The Academy Awards start tonight at 8pm EST. Here are our predictions. Check out the full list of nominees here.
Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Should Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Will Win: Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Should Win: Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Will Win: Kate Winslet in The Reader
Should Win: Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
BY DAN MECCA
Film critic David Denby, who’s always been hit-or-miss in my book but never short of defending his opinions with excellent conviction, wrote this nice little ditty exposing 4 out of the 5 Best Pic noms (he liked Milk) as studio-backed and fairy-tale frauds. I especially enjoy the bit about The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Check out the piece here. I caught this thing on In Contention and am happy to see people giving Denby some much needed respect. Whether I wholly agree with this column or not (I really enjoyed Slumdog, Benjamin Button and Frost/Nixon but didn’t like The Reader) the guy’s a great writer and should have as big an audience as possible now-a-days, as film critics drop faster and farther daily than the stock market.
So give it a read and write your thoughts at the bottom.
Do you agree with Denby? Did you like Rachel Getting Married or Happy-Go-Lucky that much?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leads with 13 Nominations.
Here are the 81st Academy Award Nominations:
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
Benjamin Button
Milk
Richard Jenkins in The Visitor
Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn in Milk
Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jollie in Changeling
Melissa Leo in Frozen River
Meryl Streep in Doubt
Kate Winslet in The Reader
Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder
Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt
Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Josh Brolin in Milk
Amy Adams in Doubt
Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis in Doubt
Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marrisa Tomei in The Wrestler
Gus Van Sant for Milk
Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Howard for Frost/Nixon
Stephen Daldry for The Reader
Courtney Hunt for Frozen River
Mike Leigh for Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonagh for In Bruges
Andrew Stanton for Wall-E
Dustin Lance Black for Milk
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley for Doubt
Peter Morgan for Frost/Nixon
David Hare for The Reader
Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog Millionaire
Bolt
Wall-E
Kung Fu Panda
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road
Changeling
Slumdog Millionaire
The Reader
Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Milk
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road
Encounters at the End of the World
Man on Wire
The Betrayal
The Garden
Trouble the Water
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness – From the Balcony of Room 306
Best Animated Short Film
La Maison en Petits Cubes
Lavatory – Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up
Best Live Action Short Film
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
Benjamin Button
Milk
The Baader Meinhof Complex
The Class
Departures
Revanche
Waltz with Bashir
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Dark Knight
Hellboy II
Wall-E
Slumdog Millionaire
Defiance
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Milk
Down to Earth from Wall-E
O Saya from Slumdog Millionaire
Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire
The Dark Knight
Wanted
Iron Man
Wall-E
Slumdog Millionaire
The Dark Knight
Wanted
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Wall-E
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Dark Knight
Wall-E
The Oscars are hosted by Hugh Jackman will take place on February 22nd.
Do you agree with the nominations?
On Thursday morning, the Oscar nominations will be announced. However, we’ve got all the nominations and potential winners here for you now. And yes, we ARE predicting a Winslet sweep, based on her recent luck with her peers, many of whom are part of the Academy. Speaking of sweeps, it looks like it will be a Slumdog sweep as well.
Sixty percent of the time, we’re right – every time.
Starting from Screenplay and tracking up to Best Picture, these are films (and people) who we see getting nominated. We have bolded our predicted winners in each category. The nominations are announced at 8:38 am EST at Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Thursday, Jan 22nd.
-Woody Allen – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
- Dustin Lance Black – Milk
- Mike Leigh – Happy-Go-Lucky
- Robert D. Siegel – The Wrestler
- Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon – Wall-E
- Simon Beaufoy – Slumdog Millionaire
- Peter Morgan – Frost/Nixon
- Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan – The Dark Knight
- Eric Roth – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- John Patrick Shanley – Doubt
-Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
- Viola Davis – Doubt
- Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler
- Kate Winslet – The Reader
- Josh Brolin – Milk
- Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
- Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
- Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
- Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire
- Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
- Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky
- Angelina Jolie – Changeling
- Meryl Streep – Doubt
- Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road
- Clint Eastwood – Gran Torino
- Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
- Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
- Sean Penn – Milk
- Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
- Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
- David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
- Christopher Nolan – The Dark Knight
- Gus Van Sant – Milk
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- The Dark Knight
- Frost/Nixon
- Milk
- Slumdog Millionaire
The 81st Academy Awards will air on Sunday, February 22nd, hosted by Hugh Jackman.
Do you agree with our predictions? What are yours?
5. Clint Eastwood, Best Actor – Gran Torino
Great, his last acting performance. He does a fine job mocking his Dirty Harry image and conveying drama from a sub-par screenplay and sub-par acting counterparts, but that DOES NOT mean he deserves an Oscar nom.
4. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Best Supporting Actor – Doubt
This was undoubtedly (see what I did there) a great performance, but simply not in the Top 5 supporting actor performances of the year. I’ll take Ledger, Downey Jr., Brolin (in Milk), Bill Irwin (in Rachel Getting Married) and James Franco in Milk OR Pineapple Express.
3. Gus Van Sant, Best Director – Milk
Have you seen Van Sant’s other flicks? This thing is amateur compared to the command of frame he’s shown in films such as My Own Private Idaho or even Good Will Hunting.
2. Meryl Streep, Best Actress – Doubt
Meryl Streep is perhaps the best actress in Hollywood (though Kate and Cate are giving her a run for her money) but her turn as an autocratic nun gets a little too ham-fisted for a film so grounded in social issues.
1. Milk, Best Picture
While it may be the RIGHT picture for the RIGHT time, it is certainly not the best of the year. Like too many biopics, it follows a formula that feels all too familiar now-a-days. But then, the Academy eats that stuff up.
What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? What’s your 5?
The 2008 Golden Globe awards air tonight at 8pm EST on NBC. Here are our predictions:
Frost/Nixon (2008)
The Reader (2008)
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) – BOTH
Burn After Reading (2008)
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) – WILL
In Bruges (2008) – SHOULD
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Leonardo DiCaprio for Revolutionary Road (2008)
Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon (2008)
Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler (2008) – SHOULD
Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married (2008) – SHOULD
Angelina Jolie for Changeling (2008)
Meryl Streep for Doubt (2008)
Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road (2008) – WILL
Javier Bardem for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Colin Farrell for In Bruges (2008) – WILL
James Franco for Pineapple Express (2008) – SHOULD
Brendan Gleeson for In Bruges (2008)
Dustin Hoffman for Last Chance Harvey (2008)
Rebecca Hall for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) – BOTH
Frances McDormand for Burn After Reading (2008)
Meryl Streep for Mamma Mia! (2008)
Emma Thompson for Last Chance Harvey (2008)
Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder (2008)
Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder (2008)
Ralph Fiennes for The Duchess (2008)
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt (2008)
Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008) – BOTH
Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) – WILL
Viola Davis for Doubt (2008)
Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler (2008) – SHOULD
Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)
Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008) – BOTH
Stephen Daldry for The Reader (2008)
David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon (2008)
Sam Mendes for Revolutionary Road (2008)
Doubt (2008): John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon (2008): Peter Morgan
The Reader (2008): David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Simon Beaufoy – BOTH
Bolt (2008)(“I Thought I Lost You”)
Cadillac Records (2008)(“Once in a Lifetime”)
Gran Torino (2008)(“Gran Torino”)
WALL·E (2008)(“Down to Earth”)
The Wrestler (2008)(“The Wrestler”) – BOTH
Changeling (2008): Clint Eastwood
Defiance (2008): James Newton Howard
Frost/Nixon (2008): Hans Zimmer
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman – BOTH
“Dexter” (2006)
“House M.D.” (2004)
“In Treatment” (2008)
“Mad Men” (2007) – BOTH
“True Blood” (2007)
“Californication” (2007) – SHOULD
“Entourage” (2004)
“The Office” (2005)
“30 Rock” (2006) – WILL
“Weeds” (2005)
Bernard and Doris (2007)
“Cranford” (2007)
“John Adams” (2008) – BOTH
A Raisin in the Sun (2008) (TV)
Recount (2008) (TV)
Ralph Fiennes for Bernard and Doris (2007)
Paul Giamatti for “John Adams” (2008) – BOTH
Kevin Spacey for Recount (2008) (TV)
Kiefer Sutherland for 24: Redemption (2008) (TV)
Tom Wilkinson for Recount (2008) (TV)
Judi Dench for “Cranford” (2007)
Catherine Keener for An American Crime (2007)
Laura Linney for “John Adams” (2008) – BOTH
Shirley MacLaine for Coco Chanel (2008) (TV)
Susan Sarandon for Bernard and Doris (2007)
Alec Baldwin for “30 Rock” (2006)
Steve Carell for “The Office” (2005)
Kevin Connolly for “Entourage” (2004)
David Duchovny for “Californication” (2007) – BOTH
Tony Shalhoub for “Monk” (2002)
Christina Applegate for “Samantha Who?” (2007)
America Ferrera for “Ugly Betty” (2006)
Debra Messing for “The Starter Wife” (2008)
Mary-Louise Parker for “Weeds” (2005)
Gabriel Byrne for “In Treatment” (2008)
Michael C. Hall for “Dexter” (2006) – SHOULD
Hugh Laurie for “House M.D.” (2004)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers for “The Tudors” (2007)
Sally Field for “Brothers & Sisters” (2006)
January Jones for “Mad Men” (2007) – SHOULD
Anna Paquin for “True Blood” (2007)
Kyra Sedgwick for “The Closer” (2005) – WILL
Neil Patrick Harris for “How I Met Your Mother” (2005) – BOTH
Denis Leary for Recount (2008) (TV)
Jeremy Piven for “Entourage” (2004)
Blair Underwood for “In Treatment” (2008)
Tom Wilkinson for “John Adams” (2008)
Eileen Atkins for “Cranford” (2007)
Laura Dern for Recount (2008) (TV) – BOTH
Melissa George for “In Treatment” (2008)
Rachel Griffiths for “Brothers & Sisters” (2006)
Dianne Wiest for “In Treatment” (2008)
Check back tonight with the full list of winners.
Agree with my predictions? Who do you think will take home the awards tonight?
/Film says:
Earlier today people noticed something strange on the Official Golden Globe’s website — Anne Hathaway was marked as the winner for Best Actress in a Drama. But the Award winners won’t be announced until Sunday night. Some websites reported that the Hollywood’s foreign press had made a big slip up, but I believe it is more than likely just an error on the part of the site’s webmaster. You will notice that the above list is in alphabetical order.
So I guess we will see Sunday night if this is true or not. I believe Hathaway completely deserves the win if she is to get it.
Do you think Hathaway deserves to get the win?
Unlike Jordan, I decided to stay traditional and put down the 20 best films of the year. Because if I did put down my faves something silly like Role Models might find its way in there (go see that by the way if you have yet to).
So here it goes:
20. Tropic Thunder
Downey Jr.’s black, Stiller’s Stiller, McConaghey plays a deutsche-bag and Tom Cruise looks ugly and dances to club rap while making fun of Hollywood. Yes…please!
19. In Bruges
A cold hitman British gangster flick with a heart? Yes sir. And Colin Farrell at the top of his game, once again proving he’s one of the most underrated actors around
18. Before Tomorrow
You may never see this film about the Inuit struggle in theaters, but when it comes out on DVD (probably have to get it on Netflix) just learn some patience and watch it. It’s worth it.
17. Milk
The SAG best ensemble acting of the year should go here. Everyone in this movie are the real-life people they are portraying. And watching Penn act as a genuinely happy person is refreshing.
16. Cloverfield
If you were lucky enough to be in the theaters the opening weekend of it’s release, you know why I love this film. A roller coaster of a monster movie with a clever story, clever dialogue, clever camerawork, and clever comic relief. A film borne and bred out of our techno-culture, and something to be remembered.
15. Snow Angels
The fact that Kate Beckinsale will not get nominated for her performance is almost unforgivable. As a matter of fact, the fact that NOBODY will get nominated IS unforgivable. Academy, consider yourself unforgiven, and I’m not talking about the overrated Clint Eastwood western.
14. Happy-Go-Lucky
Mike Leigh (director) and Sally Hawkins (plays Poppy, the happy one in the picture) deliver a comedy that induces real laughs while observing the difficulty most people have in being happy with their lives. Cue Eddie Marsan in a slightly heart-breaking performance. You’ll laugh, but you’ll want to cry a little bit.
13. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
If the most perfect Judd Apatow comedy had sex with the most perfect classic romance story, the result would look dangerously similar to this movie.
12. Rachel Getting Married
Academy, if you give Anne Hathaway the Oscar she rightly deserves for this performance (Winslet can wait another year), you will be forgiven.
11. Frost/Nixon
A boxing match of an interview, and an important moment in history told by Ron Howard (who should stick to history and leave Holy Grail-related action alone) and acted to perfection by Michael Sheen and Frank Langella. Also tensely written by Peter Morgan.
10. Synecdoche, New York
Thought-provoking film by Charlie Kaufman. Every line and mannerism is a reflection on the idea that “life is art” and vice versa. How one embraces (or escapes) this paradox is the ultimate struggle, resulting in a film to be studied for years to come.
9. Reprise
Similar to Synecdoche in its observation of life and art, throughout the film two young authors and best friends struggle with the narrative of their own lives.
8. The Wrestler
Far and away the best performance of the year, courtesy of Mickey Rourke. And the directing aint bad either. And neither is Marisa Tomei, but then she’s always good.
7. The Dark Knight
[Insert own praise here]
6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Groundbreaking special effects, spot-on chemistry between Pitt and Blanchett (see above picture for further proof) and a keen visual eye by director David Fincher. A classic, whether you like it or not.
5. Australia
Look at those two! Look at em! And then add the landscape of the Land Down Under and a grandiose epic tale including war, romance, and a shitload of comedy. Why this thing was not a mind-blowing success, critically at least, I fail to see. Critics, please remove bug out of ass.
4. Let the Right One In
The best vampire film ever made. And I AM including the classics you assume I have not seen.
3. Hunger
Featuring long, unflinching shots and a powerful scene of dialogue that runs nearly 30 minutes with less than 10 cuts throughout, this film parades a sort of visual ambition absent in today’s cinema. Not to mention the subject matter (the 1981 Hunger Strike of Irish revolutionary Bobby Sands and those who followed him), which rookie director Steve McQueen observes (from both sides mind you, IRA included) with brutal honesty.
2. Wall-E
A Best Picture nom deserved here for sure. And a Best Director nom, and everything else for that matter. This is the movie that Pixar has been trying to make every since it began.
1. Slumdog Millionaire
This Dickensian tale, set in Mumbay, India, is near-perfect. A fun, powerful, authentic film put together by quite possibly the best director of his generation, Danny Boyle.
What were your favorite films of the year? Do you agree with mine?
Favorite Films of 2008
Instead of doing the best films I have seen this year this list are my favorites. The following movies are ones I enjoy the most, films that I can watch over and over again and can recommend to anyone. Note: Looking back I have seen 126 2008 releases so far, but as possible Oscar contenders go I have not seen A Christmas Tale, Flight of the Red Ballon, My Winnipeg, Che, The Class, or Last Chance Harvey. I also count 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days as a 2007 release.
20. Doubt
With the finest acting of the year, I just wish the story matched the performances. Regardless, this film will leave you with much to talk about and challenge your perceptions on how a film is “supposed” to be structured.
Best Picture: 
Best Director: Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, Milk
Best Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Screenplay: Jenny Lumet, Rachel Getting Married
Best Cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Film: Wall-E
Best First Film: Courtney Hunt, Frozen River
Best Foreign Film: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Best Documentary: Man on Wire
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