2008-11-24

Preseason Oscar Game

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I know, I know ---- this post is way overdue (I nearly forgot) (!). But there's still time and I trust you will spend your days off this week pondering your entry.

For you newcomers, as the year draws to a close and awards season draws nigh, Thmazing's Preseason Oscar Game becomes all the rage among hip movie lovers. Sure, some of the frontrunners haven't even come out yet, yes, it is way too soon to have any sensible idea about who will win anything, but so what? That's what Thmazing's Preseason Oscar Game is all about!

(That and a truly atrocious photograph.)

Oxcar's Tush

Here are the rules:

1. Your goal is to predict that a movie will be nominated in a particular category (not that it will win).

2. You may only make one nomination per award.

3. You may nominate a movie in only one category. If you nominate a movie in more than one category, only the first will count. (In other words, you can't choose In the Land of Fuzzy Dice for Best Picture and Best Actress and Best Director and Best Art Direction. And if you do, only the Best Picture guess will count. Because it came first.)

4. The winner will be the person who makes the most correct nomination guesses.

5. In the event of a tie, the tied player who posted first wins.

6. Categories marked with an * require the name of a person or a song in addition to the movie title.

7. Categories marked with an * can receive half a point even if incorrect. For instance, if you thought Parker Pooky would be nominated for Best Actor for his work in What Sandwich, but he was nominated instead for his role in Stick It in Your Ear, you will receive half a point. Similarly, if instead of Pooky, Zaron Smith is nominated for Best Actor for his work in What Sandwich, half a point. But if Smith is nominated for What Sandwich and Pooky is nommed for Stick It in Your Ear, you still only get half a point. You were wrong after all.

8. All entries must be posted in the comments of this post by the last minute of Pearl Harbor Day 2008 (that's two Sundays). Part of the preseason fun is the impossibility of having seen every movie eligible. (Not that I personally am likely to see any of them.)

9. You may research your answers anywhere you like except in the comments section of this post. Looking at others' guesses before posting your own makes you illegible to win. Honesty is our policy. That and garroting filthy cheaters.

10. You do not have to take a stab at each category to qualify. But (obviously) the more complete your survey, the better chance you have of winning.

11. Don't rearrange the nominations' order. That'll just confuse me.

12. So here's what you do: the categories appear below. Just copy them and paste them into the comments box, then fill them in.

13. REMEMBER: NO LOOKING AT OTHERS' SUBMISSIONS BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR OWN.

14. After the real nominations come out, I will do the math and announce the winner.

15. The winner will get a cool prize.

16. So please beat me so I can give it to someone this year. I'm undefeated and, frankly, given how few movies I see, it's getting ridiculous.

So. Go forth. If you would like to see last year's competition, here's the link.

--------------------------------------
COPY AND PASTE CATEGORIES THEN FILL 'EM IN AND POST 'EM
--------------------------------------


Best motion picture of the year
--------[title]

Best animated feature film of the year
--------[title]

Achievement in directing
--------[title]

Performance by an actor in a leading role*
--------[name] [title]

Performance by an actress in a leading role*
--------[name] [title]

Performance by an actor in a supporting role*
--------[name] [title]

Performance by an actress in a supporting role*
--------[name] [title]

Adapted screenplay
--------[title]

Original screenplay
--------[title]

Best documentary feature
--------[title]

Best foreign language film of the year
--------[title]

Best animated short film
--------[title]

Best live action short film
--------[title]

Best documentary short subject
--------[title]

Achievement in film editing
--------[title]

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
--------[title]

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)*
--------[song] [title]

Achievement in art direction
--------[title]

Achievement in cinematography
--------[title]

Achievement in costume design
--------[title]

Achievement in makeup
--------[title]

Achievement in sound editing
--------[title]

Achievement in sound mixing
--------[title]

Achievement in visual effects
--------[title]

17 comments:

  1. I vote Dark Knight for every category.

    I don't see a lot of movies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. .

    If you accidentally clicked here before copying the categories or are here at the post page rather than the comment page (click here for comment page), you may copy this copy before proceeding. Remember it is a heinous crime to look at others' guesses. (But we'll excuse you if you saw Mr Fob's.)


    Best motion picture of the year
    --------[title]

    Best animated feature film of the year
    --------[title]

    Achievement in directing
    --------[title]

    Performance by an actor in a leading role*
    --------[name] [title]

    Performance by an actress in a leading role*
    --------[name] [title]

    Performance by an actor in a supporting role*
    --------[name] [title]

    Performance by an actress in a supporting role*
    --------[name] [title]

    Adapted screenplay
    --------[title]

    Original screenplay
    --------[title]

    Best documentary feature
    --------[title]

    Best foreign language film of the year
    --------[title]

    Best animated short film
    --------[title]

    Best live action short film
    --------[title]

    Best documentary short subject
    --------[title]

    Achievement in film editing
    --------[title]

    Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
    --------[title]

    Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)*
    --------[song] [title]

    Achievement in art direction
    --------[title]

    Achievement in cinematography
    --------[title]

    Achievement in costume design
    --------[title]

    Achievement in makeup
    --------[title]

    Achievement in sound editing
    --------[title]

    Achievement in sound mixing
    --------[title]

    Achievement in visual effects
    --------[title]


    (click here for comment page)

    ReplyDelete
  3. .

    To prevent accidental exposure to others' guesses, blank space:

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    ReplyDelete
  4. .

    My entry:

    Best motion picture of the year
    --------[The Curious Case of Benjamin Button]

    Best animated feature film of the year
    --------[Kung Fu Panda]

    Achievement in directing
    --------[Slumdog Millionaire]

    Performance by an actor in a leading role
    --------[Sean Penn] [Milk]

    Performance by an actress in a leading role
    --------[Angelina Jolie] [Changeling]

    Performance by an actor in a supporting role
    --------[Heath Ledger] [Dark Knight]

    Performance by an actress in a supporting role
    --------[Penelope Cruz] [Vicky Cristina Barcelona]

    Adapted screenplay
    --------[Revolutionary Road]

    Original screenplay
    --------[Rachel Getting Married]

    Best documentary feature
    --------[I.O.U.S.A.]

    Best foreign language film of the year
    --------[Gomorra]

    Best animated short film
    --------[Presto]

    Best live action short film
    --------[Out of My Intention]

    Best documentary short subject
    --------[Man on Wire]

    Achievement in film editing
    --------[Burn Over Reading]

    Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
    --------[Doubt]

    Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
    --------[Rock Me Sexy Jesus] [Hamlet 2]

    Achievement in art direction
    --------[Australia]

    Achievement in cinematography
    --------[Defiance]

    Achievement in costume design
    --------[The Duchess]

    Achievement in makeup
    --------[Hellboy II: The Golden Army]

    Achievement in sound editing
    --------[WALL·E]

    Achievement in sound mixing
    --------[Iron Man]

    Achievement in visual effects
    --------[The Day the Earth Stood Still]

    ReplyDelete
  5. .

    Mr Fob ---

    I hope you realize that, if DK isn't nominated for Best Picture, you will get zero (0) points? And if it is you will get one (1)? While possible to win with a score of one (1), it ain't likely.

    I don't see many movies either --- in fact, this year, I knew less ahead of time than ever before. It's called 'research'; as a librarian, I thought you could appreciate that. Sheesh.

    ReplyDelete
  6. .

    Of the ones I chose, I've seen Dark Knight, Presto, Iron Man and WALL·E. More than I'd expected.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well, maybe this qualifies me as "no fun," but I'm looking at a list of this year's movies and I'm--nonplussed?

    Best motion picture of the year, I don't have any thoughts about. I, like Mr. Fob, am all for nominating The Dark Knight, but I'm not gonna because I'm kinda counting on Heath Ledger getting "Performance by an actor in a supporting role," and you don't allow double votes.

    *sigh*

    I think it's safe to say Wall-E will take Best animated feature film: a lot of animated movies came out this year (The Pirates who Don't Do Anything, Kung Fu Panda, Space Chimps, Madagascar 2, Igor, etc.), but Wall-E was the most--I dunno--artsy and meaningful of them all.

    I really hope Man on Wire gets best documentary. I haven't seen it, but I really, really wanna.

    Haven't noticed much stunning music this year.... Cinematography? Cloverfield is the only one that caught my attention that way, but I'm not sure it was Oscar-worthy, though I thought it was well-done. Iron Man deserves something--maybe visual FX?

    I dunno. I'm not really competing here. I vowed that this year I would do better than last year, but I've got nothing.

    See? No fun.

    [NOTE: verification for this comment is "befearin." That's right: you best be fearin'!]

    ReplyDelete
  8. Woah, Theric--you think Benjamin Button will take best film? Interesting. When I started my comment, I had your form all copied into the comments section, and I was tossing people and titles into sections, and I threw Brad Pitt in for best leading actor in Benjamin just because I think he'll rock the house in that kind of movie (because I love Meet Joe Black so much), but I haven't really been expecting it to be much of a movie. Is the hype good?

    Also, I was shocked to see the panda beating out the robot for best animated movie--I assume that's because you were reserving Wall-E for sound editing?

    Lastly, Man on Wire is a short film? I thought it was full length. Is there a clear distinction between the categories? I bet I.O.U.S.A does win out, but I bet I'd like M.o.W more if I saw either....

    Okay. Enough from me.

    ReplyDelete
  9. .

    The distinction between feature and short is well defined, but it's been changed and I don't really remember it.

    My neighbor just saw Benjamin Buttons and loved it (making it the only movie yet-to-come-out that I really want to see, and probably won't). Keep in mind though, we're just guessing nominations, not final wins.

    I think DK has a shot at Best Picture (as does WALL·E --- albeit a super-small one) but yes, only one nom per movie. Which is why WALL·E gets sound --- Pixar films are shoo-ins there and I think I have a better shot at guessing second place in Best Animated Feature.

    (Next year though, with two Pixar films, it'll be tricky.)

    I don't understand everyone's aversion to scouting for ideas online. There's no rule against it! Why not bolster your personal knowledge with some good old-fashioned googling?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I decided to take a stab at it this year with the help of Google Search.
    Best motion picture of the year
    The Changeling

    Best animated feature film of the year
    Kung Fu Panda

    Achievement in directing
    David Fincher for Curious Case of Benjamin Button

    Performance by an actor in a leading role*
    Leonardo deCaprio in Revolutionary Road

    Performance by an actress in a leading role*
    Nicole Kidman in Australia

    Performance by an actor in a supporting role*
    Heath Ledger in Dark Knight

    Performance by an actress in a supporting role*
    Cathy Bates- Reservation Road

    Adapted screenplay
    Fost/Nixon

    Original screenplay
    Milk

    Best documentary feature
    Freakonomics

    Best foreign language film of the year
    The Counterfeiters

    Best animated short film
    Best live action short film
    Best documentary short subject

    Achievement in film editing
    The Argentine

    Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
    The Soloist

    Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)*
    Wall-e

    Achievement in art direction
    Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince

    Achievement in cinematography
    Curious Case of Benjamin Button

    Achievement in costume design
    The Duchess

    Achievement in makeup
    The Dark Knight

    Achievement in sound editing
    Speed Racer

    Achievement in sound mixing
    Defiance

    Achievement in visual effects
    Prince Caspian

    ReplyDelete
  11. .

    You know what?

    I don't think I've even gone a year without picking Harry Potter for a technical award before.

    It's on, Celia!

    (And where is everyone else....?)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I didn't read the directions closely enough. Too many of them...

    So, I think I nominated a film or two for more than one thing. Oops.

    (I was thinking: If you nominated a movie for more than one thing, once it's won something, all subsequent nominations for that movie are thrown out.)

    ReplyDelete
  13. .

    Actually, even if you're first guess is wrong, all the others get thrown out. But I think your guesses are pretty sound and will hold up well even with two Benjamin Buttons.

    ReplyDelete
  14. .

    So long as you recognize the consequences.

    Thanks for coming!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've very little experience this year with any movie; however, I would like to join in the fun.

    Best animated short film:
    How To Hook Up Your Home Theatre

    ReplyDelete
  16. .

    Comments are closed. I look forward to tallying the result in the New Year.

    ReplyDelete