LAFCA announces, I ponder
Following the lead of the NBR, LAFCA lends top honors to Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima".
I'm really more of a NYFCC guy myself, but the LAFCA did announce their winners today. The two things that jumped out at me most was the "Departed" shutout, and Sacha Baron Cohen.
I really, really, really think that Cohen has a quality shot at an Oscar nod. It isn't solely for today's win either, though that does help his cause. He's basically a lock to win the Globe, and may stand a good shot at getting a SAG nod. I'll tell you what, if Cohen is able to make the BFCA nomination list Tuesday, I'm predicting him. As long as no one is sick of him by next month -- or now -- I could easily see Oscar ride the media wave for Cohen. Especially in such a weak category this year.
As for the "Departed" shutout, LAFCA has always been a bit wacky. This also explains their Supporting Actress choice. I wouldn't expect the NYFCC to follow suit as it relates to "The Departed".
"The Queen" has certainly had a good day today, as goes with "United 93". I still feel very comfortable in my Greengrass prediction, and would not be surprised if the film grabs hold of one of the five Picture slots again in the coming weeks. Let's get that buzz building again.
Very quickly -- I still don't think that "Letters" is the frontrunner to win. I don't. I may be whistling a different tune in a few weeks, but that's where I stand now. It's certainly one of the few major contenders. "Happy Feet" vs. "Cars", anyone? I love the Desplat, Lubezski, and Newman mentions. Three wonderful artists who could pick up Oscar nominations next month.
BEST PICTURE
"Letters from Iwo Jima"
Runner Up: "The Queen"
DIRECTOR
Paul Greengrass, "United 93"
Runner-up: Clint Eastwood, "Flags of our Fathers", "Letters from Iwo Jima"
ACTRESS
Helen Mirren, "The Queen"
Runner-up: Penelope Cruz, "Volver"
ACTOR
Tie - Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat"
and Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"
SCREENPLAY
"The Queen" by Peter Morgan
Runner-up: "Little Miss Sunshine" by Michael Arndt
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Luminita Gheorghiu, "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu"
Runner-up: Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Michael Sheen, "The Queen"
Runner-up: Sergi Lopez, "Pan's Labyrinth"
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"The Lives of Others" directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Runner-up: "Volver" directed by Pedro Almodovar
DOCUMENTARY/NON-FICTION FILM
"An Inconvenient Truth" directed by Davis Guggenheim
Runner-up: "Darwin's Nightmare" directed by Hubert Sauper
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Eugenio Caballero, "Pan's Labyrinth"
Runner-up: Jim Clay, Veronica Falzon, Geoffrey Kirkland, "Children of Men"
ANIMATION
"Happy Feet" (George Miller)
Runner-up: "Cars" (John Lasseter, Joe Ranft)
MUSIC
Alexandre Desplat, "The Painted Veil" and "The Queen"
Runner-up: Thomas Newman, "The Good German" and "Little Children"
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Emmanuel Lubezki, "Children of Men"
Runner-up: Tom Stern, "Flags of our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima"
NEW GENERATION
Michael Arndt, Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris - "Little Miss Sunshine"
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
Robert Mulligan
INDEPENDENT/EXPERIMENTAL
Tie - "Old Joy" directed by Kelly Reichardt
and "In Between Days" directed by So Yong Kim
SPECIAL CITATIONS
To Jean-Pierre Melville's 1969 film "Army of Shadows" which had its U.S. premiere this year, and to Jonas Mekas for his career as a critic and filmmaker.
posted by Shawn Snead @ 12/10/2006 11:36:00 PM
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