I feel that this year is dramatically different from the past two years. Last year were called "The Dark Oscars" for the multiple nominations of films with dark nature. The Best Picture nominees were Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, Sweeny Todd: Barber of Demon Street There Will Be Blood. With Juno being the odd film out... all weren't your usual Best Picture nominees.
This year is far different, but I do feel that the partly snubbed some incredible films. I'll give my thoughts and snubs with each category.
WINNERS IN BOLD
Technical Awards
Best Visual Design
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Iron Man
Best Sound Mixing
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Wall*E
-Wanted
Best Sound Editing
-The Dark Knight
-Iron Man
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Wall*E
-Wanted
Best Original Song
-Down to Earth - Wall*E
-Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire
-O Saya - Slumdog Millionaire
OK, here comes my first Oscar snub. The obvious snub in this category was Bruce Springsteen's song 'The Wrestler' for the movie... well, uh "The Wrestler'. Due to Slumdog Millionaire having two nominees in this category, and surprise win for Wall*E could happen. That said, I'm sticking with 'Jai Ho' to win Best Original Song.
Best Original Score
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Defiance
-Milk
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Wall*E
While Defiance was one of my personal favorites, it just can't match Slumdog Millionaire's. Slumdog takes it. On a side note, The Dark Knight should have been nominated for Best Original Score.
Best Makeup
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
Best Film Editing
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Frost/Nixon
-Milk
-Slumdog Millionaire
The clear front runners for the Academy Awards are Slumdog and Benjamin Button, and the outcome for Best Picture could start right here. To be honest, I haven't seen Benjamin Button, but all signs have been pointing to Slumdog picking up this category.
Best Documentary
-Nerakhoon
-Encounters at the End of the World
-The Garden
-Man on Wire
-Trouble the Water
Uh... read my latest review.
Best Costume Design
-Australia
-Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Duchess
-Milk
-Revolutionary Road
There's been an odd rule that's proven it worth the past couple of years. The older the film takes place, the more likely it is to win. That said, this one belongs to The Duchess.
Best Cinematography
-Changling
-Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-The Reader
-Slumdog Millionaire
Best Art Direction
-Changling
-Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-The Reader
-Slumdog Millionaire
Major Awards
Best Foreign Film
-"Waltz with Bashir" (Israel)
-"The Baader Meinhof Complex" (Germany)
-"The Class" (France)
-"Departures" (Japan)
-"Revanche" (Austria)
Best Foreign Film will come down to two films, "The Class" and "Waltz with Bashir". "Waltz with Bashir" has been the favorite going in, but "The Class" has been gaining ground. I'm sticking "Waltz".
Best Animated Film
-"WALL-E"
-"Kung-Fu Panda"
-"Bolt"
This is the second safest pick for the night. Wall*E easily.
Best Adapted Screenplay
-"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Eric Roth
-"Doubt" John Patrick Shanley
-"Frost/Nixon" Peter Morgan
-"The Reader" David Hare
-"Slumdog Millionaire" Simon Beaufoy
Best Original Screenplay
-"Frozen River" Courtney Hunt
-"Happy-Go-Lucky" Mike Leigh
-"In Bruges" Martin McDonagh
-"Milk" Dustin Lance Black
-"WALL-E" Andrew Stanton/Jim Reardon
I would love for "In Bruges" for win this, but the favorite is "Milk".
The Big Six
Best Supporting Actress
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
Amy Adams "Doubt"
Penelope Cruz "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis "Doubt"
Taraji P. Henson "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Marisa Tomei "The Wrestler"
I feel that Viola Davis should win this. The only problem is that two actors from "Doubt" have been nominated. This causes trouble for Adams and Davis as it will likely split the voters. Due to this, Penelope Cruz should win. Don't rule out Viola Davis though.
Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman "Doubt"
Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight"
Michael Shannon "Revolutionary Road"
The safest bet, without a doubt is Heath Ledger. While Hoffman took Ledger's Oscar in 2005, Hoffman's excellent role wont top Heath Ledger's. I think that this is the best category out of any in the night, I absolutely love all of these actors and all of them are incredibly talented. Some people want to say that the only reason Heath will win is because he died. Those people are foolish.
Best Actress
Anne Hathaway "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie "Changeling"
Melissa Leo "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep "Doubt"
Kate Winslet "The Reader"
Another fine category, and this one will most likely go Kate Winslet. Winslet is 0 for 5 on Oscar night, but tonight will be the night that she finally earns one. The only one who can sneak up and take it away is Meryl Streep... who has had 14 nominations before this.
Best Actor
Richard Jenkins "The Visitor"
Sean Penn "Milk"
Frank Langella "Frost/Nixon"
Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler"
Brad Pitt "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Probably the biggest horse race of the night, it's going to become between Penn and Rourke. While I have a feeling that Penn might take it, I just can't choose against Rourke. Many others feel the same way and that just might put Rourke on top.
Best Director
Danny Boyle "Slumdog Millionaire"
David Fincher "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Stephen Daldry "The Reader"
Gus Van Sant "Milk"
Ron Howard "Frost/Nixon"
I'm not going to lie. I absolutely love Danny Boyle's work, he was one of my favorite directors before Slumdog Millionaire released. I had high expectations for the film and it even exceeded them. Danny Boyle is the clear front runner for the category and I see him earning an Oscar. My biggest problem also lies here. I do not see why Stephen Daldry was nominated for Best Director. It's not big secret that the Academy has a thing for him, he's been nominated two times before for mediocre films, and The Reader hasn't been anything different. Daldry's spot should have gone to Christopher Nolan for his work on "The Dark Knight".
Best Picture
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Milk"
"Frost/Nixon"
"The Reader"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
Slumdog Millionaire is the front runner and I expect it to take the Oscar Sunday night. The only one who could take it from Slumdog is Benjamin Button, but if it doesn't take of of Slumdog's awards Sunday night, it's got no chance. And to be honest, my Best Picture nominees would have been: The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Wrestler. With Slumdog still winning.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
Amy Adams "Doubt"
Penelope Cruz "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis "Doubt"
Taraji P. Henson "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Marisa Tomei "The Wrestler"
I feel that Viola Davis should win this. The only problem is that two actors from "Doubt" have been nominated. This causes trouble for Adams and Davis as it will likely split the voters. Due to this, Penelope Cruz should win. Don't rule out Viola Davis though.
Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman "Doubt"
Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight"
Michael Shannon "Revolutionary Road"
The safest bet, without a doubt is Heath Ledger. While Hoffman took Ledger's Oscar in 2005, Hoffman's excellent role wont top Heath Ledger's. I think that this is the best category out of any in the night, I absolutely love all of these actors and all of them are incredibly talented. Some people want to say that the only reason Heath will win is because he died. Those people are foolish.
Best Actress
Anne Hathaway "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie "Changeling"
Melissa Leo "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep "Doubt"
Kate Winslet "The Reader"
Another fine category, and this one will most likely go Kate Winslet. Winslet is 0 for 5 on Oscar night, but tonight will be the night that she finally earns one. The only one who can sneak up and take it away is Meryl Streep... who has had 14 nominations before this.
Best Actor
Richard Jenkins "The Visitor"
Sean Penn "Milk"
Frank Langella "Frost/Nixon"
Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler"
Brad Pitt "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Probably the biggest horse race of the night, it's going to become between Penn and Rourke. While I have a feeling that Penn might take it, I just can't choose against Rourke. Many others feel the same way and that just might put Rourke on top.
Best Director
Danny Boyle "Slumdog Millionaire"
David Fincher "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Stephen Daldry "The Reader"
Gus Van Sant "Milk"
Ron Howard "Frost/Nixon"
I'm not going to lie. I absolutely love Danny Boyle's work, he was one of my favorite directors before Slumdog Millionaire released. I had high expectations for the film and it even exceeded them. Danny Boyle is the clear front runner for the category and I see him earning an Oscar. My biggest problem also lies here. I do not see why Stephen Daldry was nominated for Best Director. It's not big secret that the Academy has a thing for him, he's been nominated two times before for mediocre films, and The Reader hasn't been anything different. Daldry's spot should have gone to Christopher Nolan for his work on "The Dark Knight".
Best Picture
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Milk"
"Frost/Nixon"
"The Reader"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
Slumdog Millionaire is the front runner and I expect it to take the Oscar Sunday night. The only one who could take it from Slumdog is Benjamin Button, but if it doesn't take of of Slumdog's awards Sunday night, it's got no chance. And to be honest, my Best Picture nominees would have been: The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Wrestler. With Slumdog still winning.
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