Oscar Talk - New York Film Critics Circle Awards!

Best Picture: - United 93
Runners up: - (1st) The Queen, (2nd) The Departed

Best Director: - Martin Scorsese, THE DEPARTED
Runners-up: - (1st) Stephen Frears, THE QUEEN. (2nd) Clint Eastwood, LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA)

Best First Film: - Half Nelson
Runners-up: (1st) Little Miss Sunshine, (2nd) A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

Best Actress: - Helen Mirren, THE QUEEN
Runners-up: - (1st) Judi Dench, NOTES ON A SCANDAL, (2nd) Meryl Streep, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA)

Best Actor: - Forest Whitaker, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
Runners-up: - (1st) Ryan Gosling, HALF NELSON, (2nd) Sacha Baron Cohen, BORAT

Best Foreign Film: - Army of Shadows
Runners-up: - (1st) Volver, (2nd) The Death of Mr. Lazarescue

Best Non-Fiction Film: - Deliver Us From Evil
Runners-up: - (1st) 49 Up, (2nd) Borat (3rd) An Inconvenient Truth

Best Animated Film: - Happy Feet
Runners-up: - (1st) A Scanner Darkly, (2nd) Cars

Best Supporting Actor: - Jackie Earle Haley, LITTLE CHILDREN
Runners-up: - (1st) Eddie Murphy, DREAMGIRLS, (2nd) Steve Carell, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

Best Supporting Actress:- Jennifer Hudson, DREAMGIRLS
Runners-up: - (1st) Shareeka Epps, HALF NELSON, (2nd) Catherine O'Hara, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Best Screenplay: - The Queen
Runners-up: - (1st) The Departed, (2nd) Little Miss Sunshine

Well one thing for sure, never think you know anything when it comes to Oscar.

The films that have gotten the biggest boost from the critics awards are:
United 93 – Glad THIS film and Director are emerging as strong contenders.
Pans Labyrinth – Needed these critics awards to garner enough attention for a Foreign Film nom.
Little Miss Sunshine – There is definite love and respect for this small little crowd pleaser.

The performances that have now gotten more traction are:
Jackie Earle Haley, LITTLE CHILDREN – Will the Academy go for this?
Ryan Gosling, HALF NELSON – This critically praised performance almost got lost, now he looks like a serious contender.
Shareeka Epps, HALF NELSON – And the same for his co-star
Catherine O'Hara, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION – She needed this to stay in the game for her 1st possible nomination.
Judi Dench, NOTES ON A SCANDAL – Getting a lot of attention based on acting and not just charisma,
Djimon Hounsou – BLOOD DIAMOND – They loved him enough for In America!
Sacha Baron Cohen, BORAT – Can you imagine if he won…..what they wouldn’t do to get him on the stage.

This looks like a wonderful year for the actress…..I just hope Kate Winslet is not nominated…..I don’t think I can bear seeing her loose yet again.

Oh and by the way, my heart break when she was kicked off of American idol is wearing off....oh the sweet justice!