Oscar Buzz Pt. 4

To quote Boyz II Men, we've come to the end of the road. Our 2007 Oscar Predictions will return in truncated, more accessible form next month but, for now, we finish with the SCREENPLAY awards. We'll also throw in a few little predictions for technical awards, maybe even the animated category.


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Babel, Bobby, Volver, The Queen, Little Miss Sunshine, The Blood Diamond, Catch A Fire, For Your Consideration, The Good Shepherd

• Surely a win here for critical darling Babel as its unlikely to win anything this year with only Brad Pitt really in with a chance for Supporting Actor.
• Bobby I can't see winning or even possibly being nominated; it all depends on the prevailing critical reception the movie gets.
• Volver could steal in as could Little Miss Sunshine or the steadily-gaining-support The Good Shepherd which does look superb.
• For Your Consideration, although Christopher Guest deserves one for any of his previous films' snubs, won't win due to the improvisation while The Queen is just not quite showy enough to nick it.
• Watch out, just slightly as this is one hell of an outside bet, for Borat. It is the second best reviewed movie of the year and makes a potent socio-political point behind the faux-anti-semitism.
• SPECULATIVE PREDICTIONS FOR NOMINATIONS: BABEL, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, VOLVER, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Departed, Dreamgirls, The Good German, Little Children, Flags Of Our Fathers, Thank You For Smoking, The Prestige, The Last King Of Scotland, Children Of Men, Notes On A Scandal

• The Departed is a solid opening bet for this having successfully transported itself from East to West intact.
• Little Children is a good outside bet with buzz growing for this one while Flags Of Our Fathers could easily sweep the boards and therefore may well take this with it.
• For dark horses, you're packed up on this one with okay chances for Thank You For Smoking, The Good German, Children Of Men or Last King Of Scotland.
• Dreamgirls likely will be too workmanlike to nick this award while mixed reviews for The Prestige have harmed its chances.
• SPECULATIVE PREDICTIONS FOR NOMINATIONS: THE DEPARTED, LITTLE CHILDREN, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, CHILDREN OF MEN

OTHER AWARDS:

• Expect Dreamgirls to win a few her for choreography, editing etc. but its not a lock. Flags Of Our Fathers could easily nick any of those.
• Art Direction will almost certainly go the way of Marie Antoinette along with costumes and possibly make up although POTC: Dead Man's Chest could take that.
• Dreamgirls could take original song but support is growing for Paul Westerberg in Open Season despite the movie's poor reviews.
• Other than that, expect a fair few to go Flags Of Our Fathers' way for its sweeping ambition.

So it's all over, we'll sum it all up in the next few days and get back to reviews and such like... what we do best. Love you all. I guess... NO! I do.