Oscar, Oscar...Who will win?
Hello, everybody. I'll get to my Oscar preview in a bit, but first...
Last week, the stimulus bill passed the Senate by a hair, and President Obama signed it into law on Tuesday. But now come the aftereffects, as the president launched an anti-foreclosure plan...and one person wasn't buying a single thing.
CNBC reporter Rick Santelli went full blast on Thursday lashing out against the new scheme, even lecturing the traders behind him in Chicago about organizing a new tea party in July. That video is already a major hit on YouTube, and I think it was a nice change of pace from all the Chris Brown/Rihanna/Octuplets mother mess we've been fed down our throats for over a week.
Now even though our economy remains in the shitter (sorry for the language), one thing that has survived all this for so long comes our way Sunday: The 81st Annual Academy Awards! For years on the former "Allen Report" site and on this blog, I have spent a week previewing the awards; but now, I've decided to cram all this into a few paragraphs.
The producers of this year's show, Bill Condon and Laurence Mark (the duo behind the feature film version of "Dreamgirls") have pulled no punches in an attempt to boost the awards' sagging ratings in recent year, even keeping the list of presenters under wraps until showtime...or so we thought. Tabloids have leaked out some names, including Jennifer Aniston and "Twilight's" Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to take the stage. And John Travolta is rumored to make his first public appearance there since the tragic death of his son. We'll all find out for ourselves.
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Slumdog Millionaire" are coming into the awards with 13 and 10 nominations respectively; both along with "Frost/Nixon", "Milk", and "The Reader" are battling it out for the Best Picture prize.
One notable name expected to posthumously claim Supporting Actor is Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight", but we also got Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr., 2006 Best Actor winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Michael Shannon in that. Meanwhile, Mickey Rourke may be bodyslamming his way to a Best Actor win following his Golden Globe and BAFTA victories, but don't count out Sean Penn; he got a SAG Award for "Milk" and he wants to add Oscar #2 to his mantle (Oscar #1 was for "Mystic River" five years ago). Richard Jenkins, Frank Langella, and Brad Pitt round out the All-American field
On the Best Actress side, it's all about Meryl Streep vs. Kate Winslet in a rivalry similar to the Yankees/Red Sox. Streep is up for "Doubt" and her 16th overall nomination while Winslet has been up so many times before without a single win. Whose name will Daniel-Day Lewis read when he opens the envelope? If not those two, then Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, or Melissa Leo; they want to put a stop to this.
And the one other question we'll all be asking is: How long will the show go? It is promised to be timed at three hours tops, but will it be kept?
Now that you're all set, here's who I think will walk out of the Kodak Theatre Sunday night with the richest prize in all of entertainment:
Hello, everybody. I'll get to my Oscar preview in a bit, but first...
Last week, the stimulus bill passed the Senate by a hair, and President Obama signed it into law on Tuesday. But now come the aftereffects, as the president launched an anti-foreclosure plan...and one person wasn't buying a single thing.
CNBC reporter Rick Santelli went full blast on Thursday lashing out against the new scheme, even lecturing the traders behind him in Chicago about organizing a new tea party in July. That video is already a major hit on YouTube, and I think it was a nice change of pace from all the Chris Brown/Rihanna/Octuplets mother mess we've been fed down our throats for over a week.
Now even though our economy remains in the shitter (sorry for the language), one thing that has survived all this for so long comes our way Sunday: The 81st Annual Academy Awards! For years on the former "Allen Report" site and on this blog, I have spent a week previewing the awards; but now, I've decided to cram all this into a few paragraphs.
The producers of this year's show, Bill Condon and Laurence Mark (the duo behind the feature film version of "Dreamgirls") have pulled no punches in an attempt to boost the awards' sagging ratings in recent year, even keeping the list of presenters under wraps until showtime...or so we thought. Tabloids have leaked out some names, including Jennifer Aniston and "Twilight's" Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to take the stage. And John Travolta is rumored to make his first public appearance there since the tragic death of his son. We'll all find out for ourselves.
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Slumdog Millionaire" are coming into the awards with 13 and 10 nominations respectively; both along with "Frost/Nixon", "Milk", and "The Reader" are battling it out for the Best Picture prize.
One notable name expected to posthumously claim Supporting Actor is Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight", but we also got Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr., 2006 Best Actor winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Michael Shannon in that. Meanwhile, Mickey Rourke may be bodyslamming his way to a Best Actor win following his Golden Globe and BAFTA victories, but don't count out Sean Penn; he got a SAG Award for "Milk" and he wants to add Oscar #2 to his mantle (Oscar #1 was for "Mystic River" five years ago). Richard Jenkins, Frank Langella, and Brad Pitt round out the All-American field
On the Best Actress side, it's all about Meryl Streep vs. Kate Winslet in a rivalry similar to the Yankees/Red Sox. Streep is up for "Doubt" and her 16th overall nomination while Winslet has been up so many times before without a single win. Whose name will Daniel-Day Lewis read when he opens the envelope? If not those two, then Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, or Melissa Leo; they want to put a stop to this.
And the one other question we'll all be asking is: How long will the show go? It is promised to be timed at three hours tops, but will it be kept?
Now that you're all set, here's who I think will walk out of the Kodak Theatre Sunday night with the richest prize in all of entertainment:
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger
Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke thinks he may have had it in the bag, but the Academy voters have given Best Actor to those who've played gay characters before; Tom Hanks in "Philadelphia" one of them. I think Sean Penn will continue that tradition this year.
Best Actress: Angelina Jolie's chances for a second Oscar (she last won in 2000 for "Girl, Interrupted") are now anything but diminished, and Anne Hathaway and Melissa Leo are praying for an upset. Streep and Winslet are great actresses, but I feel that it's time to pass the torch to Kate Winslet.
Best Director: Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire")
Best Picture: "Slumdog Millionaire"
We'll see what transpires when the 81st Annual Academy Awards with Hugh Jackman keeping things under control (and keeping an eye on his watch) comes at us Sunday night. And of course, I'll continue my ten-year tradition of sharing you my take on all this on Monday. So long and stay strong!
Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke thinks he may have had it in the bag, but the Academy voters have given Best Actor to those who've played gay characters before; Tom Hanks in "Philadelphia" one of them. I think Sean Penn will continue that tradition this year.
Best Actress: Angelina Jolie's chances for a second Oscar (she last won in 2000 for "Girl, Interrupted") are now anything but diminished, and Anne Hathaway and Melissa Leo are praying for an upset. Streep and Winslet are great actresses, but I feel that it's time to pass the torch to Kate Winslet.
Best Director: Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire")
Best Picture: "Slumdog Millionaire"
We'll see what transpires when the 81st Annual Academy Awards with Hugh Jackman keeping things under control (and keeping an eye on his watch) comes at us Sunday night. And of course, I'll continue my ten-year tradition of sharing you my take on all this on Monday. So long and stay strong!
