Tonight is Oscar night, which seems to be a good launchpad for this blog, where you can expect regular updates on film, television and other miscellaneous pop culture observations.
As a first post, I'll refrain from rehashing weeks' worth of projected winner analysis and leave you with a few thoughts along with my picks for the 2009 Oscar winners.
First and foremost, we can all agree to see Heath Ledger's career solidified with a Best Supporting Actor win tonight. The only surprise in this category will be who accepts the award on his behalf, but it seems most likely that his parents and sister, Kate, will be on stage to share a few words.
With new producers behind this year's broadcast, and what I hope will be an invigorating performance as host by Hugh Jackman, we might be on the brink of a new kind of awards show. Here's hoping they keep the show fluid, lose the lackluster jokes and don't force awful scripts on the guest presenters.
With that, check out my Oscar picks. I predict SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE to clean up most of the nominations, with THE DARK KNIGHT and BENJAMIN BUTTON picking up art and tech awards. Kate Winslet, the youngest actress to be nominated five times, will finally pick up a win for THE READER.
To quote Winslet, "Do I want it? You bet your fucking ass I do!" Me too, Kate, me too.
I'll be back later this week for a review of the broadcast as well as my advanced review of WATCHMEN.
COOL.HAND.KATE'S OSCAR PICKS:
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in Directing
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Sean Penn, Milk
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Viola Davis, Doubt
Original Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Adapted Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in Art Direction
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Achievement in Costume Design
The Duchess
Achievement in Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Original Score
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Original Song
Jai Ho, A.R. Rahman & Gulzar, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Documentary Feature
Man on Wire
Achievement in Cinematography
Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in Film Editing
Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Achievement in Sound Mixing
The Dark Knight
Achievement in Sound Editing
The Dark Knight
Best Foreign Language Film
The Class
Best Animated Feature Film
Wall-E
Best Documentary Short Film
The Witness--From the Balcony of Room 306
Best Live Action Short Film
Manon on Asphalt
Best Animated Short Film
Presto
