About the Opal Awards

Since 1996, I've been giving out my own personal movie awards every year. Of course, it's mostly symbolic- there are no actual awards being given, nor any ceremony for honorees to attend. Still, I enjoy giving special shout-outs to favorite achievements from the previous movie year, especially when I get to honor work that has been largely ignored by the more respectable groups.

Even now that I've gotten the Muriel Awards up and running, I see no reason to discontinue these. One reason is because I announce these sometime after the cutoff date for the Muriels, so that I can recognize movies that may not have been released in my area prior to that date. Also, there are a few extra categories here that aren't part of the Muriels, and a few that are part of the Muriels aren't included here.

In addition, I'd like to post lists of other award winners on this blog eventually, just for reference's sake. Who knows when that'll happen though.

2006 Opal Award nominations

Winners to be announced at a later date.

Best Picture:
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Brick
Children of Men
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
The Departed
The Prestige
The Proposition
Requiem
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

Best Director:
Alfonso Cuaron, Children of Men
John Hillcoat, The Proposition
Christopher Nolan, The Prestige
Cristi Puiu, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
Martin Scorsese, The Departed

Best First Feature:
Brick, Rian Johnson
Duck Season, Fernando Eimbcke
Puzzlehead, James Bai
Slither, James Gunn
Sweet Land, Ali Selim

Best Lead Actor:
Christian Bale, The Prestige
Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat
Steve Coogan, Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
Matt Damon, The Departed
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Departed
Ion Fiscuteanu, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brick
Pascal Greggory, Gabrielle
Hugh Jackman, The Prestige
Clive Owen, Children of Men

Best Lead Actress:
Ivana Baquero, Pan’s Labyrinth
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Laura Dern, Inland Empire
Jodelle Ferland, Tideland
Sandra Huller, Requiem
Isabelle Huppert, Gabrielle
Gretchen Mol, The Notorious Bettie Page
Julianne Nicholson, Flannel Pajamas
Elizabeth Reaser, Sweet Land
Laura Smet, The Bridesmaid

Best Supporting Actor:
Sacha Baron Cohen, Talladega Nights
David Bowie, The Prestige
Rob Brydon, Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
Michael Caine, The Prestige
Robert Downey Jr., A Scanner Darkly
Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Danny Huston, The Proposition
Nick Nolte, Clean
Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland
Ray Winstone, The Proposition

Best Supporting Actress:
Lumenita Gheorghiu, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
Eva Green, Casino Royale
Rebecca Hall, The Prestige
Mia Kershner, The Black Dahlia
Cloris Leachman, Beerfest
Catherine O’Hara, For Your Consideration
Eva Marie Saint, Don’t Come Knocking
Meryl Streep, A Prairie Home Companion
Maribel Verdu, Pan’s Labyrinth
Emily Watson, The Proposition

Best Ensemble:
The Departed
Duck Season
The Prestige
The Proposition
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

Best Screenplay:
Brick, Rian Johnson
The Departed, William Monahan
Inside Man, Russell Gewirtz
The Prestige, Christopher and Jonathan Nolan
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, Frank Cottrell Boyce

Best Cinematography:
The Black Dahlia, Vilmos Zsigmond
Children of Men, Emmanuel Lubezki
Climates, Gokhan Tiryaki
Miami Vice, Dion Beebe
The Proposition, Benoit Delhomme

Best Score:
Brick, Nathan Johnson
The Fountain, Clint Mansell
The Good German, Thomas Newman
The Painted Veil, Alexandre Desplat
The Prestige, David Julyan

Best Editing:
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, Jeff Buchanan, Sarah Flack and Jamie Kirkpatrick
The Departed, Thelma Schoonmaker
The Prestige, Lee Smith
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, Peter Christelis
United 93, Clare Douglas, Richard Pearson and Christopher Rouse

Best DVD Release:
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Fox
Dazed and Confused, Criterion
The Double Life of Veronique, Criterion
Pandora's Box, Criterion
Reds, Paramount

2005 Opal Award nominees

Winners are italicized.

Best Picture:
Caché
Domino
Grizzly Man
A History of Violence
Innocence
Keane
King Kong
Kings and Queen
The New World
Tropical Malady

Best Director:
Arnaud Desplechin, Kings and Queen
Lucile Hadzihalilovic, Innocence
Michael Haneke, Caché
Terrence Malick, The New World
Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Tropical Malady

Best First-time Director:
Rodrigo Bellott, Sexual Dependency
Shane Black, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Abdellatif Kechiche, L’Esquive
Greg McLean, Wolf Creek
Joe Wright, Pride & Prejudice

Best Lead Actor:
Matthieu Amalric, Kings and Queen
Daniel Auteuil, Caché
Pierce Brosnan, The Matador
Min-sik Choi, Oldboy
Robert Downey, Jr., Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Damian Lewis, Keane
Viggo Mortensen, A History of Violence
Issei Ogata, Tony Takitani
Birol Ünel, Head-On

Best Lead Actress:
Juliette Binoche, Caché
Toni Collette, In Her Shoes
Emmanuelle Devos, Gilles’ Wife
Emmanuelle Devos, Kings and Queen
Sara Forestier, L’Esquive
Sibel Kekilli, Head-On
Q’Orianka Kilcher, The New World
Keira Knightley, Domino
Liv Ullmann, Saraband
Naomi Watts, King Kong

Best Supporting Actor:
Christian Bale, The New World
Maurice Benichou, Caché
Jeff Daniels, The Squid and the Whale
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Serenity
Bruno Ganz, Downfall
Maurice Garrel, Kings and Queen
Bob Hoskins, Unleashed
Val Kilmer, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Oliver Platt, Ice Harvest
Mickey Rourke, Sin City

Best Supporting Actress:
Hiam Abbass, The Syrian Bride
Maria Bello, A History of Violence
Isla Fisher, Wedding Crashers
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Happy Endings
Catherine Keener, The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Kate Mara, Brokeback Mountain
Michelle Monaghan, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Mo’Nique, Domino
Qiu Yuen, Kung Fu Hustle
Robin Wright Penn, Nine Lives

Best Debut Performance:
Kate Dollenmayer, Funny Ha Ha
Ashton Holmes, A History of Violence
Sibel Kekilli, Head-On
Q’Orianka Kilcher, The New World
Yagura Yuuya, Nobody Knows

Best Ensemble:
L’Esquive
Innocence
Kings and Queen
Munich
The New World

Best Screenplay:
Caché, Michael Haneke
Domino, Richard Kelly et al
A History of Violence, Josh Olsen
Kings and Queen, Arnaud Desplechin and Roger Bohbot
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Shane Black

Best Cinematography:
Caché, Christian Berger
Innocence, Benoît Debie
The Intruder, Agnes Godard
The New World, Emmanuel Lubezki
2046, Christopher Doyle and Mark-li Ping-bin

Best Score:
El Crimen Perfecto, Roque Banos
Gilles’ Wife, Vincent D’Hondt
A History of Violence, Howard Shore
Pride & Prejudice, Dario Marinelli
Tony Takitani, Ryuichi Sakamoto

Best Editing:
Caché, Michael Hudecek and Nadine Muse
The Constant Gardener, Claire Simpson
Domino, William Goldenberg et al
Grizzly Man, Joe Bini
Kings and Queen, Laurence Briaud

Opal Award winners by category

Best Film:
2007- TBA
2006- The Prestige
2005- The New World
2004- Dogville

Best Film, Drama:
2004- category combined with best film, comedy and best documentary
2003- Le Fils
2002- 25th Hour
2001- Waking Life
2000- Yi Yi: a One and a Two
1999- After Life
1998- The Celebration
1997- Maborosi
1996- Breaking the Waves

Best Film, Comedy or Musical:
2004- category combined with best film, drama and best documentary
2003- The Company
2002- 8 Women
2001- The Royal Tenenbaums
2000- Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
1999- Three Kings
1998- Rushmore
1997- Irma Vep
1996- Dead Man

Best Documentary:
2004- category combined with best film, drama and best film, comedy
2003- Bus 174
2002- Bowling for Columbine
2001- The Gleaners and I
2000- The Filth and the Fury
1999- Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.
1998- The Cruise
1997- Fast, Cheap and Out of Control
1996- Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

Best Director:
2007- TBA
2006- Alfonso Cuaron, Children of Men
2005- Terrence Malick, The New World
2004- Lars Von Trier, Dogville
2003- Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Le Fils
2002- Roy Andersson, Songs From the Second Floor
2001- Takashi Miike, Audition
2000- Claire Denis, Beau Travail
1999- Mike Leigh, Topsy-Turvy
1998- Wes Anderson, Rushmore
1997- Errol Morris, Fast, Cheap and Out of Control
1996- Jim Jarmusch, Dead Man

Best Actress:
2007- TBA
2006- Laura Dern, Inland Empire
2005- Emmanuelle Devos, Gilles’ Wife AND Kings and Queen
2004- Julie Delpy, Before Sunset

Best Actress, Drama:
2004- category combined with best actress, comedy or musical
2003- Uma Thurman, Kill Bill: vol. 1
2002- Isabelle Huppert, The Piano Teacher
2001- (tie) Charlotte Rampling, Under the Sand AND Naomi Watts, Mulholland Dr.
2000- Ellen Burstyn, Requiem For a Dream
1999- Lara Belmont, The War Zone
1998- Fernanda Montenegro, Central Station
1997- Molly Parker, Kissed
1996- Emily Watson, Breaking the Waves

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical:
2004- category combined with best actress, drama
2003- Jamie Lee Curtis, Freaky Friday
2002- Maggie Gyllenhaal, Secretary
2001- Thora Birch, Ghost World
2000- Rachel Griffiths, Me Myself I
1999- Janet McTeer, Tumbleweeds
1998- Jane Horrocks, Little Voice
1997- Pam Grier, Jackie Brown
1996- Frances McDormand, Fargo

Best Actor:
2007- TBA
2006- Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
2005- Damian Lewis, Keane
2004- Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Red Lights

Best Actor, Drama:
2004- category combined with best actor, comedy
2003- Olivier Gourmet, Le Fils
2002- Daniel Day-Lewis, Gangs of New York
2001- Tom Wilkinson, In the Bedroom
2000- Javier Bardem, Before Night Falls
1999- Russell Crowe, The Insider
1998- Nick Nolte, Affliction
1997- Robert Duvall, The Apostle
1996- Billy Bob Thornton, Sling Blade

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical:
2004- category combined with best actor, drama
2003- Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
2002- Nicolas Cage, Adaptation.
2001- Gene Hackman, The Royal Tenenbaums
2000- Forest Whitaker, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
1999- Sean Penn, Sweet and Lowdown
1998- John Hurt, Love and Death on Long Island
1997- Christopher Guest, Waiting for Guffman
1996- William H. Macy, Fargo

Best Supporting Actor:
2007- TBA
2006- Nick Nolte, Clean
2005- Jeff Daniels, The Squid and the Whale
2004- Danny Huston, Birth
2003- Peter Sarsgaard, Shattered Glass
2002- Brian Cox, 25th Hour
2001- Tony Shalhoub, The Man Who Wasn’t There
2000- Benicio Del Toro, Traffic
1999- John Malkovich, Being John Malkovich
1998- Bill Murray, Rushmore
1997- Robert Forster, Jackie Brown
1996 (tie)- Gary Farmer, Dead Man AND Stellan Skarsgård, Breaking the Waves

Best Supporting Actress:
2007- TBA
2006- Mia Kershner, The Black Dahlia
2005- Maria Bello, A History of Violence
2004- Coralie Revel, Secret Things
2003- Monica Bellucci, Irreversible
2002- Ronit Elkabetz, Late Marriage
2001- Juliette Binoche, Code Unknown
2000- Gina McKee, Wonderland
1999- Antonia San Juan, All About My Mother
1998- Patricia Clarkson, High Art
1997- Julianne Moore, Boogie Nights
1996- Isabelle Huppert, La Ceremonie

Best Ensemble Performance:
2007- TBA
2006- Duck Season
2005- Kings and Queen
2004 (tie)- Dogville AND Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
2003- A Mighty Wind
2002- 8 Women
2001- Gosford Park
2000- Yi Yi: A One and a Two
1999(tie)- After Life AND Topsy-Turvy
1998- The Celebration
1997- Irma Vep
1996- Hamlet

Best Debut Performance:
2006- category discontinued
2005(tie)- Q’Orianka Kilcher, The New World AND Sibel Kekilli, Head On
2004- Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace
2003- Martin Compston, Sweet Sixteen
2002- Jesse Eisenberg, Roger Dodger
2001- Kerry Washington, Our Song
2000- Severine Caneele, L'humanité
1999- Emilie Dequenne, Rosetta

Best Debut Performance, Female:
1999- category combined with best debut, male
1998- Samantha Morton, Under the Skin
1997- Victoire Thivisol, Ponette
1996- Faye Wong, Chungking Express

Best Debut Performance, Male:
1999- category combined with best debut, female
1998- Jason Schwartzman, Rushmore
1997- Aaron Eckhart, In the Company of Men
1996- Edward Norton, Primal Fear

Best First Feature:
2007- TBA
2006- Rian Johnson, Brick
2005- Shane Black, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
2004- Shane Carruth, Primer
2003- Jose Padilha, Bus 174
2002- Zacharias Kunuk, The Fast Runner (Atanarjuat)
2001- Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko
2000- David Gordon Green, George Washington
1999- Tim Roth, The War Zone
1998- Richard Kwietniowski, Love and Death on Long Island
1997- Hirokazu Kore-eda, Maborosi
1996- Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott, Big Night

Best Screenplay:
2007- TBA
2006- The Prestige
2005- A History of Violence
2004- Primer

Best Original Screenplay:
2004- category combined with best adapted screenplay
2003- Stuck on You
2002- Talk to Her
2001- The Man Who Wasn’t There
2000- You Can Count on Me
1999- The Lovers of the Arctic Circle
1998- Fallen Angels
1997- In the Company of Men
1996- Fargo

Best Adapted Screenplay:
2004- category combined with best original screenplay
2003- The Secret Lives of Dentists
2002- 25th Hour
2001- In the Bedroom
2000- The House of Mirth
1999- Bringing Out the Dead
1998- Love and Death on Long Island
1997- The Sweet Hereafter
1996- La Ceremonie

Best Score:
2007- TBA
2006- The Painted Veil- Alexandre Desplat
2005- Tony Takitani- Ryuichi Sakamoto
2004- Birth- Alexandre Desplat
2003- Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King-Howard Shore
2002- Far From Heaven- Elmer Bernstein
2001- Waking Life- Glover Gill
2000- Requiem For a Dream- Clint Mansell
1999- South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut- Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman
1998- Gods and Monsters- Carter Burwell
1997- Fast, Cheap and Out of Control- Caleb Sampson
1996- The English Patient- Gabriel Yared

Best Cinematography:
2007- TBA
2006- Miami Vice- Dion Beebe
2005- The New World- Emmanuel Lubezki
2004- Hero- Christopher Doyle
2003- Gerry- Harris Savides
2002- Far From Heaven- Ed Lachman
2001- In the Mood for Love- Christopher Doyle and Mark-li Ping-bin
2000- George Washington- Tim Orr
1999- Snow Falling on Cedars- Robert Richardson
1998- The Thin Red Line- John Toll
1997- Kundun- Roger Deakins
1996- Dead Man- Robby Muller

Best Editing:
2007- TBA
2006- Dave Chappelle's Block Party- Jeff Buchanan, Sarah Flack, and Jamie Kirkpatrick
2005- Domino- William Goldenberg and Christian Wagner
2004- Collateral- Jim Miller and Paul Rubell
2003- Kill Bill: vol. 1- Sally Menke
2002- 24 Hour Party People- Trevor Waite and Michael Winterbottom
2001- Amores Perros- Carlos Bolardo, Luis Carballar, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, and Fernando Perez Unda
2000- Requiem For a Dream- Jay Rabinowitz
1999- Fight Club- James Haygood
1998- The Celebration- Valdis Oskarsdottir
1997- Fast, Cheap and Out of Control- Shandra Merrill and Karen Schmeer
1996- Fargo- Roderick Jaynes

Best DVD release:
2007- TBA
2006- Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (Fox DVD)
2005- F For Fake (The Criterion Collection)
2004- Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)
2003- Three Colors Trilogy Box Set (Miramax Home Video)
2002- Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Special Edition (New Line Home Video)
2001- Citizen Kane (Warner Home Video)
2000- Fight Club Special Edition (Fox DVD)