Awards Profile: The Bourne Ultimatum

Definately the best in the series. One of the best spy movies ever. It could even be one of the greatest action thrillers. Paul Greengrass' new installment in the "Bourne" trilogy is so fast-paced and action-packed that by the time the credits began rolling, everyone in the theatre was like, "Ah, I want more." There really is nothing bad that I can say about this movie because everything was exceptional. Well, there was a new version of Moby's Extreme Ways at the end and I didn't like that.

Greengrass follows up his Oscar nom with another potential contender. He is just so good at making movies that it is hard to believe he hasn't already won. I know it's not often that an action movie gets recognized by the Academy but I think this one really has a shot. It is that good. The editing and cinematography deserve some recognition for making the chase scenes so chaotic and shaky that you feel as if you're actually in it. My heart was racing during the Tangiers foot race. The acting, like in the previous two, was very good. Matt Damon is always good in whatever he does. Joan Allen returned to give her role justice. David Strathairn was expectedly sinister as the CIA man trying to kill Bourne for personal reasons. Albert Finney had a good cameo, which was very revealing of Bourne's past. But the standout in this film was Julia Stiles, reprising her role of Nikki Parsons from the first and second films. A big character reveal really reflects her abilities as an actress. And one of my favorite parts of the film is when she changes her hair color and she ends up looking like Marie (Bourne's past flame played by Franka Potente).

Probably the best action movie of the year and I hope that there are more movies like this in the future. Good directors making genre movies. It pleases the audience and the Academy. It's a win-win situation, I don't know why more filmmakers don't do it.

Next: "Superbad" or "Halloween" or "3:10 At Yuma" (whatever seems to be relevant will happen, but definately the last one)

The Winners Are Up

Congradulations to everyone who won something. Thanks for voting Maribel Verdu, even though it should have gone to Kristin Chenoweth. I'm not really going to comment on anything else, it just seems pointless now.

July is over and August is here as I write this. Thankfully, the festival is underway and hopefully it will show that this month will be just as promising as the last one. If anyone wants me to do a review of their bait I will do it with some reservations. I will only post a review of a bait that I feel will succeed in the contest (or one that I believe will but I don't think should). It is a waste of my time to write articles about baits other people will trash anyway.

And if anybody wants to read or review my baits for their blogs or just for the hell of it, e-mail me at smartboy242006@aol.com. My baits for August are "Bat Out Of Hell" (not a Meat Loaf biopic) and "Everyday" (my BOTM possibility of the two).

Awards Profile: The Simpsons Movie

I won't really go into much detail, considering this film's limited Oscar chances, but I can tell you that it will most certainly be nominated for Best Animated Feature (and hopefully win). It was expectedly funny and never dragged. It featured an abundance of jokes one would imagine the people behind the TV show would produce. Tom Hanks has a brief moment in the middle of the film too. Political jokes were everywhere and some very subtle sexual humor would amuse only the quick of mind. For example, the relationship between Flanders and Bart is somewhat pedophilic and I was half-expecting Chris Hansen to burst into one of the scenes. Homer almost dabbled in beastiality with Spider Pig/Harry Plopper. The only negative part about the film was the fact that Mr. Burns and Smithers, two of the most popular characters, were reduced to cameos totaling less than a minute in screentime.

Next: The Bourne Ultimatum

"Border Man" Scores 8 Nominations!!

Thanks to everyone who voted for "Border Man" and "Other World" in the Bait an Oscar Contest. This has been the best month since last year! I can't wait for the winners to be announced on Tuesday. Johnny said when he announced the nominees that there will be many surprises still to come. If the snubs of Barry Pepper and "Batman: Scars of Tomorrow" for Awards campaign are just a taste of the shock of this month, then I'm really looking forward to the winners.

Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to give some full predictions because I just cannot get any down time amongst my job and my softball team and other social activities.

For next month I will be submitting "Everyday" and "Bat Out Of Hell" and, if we can use two baits for September, I'll be using "The Second Coming" and a new Nancy Meyers bait called "The Lucky Long Island Sisters". Speaking of next month, has anybody started anything with the tournament. There usually is a plan by now.

Reactions to SAGs and GGs

First off let me say thanks to everyone who voted for Maribel Verdu to win Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes. Now, are my reactions:

Golden Globes
Best Picture (Drama)
The Valley of Ashes- while I completely disagree with the strength in this bait, it doesn't surprise. I think that "Into Thin Air" is probably going to be the one left out of the BP lineup, having been replaced by "A New Agenda". Although, don't be surprised if "The Banality Of Evil" is absent.

Best Actor (Drama)
Barry Pepper-The Valley of Ashes- Again, nothing surprising. And again, I feel it is undeserved. But he will be nominated along with the rest of the guys, minus Crudup and maybe Cage. I just don't think Cage has enough buzz to get nominated.

Best Actress (Drama)
Susan Sarandon-Dear, Mr. President- Okay choice. I personally thought Binoche should've won but oh well. I only think Sarandon, Binoche and Williams have shots at nominations. All the kids will get shutout but don't be surprised if only one of these women in this category get a nom.

Best Picture (Musical/Comedy)
A New Agenda- Not surprising and very deserving. It is a great bait and is "The Valley of Ashes" strongest competitor. "Rehab!" is the only other possible nomination and I hope it gets it.

Best Actor (Musical/Comedy)
George Clooney-Eleven Weeks to Steal November- This was a shock. I thought Carl Reiner had this in the bag, but he will still get nominated with his bait. Unfortunately I doubt Clooney has a chance.

Best Actress (Musical/Comedy)
Michelle Pfieffer-Divine Poker- Another surprise but I doubt she'll get nominated. Expect Lindsay and the "Good Morning" gals to get in, with one of them winning.

Best Supporting Actor
Al Pacino-A New Agenda- Well deserved and a lock for a nom. Oldman is in the wrong category. Bridges and Hernandez are probably in and expect Del Toro to replace Fiennes for the "Batman" nod.

Best Supporting Actress
Maribel Verdu-Border Man- Yet another surprise, although I still think Chenoweth will win the Oscar. I think all five nominees are in this category. The question is who is going to get kicked.

Best Director
Roman Polanski-The Valley of Ashes- Okay, I get it. People like the bait. All 5 nominees are probably in this one too.

Best Screenplay
A New Agenda- Deserved. The rest will probably all get in too.

SAGs
Best Ensemble
A New Agenda- Surprised "The Valley of Ashes" didn't win this one. Haha. Nothing that shocking.

Best Actor
Barry Pepper-The Valley of Ashes- I already said all I needed to say.

Best Actress
Susan Sarandon-Dear, Mr. President- This too.

Best Supporting Actor
Gary Oldman-The Banality of Evil- I'm glad he won but should be lead. This is the category where there will be a surprise.

Best Supporting Actress
Kristin Chenoweth-Good Morning, Ladies- Way to go!

Awards Profile: Hairspray

I really can't say anything bad about this movie. It was great, no not great, amazing. It was everything I expected it to be and more! This is now the frontrunner for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) and could even be a strong contender for the big prize. Most of the credit goes to Director/Choreographer Adam Shankman, who the directed the very underrated "Bringing Down The House" in 2003. It must be something about film musical where the director and choreographer are the same person, I mean, look at "Chicago" and "West Side Story". I guess the director can really feel the passion of the story through his own fancy footwork. He was even able to squeeze in little bits of outrageous humor, especially in "I Can Hear The Bells", which gave me the most laughs I've had at a movie in a long time.

Nikki Blonsky does very well as the main character and proves that it doesn't take a seasoned actor to make the role her own. But the real spark comes from the supporting cast. I expected Michelle Pfieffer to be better but she really didn't have a whole lot of screentime, but what she was in was pretty good. James Marsden surprised me with his very corny Corny Collins. Being able to see right through his fake smile really brings out his talents. Elijah Kelley is going to be the male breakout star of the year. Queen Latifah shows that she still does her best work in musicals with a very inspiring solo moment. It is a song to get her a nomination. But as I expected, John Travolta stood out the most. His turn as Edna Turnblad deserves to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor. His voice isn't much but his dancework is exceptional. And his hilarious accent really brings the viewer into the nonsense that is his character. Everytime he would talk, hell everytime he did anything, the theater would just start laughing.

Expect this film to do well at the GGs and garner many tech noms at the Oscars, and hopefully, some big 8 attention for Shankman, Travolta, and Latifah. Best Original Song too.

Next: The Simpsons Movie

My Current Emmy Predictions

Best Series (Drama)
Boston Legal
Grey’s Anatomy
Heroes
House
**The Sopranos**

This is the worst line-up for this category ever! The closest thing it comes to greatness in "Sopranos" so it will win and deservedly should win. I have this sneaking suspicion that some of Tony's men managed to "convince" the Academy voters that it's only competition ("Lost" and "FNL") weren't...kosher.

Best Series (Comedy)
30 Rock
Entourage
**The Office**
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty

This category is the only one I predicted 5/5! But it's not that easy to call. But I think "The Office" can pull off a 2nd win if they choose some of the best episodes, but "30 Rock" could sneak up from behind and pull off a "Arrested Development" victory. I've never watched "Ugly Betty" so I really can only judge it on the buzz I hear, which is good but not great. I think it might be too flamboyant for the Emmy voters to accept, and like a former winner in this category once said: "not that there's anything wrong with that."

Best Actor (Drama)
**James Gandolfini-The Sopranos**
Hugh Laurie-House
Denis Leary-Rescue Me
James Spader-Boston Legal
Kiefer Sutherland-24

I really wanted to see Matthew Fox in the line-up. He was so good in the finale and if he would've just submitted that instead of the season premiere, he probably would've made it. Kiefer has become a default nominee, but he was the best part of the show this season and was really good in the beginning like when he had to kill Curtis. Leary lost his chance last year. James Spader is good in "Boston Legal" but that good? I think not. So that leaves us with Laurie and Gandolfini and because this is "The Sopranos" swan song, they will probably will reward the latter. Laurie can win next year. Plus, Gandolfini's performance in "The Second Coming" was pretty effing good.

Best Actor (Comedy)
**Alec Baldwin-30 Rock**
Steve Carell-The Office
Ricky Gervais-Extras
Tony Shalhoub-Monk
Charlie Sheen-Two and a Half Men

If Tony Shalhoub wins again, I will be extremely pissed. His constant winning in this category has begun to make me hate him as a person. Thankfully, he's not really buzzed but that didn't stop him last year. Sheen has no buzz and is somewhat made a mockerie of. Gervais is probably the most deserving of the group but I don't think he stands a chance against the star power of the remaining two. Carell should've won last year and he might get it this year but I personally believe that Baldwin is more deserving. If he switches his submission to "Jack-Tor", he will win but if he doesn't then expect Carell to win.

Best Actress (Drama)
Patricia Arquette-Medium
Minnie Driver-The Riches
Edie Falco-The Sopranos
Sally Field-Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay-Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
**Kyra Sedgwick-The Closer**

I really can't say much about this category because I only watch one of the shows. Having said that, Falco does not deserve to win, that was last year. Hargitay won last year but she faces the same problem as Sutherland (an overdue actor who finally won, now we move on). Driver has almost no buzz. I think a lot of people will be rooting for Field because she is so well known. Arquette supposedly has a knockout submission but Sedgwick is supposedly better. I'll go with Sedgwick for now, but don't be surprised if I switch to Arquette, I mean she won 2 years ago.

Best Actress (Comedy)
**America Ferrera-Ugly Betty**
Tina Fey-30 Rock
Felicity Huffman-Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis-Dreyfus-The New Adventures Of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker-Weeds

Julia ("Stella!!!!!) Louis-Dreyfus won last year but doesn't have a good submission this year, neither does Parker, who could've won if she was nommed last year. I don't think Fey is respected enough as an actress to win. Huffman is the most praised of the "Housewives" but she also falls plague to the fact that she submitted a more dramatic episode, contradictory to the category. America Ferrera has won the GG and the SAG and a whole bunch of critic's awards. This is the easiest race to call.

Best Supporting Actor (Drama)
Michael Emerson-Lost
**Michael Imperioli-The Sopranos**
T.R. Knight-Grey’s Anatomy
Masi Oka-Heroes
Terry O’Quinn-Lost
William Shatner-Boston Legal

This is my favorite category in the Emmys and Oscars and it happens to be this year's most satisfying. Supporting Actor for Drama was the only one they got right! The Shat will probably always get nominated for this show because he is William Shatner and, like Alec Baldwin, people just love him. But he won't win. Masi Oka was definately the best thing about "Heroes" but I can't help but feel he his just comic relief. Knight went through a very rough year in the press but had his best season yet. "Six Days" is very moving and could give the man a surprise win if people fall for his despair. Emerson and O'Quinn from "Lost" are both very deserving but I feel they will split votes from each other because they share almost every powerful moment, but if one were to win I would have to say Emerson because he could leech off of O'Quinn's submission like Huffman did two years ago. That leaves Imperioli, who will win because of vote splitting and an absolutely tragic scene in the end of his submission (I mentioned it before but it's when he shot Tim Daly).

Best Supporting Actor (Comedy)
Jon Cryer-Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon-Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris-How I Met Your Mother
Jeremy Piven-Entourage
**Rainn Wilson-The Office**

Good nominees as well. Cryer and Harris are out because they are from CBS comedies and they are not "Everybody Loves Raymond". Dillon and Piven are fighting for the "Entourage" spot, but Piven had "Manic Monday", almost as good as the episode he won for last year ('Exodus"). Dillon could pull off a sympathy win but I feel only regular viewers of the show will feel the emotion. Rainn Wilson is one of the funniest parts of the show and he had several very good episodes this year. "The Coup" is his goose with a golden egg.

Best Supporting Actress (Drama)
**Lorraine Bracco-The Sopranos**
Rachel Griffiths-Brothers & Sisters
Katherine Heigl-Grey’s Anatomy
Sandra Oh-Grey’s Anatomy
Aida Turturro-The Sopranos
Chandra Wilson-Grey’s Anatomy

And the winner is...Elizabeth Mitchell! I wish. Griffiths lacks the buzz and probably only got in on old "Six Feet Under" love. Heigl and Turturro are the weakest nominees of their respective shows, but Tuturro had "Soprano Home Movies". Wilson only really had one good thing to do this year, but that was the writer's fault, although she is very well liked. That leaves Oh and Bracco. The fact that Bracco even got nominated is something to talk about seeing as the last three seasons have considerably destroyed her character. I think Emmy voters will remember her rape episode from 2000 and finally give it to her. But Oh did get left at the alter. Hmmm.

Best Supporting Actress (Comedy)
Conchata Ferrell-Two and a Half Men
**Jenna Fischer-The Office**
Elizabeth Perkins-Weeds
Jaime Pressly-My Name Is Earl
Holland Taylor-Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams-Ugly Betty

Ferrell and Taylor are out. Perkins has positively no buzz. Pressly doesn't have a good submission this year. Williams is liked and supposedly has some really good episodes, but can she stop Pam Beasley? Fischer's character is extremely likeable and she is a really good actress to top it all off! The final scene of "The Job" is more than enough to secure her win, but I actually think she could even pull it off with "Beach Games"

I'll just rattle off my predicted winners in the Guest acting, writing, and directing categories.

Best Guest Actor (Drama)
Forest Whitaker-ER

Best Guest Actor (Comedy)
Stanley Tucci-Monk

Best Guest Actress (Drama)
Marcia Gay Harden-Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Best Guest Actress (Comedy)
Laurie Metcalfe-Desperate Housewives

Best Directing (Drama)
Peter Berg-Friday Night Lights

Best Directing (Comedy)
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant-Extras

Best Writing (Drama)
David Chase-The Sopranos

Best Writing (Comedy)
Tina Fey-30 rock