Day After Oscar Predictions

I wanted to briefly share with you my picks for next year's Academy Awards. I have only predicted the top 8 categories with 5 alternates in each. At the end of the list I will also give my winner predictions. In my opinion, it's never too early to start predicting the Oscars and maybe if my picks are accurate enough someone may notice me. Here they are:

BEST PICTURE
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “Blindness”
3. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
4. “Milk”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “The Soloist”
7. “Australia”
8. “The Changeling”
9. “Doubt”
10. “The Reader”

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Sam Mendes, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Gus van Sant, “Milk”
4. David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Fernando Meirelles, “Blindness”

6. Charlie Kaufman, “Synecdoche, New York”
7. Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”
8. Baz Luhrmann, “Australia”
9. Joe Wright, “The Soloist”
10. Clint Eastwood, “The Changeling”

BEST ACTOR
1. Leonardo DiCaprio, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Algenis Perez Soto, “Sugar”
4. Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Sean Penn, “Milk”

6. Ben Kingsley, “The Dying Animal”
7. Hugh Jackman, “Australia”
8. Will Smith, “Seven Pounds”
9. Benicio del Toro, “The Argentine”/ “Guerilla”
10. Jamie Foxx, “The Soloist”

BEST ACTRESS
1. Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
3. Julianne Moore, “Blindness”
4. Angelina Jolie, “The Changeling”
5. Anne Hathaway, “Dancing with Schiva

6. Keira Knightley, “The Duchess”
7. Nicole Kidman, “Australia”
8. Penelope Cruz, “The Dying Animal”
9. Naomi Watts, “The International”
10. Diane Lane, “Nights in Rodanthe”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1. Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
2. Robert Downey, Jr., “The Soloist”
3. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
4. Michael Sheen, “Frost/Nixon”
5. Gael Garcia Bernal, “Blindness”

6. Josh Brolin, “Milk”
7. Russell Crowe, “Body of Lies”
8. John Malkovich, “The Changeling”
9. Ralph Fiennes, “The Reader”
10. Jim Broadbent, “Dirty Tricks”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1.Amy Adams, “Doubt”
2. Cate Blanchett, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
3. Amy Ryan, “The Changeling”
4. Catherine Keener, “Synecdoche, New York”
5. Catalina Sandino Moreno, “The Argentine”/“Guerilla”

6. Rachel McAdams, “The Time Traveler’s Wife”
7. Samantha Morton, “Synecdoche, New York”
8. Frances McDormand, “Burn After Reading”
9. Franke Potente, “The Argentine”/ “Guerilla”
10. Kathy Bates, “Revolutionary Road”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1. “Synecdoche, New York”
2. “The Wackness”
3. “Wall-E”
4. “Milk”
5. “The Soloist”

6. “Burn After Reading”
7. “Hamlet 2”
8. “The Changeling”
9. “Australia”
10. “The Argentine”/“Guerilla”


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
3. “Blindness”
4. “Doubt”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “Body of Lies”
7. “The Reader”
8. “The Road”
9. “Defiance”
10. “The Box”

WINNERS:
PICTURE: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
DIRECTOR: Sam Mendes, "Revolutionary Road"
ACTOR: Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
ACTRESS: Kate Winslet, "Revolutionary Road"
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Night"
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Amy Adams, "Doubt"
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: "Milk"
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Post-Oscar Thoughts.

I found this year's Academy Awards to be quite entertaining. There were not really any major upsets, except for maybe "The Golden Compass" winning for Best Visual Effects. Here's a rundown of what I liked and didn't like.

3 Best Acceptance Speeches:
1. Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"- You could see the shock, excitement, and joy resonating on her face when they called her name. She was at a total loss for words, and even though I didn't particularly care for the movie, she did give a good performance. It was exhilarating to watch her just take the moment in.

2. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, "Once"- I loved Hansard's humbleness when he spoke. He was truly grateful. My favorite moment of the entire night was Jon Steward calling Marketa Irglova back out to give the speech she didn't get a chance to give. It was a really good speech and much better than just the typical "Thank you....." From the reaction, the crowd really loved this film. This is truly the great independent film story of the year.

3. Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"- I thought her speech was hilarious. She gave a very entertaining speech even though she looked dreadful. She, like Cotillard, was shocked, and that is when the best Oscar moments occur.

BEST DRESSED (Don't have the time to find pictures right now, but I am just going to name who I liked.)
Amy Adams
Katherine Heigl
Jennifer Garner
Marion Cotillard

WORST
Tilda Swinton
Ellen Page

Also, I am working on next year's predictions all ready. I hope to have those out later today.

Final Predictions

Sorry the blog hasn't been active lately (if anybody reads this). I wanted to post my final Oscar predictions. I am thinking about recalling some of my gutsy calls that I made for my initial reactions of the nominees. Well, here are my predictions:

PICTURE
No Country for Old Men
alt: Juno

DIRECTOR
Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
alt: Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
alt: George Clooney, Michael Clayton

ACTRESS
Julie Christie, Away from Her
alt: Ellen Page, Juno

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
alt: Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Juno
alt: Michael Clayton

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
No Country for Old Men
alt: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

ART DIRECTION
Sweeney Todd
alt: Atonement

CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
alt: There will Be Blood

COSTUME DESIGN
Atonement
alt: Sweeney Todd

EDITING
There Will Be Blood
alt: The Bourne Ultimatum

MAKEUP
La Vie en Rose
alt: At World's End

SONG
"Falling Slowly" Once
alt: "That's How You Know" Enchanted

SCORE
Atonement
alt: 3:10 to Yuma

SOUND EDITING
Transformers
alt: No Country for Old Men

SOUND MIXING
Transformers
alt: The Bourne Ultimatum

VISUAL EFFECTS
Transformers
alt: At World's End

Early Oscar Predictions

It seems like many of the more acclaimed Oscar prognosticators (maybe that will include me one of these days) are posting their thoughts on who they think will win. I figure I should go ahead and add my two cents before I am accused of stealing ideas.

PICTURE
Juno

Some people are not going to agree with me on this, but I think "Juno" will win Best Picture this year. I see "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" splitting the vote which leaves the winning slot wide open for "Juno." "Michael Clayton" doesn't seem feasible to me, and I think "Atonement" barely (but thankfully) made it into the top five. Plus, the support is there for "Juno." Not many expected it to receive a director nod. It is also the highest grossing film of the five contenders and should not have a problem crossing the $100 million mark.

DIRECTOR
Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

I think it's theirs to lose. They have won many of the critics' awards, and the film is the "safe" choice to win Best Picture. I could also see Paul Thomas Anderson or Julian Schnabel winning though. Probably not Schnabel, though the Globe win was a nice surprise. Anderson, however, seems to be picking up steam.

ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

I wouldn't say he is guaranteed a win because nothing in the Oscar race is a guarantee, but I'll just I am fairly confident that we will see him on the podium come Oscar night.

ACTRESS
Julie Christie, Away from Her

The support for this film is there, as can be seen by the surprise Adapted Screenplay nod. She is the safe choice right now, even though I really wanted to pick Ellen Page for "Juno."

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

For some reason my gut is telling me to pick him. If he loses the SAG award I may be inclined to switch my pick to Bardem, but I right now I am sticking with Affleck. This prediction may also be a little bit of wishful thinking too.....

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone

I don't particularly care for this pick right now and may end up changing it later. I do not think Blanchett will win because of her win a few years back. I could see Saoirse Ronan coming out of nowhere and winning, on what I think will be an odd Oscar night.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Juno

Another prediction that I am fairly confident about.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
No Country for Old Men

This has won most of the critics' awards in this category. I could see a possible upset, but I do not think it is likely.

ANIMATED
Ratatouille

DOCUMENTARY
Sicko

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Counterfeiters

ART DIRECTION
Sweeney Todd

CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

COSTUME DESIGN
Atonement

FILM EDITING
There Will Be Blood

MAKEUP
La Vie en Rose

SCORE
Atonement

SONG
"Falling Slowly" Once

SOUND EDITING
Transformers

SOUND MIXING
Transformers

VISUAL EFFECTS
Transformers

My Top 10 Films of 2007

Before presenting my top 10 films of 2007, I quickly want to name some films that I was unable to see that I was really looking forward to seeing before making this list: “Persepolis,” “4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days,” “Starting Out in the Evening,” and “Southland Tales.” Well, here’s my top 10!

10. Disturbia
OK, please do not immediately dismiss my list because of my first pick. “Disturbia” was probably the most fun I have had at cinemas all year. It may not be the most complex film, but it is certainly fun to watch, and it features a breakthrough performance from Shia LeBeouf. This film probably won’t make an appearnce at my own personal Oscar awards, but it deserves to be recognized somewhere. This film reminded me of the joy that comes with watching a movie; it is fun just to watch a movie for what it is: two hours of pure, popcorn entertainment.

9. Lust, Caution
Ang Lee’s “Lust, Caution” may not be as good as “Brokeback Mountain,” but it is a good follow-up. Tang Wei, in her first feature, gives a brave and commanding performance that really carries the film. The nudity featured in the film may be graphic, but it never takes away from the film. Overall, the film was an emotionally engaging and moving film that takes its time but slowly pulls the viewer in.


8. Once
The scene in which Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova sing “Falling Slowly” is, in my opinion, the best scene to hit cinemas in 2007. Watching that scene I felt like my soul was removed from my body; it was true movie magic. The film could not reach that high point again, but the rest of the film was still extremely enjoyable. “Once” shows that a filmmaker does not need an extraordinary budget to create a good film, just passion.

7. Zodiac
“Zodiac” was the epic crime drama that I was hoping it to be. Many of my friends complained about the film’s length, but the film’s major theme is obsession and how that obsession plagued the individuals involved in the Zodiac case. Director David Fincher stays true to the theme of obsessions and directs the film obsessively himself, illustrating his passion for the subject matter. Great performances all around, well-written screenplay, and nice production design make this film one of the best of its kind in years.

6. No Country for Old Men
I did not realize how great this film was until the second viewing. The first time I saw it I thought it was good, but lost focus in the end. The ending also puzzled me. A second viewing helped me see exactly what filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen had done. The film is extremely suspenseful and captivating, yet there is no musical score—a great accomplishment in itself. The script is extremely well-written and darkly humorous at times. Javier Bardem turns in the creepiest performance since Anthony Hopkins in “The Silence of the Lambs.” It is a film that deserves to be watched more than once and studied. I may not have been totally satisfied with the ending, but I appreciated the great filmmaking that went into making this film.

5. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Last year Darren Aronofsky did it with "The Fountain," as well as Alfonso Cuaron with "Children to Men." These are filmmakers that test the boundaries of film, creating instant masterpieces that demand to be watched. Julian Schnabel has joined that elite group of filmmakers with "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," creating an original, visually intoxicating masterpiece. The cinematography in the film was also unlike anything that I had ever seen, creating a totally original moviegoing experience. It is a film that inspires and moves and deserves to be seen.

4. Juno
Diablo Cody has written the best screenplay of the year and the funniest (and most quotable) movie in some time. With “Hard Candy” and “Juno,” Ellen Page shows that she is a force to be reckoned with. Last year, she barely missed my own personal predictions, but there is no way that is going to happen again. Her character is filled with charisma and personality unlike any other (besides Giselle in “Enchanted”) character on the big screen in 2007. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses. I can’t forget to mention the wonderfully subtle and heartbreaking performance given by Jennifer Garner. It is a shame she was snubbed.

3. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
In any other year this probably would have been my favorite film of the year, but 2007 saw many great films. Despite the film’s two hour and forty-five minute running time, I never had to check my watch. My eyes were suctioned to the screen taking in the beauty of this extraordinary film. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck (especially) give amazing performances; I really hope Affleck can upset Bardem at the Oscars. The cinematography is excellent and establishes Jesse James as a myth that many people do not understand. It is sad that poor marketing doomed this great achievement in filmmaking.

2. Atonement
This is probably my favorite period romance since “Titanic.” It is a film of breathtaking beauty, great performances, and amazing source material. It started off slow in the beginning (all great films seem to), but it subtly pulls the viewer in for an emotional ride that is hard to get out of your head. I am ecstatic about young Saoirse Ronan receiving a Best Supporting Actress nomination. She deserves to win in my opinion. The film is beautifully written and shot and features an extremely powerful score (the best since ‘Requiem for a Dream”).

1. There Will Be Blood This is a film that deserves not only to be watched, but studied. It is a film that seems simple, but is filled with complexities. It is an intense character study about the consequences of greed especially when it crosses path with religion. It is also a searing portrait of a man’s descent into madness. Daniel-Day Lewis gives the best performance in at least a decade. He commands every scene he is in. The end may be classified as chewing scenery, but it was what the scene called for. Plus, no one could have done it better than Day-Lewis. Director Paul T. Anderson has hinted at greatness with his previous films “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia,’ but he has finally achieved it with “There Will Be Blood.”

RIP Heath Ledger

The news of Heath Ledger's death has shocked and devastated me. He was a great actor who was just hitting his peak. He gave an amazing performance in "Brokeback Mountain" that I will never forget, which remains one of my 10favorite films of all-time. The acting community today has lost one of the true up-and-comers. Hopefully, this will not be the last we hear about Heath Ledger. Ever since I heard of the casting of Ledger as the Joker in "The Dark Knight," I expected a Best Supporting Actor nod. His memory will live on in the wonderful films that he brought us.

Oscar Nominations are Here!

Overall, I got 68/99 of the nominees correct.
The complete list of nominees:

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

I got 4/5 of the nominees. The Tommy Lee Jones nomination came out of nowhere. He was good, but I would have given it to Hirsch, Gosling, or McAvoy before him.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

I got all 5 nominees! This was the category I was most confident in; this lineup has appeared in numerous percursors.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Julie Christie in "Away from Her" (Lionsgate)
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

I only got 3/5 of the nominees. I knew I should have predicted Blanchett, but she didn't deserve it. Amy Adams should have gotten a nomination, no questions asked. I was also surprised to see Linney in the lineup. I just saw The Savages yesterday, and I have to say I was disappointed. She gives a good performance, but I just could not get into the film and did not find it that funny.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

I got 4/5 again. American Gangster was not that great of a film, and the same could be said for Ruby Dee's performance. Personally, I would have nominated Imelda Staunton in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Best animated feature film of the year
"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics): Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Brad Bird
"Surf's Up" (Sony Pictures Releasing): Ash Brannon and Chris Buck

2/3

Achievement in art direction
"American Gangster" (Universal): Art Direction: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Beth A. Rubino
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Art Direction: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount): Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Art Direction: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

3/5

Achievement in cinematography
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.): Roger Deakins
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Seamus McGarvey
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Roger Deakins
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Robert Elswit

5/5

Achievement in costume design
"Across the Universe" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Albert Wolsky
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Jacqueline Durran
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal) Alexandra Byrne
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Marit Allen
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Colleen Atwood

3/5


Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight), Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Tony Gilroy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Paul Thomas Anderson

Surprised by the Reitman nomination. I was hoping for a Wright nomination, but you can't get everything you want.

Best documentary feature
"No End in Sight" (Magnolia Pictures) A Representational Pictures Production: Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience" (The Documentary Group) A Documentary Group Production: Richard E. Robbins
"Sicko" (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company) A Dog Eat Dog Films Production: Michael Moore and Meghan O'Hara
"Taxi to the Dark Side" (THINKFilm) An X-Ray Production: Alex Gibney and Eva Orner
"War/Dance" (THINKFilm) A Shine Global and Fine Films Production: Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine

3/5

Best documentary short subject
"Freeheld" A Lieutenant Films Production: Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
"La Corona (The Crown)" A Runaway Films and Vega Films Production: Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega
"Salim Baba" A Ropa Vieja Films and Paradox Smoke Production: Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello
"Sari's Mother" (Cinema Guild) A Daylight Factory Production: James Longley

Achievement in film editing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Christopher Rouse
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Juliette Welfling
"Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment): Jay Cassidy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Roderick Jaynes
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Dylan Tichenor

4/5

Best foreign language film of the year
"Beaufort" Israel
"The Counterfeiters" Austria
"Katyn" Poland
"Mongol" Kazakhstan
"12" Russia

4/5.

Achievement in makeup
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
"Norbit" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount): Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): Ve Neill and Martin Samuel

1/3

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner" (DreamWorks, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions, Distributed by Paramount Classics): Alberto Iglesias
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate) Marco Beltrami

2/5

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"Falling Slowly" from "Once" (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush" (Warner Bros.): Nominees to be determined
"So Close" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

2/5

Best motion picture of the year
"Atonement" (Focus Features) A Working Title Production: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight) A Dancing Elk Pictures, LLC Production: Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) A Clayton Productions, LLC Production: Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production: Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production: JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers

I was surprised and very excited about the Atonement nod. It's my second favorite film of the year behind There Will Be Blood. I got 4/5. I would have taken out Michael Clayton and put The Diving Bell and the Butterfly in its place.

Best animated short film
"I Met the Walrus" A Kids & Explosions Production: Josh Raskin
"Madame Tutli-Putli" (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski "Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)" (Premium Films) A BUF Compagnie Production Samuel Tourneux and Simon Vanesse
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)" (Channel One Russia) A Dago-Film Studio, Channel One Russia and Dentsu Tec Production Alexander Petrov
"Peter & the Wolf" (BreakThru Films) A BreakThru Films/Se-ma-for Studios Production Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman

Best live action short film
"At Night" A Zentropa Entertainments 10 Production: Christian E. Christiansen and Louise Vesth
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)" (Sky Cinema Italia) A Frame by Frame Italia Production: Andrea Jublin
"Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)" (Premium Films) A Karé Production: Philippe Pollet-Villard
"Tanghi Argentini" (Premium Films) An Another Dimension of an Idea Production: Guido Thys and Anja Daelemans
"The Tonto Woman" A Knucklehead, Little Mo and Rose Hackney Barber Production: Daniel Barber and Matthew Brown

Achievement in sound editing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom and Michael Silvers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Matthew Wood
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins

3/5

Achievement in sound mixing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal) Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate): Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin

3/5

Achievement in visual effects
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier

2/3

Adapted screenplay
"Atonement" (Focus Features), Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
"Away from Her" (Lionsgate), Written by Sarah Polley
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

I got 3/5. The Away from Her nod caught me by surprise. I knew I should have picked Atonement, but I thought it would get snubbed. I am glad to see that it received plenty of recognition.

Original screenplay
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Diablo Cody
"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM), Written by Nancy Oliver
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Written by Tony Gilroy
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Brad Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
"The Savages" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins

I got 4/5. I went with Knocked Up over Ratatouille. There was probably a little bit of bias in that prediction.