Sunday, February 24, 2008

Obligatory Oscar ostinato

In six hours, the Academy Awards will begin. Folks don’t seem as pumped as usual. I wonder why? Did we striking writers spoil the spirit of the season?

Whatev. Here are my Oscar picks. Feel free to share your own.

BEST ACTOR: Daniel Day-Lewis. Bet the house.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Javier Bardem. This is a good competitive category. If there’s an upset, it’ll be Tom Wilkinson from “Michael Clayton.” P.S. Hoffman is being overpraised for his mannered performance in “Charlie Wilson’s War.”

BEST ACTRESS: Julie Christie. Oops. I didn’t see any of these movies. So I go with a wild guess.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Amy Ryan. I heard she was good in “Gone Baby Gone.”

BEST DIRECTOR: Joel & Ethan Coen. “No Country for Old Men” is a masterpiece of visual storytelling. Bet the boat.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Nancy Oliver for “Lars and the Real Girl.” It’s the longest of long shots, but I’m hoping.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: The Coen Brothers. Sweep!

BEST PICTURE: “No Country for Old Men.” I recently saw it for a second time. Less pissed off about the ending; more thrilled about everything else. Bet the first-born.

15 comments:

Lola Gets said...

I liked "Gone Baby Gone", I thought it was well done. While I like the fact that Ruby Dee was finally nominated for an award, I just dont think this was the role to be nominated for, ya know? Ive seen better from her.

L

Undercover Black Man said...

^ Yeah, Lola... she had one great scene in "American Gangster." That won't be enough to get her over.

Anonymous said...

Man, I hope Amy Ryan wins. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening. I see Kate B. winning for her Dylan role. Not saying she should win, I just think that'll be what goes down.

I hope I'm wrong.

SJ said...

I saw NCFOM again a few days ago, and it is indeed a masterpiece. The perfect pacing, the visual aspect of the movie, the acting, etc. It is definitely my favorite Coen brothers' movie ever. And it is a brilliant adaptation of the book too.

I agree that Hoffman was overrated in Charlie Wilson's War.

Amy Ryan was great in Gone Baby Gone.

Anonymous said...

Bardem and Lewis are the two biggest locks of the night.

Anonymous said...

Folks don’t seem as pumped as usual. I wonder why? Did we striking writers spoil the spirit of the season?


I just went through the list to make my picks and I think the reason has less to do with the writers and more to do with the lack of one film everyone's behind. I know I'm split between NCFOM and TWBB, and for the rest, I haven't seen a lot of 'em yet. The film I'm most excited about is RATATOUILLE :-)
I hope it wins lots of the awards it's up for, thought I doubt it (it will probably get aced out by THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM for the sound editing & such).

Lewis may not be a lock if the article I read about Clooney getting lots of buzz is true. It would be a shame if Lewis is ignored for this role.

My picks are the same as yours, UBM, except: Cate Blanchette for Best Supporting Actress and Diablo Cody for Best Original Screenplay. They got the Independent Spirit Awards and I wouldn't be surprised to see them get Oscars, too.

Undercover Black Man said...

^ Well, dez, I think "Ratatouille" is a lock for Best Animated Feature. And wouldn't shock me to see it win Original Screenplay.

Anonymous said...

^It's a wonderful movie. It's the top of my top 10 movies of 2007 :-)

Anonymous said...

^And it just won. YAY!!!

SJ said...

You called it, friendo.

wanda loves... said...

david please explain the hollywood obsession with "Juno". I just really dont get it.

Undercover Black Man said...

david please explain the hollywood obsession with "Juno".

You know what, Wanda? I still haven't seen it. And the Oscar doesn't make me wanna see it either.

But if I ever do, it'll be exactly for the reason you say: to figure out why everybody else is going nuts.

Undercover Black Man said...

You called it, friendo.

I should be a horse-bettor, SJ.

SJ said...

Juno was a fun movie, only made worthwhile by the oustanding Ellen Page. It's not as good as everybody says it is, but I never felt as if there was a dull moment. The script is odd but enjoyable.

quirkychick said...

I was rooting for Juno because I was a long time reader of her blog Pussy Ranch - going back to 2004. I think I told you about her way back when Dave - She was a flat chested stripper working the lunch shift and she was hilarious.

When I finished watching the movie I predicted that she would win for best original screenplay (my friend hated it and walked out of the room). I watched Lars and the Real Girl the next day and I loved that movie - thought about it for days.

They were both about love and family, but I think that Juno was probably easier to digest for most.