It's that time of year again! The run up to that most glitzy of occasions, the academy awards. Who'd of thought a little golden statue could bring such happiness and pain?
Last year, the lovely Eloise and I did the hard core live marathon until 5am to silently cheer as Peter Jackson finally won Best Director! If you could have been a fly on the wall you would have broken your heart laughing at the sight of two fully grown young women jumping up and down and screaming silently so as not to wake anyone up. This year said marathon is expanding to allow the adition of a few choice friends and as the nominations were listed yesterday anticipation is building.
If you haven't heard the nominees are...
Best Picture
The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
Ray
Sideways
Best Director
Martin Scorsese - The Aviator
Clint Eastwood - Million Dollar Baby
Taylor Hackford - Ray
Alexander Payne - Sideways
Mike Leigh - Vera Drake
Best Actor
Don Cheadle - Hotel Rwanda
Johnny Depp - Finding Neverland
Leonardo Dicaprio - The Aviator
Clint Eastwood - Million Dollar Baby
Jamie Foxx - Ray
Best Actress
Annette Bening - Being Julia
Catalina Sandino Moreno - Maria Full Of Grace
Imelda Staunton - Vera Drake
Hilary Swank - Million Dollar Baby
Kate Winslet - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Best Supporting Actor
Alan Alda - The Aviator
Thomas Hayden Church - Sideways
Jamie Foxx - Collateral
Morgan Freeman - Million Dollar Baby
Clive Owen - Closer
Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett - The Aviator
Laura Linney - Kinsey
Virginia Madsen - Sideways
Sophie Okonedo - Hotel Rwanda
Natalie Portman - Closer
Best Original Screenplay
The Aviator
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Hotel Rwanda
The Incredibles
Vera Drake
Best Adapted Screenplay
Before Sunset
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
The Motorcycle Diaries
Sideways
Best Animated Film
The Incredibles
Shark Tale
Shrek 2
Best Foreign Film
As It Is In Heaven
The Chorus
Downfall
The Sea Inside
Yesterday
Best Art Direction
The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events
The Phantom Of The Opera
A Very Long Engagement
Best Cinematography
The Aviator
House Of Flying Daggers
The Passion Of The Christ
The Phantom Of The Opera
A Very Long Engagement
Best Costume Design
The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Ray
Troy
Best Sound Editing
The Incredibles
The Polar Express
Spider-Man 2
Best Sound Mixing
The Aviator
The Incredibles
The Polar Express
Ray
Spider-Man 2
Best Visual Effects
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
I, Robot
Spider-Man 2
Best Film Editing
The Aviator
Collateral
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
Ray
Best Makeup
Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events
The Passion Of The Christ
The Sea Inside
Best Score
Finding Neverland
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events
The Passion Of The Christ
The Village
Best Song
Accidentally In Love - Shrek 2
Al Otro Lado Del Río - The Motorcycle Diaries
Believe - The Polar Express
Learn To Be Lonely - The Phantom Of The Opera
Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin) - The Chorus
Best Short Film (Animated)
Birthday Boy
Gopher Broke
Guard Dog
Lorenzo
Ryan
Best Short Film (Live Action)
Everything In This Country Must
Little Terrorist
7:35 In The Morning
Two Cars, One Night
Wasp
Best Documentary Feature
Born Into Brothels
The Story Of The Weeping Camel
Super Size Me
Tupac: Resurrection
Twist Of Faith
Best Documentary Short
Autism Is A World
The Children Of Leningradsky
Hardwood
Mighty Times: The Children's March
Sister Rose's Passion
Annoyingly few nominations to be had for Eternal Sunshine and The Village I feel, and surprisingly few for Collateral! Unfortunately due to skintness or release dates I have yet to see most of the nominations but I won't be put off. I am determined to see as many as physically possible before the big event. I few cheap night marathons may be in order I feel...