THE ACTING OSCARS® WENT TO . . .

I picked Hoffman and Huffman for the best actor/actress awards, and scored 50 percent. To no one's surprise, Philip Seymour Hoffman won the Oscar® as Best Actor of 2005 for his portrayal of Truman Capote in CAPOTE.

However, I completely underestimated Reese Witherspoon's "Academy Likeability Quotient." She literally grew up in the industry. She, too, portrayed a real-life person, June Carter Cash, in WALK THE LINE.

After stints in modeling, beginning at age 7, and acting in commercials, Witherspoon landed her first major acting role in THE MAN IN THE MOON (1991). That role as a 14-year old tomboy earned her rave reviews. Roles in bigger films such as JACK THE BEAR and A FAR OFF PLACE followed shortly. She added executive producer along with acting credits for LEGALLY BLONDE 2: Red, White and Blonde (2003).

So, Hoffman and Witherspoon portrayed real people, and both were outstanding, the latter doing her own singing. That's always a plus for the Academy voters.

CUT TO:

MIMI
(Slapping herself on the forehead.)
How did I miss it?

MIMI continues to write.

As I wrote in an earlier post, the best supporting actor/actress categories are much harder for me to determine. George Clooney's "likeability quotient" is high, but there was that knawing feeling that Jake Gyllenhaal might ride the coattails of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN to victory. When he didn't, and Clooney was named the Best Supporting Actor of 2005 (Syriana), with this being the first award bestowed, I began to think that BROKEBACK might not win best picture after all.

Rachel Weisz received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress of 2005 (The Constant Gardener). She was the favorite going in, and when you read the previous post, "Songs and Scores," please click the link for GARDENER to hear Spanish composer Alberto Iglesias' unusual score. He has been composing for Spanish movies since 1980. GARDENER is based on the novel by John le Carré, and Weisz's co-star is Ralph Fiennes. In my humble opinion, the movie deserved more than it received from the Academy.