Hello all. We’re getting to the point in the 2006 movie awards season where the preliminary awards are separating the contenders from the pretenders, and the major awards (starting with Monday’s Golden Globes) will be building up to the Oscars. Before the major madness sets in, though, I wanted to go ahead and post my personal picks for what I’d vote for were I an Academy member. Some are acknowledged front-runners for nominations already, while many are just personal preferences out of the near 120 movies I’ve seen from last year. At the end of my personal picks, you’ll find another list, this one of the movies I’m most wanting to see in 2007. You probably won’t be surprised by any of the choices. Hope you enjoy!
Brian Skutle
www.sonic-cinema.com
2006 Oscars: Brian’s Picks (in order of preference)
Best Picture
“United 93”
“The Fountain”
“Brick”
“World Trade Center”
“An Inconvenient Truth”
Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, “The Fountain”
Paul Greengrass, “United 93”
Oliver Stone, “World Trade Center”
Robert Altman, “A Prairie Home Companion”
Martin Scorsese, “The Departed”
Best Actor
Forest Whitaker, “The Last King of Scotland”
Nicolas Cage, “World Trade Center”
Steve Coogan, “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story”
Hugh Jackman, “The Fountain”
Matt Damon, “The Good Shepherd”
Best Actress
Helen Mirren, “The Queen”
Natalie Portman, “V for Vendetta”
Kate Winslet, “Little Children”
Renee Zellweger, “Miss Potter”
Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada”
Best Supporting Actor
Michael Pena, “World Trade Center”
Steve Carell, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Hugo Weaving, “V for Vendetta”
Paul Newman, “Cars”
Mark Wahlberg, “The Departed”
Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Hudson, “Dreamgirls”
Meryl Streep, “A Prairie Home Companion”
Rinkoki Kuchi, “Babel”
Maria Bello, “World Trade Center”
Abigail Breslin, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Best Original Screenplay
Rian Johnson, “Brick”
Darren Aronofsky, “The Fountain”
Paul Greengrass, “United 93”
Michael Arndt, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Michel Gondry, “The Science of Sleep”
Best Adapted Screenplay
Andy & Larry Wachowski, “V for Vendetta”
Martin Hardy, “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story”
Garrison Keillor, “A Prairie Home Companion”
William Monahan, “The Departed”
Bill Condon, “Dreamgirls”
Best Original Score
“The Fountain” (Clint Mansell)
“V for Vendetta” (Dario Marianelli)
“Apocalypto” (James Horner)
“The Departed” (Howard Shore)
“United 93” (John Powell)
Best Original Song
“I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth” (Melissa Etheridge)
“Our Town” from “Cars” (Randy Newman)
“Still” from “Over the Hedge” (Ben Folds)
“You Know My Name” from “Casino Royale” (David Arnold & Chris Cornell)
“Ordinary Miracle” from “Charlotte’s Web” (David A. Stewart & Glen Ballard)
Best Animated Feature
“Renaissance”
“Cars”
“Flushed Away”
“Over the Hedge”
No Choice for 5th Slot Yet
Best Foreign Language Film
“Fateless”
“Sympathy for Lady Vengeance”
“Night Watch”
“The House of Sand”
No Choice for 5th Slot Yet
Best Documentary Feature
“An Inconvenient Truth”
“49 Up”
“Why We Fight”
“This Film is Not Yet Rated”
“Wordplay”
Best Visual Effects
“The Fountain”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Superman Returns”
Best Sound
“United 93”
“V for Vendetta”
“World Trade Center”
“A Prairie Home Companion”
“Babel”
Best Sound Editing
“World Trade Center”
“United 93”
“Apocalypto”
Best Cinematography
“V for Vendetta”
“United 93”
“The Fountain”
“Apocalypto”
“The Departed”
Best Film Editing
“United 93”
“Apocalypto”
“The Fountain”
“Sympathy for Lady Vengeance”
“The Good Shepherd”
Best Art Direction
“The Fountain”
“Apocalypto”
“Curse of the Golden Flower”
“Superman Returns”
“V for Vendetta”
Best Makeup
“Apocalypto”
“X-Men: The Last Stand”
“Tideland”
Best Costume Design
“Curse of the Golden Flower”
“The Fountain”
“Apocalypto”
“Dreamgirls”
“V for Vendetta”
A Look Ahead: Brian’s “Must-See” Films of 2007
1. “Spider-Man 3” (May 4)
2. “The Simpsons Movie” (July 27)
3. “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (July 13)
4. “Grindhouse” (April 6)
5. “Reign Over Me” (March 9)
6. “Transformers” (July 4)
7. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (March 23)
8. “Ratatouille” (June 29)
9. “Beowulf” (November 16)
Other Movies to See: “Zodiac” (March 2); “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (May 25); “Evan Almighty” (June 22); “Rescue Dawn” (March 30); “Lucky You” (March 16); “American Gangster” (November 2); “Ocean’s Thirteen” (June 8); “Ghost Rider” (February 16); “Saw IV” (October 26); “300” (March 9); “I Am Legend” (December 14); “The Bourne Ultimatum” (August 3); “Paris, je t’aime” (May 4); “Amazing Grace” (February 23); “Bee Movie” (November 2); “The Number 23” (February 23); “Fred Claus” (November 9); “Charlie Wilson’s War” (December 25); “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” (July 20).
