The nominees for the 78th Annual Academy Awards have been announced, and now I’m offering up MovieCat Cinema’s picks for who will win, who should win, and everything else you need to know before Mar. 5. With a couple horse races thrown into the mix, this year’s Oscar Night should be one for the ages.
Best Supporting Actor
The nominees are: George Clooney (“Syriana”), Matt Dillon (“Crash”), Paul Giamatti (“Cinderella Man”), Jake Gyllenhaal (“Brokeback Mountain”), William Hurt (“A History of Violence”)
Will win: Giamatti
Should win: Clooney
Clooney not only had a great year behind the camera, but he was great in his supporting role as CIA Agent Bob Barnes in Stephen Gaghan’s “Syriana.” While this race is almost 50/50 between Giamatti and Clooney, the Academy will most likely choose Giamatti after snubbing him in the lead actor role two years in a row (“American Splendor,” “Sideways”).
Best Supporting Actress
The nominees are: Amy Adams (“Junebug”), Catherine Keener (“Capote”), Frances McDormand (“North Country”), Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardner”), Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain”)
Will win: Weisz
Should win: Adams
Adams won several early awards and honors for her standout performance as the very pregnant Ashley in “Junebug.” However, Weisz has won the Golden Globe and the SAG award, making her the clear winner in this race.
Best Original Screenplay
The nominees are: “Crash,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “Match Point,” “The Squid and the Whale,” “Syriana”
Will win: “Good Night, and Good Luck”
Should win: “Good Night, and Good Luck”
George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s recreation of the real-life debates between Edward R. Murrow and Sen. Joseph McCarthy is definitely worthy of the Oscar. However, “Crash” or “The Squid and the Whale” could pull an upset and walk away with the trophy.
Best Adapted Screenplay
The nominees are: “Brokeback Mountain,” “Capote,” “The Constant Gardener,” “A History of Violence,” “Munich”
Will win: “Brokeback Mountain”
Should win: “Capote”
While “Capote” will squeeze out one win against “Brokeback” (Best Actor), there is no doubt in my mind that Dan Futterman will lose to Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana in this category. Let’s just hope that McMurtry thanks more than his typewriter at the Oscars, as he did at the Golden Globes.
Best Actor
The nominees are: Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Capote”), Terrence Howard (“Hustle & Flow”), Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”), Joaquin Phoenix (“Walk the Line”), David Strathairn (“Good Night, and Good Luck”)
Will win: Hoffman
Should win: Hoffman
Hoffman is hands down the likely and deserving winner of this year’s Best Actor Oscar. Yes, Ledger and Phoenix have received a couple honors and awards here and there, but Hoffman’s portrayal of author Truman Capote allows the actor to leap from the supporting character roles he’s known for into a very promising future.
Best Actress
The nominees are: Judi Dench (“Mrs. Henderson Presents”), Felicity Huffman (“Transamerica”), Keira Knightley (“Pride & Prejudice”), Charlize Theron (“North Country”), Reese Witherspoon (“Walk the Line”)
Will win: Witherspoon
Should win: Witherspoon
This is very much a horse race between Witherspoon and Huffman. Both have won several awards, but the scales are tipped a little in Witherspoon’s favor after she won the SAG award for her magnificent portrayal of music legend June Carter Cash.
Best Director
The nominees are: George Clooney (“Good Night, and Good Luck”), Paul Haggis (“Crash”), Ang Lee (“Brokeback Mountain”), Bennett Miller (“Capote”), Steven Spielberg (“Munich”)
Will win: Lee
Should win: Clooney
Sure, “Brokeback” was great, but “GN&GL” was a little greater, at least in my book, and it’s due in large part to Clooney that it is this way. It would be awesome to be surprised in this category (as well as Best Picture), but I know it won’t happen.
Best Picture
The nominees are: “Brokeback Mountain,” “Capote,” “Crash,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “Munich”
Will win: “Brokeback”
Should win: “GN&GL”
First, I have to state my shock at the omission of “Walk the Line” for the top prize. It won the Golden Globe for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) for crying out loud! I, personally, would choose “Walk the Line” over “Munich” any day of the week, but I guess Academy voters always have to have Spielberg praise. It’s not really a big surprise that “Brokeback” will walk home with the biggest award of the night, and as I said earlier, it would be awesome to be surprised. Even if it isn’t “GN&GL” walking away with the trophy, a surprise would be great.
The 78th Annual Academy Awards will air Sun., Mar. 5 at 8 p.m. (ET) on ABC, broadcast live from the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles with host Jon Stewart.
-Catherine Krummey
