Everyone knows that towards the end of December you can expect to hear the announcements for award ceremonies and their fantastic nominees. Last year, 2008 in my opinion was a great year for movies. The flicks at the beginning of the year such as “Iron Man” and the “Incredible Hulk” showed the audience that there will be many films both visually stunning and plot driven in the months ahead. The much anticipated “Dark Knight” hit the Box Office hard and smacked any competition for 4 months since its release July 18. It was great to be a film connoisseur; in the fall leading up to winter, movies exploded into theatres. The Coen Brothers’ “Burn After Reading” and then late bloomers Director Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road” Clint Eastwood’s”Gran Torino, Darren Aronofsky’s “ The Wrestler”, Danny Boyle’s “ Slumdog Millionaire” and David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. All of these films received at least 4 nominations at both the People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice Awards.
Danny Boyle’s Indie film “Slumdog Millionaire” has won Best Picture at both of these ceremonies and the Screen Actors’ Guild. It also, has received 10 Academy Award nominations tying with “Dark Knight” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” takes the lead with 13 Academy Award nominations. At these same award ceremonies Heath Ledger won Best Supporting Actor for his role as the sadistic and charismatic Joker. Director Christopher Nolan received his awards at both the People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice Awards and co-star Gary Oldman received the award at the Screen Actors’ Guild after standing ovations by the crowd full of Ledger’s colleges. Kate Winslet won Best Supporting Actress for “Revolutionary Road” and Best Actress for “The Reader”, all in the same night at the Critic’s Choice Awards. The music legend Bruce” The Boss” Springsteen won a Critic’s Choice award for Best Soundtrack in Mickey Rourke’s comeback film” The Wrestler”. The excitement is building for the 81st Academy Awards on February 22nd. This year’s host for the event is none other than People’s Magazine Sexiest Man Alive Hugh Jackman.
I can tell you that there is some tough competition. So, here are some of my predictions for the Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Nominees: “Gran Torino” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” “Revolutionary Road” “The Wrestler” “The Reader” “Dark Knight” “Slumdog Millionaire” “Milk”
I am absolutely baffled as to who will win. I would like “Benjamin Button” to win but as a hard core Clint Eastwood admirer; it is impossible not to want “Gran Torino” to get the honors. “The Wrestler” actor Mickey Rourke’s comeback film is also in the running. I am thoroughly happy about Rourke’s comeback and his amazingly heartfelt performance on the screen; he has enormous talent. I find it amazing how in a matter of 2 months the fantastic Kate Winslet managed to release 2 films; one of which being very provocative indeed and the other with “Titanic” co-star Leonardo Dicaprio. There are, however, 3 secret weapons “Slumdog Millionaire”, “Milk” and “Dark Knight” each has an individual quality which can make them win the award. “Slumdog Millionaire“, the Indie film favorite for this year’s awards has gotten the Best Picture awards at every ceremonies so far but “Dark Knight” the much anticipated film of 2008 holds captive the marvelous performance of Heath Ledger, it’s a hard thing to imagine but it is possible for them to get the award. Last but certainly not least “Milk” everyone; I don’t care how great a movie is. If you talk about homosexuality people get skittish. Although, the film is about a real life person, the film may not get its full recognition about of its topic but “hey!” the awards love films based on true stories. So they do have a fighting chance.
Best Actor
Nominees: Leonardo Dicaprio (“Revolutionary Road”) Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”) Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”) Clint Eastwood (“Gran Torino”) Sean Penn (“Milk”)
Honestly, I don’t see how there can be a best….there are too many greats here. However, I do believe that Leonardo’s performance was not as powerful as the other actors that are nominated for this category but he is there because there is always that one that is good but really isn’t better that gets the award.
Best Actress
Nominees: Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”), Meryl Streep (“Doubt”), Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”), Kate Winslet (“ Revolutionary Road or “ The Reader”)
Towards the end of the year there were lots of dramatic roles. As we all know the Academy Awards always appreciates a good drama. The brilliant actresses are all in dramatic movies; I can honestly say that I’m in a toss up between Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep. However, I really want Winslet to win for either one of her performances in “Revolutionary Road” or “The Reader”. I’m very fond of her and she completely deserves it. It is only fair that for hard work you get some kind of deserved appreciation…and why can’t that be in the form of a miniature man.
Best Supporting Actress
Nominees: Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler”) Kate Winslet (“Revolutionary Road”) Taraji P. Henson (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) Penélope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”)
I’m rooting for Kate Winslet and Penélope Cruz; Kate is a treat as always in her role. Penélope Cruz is wonderfully sassy in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”.
Best Supporting Actor
Nominees: Heath Ledger (“Dark Knight”) Robert Downey Jr. (“Tropic Thunder”) Josh Brolin (“Milk”)
Certainly I am practically 99.99% sure that Ledger has this one in the bag. However, Robert Downey Jr.’s performance in Ben Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder” was hilarious and you couldn’t help but crack a smile. So there is definitely a chance for funny to win because everyone loves to laugh, whether your face is too tight or not.
Best Director
Nominees: Christopher Nolan (“Dark Knight”) Clint Eastwood (“Gran Torino”) Danny Boyle (“SlumDog Millionaire”) Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”) David Fincher (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) Gus Van Sant (“Milk”) Ron Howard (“Frost/ Nixon”)
Ok here are the big boys, Best Director, there are definitely heavy weights and all are over some of the best films of the year. Clint Eastwood is veteran at everything film, Gus Van Sant is world renown and Ron Howard is brilliant with the exception of “The Di Vinci Code”.
Best Score
Nominees: Alexandre Desplat (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) James Newton Howard (“Defiance) Danny Elfman (“Milk”) A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”)
Thomas Newman (“WALL-E”)
One of my favorite composers ever Danny Elfman, who usually does the music for every wacky Tim Burton film is nominated for his work in “Milk” but everyone of the nominees have the chance to win. Each composer of these movies gives a personality to the movie in a unique and specific way. So, it’s a toss up but I love Pixar.
Best in Cinematography
Nominees: (“Changeling”) (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (“The Dark Knight”) (“Australia”)
All these flicks are masterly beautiful in either a darkly sinister way, poignant and thoughtful or completely on earth and yet still somewhere else. These films have that. The landscapes in “Australia” are captivating and spell bounding in the immensity of lush earth.
Best Visual Effects
Nominees: (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (“The Dark Knight”) (“Iron Man”)
In both “Dark Knight” and “Iron Man” crazy stunts that we all know are computerized fill the screen yet do not over exaggerate the story being told. The effects add character to the actors and help it move along from sequence to sequence. In “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” the effects backdrop a love story and fill out a journey of self realization. Also, the crazy scene in “Dark Knight” when the Joker rams the thugs head into the pencil is a great way to express his insanity and imagination with visual effects.
Best Art Direction
Nominees: (“Changeling”) (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) (“The Dark Knight”)
(“The Duchess”) (“Revolutionary Road”)
The magnificence of each of these films is unparallel; I love the elegance of a good period piece and “The Duchess” delivers. The art direction in the films brings out the essence of both the story and the characters. The grittiness of the graphic novel comes through clearly in “Dark Knight”; the suburban life and restlessness is clear and present in “Revolutionary Road”. The documentation of Benjamin’s aging is precise and wonderfully gradual to the point of reality. It also posses great angles and paneling.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominees: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button“)
John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”) Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” has been in the making for 18 years and is called one of the best films of the decade. It certainly showed that hard work, faith and dedication went into the production of this film. The works of John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”) and Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) are definitely in the running. Although, I believe that “Slumdog Millionaire” will win for Best Original Screenplay. So, it is only to “Doubt” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” for this award.
Best Animated Feature
The movie “WALL-E” has wonderfully imaginative, heart-warming and everyone at any age can enjoy the simplistic characters with their complicated emotions and levels of affection. Also, it isn’t bad that it is beautifully animated. Hurray for Pixar!!!
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