Who will get those coveted golden statues?
Sunday marks the most glamorous, anticipated night in Hollywood
By Jacob Agner, contributing writer
Posted on February 22, 2007

When it comes down to it, one never quite knows what to expect from the Academy Awards, and this year many people are wondering what will happen at this year’s event. For instance, will Martin Scorsese finally bring home the award for Best Director after almost 50 years of filmmaking? Does “American Idol” alumna Jennifer Hudson have the voice to bring home a golden statue, along with fellow “Dreamgirls” actor Eddie Murphy? Will “Babel” follow in the same footsteps as last year’s “Crash?” The critics have made their predictions, but only this Sunday at the 49th annual Academy Awards will everyone’s burning questions be answered.

The acting awards are typically the most exciting moments of the night. Audience members seem to enjoy well-dressed celebrities matching up against each other for their honored performances. This year, according to many critics and the results of the supposedly foretelling Golden Globe Awards, the four acting categories are already in the bag.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Forest Whitaker, who plays a jovial yet murderous dictator in “The Last King of Scotland,” seems almost guaranteed to bring home a gold statue this Sunday.  This is a pretty bold statement, considering Whitaker will be facing high-caliber actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio (“Blood Diamond”), Ryan Gosling (“Half-Nelson”), Will Smith (“Pursuit of Happyness”) and the legendary Peter O’Toole for his eccentric performance in “Venus.” If anyone has the star power to capture the award from Whitaker, it will be 74-year-old O’Toole, who also has never won an Oscar.

Meanwhile, Helen Mirren has reigned supreme so far in the Best Actress category. With her role as Queen Elizabeth in the film aptly titled “The Queen,” Mirren embodies the role of royalty with a stern and unblinking performance. Already distinguishing herself from other candidates with her Golden Globe Award, it would be no surprise to see Mirren assume her Best Actress title once again, snagging the award over the likes of Judi Dench (“Notes On A Scandal”), Kate Winslet (“Little Children”), Penelope Cruz (“Volver”) and Meryl Streep (“The Devil Wears Prada”).

In the Supporting Actor and Actress categories, the performances in “Dreamgirls” take the lead. Just consider Jennifer Hudson, who is fairly fresh off her finalist appearance in the third season of “American Idol.” The New York Daily News stated that her name should be inscribed on the Oscar as soon as she belted “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going,” one of the many catchy songs in “Dreamgirls.” She might need to sing that song again to other actresses nominated for the award, especially youngsters Rinko Kikuchi for “Babel” and Abigail Breslin for “Little Miss Sunshine.”

And if Jennifer Hudson’s singing isn’t enough, Eddie Murphy isn’t afraid to strut across the stage as well. Nominated for his portrayal of Motown star James “Thunder” Early, Murphy proves that there’s more to him than his lame PG-13 comedies. In fact, the only competition seems to be Djimon Hounsou’s character in “Blood Diamond,” a desperate father intent on finding his own son. Hounsou’s character is moving enough for the award, but Murphy carries a charm in his performance that the late James Brown would appreciate. Also, look for Mark Wahlberg (“The Departed”), Jackie Earle Haley (“Little Children”) and Alan Arkin (“Little Miss Sunshine”) to garner their nominations.

This year will once again be a directorial clash of the titans. In 2004, Clint Eastwood snagged the Oscar over Martin Scorsese for his beautiful “Million Dollar Baby.” Scorsese has never made a bad movie and yet the mobster of American cinema has yet to bring home an Academy Award. Clint Eastwood is nominated again for his “Letters From Iwo Jima” against Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed.” This year, Scorsese should pull it off. Already bringing home a Golden Globe, Scorsese now looks to have his first Oscar placed on the mantle. Still, he will find himself up against not only Clint Eastwood, but also Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (“Babel”), Stephen Frears (“The Queen”) and Paul Greengrass (“United 93”).

The most prestigious award of the night, Best Picture, is rarely predictable and often is the most exciting moment of the entire evening. This year will be no exception, but according to the Chicago Sun-Times, “Babel” deserves the glory. “Babel” is being cited as this year’s “Crash,” with four interconnecting stories that each fuse into a melodrama of beauty and despair. Instead of focusing on racial tensions, “Babel” chooses to observe the miscommunications between ordinary people and to follow them into their crumbling paths of fatalism. It is a bold and most deserving film, but it will have to compete against “Letters From Iwo Jima,” “The Queen,” “The Departed,” and “Little Miss Sunhine.”

Ellen Degeneres will host the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25th at 8 p.m. UPB will be hosting an Oscar party, beginning at 7 p.m. at Grafton-Stovall Theater.