2009 Oscar Winners - Who Will They Be?

When everything seems so predictable, do you trust the Academy enough to go along with the crowd? I don't know. I really don't know. In one week, I expect upsets, however, the question is: "where?" I could've played it all safe, but I feel that I'd lose out and kick myself later. I'm going out on a limb in some cases here. I'm very stressed out.

Take note: I will announce who I think is going to win and who I want to win - not to be confused with who deserves it most or who was my favorite.


BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

WHO WILL WIN? Slumdog Millionaire
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? The Reader
WHO WON? SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE


BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

WHO WILL WIN? Sean Penn
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Richard Jenkins
WHO WON? SEAN PENN


BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader

WHO WILL WIN? Kate Winslet
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Kate Winslet
WHO WON? KATE WINSLET


BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger -The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

WHO WILL WIN? Heath Ledger
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Robert Downey, Jr.
WHO WON? HEATH LEDGER


BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P Henson - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

WHO WILL WIN? Penelope Cruz
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Amy Adams
WHO WON? PENELOPE CRUZ


BEST DIRECTOR
David Fincher - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

WHO WILL WIN? Stephen Daldry
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Stephen Daldry
WHO WON? DANNY BOYLE


BEST FOREIGN FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

WHO WILL WIN? Waltz With Bashir
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? The Class
WHO WON? DEPARTURES


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button;
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
David Hare - The Reader
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire

WHO WILL WIN? Simon Beaufoy
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? John Patrick Shanley
WHO WON? SIMON BEAUFOY


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Courtney Hunt - Frozen River
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter - WALL-E

WHO WILL WIN? Dustin Lance Black
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Martin McDonagh
WHO WON? DUSTIN LANCE BLACK


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

WHO WILL WIN? WALL-E
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? WALL-E
WHO WON? WALL-E


BEST ART DIRECTION
Changeling
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

WHO WILL WIN? The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Revolutionary Road
WHO WON? THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Changeling
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

WHO WILL WIN? Slumdog Millionaire
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
WHO WON? SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE


BEST SOUND MIXING
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

WHO WILL WIN? The Dark Knight
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Wanted
WHO WON? SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE


BEST SOUND EDITING
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

WHO WILL WIN? WALL-E
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Iron Man
WHO WON? THE DARK KNIGHT


BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - Alexandre Desplat
Defiance - James Newton Howard
Milk - Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire - AR Rahman
WALL-E - Thomas Newman

WHO WILL WIN? AR Rahman
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? AR Rahman
WHO WON? AR RAHMAN


BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Down To Earth from WALL-E - Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire - AR Rahman and Gulzar
O Saya from Slumdog Millionaire - AR Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

WHO WILL WIN? Jai Ho
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? O Saya
WHO WON? JAI HO


BEST COSTUME
Australia
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

WHO WILL WIN? The Duchess
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? The Duchess
WHO WON? THE DUCHESS


BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters At The End Of The World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

WHO WILL WIN? Man on Wire
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Man on Wire
WHO WON? MAN ON WIRE


BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness - From The Balcony Of Room 306

WHO WILL WIN? The Witness
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Smile Pinki
WHO WON? SMILE PINKI


BEST FILM EDITING
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

WHO WILL WIN? Slumdog Millionaire
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Milk
WHO WON? SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE


BEST MAKE-UP
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

WHO WILL WIN? The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
WHO WON? THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON


BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
La Maison en Petits Cubes
Lavatory - Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up

WHO WILL WIN? Presto
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Lavatory - Lovestory
WHO WON? LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES


BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
Auf Der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon On The Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)

WHO WILL WIN? Toyland
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? The Pig
WHO WON? TOYLAND


BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

WHO WILL WIN? The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN? Iron Man
WHO WON? THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON


Dane's Total = 18/24 = 75%
Jennie's Total = 19/24 = 79% <--- WINNER

Best of 2008: Everything But Best Motion Picture

Best of 2008: Everything But Best Motion Picture

So before I give up my 10 ten film of 2008, here's a rundown of the top visual and special effects, movie music, cinematographers, screenplays, ensemble, directors, and the 5 greatest performances of 2008 (male, female, leading or supporting). I won't write any reasons, just a list this time, so: Enjoy!

Top 5 Visual/Special Effects:
5. Beverly Abbot for THE RUINS
4. Kaj Steveman for LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
3. Ben Snow for IRON MAN
2. Nick Davis for THE DARK KNIGHT
1. Eric Barba for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Top 5 Musical Scores/Soundtracks:
5. David Torn/Soundtrack for THE WACKNESS
4. Howard Shore for DOUBT
3. ABBA for MAMMA MIA!
2. Nico Muhly for THE READER
1. A.R. Rahman/Soundtrack for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Top 5 Cinematographers:
5. Roger Deakins for REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
4. Wally Pfister for THE DARK KNIGHT
3. Roger Deakins and Chris Menges for THE READER
2. Anthony Dod Mantle for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
1. Claudio Miranda for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Top 10 Screenplays:
10. Eric Roth & Robin Swicord for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
9. Kelly Reichardt & Jonathan Raymond for WENDY AND LUCY
8. Darren Aronofsky for THE WRESTLER
7. Woody Allen for VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
6. David Hare for THE READER
5. Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter & Jim Reardon for WALL-E
4. Simon Beaufoy for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
3. Dustin Lance Black for MILK
2. John Patrick Shanley for DOUBT
1. Jenny Lumet for RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

Top 10 Cast Ensembles:
10. FUNNY GAMES
9. THE VISITOR
8. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
7. THE DARK KNIGHT
6. THE READER
5. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
4. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
3. RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
2. MILK
1. DOUBT

Top 10 Directors:
10. Woody Allen for VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
9. Martin McDonagh for IN BRUGES
8. Darren Aronofsky for THE WRESTLER
7. Jonathan Demme for RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
6. David Fincher for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
5. James March for MAN ON WIRE
4. Stephen Daldry for THE READER
3. Tomas Alfredson for LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
2. Gus Van Sant for MILK
1. Danny Boyle for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

The 5 Greatest Performances of 2008:
5. Sally Hawkins in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
4. Sean Penn in MILK
3. Meryl Streep in DOUBT
2. Kate Winslet in THE READER
1. Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT

Screen Actor's Guild Award Predictions & Winners

15th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS NOMINATIONS

**My predictions are LARGE**

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
RICHARD JENKINS / Walter Vale - "THE VISITOR" (Overture Films)
FRANK LANGELLA / Richard Nixon - "FROST/NIXON" (Universal Pictures)
SEAN PENN / Harvey Milk - "MILK" (Focus Features)
BRAD PITT / Benjamin Button - "THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON" (Paramount Pictures)
MICKEY ROURKE / Randy - "THE WRESTLER" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)Outstanding

Winner: Sean Penn

Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNE HATHAWAY / Kym - "RACHEL GETTING MARRIED" (Sony Pictures Classics)
ANGELINA JOLIE / Christine Collins - "CHANGELING" (Universal Pictures)
MELISSA LEO / Ray Eddy - "FROZEN RIVER" (Sony Pictures Classics)
MERYL STREEP / Sister Aloysius Beauvier - "DOUBT" (Miramax Films)
KATE WINSLET / April Wheeler - "REVOLUTIONARY ROAD" (Paramount Vantage)

Winner: Meryl Streep

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JOSH BROLIN / Dan White - "MILK" (Focus Features)
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. / Kirk Lazarus - "TROPIC THUNDER" (Paramount Pictures)
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN / Father Brendan Flynn - "DOUBT" (Miramax Films)
HEATH LEDGER / Joker - "THE DARK KNIGHT" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DEV PATEL / Older Jamal - "SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Winner: Heath Ledger

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS / Sister James - "DOUBT" (Miramax Films)
PENÉLOPE CRUZ / Maria Elena - "VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA" (The Weinstein Company)
VIOLA DAVIS / Mrs. Miller - "DOUBT" (Miramax Films)
TARAJI P. HENSON / Queenie - "THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON" (Paramount Pictures)
KATE WINSLET / Hanna Schmitz - "THE READER" (The Weinstein Company)

Winner: Kate Winslet

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)
DOUBT (Miramax)
FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures)
MILK (Focus Features)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Winner: Slumdog Millionaire


PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
RALPH FIENNES / Bernard Lafferty - "BERNARD AND DORIS" (HBO)
PAUL GIAMATTI / John Adams - "JOHN ADAMS" (HBO)
KEVIN SPACEY / Ron Klain - "RECOUNT" (HBO)
KIEFER SUTHERLAND / Jack Bauer - "24: REDEMPTION" (FOX)
TOM WILKINSON / Benjamin Franklin - "JOHN ADAMS" (HBO)

Winner: Paul Giamatti

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
LAURA DERN / Katherine Harris - "RECOUNT" (HBO)
LAURA LINNEY / Abigail Adams - "JOHN ADAMS" (HBO)
SHIRLEY MacLAINE / Coco Chanel - "COCO CHANEL" (Lifetime)
PHYLICIA RASHAD / Lena Younger - "A RAISIN IN THE SUN" (ABC)
SUSAN SARANDON / Doris Duke - "BERNARD AND DORIS" (HBO)

Winner: Laura Linney

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan - "DEXTER" (Showtime)
JON HAMM / Don Draper - "MAD MEN" (AMC)
HUGH LAURIE / Gregory House - "HOUSE" (FOX)
WILLIAM SHATNER / Denny Crane - "BOSTON LEGAL" (ABC)
JAMES SPADER / Alan Shore - "BOSTON LEGAL" (ABC)

Winner: Hugh Laurie

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
SALLY FIELD / Nora Walker - "BROTHERS & SISTERS" (ABC)
MARISKA HARGITAY / Det. Olivia Benson - "LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT" (NBC)
HOLLY HUNTER / Grace Hanadarko - "SAVING GRACE" (TNT)
ELISABETH MOSS / Peggy Olson - "MAD MEN" (AMC)
KYRA SEDGWICK / Dep. Chief Brenda Johnson - "THE CLOSER" (TNT)

Winner: Sally Field

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy - "30 ROCK" (NBC)
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott - "THE OFFICE" (NBC)
DAVID DUCHOVNY / Hank Moody - "CALIFORNICATION" (Showtime)
JEREMY PIVEN / Ari Gold - "ENTOURAGE" (HBO)
TONY SHALHOUB / Adrian Monk - "MONK" (USA)

Winner: Alec Baldwin

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE / Samantha Newly - "SAMANTHA WHO?" (ABC)
AMERICA FERRERA / Betty Suarez - "UGLY BETTY" (ABC)
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon - "30 ROCK" (NBC)
MARY-LOUISE PARKER / Nancy Botwin - "WEEDS" (Showtime)
TRACEY ULLMAN / Various Characters - "TRACEY ULLMAN’S STATE OF THE UNION" (Showtime)

Winner: Tina Fey

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
THE CLOSER (TNT)
DEXTER (Showtime)
HOUSE (Fox)
MAD MEN (AMC)

Winner: Mad Men

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK (NBC)
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
THE OFFICE (NBC)
WEEDS (Showtime)

Winner: 30 Rock


SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros. Pictures)
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY (Universal Pictures)
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (Paramount Pictures)
IRON MAN (Paramount Pictures)
WANTED (Universal Pictures)

Winner: The Dark Knight

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
THE CLOSER (TNT)
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (NBC)
HEROES (NBC)
PRISON BREAK (FOX)
THE UNIT (CBS)

Winner: Heroes

My Grade: 11/15 = 73%
Jennie's Grade: 12/15 = 80% --- WINNER

Damn it! All because of the stupid stunt awards!!!

Oscar Nominations - Reactions and My Batting Average

The Academy Awards let loose their ever-royal list of nominations today. Here's how well I predicted and what I think of the actual nods:

Best Motion Picture of the Year
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

(I went with "The Wrestler" instead of "F/N" because I was very disappointed in the nominated film. I should have gone with my gut but I couldn't predict it out of spite! And I'm very, very, very proud that I am the only person in the universe who predicted that "The Reader" would make it.)

Grade: 4/5

Achievement in Directing
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

(I shouldn't have doubted Van Sant - I'm sorry Jennie! - but Howard? C'mon. I picked Nolan for "The Dark Knight" and Aronofsky for "The Wrestler" instead. Oh well. And once again, "The Reader" pulls ahead!)

Grade: 3/5

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

(I expected these three and called that I would have a perfect prediction in this category - and I was right!)

Grade: 5/5

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

(I picked Franco instead of Brolin in hopes that the Academy realized who was better in the film - but I was wrong. Then I went with Patel instead of Shannon. My mistake.)

Grade: 3/5

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt

Kate Winslet, The Reader

(Surprises in this category! I only predicted Hathaway and Streep correctly. Sally Hawkins took Jolie's place from last year in the snub category, they pulled a Naomi Watts in "21 Grams" on Kate by putting "The Reader" as Best Actress - and rightfully so - and then Leo snuck into the five.)

Grade: 2/5

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

(Thank God Winslet is going to win Best Actress and no in this category; now it's anyone's trophy, though I hope for Adams or Cruz to win. I predicted four, and then Henson took Winslet's old spot. Good for her.)

Grade: 4/5

My Average: 70%

Jennie's Average: 76.6% - WINNER!

Best of 2008: Top 10 Performances by a Supporting Actor

Top 10 Performances by a Supporting Actor

Looking at my list for the best supporting actors, there's not really a system or a commonality between them except eight out of the ten played off-their-rocker psychopaths, killers, molesters, or schizophrenics. The two sane ones weren't so over the top, but sweet and gracefully filled the stage with presence.

Dev Patel in "Slumdog Millionaire" captured the essence of unstoppable determination in the name of love. He wasn't over the top or under-performing - he was perfect in a crucial age-role of the film. The other lucid character was played by James Franco in "Milk." Franco - with "Pineapple Express" under his belt - had a tremendous career, jump-starting a future in great films. In "Milk," he was more like the housewife to Harvey Milk, a Jackie Onassis to her JFK.

Eddie Marsan, who was pitch-perfectly creepy as the driving instructor in "Happy-Go-Lucky," begins the eight crazies. He contrasted Sally Hawkin's character so masterfully that sometimes you weren't sure if she's ever leave the car alive. In "Revolutionary Road," Kate and Leo go head-to-head, but in the few scenes with Michael Shannon - the only role who understands the couple's escapism dream - are brilliant. The man out-performs DiCaprio in every which way. A possible child molester, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a priest in "Doubt" who must defend his sexuality and position at a 1964 Catholic school in the Bronx. Like the feuds in "Revolutionary Road," Hoffman clashes swords with Meryl Streep - if only we could have a sword-duel to see who would truly win. In "Burn After Reading," Brad Pitt, releasing his inner-Keanu, blooms as the bouncy/screwball gym trainer who teams with Frances McDormand to uncover a possible government secret, while John Malkovich goes ape-shit on the Coen Brothers set as the man McDormand and Pitt are after. Also starring in the same film are Tom Cruise as the foul-mouthed, rapping movie producer and Robert Downey, Jr. as the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude. Cruise was off-the-charts crazy, while you had to look beyond the character-over-character/skin-over-skin to find the insanity of Downey, Jr.'s character.

And then, in a whole other universe of caliber, there is the unreachable Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight." All I have to say about his performance is that it is the best performance of the 21st century, and one of the best in cinematic history. Transcendent. Sinister. Perfect.

And now, the list of the 2008 Top 10 Performances by a Supporting Actor:

10. Dev Patel as Jamal Malik in SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

9. John Malkovich as Oscbourne Cox in BURN AFTER READING

8. Brad Pitt as Chad Feldheimer in BURN AFTER READING

7. Tom Cruise as Les Grossman in TROPIC THUNDER

6. Michael Shannon as John Givings in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

5. James Franco as Scott Smith in MILK

4. Robert Downey, Jr. as Kirk Lazarus in TROPIC THUNDER

3. Eddie Marsan as Scott in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

2. Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Brendan Flynn in DOUBT

1. Heath Ledger as The Joker in THE DARK KNIGHT

Golden Globe Predictions - Who's Going to Win

On Sunday, the Golden Globes will be back after last year's "reading" of the winners due to the writer's strike. So, after watching the winners of the Critic's Choice Awards, and after viewing MOST of the films nominated, I think I have a pretty good shot of predicting the winners. Let's see how I do:

FILM
BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
Correct!

BEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Prediction: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Correct!

ACTOR, DRAMA
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Prediction: Sean Penn
Wrong... Rourke

ACTRESS, DRAMA
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Prediction: Anne Hathaway
Wrong... Winslet

ACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey
Prediction: Dustin Hoffman
Wrong... Farrell

ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey
Prediction: Sally Hawkins
Correct!

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Prediction: Heath Ledger
Correct!

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Prediction: Kate Winslet
Correct!

DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road
Prediction: Danny Boyle
Correct!

SCREENPLAY
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare, The Reader
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt
Prediction: Simon Beaufoy
Correct!

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden)
Gomorrah (Italy)
I've Loved You So Long (France)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
Prediction: Waltz With Bashir
Correct!

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E
Prediction: WALL-E
Correct!

ORIGINAL SCORE
Alexandre Desplat, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Clint Eastwood, Changeling
James Newton Howard, Defiance
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Hans Zimmer, Frost/Nixon
Prediction: A.R. Rahman
Correct!

ORIGINAL SONG
"Down to Earth," WALL-E; music by Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman; lyrics by Peter Gabriel
"Gran Torino," Gran Torino; music by Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens; lyrics by Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
"I Thought I Lost You," Bolt; music & lyrics by Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele
"Once in a Lifetime," Cadillac Records; music & lyrics by Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street
"The Wrestler," The Wrestler; music & lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
Prediction: Bruce Springsteen
Correct!

TELEVISION
TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Dexter
House
In Treatment
Mad Men
True Blood
Prediction: True Blood
Wrong... Mad Men

ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
January Jones, Mad Men
Anna Paquin, True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Prediciton: January Jones
Wrong... Paquin

ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors
Prediction: Jon Hamm
Wrong... Byrne

TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
30 Rock
Californication
Entourage
The Office
Weeds
Prediction: 30 Rock
Correct!

ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Debra Messing, The Starter Wife
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Prediction: Tina Fey
Correct!

ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Kevin Connolly, Entourage
David Duchovny, Californication
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Prediction: David Duchovny
Wrong... Baldwin

MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
A Raisin in the Sun
Bernard and Doris
Cranford
John Adams
Recount
Prediction: John Adams
Correct!

ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Judi Dench, Cranford
Catherine Keener, An American Crime
Laura Linney, John Adams
Shirley MacLaine, Coco Chanel
Susan Sarandon, Bernard and Doris
Prediciton: Shirley MacLaine '
Wrong... Linney

ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Ralph Fiennes, Bernard and Doris
Paul Giamatti, John Adams
Kevin Spacey, Recount
Kiefer Sutherland, 24: Redemption
Tom Wilkinson, Recount
Prediction: Paul Giamatti
Correct!

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Eileen Atkins, Cranford
Laura Dern, Recount
Melissa George, In Treatment
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Prediction: Dianne Wiest
Wrong... Dern

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Denis Leary, Recount
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Blair Underwood, In Treatment
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams
Prediction: Tom Wilkinson
Correct!

Final Grade: 16/25 = 64%

Before December & January - Top 10s of 2008 (Jan to Nov)

Top 10 Movies

1. The Dark Knight

2. Happy-Go-Lucky

3. WALL-E

4. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

5. Rachel Getting Married

6. Iron Man

7. In Bruges

8. Australia

9. Appaloosa

10. Funny Games

Top 10 Actors

1. Colin Farrell in IN BRUGES

2. Javier Bardem in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

3. Hugh Jackman in AUSTRALIA

4. Ed Harrs in APPALOOSA

5. Robert Downey, Jr. in IRON MAN

6. Lee Pace in THE FALL

7. Christian Bale in THE DARK KNIGHT
8. Steve Coogan in HAMLET 2

9. Daniel Craig in QUANTUM OF SOLACE

10. Ryan Phillipe in STOP-LOSS

Top 10 Actresses

1. Sally Hawkins in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

2. Anne Hathaway in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

3. Angelina Jolie in CHANGELING

4. Nicole Kidman in AUSTRALIA

5. Rebecca Hall in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

6. Naomi Watts in FUNNY GAMES

7. Scarlett Johansson in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

8. Meryl Streep in MAMMA MIA!

9. Catinca Untaru in THE FALL
10. Ellen Page in SMART PEOPLE

Top 10 Supporting Actors

1. Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT

2. Robert Downey, Jr. in TROPIC THUNDER

3. Eddie Marsan in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

4. Michael Pitt in FUNNY GAMES
5. Brandon Walters in AUSTRALIA

6. Viggo Mortensen in APPALOOSA

7. Jason Butler Harner in CHANGELING

8. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in STOP-LOSS

9. Tom Cruise in TROPIC THUNDER

10. John Malkovich in CHANGELING

Top 10 Supporting Actresses

1. Penelope Cruz in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

2. Rosemarie DeWitt in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

3. Amy Ryan in CHANGELING

4. Abbie Cornish in STOP-LOSS

5. Clemence Poesy in IN BRUGES

6. Ari Graynor in NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST

7. Debra Winger in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

8. Alexis Zegerman in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

9. Renee Zellweger in APPALOOSA

10. Olga Kurylenko in QUANTUM OF SOLACE

WALL-E, Hancock, Wanted, & The Dark Knight

WALL-E
Voiced by Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Fred Willard, Sigourney Weaver & John Ratzenberger

Honestly, Pixar can do no wrong. Even "Cars," my least favorite of the Pixar lineup was really good. "WALL-E," full of compassion, humor and a new hope for a better future, clocks in as one of the mega-animating companies finest. The computerized artwork is so advanced and intricate that it will blow you away. The story is one for the books as well: a classic passive character trying to reach his dreams... love. Awww isn't it cute? The originality factor is the fact that he's a robot created with much inspiration from E.T. Oh yeah, it also has an environmental plug. Very timely.

Grade: A


Hancock
Starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron & Jason Bateman

"Hancock" is a fun, comical twist on the recently crowded superhero film genre. Smith and Bateman bring the movie to life - it would be horrible without them - and Charlize is hot as ever. However, it was predictable. Too predictable. But fun!

Grade: B-


Wanted
Starring James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie & Morgan Freeman

With a cast like this, the movie is badass enough. But throw in some crazy effects and stunts and it just adds to the pot. It was kind of like a melting pot of "Fight Club" and "Lucky Number Slevin," and it holds onto some of the philosophies in Dotoevesky's "Crime & Punishment"; if you kill one, you're saving many. However, compared to an action film like the one below, I prefer real effects and stunts rather than the popular computer animated ones, but the end was great because main characters die.

Grade: C+


The Dark Knight
Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine & Morgan Freeman

Christopher Nolan brings Batman back with many familiar faces from "Begins" and a few brilliant new ones. (Yes, this review is going to rave about Heath Ledger's monumental depiction of The Joker.) The film surpasses Nolan's first take on the Batman series by a long shot. It's powerful, emotional, dark and full of exploding hospitals, flipped 18-wheelers, and intense "social experiments." Two-and-a-half hours seems short for this non-stop thrill ride. The script is smart and allows one-sided characters such as Two-Face to come to life.

Bale, once again, brings us a Batman that is not a hero, but a keeper of Gotham. Eckhart makes us hate Harvey Dent for being the perfect man, someone everyone loves and the mob hates. He's better than Batman. But the character transforms so perfectly into Two-Face that it's scary. Gyllenhaal, faced with a feat of playing a role someone has already played (Katie Holmes), does a fine enough job as Rachel Dawes and is really stunning in the film. The fate of her role is surprising and unforgettable as well. And totally necessary. Then there's Oldman who allows Lieutenant Gordan to be the least stoic of characters in the film, allowing the audience to breathe a bit. Caine and Freeman are excellent as usual, though not as note-worthy as the performance by Ledger.

Heath Ledger will win an Oscar as The Joker; mark my words. This performance is raw, uncontrollable, creepy beyond all words, demented, so dead-on funny, and in every sense: perfect. Every time he was on screen I was captivated, and every time the scene shifted away from him, I wanted him back. He allowed himself to embody so much freedom with the role, and when an actor does that, he or she is unstoppable.

Even though it only released three days ago, I've seen "The Dark Knight" twice (and will probably see it again) and it is ranked as one of the best films I've ever seen.

Grade: A

I'm Not There

I'm Not There
Starring Cate Blancett, Ben Whishaw, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Marcus Carl Franklin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Michelle Williams, and Bruce Greenwood

If anything can push itself closer to a masterpiece than what "I'm Not There" does, it's trying too hard. Through the eyes of director and writer Todd Haynes, we are given a collage of Bob Dylan, though he's never there (pun). With five, six or seven different interpretations of Dylan's life through five and up to seven fictionally true life characters, a near masterpiece - and the most original movie I have seen in years - forms.

There is Woody Guthrie, the lone wanderer, played masterfully by the young Marcus Carl Franklin. The casting is perfect for Woody, a version of Dylan. He is naive, adventurous, and running from or to something. Franklin's youth carries the character from place to place. Then we have Heath Ledger's Robbie Clark. This Dylan is washed-up and very persuasive in character. Love to anguish, Clark falls for Charlotte Gainsbourg's artsy Claire, and in the midst of the 60s, we see the evolution of couple. Probably my least favorite Dylan, Christian Bale is the epitome of folk music. He lives it. He is it. But Bale's character, Jack Rollins has the easy road compared to the other Dylans. (Bale also plays Pastor John, which may be the sixth Dylan). The final two definite Dylans are the most spectacular. Ben Whishaw's Arthur Rimbaud, outlaw, jailed up, delivers a picturesque interview monologues that trail throughout the film.

And finally, Cate. Cate Blanchett, in her most terrifically jaw-dropping role, is "I'm Not There." Her Dylan named Jude Quinn is the rock of Haynes film, and he knows it. She embodies Dylan more than any of the men playing him. She is the chameleon. She is perfect. She is, and I say this with all my knowledge of Hollywood, the best actress of our generation. Hand her the effing Oscar now.

Oh, yes - what about that seventh Dylan? Well, Richard Gere has a fun role near the end of the movie, playing Billy the Kid. Though he does cross paths with Franklin's Woody-Dylan, one may list Billy the Kid as a mirrored Dylan. I do. His scenes are bizarre and imaginative, giving us an alter-reality and something to ponder.

Todd Haynes delivered one of the best films of 2007, and one that really needs to be watched 50 times to grasp everything. I honestly can't wait to see it again.

Grade: A