Just checking in to see who’s gearing up for the Academy Awards tonight.

I love this time of year, even when I don’t agree with the Academy’s choices. Every year I attempt to see all the Best Picture nominees. I rarely am able to do it. Since having kids, I don’t even come close to accomplishing it.

This all stems from romantic memories of being in Manhattan one March and walking into movie theaters on a whim, attempting to see all the nominees. I saw them all that year. Don’t ask me who the nominees were.

Most years I disagree with the winners and get all steamed about it, but that’s part of the fun. Titanic shouldn’t have won Best Picture. In my opinion, no film with a badly written script should win best picture.

My husband and I have an inside joke. One year he thought Uncle Buck should have been nominated over Ghost. I’m not even sure those two movies came out the same year. It’s just something that makes us laugh. He loves John Candy.

My favorite host has been Billy Crystal. I look forward to seeing Jon Stewart tonight. I hope he does well.

The past couple of years my husband and I have received free tickets to a fun Academy Awards party where we viewed the awards on a big theater screen. This year we’re staying home. Any tips on how to keep the little ones busy? It starts early here, PST. One of the few events that shows live.

I got a late start this year seeing the films and with the exception of Capote, was limited to movies released on DVD. I wish I had seen Good Night Good Luck, Brokeback Mountain, Memoirs of a Geisha and King Kong. For some reason, Munich doesn’t interest me.

Here is a list of the nominated films that I’ve seen.

CAPOTE
Loved Philip Seymour Hoffman in this film. The film was very well done. It also got a supporting actress award nod for Catherine Keener’s performance. As much as I loved the character of Harper Lee and Keener’s performance I don’t think she should win here. The role wasn’t substantive enough.

HUSTLE AND FLOW
Received a best actor nomination for Terrence Howard. I have loved Terrence Howard in every thing I’ve seen him in. This was no exception. Even so, I was surprised to really like this film. I would be happy to see Terrence Howard win. I definitely think the movie should win for Best Song. The song was the heart of this movie.

WALK THE LINE
Received nominations for performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. I think Reese Witherspoon will win. I liked the movie. Both performances were very good, but I’m not sure they were the best in their categories.

CRASH
I thought the performances in this movie were excellent. The movie as a whole, while having some great moments, was a little off for me. The script wasn’t completely believable in my opinion. I know racism exists. That wasn’t the problem for me. It was this particular storyline. I just didn’t buy it. Sandra Bullock was very good in her part. The movie was nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Matt Dillon) and a few others. I would not be disappointed to see Dillon win. He was great. I’m glad the film won a Screen Actors Guild award for best ensemble. Perfect award for this film.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
This movie was nominated for Best Actress (Keira Knightly) and several other awards. I would like to see it get Best Art Direction. Keira Knightly was wonderful and deserves the award as much as Reece Witherspoon, in my opinion. I think her beauty distracts you in this movie from what a good actor she is. Why wasn’t Donald Sutherland nominated here? The academy got it wrong there.

NORTH COUNTRY
Great Movie. Charlize Theron received the Best Actress nomination. Charlize gave a strong, subtle performance. She was completely believable. Also the best Minnesotan accent I’ve ever heard in a film. She sounded exactly like my cousins. Frances McDormand is nominated for Supporting Actress in this film. Very worthy of a win here, though I didn’t see all performances in the category.

THE CONSTANT GARDNER
Rachel Weisz gave a powerful performance in this interesting, suspenseful movie. She’s nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category, which is strange because she was a lead character.

CINDERELLA MAN
I really enjoyed this movie. Paul Giamatti gave a wonderful, sensitive performance. It’s a toss up for me between him and Dillon in the supporting actor category. Of course, I haven’t seen all the performances in this category.

Here is a list of nominations. What have you seen? If the Oscars are over when you read this, were you disappointed or happy with the show and the results?

Or if you don’t care about the movies, feel free to give red carpet commentary. I predict Keira Knightly, Rachel Weisz, and Charlize Theron will look stunning. Terrence Howard will look good too.