Here are my predictions for who will win the coveted...and perhaps best predictor of the Oscars...the SAG awards which will air on Sunday.
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Will Win: Forest Whitaker / THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND – Idi Amin - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Should Win:Ryan Gosling / HALF NELSON – Dan Dunne - THINKFilm
Should Have Been Nominated: Sacha Baron Cohen / BORAT - Borat Sagdiyev - 20th Century Fox
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Will Win: Helen Mirren / THE QUEEN – The Queen - Miramax Films
Should Win: Kate Winslet / LITTLE CHILDREN – Sarah Pierce - New Line Cinema
Should Have Been Nominated: Sienna Miller / FACTORY GIRL - Edie Sedgwick - MGM
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Will Win: Eddie Murphy / DREAMGIRLS – James “Thunder” Early - Paramount Pictures
Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio / THE DEPARTED – Billy Warner Bros. Pictures
Should Have Been Nominated: James McAvoy / THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND -Nicholas Garrigan - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Will Win: Jennifer Hudson / DREAMGIRLS – Effie White - Paramount Pictures
Should Win: Abigail Breslin / LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE – Olive - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Should Have Been Nominated: Shareeka Epps / HALF NELSON - Drey - THINKFilm
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Will Win: LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Alan Arkin - Grandpa
Abigail Breslin - Olive
Steve Carell - Frank
Toni Collette - Sheryl
Paul Dano - Dwayne
Greg Kinnear - Richard
Should Win: THE DEPARTED - Warner Bros. Pictures
Anthony Anderson - Brown
Alec Baldwin - Ellerby
Matt Damon - Colin
Leonardo DiCaprio - Billy
Vera Farmiga - Madolyn
Jack Nicholson - Costello
Martin Sheen - Queenan
Mark Wahlberg - Dignam
Ray Winstone - Mr. French
Should Have Been Nominated: LITTLE CHILDREN - New Line Cinema
Jennifer Connelly - Kathy Adamson
Jackie Earle Haley - Ronnie J. McGorvey
Gregg Edelman - Richard Pierce
Noah Emmerich - Larry Hedges
Sadie Goldstein - Lucy Pierce
Ty Simpkins - Aaron Adamson
Phyllis Somerville - May McGorvey
Patrick Wilson - Brad Adamson
Kate Winslet - Sarah Pierce
PRIMETIME TELEVISION
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Will Win: Michael C. Hall / DEXTER – Dexter Morgan - Showtime
Should Win: Michael C. Hall / DEXTER – Dexter Morgan - Showtime
Should Have Been Nominated: Matthew Fox / LOST - Jack Shepherd - ABC
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Will Win: Chandra Wilson / GREY’S ANATOMY – Dr. Miranda Bailey - ABC
Should Win: Edie Falco / THE SOPRANOS – Carmela Soprano - HBO
Should Have Been Nominated: Kristen Bell / VERONICA MARS - Veronica Mars - THE CW
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Will Win: Alec Baldwin / 30 ROCK – Jack Donaghy - NBC
Should Win: Alec Baldwin / 30 ROCK – Jack Donaghy - NBC
Should Have Been Nominated: John Krasinski / THE OFFICE - Jim Halpert - NBC
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Will Win: America Ferrera / UGLY BETTY – Betty Suarez - ABC
Should Win: America Ferrera / UGLY BETTY – Betty Suarez - ABC
Should Have Been Nominated: Becki Newton / UGLY BETTY - Amanda - ABC
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Will Win:GREY’S ANATOMY - ABC
Justin Chambers - Alex Karev
Eric Dane - Mark Sloan
Patrick Dempsey - Derek Shepherd
Katherine Heigl - Isobel “Izzie” Stevens
T.R. Knight - George O’Malley
Sandra Oh - Cristina Yang
James Pickens, Jr. - Richard Webber
Ellen Pompeo - Meredith Grey
Sara Ramirez - Callie Torres
Kate Walsh - Addison Montgomery Shepherd
Isaiah Washington - Preston Burke
Chandra Wilson - Miranda Bailey
Should Win: DEADWOOD - HBO
Jim Beaver - Ellsworth
Powers Boothe - Cy Tolliver
Sean Bridgers - Johnny Burns
W. Earl Brown - Dan Dority
Dayton Callie - Charlie Utter
Brian Cox - Jack Langrishe
Kim Dickens - Joanie Stubbs
Brad Dourif - Doc Cochran
Anna Gunn - Martha Bullock
John Hawkes - Sol Starr
Jeffrey Jones - A.W. Merrick
Paula Malcomson - Trixie
Gerald McRaney - George Hearst
Ian McShane - Al Swearengen
Timothy Olyphant - Seth Bullock
Molly Parker - Alma Garret
Leon Rippy - Tom Nuttall
William Sanderson - E.B. Farnum
Brent Sexton - Harry Young
Bree Seanna Wall - Sofia Metz
Robin Weigert - Calamity Jane
Titus Welliver - Silas Adam
Should Have been Nominated: VERONICA MARS - The CW
Kristen Bell - Veronica Mars
Jason Dohring - Logan Echolls
Enrico Colantoni - Keith Mars
Percy Daggs III - Wallace Fennel
Francis Capra - Eli "Weevil" Navarro
Teddy Dunn - Duncan Kane
Ryan Hansen - Dick Casablancas
Michael Muhney - Sheriff Don Lamb
Kyle Gallner - Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas
Tina Majorino - Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie
Charisma Carpenter - Kendall Casablancas
Steve Guttenberg - Woody Goodman
Chris Lowell - Stosh 'Piz' Piznarski
Julie Gonzalo - Parker Lee
Alona Tal - Meg Manning
Harry Hamlin - Aaron Echolls
Tessa Thompson - Jackie Cook
Krysten Ritter - Gia Goodman
Ken Marino - Vinnie Van Lowe
David Tom - Chip Diller
Ryan Devlin - Mercer Hayes
Ed Begley, Jr. - Cyrus O'Dell
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Will Win: UGLY BETTY - ABC
Alan Dale - Bradford Meade
America Ferrera - Betty Suarez
Mark Indelicato - Justin
Ashley Jensen - Christina
Eric Mabius - Daniel Meade
Becki Newton - Amanda
Ana Ortiz - Hilda
Tony Plana - Ignacio
Kevin Sussman - Walter
Michael Urie - Marc
Vanessa Williams - Wilhelmina Slater
Should Win: ENTOURAGE - HBO
Kevin Connolly - Eric Murphy
Kevin Dillon - Drama
Jerry Ferrara - Turtle
Adrian Grenier - Vincent Chase
Rex Lee - Lloyd
Debi Mazar - Shauna
Jeremy Piven- Ari Gold
Perrey Reeves - Mrs. Ari
Should Have Been Nominated: STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP - NBC
Matthew Perry - Matt Albie
Amanda Peet - Jordan McDeere
Bradley Whitford - Danny Tripp
Steven Weber - Jack Rudolph
D.L. Hughley - Simon Stiles
Sarah Paulson - Harriet Hayes
Nathan Corddry - Tom Jeter
Timothy Busfield - Cal Shanley
Nate Torrence - Dylan Killington
Ayda Field - Jeannie Whatley
Lucy Davis - Lucy Kenwright
Simon Helberg - Alex Dwyer
Merritt Wever - Suzanne
Diana-Maria Riva - Lilly Rodriguez
Camille Chen - Samantha Li
Columbus Short - Darius Hawthorne
Edward Asner - Wilson White
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Oscar Nomination Predictions
The Oscar nominations are mere hours away, here is how I think they will go down.
Best Actor
Forest Whitaker, “The Last King of Scotland”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Departed”
Peter O’Toole, “Venus”
Will Smith, “The Pursuit of Happyness”
Sacha Baron Cohen, “Borat”
Fingers crossed for: Ryan Gosling, “Half Nelson”
Best Actress
Helen Mirren, “The Queen”
Judi Dench, “Notes on a Scandal”
Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada”
Penelope Cruz, “Volver”
Kate Winslet, “Little Children”
Fingers crossed for: Sienna Miller, “Factory Girl”
Best Picture
“The Departed”
“The Queen”
“Dreamgirls”
“Little Miss Sunshine”
“Babel”
Fingers crossed for: “Pan’s Labyrinth” or “Little Children”
Best Supporting Actor
Eddie Murphy, “Dreamgirls”
Djimon Honsou, “Blood Diamond”
Jackie Earle Haley, “Little Children”
Jack Nicholson, “The Departed”
Brad Pitt, “Babel”
Fingers crossed for: James McAvoy, “The Last King of Scotland”
Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Hudson, “Dreamgirls”
Rinko Kukuchi, “Babel”
Cate Blanchett, “Notes on a Scandal”
Adriana Barraza, “Babel”
Toni Collette, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Fingers crossed for: Abigail Breslin, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Best Director
Martin Scorsese, “The Departed”
Bill Condon, “Dreamgirls”
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarriut, “Babel”
Stephen Frears, “The Queen”
Clint Eastwood, “Letters from Iwo Jima”
Fingers crossed for: Guillermo Del Toro, “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Best Original Screenplay
Michael Arndt, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Peter Morgan, “The Queen”
Guillermo Arriaga, “Babel”
Zach Helm, “Stranger than Fiction”
Guillermo Del Toro, “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Fingers crossed for: Paul Greengrass, “United 93”
Best Adapted Screenplay
William Monahan, “The Departed”
Jason Reitman, “Thank You for Smoking”
Patrick Marber, “Notes on a Scandal”
Todd Field & Tom Perrotta, “Little Children”
Aline Brosh McKenna, “The Devil Wears Prada”
Fingers crossed for: Ron Nyswaner, “The Painted Veil”
Best Animated Feature
“Cars”
“Happy Feet”
“Flushed Away”
Fingers crossed for: “A Scanner Darkly”
Best Documentary
“An Inconvenient Truth”
“Deliver Us from Evil”
“Jesus Camp”
“Shut Up & Sing”
“The Ground Truth”
Best Foreign Language Film
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“The Lives of Others”
“Volver”
“Water”
“Black Book”
Best Cinematography
“Children of Men”
“Babel”
“Apocalypto”
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“United 93”
Best Art Direction
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“Dreamgirls”
“Children of Men”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Babel”
Best Editing
“Dreamgirls”
“The Departed”
“Babel”
“The Queen”
“United 93”
Best Visual Effects
“X-Men: The Last Stand”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Superman Returns”
“Night at the Museum”
“Casino Royale”
Best Costumes
“Dreamgirls”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“Marie Antoinette”
“The Devil Wears Prada”
Best Makeup
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Apocalypto”
“The Prestige”
“X-Men: The Last Stand”
Best Sound Mixing
“Dreamgirls”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Babel”
“Flags of our Fathers”
“Blood Diamond”
Best Sound Editing
“Happy Feet”
“Flags of our Fathers”
“Casino Royale”
Best Original Score
Phillip Glass, “The Illusionist”
Alexandre Despiat, “The Painted Veil”
Clint Mansell, “The Fountain”
Gustavo Santaolalla, “Babel”
Hans Zimmer, “The Da Vinci Code”
Best Original Song
Prince – “The Song of the Heart” from “Happy Feet”
Beyonce Knowles – “Listen” from “Dreamgirls”
Melissa Etheridge – “I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth”
Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige – “Never Gonna Break My Faith” from “Bobby”
Sheryl Crow – “Try Not to Remember” from “Home of the Brave”
Best Actor
Forest Whitaker, “The Last King of Scotland”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Departed”
Peter O’Toole, “Venus”
Will Smith, “The Pursuit of Happyness”
Sacha Baron Cohen, “Borat”
Fingers crossed for: Ryan Gosling, “Half Nelson”
Best Actress
Helen Mirren, “The Queen”
Judi Dench, “Notes on a Scandal”
Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada”
Penelope Cruz, “Volver”
Kate Winslet, “Little Children”
Fingers crossed for: Sienna Miller, “Factory Girl”
Best Picture
“The Departed”
“The Queen”
“Dreamgirls”
“Little Miss Sunshine”
“Babel”
Fingers crossed for: “Pan’s Labyrinth” or “Little Children”
Best Supporting Actor
Eddie Murphy, “Dreamgirls”
Djimon Honsou, “Blood Diamond”
Jackie Earle Haley, “Little Children”
Jack Nicholson, “The Departed”
Brad Pitt, “Babel”
Fingers crossed for: James McAvoy, “The Last King of Scotland”
Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Hudson, “Dreamgirls”
Rinko Kukuchi, “Babel”
Cate Blanchett, “Notes on a Scandal”
Adriana Barraza, “Babel”
Toni Collette, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Fingers crossed for: Abigail Breslin, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Best Director
Martin Scorsese, “The Departed”
Bill Condon, “Dreamgirls”
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarriut, “Babel”
Stephen Frears, “The Queen”
Clint Eastwood, “Letters from Iwo Jima”
Fingers crossed for: Guillermo Del Toro, “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Best Original Screenplay
Michael Arndt, “Little Miss Sunshine”
Peter Morgan, “The Queen”
Guillermo Arriaga, “Babel”
Zach Helm, “Stranger than Fiction”
Guillermo Del Toro, “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Fingers crossed for: Paul Greengrass, “United 93”
Best Adapted Screenplay
William Monahan, “The Departed”
Jason Reitman, “Thank You for Smoking”
Patrick Marber, “Notes on a Scandal”
Todd Field & Tom Perrotta, “Little Children”
Aline Brosh McKenna, “The Devil Wears Prada”
Fingers crossed for: Ron Nyswaner, “The Painted Veil”
Best Animated Feature
“Cars”
“Happy Feet”
“Flushed Away”
Fingers crossed for: “A Scanner Darkly”
Best Documentary
“An Inconvenient Truth”
“Deliver Us from Evil”
“Jesus Camp”
“Shut Up & Sing”
“The Ground Truth”
Best Foreign Language Film
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“The Lives of Others”
“Volver”
“Water”
“Black Book”
Best Cinematography
“Children of Men”
“Babel”
“Apocalypto”
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“United 93”
Best Art Direction
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“Dreamgirls”
“Children of Men”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Babel”
Best Editing
“Dreamgirls”
“The Departed”
“Babel”
“The Queen”
“United 93”
Best Visual Effects
“X-Men: The Last Stand”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Superman Returns”
“Night at the Museum”
“Casino Royale”
Best Costumes
“Dreamgirls”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“Marie Antoinette”
“The Devil Wears Prada”
Best Makeup
“Pan’s Labyrinth”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Apocalypto”
“The Prestige”
“X-Men: The Last Stand”
Best Sound Mixing
“Dreamgirls”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
“Babel”
“Flags of our Fathers”
“Blood Diamond”
Best Sound Editing
“Happy Feet”
“Flags of our Fathers”
“Casino Royale”
Best Original Score
Phillip Glass, “The Illusionist”
Alexandre Despiat, “The Painted Veil”
Clint Mansell, “The Fountain”
Gustavo Santaolalla, “Babel”
Hans Zimmer, “The Da Vinci Code”
Best Original Song
Prince – “The Song of the Heart” from “Happy Feet”
Beyonce Knowles – “Listen” from “Dreamgirls”
Melissa Etheridge – “I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth”
Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige – “Never Gonna Break My Faith” from “Bobby”
Sheryl Crow – “Try Not to Remember” from “Home of the Brave”
Allow Me to Explain Myself ... and my Golden Globe Predictions
Alright, so I posted some of my favorites of the year...but as you could probably tell, the major list...as in my favorite films and actors has not been posted. The thing is I'm still attempting to catch up on some of the movies I missed out on over the course of the year...films that were released too limited to see, etc. My list will hopefully be up within the next week before we fall too far into 2007. But, before all of that the Golden Globe Awards are on tomorrow night (my favorite award show! drunk celebrities!!) Here they are...
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Will Win: The Departed
Should Win: The Departed
Should have been nominated: United 93
The Departed has been one of the only films to sustain buzz since its opening to the awards. With strong performances, direction, writing, editing, etc. there is no reason why it won't take the top prize. Little competition from the other films...Whose idea was it to nominate Bobby anyway? I would have liked to have seen Paul Greengrass's understated epic take a nomination, like the Departed it's a strong film filled with compelling performances and fantastic taut direction.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Will Win: Helen Mirren – The Queen
Should Win: Maggie Gyllenhaal – sherrybaby
Should have been nominated: Sienna Miller – Factory Girl
There is nobody in this category that will dethrone the queen. The award is well deserved for sure, it's Mirren's year but Maggie Gyllenhaal gave the performance of her budding career in sherrybaby. At least a nomination should draw some attention, but I would love to see her accept the statue. Sienna Miller, as Edie Sedgwick in Factory Girl lights up the screen. She's a young ingenue proving some serious acting chops here, a nomination would have been great but this was a tough race to break into.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Will Win: Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland
Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond or The Departed
Should have been nominated: Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson
Whitaker is a given like Mirrent above but I would have liked to see James McAvoy, whose performance is a perfect balance to Whitaker's over the top portrayal of Amin, earn a nod in the supporting. Whitaker is great but DiCaprio is the best actor of the year with two amazing performances. Gosling was robbed...plain and simple!
Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: Dreamgirls
Should Win: Little Miss Sunshine
Should have been nominated: A Prairie Home Companion
It's an obvious choice here but I would love to see the biggest little indie in years take the prize. Dreamgirls is fine but a little overhyped. My choice for best musical of the year is A Prairie Home Companion, brilliantly subtle and full of feeling.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Will Win: Meryl Streep – The Devil Wears Prada
Should Win: Toni Collette – Little Miss Sunshine
Should have been nominated: Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine
Meryl Streep is fantastic, as always, so I would be happy to see her walk away with it. But I'm in love with Toni Collette in Little Miss Sunshine...more in love with Breslin, though, absolutely robbed in this category. Fingers crossed for an Oscar.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: Sacha Cohen – Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan
Should Win: Sacha Cohen – Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Should have been nominated: Greg Kinnear – Little Miss Sunshine
It's Cohen for sure! I look forward to his acceptance speech.
Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Will Win: Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls
Should Win: Cate Blanchett – Notes On A Scandal
Should have been nominated: Shareeka Epps – Half Nelson
The trouble here is whether or not you give the award to the best supporting actress of the year or the best supporting singer of the year. I know that's not entirely fair...because Hudson is compelling even when not belting one out, but Blanchett is amazing as a teacher involved in the most bizzare love triangle in Notes on a Scandal. I have a feeling the Globes...known for picking the young upstart (see Keri Russell, Jennifer Garner) over the seasoned vet...will go with Hudson. If they were really looking for the upstart, they would have nominated Shareeka Epps who is brilliant in Half Nelson.
Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Will Win: Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls
Should Win: Mark Wahlberg – The Departed
Should have been nominated: James McAvoy – The Last King of Scotland
Tough calls here. I think they will opt for Eddie, but Wahlberg is a foil. He shines in The Departed stealing nearly every scene he is in. I think, with some recent critic awards, he may have a shot at a win. McAvoy deserves a nod, fingers crossed for an Oscar, he carries the emotional weight of The Last King of Scotland.
Best Animated Feature Film
Will Win: Happy Feet
Should Win: Happy Feet
Should have been nominated: A Scanner Darkly
Cars perhaps. I've honestly not seen it, but I love to watch Pixar squirm. Hello, A Scanner Darkly, way more compelling than any of these kid flicks.
Best Foreign Languge Film
Will Win: Letters From Iwo Jima
Should Win: Pan’s Labyrinth
Should have been nominated: Curse of the Golden Flower
My plan is to see Iwo Jima next weekend, when it is released on a larger scale, but I feel like it will take it without a problem. Pan's Labyrinth is one of my favorites of 2006 and deserves the win if for nothing else than Del Toro's masterful direction and writing and the pain and stress put into making the film possible.
Best Director - Motion Picture
Will Win: Martin Scorsese – The Departed
Should Win: Martin Scorsese – The Departed
Should have been nominated: Pedro Almodovar – Volver
It's too obvious.
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Will Win: The Queen – Peter Morgan
Should Win: Little Children – Todd Field, Tom Perrotta
Should have been nominated: Brick – Rian Johnson
Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Will Win: Babel – Gustavo Santaolalla
Should Win: Babel – Gustavo Santaolalla
Should have been nominated: Notes On A Scandal – Philip Glass
Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Will Win: “Listen” – Dreamgirls
Should Win: “Listen” – Dreamgirls
Should have been nominated: “Neighbor” – Shut Up and Sing
Best Television Series - Drama
Will Win: Grey’s Anatomy
Should Win: 24
Should have been nominated: Prison Break
Ugh. If Grey's wins I'll be so pissed. It was 24's best season yet COME ON! I know Prison Break secured a nod last year and deserved one this year for maintaining the thrill and fun of the first season.
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Will Win: Edie Falco – The Sopranos
Should Win: Edie Falco – The Sopranos
Should have been nominated: Kristen Bell – Veronica Mars
It's Edie's year here, dealing with the nearly fatal gunshot wounds to Tony, and she will take it without a challenge. When will the awards recognize the brilliance of Bell in Veronica Mars? Not soon enough considering this is likely the show's last season.
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama
Will Win: Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Should Win: Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Should have been nominated: Matthew Perry – Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Hall blew me away as Dexter and I would like to see the young show awarded. Another young show, at risk of cancellation is Studio 60, which is one of the best shows on network television. All the performances deserve nods, but Perry especially as the stressed out lead writer of a late night sketch comedy show.
Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: The Office
Should Win: Entourage
Should have been nominated: Scrubs
Please let Entourage take it...please!
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: America Ferrera – Ugly Betty
Should Win: Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds
Should have been nominated: Tina Fey – 30 Rock
America will take it (again see Hudson or Keri Russell or Jennifer Garner) but Parker making a repeat upstaging would be fantastic. Where is the love for Tina Fey, without her Alec Baldwin would be nothing.
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: Steve Carell – The Office
Should Win: Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Should have been nominated: John Krasinski – The Office
Come on Baldwin! Will Krasinski ever get recognized? He's the best part of the Office right now.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Will Win: Katherine Heigl – Grey’s Anatomy
Should Win: Sarah Paulson – Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Should have been nominated: Melinda Clarke – The O.C.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Will Win: Masi Oka – Heroes
Should Win: Jeremy Piven – Entourage
Should have been nominated: Robert Knepper – Prison Break
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Will Win: The Departed
Should Win: The Departed
Should have been nominated: United 93
The Departed has been one of the only films to sustain buzz since its opening to the awards. With strong performances, direction, writing, editing, etc. there is no reason why it won't take the top prize. Little competition from the other films...Whose idea was it to nominate Bobby anyway? I would have liked to have seen Paul Greengrass's understated epic take a nomination, like the Departed it's a strong film filled with compelling performances and fantastic taut direction.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Will Win: Helen Mirren – The Queen
Should Win: Maggie Gyllenhaal – sherrybaby
Should have been nominated: Sienna Miller – Factory Girl
There is nobody in this category that will dethrone the queen. The award is well deserved for sure, it's Mirren's year but Maggie Gyllenhaal gave the performance of her budding career in sherrybaby. At least a nomination should draw some attention, but I would love to see her accept the statue. Sienna Miller, as Edie Sedgwick in Factory Girl lights up the screen. She's a young ingenue proving some serious acting chops here, a nomination would have been great but this was a tough race to break into.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Will Win: Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland
Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond or The Departed
Should have been nominated: Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson
Whitaker is a given like Mirrent above but I would have liked to see James McAvoy, whose performance is a perfect balance to Whitaker's over the top portrayal of Amin, earn a nod in the supporting. Whitaker is great but DiCaprio is the best actor of the year with two amazing performances. Gosling was robbed...plain and simple!
Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: Dreamgirls
Should Win: Little Miss Sunshine
Should have been nominated: A Prairie Home Companion
It's an obvious choice here but I would love to see the biggest little indie in years take the prize. Dreamgirls is fine but a little overhyped. My choice for best musical of the year is A Prairie Home Companion, brilliantly subtle and full of feeling.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Will Win: Meryl Streep – The Devil Wears Prada
Should Win: Toni Collette – Little Miss Sunshine
Should have been nominated: Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine
Meryl Streep is fantastic, as always, so I would be happy to see her walk away with it. But I'm in love with Toni Collette in Little Miss Sunshine...more in love with Breslin, though, absolutely robbed in this category. Fingers crossed for an Oscar.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: Sacha Cohen – Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan
Should Win: Sacha Cohen – Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Should have been nominated: Greg Kinnear – Little Miss Sunshine
It's Cohen for sure! I look forward to his acceptance speech.
Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Will Win: Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls
Should Win: Cate Blanchett – Notes On A Scandal
Should have been nominated: Shareeka Epps – Half Nelson
The trouble here is whether or not you give the award to the best supporting actress of the year or the best supporting singer of the year. I know that's not entirely fair...because Hudson is compelling even when not belting one out, but Blanchett is amazing as a teacher involved in the most bizzare love triangle in Notes on a Scandal. I have a feeling the Globes...known for picking the young upstart (see Keri Russell, Jennifer Garner) over the seasoned vet...will go with Hudson. If they were really looking for the upstart, they would have nominated Shareeka Epps who is brilliant in Half Nelson.
Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Will Win: Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls
Should Win: Mark Wahlberg – The Departed
Should have been nominated: James McAvoy – The Last King of Scotland
Tough calls here. I think they will opt for Eddie, but Wahlberg is a foil. He shines in The Departed stealing nearly every scene he is in. I think, with some recent critic awards, he may have a shot at a win. McAvoy deserves a nod, fingers crossed for an Oscar, he carries the emotional weight of The Last King of Scotland.
Best Animated Feature Film
Will Win: Happy Feet
Should Win: Happy Feet
Should have been nominated: A Scanner Darkly
Cars perhaps. I've honestly not seen it, but I love to watch Pixar squirm. Hello, A Scanner Darkly, way more compelling than any of these kid flicks.
Best Foreign Languge Film
Will Win: Letters From Iwo Jima
Should Win: Pan’s Labyrinth
Should have been nominated: Curse of the Golden Flower
My plan is to see Iwo Jima next weekend, when it is released on a larger scale, but I feel like it will take it without a problem. Pan's Labyrinth is one of my favorites of 2006 and deserves the win if for nothing else than Del Toro's masterful direction and writing and the pain and stress put into making the film possible.
Best Director - Motion Picture
Will Win: Martin Scorsese – The Departed
Should Win: Martin Scorsese – The Departed
Should have been nominated: Pedro Almodovar – Volver
It's too obvious.
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Will Win: The Queen – Peter Morgan
Should Win: Little Children – Todd Field, Tom Perrotta
Should have been nominated: Brick – Rian Johnson
Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Will Win: Babel – Gustavo Santaolalla
Should Win: Babel – Gustavo Santaolalla
Should have been nominated: Notes On A Scandal – Philip Glass
Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Will Win: “Listen” – Dreamgirls
Should Win: “Listen” – Dreamgirls
Should have been nominated: “Neighbor” – Shut Up and Sing
Best Television Series - Drama
Will Win: Grey’s Anatomy
Should Win: 24
Should have been nominated: Prison Break
Ugh. If Grey's wins I'll be so pissed. It was 24's best season yet COME ON! I know Prison Break secured a nod last year and deserved one this year for maintaining the thrill and fun of the first season.
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Will Win: Edie Falco – The Sopranos
Should Win: Edie Falco – The Sopranos
Should have been nominated: Kristen Bell – Veronica Mars
It's Edie's year here, dealing with the nearly fatal gunshot wounds to Tony, and she will take it without a challenge. When will the awards recognize the brilliance of Bell in Veronica Mars? Not soon enough considering this is likely the show's last season.
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama
Will Win: Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Should Win: Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Should have been nominated: Matthew Perry – Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Hall blew me away as Dexter and I would like to see the young show awarded. Another young show, at risk of cancellation is Studio 60, which is one of the best shows on network television. All the performances deserve nods, but Perry especially as the stressed out lead writer of a late night sketch comedy show.
Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: The Office
Should Win: Entourage
Should have been nominated: Scrubs
Please let Entourage take it...please!
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: America Ferrera – Ugly Betty
Should Win: Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds
Should have been nominated: Tina Fey – 30 Rock
America will take it (again see Hudson or Keri Russell or Jennifer Garner) but Parker making a repeat upstaging would be fantastic. Where is the love for Tina Fey, without her Alec Baldwin would be nothing.
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: Steve Carell – The Office
Should Win: Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Should have been nominated: John Krasinski – The Office
Come on Baldwin! Will Krasinski ever get recognized? He's the best part of the Office right now.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Will Win: Katherine Heigl – Grey’s Anatomy
Should Win: Sarah Paulson – Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Should have been nominated: Melinda Clarke – The O.C.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Will Win: Masi Oka – Heroes
Should Win: Jeremy Piven – Entourage
Should have been nominated: Robert Knepper – Prison Break
My Globe Scores
Motion pictures
Picture, Drama: "Babel," "Bobby," "The Departed," "Little Children," "The Queen"
Score: 3/5
Actress, Drama: Penelope Cruz, "Volver"; Judi Dench, "Notes on a Scandal"; Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Sherrybaby"; Helen Mirren, "The Queen"; Kate Winslet, "Little Children"
Score: 4/5
Actor, Drama: Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond"; Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Departed"; Peter O'Toole, "Venus"; Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness"; Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"
Score: 4/5
Picture, Musical or Comedy: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Dreamgirls," "Little Miss Sunshine," "Thank You for Smoking"
Score: 4/5
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Annette Bening, "Running With Scissors"; Toni Collette, "Little Miss Sunshine"; Beyonce Knowles, "Dreamgirls"; Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Renee Zellweger, "Miss Potter"
Score: 4/5
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"; Johnny Depp, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"; Aaron Eckhart, "Thank You for Smoking"; Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Kinky Boots"; Will Ferrell, "Stranger than Fiction"
Score: 4/5
Supporting Actress: Adriana Barraza, "Babel"; Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal"; Emily Blunt, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"; Rinko Kikuchi, "Babel"
Score: 4/5
Supporting Actor: Ben Affleck, "Hollywoodland"; Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls"; Jack Nicholson, "The Departed"; Brad Pitt, "Babel"; Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed"
Score: 3/5
Director: Clint Eastwood, "Flags of Our Fathers"; Clint Eastwood, "Letters from Iwo Jima"; Steven Frears, "The Queen"; Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Babel"; Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"
Score: 4/5
Screenplay: Guillermo Arriaga, "Babel"; Todd Field and Tom Perrotta, "Little Children"; Patrick Marber, "Notes on a Scandal"; William Monahan, "The Departed"; Peter Morgan, "The Queen"
Score: 3/5
Foreign Language: "Apocalypto," USA; "Letters from Iwo Jima," USA/Japan; "The Lives of Others," Germany; "Pan's Labyrinth," Mexico; "Volver" Spain
Score: 3/5
Animated Film: "Cars," "Happy Feet," "Monster House"
Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, "The Painted Veil"; Clint Mansell, "The Fountain"; Gustavo Santaolalla, "Babel"; Carlo Siliotto, "Nomad"; Hans Zimmer, "The Da Vinci Code"
Score: 2/5
Original Song: "A Father's Way" from "The Pursuit of Happyness"; "Listen" from "Dreamgirls"; "Never Gonna Break My Faith" from "Bobby"; "The Song of the Heart" from "Happy Feet"; "Try Not to Remember" from "Home of the Brave"
Score: 1/5
Television
Series, Drama: "24," Fox; "Big Love," HBO; "Grey's Anatomy," ABC; "Heroes," NBC; "Lost," ABC
Score: 3/5
Actress, Drama: Patricia Arquette, "Medium"; Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"; Evangeline Lilly, "Lost"; Ellen Pompeo, "Grey's Anatomy"; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"
Score: 2/5
Actor, Drama: Patrick Dempsey, "Grey's Anatomy"; Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"; Hugh Laurie, "House"; Bill Paxton, "Big Love"; Kiefer Sutherland, "24"
Score: 3/5
Series, Musical or Comedy: "Desperate Housewives," ABC; "Entourage," HBO; "The Office," NBC; "Ugly Betty," ABC; "Weeds," Showtime
Score: 3/5
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives"; America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"; Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"; Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"
Score: 3/5
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; Zach Braff, "Scrubs"; Steve Carrell, "The Office"; Jason Lee, "My Name is Earl"; Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"
Score: 4/5
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Emily Blunt, "Gideon's Daughter"; Toni Collette, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"; Katherine Heigl, "Grey's Anatomy"; Sarah Paulson, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"; Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds"
Score: 2/5
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Thomas Haden Church, "Broken Trail"; Jeremy Irons, "Elizabeth I"; Justin Kirk, "Weeds"; Masi Oka, "Heroes"; Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"
Score: 2/5
Picture, Drama: "Babel," "Bobby," "The Departed," "Little Children," "The Queen"
Score: 3/5
Actress, Drama: Penelope Cruz, "Volver"; Judi Dench, "Notes on a Scandal"; Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Sherrybaby"; Helen Mirren, "The Queen"; Kate Winslet, "Little Children"
Score: 4/5
Actor, Drama: Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond"; Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Departed"; Peter O'Toole, "Venus"; Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness"; Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"
Score: 4/5
Picture, Musical or Comedy: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Dreamgirls," "Little Miss Sunshine," "Thank You for Smoking"
Score: 4/5
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Annette Bening, "Running With Scissors"; Toni Collette, "Little Miss Sunshine"; Beyonce Knowles, "Dreamgirls"; Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Renee Zellweger, "Miss Potter"
Score: 4/5
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"; Johnny Depp, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"; Aaron Eckhart, "Thank You for Smoking"; Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Kinky Boots"; Will Ferrell, "Stranger than Fiction"
Score: 4/5
Supporting Actress: Adriana Barraza, "Babel"; Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal"; Emily Blunt, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"; Rinko Kikuchi, "Babel"
Score: 4/5
Supporting Actor: Ben Affleck, "Hollywoodland"; Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls"; Jack Nicholson, "The Departed"; Brad Pitt, "Babel"; Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed"
Score: 3/5
Director: Clint Eastwood, "Flags of Our Fathers"; Clint Eastwood, "Letters from Iwo Jima"; Steven Frears, "The Queen"; Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Babel"; Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"
Score: 4/5
Screenplay: Guillermo Arriaga, "Babel"; Todd Field and Tom Perrotta, "Little Children"; Patrick Marber, "Notes on a Scandal"; William Monahan, "The Departed"; Peter Morgan, "The Queen"
Score: 3/5
Foreign Language: "Apocalypto," USA; "Letters from Iwo Jima," USA/Japan; "The Lives of Others," Germany; "Pan's Labyrinth," Mexico; "Volver" Spain
Score: 3/5
Animated Film: "Cars," "Happy Feet," "Monster House"
Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, "The Painted Veil"; Clint Mansell, "The Fountain"; Gustavo Santaolalla, "Babel"; Carlo Siliotto, "Nomad"; Hans Zimmer, "The Da Vinci Code"
Score: 2/5
Original Song: "A Father's Way" from "The Pursuit of Happyness"; "Listen" from "Dreamgirls"; "Never Gonna Break My Faith" from "Bobby"; "The Song of the Heart" from "Happy Feet"; "Try Not to Remember" from "Home of the Brave"
Score: 1/5
Television
Series, Drama: "24," Fox; "Big Love," HBO; "Grey's Anatomy," ABC; "Heroes," NBC; "Lost," ABC
Score: 3/5
Actress, Drama: Patricia Arquette, "Medium"; Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"; Evangeline Lilly, "Lost"; Ellen Pompeo, "Grey's Anatomy"; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"
Score: 2/5
Actor, Drama: Patrick Dempsey, "Grey's Anatomy"; Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"; Hugh Laurie, "House"; Bill Paxton, "Big Love"; Kiefer Sutherland, "24"
Score: 3/5
Series, Musical or Comedy: "Desperate Housewives," ABC; "Entourage," HBO; "The Office," NBC; "Ugly Betty," ABC; "Weeds," Showtime
Score: 3/5
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives"; America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"; Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"; Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"
Score: 3/5
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; Zach Braff, "Scrubs"; Steve Carrell, "The Office"; Jason Lee, "My Name is Earl"; Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"
Score: 4/5
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Emily Blunt, "Gideon's Daughter"; Toni Collette, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"; Katherine Heigl, "Grey's Anatomy"; Sarah Paulson, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"; Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds"
Score: 2/5
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Thomas Haden Church, "Broken Trail"; Jeremy Irons, "Elizabeth I"; Justin Kirk, "Weeds"; Masi Oka, "Heroes"; Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"
Score: 2/5
Golden Globe Dark Horses
Since I can't sleep (could it be GG anticipation...no.) I decided to make a list of possible spoilers or dark horses to the Golden Globes announced tomorrow morning.
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Half Nelson
Letters from Iwo Jima
Children of Men
Bobby
Little Children
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Sherrybaby
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama
Matt Damon and/or Leonardo DiCaprio - The Departed
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
A Prairie Home Companion
For Your Consideration
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Anne Hathaway - The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet - The Holiday
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Greg Kinnear - Little Miss Sunshine
Steve Carrell - Little Miss Sunshine
Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett – Babel
Shareeka Epps - Half Nelson
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mark Wahlberg – The Departed
Jackie Earle Haley - Little Children
Ben Affleck - Hollywoodland
Best Foreign Language Film
Letters from Iwo Jima
Best Director – Motion Picture
Pedro Almodovar - Volver
Robert Altman - A Prairie Home Companion
Paul Greengrass - United 93
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Zach Helm - Stranger than Fiction
Jason Reitman - Thank You for Smoking
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Philip Glass - The Illusionist
Philip Glass - Notes on a Scandal
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Prince - The Song of the Heart, Happy Feet
Tim McGraw - My Little Girl, Flicka
Best Television Show – Drama
Lost
House
Battlestar Galactica
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Kristen Bell - Veronica Mars
Edie Falco - The Sopranos
Amanda Peet - Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Matthew Fox - Lost
Edward James Olmos - Battlestar Galactica
Matthew Perry - Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Patrick Dempsey - Grey's Anatomy
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Desperate Housewives
30 Rock
How I Met Your Mother
Entourage
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy
Felicity Huffman - Desperate Housewives
Teri Hatcher - Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
James Spader - Boston Legal
Tracy Morgan - 30 Rock
James Roday - Psych
Tony Shaloub - Monk
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jenna Fischer - The Office
Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy
Sarah Paulson - Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mine-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Rainn Wilson - The Office
John Krasinski - The Office
Dreamgirls Make it Worth It
The question on everybody who has any vested interest in film’s mind is whether or not Dreamgirls really lives up to the hype. Arguably the most talked about, especially in terms of the impending awards season, film of the year…I’ll be the first to say that the film does live up to the hype. It’s a fun, carefree, decade-spanning, toe tapping ditty filled musical from Bill Condon. The number of Hollywood veterans that join them grounds the fresh young cast.
That being said, do I think that Dreamgirls is really Best Picture worthy? No. It fails in all the same respects that Bill Condon and Rob Marshall’s Chicago did. The musical numbers, though catchy and fantastically performed, just don’t seem to jive with the majority of the picture. The diagetic songs work like a dream, but it’s when the cast members begin to perform their respective subjective songs that the film kind of putters. Unfortunately for me and everyone at the advanced screening, a fire alarm went off right in the middle of scene-stealer, Jennifer Hudson’s performance of “And I’m Telling You, I’m Not Going.” In spite of this, the five-minute clip secured her as a lock in the Best Supporting Actress category. As the outspoken Effie, Hudson, is altogether pleasurable and heartbreaking. Also delivering a performance worthy of Oscar consideration and show stopping is Eddie Murphy as the indescribably funny and tragic. There’s a moment in the beginning of the film when his character is first revealed to the audience that just makes the audience bust out laughing. I can’t say if it’s his smile or hair or a combination of both, but Murphy is absolutely perfect for the character. Likewise, his rap boogie breakdown in the second act of the film is amazing and puts him on the same level as Hudson. Unfortunately for Beyonce Knowles, who plays Deena Jones, a majority of her above average performance is completely overshadowed by Hudson. That isn’t to say that Knowles doesn’t share some fantastic moments. Her performance of “Listen” is another high point of the film.
As I said before, the film seems to lose some energy at some points. This could be a result of my distaste for musicals, but it just doesn’t seem to work as well on screen as it seems it should. I think it’s less the fault of the film and more the fault of Condon, who seems to be unsure of himself. This seems sort of strange considering Condon’s track record. Looking at the larger picture, Dreamgirls is a much better entry to the modern film musical than Chicago. The musical numbers do work better here than they did for Chicago, but can often be awkward and forced rather than natural.
This is definitely a picture you don’t want to miss on the big screen. The sound, spectacle and fantastic performances are all worth paying 8 bucks for. If you can get wrapped up in the rather narrow story, which gradually becomes broader and broader as the film drives home, then I think you will leave the theater unbelievable happy. The problem lies in convincing the people who won’t be able to buy into the story that the film is beyond decent.
Golden Globe Nomination Predictions
Nominations for the 64th Annual Golden Globes are due in this Thursday. Here is how I think they will go down.
Best Motion Picture – Drama
United 93
Flags of Our Fathers
The Departed
The Queen
Babel
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama
Helen Mirren – The Queen
Kate Winselt – Little Children
Judi Dench – Notes on a Scandal
Penelope Cruz – Volver
Naomi Watts – The Painted Veil
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama
Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland
Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson
Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happiness
Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond
Peter O’Toole – Venus
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine
Borat
The Devil Wears Prada
Stranger than Fiction
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine
Beyonce Knowles – Dreamgirls
Meryl Streep – The Devil Wears Prada
Renee Zelwegger – Miss Potter
Annette Benning – Running with Scissors
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat
Aaron Eckhart – Thank You for Smoking
Will Ferrell – Stranger than Fiction
Jamie Foxx – Dreamgirls
Johnny Depp – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett – Notes on a Scandal
Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi – Babel
Catherine O’Hara – For Your Consideration
Adriana Barraza – Babel
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson – The Departed
Brad Pitt – Babel
Djimon Hounsou – Blood Diamond
Alan Arkin – Little Miss Sunshine
Best Foreign Language Film
Volver
Apocalypto
Curse of the Golden Flower
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Lives of Others
Best Director – Motion Picture
Clint Eastwood – Letters from Iwo Jima
Martin Scorsese – The Departed
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu – Babel
Bill Condon – Dreamgirls
Stephen Frears – The Queen
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Peter Morgan – The Queen
Guillermo Arriaga – Babel
Pedro Almodovar – Volver
William Monahan – The Departed
Bill Condon – Dreamgirls
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Clint Eastwood – Letters from Iwo Jima
Gustavo Santaolalla – Babel
Hans Zimmer – The Da Vinci Code
Howard Shore – The Departed
Alexandre Desplat – The Queen
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Melissa Etheridge – I Need to Wake Up, An Inconvenient Truth
Beyonce Knowles – Listen, Dreamgirls
Jennifer Hudson – Love You I Do, Dreamgirls
Eddie Murphy – Patience, Dreamgirls
The Dixie Chicks – The Neighbor, Shut Up and Sing
Best Television Show – Drama
24
Brothers & Sisters
Heroes
The Sopranos
Grey’s Anatomy
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Calista Flockhart – Brothers & Sisters
Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer
Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters
Patricia Arquette – Medium
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Hugh Laurie – House
Kiefer Sutherland – 24
James Woods – Shark
James Gandolfini – The Sopranos
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Weeds
My Name is Earl
The Office
Scrubs
Ugly Betty
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy
Eva Longoria – Desperate Housewives
America Ferarra – Ugly Betty
Mary Louise Parker – Weeds
Marcia Cross – Desperate Housewives
Tina Fey – 30 Rock
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Zach Braff – Scrubs
Steve Carell – The Office
Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Jason Lee – My Name is Earl
Charlie Sheen – Two and a Half Men
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Sandra Oh – Grey’s Anatomy
Jamie Pressley – My Name is Earl
Elizabeth Perkins – Weeds
Vanessa Williams – Ugly Betty
Katherine Heigl – Grey’s Anatomy
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mine-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jeremy Piven – Entourage
Forrest Whitaker – The Shield
Masi Oka – Heroes
Gregory Itzin – 24
Steven Weber – Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Best Motion Picture – Drama
United 93
Flags of Our Fathers
The Departed
The Queen
Babel
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama
Helen Mirren – The Queen
Kate Winselt – Little Children
Judi Dench – Notes on a Scandal
Penelope Cruz – Volver
Naomi Watts – The Painted Veil
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama
Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland
Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson
Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happiness
Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond
Peter O’Toole – Venus
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine
Borat
The Devil Wears Prada
Stranger than Fiction
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine
Beyonce Knowles – Dreamgirls
Meryl Streep – The Devil Wears Prada
Renee Zelwegger – Miss Potter
Annette Benning – Running with Scissors
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat
Aaron Eckhart – Thank You for Smoking
Will Ferrell – Stranger than Fiction
Jamie Foxx – Dreamgirls
Johnny Depp – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett – Notes on a Scandal
Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi – Babel
Catherine O’Hara – For Your Consideration
Adriana Barraza – Babel
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson – The Departed
Brad Pitt – Babel
Djimon Hounsou – Blood Diamond
Alan Arkin – Little Miss Sunshine
Best Foreign Language Film
Volver
Apocalypto
Curse of the Golden Flower
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Lives of Others
Best Director – Motion Picture
Clint Eastwood – Letters from Iwo Jima
Martin Scorsese – The Departed
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu – Babel
Bill Condon – Dreamgirls
Stephen Frears – The Queen
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Peter Morgan – The Queen
Guillermo Arriaga – Babel
Pedro Almodovar – Volver
William Monahan – The Departed
Bill Condon – Dreamgirls
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Clint Eastwood – Letters from Iwo Jima
Gustavo Santaolalla – Babel
Hans Zimmer – The Da Vinci Code
Howard Shore – The Departed
Alexandre Desplat – The Queen
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Melissa Etheridge – I Need to Wake Up, An Inconvenient Truth
Beyonce Knowles – Listen, Dreamgirls
Jennifer Hudson – Love You I Do, Dreamgirls
Eddie Murphy – Patience, Dreamgirls
The Dixie Chicks – The Neighbor, Shut Up and Sing
Best Television Show – Drama
24
Brothers & Sisters
Heroes
The Sopranos
Grey’s Anatomy
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Calista Flockhart – Brothers & Sisters
Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer
Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters
Patricia Arquette – Medium
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Hugh Laurie – House
Kiefer Sutherland – 24
James Woods – Shark
James Gandolfini – The Sopranos
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Weeds
My Name is Earl
The Office
Scrubs
Ugly Betty
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy
Eva Longoria – Desperate Housewives
America Ferarra – Ugly Betty
Mary Louise Parker – Weeds
Marcia Cross – Desperate Housewives
Tina Fey – 30 Rock
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Zach Braff – Scrubs
Steve Carell – The Office
Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Jason Lee – My Name is Earl
Charlie Sheen – Two and a Half Men
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Sandra Oh – Grey’s Anatomy
Jamie Pressley – My Name is Earl
Elizabeth Perkins – Weeds
Vanessa Williams – Ugly Betty
Katherine Heigl – Grey’s Anatomy
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mine-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jeremy Piven – Entourage
Forrest Whitaker – The Shield
Masi Oka – Heroes
Gregory Itzin – 24
Steven Weber – Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
The Science of Mediocrity
All the aspects of low-budget romantic cinema that made Michel Gondry’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” so compelling are likewise found in his latest, “The Science of Sleep.”
What’s missing are the powerful characters and dreamy, ethereal quality storytelling, which is ironic considering the actual content of the film are dreams.
Gael García Bernal (“Y tu mamá también,” “The Motorcycle Diaries”) stars as Stéphane, a Peter Pan like figure that seems to have never grown up. He moves back to his mother’s house in Paris after his father’s death, living a majority of his life through dreams he has while sleeping in his racecar sheet lined twin bed. Stuck in a dead end job at a calendar company that he is sure his mother lied to him about in order to get him back home, Stéphane stumbles in and out of his stylish, metaphorical dreams.
Shortly after moving in he meets his neighbor, the dowdy and drab Stéphanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg; “Jane Eyre,” “21 Grams”). While he is originally smitten with her friend, he sparks a connection with Stéphanie through his dreams and waking life.
The dream sequences are impressive, in a faux artsy stylish way. Most of the dreams look like poorly done student films, aiming for bizarre cliché over any sort of substance or meaning.
Bernal carries a majority of the picture, tormented by having to deal with discerning dreams and reality, perhaps grounding the overly odd Gondry styling. Gainsbourg lacks any sort of dynamisms and ultimately suffers not only under the direction of Gondry, but Bernal as well.
The film, as a whole, feels hurried, sloppy and by the film’s end completely unmemorable.
People Just Don't Understand
Although it failed to garner any spots on my "Best of the New Fall Season" list, the new Aaron Sorkin genre-bending "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" is definitely one of the best. Not only is it strongly acted, written and directed; it's ridiculously intelligent, a little too intelligent for most American audiences perhaps? Take last week's episode, for example. One of the major storylines revolved around an elderly gentleman creeping back stage of Studio 60 in order to secure an old photograph of when the Philco Comedy Hour used to broadcast out of the Studio. TV scholars will recognize the obvious references to the Golden Age of television when shows were single sponsored and live. This was also a time when television was sympathetic to the Communist cause in order to maintain their credentials as representing the public interest, convenience and necessity. This old man was trying to obtain a picture of him in the writers room with the other writers before he was brought before HUAC and blacklisted. He makes numerous references to the Hollywood Ten, claiming his name was Bessie Bibberman etc. The average American viewer, like my mother, would have absolutely no idea what these subtle jokes were referring to, even if they did see "Good Night and Good Luck." It's severely smart humor that makes a college education completely worth it.
Playlist 5/02/2006
Playlist Title: should i strike it?
Show Title: Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution by J Henson and
Sufjan Stevens - Prairie Fire That Wanders About
Pixies - Gigantic
The Decemberists - Red Right Ankle
Final Fantasy - This is the Dream of Win & Regine
Kanye West (Feat. Consequence & Cam'Ron) - Gone
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - (Do Not Feed The) Oyster
Modest Mouse - Wild Pack of Family Dogs
A.C. Newman - Homemade Bombs in the Afternoon
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over the Sea
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Honeybear
The Unicorns - Peach Moon
Mike Doughty - I Hear the Bells
Grandaddy - Jeez Louise
The Zambonis - Hockey Monkey
The National - Cold Girl Fever
Starlight Mints - Sir Prize
Oh No! Oh My! - Skip the Foreplay
Kimfolk - Not My Kind of Sunday
Suburban Kids with Biblical Names - Rent a Wreck
Figurines - Ambush
Phantom Planet - Our House
Gnarls Barkley - Gone Daddy Gone
Pavement - Unfair
Beulah - Don't Forget to Breathe
Belle & Sebastian - Funny Little Frog
Spoon - June's Foreign Spell
Eels - Last Stop: This Town
The Shins - Girl on the Wing
TV On the Radio - Province
Show Title: Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution by J Henson and
Sufjan Stevens - Prairie Fire That Wanders About
Pixies - Gigantic
The Decemberists - Red Right Ankle
Final Fantasy - This is the Dream of Win & Regine
Kanye West (Feat. Consequence & Cam'Ron) - Gone
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - (Do Not Feed The) Oyster
Modest Mouse - Wild Pack of Family Dogs
A.C. Newman - Homemade Bombs in the Afternoon
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over the Sea
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Honeybear
The Unicorns - Peach Moon
Mike Doughty - I Hear the Bells
Grandaddy - Jeez Louise
The Zambonis - Hockey Monkey
The National - Cold Girl Fever
Starlight Mints - Sir Prize
Oh No! Oh My! - Skip the Foreplay
Kimfolk - Not My Kind of Sunday
Suburban Kids with Biblical Names - Rent a Wreck
Figurines - Ambush
Phantom Planet - Our House
Gnarls Barkley - Gone Daddy Gone
Pavement - Unfair
Beulah - Don't Forget to Breathe
Belle & Sebastian - Funny Little Frog
Spoon - June's Foreign Spell
Eels - Last Stop: This Town
The Shins - Girl on the Wing
TV On the Radio - Province
The Lowdown on Lohan
Lindsay Lohan became a major Hollywood player in her short 19 years, and hopes to continue her string of success with her latest series of films. Voice was lucky enough to chat with the teen starlet online, as she spoke candidly about her craft, future and her upcoming romantic comedy “Just My Luck.”
The film, which takes place in bustling New York, centers on a career girl and socialite named Ashley Albright (Lohan). “Ashley has got her head on straight and she’s determined, which I think is great,” Lohan said.
She is the luckiest girl in the world, according to the film’s press kit. Jake (Chris Pine, “The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement”) on the other hand, is a bad luck magnet. Everything changes when the two cross paths and kiss at a masquerade ball, switching their luck.
Unlike Lohan’s recent successes in the teen comedy genre, with films “Mean Girls” and “Freaky Friday,” “Just My Luck” marks an adult turn in the actress’ career.
“It’s a more mature film compared to the ones that I’ve done before,” Lohan said. “It’s more a romantic comedy than I’ve been able to do so far, and it’s nice to have a comedic side to it. It also has my first on-screen relationship.”
The pressure of a first on-screen relationship can be daunting for any young actress, but Lohan said she didn’t mind it.
“It was acting,” Lohan said, laughing. “It’s just pretend.” Director Donald Petrie has helmed a number of actresses in breakout roles including Julia Roberts in “Mystic Pizza” and Kate Hudson in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”
“I loved those movies,” Lohan said. “I love comedy and I really wanted to work with Donald on this film.”
Aside from “Just My Luck,” the superstar has a number of sophisticated roles in major motion pictures in the works. The actress can be seen in the latest film from legendary director Robert Altman (“Nashville,” “Gosford Park”), “A Prairie Home Companion,” and the independent Emilio Estevez (“The Breakfast Club,” “Mighty Ducks”) film, “Bobby.”
Both roles are generating a sizable amount of Oscar buzz.
“A Prairie Home Companion” sees Lohan playing daughter of prominent actress Meryl Streep (“Sophie’s Choice,” “Adaptation”) and working alongside longtime Altman favorite Lily Tomlin (“I Heart Huckabees,” “Short Cuts”). Such weathered veterans may intimidate a fledgling youngster, but Lohan said she learned much from the pros.
“More than discussing acting with [Streep], I observed her,” she said. “I just wanted to get a feel for how [Streep and Tomlin] become their character, how they work with the rest of the cast and crew and other things that I keep to myself.”
“Companion” takes place backstage during the final broadcast of the renowned radio program. Shot in Minnesota, the film gave the idol a chance to escape from big city living.
“I like the opportunity to focus on your craft,” Lohan said. Though she said she thinks the roles are more layered and mature than previous characters she has played, Lohan said she struggles to shed the “teen queen” stereotype.
“I don’t want to lose my teen audience,” she said. “I think it’s important to grow with them rather than ahead of them.”
Aside from acting, the actress has dabbled in modeling and singing. “I’ve been modeling since the age of 3,” she said. “I really appreciate the art of making music, films and such – and sending certain messages, whatever they may be.”
The 19-year-old doesn’t want to stop there.
“I also really love the fashion industry.,” she said. “And I like directing – so who’s to say what I will be involved in next?”
Lohan fans can catch her in “Just My Luck,” in theaters May 12, and “A Prairie Home Companion” will be in select theaters June 9.
As far as the future goes, Lohan said she tries not to get ahead of herself, though she wouldn’t mind garnering a gold statue at some point. “I would like to acquire an Oscar, and I’d like to have my own charity – amongst other things,” she said. “But I like to take every day as it comes.
Playlist 04/25/2006
Playlist Title: it's epic
Show Title: Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution by J Henson and
Pavement - Silence Kit
Oh No! Oh My! - Reeks and Seeks
The Spinto Band - Did I Tell You
Animal Collective - We Tigers
Spoon - Metal School
Morrissey - You Have Killed Me
Drive-By Truckers - Daylight
Modest Mouse - Trailer Trash
The Strokes - Reptilia
Ted Leo/Pharmacists - The Great Communicator
The Shins - Kissing the Lipless
Liars - The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack
Aimee Mann - Save Me (Live at St. Ann's Warehouse)
Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away
Kelly Clarkson - Walk Away
Sufjan Stevens - Romulus
Gnarls Barkley - Who Cares
The Boy Least Likely To - I See Spiders When I Close My Eyes
TV on the Radio - I Was a Lover
Mates of State - Goods (All in Your Head)
Stars - The Vanishing
Kings of Leon - Taper Jean Girl
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Black Tongue
The Streets - Never Went to Church
Band of Horses - Our Swords
Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - Dress Me Like a Clown
Islands - Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby
The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
Final Fantasy - Song Song Song
Show Title: Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution by J Henson and
Pavement - Silence Kit
Oh No! Oh My! - Reeks and Seeks
The Spinto Band - Did I Tell You
Animal Collective - We Tigers
Spoon - Metal School
Morrissey - You Have Killed Me
Drive-By Truckers - Daylight
Modest Mouse - Trailer Trash
The Strokes - Reptilia
Ted Leo/Pharmacists - The Great Communicator
The Shins - Kissing the Lipless
Liars - The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack
Aimee Mann - Save Me (Live at St. Ann's Warehouse)
Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away
Kelly Clarkson - Walk Away
Sufjan Stevens - Romulus
Gnarls Barkley - Who Cares
The Boy Least Likely To - I See Spiders When I Close My Eyes
TV on the Radio - I Was a Lover
Mates of State - Goods (All in Your Head)
Stars - The Vanishing
Kings of Leon - Taper Jean Girl
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Black Tongue
The Streets - Never Went to Church
Band of Horses - Our Swords
Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - Dress Me Like a Clown
Islands - Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby
The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
Final Fantasy - Song Song Song
4 Is a Bore...
“Scary Movie 4,” much like its predecessors, is a lesson in sloppy filmmaking.
David Zucker, director of “Scary Movie 3,” returns to the moderately successful series. Zucker, the man behind such comedy classics as “Airplane” and “The Naked Gun,” has sucked out the dirty jokes and sick gags that made the first two movies of the series so humorous.
Anna Faris (“Just Friends,” “Waiting …”) returns as the film’s principle heroine, Cindy Campbell. It’s shocking that Faris still returns to the hackneyed series after proving her adeptness and knack for perfect comedic timing in successful films “Lost in Translation,” “The Hot Chick” and “Brokeback Mountain.”
At the root of “Scary Movie 4” is a muddled mess of mildly successful horror and action films from recent years.
Cindy takes a job helping the elderly Mrs. Norris (Cloris Leachman, “Spanglish,” “The Last Picture Show”) in her cursed home. Her neighbor, Tom Ryan (Craig Bierko, “Cinderella Man,” “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”), is immediately smitten with her. However, an alien invasion puts their budding romance on the back burner.
Cindy’s failed relationship with George (Simon Rex, “Scary Movie 3”) is explained in a strange, brief and out-of-place parody of the Oscar-winning film “Million Dollar Baby.”
However, this isn’t the only sequence that seems out of place. The send up of M. Night Shyamalan’s lackluster film, “The Village,” seems bizarre. Likewise, the majority of the film lampoons last year’s “War of the Worlds” – hardly scary movies. It’s clear the screenwriters are reaching for fresh material to fill a boring hour-and-a-half of film.
A beacon of hope is found with the return of Brenda Meeks (Regina Hall, “The Honeymooners”). Though her character died in “Scary Movie 3,” she auspiciously surfaces as a reporter covering the alien invasion. Her mysterious reincarnation isn’t so much explained as ignored. It isn’t as if the filmmakers are shooting for creditability.
Her character, oversexed and full of trash talk, is one of the few holdovers from the relatively funny original.
The opening sequence, as with the earlier “Scary Movie” films, elicits the most laughs. Though much of the absurdity was documented in TV trailers, the “Saw” spoof with Dr. Phil McGraw and Shaquille O’Neal is stupid enough to draw a few chuckles.
Despite the talent of the seasoned cast and the endless string of cameos (Molly Shannon, “Superstar;” Michael Madsen, “Reservoir Dogs;” James Earl Jones, “Star Wars”), it seems nothing could rescue this sequel from banality.
Unfortunately for moviegoers, the recent success of “Scary Movie 4” only means another trite sequel is in the works.
Ugh. 'Dead' and Buried.
The latest album from pop diva Pink, titled “I’m Not Dead,” has few memorable tracks and will likely leave listeners wishing she were, in fact, dead.
The opening track and lead single, “Stupid Girls,” has found a comfortable spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and rose to the top downloaded song on iTunes. Essentially an attack on paparazzi bait Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson, the song seems phony. Unless a listener has selective amnesia, it’s hard to forget Pink’s only huge success was a club anthem called “Get This Party Started” that stupid girls still shake to on crazy Friday nights.
Her lyrics, “Baby if I act like that, flipping my blonde hair back/Push up my bra like that, I don’t wanna be a stupid girl,” seem to ignore that in 2001, she was flipping her hair back and pushing up her bra in the video for “Lady Marmalade.”
The rest of the album follows suit and Pink repeatedly contradicts herself during “I’m Not Dead.”
Her mawkish ballad “Nobody Knows” seems cheap and useless when followed by a track such as “Cuz I Can.” She flaunts her 23-inch black-on-black rims, fast car and diamond-encrusted T-shirts. It’s clear Pink doesn’t think money buys happiness, but it allows her to live a self-proclaimed life of sin and buy swimming pools large enough to hold a listener’s entire home. “Dear Mr. President” is a letter to George W. Bush written by Pink and the Indigo Girls. The song stands out like a sore thumb. Found among inoffensive pop songs and club beats, “Dear Mr. President” doesn’t feel like it belongs on the album. The acoustic-driven song packs a powerful punch, but stands to alienate Bush-backing listeners. She attacks nearly every facet of both Bush and his administration, bringing up the No Child Left Behind Act, gay rights and Bush’s history of drug and alcohol abuse. Midway through the album, listeners will find a bright spot with “Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely).” The track echoes the sounds of less abrasive rockers Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne.
Pink bites off more than she can chew with her overly sentimental and weepy ballad “Conversations With My 13 Year Old Self.” The intent to make a meaningful statement on adolescence is there, but the rather one-sided conversation falls short.
Pink prefaces the song “I Have Seen the Rain,” a so-called “hidden” track. Her father wrote the lyrics during the Vietnam War and he joins her on acoustic guitar and vocals. Despite good intentions, the entire thing seems out of place – much like “Dear Mr. President.”
Sure, political activism has frequently played a role in past pop music, but Pink presents it in all the wrong ways.
Ultimately, Pink fails at putting much thought into her songwriting and “I’m Not Dead” is another futile attempt by a ’90s pop star to squeeze every last penny from a dying genre.
The opening track and lead single, “Stupid Girls,” has found a comfortable spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and rose to the top downloaded song on iTunes. Essentially an attack on paparazzi bait Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson, the song seems phony. Unless a listener has selective amnesia, it’s hard to forget Pink’s only huge success was a club anthem called “Get This Party Started” that stupid girls still shake to on crazy Friday nights.
Her lyrics, “Baby if I act like that, flipping my blonde hair back/Push up my bra like that, I don’t wanna be a stupid girl,” seem to ignore that in 2001, she was flipping her hair back and pushing up her bra in the video for “Lady Marmalade.”
The rest of the album follows suit and Pink repeatedly contradicts herself during “I’m Not Dead.”
Her mawkish ballad “Nobody Knows” seems cheap and useless when followed by a track such as “Cuz I Can.” She flaunts her 23-inch black-on-black rims, fast car and diamond-encrusted T-shirts. It’s clear Pink doesn’t think money buys happiness, but it allows her to live a self-proclaimed life of sin and buy swimming pools large enough to hold a listener’s entire home. “Dear Mr. President” is a letter to George W. Bush written by Pink and the Indigo Girls. The song stands out like a sore thumb. Found among inoffensive pop songs and club beats, “Dear Mr. President” doesn’t feel like it belongs on the album. The acoustic-driven song packs a powerful punch, but stands to alienate Bush-backing listeners. She attacks nearly every facet of both Bush and his administration, bringing up the No Child Left Behind Act, gay rights and Bush’s history of drug and alcohol abuse. Midway through the album, listeners will find a bright spot with “Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely).” The track echoes the sounds of less abrasive rockers Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne.
Pink bites off more than she can chew with her overly sentimental and weepy ballad “Conversations With My 13 Year Old Self.” The intent to make a meaningful statement on adolescence is there, but the rather one-sided conversation falls short.
Pink prefaces the song “I Have Seen the Rain,” a so-called “hidden” track. Her father wrote the lyrics during the Vietnam War and he joins her on acoustic guitar and vocals. Despite good intentions, the entire thing seems out of place – much like “Dear Mr. President.”
Sure, political activism has frequently played a role in past pop music, but Pink presents it in all the wrong ways.
Ultimately, Pink fails at putting much thought into her songwriting and “I’m Not Dead” is another futile attempt by a ’90s pop star to squeeze every last penny from a dying genre.
Playlist 4/11/2006
Playlist Title: i know who you did last summer
Show Title: Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution by J Henson
Islands - Rough Gem
Nelly Furtado - Maneater
The Appleseed Cast - Silas' Knife
Rainer Maria - Life of Leisure
Built to Spill - Liar
The Streets - When You Wasn't Famous
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - I Love Creedence
Neutral Milk Hotel - Where You'll Find Me Now
David Byrne - Tiny Apocalypse
Jon Brion - Ruin My Day
Earlimart - We Drink on the Job
My Morning Jacket - What a Wonderful Man
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - YR Broom
Pixies - Wave of Mutilation
Spoon - Small Stakes
Andre 3000 - Dracula's Wedding
The National - Trophy Wife
Malvina Reynolds - Little Boxes
Pavement - Pueblo
Stars - The Woods
Jens Lekman - You Are The Light (By Which I Travel into This and That)
Swearing at Motorists - Anything You Want
The Elected - Did Me Good
TV on the Radio - Dirty Whirl Wind
Okkervil River - Okkervil River Song
Show Title: Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution by J Henson
Islands - Rough Gem
Nelly Furtado - Maneater
The Appleseed Cast - Silas' Knife
Rainer Maria - Life of Leisure
Built to Spill - Liar
The Streets - When You Wasn't Famous
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - I Love Creedence
Neutral Milk Hotel - Where You'll Find Me Now
David Byrne - Tiny Apocalypse
Jon Brion - Ruin My Day
Earlimart - We Drink on the Job
My Morning Jacket - What a Wonderful Man
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - YR Broom
Pixies - Wave of Mutilation
Spoon - Small Stakes
Andre 3000 - Dracula's Wedding
The National - Trophy Wife
Malvina Reynolds - Little Boxes
Pavement - Pueblo
Stars - The Woods
Jens Lekman - You Are The Light (By Which I Travel into This and That)
Swearing at Motorists - Anything You Want
The Elected - Did Me Good
TV on the Radio - Dirty Whirl Wind
Okkervil River - Okkervil River Song
Slimy Fun
“Slither” may be the most disgusting, stomach-turning and repulsive film opening in theaters this year.
Written and directed by James Gunn (“Dawn of the Dead”), the movie works as homage to B-movies “The Toxic Avenger” and “Tromeo and Juliet.” Not only is it sickeningly funny, but it also provides enough jolts to illicit gasps and screams.
The film opens as a small asteroid crashes near the sleeping chief of police, Bill Pardy (Nathan Fillion, “Serenity”) in the small town of Wheelsy. The next day, a local businessman, Grant Grant (Michael Rooker, “JFK”) leaves his sleeping wife Starla (Elizabeth Banks, “The 40 Year Old Virgin,” “Wet Hot American Summer”) to attend a seedy karaoke bar. Grant meets a former acquaintance, Brenda (Brenda James, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”), and the two head into the woods for an adulterous encounter. However, Grant’s conscience gets the best of him and he decides to return to his wife.
Before exiting the woods, he discovers a large slug crawling away from the space rock that crashed the previous night. Poking and prodding the slug only leads to trouble for Grant and the rest of the sleepy town. Dogs, cows and other farm animals disappear all over Wheelsy. The uptight and boisterous mayor, Jack MacReady (Gregg Henry, “Gilmore Girls”), sends the police to discover who or what is behind the mysterious dealings. Events turn gory when the team discovers hundreds of slugs that turn residents into acidic, slime-spewing zombies.
“Slither” isn’t for the faint of heart or faint of stomach. Rather than relying on heavy visual effects, the film retains a classic horror movie feel with impressive makeup and animatronics. The makeup department, headed by Monica Huppert (“X2”), does a fantastic job of creating filthy creatures and repugnant creepy crawlers.
The movie also makes ample use of hillbilly culture and mythology. Gunn creates a number of cliched characters with southern roots, but incorporates a humorous and inventive spin. Working on the same level as 2004’s “Shaun of the Dead,” “Slither” pokes fun at horror movies that precede it with quirky freshness. Gunn also takes full advantage of the R rating. There is no holding back with “Slither,” which happily displays dog-eating zombies and possessed children hell-bent on mayhem.
Unfortunately, audiences failed to catch on to the campy fun during opening weekend. The film made a paltry $3.88 million at the domestic box office, according to www.imdb.com.
The film may not appeal to every demographic, but “Slither” guarantees a gory good time at the movies.
Playlist 4/04/2006
Playlist Title: i'll stop taking ecstacy when you stop being so boring
Show Title: Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution by J Henson
Animal Collective - Who Could Wind a Rabbit
The Starlight Mints - Submarine # 3
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Dr. Manhattan - Parties Opinion
Okkervil River - Westfall
The Black Keys - Everywhere I Go
Pavement - Kennel District
Mayhew the Traitor - Song 1
Amy Millan - Skinny Boy
The Waxwings - Low Ceiling
Devendra Banhart - Little Boys
The Flaming Lips - Goin' On
Phoenix - Long Distance Call
Broken Social Scene - Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Rich
Jon Brion - I Believe She's Lying
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Anna Lee
Silver Jews - Buckingham Rabbit
Grand Austin - Call Canopy
Band of Horses - The Great Salt Lake
Spoon - Reservations
Bloc Party - Blue Light
Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois
Eels - Jeannie's Diary
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Details of the War
My Morning Jacket - Sweetheart
Built to Spill - Conventional Wisdom
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
The National - The Thrilling of Claire
Show Title: Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution by J Henson
Animal Collective - Who Could Wind a Rabbit
The Starlight Mints - Submarine # 3
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Dr. Manhattan - Parties Opinion
Okkervil River - Westfall
The Black Keys - Everywhere I Go
Pavement - Kennel District
Mayhew the Traitor - Song 1
Amy Millan - Skinny Boy
The Waxwings - Low Ceiling
Devendra Banhart - Little Boys
The Flaming Lips - Goin' On
Phoenix - Long Distance Call
Broken Social Scene - Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Rich
Jon Brion - I Believe She's Lying
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Anna Lee
Silver Jews - Buckingham Rabbit
Grand Austin - Call Canopy
Band of Horses - The Great Salt Lake
Spoon - Reservations
Bloc Party - Blue Light
Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois
Eels - Jeannie's Diary
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Details of the War
My Morning Jacket - Sweetheart
Built to Spill - Conventional Wisdom
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
The National - The Thrilling of Claire