Alright, now that I’ve covered my picks for the minor categories, many of which I don’t feel very confident in, it’s on to the BIG 7. As I’m writing this, there’s only an hour left before they start, so depending on timing I’ll go as deep into my thoughts as much as possible. Let’s get to it!
BEST PICTURE
- Kung Fu Panda
- Bolt
- Wall-E
Winner: Wall-E
Thoughts: There’s no doubt in my mind who should win this award, it’s Wall-E. If I were to ever rank the movies I’ve seen in 2008, which I might do one day, Wall-E would be in my Top 5. Bolt, IMO, was typical kiddie animated fare & Kung Fu Panda was a decent enough movie, but they were no Wall-E. The beginning of this film, is one of the greatest 20-30 minute sequences I’ve seen in an awfully long time, then ending doesn’t measure up to the start, but is still rather exceptional. Pixar continues to suprise me with their animated offereings every year. It just goes to show, that it’s good storytellers that make good movies!!! I was a bit taken back a few weeks ago, when I heard Kung Fu Panda swept a bunch of pre-oscar awards, but I have faith that the Academy will see the light!
DIRECTING
- Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
- Gus Van Sant for Milk
- Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon
- Stephen Daldry for The Reader
- David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Winner: Danny Boyle
Who Should Win: David Fincher
Thoughts: As you will come to understand, I was less than blown away by Slumdog Millionaire. Look, it’s a good film, it’s just not great. Danny Boyle is a great film maker, I’ve loved a bunch of his movies, but I just don’t think his direction on Slumdog was Oscar worthy, so not only do I think he shouldn’t win, he shouldn’t have been nominated. I’d put either Sam Mendes (Revolutionary Road) or Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler) in his place. As for who I think should win, it’s Fincher all the way. Maybe my judgement is clouded over my love for his films. Seven, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodaic… he should have been nominated for all these jobs, but wasn’t. However I do genuinly believe that he deserves the win, if not him maybe Gus Van Sant. But not Danny Boyle, please!!
SUPPORTING ACTOR
- Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder
- Josh Brolin in Milk
- Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt
- Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road
- Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Winner: Ledger
All of this years acting categories are full of amazingly epic performances. The supporting roles sometimes more so than the leading roles. I’m actually quite impressed that the Academy went to a comedy and nominated Robert Downey Jr. for his role as a white actor who get surgery to become black for a movie war movie. I’d love to see Downey or Hoffman pick up this award just becuase they are so consitently great in everything they do. But who is anyone kidding, Ledger is going to win this, and he should. His win has nothing to do with his tragic death, and everything to do with a unique and powerful performance as one of the world’s most famous villians, The Joker. I’ve found myself watching just his scenes on The Dark Knight BluRay over and over again.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
- Amy Adams in Doubt
- Penelope Cruz in Vicky Christina Barcelona
- Viola Davis in Doubt
- Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler
Winner: Viola Davis
Tomei doesn’t belong here. As great as The Wreslter was, she was one of the weak parts of that film. Beyond that the nominations are spot on! Viola Davis & Penelope Cruz are the top tier here, but I suspect and hope that Davis gets the nod for her gripping performance in Doubt.
LEAD ACTRESS
- Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
- Angeline Jolie in Changeling
- Melissa Leo in Frozen River
- Meryl Streep in Doubt
- Kate Winslet in The Reader
Winner: Anne Hathaway
As I’ve said over and over, the acting talent this year was great, th problem with this is that it makes picking the winner very difficult. Hathaway’s performance was what I thought was the best of the five, so that’s who I’m going to say is going to win. It’s very likely I could be wrong. One thing I have to say is that Kate Winslet was nominated for the wrong movie. She was good in The Reader, but even better in Revolutionary Road. In fact if she had been nominated for that, I probably would have chosen her over Hathaway.
LEAD ACTOR
- Richard Jenkins in The Visitor
- Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon
- Sean Penn in Milk
- Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Winner: Mickey Rourke
This category is jam packed full of great performances. Even the weakest, Pitt (definitly not his best work), is great! In my opinion all of these films should be watched just to see these guys shine! However, Mickey Rourke rises above them all. He makes you cry, think, and cheer. Simply Amazing!
BEST PICTURE
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Frost/Nixon
- Milk
- The Reader
- Slumdog Millionaire
Winner: Slumdog Millionaire
Alright it’s time for the big one!! This category is going to make me very angry, I think. Slumdog was a good movie, it just should not have been nominated. Insert Revolutionary Road, The Wrestler, In Bruges, Wall-E, or Doubt into it’s spot and I’m okay. Just a note, before I go on, The Dark Knight should not have been nominated. The outrage is misplaced, sadly. I absolutly loved the movie. It’s the greatest comic book / superhero movie ever made, it even rises above a simple genre movie. Best Picture worthy it is not, though it does come close. Much closer than Slumdog, much closer.
People say this has been a week year for Oscar movies, I say the movies I just listed and the other four nominations show that isn’t true. I’m sure there’s a chance Benjamin Button might win, but I really do think the awards momentum is in Slumdog’s favour. Out of the nominees, I think Milk was the best film. What was my favourite movie of the year? Revolutionary Road, hands down. In dives into so many different themes and emotions that it at times becomes difficult to watch, but difficult in a good way. Grand performances by DiCaprio, Winslet, Shannon, and Kathy Bates. Wonderful direction and cinematography. It’s simply great.
That’s all folks!!! Enjoy the show!!!
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