Here is the complete listing of all Oscar Nominations along with a few thoughts.
You can see my early right and wrong predictions and corresponding reviews HERE.
Leave comments or observations by clicking on “comments” below this post!

My pick for who I think will win is in red.
My pick for who I want to win is in blue.
If they are the same choice they will still be red.

Best Picture
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
CRASH
CAPOTE
MUNICH
***Remove the over-rated “Brokeback” and replace it with any of the following and you have yourself a near perfect list: Cinderella Man, A History of Violence, Walk the Line, The New World, The Squid and the Whale or Pride & Prejudice.

Actor in a Leading Role
Philip Seymour Hoffman, CAPOTE
Heath Ledger, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Terrence Howard, HUSTLE AND FLOW
David Strathairn, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
Joaquin Phoenix, WALK THE LINE
***Hoffman is under-rated; I’ve always said so. But Capote was an impersonation…not a performance. It belongs on SNL, not at the Oscars. It’s too bad he’ll take an award for the more deserving David Strathairn.

Actress in a Leading Role
Felicity Huffman, TRANSAMERICA
Charlize Theron, NORTH COUNTRY
Reese Witherspoon, WALK THE LINE
Keira Knightley, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Judi Dench, MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS
***One of the only total locks I have found. I’d bet my sister’s new pink sweater that Witherspoon wins hands down.

Best Director
Steven Spielberg, MUNICH
Ang Lee, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
George Clooney, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
Paul Haggis, CRASH
Bennet Miller, CAPOTE
***No Ron Howard? What a joke.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Paul Giamatti, CINDERELLA MAN
George Clooney, SYRIANA
Matt Dillon, CRASH
William Hurt, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
Jake Gyllenhaal, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
***Lock #2 here. Call Vegas now. But all of these were excellent performances.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Rachel Weisz, THE CONSTANT GARDENER
Frances McDormand, NORTH COUNTRY
Michelle Williams, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Amy Adams, JUNEBUG
Catherine Keener, CAPOTE
***Amy Adams was absolutely adorable in Junebug. Another solid group of choices.

Best Original Screenplay
Woody Allen, MATCH POINT
George Clooney & Grant Heslov, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK
Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco, CRASH
Stephen Gaghan, SYRIANA
Noah Baumbach, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE

Best Adapted Screenplay
Dan Futterman, CAPOTE
Josh Olson, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
Jeffrey Caine, THE CONSTANT GARDENER
Tony Kushner & Eric Roth, MUNICH
Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

Best Original Score
Alberto Iglesias, THE CONSTANT GARDENER
Dario Marianelli, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Gustavo Santaolalla, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
John Williams, MUNICH
John Williams, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
***They should re-name this award to “The John Williams best original score award.”

Best Animated Film
WALLACE AND GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT
THE CORPSE BRIDE
HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE
***Of these, only saw W&G. It should win.

Best Art Direction
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
KING KONG
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

Best Cinematography
Rodrigo Prieto, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Robert Elswit, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK
Emmanuel Lubezki, THE NEW WORLD
Dion Beebe, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
Wally Pfister, BATMAN BEGINS
***Getting snubbed for best motion picture, The New World should take this, but it probably won’t. This is Brokeback’s year.
***It’s nice to see Batman get noticed for something.

Best Costume Design
MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
WALK THE LINE

Best Documentary Feature
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
MURDERBALL
DARWIN’S NIGHTMARE
STREET FIGHT
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM
***Penguins was way over-rated and long. Cute; but I got the gist within 15 minutes. I’ve seen the same thing a million times on National Geographic on PBS. ***Same thing with Murderball… I got the gist from the trailer. I didn’t need to learn about the coach’s son taking violin lessons. Boring.

Best Documentary (Short Subject)
THE DEATH OF KEVIN CARTER: CASUALTY OF THE BANG BANG CLUB
GOD SLEEPS IN RWANDA
THE MUSHROOM CLUB
A NOTE OF TRIUMPH: THE GOLDEN AGE OF NORMAN CORWIN

Best Film Editing
CINDERELLA MAN
THE CONSTANT GARDENER
CRASH
MUNICH
WALK THE LINE
***The fight scenes alone should garner the award for Cinderella Man…especially since it should’ve been up for best picture, it might get the sympathy award.

Best Makeup
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
CINDERELLA MAN
STAR WARS, EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH
***Another sympathy vote. Plus, Hollywood hates George Lucas.

Best Short Film (Animated)
BADGERED
THE MOON AND THE SON: AN IMAGINED CONVERSATION
THE MYSTERIOUS GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORATIONS OF JASPER MORELLO
9
ONE MAN BAND

Best Short Film (Live-Action)
AUSREISSER (THE RUNAWAY)
CASHBACK
THE LAST FARM
OUR TIME IS UP
SIX SHOOTER

Best Sound Editing
KING KONG
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
WAR OF THE WORLDS

Best Sound Mixing
WALK THE LINE
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
WAR OF THE WORLD
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
KING KONG

Best Visual Effects
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
KING KONG
WAR OF THE WORLDS
***This is the biggest joke in the entire awards show. How Star Wars Episode III was not nominated is beyond me. The sheer number of fantastic effects shots in the film is enough for a win. Not to mention the fact that every shot looked perfect. Despite some scenes with amazing FX, I seem to remember Kong having some of the worst effects I’ve seen in 10 years.
***The scene in WOTW when the aliens attack and Cruise is running through the dust of people who are being disintegrated right in front of him is SWEET, but that’s it. And I’ve seen talking animals before Narnia even existed.
***I’m not picking who I want to win for this category as it is obviously a middle finger to George Lucas for not including Hollywood in his money making scheme known as the greatest story ever put to film.

Best Original Song
“In the Deep” - CRASH, Music by Kathleen “Bird” York and Michael Becker; Lyric by Kathleen “Bird” York
“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” - HUSTLE & FLOW Music and Lyric by Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard
“Travelin’ Thru” — TRANSAMERICA, Music & Lyrics by: Dolly Parton
***I hate to see rap win a best of anything, but the emotion and heart put into this song by the characters in the film is what made me like this movie.

Best Foreign Film
SOPHIE SCHOLL - THE FINAL DAYS
DON’T TELL
MERRY CHRISTMAS (JOYEUX NOEL)
PARADISE NOW
TSOTSI
***As long as the pro-terrorist film from Plaestine (Paradise Now) doesn’t win, I’m fine with whatever. I didn’t see any of these.

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     The Screen Actors Guild held its annual meeting to bestow more honors among their peers. Here are the winners that I agree with exactly. Amazing that Hollywood and I agree on something so thoroughly and exactly. Winners are in red and bold.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:
Russell Crowe / CINDERELLA MAN – Jim Braddock (Universal Pictures)
Philip Seymour Hoffman / CAPOTE – Truman Capote (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Heath Ledger / BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Ennis Del Mar (Focus Features)
Joaquin Phoenix / WALK THE LINE – John R. Cash (20th Century Fox)
David Strathairn / GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK. – Edward R. Murrow (Warner Independent Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:
Judi Dench / MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS – Mrs. Laura Henderson (The Weinstein Company)
Felicity Huffman / TRANSAMERICA – Bree (The Weinstein Company)
Charlize Theron / NORTH COUNTRY – Josey Aimes (Warner Bros.)
Reese Witherspoon / WALK THE LINE – June Carter (20th Century Fox)
Ziyi Zhang / MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA – Sayuri (Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:
Don Cheadle / CRASH – Graham (Lions Gate Films)
George Clooney / SYRIANA – Bob Barnes (Warner Bros.)
Matt Dillon / CRASH – Officer Ryan (Lions Gate Films)
Paul Giamatti / CINDERELLA MAN – Joe Gould (Universal Pictures)
Jake Gyllenhaal / BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Jack Twist (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:
Amy Adams / JUNEBUG – Ashley (Sony Pictures Classics)
Catherine Keener/ CAPOTE – Nelle Harper Lee (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Frances McDormand / North Country – Glory (Warner Bros)
Rachel Weisz / THE CONSTANT GARDENER – Tessa Quayle (Focus Features)
Michelle Williams / BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Alma (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (Focus Features)
CAPOTE (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
CRASH (Lions Gate Films)
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK. (Warner Independent Pictures)
HUSTLE & FLOW (Paramount Classics)

…Even though they’re not big screen, here are the winners for a couple of TV categories. I was happy to see “Lost” win as it is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. However, I would’ve like to see almost anything win other than “Desperate Housewives” win for comedy cast. I think it should clearly be Arrested Development or Boston Legal…it’s not even close, but whatever. It’s only TV (hence small letters).

Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series:
The Closer
Grey’s Anatomy
Lost
Six Feet Under
The West Wing

Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series:
Arrested Development
Boston Legal
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Desperate Housewives
My Name is Earl
Everybody Loves Raymond

     I was saddened today to hear the news that Chris Penn has died. Brother of Sean Penn, Chris was in a lot of great movies over the years: True Romance, Mulholland Falls and Footloose, just to name a few. But he’ll be remembered most by me as Joe Cabot’s unforgiving son, “Nice Guy” Eddie, in Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs.”

     No cause of death has been announced yet, but I hope it was at least peaceful.

R.I.P. Chris. I’m going to watch Reservoir Dogs tonight.
Thanks for the memories.

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† = WINNER

Best Motion Picture - Drama
A History Of Violence
†Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Good Night, And Good Luck
Match Point

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Maria Bello – A History Of Violence
† Felicity Huffman – Transamerica
Gwyneth Paltrow – Proof
Charlize Theron – North Country
Ziyi Zhang – Memoirs Of A Geisha

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Russell Crowe – Cinderella Man
† Philip Seymour Hoffman – Capote
Terrence Howard – Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger – Brokeback Mountain
David Strathairn – Good Night, And Good Luck

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Pride & Prejudice
The Producers
The Squid And The Whale
† Walk The Line

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Judi Dench – Mrs. Henderson Presents
Keira Knightley – Pride & Prejudice
Laura Linney – The Squid And The Whale
Sarah Jessica Parker – The Family Stone
† Reese Witherspoon – Walk The Line

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Pierce Brosnan – The Matador
Jeff Daniels – The Squid And The Whale
Johnny Depp – Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Nathan Lane – The Producers
Cillian Murphy – Breakfast On Pluto
† Joaquin Phoenix – Walk The Line

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Scarlett Johansson – Match Point
Shirley MacLaine – In Her Shoes
Frances McDormand – North Country
† Rachel Weisz – The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams – Brokeback Mountain

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
†George Clooney – Syriana
Matt Dillon – Crash
Will Ferrell – The Producers
Paul Giamatti – Cinderella Man
Bob Hoskins – Mrs. Henderson Presents

Best Director - Motion Picture
Woody Allen – Match Point
George Clooney – Good Night, And Good Luck
Peter Jackson – King Kong
† Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain
Fernando Meirelles – The Constant Gardener
Steven Spielberg – Munich

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Match Point
- Written by Woody Allen
Good Night, And Good Luck
- Written by George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Crash
- Written by Paul Haggis, Bobby Moresco
Munich
- Written by Tony Kushner, Eric Roth
† Brokeback Mountain
- Written by Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Syriana
- Composed by Alexandre Desplat
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
- Composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
King Kong
- Composed by James Newton Howard
Brokeback Mountain
- Composed by Gustavo Santaolalla
† Memoirs Of A Geisha
- Composed by John Williams

Best Television Series - Drama
Commander In Chief - ABC
Grey’s Anatomy - ABC
† Lost - ABC
Prison Break - FOX
Rome - HBO

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Curb Your Enthusiasm
† Desperate Housewives
Entourage
Everybody Hates Chris
My Name Is Earl
Weeds

     The Screen Actors Guild announced it’s nominees today. A complete listing of all the nominees, including the television nominees, can be found here.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Russell Crowe / CINDERELLA MAN – Jim Braddock (Universal Pictures)
Philip Seymour Hoffman / CAPOTE – Truman Capote (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Heath Ledger / BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Ennis Del Mar (Focus Features)
Joaquin Phoenix / WALK THE LINE – John R. Cash (20th Century Fox)
David Strathairn / GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK. – Edward R. Murrow (Warner Independent Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Judi Dench / MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS – Mrs. Laura Henderson (The Weinstein Company)
Felicity Huffman / TRANSAMERICA – Bree (The Weinstein Company)
Charlize Theron / NORTH COUNTRY – Josey Aimes (Warner Bros.)
Reese Witherspoon / WALK THE LINE – June Carter (20th Century Fox)
Ziyi Zhang / MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA – Sayuri (Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Don Cheadle / CRASH – Graham (Lions Gate Films)
George Clooney / SYRIANA – Bob Barnes (Warner Bros.)
Matt Dillon / CRASH – Officer Ryan (Lions Gate Films)
Paul Giamatti / CINDERELLA MAN – Joe Gould (Universal Pictures)
Jake Gyllenhaal / BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Jack Twist (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams / JUNEBUG – Ashley (Sony Pictures Classics)
Catherine Keener/ CAPOTE – Nelle Harper Lee (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Frances McDormand / North Country – Glory (Warner Bros)
Rachel Weisz / THE CONSTANT GARDENER – Tessa Quayle (Focus Features)
Michelle Williams / BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Alma (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (Focus Features)
CAPOTE (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
CRASH (Lions Gate Films)
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK. (Warner Independent Pictures)
HUSTLE & FLOW (Paramount Classics)

     Jon Stewart to host the Oscars? Shows some promise. We know he’s funny. It’ll be interesting to see if he can stick to making jokes about movies, actors, etc. and hold his political tongue and not alienate half his audience (yeah right). Chris Rock was apparently not asked back and Billy Crystal was asked but turned it down. I always liked Crystal’s opening sequence where he places himself into the big films of the year…oh well.

     I think Stewart will do a good job as he has some experience in the past. He hosted the Grammy twice earlier this decade plus he’s funny as hell.

     You can see my Oscar picks and predictions here.

     Great time of year; everyone has an opinion and everyone loves top ten lists - film critics especially. Here are just a few I found and liked. It’s more fun to read their actual list as they put descriptions as to why they ranked a film where they did. But I don’t have time, room or patience to put all that in here, but just Google them and you will find their list. Enjoy. BTW, my various, year end top ten lists will be in an upcoming audio edition - (#7).

Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times):
10) Millions
9) Yes
8) King Kong
7) Nine Lives
6) Me and You and Everyone We Know
5) Brokeback Mountain
4) Junebug
3) Munich
2) Syriana
1) Crash

Richard Roeper (Chicago Sun-Times):
10) 40 Year-Old Virgin
9) Walk the Line
8) A History of Violence
7) Brokeback Mountain
6) Capote
5) Nine Lives
4) Munich
3) Crash
2) The New World
1) Syriana

James Berardinelli (my favorite citic):
10) 40 Year-Old Virgin
9) Sin City
8) Pride & Prejudice
7) Grizzly Man
6) Match Point
5) Downfall
4) 3-Iron
3) King Kong
2) Syriana
1) Munich

A.O. Scott (NY Times - I hate this guy):
10) Munich
9) Funny Ha-Ha
8) The Squid and the Whale
7) Mysterious Skin
6) Wallace & Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
5) Match Point
4) Holy Girl
3) Darwin’s Nightmare
2) The Aristocrats
1) The Best of Youth

John Campea (themovieblog.com):
10) Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
9) Sin City
8) Wedding Crashers
7) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
6) King Kong
5) The Producers
4) Chronicles of Narnia
3) Batman Begins
2) 40 Year-Old Virgin
1) Cinderella Man

Best reviewed from Metacritic.com (English):
10) The Squid and the Whale
9) Pride & Prejudice
8) The Constant Gardener
7) Duma
6) Corpse Bride
5) Grizzly Man
4) Murderball
3) Brokeback Mountain
2) Wallace & Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
1) Capote

American Film Institute (AFI):
10) Syriana
9) The Squid and the Whale
8) Munich
7) King Kong
6) A History of Violence
5) Good Night, and Good Luck
4) The 40 Year-Old Vrigin
3) Crash
2) Capote
1) Brokeback Mountain

David Edelstein (Slate.com):
10) Mysterious Skin
9) Grizzly Man
8) Ballets Russes
7) The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
6) The Aristocrats
5) War of the Worlds
4) Me and You and Everyone We Know
3) Wallace & Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
2) Junebug
1) Munich

Entertainment Weekly Magazine:
10) Tony Takitani
9) In Her Shoes
8) Hustle & Flow
7) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
6) Junebug
5) Match Point
4) The Century of the Self
3) Brokeback Mountain
2) King Kong
1) Munich