Oscar Nominations

There weren't that many surprises in the list of films nominated for the 2007 Oscars when Salma Hayek and some grey-haired suit took to the podium at an ungodly hour of the morning and read the lists off the autocue through sleep-glued eyes.

Perhaps the biggest story is the 8 nominations for Dreamgirls (which I saw this morning and was more or less impressed by), but no Best Film or Director nomination for Bill Condon, which limits its chances. Scorsese and The Departed got their long-anticipated nods, along with Mark Wahlberg for his hyperkinetic turn in Best Supporting Actor. Leonardo DiCaprio too got a Best Actor nomination but for a lesser film, Blood Diamond, which opens here on Friday. I'll post a review later.

Irish interest comes in the bedraggled form of Peter O'Toole, whose turn as an aged letch in Venus (which hasn't been screened for the press here yet) gets a nod after the actor accepted a lifetime achievement Oscar in 2003 with the hope that there was still time to earn one on his own. Veteran costumier Consolata Boyle also gets her first nomination for The Queen, and is in good shape to pick up a win.

Anyways, my predictions for glory on the 25th of February are below

Best Picture - The Departed

Best Director - Martin Scorsese

Best Actor - Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

Best Actress - Helen Mirren, The Queen (going on word of mouth, I've yet to see the movie)

Best Supporting Actor - Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond

Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls

Best Foreign Film - Pan's Labyrinth

Best Animated Film - Happy Feet

There's no shortage of commentary online, nor will there be for the next month. Movie City News has an extensive round-up, and a running score-card.