Upcoming Oscars

Every year during Oscar time, I try to see as many nominated films as I can before the show. It is the one time of year where you know you will get to see some really good films. I enjoy the summer blockbusters and the comedies that come out during the year, but they are not always great films. Of the Oscar nominated films, I have seen Ray, Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, Hotel Rwanda, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, and Collateral. I am still contemplating seeing Sideways this week before Sunday. In each of the nominated films I have seen, there is one common thing about each of them. I found myself interacting with the screen during the movie. I got really sucked in and felt like I was actually part of it. I get attached to the characters and don’t want to see anything happen to them. I think that is what makes them so great.

For Best Picture, I think Million Dollar Baby will beat out The Aviator, even though The Aviator won the Golden Globe. It is definitely between these two pictures. I enjoyed Jamie Foxx’s performance in Ray, but the film itself was too long and slow in parts. My favorite of the five was Finding Neverland, but it won’t win.

For Best Actor, Jamie Foxx will win for his amazing portrayal of Ray Charles. All of the rest of the nominees deserve the nomination, but they were not good enough to beat Jamie.

For Best Actress, Hilary Swank will win for Million Dollar Baby. She made that movie. The only other nominee that I saw was Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind. She did a great job, but it didn’t blow me away.

For Best Supporting Actor, Morgan Freeman will probably win. Alan Alda could beat him out though. Jamie Foxx won’t win for Collateral because he is already going to win for Ray.

For Best Supporting Actress, Cate Blanchett was amazing as Katherine Hepburn in The Aviator. Sophie Okonedo had a powerful performance in Hotel Rwanda. I wouldn’t mind seeing her win the award.

Finally, I think that Martin Scorsese will beat out Clint Eastwood for Best Director.