I haven't seen any of these movies, but I have my Oscar favourites

It's getting to that time of year when the "Oscar movies" get released, as you can tell from a cursory glance at my favourite Oscar blog (well, it's actually the only true Oscar blog that I know of), Oscarwatch.com.

There are still 3 months of campaigning and FYC ads to get through, but even without having seen any of these movies, I already have my favourites to root for in next year's Oscars. I think I have gotten to the stage where I actually condone the Academy giving out awards in recognition of a life-time's contribution, rather than voting based on a given work during a given year.

I just SO badly want Martin Scorcese to finally get a nod for Best Director for The Departed. It is 20 years overdue. And I still think he should have won for The Age of Innocence, which was such a departure for him and so brilliantly, breathtakingly executed.

This month, we lost the genius that is Robert Altman, a director nominated many times and yet never a winner. Of course, he was in good company, joining the likes of Hitchcock and Kubrick. Should Scorcese be denied again, he would be just another great director that has missed out on the golden statuette. In the meanwhile, James Cameron, Ron Howard and Mel Gibson are all Oscar-winning directors. Hmmmfph.

By all accounts, Helen Mirren WILL win Best Actress because she has indeed given the best performance of the year in The Queen. I truly hope she does win it. I still remember the first time I saw her, playing Rosalind in a BBC filmed production of As You Like It. She was radiant and mesmerising. Since then, I have never been less than awe-struck whenever I watch her in a movie or on TV. If Keira Knightley can be nominated for P&P (a fine enough performance, but hardly earth-shattering), surely Dame Helen can win!

That said, I have a soft spot for Kate Winslet and would not mind if she could pull off a victory for her role in Little Children. As Austen fanatic, I will always have a fondness for the actress who portrayed such a thoroughly sympathetic and human Marianne in Sense and Sensibility. Her career since those early days (only 11 years ago!) has been astounding, especially her unerring choice of roles.

There is a lot of buzz over Jennifer Hudson as Best Supporting Actress for her role in the filmed version of the musical Dreamgirls. JHud was my favourite contestant in the third season of American Idol. I particularly liked her rendition of "Weekend in New England" which was the performance that saw her eliminated. There was something about her her personality that was so likeable and she always had that big, beautiful voice. I was very pleased when she won the role of Effie over bigger names, including, apparently, AI3 winner Fantasia Barrino. I don't know if JHud will win an Oscar for her first role, but I certainly hope she gets a nomination and legitimately becomes the most successful AI alumni so far (this coming from a very loyal Clay Aiken fan!).

The buzz is not all that strong and there are a number of high-powered names being bandied about in that category, but I am hopeful that Steve Carell can land a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Little Miss Sunshine. He's Michael Scott, for crying out loud! The man has handed out Dundies, give him an Oscar! I just enjoy Michael Scott so much on The Office, to the extent that I would say that I watch the show for him, and not the Pam/Jim romance that seems to dominate the fandom's interest. Steve Carell's comedic genius has everything to do with that.

Best Actor? If Peter O'Toole can pull off the victory, it will be an honour even more overdue than Scorcese's. The man has 7 nominations, and I still cannot believe that he did not win for Lawrence of Arabia (I greatly admire Gregory Peck, and Atticus Finch is a character that I personally adore, but O'Toole was just vibrant as TE Lawrence).

Commercial Christmas

It is not even mid November yet. The Yanks just finished celebrating Halloween and Thanksgiving, fer cryin' out loud. Yet, in this equatorial part of the world, the spirit of Christmas has arrived. Or rather, the spirit of Christmas has begun to be advertised.

The faux-pine trees have been erected at the shopping centres. The holly and the ivy adorn the facades of buildings. Sleighs and reindeer and Santa merrily greet us as we unsuspectingly venture into the heart of Singapore's shopping districts. It was somewhat disconcerting and yet, totally and completely unsurprising.

I very much enjoy the trappings of Christmas, even the commercialism of it. The retail sector relies on these festive seasons to make profits, after all. But even with my unromanticised view of Christmas, I am somewhat appalled at Christmas beginning in what basically amounts to early November. Well, I suppose there is something to be said for beating the Christmas shopping crush, if you start shopping early. Maybe that's what this is about - a public service to harried shoppers.