Locomotion

And the Oscar goes to... who knows? This year is a real toss-up for nominees. Just like last year, A and I spent the past two weeks watching the Oscar nominated films. Of course, studio distributors ensure that the films make it into our greedy little hands in the last two to three weeks previous to the big show, both on the big screen and on DVD. This more often than not occurs after the Golden Globes (GG), which are prime indicators of the 'favourites'.

Interestingly, there are nominees for films that simply don't appeal to me despite their rave reviews. An example of which, for me this year, is Dreamgirls. I have no desire to see the flick while it hails Eddie Murphy (GG winner in Best Supporting Actor) and American Idol reject, Jennifer Hudson, (GG winner for Best Supporting Actress) as the favourites. In the case of Jennifer Hudson - kudos, because she certainly kicked Simon Cowell to the curb on this stellar feat.

I also don't care to see The Queen. I don't have any desire to revisit Princess Di's death and fallout, despite Helen Mirren's critically acclaimed performance. Many a friend has gone to the flick, due to the hype, and fallen asleep within a half-hour of its commencement.

Now, onto those that certainly earned the Oscar recognition...

• Volver - Penelope Cruz in Espanol is where she demonstrates her true ability as an actor. I adore Pedro Almodovar movies, and this one certainly meets, if not exceeds my high expectations.


• Adriana Barraza & Rinko Kikuchi in Babel - These two ladies, completely unknown to me, frankly blew my mind. Between Barazza's idealistic sincerity and Kikuchi's deaf-mute screaming loneliness, the film's intent to address miscommunication was vivid.


• The Lives of Others - I saw this film hours ago and my mind is sifting through the subtleties of HGW's face. This film uses the historical context of the political divide between East and West Germany to tell about a person's values turned on their head and what consequences and potential redemption can occur as a result. Brilliant acting, writing, directing and soul.


• Little Miss Sunshine - What a delightful flick this is. A and I had to pause the DVD for a full five minutes to laugh, chortle, wheeze and cry over the VW horn. Maybe we could relate to that moment simply because we've done enough road trips to know what chaos can ensue with an older vehicle. Alan Arkin was hands down the highlight of this feature.

So, I've made a few predictions which are formulated on a mix of hype, GG wins and film mag reviews. I've also indicated who I'd like to see win, but those I'm not placing bets on.

Performance by an actor in a leading role:

• Winner: Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland. He's won everything else and he is so deserving. Whitaker is brilliant in a Jarmusch film I heart called Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.


• Tfoxfan: Ryan Gosling in Half-Nelson. This fella knows how to transform himself to any role. I always forget his real name when I'm watching his films. See Gosling for the goods in The Believer.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:

• Winner: Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls. I don't like this choice, but he is favoured. Does anyone remember Axel Foley? Really, that's the last time I liked him in anything, with the exception of Buckwheat on SNL.


• Tfoxfan: Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine.

Performance by an actress in a leading role:

• Winner: Helen Mirren in The Queen.


• Tfoxfan: Penelope Cruz in Volver. Hubba hubba. And ooh, poor Meryl Streep... 12 times nominated, 2 times winner. If she had been nominated for Best Supporting for this role in The Devil Wears Prada, which is what her role is, she'd have won in that category hands down.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role:

• Winner: Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls.


• Tfoxfan: Adriana Barrazza in Babel.

Achievement in Directing:

• Winner: Marty Scorsece for The Departed. Another Susan Lucci story here... always a nominee, never a winner. It's time, Hollywood to make him a capo.


• Tfoxfan: Alejandro Gonzales Innaritu for Babel. Yep, this Mexi is a keeper.

Best foreign language film of the year:

• Winner: The Lives of Others


• Tfoxfan: The Lives of Others. Vielen Danke.

Best motion picture of the year:

• Winner: Babel. This film is just sooo Oscar - score, content, relevance, look and cast.


• Tfoxfan: Babel. Yep, I like it, more than The Departed. I had some serious trouble with the continuity of The Departed and Jack was just too darn distracting.

Best Adapted screenplay:

• Winner: The Departed. Like I said, I felt there were flaws in the complex tale, but it's quite compelling.


• Tfoxfan: Children of Men. A film that is eerily viable, entertaining, fresh and inspiring.

Best Original screenplay:

• Winner: Babel.


• Tfoxfan: Little Miss Sunshine.

It should be a great show. It's certainly a marker year for Spanish cinema - primarily Mexicans. Check it out:

• Volver,


• Innarritu,


• Guillermo Arriaga (Babel writer),


• Barazza,


• Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men writer & director),


• and Guillermo del Toro (writer & director of Pan's Labyrinth).

Have fun and don't get too distracted by Ellen. Grrr...