And The Oscar Goes To...

It's February and that can only mean one thing - Academy Awards season is here! Okay, two things - if you count Valentine's Day. Three things, if you consider President's Day. But who the hell cares about all that when I'm announcing...

...the first ever WTT (Way Things Turn) Online Oscar Pickin' Contest!

In years past, we commemorated Oscar night with "Jeff's Annual Honey Baked Ham and Academy Awards Party." This was a particularly raucous and rowdy event when I lived in Tampa, where I celebrated the glamorous ceremony with the many friends I have in the sunshine state who love cinema, and honey baked ham, as much as I do.

On a typical Oscar night, we gathered at my house well in advance of the show, allowing us ample time to belittle the red carpet segment, and giving us plenty of opportunity to gasp, shriek, and debate the worst outfits of the night. We also leveraged those last precious minutes before the start of the show to conclude our Premiere Magazine research, prior to tossing $5 into the Oscar pool and submitting our picks for winners. There was usually only about $75 at stake, but the competition was fierce nonetheless. We had our pride and a year's worth of bragging rights, after all.

I'm too old and tired to host a party this year, but I'm pleased to announce the launch of an online Academy Award selection contest. Here's how it will work:

• Entry in the contest is free! 
• Ballots will be collected via online survey (I'll publish a link a few days before the show)
• Participants will vote on the following 8 categories:
• Best Picture
• Best Director
• Leading Actor
• Leading Actress
• Supporting Actor
• Supporting Actress
• Original Screenplay
• Adapted Screenplay
• A super-fantabulous prize will be awarded to the person who makes the most correct picks (okay, probably a $25 gift card - but what do you expect to win for a free contest!). If needed, we'll use an official "end-time" of the show as a tie-breaker.

Check the blog for more details and more of my movie reviews in the weeks ahead. Until then, here is a printable list of nominees in all categories you can use as a reference to help you decide what movies you still need to see before Oscar night. The Academy Awards show airs on Sunday February 26, so get thee to a theatre!


Related Posts: Oscar Movie Posters That Tell the Truth,  Tinker, Tailor...Winner