Oscar oscar oscar

Oscars nominations have been announced yesterday. The biggest news is that Dreamgirls got the most number of nominations with 8 but no Best Picture. Bah, who cares when 3 of them actually belong in the same category: Best Song (long considered by people to be a joke category). I was most surprised that Leonardo Dicaprio was nominated for "Blood Diamond" rather than "The Departed". I haven't watched Blood Diamond yet, but for me, Leonardo Dicaprio's performance in The Departed was phenomenal - it is better than Tony Leung's in original Infernal Affairs (and tony's performance was already excellent too) and was the only thing that shines in the overrated movie - it is the one performance that finally buries Titanic's Jack Dawson to rest. Can't believe it got beaten by a role that require the dude to put an unconvincing accent. But I shall watch Blood Diamond and revise my opinion later.

But my overall feelings about Oscar has diminished. I no longer care about it. In the past, I used to be very passionate about it (esp during Saving Private Ryan's loss to Shakespeare In Love and Gladiator's undeserved best picture and best actor win). But right now, I no longer care. The news, the media, people talk about it all the time, the so-called experts, critics have their own lists and predictions and reactions to the nominations - there is just too much discussions that made me no longer care. and besides, what are the chances that YOU have actually watched those movies?!?!?!

I normally have my own personal awards for movies. But I feel that I still have more movies to catch up to before I can validate the award. So I shall try to watch the following 2006 movies (if they're still playing):

- Letters From Iwo Jima
- Dreamgirls
- Children of Men
- Babel
- Blood Diamond
- Stranger Than Fiction
- Apocalypto
- Little Children
- The Queen

... and although seemingly non oscar choices:
- Miami Vice (on dvd)
- Casino Royale
- The Host
- The Banquet
- Crazy Stone

and complete my award before the oscar winners are announced on Feb 25. I would also post my oscar predictions the day/night before the big day (need time to see where the buzz will go). But I'm quite certain of one thing. Despite the strong buzz, I think Eddie Murphy will NOT win the Best Supporting Actor. This is because he has this movie opening in Feb 9 that looks really bad ... so bad it might make the voters to reconsider their judgement.