My Oscar Picks

Update: 2.24.08: I'm patting myself on the back for going 5 for 5! Maybe it was an easy year. . .but I am going to go with astute movie-watching and a good sense of what my Entertainment Weekly says as the reasons for my success. . .haha! Kind of a boring show as usual, but I was glad to see good movies getting their due (uh, Departed for Best Picture?). I am going to catch up on the rest of the movies and then start working on next year!

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Original Post Date: 2.23.08
Since 5 Ninja Stars seems to bit the dust, I'm posting this here. I've now seen all 5 of the "Best Picture" nominees. I've also seen a bunch of the other films/performances and have largely been in agreement with the nominee selection and the winners from other award shows. There are a few I'll never see just because I have no interest, like Sweeney Todd, I'm Not There or American Gangster. I also probably won't do too well with my picks (I never do) but here goes:

Best Picture: No Country For Old Men
I really enjoyed both Michael Clayton and Juno. Atonement was sad - tragic, even, but meh, just ok. There Will Be Blood was really all about the performance of Daniel Day Lewis - the film was good but everything memorable from the movie was DDL. And I hid my eyes through a lot of No Country. But NCFOM had the best story - certainly a commentary on the evils of our world - and excellent acting all around. Nice coming out party for Josh Brolin and I think Tommy Lee Jones was better here than in In the Valley of Elah (snooze movie, oddly unmoving). So, I think it's the year for the Coen Brothers (Best Director(s)) and Javier Barden (Best Supporting Actor) and of course, Best Picture. But I could be wrong. My 2nd pick would be Juno - for it's originality, good acting and overall entertainment value. (I'm sure now that I've said this, There Will Be Blood Will win!)

Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis
Like I said above, he absolutely MADE this movie. And I like milkshakes. =) Probably not fair, because I didn't see Johnny Depp's performance, but DDL was truly mesmerizing. He WAS Daniel Plainview - from his early charm to later madness, he embodied the dude. Viggo/Aragorn was good too - but I'm not sure anyone saw that movie. Recent articles say that George Clooney might be the surprise winner. That would be disappointing because I feel like George Clooney is just Danny Ocean playing a serious role - he doesn't always convince me - but maybe that's what makes him great? We'll see.

Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem
No question, friend-o. He scared the crap out of me. Totally not a fair pick b/c I've only seen Tom Wilkinson in this category. . . but I'm going with it. After seeing Gone, Baby Gone, I'm now a fan of Casey Affleck. . .but don't think he's going to win this. Maybe next year.

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard
La Vie En Rose was an ok movie - slow at times, confusing at others. But Marion Cotillard (also in "A Very Long Engagement") absolutely embodied Edith Piaf. From youth to old age (she looked old but was only in her late 40s) she nailed it. Ellen Page is dullsville in real life & I don't know how much of a stretch it was for her. Cate Blanchett is always good, but Elizabeth was just meh. Julie Christie might win for the saddest movie ever! If there was an award for that, Away from Her would win no contest. I love Laura Linney, but didn't see the movie so I can't fairly pick her (though who said this was fair?)

Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton
I think the favorite is Amy Ryan in this category, but I'm going with the Brit because I like her movies. The teenager has many more chances and I didn't have any desire to see the other two movies (American Gangster or I'm Not There) so they don't get my pick.

So those are the big ones. I don't know anything about screenplay writing or direction so I didn't pick those. Also, I didn't see Ratatouille, but I hope that wins because Pixar is local (west coast!). I'll check back in after the show. . .or maybe I'll try my hand at some "live-blogging"!