2006 Oscar Pick Notes
Supporting Actress
Newcomer Williams, is
lucky to be here. Adams is stunning as a caged, small-town bird with big city
desires. Keener and McDormand give veteran performances well worthy of the
award. And Weisz is talented,
but her character is a one-note protagonist intended to drive the intrigue in
The Constant Gardner. Not her fault, but
part of giving a good performance is landing the right role.
Supporting Actor
Cinderella
Man was an OK underdog story with
a hyperbolic performance by Giamatti. This may be a payback for last year’s
snub of Sideways. It’s a shame that
Don Cheadle and Ludacris are not here for “Crash.” With the Brokeback Mountain swell, Gyllenhaal’s a
deserving contender, but Clooney and Dillon, do more, respectively, in
unglamorous roles, to carry their films.
Director
All are deserving. Haggis
and Miller are relative newcomers. Spielberg has done better work and has
been recognized before. The award will go to Lee not only because of his
film, but his impressive array of work that has spanned decades, continents,
languages and cultures. Don’t be surprised if Haggis or Clooney makes the
trip to the podium.
Actress
No contest. Witherspoon
carries the film as a torn woman trying to right a sideways man she’s
desperately in love with—and she actually sings too. Theron and Huffman are
outstanding, but Theron has been here before and Transamerica
is a flimsy film. Knightley’s a pleasant surprise to be included. Her time
will come.
Actor
One of the greatest
collections of actors, roles and films—ever! As the foppish author, Hoffman
is a one-man show. He deserves it and should get it. It’s daunting and
refreshing to see Howard in the seat reserved for Russell Crowe. If there’s
an upset of any accord, the winner will be well worthy.
Picture
Brokeback
Mountain has the momentum (ample
critics’ awards and the Golden Globe). All films are timely, provocative and
deserving, but Brokeback as
untraditional as it is, is a romance at its core and Hollywood loves a
romance.
- TBM
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