Oscars 2006

The 2006 Oscar Nominations are out today, and in what has been a yearly event since 1994 when, "Forrest Gump" beat out both "Shawshank Redemption" and "Pulp Fiction;" I have made a list of who will win and who should win the Academy's Oscar in each of the major catagories (because, no one really cares who wins for sound design or documentary short, unless they are in the catagory themselves). So here goes:

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Nominees:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Munich

Should win: Brokeback Mountain. Believe the hype. It is that good. And no, people won't question your sexuality if you go and see it.
Will win: Brokeback or Munich (You can never count out Speilberg.) I was going to insert a joke here about whether there are more Jewish people or homosexuals in Hollywood, but I will leave that one alone.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees:
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote
Terrence Howard for Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger for Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix for Walk the Line
David Strathairn for Good Night, and Good Luck.

Should win: Any of the five are well deserving and each gave a wonderful performance in their respective film. The one who's work carried the film on his back however, was Hoffman in "Capote." Unlike the other four films, when we look back on "Capote" in 10 years, the only thing we will remember about it that Philip Seymore Hoffman blew the doors off of it.
Will win: Ledger is too young, Phoenix wasn't good enough, Howard played a rapper/pimp, Stratharin is a dark horse, but in end, I believe it will be Hoffman with the well deserved trophy in his hands, after being snubbed for a nomination as Brandt in "The Big Lebowski."

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees:
Judi Dench for Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman for Transamerica
Keira Knightley for Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron for North Country
Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line

Should Win: Anyone who saw Reese Witherspoon in "Walk The Line" knows that she nailed June Carter better then we could have ever imagined and stole the film from Joaquin Phoenix. She may not be the most seasoned, but her performance was the most dynamic and the singing should put her over the top.
Will Win: I think Witherspoon has this one too. However, we can't cut out a lifetime acheivement award best actress Oscar for Dench, nor the power of a "Desperate Housewife" playing an unattractive woman in Huffman.

Supporting Actor and Actress, Director, Documentary, and Screenplays soon to follow...