What It All Comes Down To

I haven't been keeping up with this as I should. I have mainly been using the site as a formal means of documenting my predictions to the public. Anyways, awards have been given out, and this year promises to be one of the craziest in years. Still, a consensus is forming, and I would like to show the top films competing for awards in each of the top 8 categories. I will present each film with my thoughts on the likelihood of a nomination. Then I will have the films that I see that stand a chance as well as a film that could come out of nowhere to garner a nomination on nomination day. So without further ado:

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon

Revolutionary Road
Wall-E
Dark Horse: Happy-Go-Lucky

BEST DIRECTOR
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight
Gus van Sant, Milk
Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler

Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road
Dark Horse: Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky

BEST ACTOR
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Sean Penn, Milk
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino

Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Dark Horse: Christian Bale, The Dark Knight

BEST ACTRESS
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Cate Blanchett, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Melissa Leo, Frozen River

Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Dark Horse: Kate Beckinsale, Nothing But the Truth

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

James Franco, Milk
Dark Horse: Emile Hirsch, Milk

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married

Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Dark Horse: Vera Farmiga, Nothing But the Truth

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
Wall-E
The Visitor
Happy-Go-Lucky

The Wrestler
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Dark Horse: In Bruges

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
The Dark Knight
Revolutionary Road

The Reader
Doubt
Dark Horse: Gomorrah

5 Most Anticipated Films

So the Oscar season is getting underway. It is now October and there have only been a few standout's--"Cloverfield," "Wall-E," and "The Dark Knight." Besides Heath Ledger's performance there have been few performances that will make it through the Oscar season. Anyways, I would like to list my top 5 most anticipated films for the rest of the year (I'm only including films that have released trailers.).

5. "Australia"- I loved the recent trailer that was released for this film. I think Nicole Kidman can get nominated again, but it is going to be tough because she is facing stiff competition. The first trailer for this film was very underwhelming, in my opinion so I am still a little skeptical. However, if it lives up to the new trailer, this could be something truly remarkable and epic.

4."Revolutionary Road"-The trailer for the film was good. It showed that this film has potential. I personally am rooting for it, but I wasn't sure how I felt about Kate Winslet in the preview. She seemed to be somewhat off. Still, it was a well-made trailer that has me intrigued. I want this film to do well, and I just hope it can deliver.

3. "Doubt"-I loved the music in this trailer, and the performances appear powerful. I think this will be one of those slow-paced, methodical dramas that really get you thinking.The feeling I got from the trailer reminded me a lot of the vibe I got after watching "A History of Violence." If it comes close to this, then "Doubt" could be one of the best films of the year.

2. "Rachel Getting Married"-The trailer for this film was amazing. I think the performances are going to be absolutely phenomenol, and I am glad that I went with my gut and included Anne Hathaway in my predictions in the beginning of the year. I think the film may be a little cliched, but it should be powerful nonetheless. This has all the potential of becoming my favorite indie of the year.

1."The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"- This film looks magical. I think it will be an enchanting experience that will leave audiences gasping for breath. If anyone can pull this film off it's definitely Fincher. My only concern is that I heard they have moved the time period up, and they actually show up to modern times during Hurricane Katrina. The trailer gave me this period piece feel, and I don't know how that is going to contrast with that. It could wind up being really good or disasterous. We'll find out in December.

Other noteworthies: "The City of Ember," "The Road," "Milk," "The Time Traveler's Wife", and "Twilight"

What I've Learned From Toronto

Predictions Update (September 15, 2008-After Toronto)

BEST PICTURE
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
3. “The Dark Knight”
4. “Milk”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “The Changeling”
7. “Australia”
8. “The Road”
9. “Doubt”
10. “The Wrestler”

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Sam Mendes, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Gus van Sant, “Milk”
4. David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight”

6. Clint Eastwood, “The Changeling”
7. Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
8. Baz Luhrmann, “Australia”
9. John Hilcoat, “The Road”
10. Darren Aronofsky, “The Wrestler”

BEST ACTOR
1. Leonardo DiCaprio, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Sean Penn, “Milk”
4. Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
5. Viggo Mortensen, “The Road”

6. Michael Sheen, “Frost/Nixon”
7. Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
8. Will Smith, “Seven Pounds”
9. Benicio del Toro, “Che”
10. Robert Downey, Jr., “The Soloist”

BEST ACTRESS
1. Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
3. Kristen Scott Thomas, “I’ve Loved You So Long”
4. Angelina Jolie, “The Changeling”
5. Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”

6. Sally Hawkins, “Happy Go Lucky”
7. Rachel McAdams, “The Time Traveler’s Wife”
8. Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
9. Ellen Burstyn, “Lovely, Still”
10. Kate Beckinsale, “Nothing but the Truth”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1. Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
2. Josh Brolin, “Milk”
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
4. Michael Sheen, “Frost/Nixon”
5. Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Road”

6. Christian McKay, “Me and Orson Welles’
7. Emile Hirsch, “Milk”
8. Bill Irwin, “Rachel Getting Married”
9. Jamie Foxx, “The Soloist”
10. Peter O’Toole, “Dean Spanley”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1.Rosemarie DeWitt, “Rachel Getting Married”
2. Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”
3. Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
4. Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Vera Farmiga, “Nothing but the Truth”

6. Viola Davis, “Doubt”
7. Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
8. Charlize Theron, “The Road”
9. Elizabeth Banks, “W”
10. Kathy Bates, “Revolutionary Road”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1. “The Changeling”
2. “Happy-Go-Lucky”
3. “The Wrestler”
4. “Milk”
5. “Rachel Getting Married”

6. “Wall-E”
7. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
8. “I’ve Loved You So Long”
9. “Australia”
10. “The Soloist”


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
3. “The Road”
4. “Slumdog Millionaire”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “Body of Lies”
7. “The Reader”
8. “Doubt”
9. “Defiance”
10. “The Dark Knight”

Predictions Update

I've been pretty inactive for awhile, and I'm sorry to say that. I don't think there is anyone really eagerly checking this blog everyday to see if I posted anything new though. Anyways, the Toronto Film Festival starts tomorrow, and I wanted to update my predictions before the festival starts. With awards season getting ready to start, I expect to update the blog more frequently. Expect another update after Toronto. Here's my updated predictions with some commentary:

Predictions Update (September 3, 2008-Before Toronto)

BEST PICTURE
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “The Road”
3. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
4. “Milk”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “The Changeling”
7. “Australia”
8. “Slumdog Millionaire"
9. “Doubt”
10. “The Dark Knight”

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" looks like the strong bet right now, and after the extraordinary teaser, I'm going to stick with that as my pick. Still, if "The Road" catches on I can see that winning. "I think Frost/Nixon" and "Revolutionary Road" are character pieces so I don't think they will win. I also want to predict "Milk" but I just don't know much about it yet. The trailer is supposed to hit today, so we'll see. I also could see "The Dark Knight" getting nominated, but I want to wait before I move it into my top 5.

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Sam Mendes, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Gus van Sant, “Milk”
4. David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight”

6. Clint Eastwood, “The Changeling”
7. Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”
8. Baz Luhrmann, “Australia”
9. John Hilcoat, “The Road”
10. Jonathan Demme, “Rachel Getting Married”

I really don't know what director is going to wind this category or even who is going to be nominated. Mendes won for "American Beatuy," so I'm not going ot say him. If I had to predict a winner I would say Fincher, even though I don't feel safe saying that right now. I feel more safe in predicting Nolan for "The Dark Knight." The film is just too big to ignore, even if it's not going to be the best film of the year.

BEST ACTOR
1. Leonardo DiCaprio, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Sean Penn, “Milk”
4. Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Viggo Mortensen, “The Road”

6. Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
7. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, “Synecdoche, New York”
8. Will Smith, “Seven Pounds”
9. Benicio del Toro, “The Argentine”/ “Guerilla”
10. Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”

I am also fairly confident about my predicted 5 in this category. I think Hoffman may go supporting for "Doubt" but I'm not sure. With "Doubt" and "Synecdoche, New York," he should have a great year. I just expect their to be some category confusion, and he will probably wind up missing out this year. Del Toro is said to be strong in "Che" but the film has received less than enthusiastic reviews. Distributing the film has also become a hassle. Still, I like my top 5, and I could see any of them winning. I think Penn is the least likely to win because he won for "Mystic River." If I had to pick a frontrunner I would say it's Langella for "Frost/Nixon," but I kind of see a dark horse coming out from the shadows in Viggo Mortensen in "The Road."

BEST ACTRESS
1. Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
3. Kristen Scott Thomas, “I’ve Loved You So Long”
4. Angelina Jolie, “The Changeling”
5. Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”

6. Sally Hawkins, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
7. Rachel McAdams, “The Time Traveler’s Wife”
8. Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
9. Cate Blanchett, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
10. Michelle Williams, “Wendy and Lucy”

The Best Actress category is extremely packed this year. I think any 10 of these ladies has a possibility of being nominated. After seeing "Happy-Go-Lucky," I can understand the buzz surrounding her, but I really don't think it's going to last until nominations, and I hope it doesn't. If anyone's buzz should carry until nomination time I would it would be Melissa Leo's for her amazing portrayl of Ray in "Frozen River." The film is extremely powerful, and if I had it my way it would probably show up in other categories (so far). I removed Rachel McAdams from my top 5, only because there is some discrepancy about when the film is going to be released. Last time I heard, it was aiming for a Thanksgiving release. If the film is released then, I think her performance will be amazing. Early buzz on her is strong, and the book the film is based upon is one of the most interesting books I have read in awhile. Hathaway and Thomas are riding strong buzz right now, and I think both of them will secure a nomination. Streep will probably be nominated yet again also, and Angelina Jolie, who was snubbed last year, for "A Mighty Heart," may pop up for "The Changeling" though I am hearing mixed things. Still I have heard extraordinary things about Kate Winslett in "Revolutionary Road," and she is long overdue for the win.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1. Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
2. Robert Downey, Jr., “The Soloist”
3. Live Schreiber, “Defiance”
4. Michael Sheen, “Frost/Nixon”
5. Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Road”

6. Josh Brolin, “Milk”
7. Emile Hirsch, “Milk”
8. Bill Irwin, “Rachel Getting Married”
9. Ralph Fiennes, “The Reader”
10. Tom Cruise, “Tropic Thunder”

This category is weak. Extremely weak. I had enough trouble finding 10 possible contenders. Nevertheless, the one to beat in this category is Heath Ledger. His performance in "The Dark Knight" was too astounding to be ignored. If I had to pick a nominee that poses any serious threat to him I was say it's Kodi Smit-McPhee for "The Road."

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1.Rosemarie DeWitt, “Rachel Getting Married”
2. Vera Farmiga, “Nothing but the Truth”
3. Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
4. Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Charlize Theron, “The Road”

6. Viola Davis, “Doubt”
7. Rachel Weisz, “The Brother’s Bloom”
8. Rinko Kikuchi, “The Brothers Bloom”
9. Rachel McAdams, “The Lucky Ones”
10. Kathy Bates, “Revolutionary Road”

Supporting Actress is a fairly weak category this year. I loved Penelope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," but I do not think she will win this category. Charlize Theron's role in "The Road" is supposedly bigger than it was in the novel, and if it is you can probably expect her to show up when the nominees are announced. "The Brother's Bloom" was pushed back to a limited release in December with a wide release following in January. I don't know if this gives the film enough time to build its campaign, so I removed Weisz from my top 5. Still, I think either she or Rinko Kikuchi have a good chance of being nominated if the film catches on. I really want to predict Rachel McAdams for "The Lucky Ones" (one of my favorite working actresses, so there may be a little bias there). I get really good vibes from the trailer, but I will wait until after the film premieres at Toronto to put her in my top 5. Honestly, I don't know who the one to beat is in this category. I would say it's one of my predicted 5 minus Cruz.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1. “Synecdoche, New York”
2. “Happy-Go-Lucky”
3. “Wall-E”
4. “Milk”
5. “Rachel Getting Married”

6. “The Changeling”
7. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
8. “Seven Pounds”
9. “Australia”
10. “The Wrestler"

Many people are predicting "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," but I don't think the film can sustain it's buzz until the end of awards season. I have seen "Happy-Go-Lucky," and while it was a good film, I did not find it to be anything special. Still, I think it will probably end up nominated in this category. I have read "The Wrestler," and I really enjoyed it. I'm a little hesitant to predict it because it doesn't have domestic distribution yet. The one to beat in this category, in my opinion, is "Milk."


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
3. “The Road”
4. “Slumdog Millionaire”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “Body of Lies”
7. “The Reader”
8. “Doubt”
9. “Defiance”
10. “The Dark Knight”

"Slumdog Millionaire," Danny Boyle's new film has come out of nowhere and is running high on a wave of buzz from Telluride. If the buzz continues through Toronto, it could become this year's "Juno". I don't think it will be as successful as "Juno," but it should at least garner a nomination in this category. Still, I think the film to beat in this category is "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," despite the negative buzz surrounding the 20 minutes that were previewed at Telluride.

Updated Oscar Predictions

BEST PICTURE
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “The Road”
3. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
4. “Milk”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “The Changeling”
7. “Australia”
8. “Wall-E”
9. “Doubt”
10. “The Dark Knight”

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Sam Mendes, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Gus van Sant, “Milk”
4. David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight”

6. Clint Eastwood, “The Changeling”
7. Mike Leigh, “Happy Go Lucky”
8. Baz Luhrmann, “Australia”
9. John Hilcoat, “The Road”
10. Jonathan Demme, “Rachel Getting Married”

BEST ACTOR
1. Leonardo DiCaprio, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
4. Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Viggo Mortensen, “The Road”

6. Daniel Craig, “Defiance”
7. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, “Synecdoche, New York”
8. Will Smith, “Seven Pounds”
9. Benicio del Toro, “The Argentine”/ “Guerilla”
10. Sean Penn, “Milk”

BEST ACTRESS
1. Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
3. Rachel McAdams, “The Time Traveler’s Wife”
4. Angelina Jolie, “The Changeling”
5. Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”

6. Sally Hawkins, “Happy Go Lucky”
7. Nicole Kidman, “Australia”
8. Drew Barrymore, “Grey Gardens”
9. Cate Blanchett, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
10. Kristin Scott Thomas, “I’ve Loved You So Long”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1. Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
2. Robert Downey, Jr., “The Soloist”
3. Live Schreiber, “Defiance”
4. Michael Sheen, “Frost/Nixon”
5. Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Road”

6. Josh Brolin, “Milk”
7. Emile Hirsch, “Milk”
8. John Malkovich, “The Changeling”
9. Ralph Fiennes, “The Reader”
10. Tom Cruise, “Tropic Thunder”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1.Amy Adams, “Doubt”
2. Jessica Lange, “Grey Gardens”
3. Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
4. Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Rachel Weisz, “The Brothers Bloom”

6. Amy Ryan, ‘The Changeling”
7. Catherine Keener, “The Soloist”
8. Rinko Kikuchi, “The Brothers Bloom”
9. Rachel McAdams, “The Lucky Ones”
10. Kathy Bates, “Revolutionary Road”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1. “Synecdoche, New York”
2. “The Changeling”
3. “Wall-E”
4. “Milk”
5. “Rachel Getting Married”

6. “Happy Go Lucky”
7. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
8. “Seven Pounds”
9. “Australia”
10. “The Soloist”


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
3. “The Road”
4. “Doubt”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “House of Lies”
7. “The Reader”
8. “Grey Gardens”
9. “Defiance”
10. “The Dark Knight”

I tried to be a little bold when I updated my predictions. I have a strange feeling about "The Road." I included it in my top 5, but my feelings change about that daily. The one performance that I am adamant about is Rachel McAdams in "The Time Traveler's Wife." No one else has predicted this that I know of, but after reading the novel, this is the performance that I am most excited about for the rest of the year.

The Dark Knight (*** 1/2)

The Dark Knight is quite possibly the greatest superhero movie ever made, if it could be called that. It transcends the superhero genre that it is mistaken as, having more in common with recent crime dramas such as The Departed and Zodiac. I, however, would hesitate to call it the masterpiece that many people are rushing to label it as. While it is apparent that this film will probably be one of the greatest achievements of the year, I think it is a film that needs to be mulled over and thought after before being labeled as a masterpiece. I think it will take many repeat viewings and/or years for it to achieve this status, but all great films are like this.

The story picks up right where Batman Begins left off. Gotham City is being terrorized by the Joker, in my opinion, the most menacing villain to probably ever appear on screen. He is a character shrouded in mystery. His scars are mementos of a violent past, but what that past is the viewer cannot be certain. He is a villain that does not do what he does for money, but rather for sport. As one character says, he wants to see what happens when the world around him burns.

Heath Ledger plays the Joker brilliantly, completely embodying this menacing character. He portrays him with this manic devilry that is quite frightening but saddening at the same time. The Joker has been labeled as a freak. While he is a totally demented character that seems like he is causing all of this chaos mainly for fun, it seems like another motive of his is to find others like him. He feels secluded from the world because of his scars. He sets up the citizens of Gotham in extreme moral predicaments where the boundaries of good and evil will be tested. The social experiments, as one may call them, almost appear to be the Joker’s way of trying to establish that he is not alone in the world. He wants to find others as demented as he is.

Without a doubt, Heath Ledger deserves a Best Supporting Actor nomination (and perhaps a win). He should have won Best Actor for Brokeback Mountain. With this performance Heath Ledger was showing that he was just hitting his stride, and the sky was the limit for this amazing performer, but his untimely death probably robbed movie fans of many amazing performances to come.

It is up to Batman to stop the Joker’s reign of chaos on Gotham City, with the aid of Lieutenant Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent. Here is where the film’s central message comes about. What defines a hero? Where does a hero trying to do good cross the line into villainy?

In the film Bruce Wayne is struggling with his Batman persona. Batman is supposed to be a symbol of justice, an impenetrable force that can protect Gotham for crises. Wayne believes that eventually Batman will not be needed in Gotham anymore, and when this time comes he can leave the mask behind and live a normal life with his longtime friend/lover Rachel Dawes. This is not something easily done, however, because the viewer gets the sense that it is not Batman that is the persona, but Bruce Wayne. Mr. Wayne will never be able to leave Batman behind, and Rachel realizes this.

Still, how much good is Batman actually doing? Innocent lives are being lost everyday that Batman does not reveal himself to the Joker. When Mr. Wayne is finally ready to reveal himself, Harvey Dent takes the fall for him. Is this something a hero would let happen? In the many battles with the criminal of Gotham, when does the violence turn Batman into a cruel villain himself. These are the questions presented to Bruce Wayne, and these are hard questions to answer. I have thought about them after viewing the film myself and still can’t come up with definite answers. The Joker sees this kindred spirit in Batman. He sees a freak like him, someone that is not fully accepted by Gotham, and when he is not needed anymore, the citizens will just turn their backs on him.

The one definite hero of the film, however, is Harvey Dent. He is a beacon of light for Gotham City, not someone that has to hide in the shadows. It may not be good to be labeled the hero, though. As Harvey says, “"You either die a hero, or live long enough to become a villain." While Dent may be the hero that Gotham needs, below the surface is this menacing man who will do whatever it takes to achieve justice. When tragedy strikes Dent that hidden monster is unleashed. Dent may have been a hero, but not for long.

Going back over my review, I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of this film. It is a film that needs to be studied, each character analyzed in depth. Is a complex, multi-layered film that for the most part works (greatly). I think the film could have used some trimming off the hefty run time. Also, the film only reaches greatness when Heath Ledger is on screen. I wish I could have seen more of him. It probably could have worked better as two films, but Christopher Nolan does a fine job piecing it together as one. Overall, I really enjoyed the film. Now let me go mull over it some more.

Random Thoughts

I just glanced over my Oscar predictions. I read a review for "Blindness" on aintitcool.com that liked the film, but I don't think they gave it a lot of acclaim. Then again, those reviews can't really be trusted to be the most accurate indicators of the upcoming and long away Oscar season.

Two actresses that have been really catching my attention are Diane Lane and Rachel McAdams. I think Diane Lane has a shot for "Nights in Roadanthe." She is overdue, and the role seems good. The one actress that I really want to predict, however, is Rachel McAdams for "The Time Traveler's Wife." The role seems baity, and in my opinion she is overdue for a nomination also. She is definitely one to watch.

Day After Oscar Predictions

I wanted to briefly share with you my picks for next year's Academy Awards. I have only predicted the top 8 categories with 5 alternates in each. At the end of the list I will also give my winner predictions. In my opinion, it's never too early to start predicting the Oscars and maybe if my picks are accurate enough someone may notice me. Here they are:

BEST PICTURE
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “Blindness”
3. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
4. “Milk”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “The Soloist”
7. “Australia”
8. “The Changeling”
9. “Doubt”
10. “The Reader”

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Sam Mendes, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Gus van Sant, “Milk”
4. David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Fernando Meirelles, “Blindness”

6. Charlie Kaufman, “Synecdoche, New York”
7. Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”
8. Baz Luhrmann, “Australia”
9. Joe Wright, “The Soloist”
10. Clint Eastwood, “The Changeling”

BEST ACTOR
1. Leonardo DiCaprio, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
3. Algenis Perez Soto, “Sugar”
4. Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
5. Sean Penn, “Milk”

6. Ben Kingsley, “The Dying Animal”
7. Hugh Jackman, “Australia”
8. Will Smith, “Seven Pounds”
9. Benicio del Toro, “The Argentine”/ “Guerilla”
10. Jamie Foxx, “The Soloist”

BEST ACTRESS
1. Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
2. Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
3. Julianne Moore, “Blindness”
4. Angelina Jolie, “The Changeling”
5. Anne Hathaway, “Dancing with Schiva

6. Keira Knightley, “The Duchess”
7. Nicole Kidman, “Australia”
8. Penelope Cruz, “The Dying Animal”
9. Naomi Watts, “The International”
10. Diane Lane, “Nights in Rodanthe”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1. Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
2. Robert Downey, Jr., “The Soloist”
3. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
4. Michael Sheen, “Frost/Nixon”
5. Gael Garcia Bernal, “Blindness”

6. Josh Brolin, “Milk”
7. Russell Crowe, “Body of Lies”
8. John Malkovich, “The Changeling”
9. Ralph Fiennes, “The Reader”
10. Jim Broadbent, “Dirty Tricks”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1.Amy Adams, “Doubt”
2. Cate Blanchett, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
3. Amy Ryan, “The Changeling”
4. Catherine Keener, “Synecdoche, New York”
5. Catalina Sandino Moreno, “The Argentine”/“Guerilla”

6. Rachel McAdams, “The Time Traveler’s Wife”
7. Samantha Morton, “Synecdoche, New York”
8. Frances McDormand, “Burn After Reading”
9. Franke Potente, “The Argentine”/ “Guerilla”
10. Kathy Bates, “Revolutionary Road”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1. “Synecdoche, New York”
2. “The Wackness”
3. “Wall-E”
4. “Milk”
5. “The Soloist”

6. “Burn After Reading”
7. “Hamlet 2”
8. “The Changeling”
9. “Australia”
10. “The Argentine”/“Guerilla”


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
1. “Revolutionary Road”
2. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
3. “Blindness”
4. “Doubt”
5. “Frost/Nixon”

6. “Body of Lies”
7. “The Reader”
8. “The Road”
9. “Defiance”
10. “The Box”

WINNERS:
PICTURE: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
DIRECTOR: Sam Mendes, "Revolutionary Road"
ACTOR: Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
ACTRESS: Kate Winslet, "Revolutionary Road"
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Night"
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Amy Adams, "Doubt"
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: "Milk"
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Post-Oscar Thoughts.

I found this year's Academy Awards to be quite entertaining. There were not really any major upsets, except for maybe "The Golden Compass" winning for Best Visual Effects. Here's a rundown of what I liked and didn't like.

3 Best Acceptance Speeches:
1. Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"- You could see the shock, excitement, and joy resonating on her face when they called her name. She was at a total loss for words, and even though I didn't particularly care for the movie, she did give a good performance. It was exhilarating to watch her just take the moment in.

2. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, "Once"- I loved Hansard's humbleness when he spoke. He was truly grateful. My favorite moment of the entire night was Jon Steward calling Marketa Irglova back out to give the speech she didn't get a chance to give. It was a really good speech and much better than just the typical "Thank you....." From the reaction, the crowd really loved this film. This is truly the great independent film story of the year.

3. Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"- I thought her speech was hilarious. She gave a very entertaining speech even though she looked dreadful. She, like Cotillard, was shocked, and that is when the best Oscar moments occur.

BEST DRESSED (Don't have the time to find pictures right now, but I am just going to name who I liked.)
Amy Adams
Katherine Heigl
Jennifer Garner
Marion Cotillard

WORST
Tilda Swinton
Ellen Page

Also, I am working on next year's predictions all ready. I hope to have those out later today.

Final Predictions

Sorry the blog hasn't been active lately (if anybody reads this). I wanted to post my final Oscar predictions. I am thinking about recalling some of my gutsy calls that I made for my initial reactions of the nominees. Well, here are my predictions:

PICTURE
No Country for Old Men
alt: Juno

DIRECTOR
Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
alt: Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
alt: George Clooney, Michael Clayton

ACTRESS
Julie Christie, Away from Her
alt: Ellen Page, Juno

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
alt: Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Juno
alt: Michael Clayton

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
No Country for Old Men
alt: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

ART DIRECTION
Sweeney Todd
alt: Atonement

CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
alt: There will Be Blood

COSTUME DESIGN
Atonement
alt: Sweeney Todd

EDITING
There Will Be Blood
alt: The Bourne Ultimatum

MAKEUP
La Vie en Rose
alt: At World's End

SONG
"Falling Slowly" Once
alt: "That's How You Know" Enchanted

SCORE
Atonement
alt: 3:10 to Yuma

SOUND EDITING
Transformers
alt: No Country for Old Men

SOUND MIXING
Transformers
alt: The Bourne Ultimatum

VISUAL EFFECTS
Transformers
alt: At World's End

Early Oscar Predictions

It seems like many of the more acclaimed Oscar prognosticators (maybe that will include me one of these days) are posting their thoughts on who they think will win. I figure I should go ahead and add my two cents before I am accused of stealing ideas.

PICTURE
Juno

Some people are not going to agree with me on this, but I think "Juno" will win Best Picture this year. I see "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" splitting the vote which leaves the winning slot wide open for "Juno." "Michael Clayton" doesn't seem feasible to me, and I think "Atonement" barely (but thankfully) made it into the top five. Plus, the support is there for "Juno." Not many expected it to receive a director nod. It is also the highest grossing film of the five contenders and should not have a problem crossing the $100 million mark.

DIRECTOR
Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

I think it's theirs to lose. They have won many of the critics' awards, and the film is the "safe" choice to win Best Picture. I could also see Paul Thomas Anderson or Julian Schnabel winning though. Probably not Schnabel, though the Globe win was a nice surprise. Anderson, however, seems to be picking up steam.

ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

I wouldn't say he is guaranteed a win because nothing in the Oscar race is a guarantee, but I'll just I am fairly confident that we will see him on the podium come Oscar night.

ACTRESS
Julie Christie, Away from Her

The support for this film is there, as can be seen by the surprise Adapted Screenplay nod. She is the safe choice right now, even though I really wanted to pick Ellen Page for "Juno."

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

For some reason my gut is telling me to pick him. If he loses the SAG award I may be inclined to switch my pick to Bardem, but I right now I am sticking with Affleck. This prediction may also be a little bit of wishful thinking too.....

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone

I don't particularly care for this pick right now and may end up changing it later. I do not think Blanchett will win because of her win a few years back. I could see Saoirse Ronan coming out of nowhere and winning, on what I think will be an odd Oscar night.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Juno

Another prediction that I am fairly confident about.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
No Country for Old Men

This has won most of the critics' awards in this category. I could see a possible upset, but I do not think it is likely.

ANIMATED
Ratatouille

DOCUMENTARY
Sicko

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Counterfeiters

ART DIRECTION
Sweeney Todd

CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

COSTUME DESIGN
Atonement

FILM EDITING
There Will Be Blood

MAKEUP
La Vie en Rose

SCORE
Atonement

SONG
"Falling Slowly" Once

SOUND EDITING
Transformers

SOUND MIXING
Transformers

VISUAL EFFECTS
Transformers

My Top 10 Films of 2007

Before presenting my top 10 films of 2007, I quickly want to name some films that I was unable to see that I was really looking forward to seeing before making this list: “Persepolis,” “4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days,” “Starting Out in the Evening,” and “Southland Tales.” Well, here’s my top 10!

10. Disturbia
OK, please do not immediately dismiss my list because of my first pick. “Disturbia” was probably the most fun I have had at cinemas all year. It may not be the most complex film, but it is certainly fun to watch, and it features a breakthrough performance from Shia LeBeouf. This film probably won’t make an appearnce at my own personal Oscar awards, but it deserves to be recognized somewhere. This film reminded me of the joy that comes with watching a movie; it is fun just to watch a movie for what it is: two hours of pure, popcorn entertainment.

9. Lust, Caution
Ang Lee’s “Lust, Caution” may not be as good as “Brokeback Mountain,” but it is a good follow-up. Tang Wei, in her first feature, gives a brave and commanding performance that really carries the film. The nudity featured in the film may be graphic, but it never takes away from the film. Overall, the film was an emotionally engaging and moving film that takes its time but slowly pulls the viewer in.


8. Once
The scene in which Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova sing “Falling Slowly” is, in my opinion, the best scene to hit cinemas in 2007. Watching that scene I felt like my soul was removed from my body; it was true movie magic. The film could not reach that high point again, but the rest of the film was still extremely enjoyable. “Once” shows that a filmmaker does not need an extraordinary budget to create a good film, just passion.

7. Zodiac
“Zodiac” was the epic crime drama that I was hoping it to be. Many of my friends complained about the film’s length, but the film’s major theme is obsession and how that obsession plagued the individuals involved in the Zodiac case. Director David Fincher stays true to the theme of obsessions and directs the film obsessively himself, illustrating his passion for the subject matter. Great performances all around, well-written screenplay, and nice production design make this film one of the best of its kind in years.

6. No Country for Old Men
I did not realize how great this film was until the second viewing. The first time I saw it I thought it was good, but lost focus in the end. The ending also puzzled me. A second viewing helped me see exactly what filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen had done. The film is extremely suspenseful and captivating, yet there is no musical score—a great accomplishment in itself. The script is extremely well-written and darkly humorous at times. Javier Bardem turns in the creepiest performance since Anthony Hopkins in “The Silence of the Lambs.” It is a film that deserves to be watched more than once and studied. I may not have been totally satisfied with the ending, but I appreciated the great filmmaking that went into making this film.

5. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Last year Darren Aronofsky did it with "The Fountain," as well as Alfonso Cuaron with "Children to Men." These are filmmakers that test the boundaries of film, creating instant masterpieces that demand to be watched. Julian Schnabel has joined that elite group of filmmakers with "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," creating an original, visually intoxicating masterpiece. The cinematography in the film was also unlike anything that I had ever seen, creating a totally original moviegoing experience. It is a film that inspires and moves and deserves to be seen.

4. Juno
Diablo Cody has written the best screenplay of the year and the funniest (and most quotable) movie in some time. With “Hard Candy” and “Juno,” Ellen Page shows that she is a force to be reckoned with. Last year, she barely missed my own personal predictions, but there is no way that is going to happen again. Her character is filled with charisma and personality unlike any other (besides Giselle in “Enchanted”) character on the big screen in 2007. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses. I can’t forget to mention the wonderfully subtle and heartbreaking performance given by Jennifer Garner. It is a shame she was snubbed.

3. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
In any other year this probably would have been my favorite film of the year, but 2007 saw many great films. Despite the film’s two hour and forty-five minute running time, I never had to check my watch. My eyes were suctioned to the screen taking in the beauty of this extraordinary film. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck (especially) give amazing performances; I really hope Affleck can upset Bardem at the Oscars. The cinematography is excellent and establishes Jesse James as a myth that many people do not understand. It is sad that poor marketing doomed this great achievement in filmmaking.

2. Atonement
This is probably my favorite period romance since “Titanic.” It is a film of breathtaking beauty, great performances, and amazing source material. It started off slow in the beginning (all great films seem to), but it subtly pulls the viewer in for an emotional ride that is hard to get out of your head. I am ecstatic about young Saoirse Ronan receiving a Best Supporting Actress nomination. She deserves to win in my opinion. The film is beautifully written and shot and features an extremely powerful score (the best since ‘Requiem for a Dream”).

1. There Will Be Blood This is a film that deserves not only to be watched, but studied. It is a film that seems simple, but is filled with complexities. It is an intense character study about the consequences of greed especially when it crosses path with religion. It is also a searing portrait of a man’s descent into madness. Daniel-Day Lewis gives the best performance in at least a decade. He commands every scene he is in. The end may be classified as chewing scenery, but it was what the scene called for. Plus, no one could have done it better than Day-Lewis. Director Paul T. Anderson has hinted at greatness with his previous films “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia,’ but he has finally achieved it with “There Will Be Blood.”

RIP Heath Ledger

The news of Heath Ledger's death has shocked and devastated me. He was a great actor who was just hitting his peak. He gave an amazing performance in "Brokeback Mountain" that I will never forget, which remains one of my 10favorite films of all-time. The acting community today has lost one of the true up-and-comers. Hopefully, this will not be the last we hear about Heath Ledger. Ever since I heard of the casting of Ledger as the Joker in "The Dark Knight," I expected a Best Supporting Actor nod. His memory will live on in the wonderful films that he brought us.

Oscar Nominations are Here!

Overall, I got 68/99 of the nominees correct.
The complete list of nominees:

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

I got 4/5 of the nominees. The Tommy Lee Jones nomination came out of nowhere. He was good, but I would have given it to Hirsch, Gosling, or McAvoy before him.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

I got all 5 nominees! This was the category I was most confident in; this lineup has appeared in numerous percursors.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Julie Christie in "Away from Her" (Lionsgate)
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

I only got 3/5 of the nominees. I knew I should have predicted Blanchett, but she didn't deserve it. Amy Adams should have gotten a nomination, no questions asked. I was also surprised to see Linney in the lineup. I just saw The Savages yesterday, and I have to say I was disappointed. She gives a good performance, but I just could not get into the film and did not find it that funny.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

I got 4/5 again. American Gangster was not that great of a film, and the same could be said for Ruby Dee's performance. Personally, I would have nominated Imelda Staunton in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Best animated feature film of the year
"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics): Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Brad Bird
"Surf's Up" (Sony Pictures Releasing): Ash Brannon and Chris Buck

2/3

Achievement in art direction
"American Gangster" (Universal): Art Direction: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Beth A. Rubino
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Art Direction: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount): Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Art Direction: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

3/5

Achievement in cinematography
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.): Roger Deakins
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Seamus McGarvey
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Roger Deakins
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Robert Elswit

5/5

Achievement in costume design
"Across the Universe" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Albert Wolsky
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Jacqueline Durran
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal) Alexandra Byrne
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Marit Allen
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Colleen Atwood

3/5


Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight), Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Tony Gilroy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Paul Thomas Anderson

Surprised by the Reitman nomination. I was hoping for a Wright nomination, but you can't get everything you want.

Best documentary feature
"No End in Sight" (Magnolia Pictures) A Representational Pictures Production: Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience" (The Documentary Group) A Documentary Group Production: Richard E. Robbins
"Sicko" (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company) A Dog Eat Dog Films Production: Michael Moore and Meghan O'Hara
"Taxi to the Dark Side" (THINKFilm) An X-Ray Production: Alex Gibney and Eva Orner
"War/Dance" (THINKFilm) A Shine Global and Fine Films Production: Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine

3/5

Best documentary short subject
"Freeheld" A Lieutenant Films Production: Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
"La Corona (The Crown)" A Runaway Films and Vega Films Production: Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega
"Salim Baba" A Ropa Vieja Films and Paradox Smoke Production: Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello
"Sari's Mother" (Cinema Guild) A Daylight Factory Production: James Longley

Achievement in film editing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Christopher Rouse
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Juliette Welfling
"Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment): Jay Cassidy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Roderick Jaynes
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Dylan Tichenor

4/5

Best foreign language film of the year
"Beaufort" Israel
"The Counterfeiters" Austria
"Katyn" Poland
"Mongol" Kazakhstan
"12" Russia

4/5.

Achievement in makeup
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
"Norbit" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount): Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): Ve Neill and Martin Samuel

1/3

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner" (DreamWorks, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions, Distributed by Paramount Classics): Alberto Iglesias
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate) Marco Beltrami

2/5

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"Falling Slowly" from "Once" (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush" (Warner Bros.): Nominees to be determined
"So Close" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

2/5

Best motion picture of the year
"Atonement" (Focus Features) A Working Title Production: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight) A Dancing Elk Pictures, LLC Production: Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) A Clayton Productions, LLC Production: Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production: Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production: JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers

I was surprised and very excited about the Atonement nod. It's my second favorite film of the year behind There Will Be Blood. I got 4/5. I would have taken out Michael Clayton and put The Diving Bell and the Butterfly in its place.

Best animated short film
"I Met the Walrus" A Kids & Explosions Production: Josh Raskin
"Madame Tutli-Putli" (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski "Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)" (Premium Films) A BUF Compagnie Production Samuel Tourneux and Simon Vanesse
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)" (Channel One Russia) A Dago-Film Studio, Channel One Russia and Dentsu Tec Production Alexander Petrov
"Peter & the Wolf" (BreakThru Films) A BreakThru Films/Se-ma-for Studios Production Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman

Best live action short film
"At Night" A Zentropa Entertainments 10 Production: Christian E. Christiansen and Louise Vesth
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)" (Sky Cinema Italia) A Frame by Frame Italia Production: Andrea Jublin
"Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)" (Premium Films) A Karé Production: Philippe Pollet-Villard
"Tanghi Argentini" (Premium Films) An Another Dimension of an Idea Production: Guido Thys and Anja Daelemans
"The Tonto Woman" A Knucklehead, Little Mo and Rose Hackney Barber Production: Daniel Barber and Matthew Brown

Achievement in sound editing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom and Michael Silvers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Matthew Wood
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins

3/5

Achievement in sound mixing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal) Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate): Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin

3/5

Achievement in visual effects
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier

2/3

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

I got 3/5. The Away from Her nod caught me by surprise. I knew I should have picked Atonement, but I thought it would get snubbed. I am glad to see that it received plenty of recognition.

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 Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
"The Savages" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins

I got 4/5. I went with Knocked Up over Ratatouille. There was probably a little bit of bias in that prediction.

"There Will Be Blood" (****)

I am only just beginning to understand the magnitude and unequivocal greatness of "There Will Be Blood." Even though the story may seem simple enough, the film is layered with complexities. This film not only deserves to be seen by everyone, but intricately studied. I am hesitant in writing this review because I feel like I need to see this movie a few more times before I even begin to comprehend the scope of what I have just witnessed. This review is an effort to help me deconstruct this film and get at its deeper meaning.

The film begins with an opening shot of desert landscape as composer Johnny Greenwood's wonderful, pounding score begins. The first fifteen minutes of the film pass with no dialogue. The viewer sees Daniel Plainview, at this time a silver prospector, during a usual day of work. Once Plainview discovers oil in one of his silver claims, his descent into madness begins.

One of his workers on the job, leaving behind a son. Plainview takes the kids as his own and uses him as a prop, trying to sell his newfound business as one that thinks highly of family. He uses his son as a tool to get people to accept his proposals. One thing that I could not completely determine from the film was if Plainview really felt anything for his son, H.W. Many critics would argue that Plainview merely saw H.W. as a means of achieving success faster, but I think he really cared for him.

When a kid approached Plainview about an "ocean" of oil in a town named Little Boston, a small religious community. Plainview travels to the town and sees his future laid out for him. The vast amount of oil occupying the land will make him one of the richest oil tycoons in existence. The only thing he cannot foresee is the effect religion will have on his greedy and ambitious nature, eventually destroying him.

Eli Sunday is the leader of the local church, a sort of prophet, who sees nothing good about Mr. Plainview. He sees him as the town's destruction. Eli tries to get Plainview to allow him to bless the oil well. Plainview, however, sidesteps him, and does not let this happen; Eli sees this as the omen that will lead to his downfall.

One of the following scenes, in my opinion, is one of the best of the year. One of the derricks erupts in a burst of steam and oil. H.W., who was near the explosion, is blown backwards and loses his hearing. All the while, the music is pounding, overwhelming the viewer and informing them to the sheer intensity of the situation. At first, Plainview rushes to the attention of his son, but once he figures out that there is nothing that he can do for him, he rushes out to control the damage that has been done. He would eventually ship his son off to live somewhere else because he does not know how to handle the situation (or did he just see it as a hindrance to business?).

The torment of losing his son profoundly affects Plainview. He considers selling Little Boston to Standard Oil, but when the man says he could use the money to take care of his son, Plainview reacts harshly, threatening to slit the man's throat. He even attacks Eli, the supposed prophet and healer, demanding why he did not help his son. Eventually, he would get his son back, but things would not be the same.

At the end of the film, Plainview is extremely wealthy but alienated from society (what he wanted anyways). The last scene (I'm not going into details) is awesomely done, but it may be called over-acting by some. Madness and greed has completely taken over Daniel.

Daniel Day-Lewis is the perfect person to portray Daniel Plainview. He gives a fiery, intense performance of a man driven by ambition and greed. He is a monster trapped in a human's body. A man that has progressed so far into darkness, he cannot be saved. Plainview is a man who hates people (he even says so), and all he wants to do is earn enough money to escape civilization. The only compassion he shows is for his son, who the viewer is not even sure if he loves or not. This is truly the tour-de-force performance of the decade.

Paul Dano is also good as Eli Sunday, but he seemed to be overacting at times. The role, however, called for some overacting. This is noticeable when he is giving his sermons and is acting as "healer." It is a good performance, but he cannot match Daniel Day-Lewis.

If I were an academy voter, this film would get my vote in the supporting actor category. I was moved by the performance of newcomer Dillon Freasier. He does not say much, but he doesn't have to. The viewer can often see him in the background looking around, taking everything in. Later in the film when he loses his hearing, it is heartbreaking to watch him sit down and snap his fingers near his ear, hoping to hear something. I found the scene in which he sees his father for the first time after he abandoned him to be very powerful as well.

Paul Thomas Anderson has made some really good films in his past ("Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia"). This, however, is his crowning achievement (at least for now). He lets the film develop slowly, focusing more on Plainview than anything else. It's risky opening the film with absolutely no dialogue for fifteen minutes, but for a film to truly standout among others, it needs to be different. Paul Thomas Anderson has made something so epic and different that it is hard to describe in words.

I think I have rambled enough about this film. Hopefully, my review isn't too incoherent. I may offer more thoughts on this film later (I forgot to add how it is relevant to corporate society today, but I cannot muster the energy to add it now.). It is a film that I definitely plan on seeing again to pick up on some things. Just go out and see this film. Not only watch it but let every film seep in and analyze it. This is a film that will be talked about for year's to come.

Oscar Predictions

It is hard to believe that the Oscar nominations are less than a week away. This year has been one of the most unpredictable in recent years, which for this Oscar enthusiast, is very exciting indeed. I am going to post my predictions. For most of the technical nominations I am relying on my gut instinct, as well as for the foreign and documentary categories. I should have my own personal ballot out by the end of the month. I will be seeing "There Will Be Blood" and "The Savages" this weekend and I think "Starting Out in the Evening" the following week.

PICTURE
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Michael Clayton
Juno
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Commentary: I thought about replacing "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" with "Into the Wild," but I think when it comes down who placed higher on voters' ballots I think "Diving Bell" will edge out "Into the Wild."

DIRECTOR
Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Paul T. Anderson, There Will Be Blood
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Sean Penn, Into the Wild

Commentary: I really feel uncomfortable predicting Tony Gilroy, but he is the safe choice right now. I wanted to put either Tim Burton or Joe Wright in his place but neither of them are getting enough love.

ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

Commentary: I think either Depp, Hirsch, or Mortensen could be replaced in this category by either Ryan Gosling or Denzel Washington. It would be nice to see someone like James McAvoy receive a surprise nod.

ACTRESS
Julie Christie, Away from Her
Ellen Page, Juno
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
Amy Adams, Enchanted

Commentary: Personally, I hated "La Vie en Rose," and that affected Cotillard's performance for me. I still am clinging to the Amy Adams nomination; something in my gut tells me it will happen. If Cotillard were removed and replaced by Knightley, then this scenario would prefectly match my own ballot. If there is a God Cate Blanchett will not get in for the horrible "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson’s War

Commentary: This is the category that I feel most confident predicting, but I know better to say that anything is set in stone. Who knows? Max von Sydow could possibly sneak in or even Tommy Lee Jones.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Catherine Keener, Into the Wild
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement

Commentary: There seems to be many options in this category, but there have not been many great performances for supporting actresses this year (which is the likely reason for the plethora of options). I could see Ruby Dee nominated, but I don't think "American Gangster" should receive anything.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Juno
Michael Clayton
The Savages
Lars and the Real Girl
Knocked Up

Commentary: I am not sure about this lineup, but it is the best that I could come up with. I could see anyone of these nominees except for "Juno" and "Michael Clayton" to be replaced by "American Gangster," "Once," or "Ratatouille."

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Into the Wild
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Zodiac

Commentary: This is another category that I am fairly confident on. The only possible change I would make would be that "Zodiac" would be replaced by "Atonement."

BEST ART DIRECTION
Sweeney Todd
Atonement
There Will Be Blood
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
300

CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Atonement

COSTUME DESIGN
Hairspray
Atonement
Sweeney Todd
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Elizabeth: The Golden Age

FILM EDITING
There Will Be Blood
No Country for Old Men
Into the Wild
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Zodiac

MAKEUP
La Vie en Rose
Sweeney Todd
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

SCORE
Atonement
Into the Wild
There Will Be Blood
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Ratatouille

SONG (Don’t know how many they nominate but I’m going to choose 5)
“Falling Slowly” Once
“Guaranteed” Into the Wild
“That’s How You Know” Enchanted
“Come So Far” Hairspray
“Society” Into the Wild

SOUND EDITING
Transformers
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
300
Ratatouille
The Bourne Ultimatum

SOUND MIXING
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
Transformers
Sweeney Todd
300

VISUAL EFFECTS
I Am Legend
Transformers
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Sicko
No End in Sight
Lake of Fire
The Rape of Europa
War/Dance

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Counterfeiters
Days of Darkness
Beaufort
12
Katyn

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Ratatouille
Persepolis
The Simpson’s Movie

Golden Globe Predictions

Best Picture (Drama): Atonement
Best Picture (Comedy): Juno
Best Director: Ethan and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men
Best Actor (Drama): Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Best Actress (Drama): Julie Christie, Away From Her
Best Actor (Comedy): Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Best Actress (Comedy): Ellen Page, Juno
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Best Screenplay: Juno
Best Foreign Film: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Best Animated Film: Ratatouille
Best Original Score: Dario Marinelli, Atonement
Best Original Song: "Guaranteed" Into the Wild

DGA Predictions

I want to briefly offer my predictions for the DGA announcement. I expect 4/5 of the films I chose to go on to be nominated for Best Picture. I really want to put Jason Reitman in the 5, but I do not know who to remove. I think "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" is the film that will most likely miss out on a Best Picture nomination and be replaced by "Juno." With there being no clear frontrunner, I think that "Juno," with its all its critical praise and commercial success, could go on and surprisingly win Best Picture at the Oscars this year.

1. Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
2. Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood
3. Sean Penn, Into the Wild
4. Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
5. Joe Wright, Atonement

Alts:
Jason Reitman, Juno
Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd
Andrew Dominik, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

"My Most Anticipated of 2008"

Got bored so I figured I would offer my 10 most anticipated films of the year. Here they are:

10. "Cloverfield"
The hype surrounding this film is monstrous (couldn't pass up the pun). The style of filmmaking hasn't been used since "The Blair Witch Project." The marketing for this film has just been amazing. Because of this, I am not sure it can live up to its hype.

9. "Revolutionary Road"
This film will probably be on many people's shortlist for Best Picture next year. The combination of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (last seen together in "Titanic") will automatically make this film the Best Picture frontrunner when people take wild stabs at predicting next year's Oscars. I know it will be on mine. I have high hopes for this film, but I am afraid its frontrunner status could be its downfall. If you want to compare this film to one of director's Sam Mendes' previous films, the closest one would be "American Beauty," my favorite film of all time (tied with "Donnie Darko").

8. "The Dark Knight"
I liked "Batman Begins," but I do not think it was the amazing film many people were calling it. This, however, looks even better than "Batman Begins." The performance that I am most excited about is Heath Ledger's Joker. I am guessing that he will be nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his destined to be crazy performance a la Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean."

7. "Funny Games"
I absolutely loved this trailer. It was totally fantastic and left me salivating at the mouth. I have not seen the original, but I don't want to see it yet. Michael Haneke is an amazing filmmaker. I really enjoyed "Cache." Here's hoping this lives to the expectations I have set for it.

6. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
This film does not really come off as a David Fincher film, but I am eager to see what he does with it. it also stars Brad Pitt, who is in my opinion one of the best actors today. I loved him in both "Babel" and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." Parts of the film were also filmed where I live, so that just helps to boost my expectations.

5. "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince"
I was a little disappointed with the 5th installment, and there is really no way that the movies can live up to the books. No way. The only director that has come close has been Alfonso Cauron. Still, Harry Potter is sort of an obsession for me, so it automatically earns a spot on my list.

4. "The City of Ember"
I love this book. It may be a children's book, but the story is fascinating. When I read it, my thoughts automatically turned to a movie idea. I am an aspiring filmmaker, and when I read this I was like, "I want to make this film." Unfortunately, someone beat me to the punch. The cast is great, lead by Saorise Ronan, who gave an outstanding performance in "Atonement," My favorite film of the year. The film is also directed by the man behind "Monster House," my favorite animated film of 2006.

3. "The Box"
When I first saw Richard Kelly's "Donnie Darko," my life was changed; I didn't look at movies the same way again. The release of his second film ,"Southland Tales," has garnered critical pans. The film still has its following like "Donnie Darko." I have not had the opportunity to see it, but I am sure it is at least better than the critics are giving it credit for. His next film features a better cast and some good source material. Here's hoping to Mr. Kelly can rock my world once again.

2. "The Happening"
I do not care what the critics think about him. I love M. Night Shyamalan. I have enjoyed every one of his film, and "The Sixth Sense" is definitely on my top 10 list. An early script review for this film was positive, and the plot seems interesting. I will be first in line opening night.

1. "Blindness"
I was immediately intrigued when I heard about the concept of this film. The cast is great, and it is directed by the man who brought us "The Constant Gardener." I am interested in seeing what Gael Garcia Bernal brings to the film also. He is one of my favorite actors working today. It is only a matter of time before he wins an Oscar.

Who Will Win?

I have not been following the Oscars for that long, maybe 7 years, but this has to be the most exciting one as of yet. This year has been totally unpredictable, something that is really exciting for me. I am eager to see how things play out. I haven't posted in awhile, but I want to have my top 10 list up soon. I still have to see "There Will Be Blood," "The Savages," and "The Orphanage." I would like to see "4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days" before I make my list but that does not seem likely. I will likely post my list after I see "Starting Out in The Evening," which is slated to open in Memphis on the 25th. I know I am a lot slower than most of your seasoned prognosticators, but they receive screeners and such. Hopefully if people start reading this blog, maybe something good will come of it. Also, the weekend before the Oscars I will post my own personal awards. I want some time to rewatch a couple of films before I choose my definite 5. Anyways, the purpose of this post is for me to predict the winners at this year's Academy Awards. If I am close, someone please alert the media so that maybe this crappy blog can gain some attention.

Best Picture: "No Country for Old Men"
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
Best Actress: Ellen Page, "Juno"
Best Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Best Supporting Actress: Catherine Keener, "Into the Wild"
Best Adapted Screenplay: "No Country for Old Men"
Best Original Screenplay: "Juno"
Best Art Direction: "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Best Cinematography: "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Best Costume Design: "Atonement"
Best Film Editing: "There Will Be Blood"
Best Makeup: "Hairspray"
Best Music - Original Score: "Atonement"
Best Music - Original Song: "Once"
Best Sound: "Transformers"
Best Sound Editing: "Transformers"
Best Visual Effects: "Transformers"
Best Animated Feature: "Perespolis"
Best Foreign Language Film: "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days"