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: Top 10 Motion Pictures

Looking back at the past few years of reviewing film, 2008, quite frankly, has been the best year since '02 (Adaptation, The Hours, Chicago). The movies of the past twelve months have hit me in spots only rare cinematic masterpieces do. At times, a cast or a single driven character took the movie by storm and captivated me entirely. In other cases, films that struck me at first, died out, and others grew on me like the annoying, nerdy girl in high school who turns out to be hot. The creativity of this year was wonderful to watch and the performances were even better.

I could probably release my top 20 and feel perfectly fine with every selection, yet I will keep it so you can count all of them on both hands.


10. Man on Wire

The greatest and most masterful aspect of "Man on Wire" is its ability to be about a man who crossed the World Trade Center towers in the '70s without being about September 11th, and yet, it is about that horrible day in 2001. Never mentioned, the film illuminates the brilliance and incredible height of the towers, the curiosity, the fear, the idea of danger. Phillippe Petit is one of the most entertaining storytellers I've ever seen. The man who walked on the wire for nearly an hour, shocking America, shares a story of love, hope, and dreams. He's the most inspirational man ever. The dramatizations of the night they snuck into the towers perfectly design their story onto screen. Excellent, excellent documentary.

9. The Dark Knight

Although, in my mind, "The Dark Knight" kind of lost its flavor over the past few months, it is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Not only does Heath Ledger brilliantly and psychotically bring new life to The Joker, but the rest of the cast is spectacular as well. Christian Bale is stark and stoic as Batman, Maggie Gyllenhaal initiates a certain intelligence Katie Holmes didn't capture as Rachel, and Aaron Eckhart dove into the doppelganger that is Two-Face. The script is great, Nolan's directing is equally excellent, and the entire feel of the film is beyond any of the superhero flicks. But, it's all about Ledger. Always.


8. Milk
The reason only James Franco made my best supporting actors list and not any of the other "Milk" men (Josh Brolin, Emile Hirshe) is because, although they gave stellar performances, this film is about Harvey Milk alone. Sean Penn is the driving force in Gus Van Sant's epic tale of human rights and human relationships. Whether you're straight, gay, bi, transgender, black, white, Latino, Asian, or even if you have three legs, "Milk" will tell you one thing, and one thing only: understand each other - beyond differences - so that we might one day live in a peaceful world. With Harvey's assassination, we're not even close to that world but Dustin Lance Black's trying, I guess.


7. Wendy and Lucy
The first film on my Top 10 that didn't have a chance after I saw it, "Wendy and Lucy" will spawn great things after you give it some time. The script, the directing, the acting appears so simple and two-dimensional to the eye, but the more you brood the more complicated the story of Wendy (Michelle Williams) and Lucy (her lost dog) becomes. It's so short and concise, that it leaves nothing behind to criticize. Williams literally becomes that random girl walking through town, a town focused on themselves (save the security guard), focused so much on money. The town, representing America, allows this girl to starve, without shelter, without help or love. She's alone in her quest to find her dog, the only soul who knows.


6. WALL-E
With an opening half-an-hour of sheer Chaplin-inspired comedy and an Act 2 and 3 with a message for children and adults of the 21st century to get up off your asses, "WALL-E" locks itself in one of Pixar's best. Reversing the dominant male/female roles, WALL-E, our protagonist, falls madly in love for Eve, the aggressive, but kind, robot in search for plant life on Earth. The beauty of "WALL-E" lies in silence. Hardly any dialogue, the script explores the visual essence of words, taking us back to a time of music, motions, and faces. It's nostalgic and genius.


5. The Wrestler
Darren Aronofsky tackles the art of a realistic film - and achieves it fantastically and depressingly. Compared to his other films, "The Wrestler", a lot like "Wendy and Lucy" spawns a feeling of truth within you. Desperation never looked so horrible and fantastic. Mickey Rourke, like Sean Penn, travels through the movie, rediscovering himself as a performer and human being. It's soulful, raw, and intense. His relationships are shattering, and old one with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and a new one with his favorite stripper (Marisa Tomei). His portrayal of the rundown professional wrestler enlightens us on growing old and striving to stay young. Follow your dreams, even if they kill you.


4. Rachel Getting Married
Yes, I gave this movie a "B" when I first saw it. A "B"! And now, it's #4. How does this happen? I'll tell you. After I left the quite hostile crowd who saw "Rachel Getting Married," I was annoyed with some scenes, but discovered that the annoyance was ignorance. Long, drawn-out, and exceedingly faithful to itself as a scene, the reception party to Rachel's wedding was unlike anything I had ever seen - hatred forced itself through, but I then found originality and credibility in a scene of life, a scene of real people in a time where the color of your skin or the way you wear your glasses has nothing to do with anything - a scene of purity, marked with Anne Hathaway's Kym. With all the distractions of race, religion, or simply clothing choices, her character is the one we notice and the characters notice as well. It's about her, as it should be. The story, hitting me in a more personal level than I expected, is about a family dealing with the death of their son and the daughter who is to blame, if you see it that way. Hathaway's remarkable performance deserves an Oscar - though I'd rather Kate - and Rosemarie DeWitt is impeccable as Rachel. I only wish I saw the film for what it is right away.

3. Let the Right One In

One of the most innovative, simple, and intriguing films of the year, the Norwegian work of art "Let the Right One In" crosses a boy-girl love story with vampire hunger. The excellence of this film is not that it fits with the horror genre (though it does), but that the horror, gore, and blood isn't what it's really about - that's all a mere backdrop, a motif of its true nature. A boy, picked on at school and with divorced parents, meets a strange girl, one who doesn't wear anything to warm her feet from the snow, one who is completely entranced by a Rubric's cube, one who's stomach aches with hunger. She's a vampire and her father (or who acts as her father) must kill to let her feed. The visual and special effects are spectacular, gruesome but without the blurring effect that most horror films use nowadays. It's barely possible to see any of the gore in them because the camera shakes so much. "Let the Right One In" treats the horror of itself with intensity and appreciation. Certainly the best horror film I've seen in years - maybe ever - "Let the Right One In" deserves its #3 spot, and shouldn't have been excluded from the foreign film race in the Oscars! Bastards.

2. Slumdog Millionaire

Is it realistic? For the pessimist in me - no - but being the optimist I tend to be, the plot of "Slumdog Millionaire" is meant to be if fate allows. That aside, this film goes beyond anything I've ever seen before; the beauty of each shot transcends the word beauty with colors bursting through the screen, vibrant cinematography, angles, trains, the Taj Mahal, and the Latika smile at the train station. So youthful, the cast doesn't strive to outshine with lead performances, but rather embraces the age of the characters, separating yet linking themselves to the younger characters of the same name. Danny Boyle's direction in "Slumdog" is pure and utter genius. I can't say enough about the power he holds in each take, emotions wring out of them, from hilarity to melancholy, violence to love. But the real reason for "Slumdog Millionaire's" topping my 2008 list is because it ends happily surrounded with such grief and sorrow. It doesn't conclude with sap or with tragedy, it perfectly seizes love, hope, and happiness and allows the audience to feel good.

1. Doubt

Beyond the reaches of Miller's "Death of a Salesman," Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex", Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," or even Shakespeare's "Hamlet" - all plays I have studied, analyzed, and taught - John Patrick Shanley's 2005 "Doubt, a Parable" is the most perfect play I've ever read. One can understand how nervous I was to see Shanely's cinematic interpretation of his Pulitzer- and Tony-winning masterpiece when it was released in December. However, my nerves were settled once the film began. A beautiful, delicate adaptation from stage to screen, "Doubt" is one of the finest films of the year. Though it contains minor flaws, on screen the story thrives, the words clutch throats, and the acting is beyond superb. Honestly, this ensemble comes close to defeating Elizabeth Taylor and Co. in "Virginia Woolf?" for the best cast ever award in my books. They were unstoppable, unreachable, and pitch-perfect. Viola Davis brings forth a single, gut-wrenching scene that captures the complexity of doubt. Amy Adams layers Sister James with about a dozen layers, each more complicated than the next, from naivete to decisiveness. As Father Flynn, Philip Seymour Hoffman steals the audience's hearts while we struggle to believe him - a feat only he can achieve. And then there's Meryl. Other than Sophie Zawistowski in "Sophie's Choice," her Sister Aloysius is Streep's best performance to date. No-holds-barred with a domineering facade that holds much pain and compassion deep inside, she certainly deserves her third Oscar this year. "Doubt" will be the film of 2008 that was not nominated in the Best Picture category and will have people flabbergasted about this snub in years to come - "Doubt" needs time to settle in.

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

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.

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%

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+

Golden Globe Nominations - My Predictions

BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

The Wrestler

Watch out for: Frost/Nixon, Revolutionary Road

BEST MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Burn After Reading

Cadillac Records

Happy-Go-Lucky

Mamma Mia!

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Watch out for: WALL-E, Tropic Thunder

BEST ACTOR - DRAMA

Brad Pitt in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Frank Langhella in FROST/NIXON

Leonardo DiCaprio in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

Mickey Rourke in THE WRESTLER

Sean Penn in MILK

Watch out for: Clint Eastwood in GRAN TORINO, Richard Jenkins in THE VISITOR

BEST ACTOR - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Adrien Brody in CADILLAC RECORDS

Colin Farrell in IN BRUGES

Dustin Hoffman in LAST CHANCE HARVEY

George Clooney in BURN AFTER READING

Javier Bardem in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

Watch out for: Steve Coogan in HAMLET 2, Ben Stiller in TROPIC THUNDER

BEST ACTRESS - DRAMA

Angelina Jolie in CHANGELING

Anne Hathaway in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

Kate Winslet in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

Kristin Scott Thomas in I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG

Meryl Streep in DOUBT

Watch out for: Cate Blanchett in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, Melissa Leo in FROZEN RIVER

BEST ACTRESS - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Beyonce Knowles in CADILLAC RECORDS

Emma Thompson in LAST CHANCE HARVEY

Meryl Streep in MAMMA MIA!

Sarah Jessica Parker in SEX AND THE CITY: THE MOVIE

Sally Hawkins in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

Watch out for: Scarlet Johannsen in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, Frances McDormand in BURN AFTER READING

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT

James Franco in MILK

Josh Brolin in MILK

Philip Seymour Hoffman in DOUBT

Robert Downey, Jr. in TROPIC THUNDER

Watch out for: Michael Shannon in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, Liev Schreiber in DEFIANCE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Kate Winslet in THE READER

Marisa Tomei in THE WRESTLER

Penelope Cruz in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

Taraji P. Henson in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Viola Davis in DOUBT

Watch out for: Rosemarie DeWitt in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, Kathy Bates in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD