Oscar run-up, 1/21.

So Newsweek's Oscar roundtable mentioned some time back, the one with Cate Blanchett, Penélope Cruz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Helen Mirren, Brad Pitt and Forest Whitaker, the one hosted by Sean Smith and David Ansen, is now online.

David Poland reflects on the influence of online media on the Oscar race.

The Producers Guild of America has named Little Miss Sunshine movie of the year; Movie City News has more, while Nathaniel R comments and points more of his own choices as well as the results of Edward Copeland's "Best & Worst 'Best Actress' Wins."

"The last of a generation of hell-raising, gut-wrenching Shakespearean actors who made it in the movies, [Peter] O'Toole has had more comebacks than a phoenix with repetitive strain injury," writes Gaby Wood in the Observer. "Along with his late friend Richard Burton, he holds the record for the most nominations without a win, and when the Academy offered him a Lifetime Achievement Award four years ago, he famously quipped (before accepting it anyway) that he ought to turn it down because he still hoped to 'win the lovely bugger outright'."

Online viewing tip. "Much like last year's timely tribute to Robert Altman, the honorary Oscar to [Ennio] Morricone will likely be the highlight of the night for me," writes That Little Round-Headed Boy. Watching a few concert performances via YouTube, "I am reminded of the weird alchemy of instruments that musical creators hear in their head. Seeing the actual instruments and vocal effects used - oboe, gongs, brass, harp, strings, choristers, martial percussion, operatic soloists - makes me appreciate the genius of Morricone anew."

Posted by dwhudson at January 21, 2007 3:00 PM