A Last Look At Oscar 2009

(click volume on to hear josh grobin and lara fabian)

Best Picture Winners 21st Century: 'Slumdog" Joins The Group

So today I'll begin the Oscar roundup and try to move into 2009.

HALLELUIA!!!

(turn the volume on please)

(updated 2/24/09)

FINALLY! AT LAST!! BRAVA KATE THE GREAT!!!

Gay Super Bowl Sunday: The Oscars

Best Picture Winners 21st Century

AND which of these will join them.

I repeat it was a great year for movies.
Mamma Mia was my favorie film. A joyous fun romp.

I think 'The Reader' was brilliant.
'Milk' was remarkably brilliant.
But 'Slumdog Millionaire' was a special gem.


Should win: 'Slumdog Millionaire'
Will win: 'Slumdog Millionaire'

The Day Before SHE Came

turn volume on to hear blangmange's 'the day before you came'



(best viewed if you watch on full screen)

Oscar Watch Live:

Supposedly Will Continue to Update Throughout the Next Many Hours as the Oscars Go On. We'll see.




In the meantime enjoy this fabulous picture of Kate.

Today: Best Actress Nominees And My Pick

Three great performances: Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep and Melissa Leo.
One good performance: Angelina Jolie.
One hysterical, over the top performance in the worst movie of the year: Anne Hathaway.

You know who I want to win. You know who I think will win. You know who I think should win.

You know they've snubbed her 5 times already.
You know I don't trust the voters.
You know I shouldn't care.
But this year I do more than most in this category.

So I'm going out on the proverbial limb.

The winner should be: Kate Winslet.
The winner will be: Kate Winslet.

Best Actor Nominees And My Picks

A strong group of contenders. The odds are going toward a win for Mickey Rourke. A lot of actors who think their careers are over will vote for him.
Great actors will go for Sean Penn. But I repeat how great Richard Jenkins was in the pretty much forgotten 'The Visitor'.
Brad Pitt is always underestimated. He may be the new Cary Grant who was always underestimated.

The Oscar will go to Mickey Rourke I believe.

The Oscar should go to Sean Penn for 'Milk"

'Real Time With Bill Maher' Returns Tonight on HBO

So Guess Who Made The Time Magazine Oscar Cover?

Kind Of Clever: From Pope To Hope

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Oscar Predictions From MSNBC My Favorite News Station

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

'At The Movies' Best Actress Pick

I am not alone regarding Kate the Great!

Today: Best Supporting Actress Nominees And My Pick

This may be the hardest category of all. 5 deserving nominees in 5 brilliant performances.
I narrowed my choice down to 2. Penelope Cruz and Taraji P. Henson. And I feel like poking an ice pick into my brain.

But I must mark my Ballot. So here goes as I pray for a tie...

Who I would mark the ballot for: Taraji P. Henson
Who will win: Penelope Cruz and I will have no argument with the win.

Countdown To The Oscars: Today The Best Supporting Actor Nominees

The winner will be Heath Ledger. I really don't believe the premature death of an actor should make you the winner. Heath was great and i grant that. But had Heath lived this race would not be a done deal. There would be a RACE.

The Oscar should go to Michael Shannon the crazy man who who the sanest man in a world of so called sane people who were totally crazy. Despite Kate and Leo he gave the best performance in 'Revolutionary Road' which was no small feat.

So the winner is Heath Ledger .




The winner should be Michael Shannon.

Countdown To The Oscars: Today The Best Director Nominees

The countdown is here
So today I make my pick for Best Director.

The Oscar should and will go to Danny Boyle.

He just created a film of joy and eye filling pleasures on the smallest budget of all these nominees. He directed a cast of thousands in a new way. A real way. Not the Cecil B. DeMille way. From the leads and the kids who played them as children he got real performances. Only Robert Mulligan's direction of kids has been able to do this so naturally until Danny Boyle.

I am not going along with the crowd here. I never do. This year the crowd happens to agree with me and not vice versa. Danny Boyle is and will be Best Director come Sunday night.



(Tomorrow Best Supporting Actor)

'Frozen River'

I've always enjoyed Melissa Leo's work starting with 'Homicide: Life on the Streets'.
Her performance here is certainly Oscar worthy.

The film itself taught me something. It took me to a place I did not know existed. It introduced me to people I only heard about in passing. Therefore, I say it is a wonderful film. Worth a watch.

'The Visitor'

Caught up with this nominee on DVD. It is certainly worth a watch. One of those small but surprising films.

Richard Jenkins in a quiet role gives an Oscar worthy performance here.

Happy Valentine's Day From My Friends At ABC Daytime

Nominees: The Glamour Shots*

*courtesy of entertainment weekly

Oscar Winners 10-25-50-75 Years Ago

10 Years ago:



25 Years ago:



50 Years ago:



75 Years ago:

'Vicky Chistina Barcelona'

Finally caught up with this on DVD. Not being a big Woody Allan fan I must admit he is great directing actresses. Especially his new muse Scarlett Johansen.

Penelope Cruz certainly deserves her supporting nod and there is no argument from me if she wins. I'll tell you the Supporting Actress category this year is full of great performances making it a tough choice to make a final decision. But I will.