Wrapping up the Oscars

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

It doesn't really seem like I did my post with predictions over a month ago, but I guess that's the way it is! I also don't feel like it should be March next week!

So I didn't do so well in predicting the winners, but I didn't see very many of the nominees, and we'll continue blaming it on that. I'll address the winners in the same order I picked nominees, just in case you wanted to compare like I did, hehe. I'm not doing a lot of commentary since my first post was incredibly long.

Best Motion Picture of the Year : I went with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and instead it was Slumdog Millionaire.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role : I think Brad Pitt is hott, so I went with him. I did mention that Sean Penn was my backup, and he won. So... half point.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role : Meryl didn't take it, but it was clear from the ceremony that all of the younger girls were incredibly honored to be thought of on her level. Kate Winslet won the award, and her speech was quite eloquent, especially considering that EW was making fun of the fact she wasn't planning to prepare one.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role : and the world stops for another moment to remember Heath Ledger. And I'm now wondering if anyone will make a big deal about him ever again... besides when a special edition DVD comes out of Batman, of course.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role : I specifically voted AGAINST the winner,
Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), because she annoys me. And I guess I am in the minority in that.

Best Achievement in Directing : well, as many people expected, Slumdog Millionaire took the Oscar. I still think it should have gone to Benjamin Button, due to the difficulty of the project.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen : I went with a winner, although I was hesitant. I actually really want to see Milk, even if nobody else I talk to on a regular basis does. And I will, even if I have to wait it out til the DVD is at Blockbuster, LoL.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published : "I'm going to go with Doubt, because it's a well-written play. LoL, silly circumstances, I know." But it went to Slumdog Millionaire, which was written by Simon Beaufoy.

Best Achievement in Cinematography : like I mentioned previously, I can only criticize poor cinematography, and struggle to appreciate wonderful cinematography. So, I went with a loser (Changeling), when Slumdog Millionaire took it.

Best Achievement in Editing : I refrained from choosing, and Slumdog Millionaire took yet another award. I still don't really understand all of the different awards for 'editing,' and my husband was unsuccessful in finding a concise and comprehensive explanation as well.

Best Achievement in Art Direction : I actually was making dinner when this category was on. Which saddens me, since it is one of my favorites. I chose Revolutionary Road, but the Oscar went to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Yet ANOTHER reason I need to see that film. arggh.

Best Achievement in Costume Design : I was between Australia and The Duchess (neither of which I saw, even after I had hoped to, for this specific category alone), and the latter won. half point for me.

Best Achievement in Makeup : As everyone (including me) expected, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button won.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score : I went with A. R. Rahman's Slumdog Millionaire on a hunch, and it won.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song : well, I got this one right. And I chose it because of its name (A.R. Rahrman & Gulzar's "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire). But when I heard the song on Oscar night, I would have voted for it anyway.

Best Achievement in Sound : Apparently this is the same as Sound Mixing, a fact which to which I was previously not privy. I said The Curious Case of Benjamin Button for no reason, and it went to Slumdog Millionaire, also apparently for no reason.

Best Achievement in Sound Editing : I abstained from voting, but it actually went to a movie I saw, The Dark Knight.

Best Achievement in Visual Effects : I was most qualified to discuss this category, and I did a good job. I went with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button over Iron Man over The Dark Knight.

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year : I was very qualified in this area too. I went with the winner (and a darn good movie), WALL-E.

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year : I couldn't actually pick one, and I didn't want to. Okuribito (Japan - Departures) won, and the acceptance speech was cute. But that's over-discussed in the blogosphere, so I'll leave it alone.

Best Documentary, Features : I chose Man on Wire because it sounded interesting, and it won. :)

Best Documentary, Short Subjects : I went with The Conscience of Nhem En and the Academy went with Smile Pinki. But again, I chose based on interest and nothing else.

Best Short Film, Animated : Well, I went with This Way Up for its humorous title. I should have gone with Presto, since that was really funny (the short in front of Wall-E). But it didn't realllly matter, since La Maison en Petits Cubes won instead.

Best Short Film, Live Action : hehe. this is amusing. Had I translated the nominees, I would have picked Spielzeugland because it means "Toyland." Instead, I chose it for its use of a 'z' and a 'g.' Regardless, it still won. :)

So, let's review. Slumdog took eight Academy Awards (which is fine by me, considering how many people got up on stage at the very end). I got 10 points (9 correct and two half-pointers). Out of a possible 24. I could've done worse!

Because the Oscars are such an interesting topic for many people, I did want to suggest some further reading.
Critical Confabulations is written by a colleague of mine from graduate school.
Sarcasm with a Light Cream Sauce is written by my other colleague from graduate school (yeah, there were only three of us my year, LoL).
The Critical Condition is written by Mark Blankenship. He writes for the Huffington Post.
Stuff White People Like. I get a real hoot out of reading this one. And although their article on the Oscars is from last year, it's amusing nonetheless.