Oscars are coming up in just a matter of days. Who will win? Who doesn't stand a chance? What's over-rated? Is the Academy ever on the right track? LMI hosts Lee Tistaert and Jason Kaplan, with special guest Jeremy discuss such issues and more...

Jason: Despite the awards The Hours’ book was awful, so it was really well adapted in my opinion.

Jeremy: Adaptation should definitely win since it clearly had the better writing.

Lee: Greek Wedding is so simple and straightforward, yet its success and the fact that it won't win anything else could be its reason for winning screenplay. I don't know if it will actually happen, but I fear it.

Jeremy: But Adaptation hasn’t really been as well received by the public as the other films have.

Jason: The Pianist was an incredible movie. I don't know how much the script matters.

Jeremy: Greek Wedding has a terrible script. I mean, look at it; they adapted it to be a sitcom and even the sitcom stinks.

Lee: I would've enjoyed Pianist more if it grabbed attention stronger from the start.

Jason: They start with the Nazis invading Poland. Can't get more attention grabbing than that.

Jeremy: How did the beginning not grab your attention? It opens quite powerfully with the bombing of the studio.

Lee: But in terms of directorial style, it's sort of slow for a little bit.

Jason: I think it gets slower; that's part of the torture.

Jeremy: Not really, I thought the pacing was amazing throughout.

Lee: It took me about 20 - 30 min.’s to get into it, but then I was totally wrapped around it.

Jason: As he loses his friends and contacts.

Lee: I didn't like the last scene, either.

Jeremy: You are supposed to be lulled into the beginning as it reflects how the Jews were feeling while being deprived more and more of their liberties.

Jason: Exactly.

Lee: Yeah, but it was revisiting Schindler's List and Life is Beautiful.

Jason: There's a huge contrast. There's a long discussion on IMDB about the differences, but we'll come back to it. Supporting Actor…I'd say Paul Newman has a good chance at a sentimental win.

Jeremy: Chris Cooper, no doubt.

Lee: Newman deserves to win, but Cooper could get it;.

Jeremy: Paul Newman’s role was subtly done, but maybe a little too much. I felt it lacked some necessary emotion.

Jason: Newman didn't do much.

Lee: I thought he held a lot of power in that even when he had no dialogue.

Jason: Supporting Actress…

Lee: Ed Harris to me is sort of like the yearly Acadamy role he has; he's got to be mentioned every year for something.

Jason: He was all right. I thought the modern part of The Hours significantly degraded the movie

Lee: I think as long as Latifah and Zeta-Jones don't win, I won't care too deeply who it goes to.

Jason: CZJ should definitely not win.

Lee: But also, I think Moore was over-rated in both Far from Heaven and Hours, but better in Hours. Kathy Bates has the buzz from her nude scene.

Jason: I've heard it isn't pretty.

Lee: To say the least.

Jason: I liked Moore in Hours.

Lee: It's sort of a shock because you aren't really expecting it, unless you already know. I thought Moore in Hours was a lot more focused than Heaven; Heaven overall was pretty straightforward.

Jason: Film Editing…I'd have to admit Chicago has got a real good chance at this one; a deserving chance.

Lee: If only they edited Gangs to only 3 subplots instead of 6.

Jason: Haha.

Lee: Maybe I would've liked it more…

Jason: I don't think TTT stood out is this category. The Hours has a unique editing task, but it's fairly straightforward. The beginning scene was nicely done, but otherwise nothing special.

Jason: Cinematography…

Jeremy: Road to Perdition has perfect cinematography; every scene is art and Hall, the chief cinematographer, has won plenty of times - most recently for American Beauty.

Lee: I think Signs' shots were really well captured, but Perdition's was more concentrated I think, in mood.

Jason: Unfortunately, Signs doesn't even have a chance at anything.

Jeremy: Each shot in Perdition perfectly reflected the mood of the scene.

Jason: Signs was on the top of the most overlooked poll.

Lee: The opening scene with the crop fields was some of the best camera work I've seen in recent time.

Jeremy: It really wasn't that impressive, but it was good.

Jason: I liked the camera work in some of the dance routines in Chicago.

Jeremy: Road to Perdition’s final shot in the all white room by the beach was absolutely astounding.

Jason: There's one moment in Chicago where you can only she CZJ reflection on the black floor. That was so well set up. I found the white room ending in Perdition contrived.

Jeremy: Yes of course, it was pure craftsmanship. But it doesn't matter; it still was a incredible shot. The shot revealing the murderer in the mirror was another magnificent shot.

Jason: Costume Design…

Lee: Costume design was one of the only worthy items I found in Gangs. That, and art direction.

Jason: I can't see The Hours winning, but Frida had some interesting costume designs.

Lee: Chicago or Gangs, I think.

Jeremy: While I disagree mostly with that statement about Gangs, the costumes are deserving of an Oscar.

Jason: Art Direction…I'd have to go with Frida.

Jeremy: It's probably going to be Chicago since everyone seems to be in love with the feel and look of that.

Jason: Yeah. Frida was incredibly unique. If the Academy wants to award more than buzz, Frida is the top choice for me.

Jeremy: Haven't seen it, but heard it was boring and had a very bland portrayal of the artist.

Oscar Chat Continued >>
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