. And it should have been awesome...but it wasn't. And I have sadly come to the conclusion...Lil is worse than Syesha "Vocal Rest" Mercado. *ducks


Anoop Desai "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper
Very nice. Agree with Simon, not the best, but a very good job.


Scott MacIntyre "The Search Is Over" by Survivor
LLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMEEEEEEEEE!!


Allison Iraheta "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt
Love the song, but I'm not sure if it was right for Allison. Her vocals were fine, but I still prefer Kimberly Locke's version (what is it with her and doing old Idol songs?).


Matt Giraud "Part-Time Lover" by Stevie Wonder
All memories of Kevin Covais doing this one have been erased. Thank God.


Adam Lambert "Mad World" by Tears for Fears
Simon has NEVER stood up for anyone. Damn.


Rankings:
1. Adam
2. Matt
3. Allison
4. Anoop
5. Kris
6. Danny
7. Lil
8. Scott


Bottom Three Predictions:
Kris, Scott and Lil. I pray that Kris is safe (this was his first bad week), so that it's Scott vs Lil.


Goodbye to...
Scott MacIntyre. Not only will they finally ditch him, but it will also scare Lil's fans to wake-up (ditto Lil). But I also worry that somebody good might leave. 8th place has been where somebody bad finally leaves (Haley Scarnato, Bucky Covington, Jon Peter Lewis, Rickey Smith, A.J. Gill) or a semi-shock boot to an early favorite (Michael Johns, Nadia Turner). Please let it be the former and not the latter (which would mean Kris, Anoop or Matt are in trouble).

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

American Idol - Season 8: Top 9

Tonight's American Idol is...some effed up mash-up of something they like to call "top downloads" theme. W...T...F!?

Anoop Desai "Caught Up" by Usher
Usher? Are you kidding me? So-so performance that left me pretty cold. Boo.


Megan Corkery "Turn Your Lights Down Low" by Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill
Well, she's just going to continue to butcher every single one of my favorite songs.


Danny Gokey "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts
Well, if anyone should be accused of SHOUTING the song, it's him. The bad thing is that, everyone else sucked tonight, so his was better when you realized how much everyone else ate it.


Allison Iraheta "Don't Speak" by No Doubt
So our conclusion should be...no one should ever do this one. I believe someone else did this on Idol before and sucked (Chris Richardson! *sigh) but anyways. Allison should have rocked this out and it just looked messy. *sadface


Scott MacIntyre "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel
Aaand this is why this theme blows. Really? Who's been downloading this? Safe song makes him do well with his limited range, but otherwise...*snore


Matt Giraud "You Found Me" by The Fray
Well, this was the one everyone (myself included) thought he would do and while it was fine, it could have been a lot better if he had gone with The Fray's other hit, "Over My Head" (and dammit, Randy was right. "Apologize" would been a hot one!).


Lil Rounds "I Surrender" by Celine Dion
Well...at least it wasn't Whitney or Mariah. But, what another bore from someone who did so well in the auditions stages. *grumble


Adam Lambert "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry
I'm a bit surprised the judges didn't throw the "over-indulgent" line with Adam. Because, truthfully, that's what it was. His vocals were okay, but that song, ugh. What a waste of a week.


Kris Allen "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers
Okay, by accident, I heard the version that Christina Christian did on season one yesterday and I thought to myself, it sucks that no one else has attempted this, because as good as it was, Christina was not that strong of a singer. But Kris Allen is. I think he just made himself one to officially watch. Good for him.


Rankings:
1. Kris
2. Matt
3. Adam
4. Danny
5. Allison
6. Lil
7. Scott
8. Anoop
9. Megan


Bottom Three Predictions:
Megan, Scott and Allison. Scott will be safe again (argh) and this will force to ditch another girl. Megan vs Allison...


Goodbye to...
Megan Corkery. I think they've just had enough of her. Yes, they want to push their WildCards, but there is only so much they can do here. Allison's fans will get another wake-up call (and hopefully, Allison as well).

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

American Idol - Season 8: Top 10

Tonight's American Idol is Motown Week...aka the theme from every other season...or Alexis must be pissed she got voted out.

Matt Giraud "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
Very nice way of starting the night. Smooth vocals, although as a performer, I think I prefer on the piano.


Kris Allen "How Sweet It Is" by Marvin Gaye
I loved and agree with the judges. He made the song his own and didn't use any other interpretation. Wonderful job.


Scott MacIntyre "Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes
Eh. I didn't like it. Agreed that the other song he wanted would have been, but I bet they wouldn't clear it for him. And with the combo of lukewarm comments and an early start, he might be the one going home.


Megan Corkery "For Once In My Life" by Stevie Wonder
What a disaster. Yes, I was entertained by it, because of it's trainwreck proportions, but wow. Can we please be rid of her? She got her ass handed to her by the judges (and the audience didn't care), but I think she'll be safe for one more week.


Anoop Desai "Oh, Baby, Baby" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Loverly. Love his voice and the song suited him well. Glad to see he's back on track.


Michael Sarver "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" by The Temptations
One of my favorite songs of all time and he murdered it. Boo. What a wasted performance.


Lil Rounds "Heatwave" by Martha Reeves and the Vandelles
Idol Rule #285: Thou Shall Not Sing "Heatwave" Or Thou Will Suffer the Bottom Three. I think Lil will avoid it, because she was trying to have a moment this week (agree with Simon, didn't work) and maybe she'll actually step it up next week.


Adam Lambert "Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Wow. Did not think he had that in him. My favorite Smokey song and he did it justice. Best of the night.


Danny Gokey "Get Ready" by The Temptations
Love the song, but Danny was kinda screaming it. I will say that it was probably his best (the genre works for him), so there's that, although he pretty much said fuck you to Smokey by not taking his advice.


Allison Iraheta "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by The Temptations
Love the song, love Allison and I liked what she did, but David Hernandez owns this one. His version last year during the semis was the best interpretations of this one. But Allison was good.


Rankings:
1. Adam
2. Kris
3. Allison
4. Anoop
5. Matt
6. Danny
7. Lil
8. Michael
9. Scott
10. Megan


Bottom Three Predictions:
Megan, Scott and Michael. They will send Megan back to the couches (but not before giving her a scolding on why she sucks) and then leave us with Sarver vs MacIntyre.


Goodbye to...
Scott MacIntyre. Michael and Megan got worse reviews, but we all know getting the worst reviews of the night (when it's still a group this deep) won't get you kicked. Mediocre reviews with an early start time get you booted. Sorry Scott!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

American Idol - Season 8: Top 11

Tonight's American Idol is Grand Ole Opry Week aka Country Week. Yeeeeeehaw!

Michael Sarver "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)" by Garth Brooks
He took a risk (due to the lyrics), but I don't think he was up to the task. Try again.


Allison Iraheta "Blame It on Your Heart" by Patty Loveless
Outside of the contestants who mixed their songs up, Allison was the only one who stuck to the country song, without changing it up, and still made it sound her own. Very nice work.


Kris Allen "To Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks
This was by far, the best performance of the night. Loves it.


Lil Rounds "Independence Day" by Martina McBride
I didn't like it when Carrie sang it 4xs when she was on, and I still don't like it. Plus I think Lil was crazy. She should have R&B'd it because otherwise, it becomes forgettable.


Adam Lambert "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash
It was an interesting arrangement, not sure if I loved it, but Adam's voice was killer. This will surely be a decisive performance.


Scott MacIntyre "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride
Can we have an embargo on Martina songs? They just are so hokey. Bah. Anyway, this was really safe and the judges made sure to not lay it on too thick, so he can get booted. Because having him on the tour would be nearly impossible.


Alexis Grace "Jolene" by Dolly Parton
The arrangement was awful. I really like Alexis, but this was not good. Shame. Brooke did it better last year.


Danny Gokey "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood
Jesus hold my lunch. Bleh. The song blows (not even Carrie's version is good) and he overdid it. Next.


Anoop Desai "Always on My Mind" by Willie Nelson
And he's in it, to win it. If not for Kris, this would have been the best of the night. What a difference a week makes.


Megan Corkery "Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline
You know what sucks? When effing Kellie Pickler sings a song that you have picked and she does a better job with it. Yikes.


Matt Giraud "So Small" by Carrie Underwood
And that's how you make a Carrie song your own. Great work.


Rankings:
1. Kris
2. Anoop
3. Matt
4. Allison
5. Adam
6. Alexis
7. Scott
8. Danny
9. Michael
10. Lil
11. Megan


Bottom Three Predictions:
Alexis (because they gave her a bad review and she was left somewhere in the middle), Michael (because he was first and he wasn't good) and Scott (because he was also given the same criticism as Alexis). Michael is safe, which leaves Alexis vs Scott.


Goodbye to...
Scott MacIntyre. I really think the producers will ditch him because they don't want to deal with him during the tour.