Dorkgasm Gonzo Is God

Hooray! It's Oscar time once again, and I say to hell with that "Academy Award" crap. It's the Oscars, baby! This is truly one of my favorite times of year, and I love to debate the winners with my lovely wife, Dana. This, however, is the first time we've decided to make the picks public. So, without any further ado, let's go!

Best Picture:
Personally, I want No Country For Old Men to win. I thought the film was absolutely awesome in its brutality and complexity. I think it will win. However, Dana wants Juno to win. She was taken by surprise by the small movie, and it went on to become one of her favorite films of all time. However much she wants Juno to win though, she thinks that the critical praise of There Will Be Blood will be too much to overcome.

Best Actor:
We both think critical darling Daniel Day Lewis will win for There Will Be Blood, but both agree that Johnny Depp should win for his work in Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. Depp has consistently churned out wonderful work, and we think that he should get his comeuppance for this film. Otherwise, expect Day Lewis to drink Depp's milkshake all up.

Best Actress:
We totally split on this one. Dana thinks that Ellen Page should win for Juno but that Julie Christie from Away From Her will win for the same reason that Daniel Day Lewis will. That reason being that every time either of these two does a film, they seem to win oodles of praise for them, then they fade away until the next one. However, I am torn between Marion Cotillard for La Vie En Rose or Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. They were both powerhouse performances, and one was not necessarily better than the other. However, I will go with Cotillard, as the Academy might not be too happy about giving Blanchett another Oscar for the same role she won one for before. You know, even though she deserves it.

Best Supporting Actor:
We both agree that Javier Bardem should win for No Country For Old Men, but I think that Hal Holbrook might edge Bardem out with the age quotient for Into The Wild. Besides, Holbrook was in Creepshow, which was the best movie ever.

Best Supporting Actress:
Dana thinks that Cate Blanchett will win for I'm Not There, because the Academy loves it when you play ugly, or gay, or the opposite sex. I tend to agree, but think that Ruby Dee should win for her work in American Gangster. Again, the age quotient might be the deciding factor here. Blanchett's double nomination might split the vote, in my opinion.

Best Director:
We both agree that the Coen brothers should take this one for No Country For Old Men, but I think that Paul Thomas Anderson might just have the upper hand in this race. PTA is the ultimate critical darling, and this film is one of his best ever. Still, though, I still want the Coens to win it. They deserve it more.

Best Original Screenplay:
I read a lot of scripts. This is true. The script usually makes me want to see the movie. So, this is truly my category. While Dana continues the trend of voting for Juno in almost every category for this one, I have to go with The Savages. I loved the script's caustic reality, and it was just a really awesome showcase for Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Best Adapted Screenplay:
With this category, Dana has decided to take the easy route and pick There Will Be Blood. I, on the other hand, hold out hope for the best one, No Country For Old Men. Having read the book by Cormac McCarthy, I can honestly say that this script was AWESOME and adapted the book quite nicely. Plus, the movie kicked all flavors of ass.

Best Cinematography:
Dana and I both decided that if Atonement doesn't win, there is a huge crime at hand. Seamus McGarvey did a wonderful job shooting all of the scenes, and should win by a landslide. The only other film that even came close was Roger Deakins and his work with No Country For Old Men. It takes a skilled hand to reign in such desolate locations and make them beautiful.

Best Editing:
Personally, I have top go with No Country For Old Men again. It was an exemplary movie, and I hope to God that it wins. However, Dana thinks the Academy is going to show some love to Sean Penn's Into The Wild. When I asked her why, she replied, “The Academy always loves to give Sean Penn shit.” I say, good call.

Best Art Direction:
We both immediately said Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. There's no way that this movie should get robbed of this one. Dante Feretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo did a marvelous job translating the world of the musical into film. Top shelf workmanship in this one, folks.

Best Costume Design:
Again, it's an odd agreement. We both concur that Elizabeth: The Golden Age should walk away in a landslide. The costumes are beautiful, colorful, and all-around superb. If you haven't seen this one, go get it. Seriously. Like right now.

Best Makeup:
Dana went the way of her heart and said Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End. As usual, the boffins in charge made an exceptional work of everyone you see, making them feel like REAL pirates. Plus, Dana swears they did something to Orlando Bloom at the end to make him look absolutely delicious. I will have to go with La Vie En Rose, however. Watching Marion Cotillard become Edith Piaf at every turn of her life was amazing to witness.

Best Motion Picture Score:
Dana said Ratatouille for some reason, but I had to roll with 3:10 to Yuma. It was a very evocative score and one of the only ones I've considered purchasing in quite some time.

Best Original Song:
I have to say “Falling Slowly” from Once Absolutely amazing piece of pop craftsmanship. Singling out only one song from this movie is a crime, especially when Enchanted gets THREE nods. Oh, well. Dana went with anything from Enchanted, just because it worked.

Best Sound:
I have to throw 3:10 To Yuma another bone on this one. Don't get me wrong, I like the others, but Yuma was the best of all of them. Dana went with The Bourne Ultimatum because of her idea of the Peter Jackson Syndrome. You know, honoring the trilogy at the end. Bull.

Best Sound Editing:
We both agreed on No Country For Old Men because this is one of those weird ones, and No Country... is still the best movie of the year. The editing was awesome and it worked so well within the picture that it was impossible to give it to anyone else. No doubt about it.

Best Visual Effects:
Duh. Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End has this one. Transformers left a sour taste in my mouth, and I never did see The Golden Compass. So, by virtue of everything else either going not seen or sucking horribly, it's Pirates by a long nose.

Best Animated Feature:
We totally split on this one. Dana went safe with Ratatouille.Pixar still knows how to bring them in and knock them down, but I thought the movie lacked something. It lacked heart, I thought. So, I chose Persepolis, because it had enough heart for all three entries, and it was a great story. This goes to show that the House Of Mouse is not the only player in the animated game.

Best Foreign Language:
I said Mongol, hands down. The first in a trilogy detailing the life of Genghis Khan was a superb flick, and I cannot wait for the other two. Dana had no opinion, since she hadn't seen any of them.

Best Documentary:
We both said Sicko, and it is totally worthwhile. Michael Moore gives us some great entertainment again, and I truly enjoyed it. Dana loved it so much that it made her list of all-time favorite movies. While I didn't like it that much, it was still pretty damn good.

Well, that's it! We didn't see any of the shorts, so we don't feel comfortable trying to call those ones. Tonight, we'll see how right we were and where everything goes from here! Happy Oscar viewing!!