MC Awards 2007 - Ballots Due TODAY!

[Spinal]

First of all ...

DO NOT VOTE IN THIS THREAD.

All votes must be submitted by PM to me prior to the Oscar telecast on February 24th. You are strongly discouraged from posting your voting ballot, so that the results may have at least some potential for surprise.

Here are the nominees ...

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MC AWARDS BALLOT for 2007

BEST PICTURE
The Lives of Others
No Country for Old Men
Once
Paprika
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac

BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Andrew Dominik, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
David Fincher, Zodiac
Todd Haynes, I'm Not There
Satoshi Kon, Paprika

BEST ACTOR
Josh Brolin, No Country For Old Men
Daniel-Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Ulrich Mühe, The Lives of Others
Gordon Pinsent, Away From Her

BEST ACTRESS
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Markéta Irglová, Once
Ellen Page, Juno
Christina Ricci, Black Snake Moan
Carice van Houten, Black Book

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men
Robert Downey Jr., Zodiac
Tommy Lee Jones, No Country for Old Men
Steve Zahn, Rescue Dawn

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Charlotte Gainsbourg, I'm Not There
Kelly MacDonald, No Country For Old Men
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

BEST ENSEMBLE
The Darjeeling Limited
I’m Not There
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
This is England
Zodiac

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman, The Darjeeling Limited
Brad Bird, Ratatouille
John Carney, Once
Gerard Soeteman and Paul Verhoeven, Black Book
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, The Lives of Others

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Andrew Dominik, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Christopher Hampton, Atonement
James Vanderbilt, Zodiac

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Roger Deakins, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Roger Deakins, No Country for Old Men
Robert Elswit, There Will Be Blood
Edward Lachman, I'm Not There
Harris Savides, Zodiac

BEST EDITING
Roderick Jaynes, No Country for Old Men
Angus Wall, Zodiac
Jay Rabinowitz, I’m Not There
Dylan Tichenor, There Will Be Blood
Darren Holmes, Ratatouille

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Spider-man 3
Sunshine
Transformers
Zodiac

BEST SOUND EFFECTS
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Transformers

BEST ART DIRECTION
Atonement
Black Book
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Atonement
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac

BEST MAKEUP
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
300
28 Weeks Later

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Michael Giacchino, Ratatouille
Jonny Greenwood, There Will Be Blood
Susumu Hirasawa, Paprika
Dario Marianelli, Atonement

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Falling Slowly", Once
"Guaranteed", Into the Wild
"If You Want Me", Once
"That’s How You Know", Enchanted
"When Your Mind’s Made Up", Once

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The King of Kong
No End in Sight
Sicko
Zoo

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Beowulf
Paprika
Persepolis
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie

[Spinal]

One additional note: an executive decision was made to only allow three songs from Once to be nominated.

[Spinal]

Total Nominations:

There Will Be Blood - 11
No Country for Old Men - 11
Zodiac - 10
Once - 6
I'm Not There - 6
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - 5

[Ezee E]

A few surprises here. Paprika, Gainsborugh, and Christina Ricci being the biggest.

Original Screenplay is the most unique that I've seen.

[chrisnu]

I'm pleased with the nominees, other than Carrie-Anne Moss not making the cut.

[ledfloyd]

nice ballot. glad Ricci and Gainsbourgh got recognition. was there an ensemble in There Will Be Blood? editing looks like the hardest choice, for me at least. directing is a little difficult too.

i'm gonna wait til i see Gone Baby Gone, Michael Clayton and the King of Kong before voting. sadly i don't think i'll get to see Darjeeling or Persepolis in time.

[Sycophant]

Total Nominations:

There Will Be Blood - 11
No Country for Old Men - 11
Zodiac - 10
Once - 6
I'm Not There - 6
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - 5We're even more boring than the Academy. :P

Good ballot overall, though the There Will Be Blood ensemble nomination is a little nutty. I actually find I have far stronger and more conflicted opinion on the supporting actor/actress categories than the leading.

[Raiders]

We're even more boring than the Academy.

I don't know. Zodiac and Once are far less boring of choices than Atonement and Juno.

[Spinal]

Biggest disappointment for me was Kate Dickie getting edged out for a nomination. Wasn't able to get to Zodiac before nominations, but I have it checked out from the library now.

[ledfloyd]

I don't know. Zodiac and Once are far less boring of choices than Atonement and Juno.
not to mention us recognizing i'm not there beyond cate blanchette's performance.

[Sycophant]

Fair enough. I'm just referring to the fact that we've heaped even more nominations on There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men than the Academy did. Not that I'm really complaining. A fair number of my votes will go to the latter, I'm sure.

Jones and Bardem in the same cateogry is going to be the kind of decision that keeps me up at night.

What we didn't nominate Was Norbit. Shame on us?

[Mysterious Dude]

Guess I shoulda seen that cowboy movie.

[ledfloyd]

What we didn't nominate Was Norbit. Shame on us?
Armond would be disappointed.

[baby doll]

I'm pleased with the nominees, other than Carrie-Anne Moss not making the cut.The girl from The Matrix? The last time I checked her career was so dead she was acting in Canadian films about retards and zombies.

[Sycophant]

The girl from The Matrix? The last time I checked her career was so dead she was acting in Canadian films about retards and zombies.OH SNAP!

[Spinal]

Carrie-Ann Moss is outstanding in Fido. Anyone who says otherwise is too cool for school.

[Sycophant]

Carrie-Ann Moss is outstanding in Fido. Anyone who says otherwise is too cool for school.I must admit she was quite good. In fact most of the performances were pretty good in that film.

[Ezee E]

Yeah, I love There Will Be Blood and all, but it's a bit strange having it nominated for ensemble, when something like, Michael Clayton should've been there.

[Sycophant]

Yeah, I love There Will Be Blood and all, but it's a bit strange having it nominated for ensemble, when something like, Michael Clayton should've been there.Yeah, it like had something of an ensemble cast in that there were more than two characters*.

*I know.

[Watashi]

No Bird for Director?

Are you kidding me?

And where is Zimmer for his Pirates score?

[Rowland]

No Bird for Director?

Are you kidding me?If it's any consolation, I nominated Bird for director on my finished ballot that I forgot to send Spinal. :lol:

[MacGuffin]

No Bird for Director?

Are you kidding me?

And where is Zimmer for his Pirates score?

Yeah, we're all just kidding. This is a big joke. As a matter of fact, Spinal, bring out the actual ballot!

[Spinal]

Yeah, we're all just kidding. This is a big joke. As a matter of fact, Spinal, bring out the actual ballot!

Oh ... all right ...

(THE ACTUAL) MC AWARDS BALLOT for 2007

BEST PICTURE
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille

BEST DIRECTOR
Brad Bird, Ratatouile
Brad Bird, Ratatouile
Brad Bird, Ratatouile
Brad Bird, Ratatouile
Brad Bird, Ratatouile

BEST ACTOR
Patton Oswalt, Ratatouille
Patton Oswalt, Ratatouille
Patton Oswalt, Ratatouille
Patton Oswalt, Ratatouille
Patton Oswalt, Ratatouille

BEST ACTRESS
Janeane Garofalo, Ratatouille
Janeane Garofalo, Ratatouille
Janeane Garofalo, Ratatouille
Janeane Garofalo, Ratatouille
Janeane Garofalo, Ratatouille

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Peter O'Toole, Ratatouille
Peter O'Toole, Ratatouille
Peter O'Toole, Ratatouille
Peter O'Toole, Ratatouille
Peter O'Toole, Ratatouille

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Who cares?

BEST ENSEMBLE
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Brad Bird, Ratatouille
Brad Bird, Ratatouille
Brad Bird, Ratatouille
Brad Bird, Ratatouille
Brad Bird, Ratatouille

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Who cares?

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille


BEST EDITING
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille


BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille


BEST SOUND EFFECTS
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille


BEST ART DIRECTION
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille


BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Who cares?

BEST MAKEUP
Who cares?

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Who cares?

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Who cares?

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT:
Brad Bird

[Sycophant]

No love for Peter O'Toole? Lame.

[Spinal]

No love for Peter O'Toole? Lame.

Oops. typo. Fixed.

[Watashi]

Where the FUCK is Ian Holm?

[Sycophant]

Where the FUCK is Ian Holm?
Un. Fucking. Worthy.

[Milky Joe]

Okay where the HELL is Laura Linney? Disgraceful!

[Sycophant]

Okay where the HELL is Laura Linney? Disgraceful!
Oh, that's the change I forgot to send Spinal yesterday. Thanks for the reminder.

[Spinal]

Zodiac was good. Engaging performances and a good subject. Really, really talky though and I kind of grew tired of the endless 'clue-discussion-discussion-discussion-roadblock clue-discussion-discussion-discussion-roadblock'. The patient wife waiting while her husband grows increasingly obsessed did not work at all for me. It's not the type of role that really suits Sevigny. Downey was funny. His nomination is deserved. Murder scenes were tense and captivating although I'm a little bit troubled by the flair those scenes were shot with. Bordered on tacky. I'm sure that will not be a popular opinion.

I'm confused by the nomination it received for visual effects.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Zodiac was good. Engaging performances and a good subject. Really, really talky though and I kind of grew tired of the endless 'clue-discussion-discussion-discussion-roadblock clue-discussion-discussion-discussion-roadblock'. The patient wife waiting while her husband grows increasingly obsessed did not work at all for me. It's not the type of role that really suits Sevigny. Downey was funny. His nomination is deserved. Murder scenes were tense and captivating although I'm a little bit troubled by the flair those scenes were shot with. Bordered on tacky. I'm sure that will not be a popular opinion.

I'm confused by the nomination it received for visual effects.

Most of the downtown SF shots were done in front of a green screen. The city was almost completely digitally recreated to look how it did back then.

[Rowland]

Murder scenes were tense and captivating although I'm a little bit troubled by the flair those scenes were shot with. Bordered on tacky. I'm sure that will not be a popular opinion. Interesting, because I was struck by how little flair he shot them with, especially compared to his previous movies.


I'm confused by the nomination it received for visual effects.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT491ctM8Kk&feature=related

[Spinal]

Most of the downtown SF shots were done in front of a green screen. The city was almost completely digitally recreated to look how it did back then.

Ah, that explains it. I figured it had to be something so subtle that I wasn't even noticing it. Cool.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Ah, that explains it. I figured it had to be something so subtle that I wasn't even noticing it. Cool.

That's exactly why it should win, IMO. I had no idea while watching either.

[Ezee E]

That's exactly why it should win, IMO. I had no idea while watching either.
Seconded. It's like 300, but, real-looking. Pretty amazing.

[monolith94]

My favorite ensemble of the year had to be Gone Baby Gone, makes me wish I had voted.

[Ezee E]

My favorite ensemble of the year had to be Gone Baby Gone, makes me wish I had voted.
Why didn't you?

[ledfloyd]

That's exactly why it should win, IMO. I had no idea while watching either.
yeah. it's the most seamless CGI i've ever seen.

[Spinal]

So far, I have received ballots from:

origami_mustache
Ezee E
Kurosawa Fan
Melville
Dillard
Ivan Drago
Silencio
Sxottlan
TheMostGorgeousSituation
ledfloyd
lovejuice
eternity
Boner M
NickGlass
Antoine

Just to give you a confirmation.

[Kurosawa Fan]

yeah. it's the most seamless CGI i've ever seen.

Indeed. Anyone who hasn't should watch that YouTube video Rowland posted in this thread. Incredible stuff.

[Sven]

Some of the y-axis street stuff looked obvious, and that blood splatter was straight out of Kitano's Zatoichi, but otherwise that was pretty good. Would like to see the movie.

[Sycophant]

Some of the y-axis street stuff looked obvious, and that blood splatter was straight out of Kitano's Zatoichi, but otherwise that was pretty good. Would like to see the movie.
It's a damn good film. Also--and I'd have to see it again in context to tell--I think a lot of this stuff looked more natural onscreen, particularly the blood, since it was slowed down for the video.

[Spinal]

It's a damn good film. Also--and I'd have to see it again in context to tell--I think a lot of this stuff looked more natural onscreen, particularly the blood, since it was slowed down for the video.

That moment (I assume you're talking about the cabbie) was in slow motion in the actual film. I watched it yesterday. I was kind of bothered by that choice.

[Sycophant]

That moment (I assume you're talking about the cabbie) was in slow motion in the actual film. I watched it yesterday. I was kind of bothered by that choice.Oh, I don't remember that. Nevermind, then.

[Rowland]

Yeah, the praise for the effects isn't unanimous. I remember Stay Puft arguing that much of it looked no more real to him than Sin City. *shrug*

[Sycophant]

Yeah, the praise for the effects isn't unanimous. I remember Stay Puft arguing that much of it looked no more real to him than Sin City. *shrug*
It's time for me to admit that I've never seen real buildings or scenery, so it all looks the same to me. :embarrassed:

[Spinal]

The only effect that stood out to me was there was a brief moment of CGI rain that looked pretty phony as Jake was getting out of a car.

Now someone's going to tell me that wasn't a special effect.

Come to think of it, the overhead shot of the bridge kind of stood out to me too.

[Mysterious Dude]

The shot looking down at the car was the only one that looked fake to me. There were other moments that I assumed were fake, particularly shots of buildings in the beginning, but they looked real enough, at least. Most of the stuff in that video I didn't see at all. I'm amazed you can do that sort of thing with handheld cameras now.

[Ezee E]

I'll just honestly say that I didn't know any effects were used at all. Hence, my vote.

[Spinal]

I just picked up King of Kong and the Jesse James movie.

[Ezee E]

How many people actually saw Enchanted? Jees.

[Ivan Drago]

How many people actually saw Enchanted? Jees.

I did. I loved it.

[Spinal]

King of Kong was every bit as good as you guys have been saying. What an extraordinary film, with ramifications that extend far beyond the surface subject matter.

[monolith94]

Why didn't you?
procrastination.

[chrisnu]

I'll just honestly say that I didn't know any effects were used at all. Hence, my vote.
What? I had no idea any effects were used, either. :eek:

[Spinal]

One week left to vote.

[ledfloyd]

this secret balloting is definitely an awesome idea. it's cool having no clue what's gonna win.

[monolith94]

Thanks for putting the due date right in the title, spinal. Hopefully this time I can remember to get my act together!

[Spinal]

What kind of mass delusion has led to Casey Affleck's performance being considered 'supporting'? Seriously, this is not a tough call, people.

[ledfloyd]

What kind of mass delusion has led to Casey Affleck's performance being considered 'supporting'? Seriously, this is not a tough call, people.
it's the oscars fault.

[Rowland]

What kind of mass delusion has led to Casey Affleck's performance being considered 'supporting'? Seriously, this is not a tough call, people.It's ironic too, given the movie's themes.

[dreamdead]

I will get my entry in over the weekend. Should be able to get to Zodiac before then, but that's it. There Will be Blood never came to town, nor did Atonement, and Michael Clayton is just not quite appealing enough to bump to the top of the queue, though it'll happen soon.

Still might vote for teh Swinton, though. :)

[Spinal]

About 3 more days.

[Sycophant]

I'll get my ballot late on Saturday, if that's okay. I might be able to squeeze a couple more viewings in on Saturday.

[Spinal]

2 more days. No ballots will be accepted after the Oscar telecast begins.

[Spinal]

Last day.

[Rowland]

Alright, I'm not going to miss this deadline. *cracks fingers*

[DSNT]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/_dissent_/i_voted_1.jpg

[Ezee E]

PREDICTIONS


BEST PICTURE
There Will Be Blood

BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

BEST ACTOR
Daniel-Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood

BEST ACTRESS
Carice van Houten, Black Book

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There

BEST ENSEMBLE
No Country for Old Men

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, The Lives of Others

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Roger Deakins, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert For

BEST EDITING
Roderick Jaynes, No Country for Old Men

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Zodiac

BEST SOUND EFFECTS
There Will Be Blood

BEST ART DIRECTION
There Will Be Blood

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Atonement
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac

BEST MAKEUP
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Jonny Greenwood, There Will Be Blood

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Falling Slowly", Once

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The King of Kong

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Ratatouille

[Sycophant]

There Will Be Blood will make no such sweep.

[DSNT]

There Will Be Blood will make no such sweep.
Definitely not.

My predictions:

BEST PICTURE
No Country for Old Men

BEST DIRECTOR
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

BEST ACTOR
Daniel-Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood

BEST ACTRESS
Julie Christie, Away From Her

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There

BEST ENSEMBLE
I’m Not There

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Brad Bird, Ratatouille

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Roger Deakins, No Country for Old Men

BEST EDITING
Jay Rabinowitz, I’m Not There

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Spider-man 3

BEST SOUND EFFECTS
The Bourne Ultimatum

BEST ART DIRECTION
There Will Be Blood

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

BEST MAKEUP
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Jonny Greenwood, There Will Be Blood

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Falling Slowly", Once

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Sicko

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Ratatouille

Deakins might cancel himself out.

[NickGlass]

Go Swinton Go.

[Spinal]

About 2 more hours left.

[Spinal]

Final hour.

[Spinal]

No more ballots will be accepted.