The 79th Academy Awards

As usual, when it comes to the award show, i would only list the some of the awards that i personally considered as 'important'. Let's begin.

Best Make-up
Pan's Labyrinth - I'm torn actually. After watching Apocalypto, i had a very good reason that this film would win the best make-up award. On the other hand, Pan's Labyrinth was my favorite film of the year. But of course, despite the almost real tribe skin piercings, and accessories, it would easier to comprehend, appreciate and memorize the achievement in make-up in the presence of "Pale-Man" and "The Faun" from the Pan's Labyrinth.

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) - Hahaha, eat that, Eddie (Murphy)! No offense, but i dont like Eddie Murphy and after he had won in the Golden Globe for this category, it would seem that his train was en-route to the Oscar statue. So, imagine my delight when Alan Arkin of Little Miss Sunshine won this award at the Oscar instead. Fun Fact: If you know his character's name in Little Miss Sunshine, it would means that you're a very very attentive person. I myself, only knew him as "Grandpa" in that film.

Best Animated Feature
Happy Feet - As expected. The best animated film of 2006. Though to be honest, i want Monster House to win. Well because, at least of all the nominees, only Monster House that features animated human (not talking cars, nor talking penguins).

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Departed - All i could say is, Children of Men has been robbed.

Best Achievement in Cinematography
Pan's Labyrinth - Again, Children of Men has been robbed. But hey, again, i remind you, Pan's Labyrinth was my favorite film in 2006. So, no biggie.

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
The Lives of Others (Germany) - Argh! Of all the things that Pan's Labyrinth has swept in the evening, the main category that i would very much expected Pan's Labyrinth to win was in this category. But yet, it would seems that post-apocalypse Nazi regime during World War II still has its charm. And yet again, the Academy seems still reluctant to recognize a genre called fantasy.

Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) - I still dont understand all the hypes that accompany her and her film, anyway, if anything, this was a true ultra-rare case of American Dreams. From a regular Jane, to an American Idol contestant, to an Oscar winner. It would've been a dream to many. And to actually realize it, well...

Best Original Screenplay
Little Miss Sunshine - Yes

Best Actor and Actress
I wrote this before the announcement even begin to show that these two spots has been reserved for the King and the Queen. Yea. No surprises. Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland and Helen Mirren in The Queen won the best actor and best actress in a leading role award respectively.

Best Director
Martin Scorcese (The Departed) - Finally. So many years, so many great movies, his first Oscar. And the Academy was grateful enough to present the award via Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Francis Ford Coppola. Each was known as director with great achievements. It would seems that these three was a family of high-rank directors (remember, i'm not agree with this statement. I personally would put Mr.Scorcese higher with names like Robert Altman, Stanley Kubrick, and Alfred Hitchcock) and they were welcoming the newest family member. *Sob* My heart was swelling.

Best Picture
The Departed. Rather perfect closure? Though i had expected some surprise to see Little Miss Sunshine win, i liked this film, even more than its original conception (if only, Andy Lau wasn't in it, it could be different) and to see this film win best picture and best director, it would seem that i was on a mission, and it has been accomplished.

Well, the party's over, follow the green light to your right to head for an Exit, and see you next year. It was a good year for film, and in my opinion, far better than 2005, and 2004. Hopefully that this year would be a yet another better good year for film.