Through Ebert's Eyes: The Movie Critic's Oscar Picks
February 24, 2006

There's just one week to go until Hollywood's golden night, and "Extra" has the thumbs up from Mr. Movie, Roger Ebert! Who does he think will bring home Oscar from the 78th Annual Academy Awards?

Best Supporting Actress
Ebert's rooting for the underdog in this category; a little known actress named Amy Adams. Adams was nominated for the little-seen film, "Junebug." But Ebert told us, "This is the category every year where they seem to go for a dark horse."

Best Supporting Actor
In this category, there is no contest who should win in Ebert's mind. "George Clooney for 'Syriana,'" he said. "Both for 'Syriana' and also as a way of honoring him for 'Good Night, and Good Luck.' I think he's had a really great year."

Best Actress
Ebert talks the walk for Best Actress, predicting: "Probably Reese Witherspoon will win for 'Walk the Line.'" He notes that her portrayal of June Carter Cash was, "A very complete performance."

Best Actor
Ebert isn't jumping on the "Brokeback Mountain" bandwagon for this one. Instead, he predicts Philip Seymour Hoffman will score for "Capote." "That will make me happy," Ebert said. "It's a great performance."

Best Director
Roger Ebert believes that based on pure statistics, "Brokeback Mountain" director Ang Lee win will gold on Oscar night. "He won the Director's Guild Award," Ebert noted. "Eighty-five percent of the time, that winner also wins the Oscar."

Best Picture
There is a lot of buzz surrounding "Brokeback Mountain," but Ebert believes the "Brokeback" Express may be stoppable. "I think 'Crash' has a chance of winning," he said. "In December, 'Brokeback' was out in front, but 'Crash' has been gaining."

See how many of Roger's Oscar picks take home gold, Sunday, March 5th on ABC. Plus, get more Oscar favorites this weekend on Ebert and Roeper's special, "If We Picked the Winners." And for all you movie buffs, Roger has a new book called, "The Great Movies 2."

 

 

 

2006 Oscar Nominees

TOP CONTENDERS

Best Actor :

  • Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Capote”
    Terrence Howard     in “Hustle & Flow”
    Heath Ledger     in “Brokeback Mountain”
    Joaquin Phoenix     in “Walk the Line”  
    David Strathairn in “Good Night, and Good Luck.”

Best Supporting Actor :

  • George Clooney in “Syriana”
    Matt Dillon     in “Crash” 
    Paul Giamatti     in “Cinderella Man”
    Jake Gyllenhaal     in “Brokeback Mountain”
    William Hurt     in “A History of Violence”

Best Actress:

  • Judi Dench in “Mrs. Henderson Presents” Felicity Huffman in “Transamerica”  
    Keira Knightley in “Pride & Prejudice”  
    Charlize Theron in “North Country”  
    Reese Witherspoon in “Walk the Line”

Best Supporting Actress :

  • Amy Adams in “Junebug”
    Catherine Keener in “Capote”  
    Frances McDormand in “North Country”
    Rachel Weisz in “The Constant Gardener” Michelle Williams in “Brokeback Mountain”

Achievement in cinematography:

  • “Batman Begins” Wally Pfister  
    “Brokeback Mountain”Rodrigo Prieto  
    “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Robert Elswit  
    “Memoirs of a Geisha”Dion Beebe  
    “The New World” Emmanuel Lubezki

Achievement in directing:

  • “Brokeback Mountain” Ang Lee  
    “Capote” Bennett Miller  
    “Crash” Paul Haggis  
    “Good Night, and Good Luck.” George Clooney  
    “Munich” Steven Spielberg

Best motion picture of the year:

    “Brokeback Mountain”
    “Capote”
    “Crash”
    “Good Night, and Good Luck.”
    “Munich”

    Adapted screenplay:

    “Brokeback Mountain” Screenplay by Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana  
    “Capote” Screenplay by Dan Futterman  
    “The Constant Gardener” Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine  
    “A History of Violence” Screenplay by Josh Olson  
    “Munich” Screenplay by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth

    Original screenplay:

    “Crash” Screenplay by Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco Story by Paul Haggis  
    “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov  
    “Match Point” Written by Woody Allen  
    “The Squid and the Whale” Written by Noah Baumbach  
    “Syriana” Written by Stephen Gaghan 

click for a complete list of nominees

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