Let’s go racing now
Taking my cue from Entertainment Weekly (as in all things), it’s time to take a look at some of the the actors, films, writers and directors considered most likely to garner Oscar nominations next month.
Bear in mind that as of now I’ve seen only a little over a quarter of the films expected to yield nominees. So here’s my only partly informed sub-categories, commentary and opinions.
Best shot at best actor:
Jamie Foxx, Ray
Liam Neeson, Kinsey
Paul Giamatti, Sideways
EW thinks Jeff Bridges should be nominated for The Door in the Floor, and he was as dependable as ever. But there’s another actor in that film I’d rather see get recognized for their work (about which more in a moment).
Who do I think will win? Probably Foxx, but I’d sure like to see Neeson or Giamatti pull an upset.
Sadly I’m only entitled to an opinion about one actress considered likely to get the nom as best, and it’s Julie Delpy in Before Sunset. I didn’t like that film as much as many people did, but she’s the best thing in it. Similarly, for some reason there doesn’t appear to be much buzz about Kim Basinger’s perfomance in The Door in the Floor, but I thought it was the best in the film, giving it much of its grieving tone.
In best supporting actor, Thomas Haden Church seems to be a lock for his work in Sideways. He’s teriffic, but I’d much rather see Peter Sarsgaard get recognized either for Kinsey or better yet, Garden State. That’s a film that deserves two or three more nominations than it seems to have coming.
Which actresses to anoint as best supporting? Well, Laura Linney gives strong support to Liam Neeson’s lead in Kinsey. Natalie Portman deserves a lot of credit for making a character that I suspect lacked depth on the page so teriffic in Garden State. And I can’t forget Sharon Warren, about whom not enough has been said, as Ray Charles mother in Ray.
But…aw, who am I kidding. Virginia Madsen, Virginia Madsen, Virginia Madsen. How much do I love Virginia Madsen? Let me put it this way. If, when I die, I go to one of those ironic departments of hell, one of the features will be a hallway adjoining two rooms. I will be able to see into the rooms from the hallway and will have to choose one to go into, and only one. One of the rooms will contain Madsen, the other Anne Hathaway.
That’s how much I love Virginia Madsen. And Hathaway hasn’t has a chance to give a grownup prize-winning performance yet (don’t worry, my darling, it took Virginia 20 years).
Taking the prize as best picture? Well, it has to be Sideways, and Ray will probably get a nomination but won’t win. But I wouldn’t mind seeing The Incredibles and especially Fahrenheit 9/11 surprising the oddsmakers and getting nominations.
Best original screenplay? I gotta go with Bill Condon for Kinsey, and if Brad Bird (The Incredibles) and James L. White (Ray) are sitting in the same aisle come Oscar night, all the better.
Best adapted screenplay? Again, I fully expect Sideways (Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor) to take it, but I’d love to see Alvin Sargent get what he deserves for Spider-Man 2.
Taylor Hackford will get one directing nomination for Ray, Alexander Payne will get another for Sideways. I’d be happy to see either of them get the most votes. Bill Condon will get one for Kinsey but won’t win. And it’ll never happen for a number of reasons, but it would be kind of nice if Zach Braff were remembered for Garden State.
