The Kiddie Oscars of Summer

I can remember when I graduated from the MTV Movie Awards to the Oscars. It was some time around the turn of the century, just before a little film called The Lord of the Rings began conquering the world. Ironically, that movie was bridging the gap between the two entities, being the rare cinematic creation that appeals to serious film people and mainstream audiences. Now, every year, I smile when the MTV nominees are announced, because it reminds me of when I proudly became one of those serious film people.

Still, I thank the movie Gods for the existence of the MTV awards show. It's the only prominent cinematic celebration of the summer, giving cinephiles a little taste of awards frenzy in between Oscar seasons. Also, where else will one find fun categories like Best Kiss, Best Villain, and Best Fight. Many of the choices are laughable and completely dictated by ticket sales and the often half-witted MTV audience (National Treasure 2 for Best Movie? Seriously?!?). And like every other year, no matter how unseen or un-celebrated, any performance by an of-the-moment pop star is bound to sneak in (hence Chris Brown's Breakthrough nod for This Christmas).

This year is not unlike the time of LOTR, in which one of Oscar's darlings will likely walk away with top honors (Juno, and for that matter, Ellen Page). It's always interesting to see what kind of company top contenders from this past winter will be keeping in the summer (Javier Bardem up against...Topher Grace?). And if for nothing else, it allows previously snubbed hopefuls to earn a little more well-deserved recognition (Amy Adams and Denzel Washington, anyone?) At least young moviegoers are getting a little bit of culture. I may not watch the telecast (at least when it's broadcasted live on Sunday, June 1 at 8pm), but to be given another lineup of nominees, for an Oscar junkie, is undeniably fun. While a golden tub of popcorn doesn't hold a candle to a naked golden man, here are my picks (in bold) and predictions (in italics) for 2008's crop of hopefuls. Oh yeah, and Mike Myers is hosting again. Yawn.

Nominees for the "2008 MTV Movie Awards" are:

BEST MOVIE
-- Juno (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
-- Transformers (DreamWorks SKG/Paramount Pictures)
-- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Walt Disney Pictures)
-- I Am Legend (Warner Bros. Pictures)
-- Superbad (Sony Pictures)
-- National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Walt Disney Pictures)


BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
-- Will Smith -- I Am Legend (Warner Bros. Pictures)
-- Shia LaBeouf -- Transformers (DreamWorks SKG/Paramount Pictures)
-- Denzel Washington -- American Gangster (Universal Pictures)
-- Matt Damon -- The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal Pictures)
-- Michael Cera -- Juno (Fox Searchlight Pictures)


BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
-- Ellen Page -- Juno (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
-- Keira Knightley -- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Walt Disney Pictures)
-- Katherine Heigl -- Knocked Up (Universal Pictures)
-- Amy Adams -- Enchanted (Walt Disney Pictures)
-- Jessica Biel -- I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (Universal Pictures)


BEST VILLAIN
-- Johnny Depp -- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (DreamWorks SKG/ Warner Bros. Pictures)
-- Denzel Washington -- American Gangster (Universal Pictures)
-- Angelina Jolie -- Beowulf (Warner Bros. Pictures/ Paramount Pictures)
-- Topher Grace -- Spider-Man 3 (Sony Pictures)
-- Javier Bardem -- No Country For Old Men (Paramount Vantage/ Miramax Films)


BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
-- Johnny Depp -- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Walt Disney Pictures)
-- Adam Sandler -- I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (Universal Pictures)
-- Jonah Hill -- Superbad (Sony Pictures)
-- Seth Rogen -- Knocked Up (Universal Pictures)
-- Amy Adams -- Enchanted (Walt Disney Pictures)


BEST FIGHT
-- Matt Damon vs. Joey Ansah -- The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal Pictures)
-- Tobey Maguire vs. James Franco -- Spider-Man 3 (Sony Pictures)
-- Hayden Christensen vs. Jamie Bell -- Jumper (20th Century Fox)
-- Sean Faris vs. Cam Gigandet -- Never Back Down (Summit Entertainment, LLC)
-- Chris Tucker & Jackie Chan vs. Sun Ming Ming -- Rush Hour 3 (New Line Cinema)
-- Alien vs. Predator- Aliens vs. Predator -- Requiem (20th Century Fox)

BEST KISS
-- Shia LaBeouf and Sarah Roemer -- Disturbia (DreamWorks SKG)
-- Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey -- Enchanted (Walt Disney Pictures)
-- Daniel Radcliffe and Katie Leung -- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Warner Bros. Pictures)
-- Ellen Page and Michael Cera -- Juno (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
-- Briana Evigan and Robert Hoffman -- Step Up 2 The Streets (Touchstone Pictures)

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
-- Zac Efron -- Hairspray (New Line Cinema)
-- Seth Rogen -- Knocked Up (Universal Pictures)
-- Jonah Hill -- Superbad (Sony Pictures)
-- Michael Cera -- Superbad (Sony Pictures)
-- Chris Brown -- This Christmas (Screen Gems)
-- Nikki Blonsky -- Hairspray (New Line Cinema)
-- Megan Fox -- Transformers (DreamWorks SKG/Paramount Pictures)
-- Christopher Mintz-Plasse -- Superbad (Sony Pictures)


BEST SUMMER MOVIE SO FAR
-- Iron Man (Paramount Pictures/Marvel Entertainment)
-- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Paramount Pictures/Lucas Films)
-- Sex and the City: The Movie (New Line Cinema)
-- Speed Racer (Warner Bros. Pictures)
-- The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media)


* Nominees are chosen through a national poll of MTV and MTV2 viewers.