Hmmm, interesting batch this year.
How strange is the Best Supporting Actor category? I bet Eddie Murphy takes it, which is a shame 'cause I love Alan Arkin, I always like Djimon Hounsou and Marky Mark (boy, I never thought I'd hear myself say that!), and nothing but nothing would be a better comeback story than Jackie Earle Haley. Boy, "Bad News Bears" and "Breaking Away" sure were a l-o-o-o-n-g time ago.
Peter O'Toole is clearly a sympathy nom. Much as I've loved him in other things, especially "My Favorite Year," this one doesn't look like it oughtta be an Osacr winner. Still, if they could give it to Paul Newman for "The Color of Money" instead of "The Verdict," anything's possible.
Is there more of a lock than Cate Blanchett for Best Supporting Actress? The other four look like throwaways comparatively. I'd also be quite surprised if "Little Miss Sunshine" doesn't win Adapted Screenplay.
I'd really like to see "The Departed" take Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay. That was far and away the best film I saw last year, and Scorsese's best since at least "Goodfellas." I was surprised at how close it was to "Infernal Affairs," the Hong Kong film on which it's based (in some sequences, virtually shot for shot), but I can't imagine that enough Academy members have seen that to care, and anyway, it is genuinely great. I'm not the type to yell at the screen, but I had to restrain myself more than once.
Complete list of nominations
