A Look at Best Art Direction

Today's category is Best Art Direction (we're getting to the big ones soon--14 days until Oscar night!!). The nominees are...

Dreamgirls
The Good Shepherd
Pan's Labyrinth
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
The Prestige

I've seen three of the nominees--The Prestige, Pirates and Dreamgirls. One by one...

DREAMGIRLS-This movie had great art direction, and a whole lot of it. It has a small chance, but a chance all the same. The overwhelming favorite is Pan's (which I hope to see today), and that will probably end up doing it. Sigh.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD-Talk about getting shut out. I haven't seen this and I don't plan to (De Niro is an average director, if you ask me), and the trailers didn't provide any really big art direction achievements. Not a big deal.

PAN'S LABYRINTH-Ugh, I am DYING to see this movie! This movie, artistic in its nature, looks like a lot of it will revolve around its visuals. Those are often the types of movies that rewarded with Best Art Direction. This is the safe pick, and I just can't resist predicting it.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST-It already has Visual Effects, and there's no chance that this is going to get more than one Oscar. I mean, it's a major blockbuster, a summer sequel, it has Johnny Depp, Kiera Knightley and Orlando Bloom and, um, IT'S ABOUT PIRATES. Doesn't sound awfully baity.

THE PRESTIGE-I thought that the art direction in this film suited the film's plot: it was dull but thought it was fantastic. Don't count on this one.

WILL WIN: Pan's Labyrinth
SHOULD WIN: Dreamgirls or Pan's Labyrinth
IN ORDER OF LIKELINESS:
1. Pan's Labyrinth
2. Dreamgirls
3. The Good Shepherd
4. The Prestige
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Tomorrow: Best Original Score