Picture - Drama
- Will Win: Brokeback Mountain - I have not yet seen the film, but the buzz is just too huge to ignore.
- Should Win: It is a tough call, I have seem them all except for the sure winner. All of these are fine films. If pressed to make a choice between these, I would go with Good Night and Good Luck. It is an incredible film and really shows George Clooney's abilities as a director.
Picture - Musical or Comedy
- Will Win: Walk the Line will walk away with this one. It may have a rather pedestrian feel to the directing, but the performances are first rate. I must also note that I do not feel that this should be called a musical, it isn't.
- Should Win: The Squid and the Whale should take it, it is humorous and insightful into the dysfunctional family unit. Mild criticism is that it ends way to suddenly.
Actor in a Leading Role - Drama
- Will Win: Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote, this was an exceptional performance and one that is not likely to be ignored. He disappeared into the role of the eccentric writer.
- Should Win: See above.
Actor in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy
- Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix for Walk the Line. He nailed it, to put it bluntly. I wasn't sure I envisioned him in this role but he did a fine job, and the critics have responded.
- Should Win: This is purely personal preference, but I would like to see Johnny Depp win for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He does such a fine job at capturing this bizarre character and taking it in a new direction.
Actress in a Leading Role - Drama
- Will Win: This is a tough call, but I think that Charlize Theron will take it home for North Country. I have not seen it, but have heard very good things about her performance.
- Should Win: Easy call for me, Zhang Ziyi for Memoirs of a Geisha. I found her to be absolutely captivating.
Actress in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy
- Will Win: Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line, this trophy is hers to lose. Her turn as June Carter was phenomenal, probably the best of her career.
- Should Win: See above.
- Side Note: How int he world did Sarah Jessica Parker get nominated for The Family Stone? The movie was not that good, and her performance was not that memorable.
Actor in a Supporting Role
- Will Win: George Clooney for Syriana. I still may not have made heads or tales on the complexities of this film, but Clooney gives an excellent performance, one that is sure to get noticed.
- Should Win: I wouldn't mind either Paul Giamatti in Cinderella Man or Matt Dillon for Crash. Both of those performances were first rate.
- Side Note: Will Ferrell? Sure, the performance was fun, but far from award worthy. What about Mickey Rourke or Michael Caine?
Actress in a Supporting Role
- Will Win: Michelle Williams for Brokeback Mountain, again, the buzz is too much to ignore.
- Should Win: Scarlett Johansson for Match Point, her turn her was powerful in this Hitchcockian Allen film.
Director
- Will Win: Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain. I really hope this pays off when I finally get to see it.
- Should Win: Steven Spielberg for Munich. This was a lot more moving and intense than I had expected. The direction was first rate all the way.
Screenplay
- Will Win: Brokeback Mountain, the juggernaut roles on.
- Should Win: Good Night and Good Luck should take it for its tightly focused script, a trait I find admirable when done well.
- Side Note: Crash doesn't really deserve to be here, as excellent as the film was, the script relies too heavily on manipulation, taking away some of the believability, but as a focused microcosm it works, just not a best screenplay level.
Original Score
- Will Win: Brokeback Mountain, this is just a guess on my part.
- Should Win: Memoirs of a Geisha. John Williams score was fantastic, especially with solos from Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman.
Original Song
- Will Win: "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" from Brokeback Mountain. This is another guess.
- Should Win: "There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway" from The Producers. Can't go wrong with Mel Brooks!
Foreign Film
- Will Win: I have no clue here, as I have only seen one of the nominees. I loved it so I will say it will and should win. That movie is Kung Fu Hustle, Stephen Chow's manic masterpiece of kung fu and comedy, with a good dose of Tex Avery.
- Should Win: See above.
Television Series - Drama
- Will Win: Lost will take the top spot. The show may end up being a huge let down, but the ride has been nothing but compelling.
- Should Win: Newcomer Prison Break would be a good choice. It may be a little far fetched, but it has proven itself with a tightly plotted tale and colorful characters.
Television Series - Musical or Comedy
- Will Win: The strength of newcomer My Name is Earl is undeniable, it will take home the gold. I have to say that this show was a big surprise to me.
- Should Win: See above. Although, I would not mind a win for Everybody Hates Chris, the rare family comedy that is funny and well written with being sappy.
- Side Note: Desperate Housewives is not a comedy.
Mini-Series or Television Movie
- This is a category in which I have seen none of the nominees, so I will take a stab and say Lackawanna Blues.
Actor in a Leading Role - Drama Series
- Will Win: Hugh Laurie in House, M.D. This dry, acid tongued doc will take the gold.
- Should Win: I like Laurie for this, but I would much prefer Kiefer Sutherland in 24. Last season was phenomenal, possibly the best of its run, I cannot wait for the new season.
Actor in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy Series
- Will Win: Jason Lee in My Name is Earl, and well deserving at that.
- Should Win: I have a lot of favorites in here, atop that list would have to be the under recognized Zach Braff in Scrubs. After that would be Steve Carrell in The Office.
Actor In A Leading Role - Mini-Series Or Television Movie
- Haven't seen any of these, so I am going to take a guess with Ed Harris in Empire Falls.
Actress In A Leading Role - Drama Series
- Will Win: Glenn Close in The Shield. Not a fan of the show, but she has had good notices for her work and I think this will be her year.
- Should Win: Kyra Sedgewick in The Closer, she plays a very interesting character in this series, which makes the crime show feel a little bit fresher.
Actress In A Leading Role - Musical Or Comedy Series
- Good grief, this category could have used a bit more variety as 4 of the 5 slots went to Desperate Housewives. May I note, that show is not a comedy.
- Should Win/Will Win. Fill in your choice from Desperate Housewives, I will go with Eva Longoria.
Actress In A Leading Role - Mini-Series Or Television Movie
- Haven't seen any, so I will guess with Halle Berry in Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Actor In A Supporting Role - Series, Mini-Series Or Television Movie
- Never particularly cared for lumping regular series in with minis and TV movies in the supporting categories. These should be separated.
- Will Win: Naveen Andrews in Lost. His contributions to the show are invaluable, he is one of the best character creations of recent TV.
- Should Win: See above. Although, I would have liked Terry O'Quinn to have been nominated, also from Lost.
Actress In A Supporting Role - Series, Mini-Series Or Television Movie
- Will Win: Candice Bergen in Boston Legal. I'm not a fan of the show, but it always seems to get something at these awards shows.
- Should Win: Sandra Oh in Grey's Anatomy. Her dry character is a breath of fresh air amidst the sometimes too sappy nature of other characters.
That brings this whirlwind tour through my predictions to an end. I will say that I am usually way off in choosing the winners, but we shall see if history changes itself.
Enjoy the show!
Brokeback was superb. But honestly, the score sucked. It really shouldn't win for that.
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