Now I understand that the Oscars have very little, if anything, to do with my academic life here at Azusa Pacific University.
But I’m a film lover. A lover of films. And I’ve been spending quite a few of my recent weekends at the local AMC. And let me tell you – I am excited for this year’s Academy Awards more so than any other year in recent memory, and that is because this year, I’ve seen almost every major film nominated. Now that’s a feat – an expensive one at that (especially at ten bucks a movie…whatever happened to five dollar movies? or at least a five dollar matinee?!)
So on February 22, myself and a number of my closest friends will be sitting in front of the television, ballot in hand, tuned into ABC at 5:00 PM Pacific Time to watch Hugh Jackman (don’t ask me why) host the 81st Annual Academy Awards.
So to prepare for the big night, I’ve filled out my own personal ballot of who I think will win the awards. And here it is:
Actor – Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Supporting Actor – Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Actress – Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Supporting Actress – Amy Adams (Doubt)
Animated Film – WALL-E
Art Direction – Benjamin Button
Cinematography – Slumdog Millionaire
Costume Design – Benjamin Button
Directing – Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Documentary Feature – Man On Wire
Documentary Short – The Witness
Film Editing – Slumdog Millionaire
Foreign Language Film – Waltz with Bashir
Makeup – Benjamin Button
Music – Slumdog Millionaire
Music (Song) – “O Saya” Slumdog Millionaire
Short Film (Animated) – Presto
Short Film (Live Action) – New Boy
Sound Editing – The Dark Knight
Sound Mixing – The Dark Knight
Visual Effects – Benjamin Button
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) – Slumdog Millionaire
Writing (Original Screenplay) – Milk
Best Picture – Slumdog Millionaire
Now, every year it’s a struggle between who I hope wins the award, and who I think will actually end up winning. I vote based on who I think will be chosen by the Academy, but a couple awards this year, such as actress Anne Hathaway’s brilliant performance in “Rachel Getting Married” (and really “Rachel Getting Married” in general), the best picture category’s lack of nominating “The Dark Knight”, and best original screenplay for “In Bruges” are all awards that I hope will win.
Come Sunday night, we’ll all find out!
