2006 TOP TEN MOVIES/ALBUMS (#1)/ACADEMY AWARDS CHOICES & PREDICTIONS

So, here we are at number one. Without wasting any time, here they are...

#1

The Departed directed by Martin Scorsese

-Martin Scorsese's triumphant return to the crime-genre that made him is yet another star-studded masterpiece by one of my favourite living directors. Everything about this film is fantastic and it deserves no less than a full-star review; anyone who gives it a lower grade isn't giving the film the film what it truly deserves. This film has all the elements of a great gangster film: hard-boiled action, raw intensity and believable performances; on top of that, it is also very, very funny. The cast of this film is incredible. Leonardo DiCaprio gives one of the best performances of his career, Jack Nicholson continues on the road of great performances, Matt Damon is excellent and Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg provide fantastic supporting roles. This film deserves to win each and every award the Academy has to offer. Scorsese, one of the greatest living film-makers, shines yet again providing his fans with yet another fantastic film to go with his other masterworks such as Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Mean Streets, etc. I have seen this film four times in theaters alone; it remains exciting and fresh every time I see it.

Bob Dylan Modern Times

-Much like Scorsese, Bob Dylan is a master of his craft. Modern Times is a masterpiece the way only Dylan can make 'em. Like the #2 on this list, Orphans, this album is beyond description. One has to listen to the album if he really wants to understand what I am saying about it. One of the greatest songwriters of all time shows that he has no intention of stopping or even slowing down. Whether it be starring in commercials for Victoria's Secret or iPods or casting Scarlett Johansson in the video for "When the Deal Goes Down," Dylan remains a master in all aspects of music. There is nothing that can stop this man; he can do whatever he wants.

ACADEMY AWARDS PREDICTIONS The Oscars are almost upon us again.It is a well-known fact that the Oscars have never had enough guts to truly surprise an audience; that much is clear from this year's nominees (i.e. no Borat). The least we can hope for this year is that The Departed wins best picture and that the rightful winners win in each category, though I fear that will not be the case. Here are the Oscar nominations, who I want to win and who I think will win.

-

Best motion picture of the year

BABEL ($)

THE DEPARTED (*)

LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE ($)

THE QUEEN

Note: This category could go both ways. If the Academy wants to keep it safe, they will choose Babel. If the Academy wants to "surprise" the viewer, then Little Miss Sunshine will win; a real surprise would be seeing The Departed get the recognition it deserves.

-

Achievement in directing

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-BABEL

Martin Scorsese-THE DEPARTED (*) ($)

Clint Eastwood-LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA

Stephen Frears-THE QUEEN

Paul Greengrass-UNITED 93

Note: This could/should be Scorsese's year.

-

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Leonardo DiCaprio - BLOOD DIAMOND (*)

Ryan Gosling - HALF NELSON

Peter O'Toole - VENUS

Will Smith - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

Forest Whitaker - THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND ($)

Note: Where's Sacha Baron Cohen?

-

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Penélope Cruz - VOLVER

Judi Dench - NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Helen Mirren - THE QUEEN (*) ($)

Meryl Streep - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Kate Winslet - LITTLE CHILDREN

Note: It is almost guaranteed that Mirren will win. She is a great actress and deserves the Oscar.

-

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Alan Arkin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

Jackie Earle Haley - LITTLE CHILDREN

Djimon Hounsou - BLOOD DIAMOND

Eddie Murphy - DREAMGIRLS ($)

Mark Wahlberg - THE DEPARTED (*)

Note: If Murphy wins, they will be giving an Oscar to the same man who plays Norbit. Where is Jack Nicholson?

-

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Adriana Barraza - BABEL

Cate Blanchett - NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Abigail Breslin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (*)

Jennifer Hudson - DREAMGIRLS ($)

Rinko Kikuchi - BABEL (*)

Note: I would like to see either Breslin or Kikuchi win over Hudson; in my opinion, they had better performances.

-

Best animated feature film of the year

CARS(*) ($)

HAPPY FEET

MONSTER HOUSE

Note: Happy Feet gets a nomination but A Scanner Darkly doesn't?

-

Original screenplay

BABEL ($)

LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

PAN'S LABYRINTH (*)

THE QUEEN

Note: A film with as much imagination as Pan's Labyrinth deserves to win.

-

Adapted screenplay

BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN (*)

CHILDREN OF MEN

THE DEPARTED (*) ($)

LITTLE CHILDREN

NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Note: I want Borat to win this Award, but I also would like The Departed to win.

-

Best foreign language film of the year

AFTER THE WEDDING

DAYS OF GLORY (INDIGÈNES)

THE LIVES OF OTHERS

PAN'S LABYRINTH (*) ($)

WATER

Note: Where the hell is Volver?

-

Best documentary short subject (?)

THE BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT

RECYCLED LIFE

REHEARSING A DREAM

TWO HANDS

Note: I haven't seen any of the above films.

-

Best documentary feature

DELIVER US FROM EVIL

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (*) ($)

IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS

JESUS CAMP

MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY

Note: Al Gore for president in 2008!

-

Achievement in film editing

BABEL ($)

BLOOD DIAMOND

CHILDREN OF MEN (*)

THE DEPARTED

UNITED 93

Note: With the way Children of Men Was put together, it definitely deserves to win.

-

Achievement in art direction

DREAMGIRLS

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

PAN'S LABYRINTH (*) ($)

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

THE PRESTIGE

Note: The art direction in Pan's Labyrinth was fantastic. If Dreamgirls wins, I will be Extremely disappointed.

-

Achievement in cinematography

THE BLACK DAHLIA

CHILDREN OF MEN

THE ILLUSIONIST

PAN'S LABYRINTH(*) ($)

THE PRESTIGE

Note: The cinematography was also excellent in Pan's Labyrinth.

-

Achievement in costume design

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

DREAMGIRLS

MARIE ANTOINETTE (*) ($)

THE QUEEN

Note: Who else could win?

-

Achievement in visual effects

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST (*)

POSEIDON ($)

SUPERMAN RETURNS

Note: How does a film like Poseidon get nominated for an Oscar; I thought they were prestigious.

-

Achievement in makeup

APOCALYPTO

CLICK

PAN'S LABYRINTH (*) ($)

Note: Pan's is fantastic.

-

Achievement in sound editing

APOCALYPTO

BLOOD DIAMOND

FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS

LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (*) ($)

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Note: Does anyone really care who wins the sound awards?

-

Achievement in sound mixing

APOCALYPTO

BLOOD DIAMOND

DREAMGIRLS ($)

FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (*)

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Note: Again, no one cares about the sound Awards.

-

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

BABEL ($)

THE GOOD GERMAN

NOTES ON A SCANDAL

PAN'S LABYRINTH (*)

THE QUEEN

Note:I hope Pan's wins.

-

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

"I Need to Wake Up" - AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (*)

"Listen" - DREAMGIRLS($)

"Love You I Do" - DREAMGIRLS($)

"Our Town" - CARS

"Patience" - DREAMGIRLS($)

Note: Damn you, Dreamgirls!

-

Best animated short film (?)

THE DANISH POET

LIFTED

THE LITTLE MATCHGIRL

MAESTRONO

TIME FOR NUTS

Note: I haven't seen any of the above films.

-

Best live action short film(?)

BINTA AND THE GREAT IDEA (BINTA Y LA GRAN IDEA)

ÉRAMOS POCOS (ONE TOO MANY)

HELMER & SON

THE SAVIOUR

WEST BANK STORY

Note: Haven't seen any of these either.

-Alex