Lots of Little Golden Men

The Iraqi president flies to Jordan suffering from illness because the job of running a democracy in a volatile atmosphere may have been too much pressure, little buddy Iran is going "nan-nan" with a protruding tongue because Iran doesn't feel like taking a break from its nuclear weapons development program, and none of this matters today because it's OSCAR NIGHT!

Yep, that's right. Step right up and join the millions of fans from around the world for the 79th Academy Awards! Now, I had written up an extensive coverage of this year's nominees weeks previous to tonight for the school's paper, but due to issues beyond my control, none of my fellow peers at Mason and beyond will be privileged to reading it. It's a moot point as of this morning regardless.

So instead, to the very few who even know of this young and struggling blog, I present you with some of the greater highlights.

First off, we're talking Ellen Degeneres as the host. This is a very good thing. She is natural, and as such a confident and funny personality, both in casual conversation and in stand up - the latter being the strength she will rely on tonight. She is also only the second woman to host, following the pioneering footsteps of the great Whoopi Goldberg. I'm looking forward to Ellen jabbing a few jokes at the annoying orchestra music they blare in with every time a winner goes more than three breathes into their acceptance babble. Her improv is snappy, which is reason enough by itself for this blogger to watch.

And if you just happen to be a Mason person as you read this, there is a party happening down at the JC Cinema tonight as they put the big show up on the appropriately big screen. Fiesta starts at 6:00 pm!

On to the nominees now. I could list all their names here, or I could be efficient and just paste in a link of those in the nominee circle. I have to say how incredibly pleased I am with this year's selections. 2006 truly must have been a glorious year when the odd and eccentric "Little Miss Sunshine" stands shoulder to shoulder with "The Departed" and "Babel" for Best Picture.

Watch out for Ryan Gosling, nominated for Best Actor, as he sweeps in with his worthy performance in "Full Nelson." The ladies should remember him as the heartthrob from "The Notebook" - he's the guy who put all other romantic guys to shame. Leonardo DiCaprio also did convincing job in "The Departed" and look, Bilbo Baggins is up with a seventh nomination, though so far he's always been the nominee, never the winner. Will Smith and Forest Whitaker round out this bout.

Best Actress looks to be quite the cat fight this year, and its all high class and going Brit. Judie Dench in "Notes On A Scandal" was a destructive force of nature and Helen Mirren truly was a Britain's ruler in "The Queen." There is also Penélope Cruz and Winslet is the third Brit, but my money is on the matriarchial trinity that is Dench, Mirren and Meryl Streep ("The Devil Wears Prada"). You can catch up with these girls in recent conversation between the three of them. They be some bad girls.

"Pan's Labyrinth" is a must must must see, for it is a dark, underworld beneath the rabbit hole fantasy that is purely gorgeous to see and far more imaginative than any magic kingdom with a giant mouse. Guillermo Navarro should be made president of something important for his work, and if this film doesn't receive it's rightful recognition - then those who decide the winners do NOT know art when it's Mona Lisa spitting in their faces.

I love that for once many of the Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay nominations were also films that were either nominated for Best Picture and/or starred those nominated for individual performances. Four out of five in the Original Screenplay category are three of the five for Best Picture!

Who should win that big one? You decide, America! ...Wait, that's another show. Honestly, I would want for any of the nominees for Best Picture because they are all films YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING! But in the end that is reality, as much as "Little Miss Sunshine" stands to sweep through many of the other categories, I feel that the big Oscar will go to "Babel" or "Departed", which seems to be the popular favorite. Eastwood is always good with his films every time up to bat, but "Letters of Iwo Jima" just doesn't have that extra magic it needs to take the final lead.

So there you have it. I expect to see you all tonight dutifully laughing with Ellen's humor and expecting "Pan's Labyrinth" to win. For more goody goodies to read up on, check out WashingtonPost.com's page devoted to the event.

HOLLYWOOD, HO!