My top 5 movies of the year so far: #5- State of Play

State of Play is a highly intelligent political thriller that manages to offer some interesting insights and debates into the roles of government, political corruption, powerful corporations, and the dying art of journalism and the newspaper print medium. Kevin McDonald directs an ensemble cast that performs to top honors. Led by Russell Crowe as the an old school journalist who still values cultivating sources, confirming his facts and always having a handy pen and notebook. He refuses to acknowledge the sinking ship that is the print newspaper or the bloggers that will eventually take over his job, as he would say that there are still some things that deserve to be printed in newstype.

Lending great supporting hands are Ben Affleck as a smooth talking senator involved in an affair and possibly a murder who happens to be Crowe's ex-college roommate, Helen Mirren as the newspaper editor torn between her allegiance to journalism and her writers and the new owners who value making a profit, and Jason Bateman who shines in his small role as an arrogant public relations agent who might hold enough information to break the case. The one mundane spot comes surprisingly from Rachel McAdams as the newspaper's blogger journalist who gets a crash course in "real" journalism from Crowe's character as he brings her in to help with his investigation into a story of conspiracy proportions. McAdams is fine in the role but seems very complacent as she never expresses the evolution of her character.

The action opens with a double homicide, an apparent suicide by a senatorial aide, a briefcase full of incremenating photographs, and a government investigation into a power grabbing corporation. All of these stories appear to be unrelated but Cal McAffrey (Crowe) thinks otherwise, and is determined to break the biggest conspiracy story in history. As the story starts to unravel and the stakes grow in severity, McAffrey is forced to take a gut check on his determination to follow the facts where they lead regardless of potential legal consequences, threats to his life, and the possibility of incriminating friends.

State of Play asks some tough questions and probes some dark corners that draw on very similar lines to current events (whether you want to make those connections is up to you), but smartly refrains from becoming a political commentary and focuses on being a very entertaining thriller. It did however contain one fatal flaw that resulted in it not being my favorite movie of the year... the ending is unbelievably disappointing. Imagine going to a great fireworks show and then learning that they forgot to save any fireworks for the finale, and you have a pretty good idea how this movie closes. The fact that the ending is so unsatisfying negates all the good feelings it has built up in the first hour and forty minutes, and ultimately ruined my overall view of an otherwise brilliant film. Advice- Watch the first hour and forty minutes, and then turn it off and use your imagination to come up with the ending... I promise it will be better than what the movie itself had to offer.

My Rating- (B)

Coming Soon

The beginning of the year is always a slow time as far as quality movies go. That coupled with the fact that I just have not been watching that many movies lately contributes to the lack of activity on the blog. However, I believe I am starting to come out of my post-Oscar night hibernation and will be bringing more posts in the near future.

My next foray to the cineplex will be this Friday to see Duplicity, so be sure to check in on Saturday for that review. Sunshine Cleaning will be under wider release starting the 27th so be sure to be looking for that one then. Here is a preview of Duplicity in case you haven't seen one yet.



There are also several good movies coming out on DVD that I have yet to see so I am planning on trying to get a review posted on anything interesting I see from that angle. As for future releases two movies that I am really looking forward to seeing just released their trailers so I will post those to give you a taste of what is to come later in the year. Here are the trailers for Inglorious Basterds and Public Enemies.

WATCHMEN

Maybe it was because I have never read the graphic novel, or perhaps my expectations were too high going in, or maybe it was just a bad movie. Whatever the reason, Watchmen failed to interest or impress me. Given the depth and creative premise, this movie should have been able to deliver a solid punch, but instead it meandered and failed to engage.

Set in the mid 1980's during the peak of the cold war, Watchmen centers around the idea of the escalating potential for nuclear war with one major difference. The United States possesses a group of superhero protectors that have played a part throughout the nation's history known as Watchmen. These masked avengers are dedicated to the idea of justice and protection, but some of their member's motivations, personalities and tactics are anything but innocent.

Following the death of one of the more controversial Watchmen, the Comedian, and the gradual withdraw of the other superheroes from the mainstream because of public fear and outrage, events seem to be in motion toward something sinister. As the doomsday clock ticks toward nuclear annihilation, the only stopgap is the last remaining employed Watchman Dr. Manhattan. He is the result of nuclear mishap that left him with the ability to manipulate matter and produce his own infinite supply of energy. However, as public outrage grows over his perceived dangerous risk, he is left feeling out of touch and questioning why he cares about any of these people who obviously no longer care about him.

This film travels back and forth between being a comic book movie and an attempt to be a political satirist. In its effort it fails to adequately become either as most of the movie feels unguided, disinterested and outdated. It possesses some very unique and interesting scenes and effects but as a whole it simply hits on the wrong notes. Watchmen's biggest failing is its inability to successfully incorporate all of its components into a unified, efficient machine, and instead comes across as competing against itself in a confusing, inconsistent ability to shift between action and its long drawn out sequences. Coming in at almost two and half hours, I found it unbelievable that with all of its dead and wasted time it was not edited down.

The overwhelming bright spot in the film was the impeccable acting of Jackie Earl Haley as Rorschach. The scenes that were dominated by him achieved the look and feel that I longed for from the rest of the movie. A dark character who considers his responsibility as a Watchmen as a badge of honor, he is fiercely dedicated to the idea of justice while at the same time recognizing the crumbling infrastructure of the system he is trying to enforce. This disconnect forces him to sacrifice his own ideals in the name of his ultimate responsibility. The deeds he commits strip him of his humanity as he retreats behind his mask and openly admits that the person behind it died a long time ago. Along with his excellent performance Jeffery Dean Morgan also gives a very strong turn as The Comedian. These two performances also stick out due to the very wooden and emotionally shallow performances of everyone else involved.

Overall a very disappointingly average film that I am sure will still have a strong following from its target audience of adolescent males. The levels of violence and gruesome acts of killing are on par with 300 and Sin City, but its language and displays of sexuality are above and beyond. In other words if you are easily offended this is not the film for you.

My Rating (B-)



Coming Soon:
-This Friday (March 13) Sunshine Cleaning is under limited release. While it will probably be hard to find initially , it will probably be worth seeing if you can find it. Here is a preview.

Very Early Predictions

-I decided that a "what to watch for" list would not be complete without a very early prediction on what the Oscar nominees will be for next year. I can almost guarantee that these will not be the actual nominees, but like I said in the last posting this is mainly for fun (and potential bragging rights). It is my goal to get at least one or maybe two out of the possible five... I would be very happy with that. This posting will officially end my coverage of the Oscars until next year, and this blog will begin focusing on reviews of movies in theaters along with some occasional reviews on other random movies I happen to watch. And my '09 predictions are...

Best Picture:
Shutter Island
The Human Factor
Nine
The Lovely Bones
Tree of Life

Best Director:
Martin Scorsese for Shutter Island
Peter Jackson for The Lovely Bones
Micheal Mann for Public Enemies
Clint Eastwood for The Human Factor
Ang Lee for Taking Woodstock

Best Actor:
Leonardo DiCaprio for Shutter Island
Robert Downey Jr. for Sherlock Holmes
Daniel-Day Lewis for Nine
Morgan Freeman for The Human Factor
Viggo Mortensen for The Road

Best Actress:
Hilary Swank for Amelie
Meryl Streep for Julia and Julia
Helen Mirren for The Tempest
Saorise Ronan for The Lovely Bones
Nicole Kidman for Nine

Best Supporting Actor:
Mark Ruffalo for Shutter Island
Jude Law for Sherlock Holmes
Jaime Fox for The Soloist
Kodi Smit-McPhee for The Road
Christian Bale/Johnny Depp/Billy Crudup/Giovanni Ribisi for Public Enemies (I am not sure if Bale/Depp or both will be considered lead, but I will bet that one of these guys gets a nomination here...Is it cheating to list four?)

Best Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams for Julia and Julia
Penelope Cruz for Nine
Rachel Weisz for The Lovely Bones
Michelle Williams for Shutter Island
Rachel McAdams for Sherlock Holmes


Coming Soon:
I am going to see Watchmen on Friday so look for that review on either Friday or Saturday... here is a preview if you haven't see one already.

A Look Into 2009

-After Oscar night the following days can be somewhat of a letdown to movie geeks like myself. After spending the last several months watching almost exclusively high quality, high caliber movies, it can be somewhat depressing when you look around and realize that it is definitely February. January and February have historically been the months when production companies unleash all of their mindless fare onto the market so they can focus on any of their movies from the previous year that may have Oscar campaigns. It is also poor strategy to release in possible contenders for next year this early as history shows that they will probably be forgotten come next nomination time. So, what do movie aficionados do in the weeks following Oscar night? they scan the rest of the year and try to find some promising gems that will pop up next February. It is an imperfect science as some of the movies on this list will inevitably be pushed back to 2010, be canceled, suck or just be average. However, that still does not take away the fun from looking into the future and trying to determine what movies we will be talking about this time next year. So without further ado, here is my sneak peak of the must see movies of 2009...

March:
Watchmen- The first "must see" movie of the year. Adapted from the popular comic book series it tells the story of a alternate universe where superheroes are part of the everyday scene. Some people are saying it could be this years The Dark Knight... that may be wishful thinking, but it still should be entertaining at the very least. (Dir-Zack Snyder; Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffery Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson)

Duplicity- A corporate thriller with some big names. This may not be very "Oscary", but with the people involved it should still be very good. (Dir-Tony Gilroy; Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Tom Wilkinson)

Sunshine Cleaning- From the people who made Little Miss Sunshine, this quirky comedy about two sisters who start a crime scene cleanup business could be gold if done right. Its release date may hurt it... or it could be one of those early standouts. (Dir-Christine Jeffs; Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin)

April:
State of Play- Most action thrillers get really hyped up only to disappoint and get lost in the shuffle. This movie could be that, or it could be something special... and I am leaning toward the latter. (Dir-Kevin MacDonald; Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis)

The Soloist- It was supposed to have come out last year and got pushed back. This is the first movie this year that has Oscar potential written all over it. The story of an unlikely friendship and the power of music. (Dir-Joe Wright; Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Catherine Keener)

May:
X-Men:Wolverine- I wasn't going to put this on here but after watching Hugh Jackman the other night I couldn't help it. Is it going to be anywhere near award worthy? NO. Is it going to be fun? Hopefully. (Dir-Gavin Hood; Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Liev Schreiber, Dominic Monaghan)

Star Trek XI- I can definitely tell we are getting into the summer action blockbusters here. Out of all the star trek movies some are really good and some are really bad. I am curious about this one because of some of the talent involved especially since it is directed by the creator of Lost. (Dir-J.J. Abrams; Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Simon Pegg, Winona Ryder, Karl Urban, John Cho)

Angels and Demons- Tom Hanks and Ron Howard are back and while that usually is reason to look up, after the bombshell that was The Da Vinci Code I have my doubts. Angels and Demons was by far my favored book and I hope that they translate it to film more effectively. (Dir-Ron Howard; Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard)

Terminator: Salvation- Yeah yeah I know these last few have not been the typical movies I talk about, but hey it is summer and I like to be entertained too. (Dir-McG; Christian Bale, Anton Yelchin, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard, Helena Bonham Carter)

Up- Say hello to the next Pixar movie to win best animated feature. The hype around this movie already have people saying it is Pixar's best. It is beginning to feel like people say that about every one of their movies and somehow they are always right. (Dir-Pete Docter/Bob Peterson)

June:
The Taking of Pelham 123- A remake of a classic I have not seen. The story of a New York subway hold up and the poor guy at metro who answers the terrorist's phone call. (Dir-Tony Scott; Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turtorro, James Gandolfini)

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen- I will be the first to admit that I greatly enjoyed the first Transformers. Here is hoping this one is as much fun. (Dir-Micheal Bay; Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, John Turtorro, Mathew Marsden)

July:
Public Enemies- Here we go this is what I'm talking about. This is the first movie of the year circled on my calendar(If I had one). The story of notorious American gangsters John Dillenger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during the 1930s... and look at all the talent involved. I smell Oscar nominations. (Dir- Micheal Mann; Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Billy Crudup, Channing Tatum, Leelee Sobieski, Marion Cotilliard, Giovanii Ribisi)

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince- Sorry this is my guilty pleasure. (Dir-David Yates; Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Micheal Gambon, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane)

Funny People- I am a huge fan of the Judd Apatow comedy gang. Said to be his most dramatic comedy, heres hoping it finally lands him a deserving Oscar in the Original Screenplay department. (Dir-Judd Apatow; Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill)

August:
G.I. Joe- I can't wait. My favorite tv show and toys growing up. (Dir-Stephen Sommers; Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rachel Nichols)

Julia and Julia- Will someone tell Meryl Streep that it is time to let some other actresses get some nominations and to stop hogging all of them. Here she reteams with Amy Adams to tell the story about a woman who tried to cook her way through Julia Child's classic cookbook. I wouldn't be suprised to see Streep and Adams with nominations again next year. (Dir-Nora Ephron; Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci)

Inglourious Basterds- Brad Pitt leads a group of 8 soldiers during WWII with one mission. Sneak behind enemy lines and kill as many Nazis in as grotesque a manner as possible. With Quentin Tarantino directing I don't think the grotesque thing will be a problem. (Dir-Quentin Tarantino; Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, Mike Myers, Samuel L. Jackson)

Taking Woodstock- A man inadvertantly sets in motion the world famous concert of 1969 while working at his parent's motel. (Dir-Ang Lee; Liev Schreiber, Emile Hirsch, Paul Dano, Eugene Levy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan)

September:
The Informant- A corporate thriller that has some serious names in it. About an American company accused of price fixing and being investigated by the government.... hmmm sound familiar? (Dir-Steven Soderbergh; Matt Damon)

The Surrogates- Set in the future where humans no longer interact with one another except through surrogate robots. Sounds interesting. (Dir-Jonathan Mostow; Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Ving Rhames)

October:
Shutter Island- The official opening of Oscar season starts off with a bang. The last two times Scorsese and DiCaprio have worked together the film was nominated for best picture (and last time it won). I don't see any reason this action drama would be any different. About a group of federal marshals who get trapped on an island for the criminally insane while investigating a murder. (Dir-Martin Scorsese; Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Jackie Earle Haley, Patricia Clarkson)

Where the Wild Things Are- A beloved children's book about a boy who creates his own fantasy world where he is king of all the creatures and monsters. (Dir-Spike Jonze; Forest Whitaker, Paul Dano, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, Lauren Ambrose)

Amelia- A biopic about Amelia Earhart, the lengendary American female pilot. Played by Hilary Swank... I smell Oscar. (Dir-Mira Nair; Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Virginia Madsen)

November:
A Christmas Carol- How many times has this movie been made? Robert Zemeckis is one of the best at taking the ordinary and creating a whole new visual experience. Hope he succeeds. (Dir-Robert Zemeckis; Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn)

Nine- Adapted from the Broadway play and a cast and crew that read like a who's who list of Oscar winners. About a film director's dramatic relationships while trying to harmonize his professional and personal lives... yeah good luck with that. (Dir- Rob Marshall; Daniel Day Lewis, Marrion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren, Stacy Ferguson)

Brooklyn's Finest- The token police drama of the year. This plot has not been done well recently (With the exception of The Departed), but the talent in this movie might be able to pull it off. (Dir-Antoine Fuqua; Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Ellen Barkin)

December:
The Lovely Bones- Another award winning book adaptation about a girl who is murdered and then views her family and killer from heaven. (Dir-Peter Jackson; Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci)

Avatar- From the creator of Terminator and Aliens, another intergalactic battle between humans and another planet. Promises to be entertaining, visually stunning and possibly Oscar material. (Dir- James Cameron; Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez)

Sherlock Holmes- The classic story brought to life by a very nice set of talent. (Dir-Guy Ritchie; Robert Downey Jr. Rachel McAdams, Jude Law)

The Human Factor- A biopic about the President of South Africa Nelson Mandella. Hmm lets see Clint Eastwood + Morgan Freeman+ powerful biopic= Lots of Oscar nominations. (Dir-Clint Eastwood; Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon)

Men Who Stare at Goats- To be perfectly honest I couldn't help putting a movie with a title like that on the list. Set during the Iraqi war a tv journalist finds a man who claims to have been part of the U.S. Army First Earth Battalion that employed paranormal powers during their missions... Why didn't we use these guys to find Bin Laden? (Dir-Grant Heslov; George Clooney, Ewen McGregor, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Robert Patrick, Stephen Lang, Rebecca Mader)

Currently Homeless (AKA- Movies without current release dates):

Hurrican Season- In the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina a high school basketball coach assembles a makeshift team that competes for a state title. (Dir-Tim Story; Forest Whitaker, Taraji Henson)

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus- About a traveling show where the audience can dictate the direction of the performance. This was the movie Heath Ledger was working on at the time of his death and due to the personality problems of his character the movie was continued with different actors playing the different personalities of Ledger's original character. (Dir- Terry Gilliam; Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Christopher Plummer)

The Road- Slated to have come out last year it got pushed back. Set in the post apocalyptic future, a man and his son try to survive in the lawless wasteland. It is based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy the writer of No Country for Old Men. (Dir-John Hillcoat; Viggo Mortenson, Kodi Smit-Mcphee, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce)

The Tempest- Shakespearean plays are always big hits when done right, and this one has the cast to pull it off. (Dir-Julie Taymor; Djimon Hounsou, Alan Cumming, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, David Straitharn, Chris Cooper)

Tree of Life- Nobody really seems to know much about this movie. From what I can gather it is about a boy who must come to grips with differing views of the world as he matures. Aside from what it is about this movie is a must see simply based on the people involved. (Dir-Terrence Malick; Brad Pitt, Sean Penn)

The Fighter- The Director of the Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky returns with another movie about a boxer and his trainer brother and their ascent to the top. (Dir-Darren Aronofsky; Mark Wahlberg)

Green Zone- From the director of United 93 comes the story of CIA agents trying to track down weapons of mass destruction. (Dir-Paul Greengrass; Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Brendan Gleeson, Amy Ryan, Jason Isaacs)

Leaves of Grass- Norton plays the role of two brothers, one a college professor and the other a stay at home pot grower who reconnect when the professor is drawn back home. (Dir-Tim Blake Nelson; Edward Norton, Keri Russell, Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss)


Cutting It Close (AKA- movies more likely to wait until 2010, but we can hope)

Lincoln- Spielberg directing Liam Neeson and Sally Field as Abraham and Mary Lincoln... OSCAR. (Dir-Steven Spielberg; Liam Neeson, Sally Field)

Nottingham- Robin Hood is a beloved story that has never been done quite right on the big screen. Russell Crowe probably would not be in my top 10 actors I would think of to play Robin Hood but it still sounds very interesting. (Dir-Ridley Scott; Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Vanessa Redgrave, William Hurt)

Killing Pablo- The story of Colombian gangster and drug lord Pablo Escobar. (Dir-Joe Carnahan; Christian Bale)

Toussaint- The story of the slave rebellions on the island of Haiti. (Dir-Danny Glover)

Quick Thoughts on the Oscars

- The opening number performed by Hugh Jackman was priceless... After last night I gained a whole new respect Jackman, he is the man. Please make this the new norm instead of the stupid comedian hosts who suck every year.

- The tributes to the actors given by previous winners was touching and incredibly moving. At first I was disappointed that they were breaking a strong tradition of the Best Actor from the previous year handing out the Best Actress ect. but after watching last night I can't imagine doing it any other way. I am sure that having those things said about them by respected colleagues (especially the younger nominees) was a moment of a lifetime, but I do wish they still would have shown a clip following their endorsements. I especially wish they had used this same format for the directors award. I would have loved and been extremely interested to hear what past winners would have said about their work.

- The order that they presented the awards in a storyline of how a film is made was extremely well thought out as it was both educational, and a fitting tribute to the artists who do the behind the scenes work of movies and are largely forgotten by the viewing public.

- The short montage of each genre was also a nice little entertaining touch that I greatly enjoyed. The comedy one with the short film starring Rogen and Franco reprising their roles from Pineapple Express was hilarious and one of my favorite moments from the whole night.

-Sooo glad Kate Winslet finally won an Oscar... Sooo upset that it was for the wrong movie.

-A.R Rahman just opened up every door in the world for his future career. Two wins and three nominations in one night is about as good as it gets. He wrote the score for Slumdog Millionaire as well as the music for both O Saya and Jai Ho and he performed both. Now that is some musical talent.
-Side Note: That makes it 0 wins in 9 nominations for Thomas Newman in the Best Score category... Poor guy.

-Whoever was in charge of the moving and angled tv camera during the tribute clip for all those who passed away during 2008 needs to be fired immediately. That is one part of the show that doesn't need someone trying to be artistic and produce extra flare... just show the tribute and not make people watching on tv strain to figure out who the person is.

-While I am on the negative will somebody please put a permanent ban on Bill Maher... I never want to see that egotistic idiot handing out an award again.

-Will Smith did a great job handing out his awards, and would be a great choice for host next year... hint hint.

-The best joke of the night (Paraphrase): Jackman: Kate Winslet, a British actress playing a German...Nominated. Robert Downey Jr., an American actor playing an Australian actor playing an African American...Nominated. Me, an Australian actor playing an Australian in a movie called Australia...Hosting.

-Second best joke of the night: Jackman: Meryl Streep a record 15 nominations... That can only mean one thing... Steroids.

-Heath Ledger's family accepting his Oscar must have been extremely hard and emotional. One of my favorite performances of the decade. It is extremely sad to think about such a promising career that was cut way too short.

-Congratulations to Slumdog Millionaire... A deserving best picture.

The Results

-Well I finished the night 17 for 24. Not a bad total at all considering I was 7 for 8 in the major categories, so I am overall pretty pleased. Here is how it went down.

The categories I got right:

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire (A worthy winner)
Best Director: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actress: Kate Winslet for The Reader (Yay for Kate Winslet finally winning an Oscar... Boo for the wrong movie)
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (A performance for the history books)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black for Milk
Best Original Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Film: WALL-E (This one wasn't even close)
Best Documentary: Man on Wire
Best Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Costume Design: The Duchess
Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Original Score: Slumdog Millionaire
Original Song: Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire
Live Action Short: Spielzeugland(Toyland) (Ok, I will be honest this one was pretty much a lucky guess)

The ones I missed:

Best Actor: Sean Penn for Milk
My prediction- Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon
- I took a gamble on this one, and it didn't pay off. I said originally that any of Penn, Rourke or Langella could win and I picked the wrong horse. While disappointed, I can not say that Penn didn't deserve it. I just thought Langella and Rourke deserved it more.

Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
My prediction- Iron Man
- I stand by my pick here. I thought the visual effects of Iron Man were by far the best this year and was disappointed that it lost.

Sound Editing: The Dark Knight
My prediction- WALL-E
- This and sound mixing were the two categories I had the hardest time picking and I got both of them wrong. I knew this one was between WALL-E and The Dark Knight and once again I went with the wrong pick.

Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
My prediction- The Dark Knight
- I said in my commentary that the opening scene of Slumdog was an example of sound mixing at its finest, but when it came to crunch time I went with my gut thinking the Academy would want to reward The Dark Knight considering Slumdog was going to win plenty of other awards... guess I was wrong.

Foreign Language Film: Departures (From Japan)
My prediction- Waltz with Bashir (From Israel)
-The only real upset of the night. While I did not see any of these films, the preview for Waltz with Bashir was mindblowing and a couple people I know who saw it said it was awesome. I have not heard of one person who predicted Departures, so I am not that worried about this one.

Animated Short: La Maison en Petits Cubes
My prediction- This Way Up
-To be perfectly honest I had no idea going in, and I still don't really care.

Documentary Short: Smile Pinki
My prediction- The Conscience of Nhem En
-See above comment.

The final total:
Slumdog Millionaire- 8 wins (I predicted 7- Missed Sound Mixing)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- 3 wins (I predicted 2- Missed Visual Effects)
The Dark Knight- 2 wins (I predicted 2 but only one correctly- It won for Sound Editing/I predicted Sound Mixing)
Milk- 2 wins (I predicted 1- Missed Best Actor)
WALL-E- 1 win (I predicted 2- It lost Sound Editing)
The Reader- 1 win (I predicted 1)
The Duchess- 1 win (I predicted 1)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona- 1 win (I predicted 1)
Iron Man- 0 wins (I predicted 1- It lost Visual Effects)
Frost/Nixon- 0 wins (I predicted 1- It lost Best Actor)

- All and all, a pretty good night. I am a little embarrassed I missed all three of the special effects categories, but to my credit I think those three (especially sound mixing and sound editing) were probably some of the closest categories. 2008 was a great year for film, and heres hoping that 2009 is just as promising. Coming later this week I am going to preview some of the big movies to be watching for the rest of the year, so don't miss that. Have a good night.

Final Predictions

The culmination of the entire year awards the best of the best tonight. Here are the movies that I would have voted for along with my prediction for what will actually win. We will start with the minor awards and work our way up.

Best Animated Short:
My vote- Presto (Only one I saw- it was on before WALL-E)
My prediction- This Way Up (Purely based on reading a synopsis of all the nominees)

Best Documentary Short:
My vote- No Idea
My prediction- The Conscience of Nhem En (Also based on synopsis)

Best Live Action Short:
My vote- Yep you guessed it, I have no idea
My prediction- Spielzeugland(Toyland) (Synopsis)

Best Makeup:
My vote- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
My prediction- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Costume Design:
My vote- The Duchess
My prediction- The Duchess

Best Art Direction:
My vote- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
My prediction- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Score:
My vote- Slumdog Millionaire (I would have voted for The Dark Knight if it was nominated)
My prediction- Slumdog Millionaire

Best Song:
My vote- Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire) (I would have voted for The Wrestler)
My prediction- Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Sound Editing:
My vote- WALL-E
My prediction- WALL-E

Best Sound Mixing:
My vote- WALL-E
My prediction- The Dark Knight

Best Visual Effects:
My vote- Iron Man
My prediction- Iron Man

Best Editing:
My vote- The Dark Knight
My prediction- Slumdog Millionaire

Best Cinematography:
My vote- Slumdog Millionaire
My prediction- Slumdog Millionaire

Best Animated:
My vote- WALL-E
My prediction- WALL-E

Best Foreign Language Film:
My vote- I have only seen previews for these
My prediction- Waltz with Bashir

Best Documentary:
My vote- I have only read the synopses for these
My prediction- Man on Wire

Best Original Screenplay:
My vote- Stanton/Reardon/Docter for WALL-E ( I would have voted for Woody Allen for Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
My prediction- Dustin Lance Black for Milk

Best Adapted Screenplay:
My vote- Peter Morgan for Frost/Nixon
My prediction- Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Supporting Actress:
My vote- Amy Adams (Doubt)
My prediction- Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)

Best Supporting Actor:
My vote- Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
My prediction- Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)

Best Actress:
My vote- Meryl Streep (Doubt) (I would have voted for Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road)
My prediction- Kate Winslet (The Reader)

Best Actor:
My vote- Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)
My prediction- Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) (This is my upset pick for the night as most people think it is between Rourke and Penn)

Best Director:
My vote- Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
My prediction- Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Picture:
My vote- Slumdog Millionaire
My prediction- Slumdog Millionaire

Totals:
Slumdog Millionaire- 7 wins
The Dark Knight- 2 wins
WALL-E- 2 wins
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- 2 wins
Milk- 1 win
The Reader- 1 win
Iron Man- 1 win
Vicky Cristina Barcelona- 1 win
The Duchess- 1 win
Frost/Nixon- 1 win
Man on Wire- 1 win
Waltz with Bashir- 1 win

Music Awards

Score:
- This is always a strange category for me because I am usually somewhat oblivious to it unless it is strikingly different or really bad. There are also supposedly a very strict set of rules for scores that can qualify because a couple potential candidates always seem to get disqualified for some reason or another. Due to the lack of my musical background this is probably the category that I have the least understanding of and appreciation for, and therefore I am going to abstain from commenting. And the nominees are...

Alexandre Desplat (2nd Nomination) for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Danny Elfman (4th Nomination) for Milk

James Newton Howard(5th Nomination) for Defiance

Thomas Newman(9th Nomination) for WALL-E

A.R. Rahman(1st Nomination) for Slumdog Millionaire

Who I would have nominated:
Alexandre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
James Newton Howard (The Dark Knight)
Anton Monsted (Australia)
Thomas Newman (WALL-E)
A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Song:
- This category awards original songs written specifically for the films they are in. This category usually has 5 nominees and I have no idea why there are only 3 this year, but I do know it is borderline criminal that Springstein's song The Wrestler and Eastwood's song Gran Torino are not included, while Slumdog Millionaire got 2 nominations. And the nominees are...

Down To Earth from WALL-E- To be honest I had no idea what this song sounded like or where it was in the film prior to its nomination and I had to go listen to it after the nominees were announced to try to remember it. I'm sure it is a good song, but I am no musician and it frankly doesn't appeal that much to me.
Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire- This was my favorite song from the several notable songs from Slumdog Millionaire. It plays a couple times during the movie, most notably at the end accompanied by the choreographed dance sequence while the credits roll. A very cool, new age Indian upbeat song.
O Saya from Slumdog Millionaire- Couldn't exactly remember this one either, but when I went back to listen to it I remembered it was the song played during the opening scene of the movie which was one of my favorite from the whole film and this song really added to it. Another upbeat song with very contemporary Indian music roots.

Who I would have nominated:
Gran Torino from Gran Torino
Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire
The Wrestler from The Wrestler


Note:
I am omitting the 6 remaining categories due to the fact that I have not seen any of the three short film category nominees(Does anybody actually ever see those?), and I have only seen previews and read synopses of the documentaries and foreign films. The animated category is a run away for WALL-E and i feel I have already discussed that film in enough detail through its other nominations. That leaves Bolt and Kung Fu Panda, and I have not seen Bolt and Kung Fu Panda is fun but nothing special.

Artistic Awards

Art Direction:
- Basically the design and creation of the set. This is a vital step in both achieving realism and in communicating the intended mood and aesthetic. A great art direction team is able to create the portal into the world of the film. And the nominees are...

Changeling- A great re-creation of 1920's Los Angeles. The buildings, cars and overall look and feel of a growing city on the brink of becoming one of the largest and most powerful cities in the U.S.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Once again the unbelievable aesthetic appeal of looking at this movie carries it a long way. Able to progress through about 80 years of national development, it is incredibly interesting to watch the growth of the nation in contrast to the de-growth of the title character.
The Dark Knight- Gotham city has never looked so good, and when I say that I mean so dark, menacing and corrupt. The city reeks of Gothic style architecture that creates all the necessary darkness and shadows necessary for the staging ground of a wide scale criminal syndicate and the equally dark, caped crusader who defends it.
The Duchess- The token period/costume drama that always finds it way onto this list. Complete with rolling hills, serene landscapes and palatial British estates, The Duchess achieves a great balance between the tranquility of nature and the somber, formal indoor setting. A very pretty film to look at in terms of balance and symmetry.
Revolutionary Road- Captures the perceived essence of middle America suburbia with its perfect little houses complete with green yards and a white picket fence, and people living inside who can't stand each other. Package that with the beginnings of the modernized cubicle style mega-offices and this set is the perfect time machine into the 1950s.

Who I would have nominated:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road
Synecdoche, New York


Costume Design:
- Pretty self explanatory. The best usage of costumes and attire to create realism by fitting into the time period or to create satire or comedy by making a statement. Typically the category where the costume dramas and period pieces get their due. And the nominees are...

Australia- A nice mixture of aboriginal culture alongside the equivalent of the American cowboy with a distinct Australian flare in the desolate Outback. The prevailing style of the cityscape in downtown Sydney during WWII is complete with safari hats and women in everyday dresses. The high society ball also offers a great chances to showcase the Australian aristocratic take on dressing up in the 1940s.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- As a man travels the world, he is always guaranteed to come across some truly unique people and styles. Whether it be the tent revival scene or a lonely fishing trawler in the Atlantic Ocean, the costumes in this movie always appear spot on.
The Duchess- This category would not be complete without a British royalty film with girdles and dresses made out of about 10lbs of fabric. Movies like this bring back a whole different meaning to the idea of girls taking too long to get dressed. The unbelievable hair styles and massive undertaking of tailoring all the dresses and other formal attire always make these types of movies favorites to win this category.
Milk- Welcome to the 1960's gay neighborhood headquarters of San Francisco. A very unique style of dress indeed, topped by big glasses, tight fitting jeans and shirts and extremely ugly suits.
Revolutionary Road- The 1950's America complete package with apron clad housewives and top hat wearing/briefcase wielding salesmen. The scene of DiCaprio en route to work lost in a sea of identical suit wearing counterparts is awesome.

Who I would have nominated:
Australia
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Makeup:
-The most typical and usually recognized usage is too create the illusion of aging so that the same actor can play their character across a wide age spectrum. However, recently the craze of using makeup prosthetics to create creatures instead of using all CGI effects or to add some extra pounds to a character has been a popular choice. And the nominees are...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- The mere thought of making Brad Pitt look like a wrinkly old man was probably appalling to his legion of female fans, but the effect on him as well as the other characters is a striking accomplishment both in adding age and creating the illusion of youth.
The Dark Knight- The makeup job on Heath Legder as the joker is the foundational aspect to the creation of one of history's greatest villains. Lost in the shuffle however was the great work on transforming Harvey Dent into two-face(although that one did have some additional help from the visual effects department).
Hellboy II: The Golden Army- Following the path of previous nominees such as Click and Norbit (although both of those were of the weight addition variety), this is the makeup prostetic nominee for the year. The creation of some great looking creatures and monsters always has a much greater effect when they don't look like cheesy computer animations, so points for that. It is a surprise that this got nominated however, due to the fact that the first one didn't.

Who I would have nominated:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Reader
Synecdoche, New York

More Tech Awards

Cinematography:
The art of how the camera is used to capture the image the viewer will ultimately see. A complicated field that involves types of camera, style of filming and point of view. These are the people who are responsible for capturing the scene from the best possible viewpoint and frame, that ultimately can dictate the emotion, mood and authenticity of the scene. And the nominees are...

Changeling- Great usage of the camera to create a striking difference in perception and tone between the scenes in LA, the ranch and the psychiatric ward. Each location has a unique and distinguishable feel thanks to the usage of still shots in the calm neighborhood and the erratic, darkly lit scenes at the ranch.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- The one thing that is most notable in this film is its striking beauty as it captures the adventures and travels of the title character. From a fishing boat in the Atlantic to the the streets of New York City, the idealistic nature and brilliant usage of color captures the sense of the fantasy world that this character inhabits.
The Dark Knight- It is always difficult to create a dark, menacing atmosphere with the usage of low light, and yet make sure that the action and setting are still visible. The way that the entire usage of the metaphor of dark/light and good/evil and the hazy mixture of them together are used throughout this movie is cinematography at its finest.
The Reader- While this was not my favorite movie, I do acknowledge how meticulous and precise its cinematography is. The contrast between the shabby, bleached out look of the apartment and the brilliant color of the lake shots in the first half of the film create a dire sense of foreboding and foreshadowing for the later trial scenes.
Slumdog Millionaire- Another movie that gets points for sheer beauty. This movie takes a camera to film a motion picture and at the same time is able to create something that would be worthy of a tourist video about the history and sights of India. The pullback shot of still picture by still picture that showcases the vastness and uniformity of the slums during the first chase scene, along with its parallel shot as the two brothers look down from a skyscraper on the unrecognizable landscape that used to be there home is poetry in motion.

Who I would have nominated:
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Revolutionary Road

Editing:
- These are the people whose job it is to make sure that the viewing public doesn't have to sit through the five hour movie that most directors probably think their masterpiece deserves. They are responsible for taking the best footage, that most directly accomplishes its intended purpose, and cutting and weaving it into an enjoyable experience that flows, marks the passage of time, creates suspense and drama and most importantly actually makes sense. And the nominees are...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Ok, so this movie didn't get the memo on keeping it short, but epic adventures usually are given some leniency on that point. The editing in this movie showcases itself with the an impeccable sense of flow and, trailing right along with its main premise, the passage of time. The brilliance of starting the movie in a hospital room next to an old woman on her death bed, and springboarding from there thru the various stages and meaningful moments in time is just as adventurous and exciting as the action happening on screen.
The Dark Knight- In movies that utilize a vast set of characters who largely are not on screen at the same time, the essential job given to the editor is to make sure that those characters are not lost in the shuffle. They also have to craft the film in such a way as to bring important details, events and other minor characters to the viewers memory when they become important. Due to the quick pace and non-stop action in this film that can become a very difficult job, but this movie manages to pull it off without a second thought.
Frost/Nixon- The usage of archival footage, the incorporation of the post-facto interviewers dispersed throughout that gradually peel back this story layer by layer, along with the perfectly created stage for the actors to shine during the actual interviews are all picture perfect.
Milk- Another film that incorporates the usage of archival footage in a very meaningful and poignant manner. This film also has a great sense of time and flow as it meanders during the lazy periods and races at breathneck pace when the action heats up.
Slumdog Millionaire- This movie also uses an effective springboard in the form of a gameshow to enter the story, and it is very effective. Shot for shot, this movie gives you the most bang for your buck of any movie this year. There is a sport analogy that works well here that describes a player who always gives his all by "never taking a play off." Well this movie never takes one screen shot off, and that is a testament to great editing.

Who I would have nominated:
- Once again I have no complaints, these were my top 5 going into the nominations.

Tech Awards

Disclaimer: While I feel that I am adept and capable at distinguishing and discussing these elements as they appear in the final product on screen, I admit that I have very limited knowledge about the countless hours of work, preparation and strategy that goes into the planning and actual creation of the effects that are seen as the end result in the film. Because of this, the discussion of these categories will probably be somewhat brief and to the point, reflecting my limited overall knowledge. (This also applies to the rest of the tech categories as well as the artistic and music awards)

Visual Effects:
- The category where action films have a chance at Oscar glory. A movie with great special effects can take unlikely situations or actions and make them look believable, fun and exciting. Bad special effects can take a decent action movie and turn it into something that looks and feels so cheesy it is completely unenjoyable. And the nominees are...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- The submarine attack scene on the fishing boat was one of the coolest looking action scenes of the year. Also a high degree of special effects (and makeup) had to be used to keep Brad Pitt looking the appropriate age.
The Dark Knight- Possibly one of the best "action" movies of all time, it proved that a comic book movie could become so much more. The special effects needed in this movie to create a believable environment and enhance the overall experience were numerous including; the explosions, the grotesque transformation of Harvey Dent into two-face and who could forget the batmobile/batcycle chase scene. Just one of the countless enjoyable aspects of this great film.
Iron Man- The best looking action movie of the year in my opinion. From the computer readout point of view from inside the suit, to the process of putting on and taking off the suit, this movie captivated and entertained me from beginning to end.

Who I would have nominated:
No complaints here these were the clear nominees.

Sound Editing vs. Sound Mixing:
-For the longest time I had absolutely no idea what the technical difference in these two categories was, and I assume most people have the same problem. The best explanation I have heard and the one I operate on is this. Sound Editing= the actual created and/or recorded sound effects that you hear. Sound Mixing= The work done in the studio to combine all the elements of dialogue, score and sound effects into the motion picture to create the best flow and viewing experience. So, if you loved the motor sounds during WALL-E or the machine sounds while Iron Man was having his suit put on, those are example of Sound Editing. If you thought that the incorporation of the score, dialogue and street sounds during the opening scene of Slumdog Millionaire created the perfect ambiance that was good Sound Mixing. Now I am sure this is an oversimplification but I hope that helps you as much as it does me. And the nominees are...


Sound Editing:
The Dark Knight- The massive explosions, the haunting laugh that echos from the shadows, and the sound effects from the coolest car ever built all contribute to this nomination.
Iron Man- Do yourself a favor and watch the scene where Iron Man is having his suit put on by a small army of robots and listen to all the whizzing, beeping and buzzing... it sounds pretty cool.
Slumdog Millionaire- The sound effect that made everyone in the theatre give a resounding "EEWWWWW!" as the kid did what was necessary to get his autograph. However apart from that and all the other little effects that are present in most movies I really felt this film's strongpoints were in Score and Sound Mixing and not really in Sound Editing.
WALL-E- There are so many created sound effects for every move that every one of the robots make in this movie that I can't imagine the hours and personnel it required just for that. All I know it all sounds awesome and each sound seems to perfectly characterize and enhance the the persona of each robot. Who didn't love the little cleaner robots annoyed beeps everytime he found dirt on his immaculate floor?
Wanted- The gunshots sound cool and there are lots of other little effects especially during the numerous slow motion shots that also are pretty cool and funny, but this one really feels like a reach.

Who I would have nominated:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Defiance
Iron Man
WALL-E

Sound Mixing:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- A beautiful score and its incorporation into the film is a vital part to any epic movie, as it creates a continuous journey along with the character. Combine that with the street sounds heard throughout and the sound effects of the "naval battle" and you have a deserving nominee.
The Dark Knight- The dark ominous music incorporated with the dialogue that ranges widely in tone for both batman and the joker, along with the booming sound effects that knock you out of your seat. A clear cut nominee in my book.
Slumdog Millionaire- As described above the opening scene in this movie with the continuous playing of the nominated song "O Saya" along with the sparce dialogue and the eclectic mix of street sounds is Oscar worthy in and of itself.
WALL-E- Animated films lend themselves to these two categories for the simple reason that all the sounds effects have to be created and then blended into the film to fit their actions. Ever played that party game where you have to supply the sounds effects to someone who is miming? Not as easy as it looks when a professional person does it is it? The captivating score along with the continuously whizzing motor sounds and other effects perfectly integrated into a movie with very little dialogue is necessary for this movie to even be watchable.
Wanted- I have to admit I am at a loss for this one. I get the Sound Editing nomination for the gun sounds and other little effects throughout, but I have no idea how anything else in this movie was nominee worthy.

Who I would have nominated:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Screenplays

Adapted Screenplay:
-The task: take a beloved book or play and make a movie out of it that won't get stoned for not being as good as the book. The writers who undertake this assignment are gluttons for punishment, as this is probably one of the most difficult jobs in the business. Working with something that is already published they have to incorporate what will work on film while putting their own individual touches to it all while finding a way to be both original, but still respectful to the book. Most of the time it is done poorly or just simply doesn't live up to the book, but sometimes lightning strikes and the screenwriter is able to transform an acclaimed book into an award worthy movie that provides a new perspective and is able to transcend the book. And the nominees are...

Simon Beaufoy(2nd Nomination) for Slumdog Millionaire- Adapted from the Indian novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup, Beaufoy does a brilliant job of creating a story that is able to simultaneously focus on the personal aspect of the three title characters while also viewing India as a whole. The parallel storylines of maturation, love, pride and modernization on both a personal and national scale is storytelling at its finest. The motif of using a modern game show as the platform to delve into history, connecting the old with the new, is extremely interesting and well thought out. This is a beautiful story about the nation of India but focuses on such universal concepts that it is instantly relatable to anyone around the globe. (Chances of Winning=Excellent)
David Hare(2nd Nomination) for The Reader- Adapted from a German novel of the same name by Bernhard Schlink, The Reader uses a taboo relationship to segue into an even more morally ambiguous situation involving German responsibility and guilt during WWII. As the outside world point their fingers at all the "evil" people in Germany who committed unspeakable atrocities, The Reader examines to what degree that guilt should be applied across the board. Hare takes the novel and creates a screenplay that extensively develops the relationship between the ex-Nazi SS officer and her much younger lover. Following her quick disappearance the two are later reunited as the boy, now a law student, is taken to observe her war crimes trial. As she is on trial for her responsibility in the deaths of countless Jews, he must wrestle with his own responsibility in the knowledge that he may hold a piece of information that could lighten her sentence or even prove her innocence to some extent. While this is an interesting topic, I felt that either due to the poor decisions of Hare or the director Daldry, the movie does a bad job at entering its own discussion, which made me think that it did not live up to its responsibility. (Chances of Winning=Average)
Peter Morgan(1st Nomination) for Frost/Nixon- The screen adaptation of his original play, Morgan ventures to tell the story of the behind the scenes actions that resulted in the famous Frost/Nixon interviews. While part of the film focuses on the interviews themselves and provides the platform for the actors to shine, the brilliance here is in the extensive back story and set up. From Frost's desire and purpose for wanting the interview, to the money involved, the countless hours of research, preparation and strategy, and the struggle to find a television sponsor, I guarantee you will never look at an interview the same way again. (Chances of Winning=Slim)
Eric Roth(4th Nomination/1 Previous Win)/Robin Swiccord(1st Nomination) for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- The basic idea for this movie is adapted from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, but the story itself is mostly original (although it does seem to borrow some plotlines from Forrest Gump, also written by Roth and what he won his Oscar for). This story is the classic romantic epic that Hollywood has had an infatuation with since its inception. Integrating the idea of a person who defies the natural laws of physics by aging in reverse as he progresses forward thru life trying to find adventure and romance, and the constant pull that always brings him back home to find that some things change with time, but many things remain the same. It is a gripping storyline that is exciting and thought provoking, showcasing just how much of an effect the passage of time and our personal view of it has on our lives. (Chance of Winning=Good)
John Patrick Shanley(2nd Nomination/1 Previous Win) for Doubt- Another screen adaptation from an original play, which was also written by Shanley. In the wake of a fundamental conflict of ideologies between the priest and head nun at a Catholic church/school in the Bronx, the battle spills over into an assault on character. While the premise centers around an alleged inappropriate relationship between the priest and one of the school's students, this storyline is in reality a pawn in the greater power struggle. In the absence of facts, personal feelings, assumptions and convictions take precedence and threaten to create divide in the church along with the possibility of considerable collateral damage. The question is ultimately how long and at what cost are you willing to push aside your own doubt, in the effort to obtain power, victory and vindication. (Chances of Winning=Slim)

Who I would have nominated:
Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road)
Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon)
Eric Roth/Robin Swiccord (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
John Patrick Shanley (Doubt)


Original Screenplay:
-Usually the category that awards writers who are able to create something visionary or are adept at creating entertaining, witty or deep dialogue. This category also recognizes screenwriters who are able to bring life stories to film that are informative, inspiring or entertaining where a book did not already exist. These screenwriters must possess all the characteristics of a great author, along with the realization that what they are writing also has to work on film and be visually appealing. A thankless job where the writer is seldom remembered when the movie is actually viewed by the public, but without these talented people the great directors and actors wouldn't have anything to work with. And the nominees are...

Dustin Black(1st Nomination) for Milk- Black passionately brings to life the story, political passion and ultimate demise of the first elected gay official Harvey Milk. This biopic follows the realization of Milk on his 40th birthday that he has yet to do anything meaningful with his life, through his resilient political career, culminating in his election and subsequent assassination. It is an interesting and moving story, but as with most politically tinged movies falls into the trap of feeling contrived and agendad. I appreciated the obvious passion behind the story, but ultimately was not won over or impressed. (Chances of Winning=Excellent)
Courtney Hunt(1st Nomination) for Frozen River- A story that centers around the concept of taking desperate measures during difficult times. These are dire circumstances in an unforgiving environment, as a mother tries to provide for herself and two children following their desertion by her husband (which doesn't seem to come as much of a surprise to her). The story is set in upstate New York, but for the extreme sense of loneliness, seclusion and isolation that each of these characters project it wouldn't feel out of place for them to be in Antarctica. When the mother forms an unlikely alliance with a Indian woman from the nearby reservation to aid in transporting illegal aliens across the border, it is never a question of if they will get caught, but rather how long before they will be caught and how serious the consequences will be. (Chances of Winning=Slim)
Mike Leigh(4th Nomination) for Happy-Go-Lucky- I have not seen this movie so I abstain from commenting on it.
Martin McDonagh(1st Nomination) for In Bruges- The life of a hit man is a rough one. Most movies about the mob or hit men follow the lead up and actual job, but what happens after the job is done? This story tries to take a shot at it. Following a botched job in London, two hit men are sent to lay low in the medieval tourist town of Bruges, Belgium. While one of them enjoys the sightseeing and relaxing atmosphere, the other is doing his best to find anything exciting. This is a profanity laced, quirky action comedy that investigates the bond of friendship and overarching moral code of criminals, while placing them in the even more ironically boring town of Bruges. Make no mistake this is probably the most action this town has seen since the Crusades. (Chances of Winning=Average)
Andrew Stanton(3rd Nomination)/Jim Reardon(1st Nomination)/Pete Docter(2nd Nomination) for WALL-E- What will the future look like if we continue to become increasingly reliant on technology. In this incredibly intelligent and visionary animated film, Stanton and his other Pixar colleagues attempt to offer their perspective. The basic question that this story poses is at what cost and sacrifice is our society advancing. As humankind becomes increasingly lazy, dissociated from each other and dependent upon technology and machines, are we in fact becoming less human? Are we willing to trade our feelings about meaningful relationships, hard work and purpose all in the name of making our lives easier and more convenient? As we embark on the intergalactic journey with a curious robot to a space cruise ship where the robots exhibit more human characteristics than the humans, the idea of a life lived in a perpetual resort vacation setting doesn't look so appealing. (Chances of Winning=Very Good)

Who I would have nominated:
Woody Allen (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Joel and Ethan Coen (Burn After Reading)
Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married)
Robert Siegel (The Wrestler)
Andrew Stanton/Jim Reardon/Pete Docter (WALL-E)

Supporting Actors

A supporting actor is given the task of taking less screen time with the expectation that those scenes are memorable. A great supporting role can be the icing on the cake of a great movie, and a bad one can sink any hope of greatness. Great supporting actors are the Hollywood version of professional baseball closers. They are used for short periods of time when the game is on the line and are expected to seal the deal, because after all nothing is worse than blowing a win in the last inning. And the nominees are...

The Men:

Josh Brolin as politician Dan White (Milk)(1st Nomination)- Brolin plays the disturbed politician whose uncomfortable professional relationship with Penn's character Harvey Milk explodes following his resignation which he blames on Milk. Dan White's journey from assured and confident politician to crumbling alcoholic is brought to climax as he executes his ultimate revenge. Brolin is very good in this role but I have two major problems with this nomination. First is the fact that this award is not recognizing this performance but merely a reward for two great years that have otherwise gone unrewarded (He has had great roles in Grindhouse, American Gangster, In the Valley of Elah, No Country for Old Men, W., and Milk all in the last two years). My second and more blatant problem is that he was not even the best supporting actor in this movie, and to only recognize him is a slight to all of the others (Emile Hirsch, James Franco and Diego Luna all were equally good). (Chances of Winning=Slim)
Robert Downey Jr. as actor Kirk Lazarus (Tropic Thunder)(2nd Nomination)- He's the guy playing the dude disguised as another dude. In the satirical action movie that pokes fun at the Hollywood establishment, Downey delivered as the self obsessed, acclaimed actor. His character undergoes a cosmetic surgery to change his skin to black so that he will be capable of playing a lead role in the upcoming action blockbuster. Downey's character who has won numerous awards is oblivious to the fact that he is on an action movie set with very sub par actors, and is constantly frustrated by the overall lack of dedication to the acting craft that he holds as sacred. While Downey is definitely the best part of this movie (Although Tom Cruise is the most entertaining), I still felt it was undeserving of a nomination, and in a way an insult to Downey(All of his great performances and he gets nominated for a role in a comedic action movie?). (Chances of Winning=Slim to None)
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Brendan Flynn (Doubt)(2nd Nomination/1 Previous Win)- Hoffman has become one of the go to actors in the last few years. He exudes a self confidence and intelligence that made him the ideal person to be cast opposite of Meryl Streep. The scenes of dialogue between those two actors are probably being made into acting instructional videos as we speak. Hoffman's character represents the idea of change in the Catholic church structure toward a more modern, friendlier style which does not sit well with the head nun. When things get heated and Hoffman is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a male student, a battle of wits and power ensues. One thing is for sure it is fun to watch these characters and that is the ultimate compliment. (Chances of Winning=Slim)
Heath Ledger as the Joker (The Dark Knight)(2nd Nomination)- Say hello to the definition of a great supporting performance. When an actor can take less than 30 minutes of screen time in a 2.5 hour movie and make their presence felt throughout, along with an unquenchable desire to see their next scene, something great has been produced. In what will probably become known as one of the greatest supporting roles of all time, Heath Ledger gives a chilling performance as the psychopathic criminal with a fetish for sinister pranks known simply as The Joker from the Batman comics. He is mesmerizing throughout and personifies the ultimate sadistic attitude toward life and society that is the stuff nightmares are made of. Combine his performance with his untimely death, meaning this will be the academy's last chance to reward him, and you get the closest thing to a guaranteed win this year come Oscar night. (Chances of Winning=Locked)
Micheal Shannon as psycho John Givings (Revolutionary Road)(1st Nomination)- Micheal Shannon makes the most of his very limited screen time in this movie, which I felt was one of the most under appreciated of the year. In the movie for basically three scenes encompassing less than 10 minutes, Shannon steals the show. Producing the funniest yet most awkward moments in the film, he uses his ability to see straight through a person and state the issue that nobody else would say out loud. Behind the veneer of the supposed psychiatric problems (possibly just imposed by his prim and proper mother to protect her from embarrassment), Shannon's character is as astute as they come, and only appears to be lacking the social filter that prevents us from saying inappropriate and uncomfortable things. This character doesn't care much for politeness or political correctness and would rather call things like he sees them... and he sees them pretty well. (Chances of Winning=None)


Who I Would Have Nominated:
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt)
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Viggo Mortensen (Appaloosa)
Brad Pitt (Burn After Reading)
Ralph Fiennes (In Bruges)



The Women:

Amy Adams as Sister James (Doubt)(2nd Nomination)- Representing the childlike innocent and naive outlook on the world where everyone is really a good person deep down is Sister James, played to perfection by Amy Adams. One of my favorite actresses in Hollywood, Adam's character personifies the actual battlefield between Hoffman and Streep's characters. She is in danger of being corrupted by the pessimistic, always look for the worst in people view of Streep, while at the same time possessing a desire to hold onto her simple innocence and faith that are the bedrock of how she sees herself. The internal conflict present in this character between playing devil's advocate and trying to maintain peace in her utopian world is the crux of the entire movie. (Chances of Winning=Slim)
Penelope Cruz as crazy ex-wife Maria Elena (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)(2nd Nomination)- The epitome of the passionate, tortured artist who feels too strongly is Maria Elena. Penelope Cruz has become pretty adept at playing characters who wear their emotions on their sleeve and treat every life event like it is either the end of the world or the best moment in history, reminiscent of a person who never matured past middle school. A gifted artist who channels her deep emotions into her art and her relationships, Cruz is at one minute passionately in love and in the next suicidal. The up and down roller coaster of her life and those she shares it with is entertaining to watch, but I can't imagine very practical in terms of a meaningful and committed relationship. (Chances of Winning=Very Good)
Viola Davis as concerned mother Mrs. Miller (Doubt)(1st Nomination)- The fourth acting nomination to come out of this film, is another example of a small part being completely utilized. With just over five minutes of screen time, which is basically encompassed in one scene of dialogue, Davis stands toe to toe with Meryl Streep and holds her own. The mother to the boy involved in the possible inappropriate relationship, Davis is conflicted on what is best for her son. A black family that has just moved to the Bronx, Davis is aware that her son has no friends and is at the mercy of the system. The one man who she knows has befriended and protected her son is the priest in question, and given the uncertainty of the situation, is hesitant to support the witchhunt against him. In the face of being called an uncaring and unfit mother, Davis pours out her soul to Streep's character in the most touching and poignant scene of the movie. (Chances of Winning=Good)
Taraji Henson as caring mother Quennie (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)(1st Nomination)- A woman finds an unwanted baby lying on the steps of the old person's home she runs. The catch is the baby is deformed and by all accounts, about to die of old age. Unwilling and unable to turn a blind eye, Henson's character takes the baby to raise on her own and with it accepts the opportunity to share in his adventure. The consumate mother figure who is constatly loving and interested even while being somewhat naive and oblivious to her son's need for independence and adventure. Henson plays the role with a simple elegance that fits nicely. (Chances of Winning=None)
Marissa Tomei as stripper Cassidy (The Wrestler)(3rd Nomination/1 Previous Win)- The perfect companion and counterpart to Rourke's character who is dealing with the fade from glory to oblivion, is Tomei's understanding character. A single mother who never learned any real skills or got an education, Tomei provides the only way she has ever known how, working as a stripper at the local men's club. Desperate to leave and start a new life as she realizes she is old enough to be a mother to most of the club's clientele, she strikes up a genuine understanding and friendship with Rourke's character who is a long time club member. Together they wrestle with the idea of life after fame, getting older, parenting and fresh beginnings. Things never seem to take shape though and they are left with the cold hard fact that some habits are tough to break, and some things never change. (Chances of Winning=Good)


Who I Would Have Nominated:
Amy Adams (Doubt)
Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Taraji Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Marissa Tomei (The Wrestler)
Kate Winslet (The Reader)*

*- Much debate has occurred over whether Winslet's performance in this movie should be considered a lead or supporting role. Since it can be argued, and she has been nominated and won in this category for several other awards this year, and I would have nominated her in lead for Revolutionary Road, I would recognize this performance as supporting. It is kinda cheap but so is not being able to be nominated twice in the same category.

Best Actress

They range from a power hungry nun to a self destructive drug addict. From a single mother looking for her lost son to a Nazi SS officer convicted of war crimes. These ladies could be the eye candy in cookie cutter romantic comedies or other mass produced Hollywood movies that are box office hits one week only to be completely forgotten by the next month. Instead these actresses have decided to explore deeper characters and produce something worthwhile and lasting, and for that they should be commended. The nominees for best female actress in a leading role are...

Anne Hathaway as recovering drug addict Kym Buchman (Rachel Getting Married)(1st Nomination)- Welcome to a wedding involving a dysfunctional family. While that may sound like a familiar movie scenario, the uniqueness and raw emotion in this film will stay with you long after the theatre. Hathaway stars as the estranged, recovering drug addict and sister to the bride, who has been granted a leave of absence from her rehab facility to join in the wedding festivities. Fireworks explode, tears are shed and ammends are made in this touching mixture of guilt and forgiveness/ mistakes of the past and new beginnings. Hathaway's character is heartbreaking in her inability to forgive herself for past mistakes along with her need for attention. Her journey to redemption must survive her overprotective father, jealous sister, indifferent mother and ultimately her own guilt. (Chances of winning=Good)
Angelina Jolie as desperate mother Christine Collins (Changeling)(2nd Nomination/1 Previous Win)- A hard working single mom comes home to her son only to find that he is not there. The frantic search leads the corrupt police department to bring her a boy... but he is not her son. Based on a true story of overcoming the corrupt establishment, Jolie's character faces persecution along with a forced trip to a psychiatric ward because she dared question and challenge the LAPD. Jolie perfectly portrays the horrors and persistance of a mother trying to find her lost son in the face of all the opposing odds. Her bravery and determination shed light into a dark den of corruption, but all she really wanted was her son. (Chances of winning= None)
Melissa Leo as mother Ray Eddy (Frozen River)(1st Nomination)- Desperation does not begin to describe the circumstances surrounding the life of Leo's character. A mother of two living in a dilapidated trailer home in the frigid cold of upstate New York with her two sons and a Mohawk husband who just skipped town to gamble away their life savings a week before Christmas. Through a series of coincidental circumstances she meets an Indian woman living on the reservation who smuggles illegal aliens over the border from Canada. Desperate for money to provide food, warmth, Christmas presents and that allusive double wide trailer with 3 bedrooms and state of the art insulation, the two form an unlikely partnership as they cross the frozen river separating Canada and the U.S while hawling aliens in the trunk of the car. Leo's quiet determination and resilience mixed with her ultimate worldly naivety is a sight to behold. (Chances of Winning=Slim)
Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Doubt)(15th Nomination...yeah that's right 15/ 2 Previous Wins)- Hailed as the Queen of Oscar and with 15 nominations who's arguing. Streep brings a professionalism and unique confidence to any and every role she plays. As a viewer she commands your respect and attention, so what better role for her than a strict, overbearing nun who acts as principal to a Catholic school in the Bronx. The school has become a battleground between ties to a conservative past and the push to embrace modernization, a conflict personified by Streep's dominating character and the head priest played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. When the conflict escalates into a full blown assault on character, certainty and evidence are thrown out the window in view of personal convictions and suggestions. Don't mistake Streep's character, she plays to win despite any doubt she may harbor. (Chances of Winning=Very Good)
Kate Winslet as ex-Nazi SS Officer Hanna Schmitz (The Reader)(6th Nomination)- The best actress in Hollywood in my opinion has had a year to remember. To give an Oscar worthy performance is a capstone to any actor's career, and to win one is the pinnacle. To be nominated five time and then to give two performances in the same year, either of which would probably win the Oscar is unbelievable(To bad only one could make the cut). That is what Winslet has done this year with The Reader and Revolutionary Road. In my opinion the voters got the wrong movie, but that does not take away from her brilliance in this one. Winslet's character is an enigma of emotion shown in the beginning as somewhat of a loner who develops a relationship with an underage boy mostly because she likes to listen to him read to her. Years later at her trial it is revealed that she was responsible for countless deaths as a Nazi SS officer. The trial is clouded by the shroud of moral ambiguity as Winslet's character denies any wrongdoing, claiming she was simply doing the job she was instructed to do. At what point are we obligated to stop following orders when they collide with a moral standard? Do the character's absence of education, no obvious moral compass and lack of discernable guilt or regret have any standing in determining her responsibility? The degree to which Winslet morphs into the dilluded and simple fact driven mind of this character is both haunting and disturbing. (Chances of Winning=Very Good)

Quick Thoughts:
-While the Oscar is supposed to go to the best performance given that year, history has shown us that the Oscar has a way of honoring careers or giving overdue recognition. Under that criteria the only possible winners this year will be Streep or Winslet. That is not to say that either of those performances is not worthy, but it does cast a very bleak outlook for Hathaway who is just as deserving. The academy probably figures that since this is Hathaway's first nomination and she is still young they will have ample time to reward her in the future. Streep is nearing the end of her career (just don't try to tell her that) and I am sure the academy would love to give her one more win (that would only be fair considering she has 15 nominations) to make her just the 5th actor to win more than 2. However, Winslet makes an even better case having given two Oscar worthy performances this year, and it would be ridiculous for her to have six nominations without one win. So I have a feeling it will go to Winslet this year in order to reward her for both her overdue career, and in recognition of her two standout performances this year. All Leo and Jolie need to do is show up and be happy with their nominations.


Who I would have nominated:
Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Angelina Jolie (Changeling)
Julianne Moore (Blindness)
Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road)

The Rest of the Way:
With a little over a week until the big night here is what I am going to be doing the rest of the way:

-Tomorrow look for male and female supporting actors
-Sunday look for original and adapted screenplays
-Monday thru Friday of next week- 1 review per day of the 5 best picture nominees
-Also Monday thru Friday- short posts on all the tech awards along with animated, documentaries and foreign.
-Next Saturday- My Final Predictions
-Next Sunday- The Big Night