Possum Holler

Possum Holler's biggest day is upon us: the day that Possum's Oscar Prophecies are announced. This year the excitement isn't confined to this tiny corner of the web universe. Other prophecies have been posted by Miles and Burly so far, and it is possible that we may have a couple of more entrants in the competition. I've done my best to see as many of these films as possible in order to offer the best predictions possible. The most noteable ones that I missed were Capote, March of the Penguins, History of Violence and Cinderella man...all of which should be coming throught Netflix in the next couple of weeks. So, here we go......

Best Picture: Brokeback Mountain
Crash has been gaining some momentum and could overtake Brokeback like Million Dollar Baby did to The Aviator a year ago, but I'm still going to go with the favorite.

Best Actor: Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Capote)
Despite the fact that this is pretty much a gimme, it is a very strong category. Ledger is the reason that I really liked Brokeback. Howard had a great year all around with Hustle & Flow being the crowning achievement. Even though I didn't like Walk the Line, I have to give credit to Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, and Strathairn was very strong in Good Night and Good Luck.

Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti (Cinderella Man)
The concensus seems to be that this will make-up for him not getting nominated last year for Sideways.

Best Actress: Felicity Huffman (TransAmerica)
This award may very well go to Reese Witherspoon, but Huffman is amazing as the man becoming a woman in TransAmerica.

Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz

Best Directing: Paul Haggis (Crash)
If I miss this one, I will probably miss Best Picture. I think that Brokeback and Crash will split these two awards. It could very easily be the opposite of my picks.

Cinematography: Good Night and Good Luck
I usually have an accurate feeling about this one, however, I did miss it last year.

Art Direction: Good Night and Good Luck

Animated Feature: Wallace & Gromitt: The Curse of the Wear Rabbit

Costume Design: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Documentary: March of the Penguins
But I don't understand why Grizzly Man and The Aristocrats were not nominated.

Documentary Short: God Sleeps in Rwanda

Film Editing: The Constant Gardener

Foreign Film: Joyeux Noel
2046 was one of the best movies I saw this year and Kung Fu Hustle was one of my favorites. I don't know why neither was nominated.

Make Up: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Original Score: Memoirs of a Geisha

Original Song: It's Hard out Here for a Pimp

Animated Short: Jasper Morello

Live Short: Cashback

Sound Editing: King Kong

Sound Mixing: Walk the Line

Visual Effects: King Kong

Adapted Screenplay: Brokeback Mountain

Original Screenplay: Good Night and Good Luck
Though I really wish it were Squid and the Whale.

I'll be back next week with my best and favorite films of 2005.