Oscar Predictions 2008

It's that time of year! With the writer's strike over, the Oscars are sure to go on this Sunday. But who will win? I've got a few predictions that I care about if you're interested...

Best motion picture of the year

"Atonement" (Focus Features)

"Juno" (A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production)

"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)

"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... No Country for Old Men

I'D GIVE IT TO... There Will Be Blood

Performance by an actor in a leading role

George Clooney in "Michael Clayton"

Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood"

Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah"

Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises"

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Daniel Day-Lewis

I'D GIVE IT TO... Daniel Day-Lewis

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"

Julie Christie in "Away from Her"

Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose"

Laura Linney in "The Savages"

Ellen Page in "Juno"

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Julie Christie
I'D GIVE IT TO... Marion Cotillard

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men"

Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War"

Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild"

Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton"

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Javier Bardem
I'D GIVE IT TO... Javier Bardem

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There"

Ruby Dee in "American Gangster"

Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement"

Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone"

Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton"

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Tilda Swinton
I'D GIVE IT TO... Cate Blanchett

Achievement in directing

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" Julian Schnabel

"Juno" Jason Reitman

"Michael Clayton" Tony Gilroy

"No Country for Old Men" Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

"There Will Be Blood" Paul Thomas Anderson

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Joel and Ethan Coen

I'D GIVE IT TO... Paul Thomas Anderson

Adapted screenplay

"Atonement" Screenplay by Christopher Hampton

"Away from Her" Written by Sarah Polley

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" Screenplay by Ronald Harwood

"No Country for Old Men" Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

"There Will Be Blood" Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Paul Thomas Anderson
I'D GIVE IT TO... Joel and Ethan Coen

Original screenplay

"Juno" Written by Diablo Cody

"Lars and the Real Girl" Written by Nancy Oliver

"Michael Clayton" Written by Tony Gilroy

"Ratatouille" Screenplay by Brad Bird

"The Savages" Written by Tamara Jenkins

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Diablo Cody
I'D GIVE IT TO... Brad Bird

Best animated feature film of the year

"Persepolis"

"Ratatouille"

"Surf's Up"

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Ratatouille
I'D GIVE IT TO... Ratatouille

Best documentary feature

"No End in Sight"

"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience"

"Sicko"

"Taxi to the Dark Side"

"War/Dance"

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... No End in Sight

I'D GIVE IT TO... Sicko

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

"Falling Slowly" from "Once"

"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted"

"Raise It Up" from "August Rush"

"So Close" from "Enchanted"

"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted"

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Once
I'D GIVE IT TO... Once!

I can't wait to see Glen & Marketa sing!

Top 10 Movies of 2007

And now... the TOP TEN OF 2007!!! The List shows posters from 10 all the way to NUMBER ONE!

A Few DVDs of 2007

Away from Her
Starring Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent & Olympia Dukakis

Though Christie stole the show with her terrific portrayal of a woman losing her memory to Alzheimer's, there are a number of great performances in this film. The film is a bit slow, but the moral and the determination to present a true portrait of Alzheimer's is great to watch. As of now (I have not seen Juno) I'm all for Julie Christie being nominated for Best Actress, but there is one lovely lade below who gets my vote (if I had one), and it sure isn't Lindsay Lohan.

Grade: B

The Lives of Others

Starring Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Muhe & Sebastian Koch

Though it deservedly won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film last year, "The Lives of Others" was released to the U.S. in 2007. This film delivers great performances by all three actors listed above, particularly Muhe who embodied the silence of Wiesler who discovers in himself the corruption of his people and finds inspiration of the people (Gedeck & Koch) he's out to uncover. The film is beautiful, but hard to follow - you really have to know your history!

Grade: A-

Waitress

Starring Keri Russell, Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines, Nathan Fillon & Andy Griffith

There's no way that anyone couldn't enjoy "Waitress." In a year of pies (this movie, "Pushing Daisies," "My Blueberry Nights" - which i am halfway through, and "Sweeney Todd"), Keri Russell's picture-perfect illustration of a girl with a big heart, big dreams, big problems and a big belly is surrounded with her love for making incredibly unique, often bizarre, pies. She'll make you laugh and love her to death.

Grade: A-

I Know Who Killed Me

Starring Lindsay Lohan, and who gives a shit

Plain and simple: don't see this movie. She doesn't even show her boobs. This movie is proof that I will have no problem at all making films in Hollywood.

Grade: F

La Vie en Rose

Starring Marion Coltillard

Yes, this foreign epic was long and drawn out, but who could deny the power Marion Coltillard had on screen? She tore Edith Piaf in pieces and succeeded in doing what "I'm Not There" did for Bob Dylan, except Marion played every part. She was charming, sad, humble, and powerful. The best leading female performance of the year - I still have to see "Juno."

Grade: B

Once

Starring Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

This is a simple formula for a cinematic masterpiece: give us two likable people, a lot of fantastic music, about 90 minutes of screen time, and you've got yourself "Once," one of the year's best, a diamond in the rough that doesn't overdo, over sing, over love. It just is.

Grade: A