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Irene’s Oscar Picks
By: Irene Maslanik '07
STAFF WRITER

On February 25, 2007, at 8 pm, the Academy Awards will begin. It will be a long, presumably eventful evening. There will be movie clips, veiled references to President Bush, urgent pleas for spotted owls and an end to the war in Iraq, bad camera angles, cheesy jokes from host Ellen Degeneres, and several song and dance numbers.

There will also be some of the best fashion we hoi polloi will see all year. Depending on your viewpoint, this night is heaven or hell. For me, the Oscars are the former.

Even if it is stereotypical of a female entertainment columnist, I would rather bet on the Oscars than the Superbowl. Yes, I am one of those people who watch the Oscars with baited breath, call their friends to discuss the instant replays of the acceptance speeches, and of course, spend the next day obsessively checking People.com. And so, without further ado or disclaimer, I present my 2007 Oscar picks!

Best Actor: My love for Leonardo DiCaprio blossomed after Titanic phenomena, and it has become deep and abiding. While I wish he would win for this role (see Blair’s review on page 8), I believe this year’s Best Actor Oscar, like the SAG and the Golden Globe, will go to Forest Whitaker. Like Leo’s role in Blood Diamond, Forest’s portrayal of Idi Amin, the notorious Ugandan dictator, captivates with his gritty style and magnetic passion. Ryan Gosling, Peter O’Toole, and Will Smith deserve recognition, but I think the real winner here will be Forest.

Best Actress: It is ironic that both Kate and Leo should be in the nominee categories side by side, when the last film they did together, Titanic, was such an Oscar smash. Since that movie, both have been denied by the Academy despite a plethora of fantastic performances from each. This nomination is Kate’s fifth nod and, also, I think her fifth loss. Heartbreaking though it is for diehard Kate fans like myself, I believe that Kate’s challenging performance as a suburban house wife cannot compete with Helen Mirren’s queen. I think this is a category in which all the acting is on the same level, but the roles queen vs. housewife or fashion editor vs. school teacher dominate the contest. All the women in this category, even more so than the men, perform beautifully and gracefully.

Best Director: There can be no question that Martin Scorsese will win. That is all.

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson has all the buzz. If you ask me, Cate Blanchett probably gives a better acting performance. However, Jennifer Hudson (see my review on page 8) stops the show with her musical performances. Her powerful voice and presence make it impossible to tear your eyes from the screen, so I say give her the Oscar.

Best Supporting Actor: I honestly think that this category that could be surprising. For example, Eddie Murphy has won the SAG and the Golden Globe but I think that Djimon Hounsou has a chance because they will want to recognize his film, Blood Diamond. I think the same is true for Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine. This is another category overflowing with performances that knock your socks off!

Best Cinematography: I normally would not bother with this category but I believe that Emmanuel Lubezki will win for his work in Children of Men. He shot most of the film in long, single camera shots, that require a lot of attention to detail and gave the film an artistic layer.

Best Film: I think this award will go to either Little Miss Sunshine, The Departed, or Babel because these films all showcase a wide spectrum of actors and performances. Ultimately I think Babel probably has the best chance because of its international range and the importance of the themes, as well as the buzz surrounding it.

So place your bets and enjoy the show!