posting my oscar winners wanna-win list. i guess there are three ways to look at a list of nominees. one would be who will win, the other who should win, and the one who must win. and sometimes it doesnt really matter because politics in award giving bodies get in the way of the real winner receiving the trophy. sometimes sentimental winners take home the trophy instead of the best best nominee. and sometimes, the mass favorite wins the trophy when there’s really a better movie in the running (or out of it). the selection process is trivial and i learned not to put my hopes on the oscar. at least not anymore.
although benjamin button (CCBB) may have gotten the most nominations this year with 13, slumdog millionaire might actually run away with the top honors (picture, director, cinematog, writing). im rooting for kate winslet to win (finally), although she would be the year’s “sentimental” choice along with mickey rourke. im thrilled anne hathaway got nominated and meryll streep gets another nomination but please make it kate this year. heath ledeger (+) hands down wins supporting actor for dark knight.
the supporting actress field is open, since kate in the reader is put in the lead actress category and she’s won in that for both SAG and GG as supporting. perhaps this time penelope cruz might actually get it. or amy adams.
there are ways on how to guess the winners for the oscars. when they win at the GG (golden globes), that’s almost 50% sure they will win the oscar. if the same recipients win in their corresponding guilds (directors guild of american, screen actors, producers guild, etc) then it’s practically theirs. of course there have been upsets but that’s all part of the game. and dont think winning in the oscars mean youre the best in the lot. politics play a great deal in awards like this that’s why nicole kidman won in the hours and not moulin rouge, renee zellweger won in cold mountain the year after instead of chicago, steven spielberg and martin scorsese didnt win the oscar until schindler’s list and the departed respectively, brokeback mountain won directing and writing but not best picture, lord of the rings didnt win best picture until the release of return of the king, etc.
ive actually mellowed down and am no longer that ubber excited whenever it’s oscar season since i started working on movies. i outgrew my childhood heroes (spielberg etc) every since i learned there was a far richer film experience outside hollywood. but this tradition of guessing winners with cuzin tootsie, as ive said, will continue as long as there are films made.
below is the full list of nominees and my guesses. cheers!
slumdog millionaire. MY. GAS. it’s hard to write about movies that get me all excited. just like with dark knight that took me days before i could write a decent enough review, this also got me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions i cant even rave well about it days after watching it. fantastic direction, writing, performances of the actors, cinematography and prod design. love it love it love it ! pinoys have ranted over at the yahoogroups on why we couldnt produce movies like this despite the fact that we are 80% slums. i dont even wanna go there. slumdog millionare is exceptional and people should watch it to be inspired and fall in love. winner ito. aside from the GG, it also won in the PGA so sureness na ito sa oscar for best picture. kulang nalang danny boyle manalo din sa DGA para sure pa talaga hehe
my cuzin ej’s wife jade just gave birth yesterday evening to a healthy baby boy. the name’s johann raphael. cuzin explains johann is another form for john, meaning a gift of God; and raphael, aside from being a ninja turtle, is also the name of one of God’s angels. i thought jade’s dad’s name, isagarde, would be used for the baby, something the couple teased themselves about. apparently i am told isagarde is a combination of the dad’s godparents or something. by the time titatems and i got to the hospital, the nursery viewing time was over so i guess we have to wait for tomorrow to see my new nephew. yey! 
bought a hard disk multi-media player after seeing cuzin ace with his. i was bowled over the fact that i can watch my movies on tv straight from out of the hard disk. that reduces waste because i need not burn them to dvds. yey! 🙂 
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back in manila yes for another year of slaving off and enjoying everything that life offers. i had a great christmas vacation of course, went home to cdo and visited bohol. was able to attend two weddings (cuzin ace’s with jing and idol butch with vida in bohol) and was able to eat from a total of 8 lechons. the christmas parties were all great and i was able to buy that big E.T. stuffed toy displayed for 3 years in ketkai.
benjamin padero 