Falcon and Dove: Oscar Predictions 2010

Hello World Family,
It's an annual event, and of course, this year is no different. It is time for our Oscar predictions: what we think will win, and what we wish would win.

We will keep it simple. This is a powerful year. We feel going to 10 films under consideration for Best Picture was a good idea, since there certainly are enough great films this year consider.

Best Picture-It is going to be a very tough category, but we feel AVATAR will win BEST PICTURE, although we think THE HURT LOCKER will give it a run for its money, and both are fine films. PRECIOUS is nominated, and were there not an AVATAR, this would be our choice for Best Picture.

Director-Kathryn Bigelow did a fantastic job, and of course, Lee Daniels was awesome. We would love to see Lee upset this category, but we are also fine with James Cameron getting his Oscar.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role should be Mo'Nique. She was devastatingly magnificent.

Best Actress-this is a very tough cetegory, and will probably be won by Sandra Bullock. Is it her best effort or role...well, no. This is a feel good category. Every single woman in this group did an extraordinary job this year.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role-probably Christophe Waltz

Best Actor-probably Jeff Bridges, but we would also like to give props to Colin Firth, whom we enjoy tremendously.

In technical categories, we would like to see awards for the following films: AVATAR, STAR TREK, HP: HBP, and The Secret of Kells.

Best Animation will probably be UP, but the best project this year was CORALINE.

Best Original Screenplay- It's a toss up: THE HURT LOCKER and THE MESSENGER

Best Adapted Screenplay-PRECIOUS should win-we will see

Best Visual Effects-AVATAR, period, seriously

Music-Randy Newman may get a win here for work in Disney's THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

Best Documentary-FOOD, INC.

Doc Short-CHINA'S UNNATURAL DISASTER

Best Animated Short-FRENCH TOAST or WALLACE AND GROMMIT

Best Live Short-THE NEW TENANTS

It is truly a wonderful year for film. See as many of these great films as you can on screen, or on DVD.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

DGA Nominations Announced! Five Wonderful Directors

Hey World family,
Falcon here with a quick mention: The Directors Guild of America nominations for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Film are out. The list will not be surprising to most of you, but it is one of the strongest in recent years:

James Cameron-yeah, the man who is truly King of the World at the global box office. Of course, you all know Cameron for TITANIC, the number one grossing box office film of all time, but in a mere 21 days, his masterpiece, AVATAR has moved into second place, passing THE RETURN OF THE KING on Wednesday. AVATAR has now earned a staggering 1.13 billion in just 3 weeks. TITANIC earned 1.87 billion. It appears that a new champion is on the horizon. For bringing this stunning, visually intoxicating, magnificent tale to the screen, Cameron makes the cut for the nomination.

Kathryn Bigelow-for THE HURT LOCKER, an intense, never-lets-up film with war and psychological clastrophobia in the extreme. Yes, she is Jim Cameron's Ex-and she rocks!She also did MISSION ZERO and K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER, and shows a strong eye and an unflinching courage to do the tough stuff, yet her vision is balanced. Every frame is important.

Lee Daniels-for the most unblinking film of the year, PRECIOUS. He has done the best job with material that moves the soul and ignites the desire to change the human condition for the precious people in our lives. Lee, you are local (from Philly) and strong, I am so glad you are getting the attention you have longed deserved, and Falcon and Dove personally congratulate you for being the first African-American director to be nominated by the DGA.
For those of you who don't know about Lee, he built his own business by age 21, then sold it to fund his film interests. He has also managed some of the top talent in the industry, as well as direct this tremendous film. He is a model man, not only because he has industriously managed to finance his career, but also because he raised twins as his own who were a niece and nephew. He handles material and people with respect and with an intimate vision missing from so much modern filmmaking.

Quentin Tarantino-what can we say about him: daring, creative, scary, seductive...and nominated for INGLOUROUS BASTERDS. Quentin has a history of insane, controversial films, some of them excellent, and some we were sure he left the building on. All of his projects from PULP FICTION, to KILL BILL are smooth as silk, and deadly if you blink. That style gives him a spot on this distinguished list of the best of 2009.

Jason Reitman-he is nominated for his job on the vast ensemble cast sort-of comedy, UP IN THE AIR. He is the son of Ivan Reitman, as you might has gathered, and did the wildly entertaining, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, with Aaron Eckhart and J.K. Simmons. Obviously, we thik of this Canadian's work on television more than for films, but he has ambitiously taken on a great piece and delivered the goods. It is well shot, edited well, and has some spice to it. He is in pretty powerful company, and we give him props for making the cut.

Congratualtions, all. You have done some of the finest work of the decade; thank you for your dedication to the craft, and your visionary fortitude.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove