it's that time of year again and this year should be one of the more interesting Academy Awards presentation. Let’s start with the hosting duties. After so many years using a comedian I was a little surprised that the Oscar folks would go with actor Hugh Jackman to host the 81st Academy Award ceremony. Especially when you consider the times we’re living in right now why not the obvious choice of a comedian? Maybe the Academy doesn’t like our ilk making fun of their industry? The ratings for the Oscars haven’t been so great in years past so maybe it’ll take an X-Men to turn things around. I’m sure if Jackman’s jokes don’t fly he can just morph into Wolverine and show his claws for some respect. Some categories are easier than others but I’m still a little miffed that “The Dark Knight” failed to make it in the Best Picture category when we all know that the members of the Academy not only watched it but loved it too. I guess movies based on comic book heroes still isn’t considered cool. Let’s start with that category shall we?
BEST PICTURE
The nominees are:
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk”
“The Reader”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“The Reader” and “Frost/Nixon” would be considered a spoiler and “Milk” was my first choice in this category. However after seeing both “Benjamin Button” and Danny Boyle’s independent phenom, “Slumdog Millionaire” I’m torn and almost was leaning toward a dead heat but I have made my mind up and thereby declare the winner to be: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ACTOR
The nominees are:
Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn for “Milk”
Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler”
Richard Jenkins for “The Visitor”
It appears that everybody loves a comeback and so do I. As much as I loved Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” and liked Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” I’m going with Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler.” Brad Pitt was very good with all that CGI effects and Sean Penn already has an Oscar for “Mystic River.” At age 56 Mickey Rourke would not only beat the odds in a movie that could have been his bio pic but give him a new lease in the business playing a has-been wrestler. The spoiler could be Sean Penn but I declare the winner to be: Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler.
BEST ACTRESS
The nominees are:
Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie for “The Changeling”
Melissa Leo for “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep for “Doubt”
Kate Winslet for “The Reader”
Although the buzz seems to be for Anne Hathaway I’m torn between the multi talented Meryl Streep who won a Golden Globe for “Mama Mia” just proving her amazing versatility as an actress. Melissa Leo was incredible as the single mom who participates in smuggling illegals across the Canadian border but no one saw “Frozen River” and you should. Angelina Jolie was very good as another mother in another unthinkable situation but I have to go with Kate. She won a Golden Globe this year but is still 0 for 5 when it comes to getting an Oscar. The spoiler could be Streep but I declare the winner to be: Kate Winslet for The Reader
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
The nominees are:
Josh Brolin for “Milk”
Robert Downey, Jr. for “Tropic Thunder”
Philip Seymour Hoffman for “Doubt”
Michael Shannon for “Revolutionary Road”
Heath Ledger for “The Dark Knight”
You have to get credit to the Academy for even considering Robert Downey, Jr. in black face for his hilarious turn in “Tropic Thunder.” Josh Brolin has been on a role too lately what with last year’s “W” and “No Country for Old Men” in 2007. The bottom line however is that no one can expect to come close to the posthumous award that will be given to Heath Ledger for his portrayal of the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” I’m sure everyone here would easily agree that the winner hands down is: Heath Ledger for “The Dark Knight.”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The nominees are:
Amy Adams for “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis for “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Marisa Tomei for “The Wrestler”
Wouldn’t it be great to see Marisa Tomei win one for “The Wrestler” (she already has an Oscar for “My Cousin Vinny”)? While Taraji P. Henson to me is the underdog here I’m betting the Academy will reward Penelope Cruz here since she was overlooked (but nominated) in 2006’s “Volver”so I declare the winner to be: Penelope Cruz for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
BEST DIRECTOR
The nominees are:
David Fincher for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard for “Frost/Nixon”
Gus Van Sant for “Milk”
Stephen Daldry for “The Reader”
Danny Boyle for “Slumdog Millionaire”
I have to admit the dark horse here is Gus Van Sant for “Milk” and yes, the Oscars have been a surprise splitting the Best Picture category with Best Director. But I think the Academy is going to go with both for director Danny Boyle because his other great pictures (“Trainspotting” and “28 Days Later”) were overlooked.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The nominees are:
Dustin Lance Black for “Milk”
Courtney Hunt for “Frozen River”
Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon for “Wall-E”
Mike Leigh for “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Martin McDonagh for “In Bruges”
The odds are Dustin Lance Black will win because of getting dhut out in the other categories and wouldn’t it be great if the animated feature, “Wall-E” were to win awarding both Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon? I am going to go way out on a limb here and vote for Courtney Hunt who not only wrote but also directed “Frozen River” so I do declare the winner to be: Courtney Hunt.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The nominees are:
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Simon Beaufoy for “Slumdog Millionaire”
John Patrick Shanley for “Doubt”
Peter Morgan for “Frost/Nixon”
David Hare for “The Reader”
I should go with Eric Roth for his epic, “Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
but Simon Beaufoy’s “Slumdog Millionaire” still holds up after a few screenings so I’m going with the sure here and declare the winner to be: Simon Beaufoy for “Slumdog Millionaire.”
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The nominees are:
“Wall-E”
“Bolt”
“Kung Fu Panda”
There is no getting around the fact that “Wall-E” with its message (and needing absolutely zero dialogue) should have been nominated as well in the Best Picture category. As entertaining for the kids that “Bolt” and “Kung Fu Panda” there’s nothing more universal for a movie that appeals to all ages in an animated format so I am definitely going to declare the winner here to be:
“Wall-E.”
For the other categories I declare the winners to be:
Best Documentary: “Man On Wire”
Best Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Costume Design: “The Duchess”
Best Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Song: “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
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