Possibilities in the works...

I talked with Spoon last night, and he wants to make me a regular segment host on the show! It's not definite yet, but it's sounding like it just might happen! Yay!

Looking ahead to the 2009 race

In the next few days, I will start to lay out some analysis on what I think could be some possible contenders for this year's Oscar race. No rest for the weary! Moving on!

THE 81ST ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS

Well, the ceremony has gone as gone....time to vent. Firstly, I think Hugh Jackman did a wonderful job. I thought he really gave it his all. I thought the "how a movie is made" stream actually worked pretty well, and if I had any big problem with the show, it was simply the lack of the wow moments, the surprises, the shocks. The only win I didn't have as a win or alternate was Departures for Foreign, which I had 3rd. All in all....I got 19 of 24 correct. Not too shabby.

Anyways, here are the winners, and the ()'s respresent the categories I missed.

BEST PICTURE: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle "Slumdog Millionaire"
BEST ACTOR: Sean Penn "Milk" (Mickey Rourke)
BEST ACTRESS: Kate Winslet "The Reader"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Milk
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Wall-E
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST FILM EDITING: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ART DIRECTION: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: The Duchess
BEST SOUND: Slumdog Millionaire (The Dark Knight)
BEST SOUND EDITING: The Dark Knight
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST MAKEUP: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: "Jai Ho" -- Slumdog Millionaire
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Departures (The Class)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Man On Wire
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: Smile Pinki (The Conscience of Nhem En)
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM: Spielzeugland
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM: La Maison en Petites Cubes (Presto)

Cindy & Ray....

I have a great time on the show today. Cindy, Ray and Spoon were nothing but courteous and great, and I hope we can work together in the future. And also a big thanks to all of you for tuning in and for the support!

That being said...here are my final winner predictions...once again...and once and for all...enjoy the show on Sunday! And here's hoping that at least a few of these are wrong...nothing is more enjoyable for me than being able to say "wow" in genuine surprise on Oscar night.

BEST PICTURE: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle "Slumdog Millionaire"
BEST ACTOR: Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler"
BEST ACTRESS: Kate Winslet "The Reader"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Milk
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Wall-E
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST FILM EDITING: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ART DIRECTION: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: The Duchess
BEST SOUND: The Dark Knight
BEST SOUND EDITING: The Dark Knight
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST MAKEUP: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: "Jaiho" -- Slumdog Millionaire
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: The Class
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Man on Wire
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: The Conscience of Nhem En
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM: Spielzugland (Toyland)
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM: Presto

Radio time...

I have been asked to talk Oscars during the Cindy & Ray show tomorrow afternoon around 5:30 or so. If you're in the Atlanta area, hope you can tune in!

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Full winner list...

THE DARK KNIGHT -- 5 Awards
Best Picture
Best Director (Christopher Nolan)
Best Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger)
Best Film Editing
Best Sound

WALL-E -- 4 Awards
Best Original Screenplay
Best Animated Feature
Best Original Score
Best Original Song "Down to Earth"

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON -- 2 Awards
Best Visual Effects
Best Makeup

THE WRESTLER -- 1 Award
Best Actor (Mickey Rourke)

THE READER -- 1 Award
Best Actress (Kate Winslet)

DOUBT -- 1 Award
Best Supporting Actress (Viola Davis)

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED -- 1 Award
Best Ensemble Cast

FROST/NIXON -- 1 Award
Best Adapted Screenplay

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD -- 1 Award
Best Cinematography

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL -- 1 Award
Best Art Direction

THE DUCHESS -- 1 Award
Best Costume Design

CLOVERFIELD -- 1 Award
Best Sound Editing

GOMORRAH -- 1 Award
Best Foreign Language Film

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Picture

And the nominees are:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E

And the Beachhouse goes to...

THE DARK KNIGHT

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Director

And the nominees are:

Danny Boyle "Slumdog Millionaire"
David Fincher "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Sam Mendes "Revolutionary Road"
Christopher Nolan "The Dark Knight"
Andrew Stanton "Wall-E"

And the Beachhouse goes to...

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN "THE DARK KNIGHT"

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Actor

And the nominees are:

Robert Downey, Jr. "Iron Man"
Frank Langella "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn "Milk"
Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler"
Jason Segel "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"

And the Beachhouse goes to...

MICKEY ROURKE "THE WRESTLER"

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Actress

And the nominees are:

Anne Hathaway "Rachel Getting Married"
Sally Hawkins "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Melissa Leo "Frozen River"
Kate Winslet "The Reader"
Kate Winslet "Revolutionary Road"

And the Beachhouse goes to...

KATE WINSLET "THE READER"

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Supporting Actor

And the nominees are:

Philip Seymour Hoffman "Doubt"
Bill Irwin "Rachel Getting Married"
Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight"
Brad Pitt "Burn After Reading"
Michael Shannon "Revolutionary Road"

And the Beachhouse goes to...

HEATH LEDGER "THE DARK KNIGHT"

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Supporting Actress

And the nominees are:

Penelope Cruz "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis "Doubt"
Rosemarie DeWitt "Rachel Getting Married"
Rebecca Hall "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Marisa Tomei "The Wrestler"

And the Beachhouse goes to...

VIOLA DAVIS "DOUBT"

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Ensemble Cast

And the nominees are:

Burn After Reading
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Rachel Getting Married

And the Beachhouse goes to...

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Original Screenplay

And the nominees are:

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Rachel Getting Married
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Wall-E
The Wrestler

And the Beachhouse goes to...

WALL-E

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Adapted Screenplay

And the nominees are:

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

And the Beachhouse goes to...

FROST/NIXON

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Animated Feature

And the nominees are:

Bolt
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hear a Who
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E
Waltz With Bashir

And the Beachhouse goes to...

WALL-E

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Cinematography

And the nominees are:

Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

And the Beachhouse goes to...

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Film Editing

And the nominees are:

The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E

And the Beachhouse goes to...

THE DARK KNIGHT

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Art Direction

And the nominees are:

Australia
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

And the Beachhouse goes to...

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Costume Design

And the nominee are:

Australia
The Duchess
The Other Boleyn Girl
Revolutionary Road
Sex and the City

And the Beachhouse goes to...

THE DUCHESS

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Sound

And the nominees are:

Cloverfield
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Quantum of Solace
Wall-E

And the Beachhouse goes to...

THE DARK KNIGHT

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Sound Editing

And the nominees are:

Cloverfield
The Dark Knight
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Quantum of Solace
Wall-E

And the Beachhouse goes to...

CLOVERFIELD

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Visual Effects

And the nominees are:

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man

And the Beachhouse goes to...

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Makeup

And the nominees are...

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Synecdoche, New York
The Wrestler

And the Beachhouse goes to...

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Original Score

And the nominees are...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Wall-E

And the Beachhouse goes to...

WALL-E

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Original Song

And the nominees are...

"Down to Earth" -- Wall-E
"Dracula's Lament" -- Forgetting Sarah Marshall
"I Thought I Lost You'' -- Bolt
"Jaiho" -- Slumdog Millionaire
"The Wrestler" -- The Wrestler

And the Beachhouse goes to...

"DOWN TO EARTH" -- WALL-E

OSCAR BEACHHOUSE AWARDS -- Best Foreign Language Film

Best Foreign Language Film

The nominees are:

A Christmas Tale
The Class
Gomorrah
Let the Right One In
Waltz With Bashir

And the Beachhouse goes to...

GOMORRAH

FINAL OSCAR WINNER PREDICTIONS

Best Animated Short Film
Should win: Presto
Will win: Presto

Best Live-Action Short Film
Should win: Auf Der Strecke (On the Line)
Will win: Spielzugland (Toyland)

Best Documentary Short Subject
Should win: The Conscience of Nhem En
Will win: The Conscience of Nhem En

Best Documentary Feature
Man on Wire was #7 on my top 10 list for 2008. It's a documentary that almost has more the feel of a great heist movie than anything else. The telling of the backstory is perfectly cut with the actual event, and there's nary a dull moment in the entire film.

Should win: Man on Wire
Will win: Man on Wire

Best Foreign Language Film
Not saying anything bad about any of the other nominees, but I sincerely hope Waltz With Bashir takes this. It is a groundbreaking film, comparitable to how Snow White, Toy Story, Shrek, or Waking Life were groundbreaking in the field of animation. However, the fact that it is animated is the only downfall that I can see for it, which is why I've gone with the also terrific French film "The Class" as my winner pick. Don't forget that the entire Academy doesn't vote in this category, only the special chosen committee. For the same reasons that films such as Amelie, Downfall, and Paradise Now ended up losing this award, I have to go with The Class. This category is rarely won by the fantastic film....more likely the best of the good ones.

Should win: Waltz With Bashir
Will win: The Class

Best Original Song
For "Down to Earth", Peter Gabriel got his first Oscar nomination, and including the nod for Best Original Score, Thomas Newman picked up his 10th here, and the man has NEVER won? That is ridiculous. However, "Jaiho" seems to be almost the theme of the awards season this year, so I have to go with that as my prediction. Remind me again how "The Wrestler" & "I Thought I Lost You" are not on this nominee list??????

Should win: "Down to Earth" -- Wall-E
Will win: "Jaiho" -- Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Score
Get the soundtrack to Wall-E. Right now. Go get it! Listen to the tracks "2815 A.D.", "Fixing Wall-E", and especially "Define Dancing", and then try to convince me that this score doesn't deserve to win. Still predicted Slumdog to win, but Wall-E, Benjamin Button, and Defiance are ALL better scores imo.

Should win: Wall-E
Will win: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Makeup
I very much admire the work in Benjamin Button. It was actually one of the main things that stuck out to me after viewing the film...WONDERFUL age makeup. But when put up again the originality of Hellboy, you just can't in good conscience say Hellboy doesn't deserve it. Still, with 13 nomination, Button is loved, and I think will pick this one up.

Should win: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Will win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Visual Effects
In all honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see The Dark Knight or Iron Man take this, but the effects of Benjamin Button are so seamlessly incorporated into the story that it's hard to argue against. Remind me against how Indiana Jones isn't here? The valley destruction scene alone is worthy of at least a nomination.
Should win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Will win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Sound Editing
This is a tough call for me. Wall-E and The Dark Knight are 1 & 2 in this category for me, and depending on the day, could flip-flop for me as far as what I feel is deserving. But since The Incredibles was able to take this one back in 04, I wouldn't be surprised with a Wall-E win here. But then I watch the armored car chase in The Dark Knight, and I'm reminded why this film should win. Even Iron Man is very deserving. Basicaly, as long as Slumdog or Wanted don't win, I'm a happy camper here.

Should win: Wall-E
Will win: The Dark Knight

Best Sound
Not such to say here other than I'm sticking with my guns on The Dark Knight with this one, even though Slumdog took the CAS Guild Award for Best Sound. Will I be surprised if Slumdog wins here? No. Should it? Again, no.

Should win: The Dark Knight
Will win: The Dark Knight

Best Costume Design
The lavish and oppulent almost always prevail here. (See last years Elizabeth: The Golden Age & 2006's Marie Antoinette for further proof.) Benjamin Button winning would not be a surprise either, as it incorporates a wondeful blend of lavish and period, but it's not to not see The Duchess winning this.

Should win: The Duchess
Will win: The Duchess

Best Art Direction
A slightly tough category, especially with the inclusion of The Dark Knight and The Duchess here, but the various time periods, the various locations, and the overall general wonderment of Benjamin Button should secure a win here. Big shout out to Kristi Zea & Debra Schutt for there wonderful work in Revolutionary Road as well.

Should win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Will win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Film Editing
See Doubt. Be bored. Then see Frost/Nixon. Be enraptured in a great story. Frost/Nixon deserves the win here because it is the correct way to transfer a great play from the stage to the screen. The movie is almost ALL dialogue. No special effects, no big action, just words...and it's engulfingly good. This so easily could've been like Doubt (a.i. good performances but truthfully boring), but it wasn't. No scene was unneeded, and no cut was false. All that being said, Slumdog will rule the night, and therefore take the big Best Pic predictor category besides Director...Editing.

Should win: Frost/Nixon
Will win: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Cinematography
Firstly, as with Film Editing, Slumdog will take this in a sweep of the night. Secondly, when I think of certain shots/scenes that I consider almost perfect, this award goes to Benjamin Button. In particular the late-night ballerina scene, and the last 15 or so minutes of the film. Very sorry to NOT have Revolutionary Road in this category, as it is my favorite camerawork of the year. But out of the 5 nominees, my favorite is The Dark Knight. These are shots that are carefully planned, and pull you even deeper in the story. Very deserving of the win...but it won't.

Should win: The Dark Knight
Will win: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Animated Feature
Wall-E. Wall-E. Wall-E. My #2 film of the year, and possible the closest that Pixar has ever come to landing a Best Picture nomination, and that's including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and my #1 film of last year, Ratatouille. However, the fact that Kung Fu Panda completely swept the Annie Awards this year mustn't be overlooked. Will the Academy suffer from the same Pixar backlash that the Annie's did? Let's hope not. Both Bolt and Kung Fu Panda are wonderful, very enjoyable films. Wall-E is a masterpiece. Any other fictor would be a travesty.

Should win: Wall-E
Will win: Wall-E

Best Adapted Screenplay
As I said before, Frost/Nixon was the proper way to bring a great play to ths screen. Wanna know the wrong ways? Watch Doubt, Proof, or The History Boys. All great plays that sunk for me on screen. That being said, I also has quite the affection for the Benjamin Button screenplay. How they could stretch a very short F. Scott Fitzgerald story into an almost 3 hour film is beyond me, similar to how Brokeback Mountain was expanded 3 years ago. However, as with a lot of categories this year, I expect Slumdog to show up victorious once again, especially after winning....oh, I don't know...everything!

Should win: Frost/Nixon
Will win: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Screenplay
The script of Wall-E is perfect. The script of In Bruges is hysterical. The script of Frozen River is heart-wrenching. And yet the script of Milk will be awarded the big prize as a Best Picture nominee consolation prize. Not to say it isn't good, especially considering the source, but better than the other nominees? Sorry, no.

Should win: In Bruges or Wall-E
Will win: Milk

Best Supporting Actress
There is possibly no performance on screen this year that is more pitch-perfect that Viola Davis. In just over 10 minutes of screen time, she completely steals the show. That being said, Woody Allen has possible never written a character such as Maria Elena in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. It's a star turn that doesn't even show up until halfway through the film, and that very well could and most likely will land Penelope Cruz in the pantheon of Oscar winners.

Should win: Viola Davis "Doubt"
Will win: Penelope Cruz "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Best Supporting Actor
Does anyone not want Heath Ledger to win this? Does anyone this he is not deserving enough to win this?....I rest my case.

Should win: Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight"
Will win: Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight"

Best Actress
I might be the only person in the world who really did not care for Meryl Streep's performance in "Doubt". That being said, she could take this, especially after taking the SAG award. However, the fact that Kate Winslet was nominated in Best Actress, not supporting, for this amazing performance, and the fact that's she's the youngest 6-time nominee is Oscar history, makes me think this is her time, and deservedly so. In Revolutionary Road she was great. In The Reader, she's even better. Jolie's nod is a consolation prize for being snubbed last year, and Hathaway & Leo give outstanding turns, but this year they'll be watching from their seats.

Should win: Kate Winslet "The Reader"
Will win: Kate Winslet "The Reader"

Best Actor
Sean Penn vs. Mickey Rourke. That's what this one comes down to. Penn took the SAG and the Broadcast Film Critics. Rourke took the Golden Globe and the BAFTA. All in all, it seems that the momentum right now is slightly more with Rourke, who's comeback tale as an actor practically mirrors his comeback on screen in "The Wrestler". Also, this is his first nomination, after years out of the business. I guarantee that Sean Penn (in his 5th nomination) will be at the big show again. As for Rourke, possibly (probably) not, so I think they'll award him in this one chance they have. Don't forget, Penn won the Oscar for Mystic River 5 years ago, but not the SAG award (went to Johnny Depp for "Pirates of the Caribbean"). There's no "owing" for Penn.

Should win: Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler"
Will win: Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler"

Best Director
The fact that Christopher Nolan's name is not on this ballot is a crime to mankind. Even if The Dark Knight was shut out of Best Picture, his appearance here seemed secure. It wasn't, and it's a tragedy. That said, Danny Boyle has won....almost everything possible. Things aren't going to change here.

Should win: David Fincher "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Will win: Danny Boyle "Slumdog Millionaire"

Best Picture
Frost/Nixon was third on my top 10 of 2008 list, after The Dark Knight and Wall-E, so I have to put it as my winner. But Slumdog will take this along with many other awards on Sunday. Sometimes being "the little film that could" doesn't lead to Oscar gold (see Lost in Translation, Sideways, Little Miss Sunshine, Juno). But sometimes that title leads to a front-runner status. Slumdog has won practically every Best Picture given out in the awards seasons. The Oscar will be no different.

Should win: Frost/Nixon
Will win: Slumdog Millionaire


Final Winner Prediction Tallys

Slumdog Millionaire -- 7 Oscars
The Dark Knight -- 3 Oscars
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -- 3 Oscars
The Wrestler -- 1 Oscar
The Reader-- 1 Oscar
Vicky Cristina Barcelona -- 1 Oscar
Milk -- 1 Oscar
Wall-E -- 1 Oscar
The Duchess -- 1 Oscar
The Class -- 1 Oscar
Man on Wire -- 1 Oscar
The Conscience of Nhem En -- 1 Oscar
Spielzugland (Toyland) -- 1 Oscar
Presto -- 1 Oscar

Here's hoping that the winners aren't as predictable as many of them seem to be, and enjoy the show on Sunday everyone!

Final Predix...

...are in the works. Sorry for the lack of updates. Been working like crazy since mid-last week. But I will have my final Oscar predix/analysis in the next day or two, along with the announcement of my own personal award winners for 08. :-)

SLUMDOG WINS...EVERYTHING!!!

Over the last week, Slumdog Millionaire hasn't just continued on its path to win the Oscar, it has STEAMROLLED its way into a runaway freight train. It took the awards for every guild that has announced so far.

Cinema Audio Society (CAS) = Slumdog Millionaire
Art Directors Guild (ADG) = The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire
American Cinema Editors (ACE) = Slumdog Millionaire, Wall-E, Man on Wire
American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) = Slumdog Millionaire

That is....ridiculous! It's looking almost practically possible now that Slumdog will/could win every single award it is nominated for on Sunday.

WGA (Writers Guild of America) Winners

The Writers Guild also dished out their awards this weekend, with the 3 winners going to the expected frontrunners in each category. Here's how it went down.

Best Original Screenplay
Burn After Reading
Milk (WINNER)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
The Visitor
The Wrestler

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire (WINNER)

Best Documentary Screenplay
Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
Chicago 10
Fuel
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson
Waltz With Bashir


In winning the award for Documentary, Ari Folman become the first person ever to win both the DGA and the WGA awards for the Documentary category in the same year, so a big congrats of him and a tribute to his work.

BAFTA WINNERS!

As expected, Slumdog Millionaire trashed the competition, taking home 7 Baftas out of it's record-tieing 11 nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture. Also, Mickey Rourke was able to overtake Sean Penn for Best Actor, and being nominated for Best Actress for both "The Reader" and "Revolutionary Road" didn't lead to a split vote for Kate Winslet, who took home the Best Actress prize for "The Reader", the same role that she is nominated for at the Oscars. The supporting prizes went expectedly to Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight" and Penelope Cruz "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Also, in a move that I loved, the original screenplay prize went to In Bruges, not Milk as expected.

Here is the full list of winner:

Best Picture: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Director: DANNY BOYLE "SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE"
Best Actor: MICKEY ROURKE "THE WRESTLER"
Best Actress: KATE WINSLET "THE READER"
Best Supporting Actor: HEATH LEDGER "THE DARK KNIGHT"
Best Supporting Actress: PENELOPE CRUZ "VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA"
Best Original Screenplay: IN BRUGES
Best Adapted Screenplay: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Animated Feature: WALL-E
Best Cinematography: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Film Editing: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Production Design: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Best Costume Design: THE DUCHESS
Best Sound: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Visual Effects: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Best Makeup & Hair: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Best Original Score: SLUMDOG MILLIOANIRE
Best Foreign Language Film: I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG
Best British Film: MAN ON WIRE
Carl Foreman Award (1st British Film): STEVE MCQUEEN "HUNGER"
Rising Star Award: NOEL CLARK
Live-Action Short Film: SEPTEMBER
Animated Short Film: WALLACE & GROMIT: A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH
Academy Fellowship: TERRY GILLIAM

Category Analysis - BEST ACTRESS

The nominees are:

Anne Hathaway "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie "Changeling"
Melissa Leo "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep "Doubt"
Kate Winslet "The Reader"

How I predicted: 3.5/5 (Missed Melissa Leo, and wrong Kate performance)

When it comes down to it, I really see this as a 3-horse race between Anne, Meryl, and Kate. And btw, I was extremely happy that this was the performance that got Kate the nomination. In Revolutionary Road, she's amazing. In The Reader, she's even better.
Melissa Leo and Angelina Jolie both got deserving nominations, but they feel like also-rans to me, and I would be SHOCKED if either of their names were called. Although if Melissa's is called, it will be one of the most deserving winners in recent history.
Meryl Streep...15 nominations in less than 30 years time. That...is...staggering. The woman can do no wrong in the Academy's eyes, and while I didn't particularly care for her performance here myself, if she wins I will not be even remotely surprised, particularly since her last win was for Sophie's Choice waaaaayyyy back in 1982!
However, after becoming the youngest person ever to reach 6 acting nominations, this finally SHOULD be the year that Kate Winslet becomes Academy Award winner Kate Winslet. By nominating her for the correct movie, she also has no worry of vote-splitting. Also, winning both a Golden Globe and a SAG award for this performance doesn't hurt.

My Prediction: KATE WINSLET "THE READER"

Category Analysis - BEST ACTOR

The nominees are:

Richard Jenkins "The Visitor"
Frank Langella "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn "Milk"
Brad Pitt "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler"

How I predicted: 4/5 (Missed Brad Pitt)

Every once in a while when the right part comes around, the Academy likes to throw a bone out to a great little-known character actor. Enter Richard Jenkins, who was not only great in The Visitor, but also had great supporting work in both Burn After Reading and Step Brothers. Frank Langella hits the Oscar trail for the first time, even though he's been around for decades of superb work. Brad Pitt gets his first nod in 13 years. Any one of these 3 could play spoiler, but the race is truly between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke. Both give amazing performances, both deserving of the win, and both you can argue points about WHY they will win.
Penn's film has 8 nominations going for it, meaning more widespread love from the Academy. He also just picked up the SAG Award, something he did NOT do when he won for Mystic River 5 years ago.
Rourke's film, like his life, is a classic tale of a comeback kid, and the Academy find comeback kids hard to ignore. They're easy to cheer for. He just won the Golden Globe.
It really is a toss up here, but for the sake of argument, I personally think Rourke gives a better performance. Some of the best moments of the year are his, when nothing is said, but you can just see the emotion and pain on Mickey's face. Truly internal and wonderful acting. Also, who knows when he'll get another nod, where as with Penn, it's only a matter of time.

My Prediction: MICKEY ROURKE "THE WRESTLER"

Category Analysis - BEST DIRECTOR

The nominees are:

Danny Boyle "Slumdog Millionaire"
Stephen Daldry "The Reader"
David Fincher "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard "Frost/Nixon"
Gus Van Sant "Milk"

How I predicted: 4/5 (missed Stephen Daldry)

You gotta give the guy at least a little bit of credit here. Stephen Daldry has directed 3 films so far in his career, and so far he's 3/3 for Best Director nominations. Quite impressive in any book. After years of churning out great film after great film, the right project comes along and David Fincher has collected his 1st, very well-deserved nod. After capturing almost every Best Director prize so far, the wonderful Danny Boyle will take home the prize here. I will make one little teeny tiny quip tho. How the heck does Christopher Nolan NOT get nominated! Even if they were too uptight to give The Dark Knight a Best Picture nod, it's an even bigger slap in the face to not honor Nolan's literally pitch-perfect direction. A tra...ves...ty.

My Prediction: DANNY BOYLE "SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE"

Category Analysis - BEST PICTURE

The nominees are:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

How I predicted: 4/5 (missed The Reader)

Ok then. It's a little boring to say, but this category is about as sewn up as it can be. The non-presence of The Dark Knight and/or Wall-E makes me sad. After winning the Broadcast Critics, the Golden Globe, the SAG Ensemble, the DGA...yeah, Slumdog is winning this, and AS it's my 2nd choice out of the 5, I'm pretty ok with that.

Predicted Winner: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

IS CASE YOU HAD ANY DOUBT...

Last night, Danny Boyle took home the DGA Best Director of the Year Award. It's was completely expected, completely deserving, and completely locking up this year as the year of the Slumdog. Congrats Danny. Come and get your Oscar.