Oscars Picks Some Stars, Some Duds

Erroll Morris' interviews of the nominees kicks off the loooong show. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has 177 Oscar nominees waiting to know who won inside the Kodak Theater. Ellen DeGeneres hosted a somewhat dull awards show. Yes, Virginia, Marty got his Oscars tonight.

Best Art Direction: Pan's Labyrinth

Art Direction: Eugenio Caballero; Set Decoration: Pilar Revuelta.

Looks like the one year I skipped the fantasy films they are still winning. People said when Lord of the Rings was over, even Narnia wasn't going to bring fantasy back. Who knew?

Should Have Won: Pan is good. But I was hoping for a movie about magic...The Prestige was great. But I knew when I saw Dreamgirls and the Good Shepherd nominated something was wrong here.

Best Makeup: Pan's Labyrinth

Wow, they beat out Apocalypto and Click. (whew)

Makeup continues to be the "make-up" award for movies not represented fully elsewhere. Marie Antoinette should have been here too.

Best Sound Editing: Letters From Iwo Jima

I have this torrent waiting on my hard drive. I'ts like eating vegetables. I know I should finish it but I just can't.

Should Have Won: Pirates.

Best Sound Mixing: Dreamgirls

Didn't see Dreamgirls, it seemed too "Disco".

Should Have Won: I want to say Pirates, but I know the songs were not easy to do.

This win recalls the "song-biopic" magic of "Ray".

Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin.Little Miss Sunshine.

No way this should have gone to Wahlberg, Arkin has a career of work to look back on.

Arkin has gotten his gong, leaving a fresher field behind him. Eddie Murphy has time.

Best Animated Film:

I skipped all the animated stuff because I need to be able to survive babysitting my nieces and nephews.

Should Have Won: N/A

Best Adapted Screenplay: William Monahan, The Departed.

Yes, "adapted" is a good word for it. They stole the entire movie from the original. I wonder if Academy voters knew that?

Should Have Won: Any of the others. Departed was practically stolen scene for scene.

Best Costume Design: Marie Antoinette