Analysis Part 3: Actress.

Cate Blanchett, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Pros: Cate Blanchett. In a sure Best Picture nominee.
Cons: Very little precursor attention, including missing the Globe and SAG noms. Maybe they're as tired of her as I am? Dare to dream...
Do I think she's in? Actually, I do. Underestimate Cate Blanchett at your peril when it comes to AMPAS. I'm still shocked she didn't actually win last year.

Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Pros: Great reviews. Looks great on the red carpet/hot young thing. She plays a drug addict and OMG that's so edgy from a former Disney princess or whatever. Lots of precursors, including all the important ones.
Cons: Not a sympathetic character. No one seems to be interested in her film apart from this performance. And hi, welcome to my bias talking, but "Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway"? Girl, please.
Do I think she's in? Unfortunately. I really shouldn't insult her so promiscuously when I haven't even seen the darn movie, hah.

Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Pros: Mostly great reviews and she's in a Mike Leigh film. Winning at the Globes can't hurt. Many precursors (NY, LA, Boston). A lot of people find her character extremely lovable.
Cons: ...and a lot find her character extremely annoying. Snubbed by BAFTA?!?!?! And SAG. In a small film unlikely to get any other nominations. An unknown up against many big stars.
Do I think she's in? In a lineup of five, I don't, but I won't be surprised at all if she gets in over Blanchett or Jolie. She's my extremely close sixth.

Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Pros: She's a distressed mother. In a Clint Eastwood movie. Yeah. Seems to have every important precursor nomination. She's Angelina Jolie and undoubtedly brings star power. They snubbed her for A Mighty Heart last year.
Cons: Hasn't won any precursors that would get her attention. Her star power may work against her... is her snub for The Mighty Heart an indicator that AMPAS doesn't like her rather than something they feel badly for?
Do I think she's in? Yes, but it's not a sure thing.

Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Pros: Critical acclaim and a decent amount of precursors for a film so tiny.
Cons: Who in what now?
Do I think she's in? No, she's just too obscure. Though her nomination wouldn't shock me.

Kristin Scott-Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Pros: Hey, she's French, and we learned to not underestimate the French last year. A past nominee, so she may look more attractive/familiar to voters when it comes to the smaller films like Leo's or Hawkins'. Globe nom.
Cons: Film is very small and OMG has subtitles. Other than the Globe nom, she doesn't have many precursors.
Do I think she's in? No, the film is too small.

Meryl Streep, Doubt
Pros: MERYL STREEP. Hasn't missed an important precursor award.
Cons: Film and especially performance have detractors, with many saying it's nowhere near close to her work in Sophie's Choice and you know they want this girl to WORK for that third Oscar.
Do I think she's in? Yes. The win may be an uphill battle for her, but let's wait until SAG.

Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Pros: Kate Winslet, y'all know she's badly overdue. Double Globe win with extremely likable speech. Lots of precursor awards.
Cons: Backlash? The film hasn't gotten tons of attention. I would have said confusion with vote splitting for The Reader, but it seems extremely clear that it's set that her role in that film is supporting while she's lead here.
Do I think she's in? Yes. And wouldn't another double win in one night be glorious? :)

LOL.

So, they had a Best Actress tie. Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. LOL TALK ABOUT BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM.

(Anne is making her speech now. And... it's kind of uncomfortable because she's like having a mental breakdown about her dad teaching her about good men or something)

And, why not. Best Actress 1990-2007.

Of course, subject to change.

1990
Kathy Bates - Misery
Anjelica Houston - The Grifters
* Helen Mirren - The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover *
Meryl Streep - Postcards from the Edge
Joanne Woodward - Mr. and Mrs. Bridge

1991
Juliette Binoche - Lovers on the Bridge
Geena Davis - Thelma & Louise
* Jodie Foster - The Silence of the Lambs *
Susan Sarandon - Thelma & Louise
Reese Witherspoon - Man on the Moon

1992
Catherine Deneuve - Indochine
* Sheryl Lee - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me *
Gong Li - Raise the Red Lantern
Kyra Sedgwick - Singles
Emma Thompson - Howards End

1993
Angela Bassett - What's Love Got to Do with It
Juliette Binoche - Three Colors: Blue
* Holly Hunter - The Piano *
Diane Keaton - Manhattan Murder Mystery
Emma Thompson - The Remains of the Day

1994
Isabelle Adjani - La reine Margot
* Linda Fiorentino - The Last Seduction *
Jennifer Jason Leigh - Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
Gong Li - To Live
Kate Winslet - Heavenly Creatures

1995
Toni Collette - Muriel's Wedding
Nicole Kidman - To Die For
Julianne Moore - Safe
***** ELISABETH SHUE - LEAVING LAS VEGAS *****
Meryl Streep - The Bridges of Madison County

1996
Brenda Blethyn - Secrets and Lies
Laura Dern - Citizen Ruth
Gwyneth Paltrow - Emma
* Emily Watson - Breaking the Waves *
Reese Witherspoon - Freeway
I cheat and have McDormand in Supporting...

1997
Julie Christie - Afterglow
Judi Dench - Mrs. Brown
* Jodie Foster - Contact *
Pam Grier - Jackie Brown
Victoire Thivisol - Ponette
I'm the biggest Kate Winslet fangirl ever, but anyone that says she was robbed this year is pretty insane.

1998
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth
Samantha Morton - Under the Skin
Gwyneth Paltrow - Shakespeare in Love
* Christina Ricci - Buffalo '66 *
Emily Watson - Hilary and Jackie
If TV movies count, boot Blanchett and the win goes to Angelina Jolie, amazing in Gia.

1999
Julianne Moore - The End of the Affair
Cecilia Roth - All About My Mother
* Hilary Swank - Boys Don't Cry *
Kate Winslet - Holy Smoke!
Reese Witherspoon - Election

2000
Cate Blanchett - The Gift
Ellen Burstyn - Requiem for a Dream
* Laura Linney - You Can Count on Me *
Renee Zellweger - Nurse Betty
Ziyi Zhang - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

2001
Maggie Cheung - In the Mood for Love
Nicole Kidman - Moulin Rouge! (and The Others)
Charlotte Rampling - Under the Sand
* Naomi Watts - Mulholland Dr. *
Renee Zellweger - Bridget Jones' Diary
If TV nominees are allowed, I'd boot Cheung and Rampling for Emma Thompson in Wit and Judy Davis in Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows.

2002
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Secretary
Isabelle Huppert - The Piano Teacher
Diane Lane - Unfaithful
Julianne Moore - Far from Heaven
* Samantha Morton - Morvern Callar *
If TV movies were allowed, I'd boot Huppert for Uma Thurman in Hysterical Blindness. Or maybe not. But she'd be a close sixth, since the year falls off fast after those six.

2003
Zooey Deschanel - All the Real Girls
* Scarlett Johansson - Lost in Translation *
Charlize Theron - Monster
Uma Thurman - Kill Bill, Vol. 1
Evan Rachel Wood - thirteen
This skews young, blonde, and pretty, doesn't it? Hmmm.

2004
Nicole Kidman - Dogville (and Birth)
Laura Linney - P.S...
Imelda Staunton - Vera Drake
Uma Thurman - Kill Bill, Vol. 2
* Kate Winslet - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind *

2005
Q'Orianka Kilcher - The New World
Yeong-ae Lee - Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Gwyneth Paltrow - Proof
Sarah Polley - The Secret Life of Words
* Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener *

2006
Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
Laura Dern - Inland Empire
Kirsten Dunst - Marie-Antoinette
* Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada *
Naomi Watts - The Painted Veil

2007
* Amy Adams - Enchanted *
Nicole Kidman - Margot at the Wedding
Laura Linney - The Savages
Sienna Miller - Interview
Tang Wei - Lust, Caution

Pardon me, I am in post-Oscar-but-pre-good-movie-hype mode. I tend to post a lot of things like this then look back in like two years and say "WHAT WAS I THINKING???!!!"

I just saw The Secret Life of Words.

Because at this point, I will do anything to avoid this paper. So, Sarah Polley in that is another one to add to the underrated list (and Tim Robbins too, to a lesser extent). And my Best Actress 2005 just went 0/5 with the Academy (it's technically 1/5 because Rachel Weisz is on here, but in lead). Sweet.

The Pulpys 2007 - Best Actress.

Best Actress :: Musical or Comedy
and the nominees are


Amy Adams as Giselle in Enchanted
(yeah, she gets the super-large picture...BUT SHE DESERVES IT!)



Katherine Heigl as Alison Scott in Knocked Up


Nicole Kidman as Margot in Margot at the Wedding


Laura Linney as Wendy Savage in The Savages


Ellen Page as Juno MacGuff in Juno


Molly Shannon as Peggy in Year of the Dog

and the winner is
AMY ADAMS, BITCHES!!!

Best Actress :: Drama
and the nominees are


Cate Blanchett as Jude Quinn in I'm Not There
(this should probably count as a musical/comedy. Oh well)


Julie Christie as Fiona Anderson in Away from Her


Laura Linney as Claire in Jindabyne


Anamaria Marinca as Otilia in 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days


Sienna Miller as Katya in Interview


Tang Wei as Wong Chia Chi in Lust, Caution

and the winner is
Tang Wei

If I had to combine all the nominees into one:
* Amy Adams *
Nicole Kidman
Laura Linney (The Savages)
Sienna Miller
Tang Wei

With apologies to Sienna Miller in Factory Girl, Ashley Judd in Bug, Belen Rueda in The Orphanage, Jodie Foster in The Brave One, Naomi Watts in Eastern Promises, Dakota Blue Richards in The Golden Compass, Christina Ricci in Black Snake Moan, Rose McGowan in Planet Terror, Keri Russell in Waitress, and Marketa Irglova in Once. Great year for actresses, again.

Analyzing: You guessed it...Best Actress.

Whole lot louder and a whole lot worse (that wasn't intended to describe #5 and #4 on this list, but as it so happens...).

5. Marion Cotillard, La vie en rose.

When I first saw La vie en rose, I thought the movie was terrible but Marion was okay; she had some good scene work but it wasn't cohesive. Then, I took a re-view and - yikes, what was I thinking there? What is the Academy thinking? What are all her fans thinking? This performance is tremendously loud and showy but it brings us - or at least me - absolutely nowhere emotionally. To be fair, it's partially the film's fault, absolutely destroying any chance she had of creating a cohesive character, but she still wasn't any good. Yeah, I guess she "transformed," through about eighty pounds of makeup (to be fair, that nomination was completely deserved). She never, ever bought me into the emotional life of this character. "Bonus" bad points for having the most annoying fans of the year.
Why she might win: Won the Globe and BAFTA. Her fans are very...enthusiastic. She's the one that probably got her film those extra Oscar nominations. Yes, as everyone points out, she's gorgeous and extremely charming in real life. Oscar loves a big showy biopic performance.
Why she might not: Still not the frontrunner, no matter what the Cotillard fans keep friggin' saying. Go away already. In a foreign film. In most direct Christie vs. Cotillard fights, Christie wins (NBR, SAG, BFCA, critics awards - she only got the BAFTA away from Christie, and they do love foreign performances and clearly loved La vie en rose).

4. Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

In my humble opinion, this nomination is purely symbolic. It means that Cate Blanchett is the new Meryl Streep - not in terms of acting ability, but as far as the Academy goes, she will get nominated for anything she does in the future, no matter what the quality. Yikes. Again, what was the Academy thinking? I don't think Blanchett here is as bad as Marion is, though. She's clearly having fun with her totally ridiculous role. I mean, when you're given lines to deliver like "all my bitches wear my collars" (that aren't meant to be ironic) and you sort of pull it off, that takes skill. That said, in the first Elizabeth movie C.Blah totally had nuance and fire. I get where the obsession with her in that movie comes from, even if she's not my personal win. But here? It was totally empty. She screams a lot, and wears fantastic giant outfits, but can't command the screen, nevertheless the wind, and nevertheless - thank God - a win.
Why she might win: She's Cate Blanchett. According to the crazies on her IMDb message board, the Academy "will feel that they owed her for the first Elizabeth movie and reward her for this one." Apparently they also want to "reward Cate Blanchett in lead." The movie basically exists to get her an Oscar nomination.
Why she might not: No precursors. Pretty much universally acknowledged as the worst nominee with the least chances of winning. If they really wanna vote for Cate, they'll vote for her in I'm Not There, which is absolutely without a doubt the better performance.

3. Ellen Page, Juno.

Tremendous jump in quality. I really didn't like Page at all in Hard Candy, in a horrendous role that was both overwritten and underwritten but that she really added nothing to. So when I heard raves about her in Juno, and saw the preview, I wasn't terribly excited. It looked like another Garden State, which I hated for its need to be incredibly hip and its lack of profundity. But then I saw Juno and, miracle of miracles: it was great. And so was Ellen Page. Maybe the reason the film's screenplay works as well as it does is because of her performance. Given bizarre dialogue, she completely pulls it off and sounds totally natural. She doesn't ever mug for attention, like other actors and actresses in comedy often do; she just says the lines pitch-perfectly. And yes, she is hilarious, but at the same time, she somehow manages to get across the idea that, at times, Juno just uses her snarkiness and slang as a defense mechanism. But the best parts of her performance, for me, are her less comedic moments, and more dramatic ones, like when she is in the bed with Paulie toward the end of the film, right after she's had her child. In these scenes, we see Juno's depth - was this what she was using her sarcasm to defend against? Though she's a smart-aleck and kind of an ass, we really feel for her.
Why she might win: Her movie made the most money - by farrrrr (the other movies are fucking small) - of all the nominees in this category. Newcomer who everyone seems to like. Playing the title character in a Best Picture nominee never hurts. Juno had more support than we thought (Director?). Roger Ebert's on her side!
Why she might not: Not the frontrunner. Failed to win the Globe. Juno backlash?

2. Julie Christie, Away from Her.

I am of two minds about Away from Her. First, I'm in awe that someone as young as Sarah Polley could pull off such an incredibly mature, deftly measured film. On the other hand, I'm a wee bit like "Sarah? Are you alive in there? You're not even thirty. Your films are already a wee bit stagnant. Show some passion dammit!" One thing I've never been of two minds about in Away from Her, though, is the magnificent Julie Christie. True, I, like many, may have been drawn in by her mere gloriousness, but I do think it's an absolutely wonderful performance. The mixture of strength, resignation, and utter terror against what she faces is simply fascinating and well-layered. And I don't see how people call her performance "boring" or "staid;" again, maybe it's just because of her magical fairy dust, but Julie Christie just sparkles on screen. She's got it, baby. She's had it for over forty years, and she ain't losing it now. That said - her performance had (way) more to it than that "I'd like you to make love to me, and then I'd like you to leave..." scene. It's the "*plate smash* EVERYTHING!" of 2007. Please show us something different!
Why she might win: Frontrunner. She's Julie Christie, legend and icon. Baity role. You know she got her film that Screenplay nomination.
Why she might not: Marion Cotillard's hype. I really don't think she gives a shit about the Oscars, at all.

1. Laura Linney, The Savages.

Laura Linney doesn't act. She simply is. That's the only excuse I can think of when it comes to her lack of Oscar love. She's just too natural. Oscar loves 'em showy or baity. They need a hook. They don't usually like normal if flawed characters - real characters, like the ones Linney excels at portraying. It's no different in The Savages. She doesn't just know this character, she is this character. I know this sounds stupid and generic, but it's true. The Savages wouldn't work without the psychological insight she (and to be fair, Hoffman and Bosco) provides to her character. And though Wendy Savage is prickly, neurotic, and has self-esteem issues, Linney stops her from being a downer with her wit and perfect comedic timing. Ahhhh, I love her. She is a national treasure.
Why she might win: Um...she's been popping up on those ballots they keep showing us with surprising frequency. She's the only American in this group. She's Laura Linney, dammit!!!
Why she might not: Not the frontrunner, and failed to get any precursors at all (I figured her chances were dead when she missed the Indie Spirit nom). Her nomination was an absolute shock - when the heck is the last time the shock nominee won the Oscar?

Will win: Normally, I'd say Christie. But all those "OMG LOOK AT THE SECRET OSCAR BALLOTS!!!!" things keep coming out, and Cotillard gets mentioned depressingly often (though everyone keeps saying "I don't think she'll win, but I voted for her anyway"). I'm gonna go with Cotillard and hope I'm wrong.
Might win: Christie, though, is probably still the frontrunner for a reason.
Dark horse: I think the money thing (and the Best Picture nomination thing) might come into play for Ellen Page. These other films are teeeeeeeny.
The snubbed: AMY FUCKING ADAMS. If we're going with badly-reviewed movies in Best Actress, Jodie Foster in The Brave One trumps Cate Blanchett times a billion. I didn't love Angelina Jolie but I would have been way happier to see her get nominated than Cate Blanchett. And of course, there are the performances that are so good but that horrify me in their lack of any precursor mentions...

You know you want it.

Hey, Academy. Remember that time you gave Jennifer Connelly the Oscar over four performances that completely towered over her, while she was Razzie-worthy? And remember how you didn't give Martin Scorsese an Oscar until 2006? And remember how you didn't give Spike Lee an Oscar ever? And remember how you only gave Lost in Translation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Best Original Screenplay? And remember how Bill Murray didn't win for the former? And how Scarlett Johansson wasn't even nominated? Well, if you do this little favor for me, I will forgive you for all this shit.

PS. Christie will do too.
PPS. Or Page, too. I guess.
PPPS. Please, not Marion. (Though I'm prepared to accept it.)
PPPPS. If Cate Blanchett upsets here, I am officially throwing something at the TV.

I don't have time for a full commentary right now, but...

Laura, you made my day!!!

I know I'm not the only one that heard someone whoop and go "yesss!" when her name got read out. Did you hear C.Blah get that? Marion? NO.

personal acting finalists '07

20 in each category in alpha order, as to not give much away. I hope I've made both interesting and viable choices. The ones I haven't seen: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Talk to Me, Things We Lost in the Fire, We Own the Night, The Great Debaters, Paris je t'aime, and Black Book, most notably...

BEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck, The Assassination...
Casey Affleck, Gone Baby Gone
Christian Bale, Rescue Dawn
Josh Brolin, No Country for Old Men
Steve Buscemi, Interview
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Chris Cooper, Breach
Russell Crowe, American Gangster
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson's War
Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild
Jude Law, Breaking and Entering
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
James MacAvoy, Atonement
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Ulrich Muhe, The Lives of Others
Gordon Pinsent, Away from Her
Brad Pitt, The Assassination...
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

BEST ACTRESS
Amy Adams, Enchanted (okay, I'll ruin this one for you, because it's pretty fucking obvious: she's winning Best Actress from me.)
Juliette Binoche, Breaking and Entering
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd
Julie Christie, Away from Her
Jodie Foster, The Brave One
Katherine Heigl, Knocked Up
Ashley Judd, Bug
Nicole Kidman, Margot at the Wedding
Laura Linney, Jindabyne
Laura Linney, The Savages
Anamaria Marinca, 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
Rose McGowan, Planet Terror
Sienna Miller, Factory Girl
Sienna Miller, Interview
Ellen Page, Juno
Christina Ricci, Black Snake Moan
Dakota Blue Richards, The Golden Compass
Belen Rueda, The Orphanage
Tang Wei, Lust, Caution

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (kind of a weird year.......)
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
John Carroll Lynch, Zodiac
Jeff Daniels, The Lookout
Paul Dano, There Will Be Blood
Robert De Niro, Stardust
Robert Downey Jr., Zodiac
Morgan Freeman, Gone Baby Gone
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Tommy Lee Jones, No Country for Old Men
James Marsden, Enchanted
Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Superbad
Armin Mueller-Stahl, Eastern Promises
Jeremy Piven, Smokin' Aces
Paul Rudd, Knocked Up
Ed Sanders, Sweeney Todd
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Justin Timberlake, Alpha Dog (JUUUSTIN.)
Christopher Walken, Hairspray (anyone that would nom Travolta over him is ON CRACK.)
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
Steve Zahn, Rescue Dawn

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Rosario Dawson, Death Proof
Jenna Fischer, Walk Hard (PAM!)
Deborra-Lee Furness, Jindabyne
Charlotte Gainsbourg, I'm Not There
Romola Garai, Atonement
Jennifer Garner, Juno
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Southland Tales
Nicole Kidman, The Golden Compass
Keira Knightley, Atonement
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Margot at the Wedding
Kelly MacDonald, No Country for Old Men
Leslie Mann, Knocked Up
Samantha Morton, Control
Samantha Morton, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Vanessa Redgrave, Atonement
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Imelda Staunton, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Marisa Tomei, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Kerry Washington, I Think I Love My Wife

Best Actress '06 poses with...

... Best Actress 07??? MAKE IT HAPPEN, BITCHES!!!!

(I'm not that delusional. Quite frankly, I'm just praying for the nomination.)

Oscar winners from the '90s and beyond...

ouch

...who don't make my acting lineups for that year in their respective categories. Sometimes, it's because it was a fantastic year in that category and while they may have been incredible, I just don't have room for them (Mirren '06). Sometimes, it's cuz they blew hard (Connelly '01). Of course, to further procrastinate, I've included handy-dandy notes.

Best Actor
1992: Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman (horrendous. I love the Pach, but this is one of the worst Oscar wins ever. Ugh. What a joke. I like to pretend this is for his superb work in Glengarry Glen Ross the same year...shh, let me pretend)
1993: Tom Hanks in Philadelphia (I adore this performance but it is a very crowded year)
1998: Roberto Benigni in Life is Beautiful (almost ruined the film. Another horrendous win)
2002: Adrien Brody in The Pianist (not offensive like Pacino or Benigni, but not great either. Probably the worst in his category, and so far below Cage, Day-Lewis, and Nicholson that it's not even funny.)
2005: Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote (fantastic but no room in a crowded year)

Best Actress
1994: Jessica Lange in Blue Sky (a joke, and an awful win)
1995: Susan Sarandon in Dead Man Walking (I will admit to not being as big a fan of this performance as others. I do like it, however, but I have no room for it. '95 rocks in terms of actresses)
1997: Helen Hunt in As Good as It Gets (I do not find this the "worst Best Actress win ever" like it was recently voted. In fact, it's quite a great comedic performance. But 1997 is very crowded, and at least eight others TOWER over her)
2000: Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich (Quite good, just misses my lineup)
2001: Halle Berry in Monster's Ball (Not "an abortion" like some have called it, but least of the nominees. Nowhere near my lineup.)
2002: Nicole Kidman in The Hours (great and just misses my lineup, but probably the least great of her works in that fantastic 01-04 period of hers)
2004: Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby (great, but the year is incredibly high in quality and she isn't really anywhere near my lineup)
2006: Helen Mirren in The Queen (amazing in an UNBELIEVABLE year)

Best Supporting Actor
1991: Jack Palance in City Slickers (or, I dunno. I might nominate him. This year, in this category, is EMPTY.)
1992: Gene Hackman in Unforgiven (only if I count the Glengarry boys as individual units instead of tying them all for first...at any rate, great performance)
1993: Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive (yeah I don't know what they were thinking there)
1996: Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire (ditto?)
1997: Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting (not bad. Not anywhere near my lineup.)
1998: James Coburn in Affliction (see above...but slightly closer to my lineup)
1999: Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules (not bad, but well below his other nominees. However, I adore his speech from this year!)
2001: Jim Broadbent in Iris (I love him, and he makes it for Moulin Rouge!)
2005: George Clooney in Syriana (good, but not quite Oscar-worthy)
2006: Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine (just...wha? He was only like the third-best male supporting role in his own movie.)

Best Supporting Actress
1996: Juliette Binoche in The English Patient (great, and I have McDormand in Supporting because I'm weird like that...Binoche is my #6 so if I ever put McDormand in lead she'll be on the list. Great performance)
1997: Kim Basinger in L.A. Confidential (great...but there were five greater)
1999: Angelina Jolie in Girl Interrupted (not very good)
2000: Marcia Gay Harden in Pollock (NONE of the nominees this year would make my lineup. Harden comes closest, I think. Pretty good.)
2001: Jennifer Connelly in A Beautiful Mind (sucked. big. time.)
2004: Cate Blanchett in The Aviator (not more than mediocre, in a year very weak in this category she comes nowhere near it for me)

that's all?

I enjoy awards.

So today, instead of doing my work, I wrote down my winners for Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress from 1990-2006, and ranked them. Keep in mind, these are all subject to change and often, ranking these were extremely difficult - I mean, look at the Best Actor list. Jeremy Irons in last place??

Best Picture
1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. American Beauty (1999)
3. Angels in America (2003)
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
5. Schindler's List (1993)
6. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
7. Chicago (2002)
8. Goodfellas (1990)
9. The Departed (2006)
10. The Player (1992)
11. The Usual Suspects (1995)
12. Boogie Nights (1997)
13. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
14. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
15. The English Patient (1996)
16. A History of Violence (2005)
17. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Best Actor
1. Kevin Spacey in American Beauty (1999)
2. Ian McKellen in Gods and Monsters (1998)
3. Clive Owen in Closer (2004)
4. River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho (1991)
5. Denzel Washington in Malcolm X (1992)
6. Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt (2002)
7. Bill Murray in Lost in Translation (2003)
8. Ian Holm in The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
9. Robert Downey Jr. in "I Want Love" (2001)
10. Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
11. Christian Bale in American Psycho (2000)
12. Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain (2005)
13. Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
14. Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson (2006)
15. Jeffrey Wright in Basquiat (1996)
16. Paul Newman in Nobody's Fool (1994)
17. Jeremy Irons in Reversal of Fortune (1990)

Best Actress
1. Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
2. Naomi Watts in Mulholland Dr. (2001)
3. Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
4. Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs (1991)
5. Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
6. Holly Hunter in The Piano (1993)
7. Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream (2000)
8. Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
9. Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
10. Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation and Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (2003)
11. Angelina Jolie in Gia (1998)
12. Samantha Morton in Morvern Callar (2002)
13. Jodie Foster in Contact (1997)
14. Emma Thompson in Howards End (1992)
15. Rachel Weisz in The Constant Gardener (2005)
16. Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction (1994)
17. Helen Mirren in The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover (1990)

Best Supporting Actor
1. Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. Jeffrey Wright in Angels in America (2003)
3. Jack Lemmon in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
4. Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
5. Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List (1993)
6. Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects (1995)
7. Tom Cruise in Magnolia (1999)
8. Mark Ruffalo in You Can Count on Me (2000)
9. Edward Norton in Primal Fear (1996)
10. Chris Cooper in Adaptation. (2002)
11. Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast (2001)
12. Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential (1997)
13. Bill Murray in Rushmore (1998)
14. Joe Pesci in Goodfellas (1990)
15. Clive Owen in Inside Man (2006)
16. Jude Law in I Heart Huckabees (2004)
17. Michael Pena in Crash (2005)

Best Supporting Actress
1. Jennifer Connelly in Requiem for a Dream (2000)
2. Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago (2002)
3. Frances McDormand in Fargo (1996)
4. Sarah Polley in The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
5. Meryl Streep in Angels in America (2003)
6. Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction (1994)
7. Kate Winslet in Iris (2001)
8. Gong Li in Farewell, My Concubine (1993)
9. Kate Winslet in Sense and Sensibility (1995)
10. Mia Kirshner in The Black Dahlia (2006)
11. Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
12. Laura Linney in The Truman Show (1998)
13. Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
14. Virginia Madsen in Sideways (2004)
15. Lorraine Brocco in Goodfellas (1990)
16. Miranda Richardson in Damage (1992)
17. Diane Ladd in Rambling Rose (1991)

and that's that

Best Actress

Analyzing: Penelope Cruz, Volver
My rank among the nominees: 4th
How'd she get nominated?: Hype building for almost a year combined with the result.
Pros: The fact that she could get in with a subtitled film that didn't get other Academy support says a lot. She's hot.
Cons: They clearly didn't love the film since it was snubbed like all hell. Subtitled. "Oscar winner, Penelope Cruz?" Not Helen Mirren.
Basically, any chance of winning?: Nope. She's coming in dead last here.

Analyzing: Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
My rank among the nominees: 2nd
How'd she get nominated?: She's Judi Dench.
Pros: Judi Dench. Amazing performance backed up by reviews. Film got support from nominations (Blanchett, Score, Adapted Screenplay).
Cons: Not Helen Mirren. Already has an Oscar.
Basically, any chance of winning?: Nope.

Analyzing: Helen Mirren, The Queen
My rank among the nominees: 5th
How'd she get nominated?: A talented actress with no Oscar playing a real-life famous person in a Best Picture nominee prestige pic, backed up by glowing reviews?!
Pros: Virtually every damn critics award. Everyone loves her and recognizes her amazing talent but she's Oscarless. She's in a biopic. Rave, rave, rave reviews.
Cons: Um...backlash? This would have been a bigger factor already, like with Julianne Moore in 2002 with Far from Heaven. A whole bunch of critics awards, and then the Globes came and BAM! Nicole took over.
Basically, any chance of winning?: All the other nominees here have "not Helen Mirren" in their cons section for a reason.

Analyzing: Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
My rank among the nominees: 1st
How'd she get nominated?: Meryl effin' Streep
Pros: Everyone wants to see Meryl win another Oscar...she hasn't since '83! The only American in this category. People have been talking about her non-stop since this movie came out.
Cons: Not Helen Mirren. The movie is fluffy and didn't have much other Oscar support (if she got Blunt in with her, she might have a slightly better chance).
Basically, any chance of winning?: Nope. But she's coming in (a distant) second.

Analyzing: Kate Winslet, Little Children
My rank among the nominees: 3rd
How'd she get nominated?: Kate Winslet. 5 nominations at 31?! They clearly do like her.
Pros: As I just said, 5 nominations must mean they like her, especially in stuff like Little Children which played in like one teeny little hidden theater in LA for half a week and certainly didn't get out there with an FYC campaign. At the beginning of this year, she was considered the frontrunner.
Cons: Not Helen Mirren. Teensy tiny little film.
Basically, any chance of winning?: Nope. Not Helen Mirren.

Analyzing: Best Actress as a whole
Who will win: OH GOD THIS IS SO HARD. Um...just kidding. Helen Mirren has this all sewn (sown?) up.
Who should win: Okay, I know I ranked these ladies, but it might as well be a tie. Almost always, the categories have at least one nominee that makes me go "eh" or "ugh!" Here, not at all. They might as well all be the winners! It's just a shame that in such an amazing year for actresses, the same name kept coming up.
Unlucky sixth placer: Probably Maggie Gyllenhaal in Sherrybaby...but who can tell with this year? Nobody else ever got mentioned besides these five. Ahaaaa.
Snubbed: Many people. Among the most notable/ones I liked the most, Naomi Watts in The Painted Veil, Cate Blanchett in The Good German, Laura Dern in Inland Empire, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Sherrybaby.
Random cool fact about this category: Meryl Streep has the most nominations ever and Kate Winslet has the most nominations ever for someone her age.