A Bit of Good, Clean, Morbid Fun

With the Oscars courtesy of Vanity Fair which has made a nifty “In Memoriam Montage” Pool

I know I can rely on at least one annual segment for a few minutes of guesswork, revelation, and wholly manipulated drama.

Of course I’m referring to “In Memoriam,” the maudlin montage of clips and photos featuring those stars, filmmakers, and other Hollywood figures who passed away in the year since the last Oscar ceremony

“In Memoriam” in fact yields its own separate culture-within-a-culture for both casual and obsessive viewers alike; expect at least one “She died? Really?” for Jane Wyman, one “He was still alive?” for Marty director Delbert Mann, and never fewer than three “Who?“‘s for the likes of Barry Nelson (the screen’s very first James Bond) or previous Oscar winners like make-up artist William J. Tuttle or The Godfather editor Peter Zinner.

Additionally, if a regular Oscar pool isn’t quite rich enough for your blood, put together a separate, point-based “In Memoriam” ballot for the real high rollers.

And since I’m not sure exactly how this pool is played or who everyone else I feel I am well qualified to just make random guesses and see if I’m right on Sunday. My picks will be in italics
On with the show! (cue melancholy music)

Will They Make It? (Choose One)
Norman Mailer (+5)
Merv Griffin (+10)
Charles Nelson Reilly (+15)
Anna Nicole Smith (+20)
None of the above (+15)

Will Open the Montage
Delbert Mann (+10)
Jane Wyman (+10)
Suzanne Pleshette (+15)
Michel Serrault (+20) [Ed. Note: I have no idea who this is]
None of the above (+5)

Will End the Montage
Heath Ledger (+5)
Jack Valenti (+10)
Roy Scheider (+15)
Deborah Kerr (+20)
None of the above (+25)

Will Get Montage’s First Video Clip
Deborah Kerr (+5)
Laszlo Kovacs (+10)
Peter Zinner (+15)
Jack Valenti (+20)
None of the above (+10)

Will Get Montage’s First Sound Clip
Betty Hutton (+5)
Deborah Kerr (+10)
Brad Renfro (+15)
Roy Scheider (+20)
None of the above (+10)

First Actor/Actress Named
Ulrich Mühe (+10)
Michel Serrault (+10)
Jane Wyman (+15)
Brad Renfro (+20)
None of the above (+5)

First American Director Named
Stuart Rosenberg (+5)
Norman Mailer (+10)
Delbert Mann (+15)
None of the above (+20)

First International Auteur Named
Ousmane Sembene (+5)
Kon Ichikawa (+10)
Michelangelo Antonioni (+15)
Ingmar Bergman (+20)
None of the above (+25)

Oldest Selection
Charles Lane, age 102 (+5)
William J. Tuttle, age 95 (+10)
Michelangelo Antonioni, age 94 (+15)
Jane Wyman, age 90 (+20)
None of the above (+25)

Will Get His Own Montage Elsewhere in Oscarcast
Jack Valenti (+5)
Ingmar Bergman (+10)
Michelangelo Antonioni (+15)
Heath Ledger (+20)
None of the above (+10)

I seriously only recognized like 5 names- that ignorance makes me feel young

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