Satellite Nominations

And the nominees are...

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

Julie Christie, "Away From Her" (Lionsgate)

Angelina Jolie, "A Mighty Heart" (Paramount Vantage)

Marion Cotillard, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)

Tilda Swinton, "Stephanie Daley" (Regent Releasing)

Keira Knightly, "Atonement" (Focus Features)

Laura Linney, "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

Denzel Washington, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)

Josh Brolin, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)

Christian Bale, "Rescue Dawn" (MGM)

Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

Frank Langella, "Starting Out in the Evening"(Roadside Attractions)

Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent Pictures)

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Katherine Heigl, "Knocked Up" (Universal Pictures)

Amy Adams, "Enchanted" (Walt Disney Pictures)

Ellen Page, "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

Emily Mortimer, "Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)

Nicole Kidman, "Margot at the Wedding" (Paramount Vantage)

Cate Blanchett, "I’m Not There" (The Weinstein Company)

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Richard Gere, "The Hoax" Miramax

Seth Rogen, "Knocked Up" (Universal Pictures)

Ben Kingsley You Kill Me Ifc Films

Ryan Gosling, "Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)

Clive Owen, "Shoot ‘Em Up" (New Line Cinema)

Don Cheadle, "Talk to Me" (Focus Features)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement" (Focus Features)

Emmanuelle Seigner, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)

Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax Films)

Taraji P. Henson "Talk to Me" (Focus Features)

Ruby Dee, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)


ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Jeff Daniels, "The Lookout" (Miramax Films)

Brian Cox, "Zodiac" (Paramount Pictures)

Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Ben Foster, "3:10 To Yuma" (Lionsgate)

Javier Bardem, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)

Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jessie James" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

"The Lookout" Miramax

"Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead" (ThinkFilm)

"Away From Her" (Lionsgate)

"Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

"No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)

"3:10 To Yuma" (Lionsgate)

MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

"Hairspray" (New Line Cinema)

"Juno"(Fox Searchlight)

"Shoot ‘Em Up" (New Line Cinema)

"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)

"Knocked Up" (Universal Pictures)

"Margot at the Wedding" (Paramount Vantage)

MOTION PICTURE, FOREIGN LANGUAGE

"Ten Canoes" Australia (Palm Pictures)

"Offside Iran" (Sony Pictures Classics

La Vie En Rose" France (Picturehouse Entertainment)

"Lust, Caution" China (Focus Features)

"4 Months 3 Weeks & 2 Days" Romania Ifc Films

"The Orphanage" Spain (Picturehouse Entertainment)

MOTION PICTURE, ANIMATED OR MIXED MEDIA

"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics)

"The Simpsons Movie" Twentieth Century Fox

"The Golden Compass" (New Line Cinema)"

"Ratatouille"" (Buena Vista Pictures)

"300" Warner Brothers

"Beowulf" (Paramount Pictures)

BEST ENSEMBLE, MOTION PICTURE
"Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead"

Sweeney Todd: Our Buzz

Not being a diehard Broadway fan, Tim Burton's adaptation of the beloved horror-musical Sweeney Todd was a completely new experience for me as a viewer. My quick two-cents? Burton's essentials (top-notch artistic & technical values, dark humour, atmosphere) are all there and this time; thanks to the suitable theme and concept, Burton's creative choices are a perfect, if gimmicked fit for the source material and one of the film's biggest assets. Acting-wise, there's nothing much beyond Johnny Depp's A+ portrayal of the creepy title character (yet that could probably be enough to carry the film through the whole awards season).

Hopes for the Big Award should not go up so fast but I'd bet some money now on Depp's third nod.

Stay tuned for our full review and Predictions Update...

Satellites honor "Old Men," Cotillard and Langella!

As Variety is reporting (full details to be posted soon)

The Intl. Press Academy has announced the nominees for the 2007 Satellite Awards, which acknowledge achievements in film, television, DVD and new media. The 12th annual ceremony will be held Dec. 16 in Century City, with awards going out in 49 categories.

"The Lookout," "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," "Away From Her," "Eastern Promises," "No Country for Old Men" and "3:10 to Yuma" vie for the dramatic feature nod. In the comedy or musical feature category, nominees are "Hairspray," "Juno," "Shoot 'Em Up," "Lars and the Real Girl," "Knocked Up" and "Margot at the Wedding."

Nominated for director were Ang Lee ("Lust, Caution"), Oliver Dahan ("La Vie en rose"), David Cronenberg ("Eastern Promises"), Ethan and Joel Coen ("No Country for Old Men"), Sidney Lumet ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead") and Sarah Polley ("Away From Her").

Actors nommed for perfs in a dramatic feature are Denzel Washington ("American Gangster"), Josh Brolin ("No Country for Old Men"), Christian Bale ("Rescue Dawn"), Viggo Mortensen ("Eastern Promises"), Frank Langella ("Starting Out in the Evening") and Tommy Lee Jones ("In the Valley of Elah"). Actresses nominated are Julie Christie ("Away From Her"), Angelina Jolie ("A Mighty Heart"), Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en rose"), Tilda Swinton ("Stephanie Daley"), Keira Knightley ("Atonement") and Laura Linney ("The Savages").

"Persepolis," "The Simpsons Movie," "The Golden Compass," "Ratatouille," "300" and "Beowulf" drew mentions for animated or mixed-media film.

On the TV side, dramatic series nominees are "The Riches," "Dexter," "Mad Men," "Friday Night Lights," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Brothers and Sisters." Comedy or musical nominees are "Ugly Betty," "Flight of the Conchords," "Extras," "Chuck," "Weeds" and "Pushing Daisies."

Thoughts?

Some Globe Placement

"Charlie Wilson's War," "The Savages," "Margot at the Wedding," "Juno," "Darjeeling Limited," "Waitress" and "Lars and the Real Girl" will compete in the comedy/musical categories at the Golden Globes, according to decrees made by the eligibility committee of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. All of those films have a mix of comedic and dramatic elements so there was speculation that they might be classified as dramas.

What does this mean? Charlie Wilson's War increases it chances for recognition (at least at the Golden Globes).

But the real news is The Kite Runner is placed in the Foreign Language Film category. Wow, that's a surprise which means.....I don't know. Is it this year's Letters from Iwo Jima or Chariots of Fire? Could be. We'll wait and see...

Satellite Nominations on FRIDAY!

Satellite nominations are on FRIDAY! Not exactly Oscar matching but definitely a good first step in the right direction. We never know how many nominees they will have. This is really a shot in the dark. Here are my predictions:

Best Picture - Drama
Atonement
No Country for Old Men
Gone Baby Gone
The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
I'm Not There
Into the Wild
American Gangster

Best Picture - Musical or Comedy
Juno
Sweeney Todd
Knocked Up
Once
The Savages
Hairspray

Best Actor - Drama
Daniel Day-Lewis-There Will Be Blood
Denzel Washington-American Gangster
Emile Hirsch-Into the Wild
George Clooney-Michael Clayton
Viggo Mortensen-Eastern Promises
Brad Pitt-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Best Actor - Musical or Comedy
Johnny Depp-Sweeney Todd
Ryan Gosling-Lars and the Real Girl
Steve Carell-Dan in Real Life
Sam Riley-Control
Philip Seymour Hoffman-The Savages
Glen Hansard-Once

Best Actress - Drama
Keira Knightley-Atonement
Cate Blanchett-Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Marion Cotillard-La Vie en Rose
Julie Christie-Away From Her
Angelina Jolie-A Mighty Heart
Halle Berry-Things We Lost in the Fire

Best Actress - Musical or Comedy
Helena Bonham Carter-Sweeney Todd
Laura Linney-The Savages
Amy Adams-Enchanted
Katherine Hiegl-Knocked Up
Keri Russell-Waitress
Nicole Kidman-Margot at the Wedding

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem-No Country for Old Men
Ben Foster-3:10 to Yuma
Tom Wilkinson-Michael Clayton
Casey Affleck-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Marcus Carl Franklin-I'm Not There
Russell Crowe-American Gangster

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett-I'm Not There
Saoirse Ronan-Atonement
Ruby Dee-American Gangster
Michelle Pfeiffer-Hairspray
Marisa Tomei-Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Tilda Swinton-Michael Clayton

Best Director
Ridley Scott-American Gangster
Joel & Ethan Coen-No Country for Old Men
Todd Haynes-I'm Not There
Joe Wright-Atonement
Tony Gilroy-Michael Clayton
Ang Lee-Lust, Caution

Best Original Screenplay
Margot at the Wedding
I'm Not There
Ratatouille
Eastern Promises
Michael Clayton
Juno

Best Adapted Screenplay
Atonement
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
American Gangster (I know it's Original)
Away from Her
3:10 to Yuma

Best Animated or Mixed Media
The Golden Compass
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie
Beowulf
Persepolis

Best Foreign Language
Lust, Caution
The Diving Bell and Butterfly
La Vie en Rose
The Orphanage
?????????????

Episode VIII: Sweet 16 (Group 2)

Eight more films, six more spots. Who will make it in? It's up to YOU to decide!

GOTHAM AWARDS Tonight!

Nominees:

Breakthrough Actor
Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild
Kene Holliday in Great World of Sound
Ellen Page in Juno
Jess Weixler in Teeth
Luisa Williams in Day Night Day Night

Best Feature
Great World of Sound
I'm Not There
Into the Wild
Margot at the Wedding
The Namesake

Best Ensemble Cast
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

-Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris, Ethan Hawke, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian F. O'Byrne, Amy Ryan, Michael Shannon, Marisa Tomei

The Last Winter
Connie Britton, Kevin Corrigan, Zach Gilford, James LeGros, Ron Perlman

Margot at the Wedding
Jack Black, Flora Cross, Ciarán Hinds, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Zane Pais, John Turturro

The Savages
Philip Bosco, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney

Talk to Me
Cedric the Entertainer, Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mike Epps, Vondie Curtis Hall, Taraji P. Henson, Martin Sheen

Best Documentary
The Devil Came on Horseback
Jimmy Carter Man from Plains
My Kid Could Paint That
Sicko
Taxi to the Dark Side

Juno, Bob Dylan & Angelina have Indie Spirit...

2008 SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS

BEST FEATURE
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Kilik
I'm Not There Producers: Christine Vachon, John Sloss, John Goldwyn, James D. Stern
Juno Producers: Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Mason Novick, Russell Smith
A Mighty Heart Producers: Dede Gardner, Andrew Eaton, Brad Pitt
Paranoid Park Producers: Neil Kopp, David Cress

BEST DIRECTOR
Todd Haynes I'm Not There
Tamara Jenkins The Savages
Jason Reitman Juno
Julian Schnabel The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Gus Van Sant Paranoid Park

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
2 Days in Paris Director: Julie Delpy Producers: Julie Delpy, Christophe Mazodier, Thierry Potok
Great World of Sound Director: Craig Zobel Producers: Melissa Palmer, David Gordon Green, Richard Wright, Craig Zobel
The Lookout Director: Scott Frank Producers: Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Laurence Mark, Walter Parkes
Rocket Science Director: Jeffrey Blitz Producers: Effie T. Brown, Sean Welch
Vanaja Director: Rajnesh Domalpalli Producer: Latha R. Domalapalli

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)
August Evening Writer/Directpr: Chris Eska Producers: Connie Hill, Jason Wehling
Owl and the Sparrow Writer/Director: Stephane Gauger Producers: Nguyen Van Quan, Doan Nhat Nam, Stephane Gauger
The Pool Director: Chris Smith Producer: Kate Noble Writer: Chris Smith & Randy Russell
Quiet City Director: Aaron Katz Producers: Brendan McFadden, Ben Stambler Writers: Aaron Katz, Erin Fisher, Cris Lankenau
Shotgun Stories Writer/Director: Jeff Nichols Producers: David Gordon Green, Lisa Muskat, Jeff Nichols

BEST SCREENPLAY
Ronald Harwood The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Tamara Jenkins The Savages
Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner Starting Out in the Evening
Adrienne Shelly Waitress
Mike White Year of the Dog

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Jeffrey Blitz Rocket Science
Zoe Cassavetes Broken English
Diablo Cody Juno
Kelly Masterson Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
John Orloff A Mighty Heart

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Angelina Jolie A Mighty Heart
Sienna Miller Interview
Ellen Page Juno
Parker Posey Broken English
Tang Wei Lust, Caution

BEST MALE LEAD
Pedro Castaneda August Evening
Don Cheadle Talk To Me
Philip Seymour Hoffman The Savages
Frank Langella Starting Out in the Evening
Tony Leung Lust, Caution

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Cate Blanchett I'm Not There
Anna Kendrick Rocket Science
Jennifer Jason Leigh Margot at the Wedding
Tamara Podemski Four Sheets to the Wind
Marisa Tomei Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Chiwetel Ejiofor Talk To Me
Marcus Carl Franklin I'm Not There
Kene Holliday Great World of Sound
Irrfan Khan The Namesake
Steve Zahn Rescue Dawn

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Mott Hupfel The Savages
Janusz Kaminski The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Milton Kam Vanaja
Mihai Malaimare, Jr. Youth Without Youth
Rodrigo Prieto Lust, Caution

Your thoughts: Any boosts? Damage? Snubs (Besides Linney)?

Cate's Still There!

We were one of the few websites that didn't fall for Oscar buzzer David Poland's comments on Cate Blanchett and her imminent switch of category from Supporting to Lead Actress for I'm Not There (basically because we knew how this story would end).

Thankfully, Scott Feinberg is clearing everything up:

Within the last hour, I received word from a senior official at The Weinstein Company who has made this unmistakably clear: "She is still supporting as she always has been."

Read the rest of Feinberg's report here.

And make sure to also click here if you want to know how The Oscar Igloo feels about Oscar buzzers trying to become the belle of the ball...

Episode VII: Top 16 (Group 1)

More films, keep on voting until you keyboard bleeds. The votes were so close last week, you have no idea. Your vote could make the difference.

Episode VI: The Results Show Top 20

A few surprises, a few not so surprises. Watch the results!

Polls Closed

Academy Idol Polls Closed! Results coming later tonight.

Best Animated Feature: Our Analysis

From the cringe-inducing Alvin to the stunning Beowulf and the very popular Ratatouille. 12 animated films compete in the Oscar race's most playful category but only 3 will make the final cut... Which ones?

Read our analysis here.

Episode V: The Top 20 (Group 2)

The Top 20 (Group 2) - Vote as many times as you'd like. Keep your favorites in. Look to the right of the page to vote directly or click on the link below. Also, comment on how you like The Academy Idol Game thus far. Do you like it? Would you change anything? etc.?



Vote: http://www.polldaddy.com/p/142930/

Happy Birthday Danny West!

As the now 23 year old, from all of us at The Igloo, Happy Birthday Man!

Her Buzz is No Fantasy

While we took some hard criticism from our readers for giving breakthrough actress Amy Adams a spot in our Top 5 for Disney's Enchanted, we are glad to inform you our early hunch is quickly coming true...

The latest reviews for Enchanted are not only terrific for the Junebug showstealer, the film is also getting very positive remarks. Expect Adams to become a key player this Oscar season and look out for Enchanted in the Best Original Score, Song and Screenplay categories...

Is Amy Adams in your Top 5 now?

The Top 20 (Group 1) - Writers

With the theme this being the Writers of the upcoming Oscar prospects, vote for your favorites



Vote:

http://www.polldaddy.com/p/141139/

So far, what film does everyone dig the most this year?

This is a call out to all the readers of this blog.....what is your favorite film(s) of the year so far? I ask because I was looking at my own list and while I still have a number of films that must still be seen (Into The Wild, Eastern Promises, etc) and plenty still not released yet (Juno, There Will Be Blood, etc) i've come to the conclusion that as great as some films have been this year, the flicks that have stayed most positive in my mind are less "PRESTIGE" pics and more just entertainment. The two movies that are fighting it out to be number 1 on my list at this moment are "Grindhouse" and "Knocked Up". Not exactly "Schindler's List", I know. That's why i'm asking to know what everyone has dug this year so far.


Is this your type of flick:




or maybe something more like this:




or maybe even something different like this:





I eagerly await hearing what you guys all like (and just for full disclosure, my top 5 films from last year were: 1. The Fountain 2. United 93 3. The Departed 4. Clerks II 5. Half Nelson)

Doc Shock!

15 films (excluding the widely acclaimed In the Shadow of the Moon) are still in the running for a spot in the Best Documentary category. Sicko, Autism and For the Bible Tells Me So should make the Top 5 easily... right?

Here's the complete list (as selected by the Documentary Branch of AMPAS):

“Autism: The Musical”
“Body of War”

“For the Bible Tells Me So”

“Lake of Fire”

“Nanking”

“No End in Sight”

“Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience”

“Please Vote for Me”

“The Price of Sugar”

“A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman”

“The Rape of Europa”

“Sicko”

“Taxi to the Dark Side”

“War/Dance”

“White Light/Black Rain”

Your predictions?

Some Campaigning News...

Here's some news about categories for the awards season.
1. Morgan Freeman goes LEAD for The Bucket List.

-Not that people were predicting him but do they think he can really outshine Jack?

2. Mark Ruffalo goes LEAD for Reservation Road.

- Now Reservation's chances have really gone down the drain.

3. Naomi Watts is SUPPORTING for Eastern Promises.
-With the weakest category of the year, she could pull a last minute jump in. But people haven't spoken about her performance at all.

4. They have a campaign running for I Am Legend.

-Does this mean something? Probably not, but it's still interesting.

5. Even 300 has a campaign going.

-I assure you, even the Techs are stretching at this point.

6. Nicole Kidman is definitely SUPPORTING for The Golden Compass.

-More weakness for that category.

Artistic & Tech Categories: Update!

Click here to read our first predictions of the season for the Artistic & Technical Categories...

Episode III: The RESULTS are in....

Watch for yourself! and comment on the results, are you surprised?

Episode II: The Top 12 (Group 2)

Watch the next twelve films. Vote for your favorites as many times as you'd like. VOTE HERE!

Polls Closed

The Top 12 Group 1 Polls are now closed. Thank you for voting and watch our new episode tomorrow for the next 12. Make sure you vote for your favorites!

Nominations come in Pairs...

On his farewell article, Lee Hernandez looks at this year's films with 2 or more potential acting nominees:

"A nomination is unmistakably a singular term, but nominations (plural) sometimes come in pairs of 2's and 3's. 2006 offered 6 pairs of 2: Judie Dench & Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal); Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond), Rinko Kikuchi & Adrianna Barraza (Babel), Jennifer Hudson & Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls), Abigail Breslin & Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), & Jackie Earl Haley & Kate Winslet (Little Children). In 2005, Brokeback Mountain, earned 3 nominations for Michelle Williams, Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, while North Country, & Capote served up 1 pair of 2 each. Like Brokeback, 2005's Million Dollar Baby, & The Aviator, earned 3 nominations a piece. It seems inevitable then, considering AMPAS' voting history, that this year they will vote for several actors from the same films, and consider them in pairs"

Read the rest of this article here.

What films will have more than 1 acting nominee?

Episode I: The Top 12 (Group 1)

Welcome to Academy Idol. This is Episode I: The Top 12 (Group 1).

This is the show where we show you segments, profiles, and other aspects about the films and your votes count. Watch the episode and than vote here as many times as you'd like. Voting will be open until Midnight on Wednesday. On Thursday we'll present you the next 12 and the same will occur. On Friday, we'll have your results show, where the two lowest voted films from both sets of 12 will be eliminated. Let's get on with the show.

After watching vote here and we'll see you next week....

http://www.polldaddy.com/p/136015.js">

The Top 24 Announcement

Here they are: Voting begins on Tuesday!

The Oscar Igloo Presents: Academy Idol

The Oscar Igloo Presents: Academy Idol

Based on the popular television show, Academy Idol is a week to week segment, in which your votes count. Vote as many times as you'd like to make sure your favorite films stay. There will be a bottom three. Based on buzz for the film and week to week trailers, reviews and so forth, it's the vote of YOU that is the deciding factor. So vote for your favorites and we'll see you on the other side.

Get ready...THIS is ACADEMY IDOL!

Slipping Under The Radar?

The following are a list of upcoming films that aren’t really being mentioned in every other breath by awards prognosticators (cough Atonement cough) and, on a scale of 1 to 10, how likely it will be for the film to make any impact on the race, be it through acting, directing, or the film itself.

1. Redacted
Brian De Palma’s latest film is as controversial as it gets, essentially remaking Casualties of War with no stars and setting it in Iraq. De Palma is a respected filmmaker and if the film develops a following, it could be a sleeper in the race.

Likelihood- 3


2. The Mist
Yes, this is a horror film, but it’s one by Frank Darabount, and that is nothing to scoff at. Early reports have Marcia Gay Harden’s bible thumping character getting a lot of mention, and since she has gotten nominated before, a powerful performance in this could sneak its way into the weak supporting actress race.

Likelihood- 5

3. Grace is Gone
I know, I know, John Cusack already has plenty of buzz for his turn as a war widow, but what about the film in general? It seems like a film less concerned with placing blame on our situation in Iraq and more on the story of how the war has affected one man. The Weinstein brothers are distributing this one, and that makes a strong campaign for it almost a certainty.

Likelihood- 7

4. Youth Without Youth
Francis Ford Coppola. Need I say more? I will though….because all seems to be quiet on the front of this legends return to filmmaking. If his daughter’s success has inspired him to make a movie with the passion of something like Lost in Translation, the race might be looking at a big shakeup real soon.

Likelihood- 6

5. Cassandra’s Dream
Another master of cinema is quietly putting out a film this season. Woody Allen seems to be almost reproducing Match Point here, and since that film managed to snag him a screenplay nod (and to some was snubbed for other nominations), this could definitely be a factor in the race.

Likelihood- 4

6. The Bucket List
This is somewhat of a long shot, but the academy has gone for the tearjerkers before. Consider the star power (Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Rob Reiner at the helm) and then think for a second. If all three of those people are anywhere near the top of their game, this film about terminally ill men living their lives to the fullest may be much more of a factor than we think.

Likelihood- 7.5



Did I leave off any movies that you feel are under the radar contenders?

Best Picture: Update!

The money-making American Gangster continues packing theaters all over the country but while it has been buzzed as a highly entertaining film by Ridley Scott, it has not been touted as great or Oscar worthy. Thus, the Washington/Crowe crowdpleaser is giving up its spot in the top 5 for Sweeney Todd; the Tim Burton musical that is slowing building new, favorable buzz. Will the mighty B.O. performance of Scott's mob film remain a key factor on its Oscar performance? Of course it will but as of now, momentum has built around the upcoming December releases...

Also, the Coens are back to the Best Picture race with No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood is probably going to get honored in Best Actor but not in this category...

Our BEST PICTURE predictions!

What's in your Top 5 right now?

Top 10: Moments in Oscar's History!

Shocking! Shameful! Controversial!

Those are some of the words best suitable to describe the Top 10 Moments in Oscar's History by Josh Kirschenbaum...

Did Marisa Tomei really win her Oscar? Why was Vanessa Redgrave bashed after winning Best Supporting Actress? What legendary actor hired a white woman to play a Native American during the ceremony?

Read it all here!

Before & After: A Re-Evaluation of the Season's Top Contenders!

How many of the films you were predicting back in March are still in contention today? This is the big question Myles Hughes asks you all on his latest article:

"Can you believe it’s November already? Another year come and almost gone. For those of us who are trying our best to make predictions for this year’s Academy Awards, it’s really getting into a frenetic sort of crunch time. With many of the biggest films of the year being released every week, we have to be constantly revising our shortlists to keep up. Therefore, I think that now would be a good time to pause for breath and reassess this year’s big frontrunners and where they stand at this point, whilst keeping perspective for the whole year..."

Click here to read Myles's great evaluation of the current state of the Oscar race!

This year's Letters from Iwo Jima?

now, i know it might be a stretch, but if you check out the trailer to the film "Stop Loss", you might get an idea of where i'm coming from. Sasha Stone over at AwardsDaily posted the trailer earlier today with a similar notion, but without my theory on if this film can do any damage in THIS year's race. If the film is indeed as good as the trailer makes it out to be (yes, i know the crapshoot that judging a film on its trailer can be) Paramount might want to drop this film in some theaters at the end of the year in order to qualify it for Oscar consideration. The director os Kimberly Peirce, whose only other film "Boys Don't Cry" got their attention almost a decade ago, so if the quality is there, the film is topical and seems to not go over the top.

See for yourselves and let me know if this is something that holds any water or if i'm way off....

Best Supporting Actress: Why is the Race So Weak?

That's what Lee Hernandez wonders in our most recent update...

"Industry Veteran Jennifer Jason Leigh was the frontrunner in this category for several months but recently, she seems like she's not even a lock for a nomination. Her film, Margot at the Wedding, co-starring Nicole Kidman, is probably the most divisive film of 2007. Noah Baumbach, who penned the script for the Oscar nominated The Squid and the Whale, seems to have written characters that really get on people's nerves and under their skin. Unless the studio rallies behind JJL, the likelihood she will be nominated for a supporting actress Oscar is highly unlikely right now".

Click here to read the rest of this article!

Who are your Best Supporting Actress contenders?

Rotten Tomatoes Update

An update of contenders and where they stand:

American Gangster sits at a 77%, enough to keep in the running for Best Picture.

Dan in Real Life holds on with 64%, which isn't enough for anything special. Stars Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche received decent reviews but nothing to crack into the race.

With 15 reviews counted, Lions for Lambs is another fallen contender with 33% which many predictors saw coming.

Michael Clayton holds on with 91% and Gone Baby Gone with 92% but the buzz for the two films has subsided in the past weeks. Your great reviews can't do anything if not enough people are talking about it afterwards.

Still so much more year left in Oscar world.

Coming Soon to the Igloo

New reviews of American Gangster, Into the Wild, We Own the Night, Gone Baby Gone and a slew of other contenders for this year's awards race.

Also, get ready for the Igloo game to end all games...

....where YOUR votes count!

Let's see how well all of your heads together can predict the Oscar's...

The Great Debaters Trailer

Produced by Oprah Winfrey and directed by Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters may sneak into the Best Picture race a la Million Dollar Baby and Letters from Iwo Jima.

Starring Oscar winner Denzel Washington this could be yet another chance for him to be nominated or strengthen his chances tremendously. With senses of Dead Poet's Society, this could be that feel-good film of the year that the Academy just eats up.

Based on the trailer, (which is a big NO NO!) we're looking at consideration in Picture, Director, Actor and Supporting Actress for young Jurnee Smollett which some of you may remember as Michelle's best friend Denise on the hit 90's TV show "Full House."

View the trailer here and judge for yourself.

DIGGING INTO: Johnny Alba

The man himself, Johnny Alba, editor and founder of The Oscar Igloo. Ask him anything.

Name: Johnny Alba

Birthday and Age: March 1, 1983 (24)

Place of Birth: Lisbon, Portugal
Location: In between LA, CA, US & Lisbon, Portugal

Education: MBA for TV/Film Production (USC, coursing)

What is it about the Oscars that you love so much? "Their unpredictability. Even if we can identify the voting patterns of AMPAS, one can’t always be sure history will repeat itself. There is something especially entertaining about predicting the Oscars that at least for me as a predictor, makes the experience about having fun and sharing this fun with our readers rather than trying to manipulate or influence them."

Future Aspirations: Film Producer in Europe (I have always dreamed to be involved in the first Portuguese motion picture to be nominated in the Best Foreign Language film category).

Your favorite Oscar winning film of the 80 years: Casablanca
In your opinion, biggest Oscar snub (both nomination and winner): Marilyn Monroe, Some Like It Hot (of a deserving nomination) & Robert Altman, Gosford Park (of an even more necessary win)

Hobbies: "Working out, competitive fishing, movies, parties, dating, going out to pubs."

Predicted Best Picture nominees for 2007: Atonement, There Will Be Blood, American Gangster, The Kite Runner & Charlie Wilson’s War

Single, married, engaged, etc? Single

Most embarrassing moment? "I accidentally fell off the stairs on my graduation ceremony when my name was being called to get my university diploma... I still got an ovation for standing up gracefully and quickly..."

Favorite films of all time: Casablanca, Silence of the Lambs, Gone with the Wind, Schindler's List, The Color Purple, The Shawshank Redemption, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, City of God, Pan's Labyrinth

Favorite actors and actresses. (three each): Vivien Leigh, Marilyn Monroe & Sofia Loren/ Jack Nicholson, Humphrey Bogart and Anthony Quinn

Anything you would like say to your fans and readers: "As usual, thank you for being a part of our community"

Besides yourselves, your favorite Igloo writer. "I like them all, they are very eclectic group of talented people who I have learned to esteem throughout all these years, months, weeks… I personally feel great respect for Rob Cameron, Clayton Davis and Tom Houseman; I have witnessed their professional and personal growth and I know our newest writers will follow their examples."

Your favorite Oscar predictor out there. "Locally, I would give props to Rob Cameron (usually the best predictor within our team) and out on the web; I respect Sasha Stone, Josh Feinberg and Anne Thompson. I think they understand that our job as editors is to follow the race, not try to be a part of it and twist it (There’s a reason why it is called Oscar Coverage)."

Make an Impact: Do Oscar Buzzers Get the Job Done?

Internet has steadily changed Oscar buzzing over the last years. A few years ago, Sasha Stone’s Oscar Watch (Now, Awards Daily) emerged as the most important Academy Awards-related website on the net; an integral resource for all those interested on that little golden guy everyone wants but only a few actually get, and still remains as one of the most enjoyable websites within the clan. I like to believe Stone’s unprejudiced work as editor of the now gone OW contributed to the expansion of the Academy Awards online universe and the subsequent birth of other websites like And the Winner Is, Everything Oscar, Oscar Central and of course; our own.

When The Oscar Igloo was launched at the end of 2003, it was a work in progress that eventually found its place on the net and positioned right away. We are not the same website we were back then but throughout these years, we have kept a sole mission: to provide our readers with the most entertaining and most unbiased Academy Awards coverage on the net, all year long.

“It’s not about who we want to win, it’s about who will” has been our motto since the beginning and we have committed to it, just like many of our fellow Oscar-websites (and now, blogs), no matter how difficult it can get to stay away from our personal preferences on a subject as controversial and divisive as the Academy Awards.

It’s a hard task to be an unbiased website devoted to the Academy Awards 24/7 but I know our team of writers gives their best to follow the race, instead of trying to influence it. There is a reason why our biz is called Oscar Coverage, don’t you agree?

Oscar Coverage should be just that and Oscar Buzzers, known or not, should learn that it is not our job to force our personal opinions or agendas into our predictions or articles. We are not the stars of this show, remember that.

As a business-educated professional, I can understand the need of many of today’s top Oscar Buzzers with artistic backgrounds to make a brand out of their names. They are writers, they are artists in their own right and they need to capitalize on their prestige to make a living. In The Oscar Igloo, our website is our brand; we are a team of writers with different origins, personalities and tastes; joined by the full understanding of our common responsibility and the goal of keep expanding into new entertainment categories.

We have learned to track the buzz and follow the news, not trying to become the news. I fear many Oscar buzzers have detoured from this simple notion to nonsensical results: they have turned their web spaces into battlefields and they have contributed to the emergence of power struggles between websites that have no reason to compete with each other in the first place. If there is one resource people will always demand, that is information; even more if it is at everyone’s reach.

When the information becomes doubtful though, the writer-reader bond breaks and once this happens, there is no turning back.

Like Awards Daily, The Envelope also provides a substantial coverage of the Academy Awards (among other awards shows) by mixing original content with external buzz and news. Even Awards-expert and buzzer Tom O’Neil has apparently being positively influenced by his joint venture with the LA Times (although his championing for certain projects like this year’s Sweeney Todd could rival David Poland’s).

There are plenty Oscar-resources for you to choose and many are certainly plagued by personal agendas and bias. You know them, it’s not appropiate in my position to mention them but here’s the thing, only your valuable input can let them, us, know…

Hence, I'm asking you, Oscar-fan:

Do Oscar Buzzers get their job done? Do We get it done? Or Not?

Talk about it in our forum!

Leave your input!

Update: Best Actor

There's more than Johnny Depp and Daniel Day Lewis in the Best Actor race. Find out who are the rest of the leading men fighting for a spot in this year's most competitive category.

Click here for our most recent BEST ACTOR Update!

BEST ACTOR: Is the Race Wilder than we think?

Is Best Actor a showdown between Johnny Depp and Daniel Day Lewis? That seems to be what everybody, including our forum users, seems to believe right now.

Luckily, Tom Houseman really thinks Best Actor is Wilder than we think and he makes some interesting points on his latest piece:

"And now for a little history lesson to prove my most important point of the night which is that any frontrunner can fall and two-horse races are very susceptible to underdogs. In 2002, everyone was saying that there were only two people who could win the Best Actor Oscar: Jack Nicholson for About Schmidt and, you guessed it, Daniel Day-Lewis as the villain in Gangs of New York. Yet little Adrien Brody came out of nowhere to take it. Brody gave a critically raved performance in a highly acclaimed Best Picture nominee, The Pianist, and upset the two big dogs to win the Oscar"

Read the full article here.

Who is your Best Actor frontrunner?

DIGGING INTO: Clayton Davis

Clayton Davis is undoubtedly one of The Oscar Igloo's pillars and here's your chance to know more about him... Leave your questions!

>Name: Clayton Davis

>Birthday and Age: July 1, 1984

>Location: Between Bronx, NY and Union County, NJ

>Education: B.A. Communications and American Studies, Minor in Theology, St. Peter’s College

>What is it about the Oscars that you love so much? “Besides the unpredictability? The history of cinema as we know it and love of all aspects of filmmaking are enriched in those 2-4 hours of bliss.”

>Future Aspirations: I’m a teacher which is one dream achieved. Besides that, a writer for entertainment publications with plans of working on films of my own. I want my own Oscar on my mantle.

>Your favorite Oscar winning film of the 80 years: Forrest Gump

>In your opinion, biggest Oscar snub: Nearly impossible to answer because there are so many: For a nomination, somewhere between Sean Astin for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Maia Morgenstern for The Passion of the Christ. Winner would be between Clive Owen for Closer and Diane Lane for Unfaithful.

>Hobbies: “Movie watching, poetry, writing, traveling, being with family and friends, looking for Mrs. Right and just being as happy as possible.”

>Predicted Best Picture nominees for 2007:

Atonement

American Gangster

Sweeney Todd

Juno

Into the Wild

>Single, married, engaged, etc? Single ;)

>Most embarrasing moment? “In college there was a break-in in my dorm building and I was taking a #2 in the community bathroom. Police proceeded to come in and knock on my stall and ask me for my college ID. I showed them from underneath. Yep, pretty embarrassing.”

>Favorite films of all time: Dead Poet’s Society, Forrest Gump, American History X, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, American Beauty, Chicago, Philadelphia, The Lion King, Good Will Hunting, Big.

>Favorite actors and actresses. Actor: Russell Crowe, Tom Hanks, Edward Norton; Actress: Sandra Bullock, Kate Winslet, Marisa Tomei

>Anything you would like say to your fans and readers: “Without readers, we’d just be a couple of crazy people thinking one is smarter than another. Now, we’re just crazy people who thinks one is smarter than one another but you’re witnessing it. Thanks, I love you".

>Besides yourselves, your favorite Igloo writer: Johnny Alba for predictions, Danny West for style and Tom Houseman for his articles.

>Your favorite Oscar predictor out there: Kris Tapley is pretty good at making ballsy calls but it’s the Oscar Igloo Team that I love to read. I guess I’m biased.