DAN & DK - 2006 OSCAR PICKS

BY DAN MILLER
March 3, 2006

It's time again for Demetria and Dan to match Oscar picking skills.

Demetria is, of course, something of a film expert.
She's produced and directed 3 documentary films featured in the Nashville Film Festival, and also produced and directed two music videos.

Yet, despite those impressive credentials, last year -- when picking the top six Academy Award categories -- I beat her, 4 to 3.
(Then again, I did appear briefly in a made-for-TV movie years ago.)

Anyhow, here we go again.
The Oscars are this weekend, and here's the way each of us sees the winners:

DEMETRIA'S OSCAR PICKS:

DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg for "Munich", though in her heart she says George Clooney should win.
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Paul Giamatti in "Cinderella Man".... she loved the movie and loved this guy's performance.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Michelle Williams in "Brokeback Mountain". This, Demetria says, was the best performance in that particular movie.
ACTOR: Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote".... she says he can't miss.
ACTRESS: Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line".
PICTURE: "Brokeback Mountain", though Demetria feels it shouldn't win.

DAN'S OSCAR PICKS:

DIRECTOR: Paul Haggis for "Crash". This movie was a rip-off of "Grand Canyon" and not as good, but Haggis will shock the audience with a win.
SUPPORTING ACTOR: George Clooney in "Syriana". Another surprise.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Rachel Weisz in "The Constant Gardener". It's just a hunch... but I learned from the old time radio detectives, pay attention to hunches.
ACTOR: Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote". I wanted to pick someone different from Demetria's pick, but there's no other choice. This guy simply humbled every other nominee.
ACTRESS: Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line". I just think it's Reese's year.
PICTURE: "Crash", though I think "Capote" is a better film, and I haven't seen "Munich".

So, by late Sunday night, we'll know who wins the Oscars, and the Dan & Demetria challenge.

___________________________________