Predict the 2005 Oscars

[angelneo]

--- MacRumors Oscar Ballot ---

Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote

Best Actress: Felicity Huffman for Transamerica

Best Adapted Screenplay: Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana for Brokeback Mountain

Best Animated Feature Film: Hayao Miyazaki for Howl's Moving Castle

Best Animated Short Film: Andrew Jimenez and Mark Andrews for One Man Band

Best Art Direction: John Myhre and Gretchen Rau for Memoirs of a Geisha

Best Cinematography: Rodrigo Prieto for Brokeback Mountain

Best Costume Design: Colleen Atwood for Memoirs of a Geisha

Best Director: Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain

Best Documentary Feature: Hubert Sauper for Darwin's Nightmare

Best Documentary Short Subject: Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman for God Sleeps in Rwanda

Best Film Editing: Claire Simpson for The Constant Gardener

Best Foreign Language Film: Paradise Now - Palestine

Best Live Action Short Film: Sean Ellis and Lene Bausager for Cashback

Best Makeup: Howard Berger and Tami Lane for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Best Original Score: Dario Marianelli for Pride & Prejudice

Best Original Screenplay: Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco for Crash

Best Original Song: Kathleen "Bird" York and Michael Becker: "In the Deep" for Crash

Best Picture: Diana Ossana and James Schamus for Brokeback Mountain

Best Sound Editing: Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn for King Kong

Best Sound Mixing: Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Rick Kline, and John Pritchett for Memoirs of a Geisha

Best Supporting Actor: Jake Gyllenhaal for Brokeback Mountain

Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams for Junebug

Best Visual Effects: Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard Taylor for King Kong

--- end of ballot ---

EDIT: Oops, just realised the oscar has started when I post

 

[jsw]

Well, stunningly, I think I nailed it!! I posted some guesses first, but, after thinking some more about it, my second list was dead-on. Note that it isn't edited, of course.

 

[Clix Pix]

I got twelve out of twenty-four....

 

[angelneo]

Blah... me and my poor pathetic attempt

 

[amateurmacfreak]

Anyone here pissed Reese won over Felicity Huffman? Reese is sweet enough and all, but really... I think there were some superior actresses.
Also, anyone suprised Cashback didn't win for live-action short? I sort of though t it would.... hmm.
I wish Syriana and Munich had won more stuff. And Good Night and Good Luck.

 

[Doctor Q]

Thanks to everyone who played! Here are the results. My tallys are based on the posts as of an hour before the awards started.

1st place - 18 correct: Doctor Q
2nd place tie - 15 correct: aloofman, 2nyRiggz
4th place tie - 14 correct: xli_ne, _Matt
6th place - 13 correct: treblah
7th place tie - 12 correct: Clix Pix, Mitthrawnuruodo
9th place tie - 10 correct: jsw, RBMaraman

So I won the contest this year. How suspicious that the guy who started the thread and does the accounting comes out first. There's obviously a conflict of interest here.

So, as winner of the MacRumors "Predict the 2005 Oscars" contest, I hereby award myself the grand prize: A round trip to Los Angeles!

By the way, I lost the pool at the Oscar party I go to every year. For the third year in a row, I came in second, and all three years it was my wife (Mrs. Q) who won! So I can be best in a forum of 60,000 members but I can't be best in my own home! The last two years, she had more correct predictions than I did. This year we each had 18 correct, even though we got them right in different categories, so the winner was decided by coin toss. She guessed heads and heads it was. Auuugh!

See related threads: The Oscars: Crash? WTF? and The Oscars - Actors hate DVDs?

 

[Doctor Q]

Usually some movie wins a whole slew of awards. This year, four pictures each won 3 awards, and none won more than that. Very few bragging rights.

Brokeback Mountain
Best Adapted Screenplay: Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana
Best Director: Ang Lee
Best Original Score: Gustavo Santaolalla

Crash
Best Film Editing: Hughes Winborne
Best Original Screenplay: Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco
Best Picture: Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman

King Kong
Best Sound Mixing: Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, and Hammond Peek
Best Sound Editing: Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn
Best Visual Effects: Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard Taylor

Memoirs of a Geisha
Best Art Direction: John Myhre and Gretchen Rau
Best Cinematography: Dion Beebe
Best Costume Design: Colleen Atwood

 

[Clix Pix]

Anyone here pissed Reese won over Felicity Huffman? Reese is sweet enough and all, but really... I think there were some superior actresses.

While I'm sure Reese did a nice job in her role, a lot of it would've come more naturally to her because of her own background. Felicity Huffman's performance was so amazing because she was conveying something VERY difficult: a male in the process of completing the transgender process into becoming a female. Since Felicity herself is biologically female, she would've had to do some deep work in order to successfully portray a male becoming a female, a sort of learning process in reverse, then she needed to add another layer with showing female traits as they would be learned by someone not raised as a female. (Hope you get what I mean, this sentence looks awkward to me!)

But, yes, I really was rooting for Felicity Huffman all the way and was disappointed that she didn't get the Best Actress award.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Glad to see that my predictions were just as poor as last year. At least I'm consistent!

 

[amateurmacfreak]

While I'm sure Reese did a nice job in her role, a lot of it would've come more naturally to her because of her own background. Felicity Huffman's performance was so amazing because she was conveying something VERY difficult: a male in the process of completing the transgender process into becoming a female. Since Felicity herself is biologically female, she would've had to do some deep work in order to successfully portray a male becoming a female, a sort of learning process in reverse, then she needed to add another layer with showing female traits as they would be learned by someone not raised as a female. (Hope you get what I mean, this sentence looks awkward to me!)

But, yes, I really was rooting for Felicity Huffman all the way and was disappointed that she didn't get the Best Actress award.

Yeah, I agree completely. I'm sure Reese did a very nice job, but Felicity Huffman had a very hard role to play and she did it amazingly. I think Reese
did a quite nice job with all the emotion, but the role wasn't totally groundbreaking for her.
For anyone except a person who is one himself, the role of becoming a female from a male is a very hard role to play, it would seem.
I was annoyed she didn't mention any other of the actresses in the category... did she?
Oh, haha, Reese and I share a bday.... 3-22....And I'm sort of from Nashville too.

 

[xli_ne]

I can't believe it. After I got home from dinner and got to watch about 90 min. of the oscars. My gf asked who I thought was going to win picture of the year, "crash" i said. big upset.
They win, I'm happy for saying it and I check on here and joblo.com to see my picks and I picked "Capote" for picture of the year.
DAMN. O well, I didn't cost me 1st place, but still kinda pissed me off.

 

[freeny]

Was really rooting for my buddy Terrance Howard for best actor (went to college with him) but of course Mr Hoffman won being the favorite. Oh well, Hustle and flow was "Indie" and Capote was "mainstream" and this was expected. I also havent seen Capote so I cant really make the comparison. Terrance did however have a significant role in Crash and seems to be very proud of being involved in the "Best Picture" project.

Congrats Terrance and keep up the good work! Your day will come, your tallent deserves it.

 

[Doctor Q]

I watch the broadcast, but I usually miss seeing parts of the acceptance speeches, because I'm busy updating my spreadsheets and tallying votes, but I felt sorry for Jennifer Garner, who slipped as she walked up to the microphone.

Then again, I'm still mad at her for putting HER interests (marriage, family) ahead of MY interests (Alias).

 

[Clix Pix]

I watch the broadcast, but I usually miss seeing parts of the acceptance speeches, because I'm busy updating my spreadsheets and tallying votes, but I felt sorry for Jennifer Garner, who slipped as she walked up to the microphone.

Yes, that slip was a little awkward, but at least she didn't go down all the way and sprawl gracelelssly on the stage. THAT would've been mortifying.

I felt sorry for Lauren Bacall, who obviously was having some problems with her presentation. Her age or possible infirmity was clearly showing, even if not physically (cosmetic surgery, makeup, wigs and careful hairstyling can only go so far!).

 

[SilentPanda]

Yes, that slip was a little awkward, but at least she didn't go down all the way and sprawl gracelelssly on the stage. THAT would've been mortifying.

I felt sorry for Lauren Bacall, who obviously was having some problems with her presentation. Her age or possible infirmity was clearly showing, even if not physically (cosmetic surgery, makeup, wigs and careful hairstyling can only go so far!).

Yeah... she semi-tripped... not a huge deal though. People do those things... at least she recovered by saying that she does her own stunts...

I was kinda curious and trying to think who will be the "Lauren Bacall" for my kids or grand kids... I really don't know who Lauren Bacall is (I could find out but meh) and I'm sure when I'm much older somebody like.... Reese Witherspoon (probably not though!) will come out all old and frail and pretty much there to be "the token old person" and the kids/grand kids will wonder who she is...

Place your bets who the token old person will be for the 100th anniversary oscars in 2028!

 

[iRachel]

Wow...I did terribly with my predictions this year!

What did people think of Jon Stewart as host?

 

[SilentPanda]

Wow...I did terribly with my predictions this year!

What did people think of Jon Stewart as host?

I really like Jon Stewart on the Daily Show but I think he was too restricted in this format... he did okay but I felt like he had to hold back which made his hosting seem awkward.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Well, 12 out of 24 aren't too bad... especially since I've only seen 2 of the nomenees, so far, Star Wars III and Batman Begins...

 

[MacNut]

My vote for token old person in 30 years is Joan Rivers.

 

[Clix Pix]

I really like Jon Stewart on the Daily Show but I think he was too restricted in this format... he did okay but I felt like he had to hold back which made his hosting seem awkward.

Yes, I felt that he seemed out of his comfort zone and his customary venue, therefore didn't quite know where the boundaries would be and so was being extra careful.....

I did like that opening sequence where they showed many of the previous hosts -- that was cute!

 

[Clix Pix]

I watch the broadcast, but I usually miss seeing parts of the acceptance speeches...

I almost missed the first clip from the Best Picture nominees because it looked as though they were cutting away for a commercial break, so I got up and started to leave the room. What I was hearing didn't sound like a commercial, though, so I turned back to look and realized that this HAD to be a film clip, which indeed it turned out to be. After that I was alert and didn't jump up to go do something else the minute they cut away from the ceremony. Wonder how many other people missed some of the Best Picture nominees clips because of that?

Oh -- and why was I leaving the room? Not for what you think! Why, I was coming back into the other room where my iMac lives, so that I could check on what was being said on MR!! LOL!

 

[Clix Pix]

Place your bets who the token old person will be for the 100th anniversary oscars in 2028!

Hm.... Actually, I don't think many of the actors and actresses of my generation (which is what we're talking about here because in 2028 I'll be in my early 80's) have the staying power that some of those from the past did. Legendary stars such as Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, etc., all got their start under the studio system, which of course no longer exists today and hasn't for some time.

Off the top of my head, I can think of only a couple women of my generation who have been in some outstanding films in the past who are no longer acting so who most likely wouldn't be toddling up to the podium in 2028: Mia Farrow and Liza Minneli. Both are still famous, but neither has been in films for quite a long while. Jane Fonda's a bit older, but she might still be around in 2028. Sandra Dee was a star in my youth but sadly she was one of those shown in the memorial tribute.

Actors? That's weird, for some reason I can't think of a one right now, but of course there are some. When I think of the men of my generation my attention turns to the musicians: Bob Dylan, for example.

Gotta think about this some more....

 

[Doctor Q]

Actors? That's weird, for some reason I can't think of a one right now, but of course there are some. When I think of the men of my generation my attention turns to the musicians: Bob Dylan, for example.

Dustin Hoffman was a presenter last night. He might still be showing up in 2028. Of course, he might still be making films then too.

Its probably the case that older women have more trouble getting movie roles than older men (actors judged on their looks, men allowed to have gray hair and wrinkles, etc.), so men like Dustin Hoffman and Clint Eastwood and Jack Nicholson get more of a chance to act until later in life, while Diane Keaton and other actresses (can't think of a good example off the top of my head... Goldie Hawn?) have to work harder for parts. The likely result is that there are more ex-actresses than ex-actors.

Shelley Winters was one of the few actresses who purposely stopped taking roles that relied on her looks, preventing her from being overlooked for later roles. She made a long career out of it.

 

[Clix Pix]

Dustin Hoffman was a presenter last night. He might still be showing up in 2028. Of course, he might still be making films then too.

Oh, of course, I forgot Dustin Hoffman! And, yes, he was there last night.... he's around my age, give or take a little. I remember when "The Graduate" first appeared in theatres.

Right you are that so often the men can keep right on truckin' with their film careers while the women get sidelined unless, like Shelley Winters, they want to take on character roles. Goldie Hawn first became known on TV and then carried over her bubbliness and cuteness to the big screen; now it's been quite some time, hasn't it, since she's been in a film? Her daughter, Kate Hudson, has kind of picked up the banner...

Sissy Spacek is another film actress of my generation and she did an outstanding job not too long ago in a film (the name of which I've forgotten right now), but, yes, it was playing a middle-aged wife and mother. Many actresses who have started their careers based more on their looks than their acting talent slip away when middle age starts encroaching and the film offers aren't coming in any more. There just aren't that many good roles out there for middle-aged women and often when those do come up, some actresses probably don't want to accept them because they don't want it being said that "So-and-So, who used to be sooo beautiful is now playing dowdy "Mother" and "Grandmother" roles."

Diane Keaton, I think, was more noted for her quirkiness and her distinct mannerisms than her looks or her acting skills in her earlier days. Certainly working with Woody Allen helped her film career off to a good start.

I always liked Shelley Winters. Not too long ago I saw the DVD of "A Patch of Blue," which was an interesting little film with Sidney Poitier. I remembered seeing it in the theatres MANY years ago, so when I spotted the DVD at the library, brought it home for a trip down memory lane.

Ah, just remembered another actress who is around my vintage: Hayley Mills. She first appeared in a British film called "Tiger Bay," which brought her an offer from Disney, and after that her career was caught up in many Disney films which brought her loads of money and fame.... but I think the last Hayley has done any acting was in "Flame Trees of Thika." ??

Oh, yes, and there's Patty Duke.... She first came to attention in the film "The Miracle Worker," having previously acted the role of Helen Keller on Broadway. At the time (early 1960's) she was the youngest ever to win an Academy Award, taking home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She still pops up now and then on TV in various shows, either as a guest artist or a couple of times in series which never got off the ground. It's been a LONG time since she's made any films, though. Her sons, Sean Astin and (don't remember the other one's name) are both actors now in their own right.

Gee, I'm on a roll now with the women, but for some reason am still drawing blanks with the men!

 

[RBMaraman]

While I'm sure Reese did a nice job in her role, a lot of it would've come more naturally to her because of her own background. Felicity Huffman's performance was so amazing because she was conveying something VERY difficult: a male in the process of completing the transgender process into becoming a female. Since Felicity herself is biologically female, she would've had to do some deep work in order to successfully portray a male becoming a female, a sort of learning process in reverse, then she needed to add another layer with showing female traits as they would be learned by someone not raised as a female. (Hope you get what I mean, this sentence looks awkward to me!)

But, yes, I really was rooting for Felicity Huffman all the way and was disappointed that she didn't get the Best Actress award.

I take it from your line "I'm sure Reese did a nice job..." that you haven't seen "Walk the Line", correct? I really recommend you see it (even if you don't like Johnny Cash), because you'll understand why Reese won.

While I do agree that Felicity Huffman did play a very difficult role, the Oscars don't just recognize a persons performance. They also recognize what all an actor had to to to prepare for a role.

Reese Witherspoon not only spent time with June Carter Cash studying and learning how she acts, she also learned how she sings. Then, she took voice lessons to learn to sing. On top of that she learned to play the guitar, banjo, and piano. Then she had the guts to sing for the film and soundtrack. That's a lot of work to prepare for a single role.

I haven't seen "Transamerica" yet, so I haven't gotten to see how great Felicity is. But, in my opinion, Reese did an amazing job and definitely deserved her Oscar.