Oscar predictions, Wonder Woman, PS3 and red nose.

I have just read that Joss Wheadon (Buffy, Angel & Firefly) has been pulled from the proposed Wonder Woman film. Now whilst Wonder Woman is far from my favourite Comic hero, the thought of Wheadon directing a take on the character was very appealing. My interest in the project has now plummeted. It’s also disappointing that Wheadon has spent over a year working on the film (script and prep work) and that it has come to nothing. Come on Joss, you know you want to make Serenity 2!

I have gone back on my previous statement that I would wait until the end of the year for the PS3 and have instead placed a deposit with the local HMV for one. I’m hoping that I’ll get one in the initial batch (I’m number 6 on the list), but with things you never really know.

Likely game purchases for it will be Resistance: Fall of Man and Motorstorm, both of which I’m also looking forward to playing online (something which is very sadly lacking from Wii releases so far). I’m also looking forward to seeing how Blu-ray looks, and as Casino Royale is due out around the same time, this would seem like an ideal purchase.

Anyway, on to other things…

Oscar predictions:

ACTOR – LEADING
Forest Whitaker – THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND

I have no interest in seeing the film, but I think he has it in the bag.

ACTOR – SUPPORTING
Eddie Murphy – DREAMGIRLS

Tough choice, but the academy often likes giving supporting actor nods to comedians.

ACTRESS – LEADING
Helen Mirren – THE QUEEN

Again, in the bag.

ACTRESS – SUPPORTING
Abigail Breslin – LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

Everything seems to point to Jennifer Hudson winning this, however, how can you not just love Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine. She should win it on cuteness factor alone.

ANIMATED FEATURE
HAPPY FEET

Would prefer Cars to win, but I think that the penguins will nab it.

ART DIRECTION
PAN’S LABYRINTH

CINEMATOGRAPHY
PAN’S LABYRINTH

COSTUME DESIGN
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

FILM EDITING
UNITED 93

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
PAN’S LABYRINTH

MAKEUP
PAN’S LABYRINTH

ORIGINAL SCORE
BABEL

SOUND EDITING
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST

SOUND MIXING
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST

VISUAL EFFECTS
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST

SCREENPLAY – ADAPTED
THE DEPARTED

SCREENPLAY – ORIGINAL
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

DIRECTING
Martin Scorsese – THE DEPARTED

This is Marty’s year, no doubt about it. The Departed may not be as good as I would have hoped, but it has been very well received and is definitely a return to the genre that Scorcese is best known for. He is one of the most criminally overlooked directors alive today and deserves this Oscar or past glories.

BEST PICTURE
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

This is a tricky one. By all accounts this should belong to the Departed, it is certainly favourite to win best picture, but I do not think that it is deserving the award. Most people will be concerned with Marty getting the Directing award and less so Best Picture, as such, I believe that Little Miss Sunshine may sneak in. It is a film with a huge “feel good” factor and that may sway voters.

Last year I predicted Brokeback Mountain would win, purely because it was the favourite and looked most likely to win. Secretly I would have preferred Crash to win, and in the end Crash did win Best Picture. This year, I’m going to vote with my heart. (Shouts) Little Miss Sunshine FTW!

Lastly, I couldn’t resist putting this picture on my blog…