Winner: Martin Scorsese – The Departed
My Pick: Alejandro González Iñárritu – Babel
Outside the Box: Todd Field – Little Children & Alfonso Cuaron – Children of Men
Comments: Ask me which film deserves best picture this year and I’ll say that my first and second picks are not on the ballot. Ask me if Marty deserves an Oscar and I’ll respond yes, for Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Ask me if I’d split the vote like how the Academy picked Best Picture and Best Director in last year’s vote and I’d say it should have occurred again this year. The Departed is the strongest feature among the five, but Iñárritu continues to impress us with his cinematic mind and hand. High five for Marty and Alejandro.
