Oscar Predictons: Who Will Win?

Tonight the Oscars are on and here are my annual predictions. Also, I include who I would have voted for had I been an Oscar voter.

Best Motion Picture of the Year: THE ARTIST
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius for THE ARTIST
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin in THE ARTIST
Best Actress: Viola Davis in THE HELP
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer in BEGINNERS
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer in THE HELP
Best Original Screenplay: MIDNIGHT IN PARIS by Woody Allen
Best Adapted Screenplay: THE DESCENDANTS by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Best Animated Picture: RANGO
Best Foreign Language Film: A SEPARATION
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for THE TREE OF LIFE
Best Editing: THE ARTIST
Best Art Direction: HUGO
Best Makeup: THE IRON LADY
Best Original Score: THE ARTIST
Best Original Song: THE MUPPETS
Best Sound Mixing: HUGO
Best Sound Editing: HUGO
Best Visual Effects: RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Best Documentary: PINA
Best Short Documentary: THE TSUNAMI AND THE CHERRY BLOSSOM
Best Short Animated Film: THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE
Best Short Live Action Film: THE SHORE

* * *

Now, for my fake Oscar Ballot:

Best Picture: THE TREE OF LIFE
Best Director: Terrence Malick for THE TREE OF LIFE
Best Actor: Gary Oldman for TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
Best Actress: Glenn Close for ALBERT NOBBS
Best Supporting Actor: Nick Nolte in WARRIOR
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain in THE HELP
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen for MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Best Adapted Screenplay: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon for THE IDES OF MARCH
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for THE TREE OF LIFE

Oscar Nominee Day: Last Year's Predictions, Yesterday's Predictions, & Thoughts

So today marks the best day of the year: the day the Academy releases their nominated films, actors, and filmmakers! It's better than the Oscars themselves. Too predictable. Here, I'm going to revisit my early predictions last March, who I predicted yesterday on my Twitter account, and who actually got the nominations.

BEST PICTURE
So last year, out of the 10 films I foresaw, only 2 were nominated today: War Horse and The Tree of Life. I actually don't think that's so bad! Yesterday, however, I predicted that the Academy would name 8 films (The Artist, The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, Hugo, The Tree of Life, The Help, War Horse, and Moneyball) - which they did - but they added Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close to the list as well.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm really happy about this group (and the new voting system). All are deserving films, but I am especially happy the Academy gave a nod to The Tree of Life which has been snubbed from several awards in the last weeks.

BEST DIRECTOR
From last year, the only director I predicted is Terrence Malick (thank God) and from yesterday, I predicted all five nominees: Terry, Alexander Payne, Michel Hazavinacius (I spelled that without key-studdering), Martin Scorcese, and Woody Allen. I'm really happy, once again, that The Tree of Life and it's uncanny visionary has some recognition coming from the Academy. It's also great to see so much love for Midnight in Paris, which has been building a great run in the last weeks before the announcement.

BEST ACTOR
Umm, so you know that guy that no one knows? That guy from the movie no one's seen? That guy that got NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR TODAY? Yeah, I went all OakStreet on Oscar's ass and predicted Damian Bichir in A Better Life - WHAT. It's a damn shame (pun) Michael Fassbender was snubbed for this upset, and I'm not too sure Gary Oldman should be in the top 5, but that's how these things go.

From last March, I'd give myself a 1/2 point for predicting Brad Pitt, but for the wrong movie (I said The Tree of Life instead of Moneyball). The other nominees include the leading contenders for the race: George Clooney for The Descendants and Jean Dujardin for The Artist. I'm really hoping Dujardin gets it and he's really gotta hope for a miracle competing against the ever-popular Clooney.

BEST ACTRESS
While I am 4/5 in this category from yesterday's predictions, I was 3/5 from March! I foresaw Rooney Mara, Meryl Streep, and Michelle Williams all to be getting the happy phone calls this morning. TEN MONTHS AGO. That's pretty effing incredible.

Viola Davis for The Help and my favorite, Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs, round off the pack. Like Meryl said at the Globes, this year has had so many great performances by females that anyone, in a different year, would've won. Tilda (for the third year in a row, in my opinion) was snubbed a nomination, but Rooney made her way in, which I'm fine with.

Hold it! I'm calling a 3.5/5 prediction from last March! I thought Viola Davis would be in the Supporting Category for The Help. I was on it.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Yeah, so last year I have no wins to proclaim in this category, and I did pretty bad last night with only 3/5 (Christopher Plummer, Kenneth Branagh, and Jonah Hill). A slight surprise goes to Nick Nolte for Warrior and an extremely suprising arrival for Max von Sydow in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.

But please, please, please check out the recent tweets of snubbee's Albert Brooks and Patton Oswalt. Oswalt devotes nearly 10 tweets to an imaginary bar hop in which he invites Brooks to join him and other snubbees to drink and be debaucherous.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
What was I thinking predicting two actresses who can't even drive legally? That was last March, but yesterday I scored a perfect 5/5 for the supporting ladies: Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain for The Help, Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids, Janet McTeer in Albert Nobbs and Berenice Bejo in The Artist. I'm liking this list, but I'll LOVE it if Chastain takes home the naked man in a month.

Golden Globe Nominations - OakStreet Thoughts

I didn't have time last night to post my predictions, but here are my thoughts on this morning's announcement of the Golden Globe nominatios.


BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse

--- For me, this is a good line up (didn't see War Horse yet), but it's missing two MAJOR films: The Tree of Life and Drive. I could honestly do without all of these movies except Hugo, the one I'm rooting for.


BEST MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
My Week With Marilyn

--- Considering what was nominated in this category last year (Burlesque, Alice in Wonderland, The Tourist, and Red - plus the winner and well-deserved The Kids Are All Right), this is a nice group of films. I'm very excited for Midnight, but I think Bridesmaids is going to take home the Globe. My only problem is that I saw Marilyn last week and had no idea it was comedic nor musical enough to be listed in thie category... Who's been pushing the campaign out there on the west coast???


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Glenn Close in ALBERT NOBBS
Viola Davis in THE HELP
Rooney Mara in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Meryl Streep in THE IRON LADY
Tilda Swinton in WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

--- I like... Haven't seen Dragon Tattoo or The Iron Lady yet, but I'm loving that people are finally on board with Swinton after two years of being missed horribly by awards for her performances in 2009's Julia and 2010's I Am Love. Good thing Marilyn is considered Comedy/Musical; Mara definitely slipped in here due to Michelle William's nomination in the other category. For me, I'm 100% hoping Glenn Close takes this home for her gripping and subtle portrayal of a woman pretending to be a man in an over-criticized period drama.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
George Clooney in THE DESCENDANTS
Leonardo DiCaprio in J. EDGAR
Michael Fassbender in SHAME
Ryan Gosling in THE IDES OF MARCH
Brad Pitt in MONEYBALL

--- I could always do with more Michael Shannon love, but Take Shelter just isn't a widely-seen film (though he and co-star Jessica Chastain [who the hell isn't a co-star with her this year?] are receiving a lot of love from national and international critic's awards). I'm glad Fassbender got in there for a seemingly controversial film. But Gosling (while nominated twice) should've been up for Drive.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Jodie Foster in CARNAGE
Charlize Theron in YOUNG ADULT
Kristen Wiig in BRIDESMAIDS
Michelle Williams in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
Kate Winslet in CARNAGE

--- Awesome! Thank god Julia Roberts didn't slip in here like she usually does! I'm loving the two nods for Carnage, which I am dying to see because of its basis on the 2009 play God of Carnage by French playwright Yazmina Reza. I really hope Kristen Wiig win simply because there are no actresses who deserve this from the musical standpoint and she is pure comic genius.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Jean Dujardin in THE ARTIST
Brendan Gleeson in THE GUARD
Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 50/50
Ryan Gosling in CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE
Owen Wilson in MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

--- No Johnny Depp! Wooo! Very good line up here, and now I'm definitely curious to see The Guard. Glad Owen Wilson jumped in there, despite the fact that he's overpowered by a slew of amazing supporting roles in Midnight in Paris. I'd really like to see Gosling take it home even though Dujardin probably will (I still have to see The Artist!)


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Berenice Bejo in THE ARTIST
Jessica Chastain in THE HELP
Janet McTeer in ALBERT DOBBS
Octavia Spencer in THE HELP
Shailene Woodley in THE DESCENDANTS

--- Two days in a row of snubbing for Vanessa Redgrave in Corionalus doesn't do her well in the long run. I'm really excited for McTeer who derserves the recognition for Albert Dobbs. I really want Jessica Chastain to take home every award for delivering a season like no one has ever come close to. In a perfect world, the Oscars would nominated her across the board:

Jessica Chastain in CORIONALUS
Jessica Chastain in THE DEBT
Jessica Chastain in THE HELP
Jessica Chastain in TAKE SHELTER
Jessica Chastain in THE TREE OF LIFE

But, it's not a perfect world... Melissa McCarthy certainly got shafted here by Woodley, so watch out to see who is Oscar-nominated next month.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Kenneth Branagh in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
Albert Brooks in DRIVE
Jonah Hill in MONEYBALL
Viggo Mortensen in A DANGEROUS MIND
Christopher Plummer in BEGINNERS

--- This is possibly the most unpredictable race to the 2012 Oscars. Clearly, Plummer will take home the award and has been diligently nominated in the last week or so. But Brooks, who appeared to be a front-runner has been ignored a few times, then we have Branagh who is pulling ahead rapidly, Hill who is in and out, Armie Hammer who gets notice every now and then, and nwo Mortensen falls into the five out of nowhere. Then there's Max Von Sydow for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (snubbed for SAGs and GGs) and Nick Nolte for Warrior who got in the SAG slot yesterday. I'll be rooting for Plummer or Brooks here.


BEST DIRECTOR
Woody Allen for MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
George Clooney for THE IDES OF MARCH
Michel Hazanavicius for THE ARTIST
Alexander Payne for THE DESCENDANTS
Martin Scorcese for HUGO

--- Woah! Here come the dark horses. Allen and Clooney haven't received much recognition recently, so this is a surprise. They snubbed out Spielberg for War Horse, Stephen Daldry for Extremely Loud, and (WHY?!) Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life. I'm really thinking still that Malick will come out with an Oscar nomination. The Director's Guild will have a say in this race, but Malick's work on The Tree of Life is just nothing any of these directors came close to - even Scorcese. So, I'm pulling for Woody here just because he hates these kind of things.

Early Oscar Predictions for 2012

I missed last year's early predictions, so I'm going to attempt at naming the nominee's for next December, leading to the 2012 Academy Awards. I'm sure I'll do TERRIBLE.

BEST PICTURE
THE CONSPIRATOR
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

THE IDES OF MARCH

THE IRON LADY

MARTHA MARCY MAE MARLENE

MEEK'S CUTOFF

THE TREE OF LIFE

WE BOUGHT A ZOO
WAR HORSE
YOUNG ADULT

BEST DIRECTOR

George Clooney for THE IDES OF MARCH

David Fincher for THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Terrence Malik for THE TREE OF LIFE

Jason Reitman for YOUNG ADULT

Stephen Spielberg for WAR HORSE

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Craig in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Ryan Gosling in THE IDES OF MARCH
Jeremy Irvine in WAR HORSE
Brad Pitt in THE TREE OF LIFE
Sam Riley in ON THE ROAD

BEST ACTRESS
Rooney Mara in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Elizabeth Olsen in MARTHA MARCY MAE MARLENE

Meryl Streep in THE IRON LADY

Michelle Williams in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

Robin Wright in THE CONSPIRATOR

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jim Broadbent in THE IRON LADY
George Clooney in THE IDES OF MARCH
John Hawkes in MARTHA MARCY MAE MARLENE
Phillip Seymour Hoffman in MONEYBALL
Sean Penn in THE TREE OF LIFE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams in ON THE ROAD
Jessica Chastain in THE TREE OF LIFE
Viola Davis in THE HELP
Elle Fanning in WE BOUGHT A ZOO
Chloe Moretz in HUGO CABARET

Oscar Predictions 2011: Who Will Win?

Oscar Predictions!!!!!

Best Picture: THE KING'S SPEECH

Best Director: David Fincher for THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Actor: Colin Firth for THE KING'S SPEECH

Best Actress: Natalie Portman for BLACK SWAN

Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld for TRUE GRIT

Best Original Screenplay: THE KING'S SPEECH

Best Adapted Screenplay: THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Animated Feature: TOY STORY 3

Best Foreign Language Film: BIUTIFUL

Best Cinematography: THE KING'S SPEECH

Best Editing: THE KING'S SPEECH

Best Art Direction: THE KING'S SPEECH

Best Costume Design: THE KING'S SPEECH

Best Makeup: THE WOLFMAN

Best Original Score: THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Original Song: 127 HOURS

Best Sound Mixing: THE KING'S SPEECH

Best Sound Editing: INCEPTION

Best Visual Effects: INCEPTION

Best Documentary: INSIDE JOB

Best Documentary, Short: STRANGERS NO MORE

Best Short Film, Animated: DAY & NIGHT

Best Short Film, Live Action: THE CONFESSION

Predicting the 2011 Oscar Nominees

Teaching a Film Studies course this semester, I figure why not have 16 high school students do what I've been doing for years - predicting the Oscar nominees? Based on tomorrow's results, they will be divided into 5 categories based on how well they predicted, then they receive bonus points for correct answers. But, if any can beat my score, they'll be awarded a mega ton of bonus points - pretty awesome.

Before I continue with my predicitons, I'd just like to say that most of the time, I think the release of the nominees is more exciting than the one who wins the award - I sometimes think that by that time, when the Oscars come around (finally) it's mostly all set in stone for the big categories. I WANT SOME UPSETS, MAN.

Anyways, here are my predicitons for all the categories:

BEST PICTURE

127 HOURS

BLACK SWAN

THE FIGHTER

INCEPTION

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

THE KING'S SPEECH

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

TOY STORY 3

TRUE GRIT

WINTER'S BONE

BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky for BLACK SWAN
Danny Boyle for 127 HOURS
David Fincher for THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Tom Hooper for THE KING'S SPEECH
Christopher Nolan for INCEPTION

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges in TRUE GRIT
Jesse Eisenberg in THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Colin Firth in THE KING'S SPEECH
James Franco in 127 HOURS
Ryan Gosling in BLUE VALENTINE

BEST ACTRESS
Annette Bening in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Nicole Kidman in RABBIT HOLE
Jennifer Lawrence in WINTER'S BONE
Natalie Portman in BLACK SWAN
Michelle Williams in BLUE VALENTINE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale in THE FIGHTER
Andrew Garfield in THE SOCIAL NETWORK
John Hawkes in WINTER'S BONE
Jeremy Renner in THE TOWN
Geoffrey Rush in THE KING'S SPEECH

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams in THE FIGHTER
Helena Bonham Carter in THE KING'S SPEECH
Mila Kunis in BLACK SWAN
Melissa Leo in THE FIGHTER
Jacki Weaver in ANIMAL KINGDOM

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Stuart Blumberg & Lisa Cholodenko for THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

Sofia Coppola for SOMEWHERE

Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz & John J. McLaughlin for BLACK SWAN

Mike Leigh for ANOTHER YEAR

David Speidler for THE KING'S SPEECH

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Ben Affleck, Peter Craig & Aaron Stockhard for THE TOWN
Michael Arndt for TOY STORY 3
Joel & Ethan Coen for TRUE GRIT
Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini & Daniel Woodrell for WINTER'S BONE
Aaron Sorkin for THE SOCIAL NETWORK

BEST ART DIRECTION
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
INCEPTION
THE KING'S SPEECH
SHUTTER ISLAND
TRON: LEGACY

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
for TRUE GRIT
for THE SOCIAL NETWORK
for BLACK SWAN
for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART I
for INCEPTION

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
THE KING'S SPEECH
THE TEMPEST
TRUE GRIT
SECRETARIAT

BEST FILM EDITING
THE FIGHTER
INCEPTION
THE KING'S SPEECH
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
THE TOWN

BEST MAKEUP
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
BLACK SWAN
LET ME IN

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
THE KING'S SPEECH
INCEPTION
NEVER LET ME GO
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
TOY STORY 3

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
127 HOURS - "If I Rise"
BURLESQUE - "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me"
TANGLED - "I See the Light"
TOY STORY 3 - "We Belong Together"
WAITING FOR SUPERMAN - "Shine"

BEST SOUND MIXING
BLACK SWAN
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
INCEPTION
IRON MAN 2
TRON: LEGACY

BEST SOUND EDITING
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
INCEPTION
IRON MAN 2
TRON: LEGACY
TRUE GRIT

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART I
INCEPTION
IRON MAN 2
TRON: LEGACY

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
INSIDE JOB
PRECIOUS LIFE
THE TILLMAN STORY
WAITING FOR SUPERMAN
WASTELAND

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
THE ATHLETE
BITIFUL
I AM LOVE
IN A BETTER WORLD
OUTSIDE THE LAW

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

How to Train a Dragon

The Illusionist

Toy Story 3

2010 Oscar Nominee Predictions

I WANT TO CHANGE THEM!!!! After some thought, I'm going against my first predictions, which, are too predictable. The Oscars are known for surprises, and I'm going out on a limb with some of these. Last year my crazy predictions paid off --- I knew "The Reader" was in for Best Picture. So, here are my picks for the top 6 categories:

Best Picture
Avatar
District 9
An Education
The Hangover
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Star Trek
Up
Up in the Air

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow for THE HURT LOCKER
James Cameron for AVATAR
Neill Blomkamp for DISTRICT 9
Jason Reitman for UP IN THE AIR
Quentin Tarantino for INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges in CRAZY HEART
George Clooney in UP IN THE AIR
Colin Firth in A SINGLE MAN
Morgan Freeman in INVICTUS
Jeremy Renner in THE HURT LOCKER

Best Actress
Sandra Bullock in THE BLIND SIDE
Carey Mulligan in AN EDUCATION
Zoe Saldana in AVATAR
Gabourey Sidibe in PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE
Meryl Streep in JULIE & JULIA

Best Supporting Actor
Woody Harrelson in THE MESSENGER
Anthony Mackie in THE HURT LOCKER
Christopher Plummer in THE LAST STATION
Stanley Tucci in THE LOVELY BONES
Christoph Waltz in INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

Best Supporting Actress

Vera Farmiga in UP IN THE AIR

Anna Kendrick in UP IN TE AIR

Diane Kruger in INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

Melanie Laurent in INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

Mo'Nique in PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE

Early Oscar Predictios for 2010

So here are my early predictions for next year's Oscars. Let's see how I do in 10 months. The pictures of the nominees are the ones I see as the front runner right now.

BEST PICTURE
The Human Factor
The Lovely Bones
Nine
Public Enemies
Shutter Island






BEST DIRECTOR
Clint Eastwood for The Human Factor
Peter Jackson for The Lovely Bones
Ang Lee for Taking Woodstock
Terrence Malik for Tree of Life
Rob Marshall for Nine






BEST ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz in Broken Embraces
Nicole Kidman in Nine
Michelle Pfeiffer in Cheri
Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia
Hilary Swank in Amelia






BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis in Nine
Robert Downey, Jr. in Sherlock Holmes
Morgan Freeman in The Human Factor
Viggo Mortensen in The Road
Peter Sarsgaard in An Education






BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Kate Hudson in Nine
Sophia Loren in Nine
Mo'Nique in Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire
Rachel Weisz in The Lovely Bones
Michelle Williams in Shutter Island






BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Philip Baker Hall in All Good Things
Matt Damon in The Human Factor
Richard Kind in A Serious Man
Mark Ruffalo in Shutter Island
Kodi Smit-McPhee in The Road

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

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!

Dane's Oscar Predictions

So, that time of year has arrived, when everyone (well, those of you who are into film awards) take a guess as to what 5 nominations per category the Academy will put forth as the best of the year. In predicting, one takes into account what other people say, reviews, precursor awards, and, most importantly, the surprise Oscar nods. Without further ado, here are my somewhat ballsy predictions for this year's Academy Awards (released on Thursday):

Note: Italicized predictions are ones that I predicted last March and have decided to stick with.

BEST PICTURE

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

MILK

THE READER

THE WRESTLER

I feel very, very, very, unsure about these predictions. Why? Because other than "Slumdog" I have NO IDEA who is going to be nominated, and - it seems - neither does anyone else! "Ben Butt" is too epic and beautiful for the Academy to let go, so I think that's in definitely too, but the other three are toss ups. I chose "Milk" because of it's political content in a very political time. "The Wrestler" for it's gorgeously paced movement as a film and to put a down-to-earth film on the list. And, "The Reader" because it's about the Holocaust and the Academy really like Daldry. I won't get into the whole, well maybe it's this movie or this movie because I want to seem confident even though I'm not!

BEST DIRECTOR

Danny Boyle for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

David Fincher for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Darren Aronofsky for THE WRESTLER

Stephen Daldry for THE READER

Christopher Nolan for THE DARK KNIGHT

Going on my "Wrestler" kick, Aronofsky is in. Daldry has been nominated for all of the 2 films he's directed ("The Hours" and "Billy Elliot") so count him in with the five. Boyle, Fincher, and Nolan are complete and utter locks. There you have it! Note: I'm acting wayyyy more confident than I actually am in this category!

BEST ACTOR

Richard Jenkins in THE VISITOR

Frank Langhella in FROST/NIXON

Sean Penn in MILK

Brad Pitt in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Mickey Rourke in THE WRESTLER

Honestly, I believe that Pitt is the only one on the chopping block. However, there's only 1 or 2 other actors to fill his shoes. I expect this category to be pitch perfect.

BEST ACTRESS

Anne Hathaway in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

Sally Hawkins in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

Meryl Streep in DOUBT

Michelle Williams in WENDY AND LUCY

Kate Winslet in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

This category is in the same situation as Best Actor's: Four locks, and then one open space. The only difference is that the open space can be filled by 5-7 actresses very deserving of the nod. I'm going with Williams hopefully. She's the silent trout ready to bit the bait - plus it would be historic to see her nominated with Heath.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Robert Downey, Jr. in TROPIC THUNDER

James Franco in MILK

Philip Seymour Hoffman in DOUBT

Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT

Dev Patel in SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Franco, in my opinion, was the best supporting actor in "Milk" and will be rewarded with a nomination. Patel is riding the rocket ship that is "Slumdog Millionaire." Downey had too great of a year to get away without being nominated. Hoffman was incredible in "Doubt" and is an Oscar favorite. Then there is Ledger who gave the best performance of the year.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams in DOUBT

Penelope Cruz in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

Viola Davis in DOUBT

Marisa Tomei in THE WRESTLER

Kate Winslet in THE READER

There will be snubs any way you look at it in this highly qualified category. I think "The Wrestler" is going to do better than expected with nomination count and Tomei will help that cause. Winslet and Cruz have their feet in the door already. Then there are the ladies of "Doubt." Without a Best Picture/Director nomination, Davis and Adams are sure to be nominated.

Doubt

Doubt
Starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams & Viola Davis

John Patrick Shanley's 2005 Pulitzer and Tony-winning play, "Doubt, a Parable," comes to the big screen with a smaller name (just drop the "a Parable" part) breathing life into the four-character original. Next to "Hamlet" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Shanley has written one of the best plays of all time - no over-exaggeration. It is perfect. So, it's worrisome to watch a sheer masterpiece on the big screen with big names: Streep, Hoffman, Adams. "Doubt" in the cinematic form is not perfection, however Shanley's screenplay portrays St. Nicholas Catholic School in a way the play only imagined, said with both approbation and uneasiness.

This story is a tricky one to adjust. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Father Brendan Flynn, a cordial, jolly priest who gains the trust of the community, the audience and his colleagues. This role is thrown into a sticky situation due to Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep), and must be interpreted with much care. Aloysius, the school's principal and Flynn's inferior, speculates that he has involved himself in inappropriate relations with one or more of her students. Hoffman's job is to gain the trust of the audience by seeming... normal. Shanley's script allows for slight creepiness to ooze out of Flynn (i.e. long fingernails and Kool-aid and cookies), but it must be subtle enough for the trust to remain. Hoffman succeeds in this task. Though many doubted the casting for Flynn, this man tackles the role like he always does.

Sister Aloysius is another role that can go terribly in the wrong direction. Honestly, the previews showed her loud, vicious side which should only come out a few times. Streep keeps her character in control, but also gives Aloysius more humanness than expected, which was very pleasing. She did not become an unbeatable force. She has weaknesses, hidden through a clouded window. The Queen of Holloywood illustrates that age will never bring her down, and I hope she earns her third Oscar for this terrific and commanding performance.

As for Viola Davis' Mrs. Miller (formerly known as Muller in the play) and Amy Adams' Sister James, Adams wins by a long shot despite all the critics' opinions. We know Adams can play the innocent, naive character ("Junebug," "Enchanted," and "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day"), and she delights us one more time as the young nun who is the go-between for Aloysius and Flynn. Though she has been nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG, just like Davis, Adams is still underrated. Sister James is the keystone to "Doubt." She represents the audience. She embodies the adjective, "wishy-washy," which may seem like a weakness, but is in fact the essence of this movie. To doubt yourself and others is to think anew. One can either keep on believing the same thing, doing the same routine, remaining innocent, or one can change. James' psychological transformation is beautiful and sad. Because Aloysius brought the woman into a world of doubt and uncertainty, a world she can never revisit, James has new ideas and thoughts - she doubts. We, the audience, are the same as she. We are unsure of Flynn and Aloysius. We follow James, and maybe believe her more above her superiors.

Mrs. Miller, the mother of the black boy supposedly involved with Father Flynn, commands one single scene. Viola Davis arrives as the only character completely sure of themselves, even if everything else is askew. The virtually unknown actress dominates Streep, but only because the script allows her too. The woman is excellent, but overrated with the world of cinema. This woman gave a powerful performance, full of profundity on countless levels, but deserves no award over Adams as the supporting lady.

The play was Shanley's masterpiece, his baby; he had to take control in the film adaptation. Any sane person would have. However, some of his decisions in the adaptation took the story down different paths. It was the slight changes that stirred in me. The lines he cut that should have been savored and a few actions that weren't played out. Perhaps they were minuscule items that bothered him. With polished cinematography and angles that can only be defined as tipsy, the feel of the film serves as excellent and a bit unnerving.

In bringing a jewel of the stage to life on the screen, there will be some stains and spots, however, Shanley and the eternally memorable cast keep "Doubt" priceless.

Grade: A

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire
Starring Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kanpoor, Irrfan Khan, Madhur Mittal & Ayush Mahesh Khedekar

Out of all the films that have been released this year, Danny Boyle's unforeseen yet palpable masterpiece will win the naked golden man as the best movie of the year. "Slumdog Millionaire" is a rare occasion. Pop culture and a Dickensian tale never seemed so perfect together. It's a story of rock-bottom desperation, desperate love, and a romance retelling every love story out there. It's tainted with hardships most could never comprehend, but settles in memory as pure, weightless, effortless.

Jamal Malik, a young so-called "slumdog", finds himself on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" hosted cunningly by Anil Kanpoor who draws Regis Philbin, giving him claws. Jamal is one question away from winning the game, however, being of a unfortunate lifestyle, he's taken into custody and questioned as to how he knows all of the answers. Consequently and simultaneously, we discover both how Jamal knows the answers of the game show (such as "What U.S. president is on the one-hundred dollar bill?") and the young man's life story - which, of course, is the point of the film.

The movie opens with a question, at the time unanswerable, and ends with the answer - brilliantly, might I add. The script boils the theme of fate; that certain situations are meant to be, nothing is coincidence, and that some events are written. Jamal's life, full of such adversity, from both his society and surroundings, but most effectively, his older brother Salim. Salim's character, envious of Jamal's goodness and compassion, forces situations in which his younger brother must struggle through. Yet, Jamal never loses hope or sight of his true ambition: to find his long-lost love: Latika.

Spanning about fifteen years or more, Jamal, Salim, and Latika are played by three different performers of different ages. This can be problematic for some films, however with excellent casting and brilliant directing, "Slumdog's" three generation characters shine on their own and in their own light. Latika begins as a lost soul (Rubiana Ali), a girl with no parents and no where to go. She then forms into a beautiful young girl (Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar), about to be tainted by profiteers selling her to the highest bidder, and finally grows into the stunning woman of Jamal's dreams played glamorously by Freida Pinto. All three Salim's (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, and Madhur Mittal) portray a struggling brother who loses himself to the horrors and temptations of the slums. He is the Cain to Jamal's Abel, though the parable works a bit differently here.

Yet, the real power of the three actors irradiates off of the Jamal's. The youngest, played by Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, brings an unstoppable innocence and happiness to the shit that covers his life (and his entire body). He smiles and you can't help but give into his infection. The middle Jamal (Tanay Chheda) had a rough road ahead of him after such an enthralling performance by Khedekar, however, once he arrived at the Taj Mahal, Chheda overpowered us with slyness and skill. As for Dev Patel as the oldest Jamal, he allows the character a quietness mirroring his patience and his longing for Lakita. There isn't much that surprises him, though his will to find her overcomes him in an instant. He delivers a great performance for such a young, unknown actor.

Danny Boyle, the director, gives this year a world of reality and hope; something that is so polluted, it seems nothing good can come out of it. Yet, it does. A true fairy tale without the glitz and cliche, "Slumdog Millionaire" is this year's dog to bite and beat. But I doubt it will happen.

Grade: A+

Oscar Predictions 2008 - November vs. March

Taking a hiatus on my Top 100 (too much work for a teacher), here's an update on Oscar happenings:

Best Picture
March:
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Revolutionary Road
The Road

November:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Revolutionary Road

My List So Far:
The Dark Knight
Happy-Go-Lucky
Iron Man
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
WALL-E


Best Actor
March:
Benicio Del Toro - Che
Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Jamie Foxx - The Soloist
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Synecdoche, New York
Sean Penn - Milk

November:
Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

My List So Far:
Christian Bale - The Dark Knight
Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Robert Downey, Jr. - Iron Man
Colin Farrell - In Bruges
Ed Harris - Appaloosa


Best Actress
March:
Angelina Jolie - The Changling
Nicole Kidman - Australia
Julianne Moore - Blindness
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

November:
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

My List So Far:
Rebecca Hall - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Scarlett Johansson - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Naomi Watts - Funny Games


Best Supporting Actor
March:
Josh Brolin - Milk
Ralph Finnes - The Reader
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
John Malkovich - Burn After Reading
Michael Sheen - Frost/Nixon

November:
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
James Franco - Milk
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

My List So Far:
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Jason Butler Harner - Changeling
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Viggo Mortensen - Appaloosa
Michael Pitt - Funny Games


Best Supporting Actress
March:
Amy Adams - Doubt
Kathy Bates - Revolutionary Road
Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Amy Ryan - The Changeling
Kate Winslet - The Reader

November:
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

My List So Far:
Abbie Cornish - Stop-Loss
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Ari Graynor - Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist
Clemence Poesy - In Bruges
Amy Ryan - Changeling

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!

And Nominees Are...

Today the announcement for the 2008 Academy Awards delivered both expected nods and a few surprises - and snubs (**cough "Into the Wild" cough**).

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”

Surprises: Tommy Lee Jones! Though I though he was great and should get nominated, I'm not sure how I feel about his taking Emile Hirsch out of the picture.

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”

Surprises: None! I predicted all five.

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”

Surprises: Laura Linney - holy crap! This is a great surprise because it took Angelina Jolie out of the running. Though I wish Amy Adams could've done the snubbing instead.

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”

Surprises: I guess you could say Ruby Dee, but it was between her, Ronan and Catherine Keener. Poor Keener got the snubber-rooskie.

Best animated feature film of the year
“Persepolis”
“Ratatouille”
“Surf's Up”

Surprises: What the hell? Surf's Up!? Oh well, Ratatouille will kick some rat ass.

Achievement in directing
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” for Julian Schnabel
“Juno” for Jason Reitman
“Michael Clayton” for Tony Gilroy
“No Country for Old Men” for Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
“There Will Be Blood” for Paul Thomas Anderson

Surprises: Reitman didn't see the nomination coming because it should be Sean Penn's!

Best motion picture of the year
“Atonement” (Focus Features)
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)

Surprises: There are no real surprises, but a big snub on "Into the Wild," of course. I would have rather "Michael Clayton" off the list.

Adapted screenplay
“Atonement” (Focus Features)Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
“Away from Her” (Lionsgate)Written by Sarah Polley
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax/Pathé Renn)Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

Surprises: Repeat after me: No "Into the Wild"???

Original screenplay
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)Written by Diablo Cody
“Lars and the Real Girl” (MGM) Written by Nancy Oliver
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)Written by Tony Gilroy
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney)Screenplay by Brad BirdStory by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
“The Savages” (Fox Searchlight) Written by Tamara Jenkins

Surprises: "Michael Clayton" seems to be a favorite to snub out other predictions.

Oscar Nominations Predictions

BEST PICTURE 3/5
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Wrong...
Into the Wild - Wrong...
Michael Clayton - Right!
No Country for Old Men -Right!
There Will Be Blood - Right!

BEST DIRECTOR 4/5
Paul Thomas Anderson for THERE WILL BE BLOOD - Right!
Joel & Ethan Coen for NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN - Right!
Tony Gilroy for MICHAEL CLAYTON - Right!
Sean Penn for INTO THE WILD - Wrong...
Julian Schnabel for THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY - Right!

BEST ACTOR 4/5
George Clooney in MICHAEL CLAYTON - Right!
Daniel Day-Lewis in THERE WILL BE BLOOD - Right!
Johnny Depp in SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET - Right!
Emile Hirsch in INTO THE WILD - Wrong...
Viggo Mortensen in EASTERN PROMISES - Right!

BEST ACTRESS 4/5
Cate Blanchett in ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE - Right!
Julie Christie in AWAY FROM HER - Right!
Marion Cotillard in LA VIE EN ROSE - Right!
Angelina Jolie in A MIGHTY HEART - Wrong...
Ellen Page in JUNO - Right!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 5/5
Casey Affleck in THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD - Right!
Javier Barden in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN - Right!
Hal Holbrook in INTO THE WILD - Right!
Philip Seymour Hoffman in CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR - Right!
Tom Wilkinson in MICHAEL CLAYTON - Right!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 4/5
Cate Blanchett in I'M NOT THERE - Right!
Catherine Keener in INTO THE WILD - Wrong...
Saoirse Ronan in ATONEMENT - Right!
Amy Ryan in GONE BABY GONE - Right!
Tilda Swinton in MICHAEL CLAYTON - Right!

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 4/5
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - Wrong...
Juno - Right!
Lars and the Real Girl - Right!
Ratatouille - Right!
The Savages - Right!

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 4/5
Atonement - Right!
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Right!
Into the Wild - Wrong...
No Country for Old Men - Right!
There Will Be Blood - Right!

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE 2/3
Persepolis - Right!
Ratatouille - Right!
The Simpsons Movie - Wrong...

Juno, Atonement, The Bucket List

Juno

Starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Gardner & Jason Bateman

It's quirky, trendy, fun and easy to spend and hour and a half with it's title character, "Juno." In a world of cliques, rules and judgements, Juno (Ellen Page) finds herself thrown into a world where none that matters when she becomes pregnant with Bleeker's (Michael Cera) baby. She decides to have the kid and give it away to a family in need of child - that would be Jennifer Gardner in her best performance to date as Vanessa Loring and Jason Bateman as her reluctant husband, Mark.

Ellen Page is phenomenal, bringing her amiable, wisecracking cynicism to the role, and with the popularity "Juno" has received from the public, Page will be expected to become a favorite, and hopefully not a sell-out (I trust her though). The reality of pregnancy mixed with the hilarious, though over-the-top dialogue, by newcomer Diablo Cody creates a world we know and love to watch.

Grade: A-

Atonement

Starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai & Vanessa Redgrave

Joe Wright, director of "Pride & Prejudice," enables himself to bring a story of longing to life with some of the most beautiful shots I've seen in years. The story is Briony's (Saoirse Ronan, age 13; Romola Garai, age 18; and Vanessa Redgrave), a girl who tragically mistakes (or lies) about an occurrence she didn't fully understand. The occurrence involves a number of people, but most particularly Cecilia (Keira Knightley), her sister, and Robbie, Cecilia's love interest and Briony's childhood crush. Briony's the only witness, but an unreliable one. As time goes by, Robbie is forced into the military and Cecilia exiles herself from her family, while Briony seeks atonement.

Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey ("World Trade Center" & "The Hours") deserves Oscar for his captivating shots, rich with color, angles and symmetry. There is a point in the film, when Robbie and a few army friends walk along a beach of other soldiers waiting to deport. The shot lasts for about five minutes and doesn't stop to blink. There is so much beauty in the filming that it's difficult to take in everything, just as it's difficult for the characters for forgive and forget and reconcile.

Grade: A

The Bucket List

Starring Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman

You would think that Mr. Freeman, a one-time Oscar winner, and Mr. Nicholson, a three-time Oscar winner, would know not to do a movie that involves Rob Reiner and the Seven Wonders of the World. They are obviously losing their minds. "The Bucket List" is the slowest, crappiest, piece of junk I've seen in a while. The only thing that brings the film up a few notches is the duo of caliber. The film was so low budget that they couldn't even spend the money to go to the pyramids or the Himalayas or anywhere else the script takes them - oh, and what a horrible script! The two characters don't even get off their asses for an hour of the movie. Then they fly around together and die. I hate this movie.

Grade: D