The Roads to Oscar

WALL-E Review!!

2008-06-28T00:08:00.007-04:00

WALL-E is a film I have been waiting for a long time. I am usually a big fan of Pixar (the exception being Cars) and there was something about the teasers and trailers of this film. There was something immediately special about WALL-E himself, especially. I don't know what it is, but everyone falls in love with WALL-E as soon as they see him. Because of the affection the public grew to have for the lovable WALL-E, the film itself became extremely anticipated; maybe the most anticipated film of the year. I don't know that any film could live up to the hype that WALL-E generated...except this one.

WALL-E is the story of a robot. The last robot on Earth. What if everyone left Earth but forgot to turn off the last robot? That's the premise of the film. WALL-E was made for collecting garbage and packing that garbage into cubes. During the day this is exactly what he does, but while working he collects items he finds interesting for him to keep; WALL-E is very curious. One day the routine is changed when a sleek, female robot, comes to Earth. WALL-E is enchanted by her and follows her and watches her wherever she goes. WALL-E falls in love with her immediately and does everything he can to impress her, while she tries to complete her "directive" for being on Earth. But eventually, she must leave Earth and gets back on the spaceship home. But little does she know that WALL-E is attached to it. This is where the adventure begins.

And what an adventure it is. WALL-E is a film that touches upon love, loss, politics, and the way we live our lives. It touches all of your emotions and grabs hold of them. Most would never believe an animated film could touch you the way a "true-life" film can, but WALL-E proves them wrong. WALL-E isn't just a fantastic animated film, it's a fantastic film...period. When it comes down to it, WALL-E is exactly what every film should be and wants to be; hilarious, intimate, beautful, touching, insipiring, heartbreaking, imagnitive, thought-provoking...a masterpeice.

SCORE: 10

WALL-E Extended Clip!

2008-06-19T20:54:00.004-04:00

Here's a clip from the new Pixar film WALL-E thanks to joblo.com. People are saying this may be the first animated film since Beauty and the Beast to be nominated for Best Picture. Others say there's no way since we now have a Best Animated Feature category. I say, this movie looks phenomenal.

Miracle at St. Anna Trailer

2008-06-15T22:19:00.005-04:00

This is the trailer for the new Spike Lee film, Miracle at St. Anna. Spike Lee has sparked a lot of controversy over this film by challenging Clint Eastwood for not having Black soldiers in his WWII films. Regardless of who is right and who is wrong, saying negative things about Eastwood never sits well with the Academy. Luckily for Lee, this film looks fabulous, from the trailer, and may start to be on everyone's Oscar watch-list.

Early Best Screenplay Predictions

2008-06-09T21:22:00.005-04:00

Original Screenplay:

1) Synecdoche, New York

Kauffman is beloved in the writer's circles. He is always in talks for an Oscar in this category.

2) Wall-E

This could be the ultimate Pixar film. Which definitely puts it in this category.

3) Burn After Reading

The Coen Bros. new film looks great, but not a Best Picture type. It may be better suited in this category.

4) Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Woody Allen's new film is getting a lot of praise. But he lately hasn't gotten past this category.

5) Milk

A dangerous story to tell, could lead to a lot of positive attention if done well.

Adapted Screenplay:

1) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The season's most buzzed film could get notice in all categories.

2) Revolutionary Road

A tough adaptation, but if done well, will surely be here.

3) Doubt

A great play doesn't usually translate to a great film. However, judging by the talent involved in this film, something must have been written well.

4) Defiance

A holocaust story that has never been told should get attention in this category.

5) Frost/Nixon

If the play translates well to film, it will most likely get a nomination in this category.

Burn After Reading Trailer

2008-06-07T13:25:00.008-04:00

The premiere trailer of the new Coen Brothers' film Burn After Reading has been released. From the looks of it, the film is going to be great. It looks hysterical and off-beat, like many of the Coen Brothers films. However, the Best Picture talk may be inaccurate as it does not look like the Academy's cup-of-tea. In case you missed it, here is the trailer. (NOTE: FOR RESTRICTED AUDIENCES ONLY)

Early Directing Predictions

2008-06-05T23:15:00.003-04:00

1) David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A very overdue director that should finally get his due.

2) Clint Eastwood - The Exchange

Always near the top when it comes to the Oscars. Has he been nominated too much lately?

3) Edward Zwick - Defiance

The Academy has never really warmed up to his films. They did like Blood Diamond more than everyone thought however, maybe he'll take the next step forward.

4) Baz Luhrman - Australia

A very creative director some feel is due a nomination. Some also feel he is all style, no substance.

5) Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road

A tough adaptation to do. If it's great he'll be nominated for sure.

Early Supporting Acting Predictions

2008-06-04T21:52:00.005-04:00

Actor:

1) Liev Schreiber - Defiance

Early word is he absolutely steals the film.

2) Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt

A great role for a phenomenal actor. But, will the film be well received by the Academy? And will he go lead?

3) Robert Downey Jr. - The Soloist

Getting hot as an actor and is very talented. Many consider his performance in Zodiac overlooked (along with the film) and with his kickass turn in Iron Man it may be his time.

4) Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Early word of mouth says he is amazing in the film, and I truly believe this could be his best performance. However, a superhero movie in July is tough to get nominated from.

5) Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

A great character actor that has been slighty unnoticed. Will his part be big enough?

Actress:

1) Amy Adams - Doubt

I don't know if you can call her due, but she certainly has always been in Oscar talks lately. Part should be great.

2) Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

She's always great and always nominated. In what could be the leading film all year, she should stay in everyone's heads. Will she go lead?

3) Catherine Keener - The Soloist

Always great and overdue. She has to win an Oscar at some point. But is this the part?

4) Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Cannes says she is incredible in the film. Problem is, the film is loaded with talent, especially on the female side of things. Will she stand out from the pack?

5) Samantha Morton - Synecdoche, New York

Charlie Kaufman films usually have great acting. Samantha Morton has been nominated twice already; she's also beautiful, which helps.

Early Lead Acting Predictions

2008-06-03T21:07:00.005-04:00

Lead Actor:

1) Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road

He is in what should be a great character drama, and he's a fantastic actor. Plus many think he is overdue for an Oscar win, maybe this year it will finally happen.

2) Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon

See above.

3) Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A very good actor who the Academy already nominated once (12 Monkeys). The lead part in the most talked about film so far this year should pave the way for a nomination. Problem is, it didn't happen in Babel where he was fantastic. Are the tabloid problems too much for the Academy to handle?

4) Benicio DelToro - Guerrilla

A great part for a great actor. On the flip-side, the film has been postponed many times, is it because it was no good?

5) Sean Penn - Milk

Again, a beloved actor in a great part. We're still not sold on how the Academy will embrace this film however.

Lead Actress:

1) Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

We're picking two great actors, in a great film, to both finally get there due. We'll see I guess.

2) Meryl Streep - Doubt

The Academy can't NOT nominate her, and the part should be great.

3) Nicole Kidman - Australia

Hasn't been nominated in a while and should be a great film. Question is, is it an acting showcase?

4) Angelina Jolie - The Exchange

Word is the film is great and she is great. The Academy doesn't like her, but we think there is enough bad blood for not nominating her last year that the Academy won't do the same thing again.

5) Julianne Moore - Blindness

The film has not gotten very good buzz after Cannes. However, that doesn't mean she's not great in it.

Early Best Picture Predictions

2008-06-02T22:34:00.003-04:00

Roads to Oscar's season opening Best Picture picks:

1) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A film that is generating the most buzz to start the year. Many feel that David Fincher is long overdue (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac), especially when it comes to Zodiac which was the second most loved film by critics last year. Brad Pitt stars in the leading role, which the Academy like as an actor but dislikes his tabloid presence.

2) The Exchange (The Changeling)

Clint Eastwood's recently renamed drama about a mother who's child is kidnapped. The word from Cannes is that it's phenomenal and Eastwood hasn't lost his touch at all. The Academy loves Eastwood, but not Jolie lately, as she was severely snubbed a nomination last year for A Mighty Heart.

3) Australia

Baz Luhrmann's newest work. The trailer looks great and the buzz is strong. The real question is, we know it will be beautiful, but will it have depth?

4) Defiance

A holocaust story that never has been told hits right at the hearts of the Academy. Liv Schreiber is said to steal the show in this Edward Zwick film. The only issue is that Zwick is hit or miss a lot of the time. Blood Diamond was a good film, but this will need to be much better.

5) The Reader

We're taking a bit of a stab on this one, but Stephen Daldry (The Hours, Billy Elliot) is usually a hit with the Academy. With Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes it certainly has the star power to remain noticed.

Coming tomorrow...The Lead Acting categories

We're Back!

2008-06-02T22:32:00.001-04:00

Roads to Oscar is back for the this year's film season. It's been a nice break ,but the season is beginning and the Oscar Predictions and Film Reviews are ready to roll out.

OSCAR WINNERS!

2008-02-25T00:03:00.000-05:00

BEST PICTURE
"Atonement"
"Juno"
"Michael Clayton"
"No Country for Old Men" (Winner)
"There Will Be Blood"

BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"(Winner)
Laura Linney, "The Savages"
Ellen Page, "Juno"

BEST ACTOR
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"(Winner)
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd"
Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"
Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton" (Winner)

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

BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men" (Winner)
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Jason Reitman, "Juno"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Diablo Cody, "Juno" (Winner)
Nancy Oliver, "Lars and the Real Girl"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Brad Bird, Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird, "Ratatouille"
Tamara Jenkins, "The Savages"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"
Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"(Winner)
Sarah Polley, "Away From Her"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"Beaufort" (Israel)
"The Counterfeiters" (Austria) (Winner)
"Katyn" (Poland)
"Mongol" (Kazakhstan)
"12" (Russia)

BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Persepolis"
"Ratatouille"(Winner)
"Surf's Up"

BEST ART DIRECTION
"American Gangster"
"Atonement"
"The Golden Compass"
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"(Winner)
"There Will Be Blood"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" Roger Deakins
"Atonement," Seamus Mcgarvey
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," Janusz Kaminski
"No Country For Old Men," Roger Deakins
"There Will Be Blood," Robert Elswit (Winner)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
"Across the Universe," Albert Wolsky
"Atonement," Jacqueline Durran
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age," Alexandra Byrne (Winner)
"La Vie En Rose," Marit Allen
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street," Colleen Atwood

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"No End in Sight"
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience"
"Sicko"
"Taxi to the Dark Side" (Winner)
"War/Dance"

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
"Freeheld" (Winner)
"La Corona" ("The Crown")
"Salim Baba"
"Sari's Mother"

BEST FILM EDITING
"The Bourne Ultimatum," Christopher Rouse (Winner)
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," Juliette Welfling
"Into the Wild," Jay Cassidy
"No Country for Old Men," Roderick Jaynes
"There Will Be Blood," Dylan Tichenor

BEST MAKEUP
"La Vie en Rose" (Winner)
"Norbit"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
"Atonement", Dario Marianelli (Winner)
"The Kite Runner", Alberto Iglesias
"Michael Clayton", James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille", Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma", Marco Beltrami

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Falling Slowly" from "Once" (Winner)
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted"
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush"
"So Close" from "Enchanted"
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted"

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"I Met the Walrus"
"Madame Tutli-Putli"
"Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)"
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)"
"Peter & the Wolf" (Winner)

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
"At Night"
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)"
"Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)" (Winner)
"Tanghi Argentini"
"The Tonto Woman"

BEST SOUND EDITING
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Winner)
"No Country For Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"There Will Be Blood"
"Transformers"

BEST SOUND MIXING
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Winner)
"No Country For Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"3:10 to Yuma"
"Transformers"

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
"The Golden Compass" (Winner)
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
"Transformers"

source: www.latimes.com

FINAL: Oscar Winner Predictions!

2008-02-21T20:16:00.006-05:00

Best Picture: No Country for Old Men
Alternate: There Will Be Blood

Best Director: Joel and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men
Alternate: Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Alternate: George Clooney - Michael Clayton

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard - La Vi En Rose
Alternate: Julie Christie - Away From Her

Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
Alternate: Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Alternate: Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There

Best Original Screenplay: Juno
Alternate: Michael Clayton

Best Adapted Screenplay: There Will Be Blood
Alternate: No Country for Old Men

So those are my predictions for the Oscar winners come Sunday night. Unfortunately I do not believe that there will be too many surprising upsets, but there is always something unexpected. So, I chose Amy Ryan for Best Supporting Actress since she was the favorite at one time. I also chose Paul T. Anderson to win Best Adapted Screenplay giving him his overdue Oscar, but they may be just hoping. The biggest upset I put was Marion Cotillard because she has beaten Julie Christie on occasion and I am hoping more voters have had the chance to watch her film. She had the best performance by a female all year. Sunday night can't come soon enough and I look forward to see how accurate I was able to predict.

SAG Award Winners!

2008-01-27T22:52:00.000-05:00

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Daniel Plainview – There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
JULIE CHRISTIE / Fiona – Away From Her (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh – No Country For Old Men (Miramax Films)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
RUBY DEE / Mama Lucas – American Gangster (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Miramax Films)

JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh
JOSH BROLIN / Llewelyn Moss
GARRET DILLAHUNT / Wendell
TESS HARPER / Loretta Bell

WOODY HARRELSON / Carson Wells
TOMMY LEE JONES / Ed Tom Bell
KELLY MACDONALD / Carla Jean Moss

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
KEVIN KLINE / Jacques – As You Like It (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
QUEEN LATIFAH / Ana – Life Support (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano – The Sopranos (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano – The Sopranos (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – 30 Rock (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – 30 Rock (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
THE SOPRANOS (HBO)

GREGORY ANTONACCI / Butch DeConcini
LORRAINE BRACCO / Dr. Jennifer Melfi
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano
DAN GRIMALDI / Patsy Parisi
ROBERT ILER / Anthony Soprano, Jr.
MICHAEL IMPERIOLI / Christopher Moltisanti
ARTHUR NASCARELLA / Carlo Gervasi

STEVEN R. SCHIRRIPA / Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri
MATT SERVITTO / Agent Dwight Harris
JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER / Meadow Soprano
TONY SIRICO / Paulie “Walnuts” Gaultieri
AIDA TURTURRO / Janice Soprano
STEVEN VAN ZANDT / Silvio Dante
FRANK VINCENT / Phil Leotardo

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
THE OFFICE (NBC)

LESLIE DAVID BAKER / Stanley Hudson
BRIAN BAUMGARTNER / Kevin Malone
CREED BRATTON / Creed
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott
JENNA FISCHER / Pam Beesly
KATE FLANNERY / Meredith Palmer
MELORA HARDIN / Jan Levinson
ED HELMS / Andrew Bernard

MINDY KALING / Kelly Kapoor
ANGELA KINSEY / Angela Martin
JOHN KRASINSKI / Jim Halpert
PAUL LIEBERSTEIN / Toby Flenderson
B.J. NOVAK / Ryan Howard
OSCAR NUÑEZ / Oscar Martinez
PHYLLIS SMITH / Phyllis Lapin
RAINN WILSON / Dwight Schrute

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (Universal)

Evangelos Grecos* Jeff Imada* Miguel Pedregosa* Gary Powell* Darrin Prescott* Scott Rogers* My Rachid Abbad Don Abbatiello George Aguilar Brian Keith Allen Guimoar Alonso William Anagnos Roy T. Anderson Scott Armstrong Luis Miguel Arranz Chris Barnes Randy Beckman Said Belaamim Nikki Berwick Michael Bornhütter David Bosch Tim Buchanan Paul Bucossi Peter Bucossi	Mike Burke Bruce Cain Chris Cenatiempo John Cenatiempo Nick Chopping Bob Colletti Chris Colombo George Colucci, Jr. Gil Combs Aris Comninos Ben Cooke Benito Benitez Crespo Eugenio Jimenez Cubillo J. Patrick Daily Juan Carlos Delgado Kelly Dent Jacob Dewitt Miguel Diaz-Aboitiz George R. Doering Iii Levan Doran Norman Douglass Geoffrey Dowell Ben Dimmock Georg Ebina	Rick English Peter Epstein Jonathan Eusebio Roy Farfel Adil Farsi John Favre Victor Fernandez Frank Ferrara Stephanie Finochio Dean Forster Glenn Foster Tanner Foust Marvin Francis Jeremy Fry Tim Gallin David Garrick Andy Godbould Eduardo Gomez Mohamed Gouyd James Grogan Tarik Hadouch R.D. Hansen Eugene Harrison Franklin Henson
Adolfo Heredia Rob Herring Cort Hessler Iii Donald J. Hewitt Don Hewitt, Sr. Jery Hewitt Jorge Huergo Jason Hunjan Rob Hunt Rob Inch Rowly Irlam Martin Ivanov Victor Ivanov Keone Kim Adam Kirley Mike Lambert Joanne Lamstein Abdelghani Lasfer Derek Lea Maurice Lee David Leitch Antonio Lemos Samir Machtioui John E. Mack Steve Mack Guillermo Maestre Stephen Mann Paul Marini Erik Martin Boris Martinez Santiago Martinez Anna Mastroianni Darren Maynard	Nick Mckinless Jeffrey Medeiros Erol Mehmet Andy Merchant Milesy (Peter) Miles Lee Millham Gareth Milne Lee Morrison Mark Mottram Dino Muccio Ray Nicholas Brian Sonny Nickels James O’dee Chris O’hara Shawn O’neil Mick O’rourke Oscar Outerino Janet Paparazzo Jesus Silva Pascasio Peter Pedrero David Pope Greg Powell Dominic Preece Susan Purkhiser Eva Raboso Markus Ranglack Buster Reeves John Roney Markos Rounthwaite Allison Ryan Johan Saentz Ignacio Garcia J. Sanchis Lutz Schleisner	Kevin Scott Gordon Seed Terry Serpico Diz Sharpe Matt Sherren Nicola Short Dave Shumbris Keith Siglinger Craig “Frosty” Silva Jorge Silva Tony Van Silva Peter B. Simpson Brian Smyj Mark Southworth Marvin Stewart-Campbell Matt Stirling John Street Gary Tacon Alberto Zapata Tatje Roy Taylor Shawnna Thibodeau Arran Topham Mustapha Touki Greg Tracy Manuel Valle Aaron Vexler Vincent Wang Dave Ware Dean Watt Reg Wayment Ronny Wechselberger Donna C. Williams Jose Zorrilla *Stunt Coordinators

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
24 (FOX)

Jeff Cadiente*
Terri Cadiente
Troy Gilbert

Tracy Hite
Dustin Meier
Erik Stabenau

Justin Sundquist

*Stunt Coordinators

Screen Actors Guild Awards 44th Annual Life Achievement Award
Charles Durning

Source: www.sagawards.org

Can "No Country" be Upset for Best Picture?

2008-01-27T20:51:00.000-05:00

As we come closer to this year's Oscar awards show, there are so many question marks that this may be the most exciting Oscar show in history. However most believe the Best Picture category is not one of these, that "No Country for Old Men" is a lock to win and there are really no threats to take it down. While I believe "No Country" is the best film of the year, I definitely do not believe it is a lock to win by any means.
Out of the other four nominees I believe everyone one of them has a chance to upset come Oscar night, but some have a better chance than others. The most likely upset is "There Will Be Blood" which is the only other film with many wins in the Best Picture category throughout the precursor's and it also seems to have the most momentum right now. This could be a "Crash" situation where "No Country" could have peaked too early and "Blood" is the hot film at the moment and steals a victory. Next, is "Atonement" which has extreme backing from select critics and that could help it take away the gold. "Atonement" was considered the front-runner earlier in the year but faded as it seemed like more Europeans loved it than Americans did. However, it did get nominated which shows there is defintely some love for this film out there, and it also beat "No Country" for Best Picture in the Golden Globes. This film could have more support than we realized and take a surprise win home Oscar night.
While I believe those are the most likely upsets "Michael Clayton" and "Juno" also have there chance to shock some people. "Michael Clayton" is the smartest and classiest film nominated and the Academy loves this type of film. This intricate and detailed masterpiece has been doing the most advertising for the Oscars than the other films. With commercials and banners all over the place as well as a re-releasing of the film, the film is certainly doing everything it can to win the prize. "Juno" really isn't a deep enough film to win Best Picture and I believe the backlash of critics and film connoisseurs would be rather harsh if it were to win. However, Juno has a following that really, really loves this film and it will get some votes to win; no doubt about it.
So while I believe it would be a shame if "No Country for Old Men" does not win come Oscar night as it is truly the best film of the year, it's the boring choice, the one that always wins and people get tired of seeing the same thing repeated. But the Oscar is the ultimate and the one award everyone cares about, and while it would be fun if another film takes home the award, "No Country" deserves it the most and most likely will win it in the end.

And the nominees are...wait, who now?

2008-01-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

The 80th annual Oscar nominees were announced today, and while 95% of the nominations were not that strange there were a few big surprises thrown in, as well as some strange choices. The biggest surprise to me is Jason Reitman for Best Director in "Juno". He has received almost no precursors nominations and it really shows how much the Academy loved "Juno". They ate that buzz up hook, line and sinker. Like I said, "Juno" was a great film, just not Best Picture quality. Other surprises included Tommy Lee Jones for "In the Valley of Elah" which was a real shocker. When this film came out there was real Oscar buzz for him in this role, but after the precursors that all faded away. However, it looks like the Academy didn't forget his part, or at least a certain amount of people really loved him. Seeing as the votes are ranked and it is statistically better to be number one on some peoples sheets than number five on most peoples sheets (if you didn't know that).
As for the lack of surprises but strange decisions, there were a few as well. I really don't understand why Cate Blanchett was nominated for "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" and "I'm Not There" when "Elizabeth" was hated by so many as a film. Angelina Jolie was fantastic in "A Mighty Heart" and was snubbed because of this. A positive surprise was Laura Linney getting nominated for "The Savages" but she was really supposed to be in the race for the final slot with Amy Adams and Cate Blanchett, instead Jolie was knocked off.
Two things were clear, they love "Juno" and didn't like "Into the Wild" as much as everyone thought they would. But the picks make things extra interesting, and no one should feel like they have a win coming to them by any means.

Oscar Nominees Announced!

2008-01-22T10:43:00.000-05:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best foreign language film of the year
	“Beaufort” A Metro Communications, Movie Plus Production Israel
	“The Counterfeiters” An Aichholzer Filmproduktion, Magnolia Filmproduktion Production Austria
	“Katyń” An Akson Studio Production Poland
	“Mongol” A Eurasia Film Production Kazakhstan
	“12” A Three T Production Russia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adapted screenplay
	“Atonement” (Focus Features) Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
	“Away from Her” (Lionsgate) Written by Sarah Polley
	“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax/Pathé Renn) Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
	“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
	“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

Original screenplay
	“Juno” (Fox Searchlight) Written by Diablo Cody
	“Lars and the Real Girl” (MGM) Written by Nancy Oliver
	“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.) Written by Tony Gilroy
	“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney) Screenplay by Brad Bird Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
	“The Savages” (Fox Searchlight) Written by Tamara Jenkins Information received from Oscars.org

FINAL: Oscar Predictions - Major Categories

2008-01-20T19:13:00.000-05:00

Best Picture
1) No Country for Old Men (Lock)
2) There Will Be Blood (Lock)
3) Michael Clayton (98% chance)
4) Into the Wild (95% chance)
5) Atonement (75% chance - a shot in the dark here but I think it will make it)

Alternates: Juno, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Director
1) Joel and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men (Lock)
2) Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood (Lock)
3) Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Lock)
4) Sean Penn - Into the Wild (95% chance)
5) Tim Burton - Sweeney Todd (75% chance)

Alternate: Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton

Best Actor
1) Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood (Lock)
2) George Clooney - Michael Clayton (Lock)
3) Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd (Lock)
4) Viggo Mortenson - Eastern Promises (95% chance)
5) Emile Hirsch - Into the Wild (80% chance)

Alternate: Ryan Gosling - Lars and the Real Girl

Best Actress
1) Julie Christie - Away From Her (Lock)
2) Marion Cotillard - La Vi En Rose (Lock)
3) Ellen Page - Juno (Lock)
4) Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart (Lock)
5) Amy Adams - Enchanted (60 % chance)

Alternates: Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Laura Linney - The Savages

Best Supporting Actor
1) Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
2) Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
3) Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton
4) Hal Holbrook - Into the Wild
5) Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson's War

Alternate: Tommy Lee Jones - No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress
1) Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There
2) Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
3) Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
4) Catherine Keener - Into the Wild
5) Vanessa Redgrave - Atonement

Alternates: Ruby Dee - American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan - Atonement

Best Original Screenplay
1) Michael Clayton
2) Juno
3) The Savages
4) Lars and the Real Girl
5) Ratatouille

Alternate: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Best Adapted Screenplay
1) No Country for Old Men
2) There Will Be Blood
3) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
4) Zodiac
5) Into the Wild

Alternate: Atonement

So those are my final predictions before the announcement Tuesday morning. There certainly will be some surprises, but I believe these are the most likely nominations. I'm most uneasy about Atonement for Best Picture and Amy Adams for Best Actress. For Atonement, it is loved by many and not liked too much by others, but I believe the love will carry it through. As for Adams, I don't think Cate Blanchett will be nominated twice, especially when Elizabeth was loathed by so many as a film, and Adams is a nice change of pace for the lot. Tuesday morning can't come soon enough and I can't wait to see the actual nominees for this year's Oscar race.