The Academy Awards are this Sunday, and that means it's time for our movie critics to make their picks on the top six categories of the night.
Actor in a Leading Role:
-- Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond
-- Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson
-- Peter O'Toole in Venus
-- Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness
-- Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland
Nick: Forest Whitaker -- Although I really do think DiCaprio did an amazing job with his portrayal of a diamond smuggler, I feel like this one is going to Whitaker. The critics have been raving about his performance, and he took home the Golden Globe as well. It seems as if the other three nominees' are just there to fill the gaps.
Jim: Forest Whitaker -- Ryan Gosling seems to be the new guy on the scene to match up with the aging but still powerful Peter O'Toole. Will Smith seems to be a filler nomination, and while this will be DiCaprio's third nomination, he's given better performances. This almost leaves Forest Whitaker as a shoe-in to for his portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.
Rich: Forest Whitaker -- DiCaprio turned in a convincing performance as a diamond-smuggling Rhodesian, and Ryan Gosling continues to impress audiences, this time around as a drug-addicted junior high teacher. Unfortunately, none of the performances on this list have generated the amount of buzz that Forest Whitaker has portraying former Ugandan president Idi Amin. He's won many awards for his performance including a Golden Globe, so this one seems like a no-brainer.
Actress in a Leading Role:
-- Penelope Cruz in Volver
-- Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal
-- Helen Mirren in The Queen
-- Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada
-- Kate Winslet in Little Children
Nick: Helen Mirren -- It seems like you can't see a commercial for The Queen without the mention of Helen Mirren's "award-winning performance." The same goes for Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal -- it seems that this category will be dominated by classic actresses. However, the academy could throw us a curve and give the nod to Winslet.
Jim: Helen Mirren -- Mirren just can't lose in 2007. She's already won numerous awards for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, and as evidence of past winners, the Academy loves when actors base performances on historical or real-life figures.
Rich: Helen Mirren -- Again, this award seems to be going to the actress who generated the most buzz. In this case, Mirren has left quite an impression on critics for her portrayal as Queen Elizabeth II. While she faces some tough competition from Streep and Dench, Mirren is taking this one home.
Best Directing:
-- Alejandro González Iñárritu in Babel
-- Martin Scorsese in The Departed
-- Clint Eastwood in Letters from Iwo Jima
-- Stephen Frears in The Queen
-- Paul Greengrass in United 93
Nick: Martin Scorsese -- The Departed will win, and should win in this category. I really enjoyed Babel; however, the Academy has snubbed Scorsese for his previous gems like Raging Bull and Goodfellas. To not give him the award this time would be atrocious.
Jim: Martin Scorsese -- Scorsese has been snubbed time and time again, but I'm sure that the Academy will find another way to rob him of Oscar gold. While he might have done better in the past, this is definitely Scorsese's best work in 10 years. As Jon Stewart said, "For those of you keeping score at home: Martin Scorsese, zero; Three 6 Mafia, one."
Rich: Paul Greengrass --This is the most anticipated category this year for one simple reason: Martin Scorsese. The big question is whether or not he'll be snubbed yet again. Well, The Departed is an excellent film and displays the work of an amazing director who deserves to be recognized. Unfortunately, he should have been recognized back in '81 for Raging Bull. Giving him the award now would be a cop out. If it were up to me, the award would go to Paul Greengrass for United 93. His realistic portrayal of 9/11 leaves a lasting impression that affects anyone who sees this film.
Best Picture:
-- Babel
-- The Departed
-- The Queen
-- Little Miss Sunshine
-- Letters from Iwo Jima
Nick: Babel -- Babel is going to win this award, and regardless of what Jim is going to tell you, it should. Babel's sweeping cinematography and poignant message was well delivered, and I feel it is deserving of all the attention it has received. I think if you look at the other movies, nothing else holds a candle to Iñárritu's film in this category.
Jim: Little Miss Sunshine — I'll take the upset here with Little Miss Sunshine. I now realize that some of my picks might be long shots, but sticking to your guns is what it's all about.
Rich: Little Miss Sunshine — The two big contenders here are obviously the two most popular films, Babel and The Departed. But what Little Miss Sunshine lacks in popularity and big names like Martin Scorsese and Brad Pitt, it makes up for with earnest filmmaking. While Babel will most likely win the prize, Little Miss Sunshine deserves this award for its excellent characters, magnificent acting and go-get-'em attitude. Let's hope for an upset.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
-- Borat
-- Children of Men
-- The Departed
-- Little Children
-- Notes On A Scandal
Nick: Children of Men — This category is a little more difficult. I don't see it going to The Departed, and I feel Borat is just nominated because of the impact on pop culture. As far as the others go, it's really close, the way I see it. I think it might go to Children of Men because of its unique story.
Jim: Children of Men — Alfonso Cuarón has had a big year. Not only did he adapt a novel for an amazing screenplay, which he also directed, but he also produced Pan's Labyrinth. This picture has every right to win many awards and if it happens to only win for this category than so be it.
Rich: Children of Men — Why Borat was even nominated is beyond me. Almost the entire movie was extemporaneous, so it begs the question as to whether there was even a screenplay to begin with. Regardless, it won't win with Children of Men and The Departed being in the same category. While it was impressive how William Monahan adapted the Hong-Kong script for the streets of Boston, it doesn't compare to the epic-sci-fi-yet-realistic journey that Children of Men delivers.
Original Screenplay:
-- Babel
-- Letters from Iwo Jima
-- Pan's Labyrinth
-- The Queen
-- Little Miss Sunshine
Nick: Little Miss Sunshine — If Little Miss Sunshine wins anything on Sunday, let it be this. The writing is what made this movie as great as it was; the characters were well developed in the script, the plot was well focused. The great cast definitely fleshed out these characters and made them believable, but I feel the smart script is what made this movie as memorable as it was.
Jim: Pan's Labyrinth — It has the most original concept and design I've seen in years. The setting of fantasy vs. reality in Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece is proof positive that he is a creative genius and makes it incomparable to the other films nominated. While the Academy might play it safe and give it to Little Miss Sunshine or Babel, I'll be pulling for this dark horse to win the Oscar.
Rich: Babel — Its screenplay was very impressive and has a real edge of over the rest of the nominees. The only other competitor to it would be Little Miss Sunshine. While it's certainly more accessible than Babel, I just don't see it winning.
