2007 Oscar Nominations

[oscar jubis]

Nominations for the 79th Academy Awards

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Leonardo DiCaprio in “Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Ryan Gosling in “Half Nelson” (THINKFilm)
Peter O’Toole in “Venus” (Miramax, Filmfour and UK Council)
Will Smith in “The Pursuit of Happyness” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Forest Whitaker in “The Last King of Scotland” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Arkin in “Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
Jackie Earle Haley in “Little Children” (New Line)
Djimon Hounsou in “Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Eddie Murphy in “Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Mark Wahlberg in “The Departed” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penélope Cruz in “Volver” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Judi Dench in “Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight)
Helen Mirren in “The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada” (20th Century Fox)
Kate Winslet in “Little Children” (New Line)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Adriana Barraza in “Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Cate Blanchett in “Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight)
Abigail Breslin in “Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
Jennifer Hudson in “Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Rinko Kikuchi in “Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)

Best animated feature film of the year
“Cars” (Buena Vista) John Lasseter
“Happy Feet” (Warner Bros.) George Miller
“Monster House” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Gil Kenan

Achievement in art direction
“Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Art Direction: John Myhre
Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
“The Good Shepherd” (Universal)
Art Direction: Jeannine Oppewall
Set Decoration: Gretchen Rau and Leslie E. Rollins
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse)
Art Direction: Eugenio Caballero
Set Decoration: Pilar Revuelta
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
Art Direction: Rick Heinrichs
Set Decoration: Cheryl A. Carasik
“The Prestige” (Buena Vista)
Art Direction: Nathan Crowley
Set Decoration: Julie Ochipinti

Achievement in cinematography
“The Black Dahlia” (Universal) Vilmos Zsigmond
“Children of Men” (Universal) Emmanuel Lubezki
“The Illusionist” (Yari Film Group) Dick Pope
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse) Guillermo Navarro
“The Prestige” (Buena Vista) Wally Pfister

Achievement in costume design
“Curse of the Golden Flower” (Sony Pictures Classics) Yee Chung Man
“The Devil Wears Prada” (20th Century Fox) Patricia Field
“Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount) Sharen Davis
“Marie Antoinette” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Milena Canonero
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada) Consolata Boyle

Achievement in directing
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage) Alejandro González Iñárritu
“The Departed” (Warner Bros.) Martin Scorsese
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada) Stephen Frears
“United 93” (Universal and StudioCanal) Paul Greengrass

Best documentary feature
“Deliver Us from Evil” (Lionsgate)
A Disarming Films Production
Amy Berg and Frank Donner
“An Inconvenient Truth” (Paramount Classics and Participant Productions)
A Lawrence Bender/Laurie David Production
Davis Guggenheim
“Iraq in Fragments” (Typecast Releasing)
A Typecast Pictures/Daylight Factory Production
James Longley and John Sinno
“Jesus Camp” (Magnolia Pictures)
A Loki Films Production
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
“My Country, My Country” (Zeitgeist Films)
A Praxis Films Production
Laura Poitras and Jocelyn Glatzer

Best documentary short subject
“The Blood of Yingzhou District”
A Thomas Lennon Films Production
Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon
“Recycled Life”
An Iwerks/Glad Production
Leslie Iwerks and Mike Glad
“Rehearsing a Dream”
A Simon & Goodman Picture Company Production
Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
“Two Hands”
A Crazy Boat Pictures Production
Nathaniel Kahn and Susan Rose Behr

Achievement in film editing
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise
“Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Steven Rosenblum
“Children of Men” (Universal)
Alex Rodríguez and Alfonso Cuarón
“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
Thelma Schoonmaker
“United 93” (Universal and StudioCanal)
Clare Douglas, Christopher Rouse and Richard Pearson

Best foreign language film of the year
“After the Wedding” A Zentropa Entertainments 16 Production
Denmark
“Days of Glory (Indigènes)” A Tessalit Production
Algeria
“The Lives of Others” A Wiedemann & Berg Production
Germany
“Pan’s Labyrinth” A Tequila Gang/Esperanto Filmoj/Estudios Picasso Production
Mexico
“Water” A Hamilton-Mehta Production
Canada

Achievement in makeup
“Apocalypto” (Buena Vista) Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Click” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kazuhiro Tsuji and Bill Corso
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse) David Marti and Montse Ribe

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage) Gustavo Santaolalla
“The Good German” (Warner Bros.) Thomas Newman
“Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight) Philip Glass
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse) Javier Navarrete
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada) Alexandre Desplat

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth”
(Paramount Classics and Participant Productions)
Music and Lyric by Melissa Etheridge
“Listen” from “Dreamgirls”
(DreamWorks and Paramount)
Music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler
Lyric by Anne Preven
“Love You I Do” from “Dreamgirls”
(DreamWorks and Paramount)
Music by Henry Krieger
Lyric by Siedah Garrett
“Our Town” from “Cars”
(Buena Vista)
Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Patience” from “Dreamgirls”
(DreamWorks and Paramount)
Music by Henry Krieger
Lyric by Willie Reale

Best motion picture of the year
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
An Anonymous Content/Zeta Film/Central Films Production
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jon Kilik and Steve Golin, Producers
“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
A Warner Bros. Pictures Production
Nominees to be determined
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
A DreamWorks Pictures/Warner Bros. Pictures Production
Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg and Robert Lorenz, Producers
“Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
A Big Beach/Bona Fide Production
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
A Granada Production
Andy Harries, Christine Langan and Tracey Seaward, Producers

Best animated short film
“The Danish Poet” (National Film Board of Canada)
A Mikrofilm and National Film Board of Canada Production
Torill Kove
“Lifted” (Buena Vista)
A Pixar Animation Studios Production
Gary Rydstrom
“The Little Matchgirl” (Buena Vista)
A Walt Disney Pictures Production
Roger Allers and Don Hahn
“Maestro” (Szimplafilm)
A Kedd Production
Geza M. Toth
“No Time for Nuts” (20th Century Fox)
A Blue Sky Studios Production
Chris Renaud and Michael Thurmeier

Best live action short film
“Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)”
A Peliculas Pendelton and Tus Ojos Production
Javier Fesser and Luis Manso
“Éramos Pocos (One Too Many)” (Kimuak)
An Altube Filmeak Production
Borja Cobeaga
“Helmer & Son”
A Nordisk Film Production
Soren Pilmark and Kim Magnusson
“The Saviour” (Australian Film Television and Radio School)
An Australian Film Television and Radio School Production
Peter Templeman and Stuart Parkyn
“West Bank Story”
An Ari Sandel, Pascal Vaguelsy, Amy Kim, Ravi Malhotra and Ashley Jordan Production
Ari Sandel

Achievement in sound editing
“Apocalypto” (Buena Vista)
Sean McCormack and Kami Asgar
“Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Lon Bender
“Flags of Our Fathers” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by Paramount)
Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
Alan Robert Murray
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
Christopher Boyes and George Watters II

Achievement in sound mixing
“Apocalypto” (Buena Vista)
Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Fernando Camara
“Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ivan Sharrock
“Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer and Willie Burton
“Flags of Our Fathers” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by Paramount)
John Reitz, Dave Campbell, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
Paul Massey, Christopher Boyes and Lee Orloff

Achievement in visual effects
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and Allen Hall
“Poseidon” (Warner Bros.)
Boyd Shermis, Kim Libreri, Chaz Jarrett and John Frazier
“Superman Returns” (Warner Bros.)
Mark Stetson, Neil Corbould, Richard R. Hoover and Jon Thum

Adapted screenplay
“Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” (20th Century Fox)
Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Peter Baynham & Dan Mazer
Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Peter Baynham & Anthony Hines & Todd Phillips
“Children of Men” (Universal)
Screenplay by Alfonso Cuarón & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby
“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by William Monahan
“Little Children” (New Line)
Screenplay by Todd Field & Tom Perrotta
“Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight)
Screenplay by Patrick Marber

Original screenplay
“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Written by Guillermo Arriaga
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by Iris Yamashita
Story by Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis
“Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
Written by Michael Arndt
“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse)
Written by Guillermo del Toro
“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
Written by Peter Morgan

[oscar jubis]

*19 of the 20 nominees in the acting categories are exactly the same as the nominees for the Screen Actors Guild awards. The Oscars nominated Mark Walhberg instead of Leo DiCaprio. Both for their performances in The Departed. Leo is already nominated for Blood Diamond anyway. I'm happy for Walhberg.
*The Academy seems to like the songs from Dreamgirls. I don't. Three were nominated, but not the song by Prince which won the Golden Globe, or the wonderful song by Aretha Franklin at the end of Bobby.
*Pedro Almodovar's Volver did not get nominated in the foreign-language category, but the inferior Water did. I'll be rooting for Pan's Labyrinth in this category and in achievement in Art Direction.
*The category that usually brings surprises is Supporting Actress. Does this mean Ms. Blanchett will not win?
*Favorite Nominations:
1A) Ryan Gosling for Half Nelson, a movie I like more than any of the Best Picture nominees.
1B) Best Cinematography for Children of Men
*After Crash won Best Picture last year, I'm prepared for anything. Even the possibility of a win by the little Miss.

[cinemabon]

I'm curious, Oscar. I would say that the general public is not aware of most of the films nominated this year. None of them were in the top box office. Do you believe the Academy is finally moving away from voting via studio big buget releases and trending toward the smaller higher quality films, which would imply intregity at last?

The Academy membership has been changing a lot recently with so many old guards from the studio days dying off. It seems that ever since Silence of the Lambs won for Best Picture, the Academy has been gradually moving in the direction of smaller 'art' pictures (hence the huge popularity of Sundance). I doubt Crash would have ever seen the light of day a decade ago, much less be on the nomination list.

Was denkes du? (What do you think?)

[oscar jubis]

You know me by now. I cannot give simple, definitive answers.

Originally posted by cinemabon
I'm curious, Oscar. I would say that the general public is not aware of most of the films nominated this year.
This is the time of the year when the general public starts paying attention, as a consequence of the huge publicity that the Oscar nominations generate.

None of them were in the top box office.
The exception would be The Departed which played at over 3000 theatres and grossed $122 million. Film is still in release and will make a few more millions. Little Miss Sunshine was purchased for $5 million by Fox at Sundance and grossed a nice $60 million. The dvd is very popular. The general populace is less familiar with the other three films.

Do you believe the Academy is finally moving away from voting via studio big buget releases and trending toward the smaller higher quality films, which would imply intregity at last?
Tough question. Oscar has always liked studio, "prestige", middle-brow pictures, some of which are big budget. For the sake of brevity, let's look only at last year and this year's Best Picture nominees.
Last Year:
Brokeback Mountain, Capote and Good Night and Good Luck are "smaller, high quality films". Their getting nominated leads me to answer "yes" to your question. I don't like Crash at all. I think it promotes a simplistic, sensationalized view of race relations. But I'd be a fool to deny it's a "smaller" kind of movie that many find to be serious and commendable. Munich is the exception: an expensive Spielberg movie. It's ironic that this supporter of smaller, high-quality films liked big budget, studio, mainstream movies like King Kong and Cinderella Man a lot more than the "smaller" Oscar-winner. I wish Brokeback had won.

This Year:
The nomination of Penelope Cruz and Ryan Gosling for their performances in decidedly small films is very encouraging. Let's look at the Best Picture nominations. Letters From Iwo Jima is Clint's baby. But it is still a foreign-language film so its inclusion among Best Picture nominees is a sign of open-mindedness on the part of the Academy. Babel and The Queen have grossed a relatively modest $24 and $36 million respectively. They stand to benefit most from Oscar publicity, especially since both will win at least one Oscar (Mirren's odds are almost 1 to 1). Both are "smaller, quality" movies. Sunshine grossed a nice $60 million but it is still a low-budget film with indie roots. The Departed may be a big-budget, action movie that played everywhere, but it was directed by the highly regarded Marty Scorsese.

Overall, I think your contention that recent Academy choices imply more integrity on the part of the Academy has a lot of merit.

[Johann]

Forest Whitaker.
An actor with some serious chops and an amazing resume.
I hope he wins. He won the Globe, he should win the Oscar.
(Haven't seen the movie, tho.)
Peter O'Toole's nomination is just a tip of the hat to a living legend.

I wish Leo good luck.

Ryan "mouseketeer" Gosling got a nomination for an "edgy" part, but the guy sucks if you ask me. I don't see him breaking out the many many faces that a good actor has to forge a legendary career. He strikes me as a boy band reject.
Prove me wrong, RYAN.
I'm Canadian too- M.I.C: see you lose on oscar night.

Dreamgirls' Hudson & Murphy for oscars?
Why not nominate Barney the dinosaur or fuckin' Ronald McDonald?
Their acting skills have been tested way more than these two...
Holy cow what bizarre choices.
Hudson is an American Idol contestant and Murphy is no "actor".
He said it himself once: "audiences buy this shit!?"

Best Actress: Helen Mirren. It's in stone. She's a legendary actress and the role she's nominated for is a great one- still haven't seen it though.

Best Picture? It's probably Eastwood.
Scorsese has lost to Clint before...

Borat is an adapted screenplay?
Adapted from what?

[cinemabon]

Director - I don't believe anyone is carved in "stone" this year. I've seen Scorsese left at the alter too many times to believe this should be his year. At this point, it is too early to predict. The major factor will be the guild. They usually shape the Academy vote.

Actress - one of the night's big awards. It should be. Women usually have fewer but meatier roles recently. What a line up! Dench (prev. supp. winner), Streep (prev. winner), then Mirren, Cruz, and Winslet. Mirren may have already peaked in popularity, unlike Charlize Theron, who seemed to build after the GG. Dench has been nominated four times for 'leading role' but never won (Streep has two). Many consider Judi one of the greatest actresses of all time! Look for an upset surprise Oscar night, I predict. She deserves the statue, despite Helen's royal appearance.

Actor - Forest Whitaker's speech at the GG's seemed scary. However his weighty portray of Idi Amin is about as close to the mark as you can get.

Supporting Actor - One clear favorite in Hollywood stands out in this catagory, Alan Arkin. Formerly recluse, Alan has been seen more around Hollywood these days in the 'twilight' of his years. He is friendly and funny. The remainder of the old guard may decide this is his year.

Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson's win in Dreamgirls at the top of the night will falsely lead the viewing audience to believe the film will be a winner, but I doubt it. Dreamgirls has no momentum. She may lose to Cate Blanchett.

Picture - If Hollywood is searching for a message, we can rule out films like The Queen and The Departed. I have to agree with my distinguished colleague from Miami that Iwo Jima seems a highly unlikely choice. That leaves "Babel" (another message film...) or the night's winner, "Little Miss Sunshine."

Writing - "Little Children" is a powerful book and the screenplay ain't so bad, either. It stands out of its group with a stamp of greatness. Look for Michael Arndt to pick up his first Oscar for his witty and poignant work, "Little Miss Sunshine."


"So let it be written... so let it be done!" Yul Brenner "The Ten Commandments"

[oscar jubis]

Oscar's Oscar Predictions: Babel, Scorsese, Mirren, Whitaker, Murphy, Hudson.
I will hopelessly root for: Iwo Jima, Eastwood, Cruz, Gosling, Wahlberg and Blanchett.
Whitaker was visibly moved at the G. Globes, almost speechless, awkward. I recently heard him being interviewed on NPR. He was so smooth, confident, and eloquent throughout.

[Chris Knipp]

Johann writes....
Ryan "mouseketeer" Gosling got a nomination for an "edgy" part, but the guy sucks if you ask me. I don't see him breaking out the many many faces that a good actor has to forge a legendary career. He strikes me as a boy band reject.
Prove me wrong, RYAN.
I'm Canadian too- M.I.C: see you lose on oscar night.

Dreamgirls' Hudson & Murphy for oscars?
Why not nominate Barney the dinosaur or fuckin' Ronald McDonald?
Their acting skills have been tested way more than these two...
Holy cow what bizarre choices.
Hudson is an American Idol contestant and Murphy is no "actor".
He said it himself once: "audiences buy this shit!?" Bravo, Johann, forthright as always and perceptive on all three counts. Gosling's role choices and performances have been very uneven. Only his Believer worked, and though impressive that was a schtick rather than nuance. Hudson's singing warms the heart and she stands out from her plastic show-tune cohorts in that movie but she's no actress and wasn't even well directed. One can applaud Murphy for getting out of the body suit but his soul-singer composite is no masterpiece for a SNL veteran of such knockoffs.

I'm no good at predictions. My job is to decide what I like and think best not what others will vote for. This year I'm not either as horrified or as thrilled by the nominations as in the past and don't think I'm in for the terrible disappointment like when the Brokeback was bypassed last year for a PC recipe-book product.

[cinemabon]

I definitely missed the mark on Mirren. She is well liked in Hollywood and should get the Best Actress nod (as evidenced tonight on the Guild awards). Supporting Actor will probably go to Eddie Murphy. However, I still believe Sunshine will take best pix.

[Johann]

Thanks Chris- you're forthright yourself.

I like predictions.
I look at it as a fun thing, a guessing game at topicality - who can really predict anything?

The oscars are especially difficult to predict.

In past years I thought I had it all figured out and then all my picks are wrong...that's why I'm never in an oscar pool.

Those who should win only occasionally get the "golden dude".

Was 2006 a strong year for film?

[Chris Knipp]

1.
Was 2006 a strong year for film? Well, I'm seeing more and more choice films every year thanks to PMW's original encouragement so this was a rich year in filmgoing for me. At first I thought it was a so-so year in quality but now I'm with those who say it was a good solid one, but (maybe) without anything super-terrific or that moved me as deeply as Brokeback Mountain or the unreleased Sokurov film The Sun. Thanks for saying I'm forthright. I want to be.

2. Predicting Oscar winners successfully requires an exhaustive knowledge of the politics of Oscar campaigning and Academy psychology and just dumb luck. To me there's a conflict too strong between what may win and what I'd like to have win for me to make cool guesses.

3. Now that Little Miss Sunshine is emerging as a stronger contender than seemed before, I realize that after all for me there is a potential Oscar "ick" factor I thought wasn't there this time. If that won I'd be irritated. It's a nice little movie up to a point (the last segment sucks) but its celebration of ersatz quirkiness doesn't deserve the industry's highest award. The other entries have more substance. But that has nothing to do with what will win.

[cinemabon]

I just heard a great rumor around town that Peter O'toole may upset the horse with a win Oscar night (his eight nominations and no wins being the driving force). Evidently, some voters are hoping O'toole will be drunk and deliver the kind of speech that will rattle sabres in the "old" club.

Just a rumor, mind you.

[Johann]

I enjoyed last night's telecast.

Forest Whitaker
Helen Mirren
Martin Scorsese
Thelma Schoonmaker

Awesome winners- the Academy got it right.

I loved Michael Mann's edited montage of American cinema and the Ennio Morricone recognition. Hard to believe he never won.

Ellen was a great host.
I like her way more than any of the other past hosts.
Really smart and really funny...


The Departed- best picture. Outstanding.

Cinephiles can stop complaining now.
Our filmmaking God Scorsese has been honored properly.

I was thinking "the fix is in" when Coppola, Lucas and Spielberg appeared to present the Best Director award.

Boo-yah ke-shah.

Jennifer Hudson over Cate Blanchett?

Is that insulting or what?

[Chris Knipp]

I too enjoyed it more than usual and actually managed to watch the entire thing for once, maybe because they started out with nomininations I could feel good about and I don't have anything I feel forced to complain about, just like you say, Johann. It was nice that The Lives of Others won and the fact that Babel seemed to be locked out of everything may not bother many. Pam's Labyrinth got recognition for its many accomplishments. Degeneres went down easy. There have been more stimulating hosts but sometimes the stimulation has been irritation. She avoids that.

[Johann]

The tribute to those who've passed was great too.

Jack Nicholson was looking dapper.
Nice to see him without the sunglasses ;)

Mirren's acceptance speech was interesting.
"I give you the Queen" ?

I don't like those Dreamgirls songs either oscar.

Celine Dion bored the hell out of me.

I'm so happy for Forest Whitaker.
That man can be proud of his career.
Great that he and Scorsese got some recognition- watch The Color of Money!
I just saw Platoon again yesterday- the new DVD release.
"I'm hurtin' real bad inside"
Congratulations Forest- you got some amazing work behind you (and ahead)

My fave of his: Jarmusch's Ghost Dog.
That film is poetry.

[cinemabon]

When the big three stepped onto the stage and Speilberg kept staring over at Marty, it became quite clear how the vast majority must have voted. Only Lucas seemed to be on the outside gazing in, an honorary statue in his future perhaps (although he's already received the Thalberg - notice it is no longer a bust of Thanlberg but another gold statue! Remember when Speilberg got his and it kept falling over on the podium during his speech?)

I wanted O'toole to finally get the nod, however Whitaker did the best acting job. While the ceremony continues to run long, I did enjoy Ellen, the shadow puppets, and Gore's running gag (which they milked a few times... Clooney: "I've been back stage drinking with Al Gore and Jack [Nickelson]... I don't believe he's running for president.")

Pan's Labyrinth awards for its incredible sets and visuals was no surprise, however I did want Patricia Field to win, as she did more than just create lacy 18th Century bodices... 85 changes for Anne Hathaway alone!

As to The Departed, you who relish in violent films have an affinity for such bill of fare. I will let you be the judge as to its ultimate place in the history of cinema. I choose to sit on the sidelines for that recent trend.

[Chris Knipp]

I agree with a lot of what you say...in principle with all. Good observations obviously coming from one who sees them all. This was one of the few in a long time that I've watched all through -- and didn't get bummed out.

And I still love your closing quote, a favorite of mine, that has seemed extremely relevant to me personally since 1990 or so.

The word is Hillary's camp is watching Al's weight. If it starts dropping, that means he may throw his hat in the ring after all. He also has access to the dough for a campaign.