A day before the Oscar's, and I'm busy downloading some Oscar-worthy movies. We'll be watching them tonight at a friend's place to add up our two cent's worth to the million dollar industry. I used to plan Oscar parties for fellow film buff friends and film school mates when I was still living in London. We even used to put Oscar pot money out for grabs for the individual who predicts the most number of winners. We used to prepare finger foods and cheap wine from Tesco just to get that chi-chi feeling. It was always a blast because the party usually ends up in the morning because the Oscar’s were telecast in an ungodly hour because of the time difference.
We took the voting and the bet seriously. It was, for us, a sport. We’re film geeks and this was our version of Olympics. And just how geeks were we, we really take time to analyze the picture’s scientific probability to win the coveted award. We all knew that the Oscar’s doesn’t really represent the best films of the year – it was really all about who comes up with the most successful film campaign, who has the most clout. It was really all about the politics of celluloid and we love it to the very last minute or until the envelope reveals the best film with the best handler.
If you really take time and study every bit of detail, take time and research the politics behind it, or analyze the precursor awards that comes before the big night, chances are, you’ll be able to predict who’ll end up with the golden statuette. I thrive on this yearly chance to outsmart and outwit all my other fellow film friends. I end up loosing though, because even though the science behind it dictates who the winner will be, the idealist in me always votes for the most deserving nominee among the lot. Back in my mind, I'm always hoping for an upset. I was for example hoping for a Cate Blanchette victory over Gwynethe Paltrow even though the odds of her winning was slimmer than queen Elizabeth’s waist.
But it was the Oscars after all, more than an awards show, it’s Hollywood’s excuse to come up with a glitzy party. We the geek film buffs follow and enjoy every bit of it… Fast-forward to 2007 - that was like nine years… almost a decade ago. When I came back home to Manila, I learned, much to my dismay, that Oscar’s not really a big thing here. There are no Oscar Nominated Film Marathons on theatre’s, heck we’re actually lucky if majority of the nominated movies were locally released… there are no Oscar pot money’s and I’m missing the second rate Oscar parties with friends...
I actually find this odd because last year I was actually in Thailand during the Oscar season and I was surprised that there’s a big Oscar buzz there. The big movie houses in Bangkok are actually showing all the Oscar best picture nominees a week before the awards night to get the much needed buzz. I would think that Manila will be more busy with all things Oscar’s. But low and behold, you open your TV and you see the buzz on the latest Koreanovelas and what have yous…
I’m actually on an Oscar movie rush, and the absence of the movies here locally is actually what gets the film buffs on the other side of the fence… you can’t blame them if they end up downloading torrents to get the fix that they’re craving for, illegal ways to satisfy the addiction so to speak.
A day before the big night and I’m all ready for my pick. I finished downloading the movies that matter and I’m ready for an Oscar night with friends – I might not be the gracious host this time but the great thing is that there are still fellow geeks just like me who go gaga with the magic of dear old uncle Oscar.
For sure, my bets will not get the elusive Oscar but what’s important is I’ll get the chance to root for them, and enjoy the magic that they bring. Do yourself a favor, download these movies, and have great fun watching!!!
PAO’s OSCAR FEARLESS FORECAST:
BEST PICTURE:
WHO WILL WIN: Little Miss Sunshine
WHO SHOULD WIN: Letters from Iwo Jima
BEST ACTOR:
WHO WILL WIN: Forrest Whitaker for LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
WHO SHOULD WIN: Ryan Gosling for HALF NELSON
BEST ACTRESS:
WHO WILL WIN: Helen Mirren for THE QUEEN
WHO SHOULD WIN: Penelope Cruz for VOLVER
BEST DIRECTOR:
WHO WILL WIN: Martin Scorsese for THE DEPARTED
WHO SHOULD WIN: Clint Eastwood for LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
WHO WILL WIN: Jeniffer Hudson for DREAMGIRLS
WHO SHOULD WIN: Adriana Barraza for BABEL
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
WHO WILL WIN: Eddie Murphy for DREAMGIRLS
WHO SHOULD WIN: Mark Wahlberg for THE DEPARTED
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
WHO WILL WIN: The Departed
WHO SHOULD WIN: Children of Heaven
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
WHO WIL WIN: Little Miss Sunshine
WHO SHOULD WIN: Pan’s Labyrinth
PAN’S LABYRINTH for me is the most surreal, the best movie experience, the most engaging picture that I’ve seen this year. It's one of those movies that keeps you thinking long after you've finished the movie. It's one of the most disturbing movies that I've seen in years. This is great cinema. The production design, the cinematography, the wonderful story, the great acting and the enigmatic direction of Mexican auteur Guillermo Del Toro are all top notch. I truly admire the daring and the audacity by which it painted magically but painfully the horrors of fascism - the images will haunt you for the rest of your lives. It's one of those cinematic experience you should and could not miss. Go watch it!!!
