PGA Quick Pick

Slumdog Millionaire wins. Duh...

Meditations...on the Oscar Nominees. Part II

Best Actor
- Richard Jenkins for The Visitor
- Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon
- Sean Penn for Milk
- Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler

These nominees are not bad at all. In fact they are pretty decent, nearly great. Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn gave two of the top three performances of the year, with bith men giving career best performances in Milk and The Wrestler respectively. Either one of these two men should and will win the oscar. Brad Pitt was great in Button, giving the most internally complex performance of his career, and he deserved a nod. Frank Langella's Nixon was a shining example of wonderful mimicry mixed with actorly invention, and even though Michael Sheen was his equal performance wise, Langella provided Frost/Nixon with it's most poignant moment when he apologizes to the American People. Finally, Richard Jenkins. Jenkins wa absolutely wonderful and reserved in the Visitor. Giving his second best performnce ever, behind Nathaniel Fisher Sr. in Six Feet Under, Jenkins is overdue for a nomination.

Now for the negatives of this shortlist...

No Leo. In my oppinion, Leonardo DiCaprio gave the best male performance of the year and the best of his own career. He was raw, vulnerable and at times frighteningly explosive. His snub will be much more talked about in the coming years, as his performance was better than Jenkin's, Langella's and Pitt's. It's inexcusable that acting of this callibre can be so ridiculously ignored by an actors branch that loves actors movies above all else. I just don't get it.

Best Actress
- Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married
- Angelina Jolie for Changeling
- Melissa Leo for Frozen River
- Meryl Streep for Doubt
- Kate Winslet for The Reader

This is a list that is definitely weaker than the Best Actor race. Anne Hathaway was great, boldly daring to strip away all remnants of her squeaky clean persona and playing an ex drug addictwith a complex emotional history. Pretty much a stretch for her, and despite this, she was wonderful. Meryl Streep's performance is one that crept up on me. As I was watching Doubt, it struck me as odd that the only performance that was weak was coming from Ms. Streep. The next day, I had eased up on her, thinking that maybe she wasnt bad at all. Three weeks later, I was positive that she gave the second best female performance of the year. Jolie was good, really good in changeling. Probably the best I've seen her do since Girl, Interupted.

The negative thoughts...
Melissa Leo over Sally Hawkins. The fact that Leo got in pissess me off when Sally Hawkins who gave the superior performance was snubbed. I knew it was going to be one or the other, I went with Sally, why shouldn't I have, she did great on the precursor circuit, got raves and she young and beautiful. Leo is none of these things.
Also, Kate Winslet was nominated for the wrong film. She was good in the Reader, but I agree with the supporting campaign, Michael was the main character not hannah. Winslet turns in the best performance of the year for Rev Road and she is snubbed for it. I just dont understand why the academy is so fucking stupid.

Part III: Monday

Meditations...On the Oscar Nominees, Part I

Well, after months of prognostication, wishes, and viewings, the Oscar finally announced their nominees yesterday morning. For the readers who know what happened, I am not extremely upset about the results. It could have been much worse, Mickey Rourke cold have been snubbed, Milk could have been completely shut out, Kate Winslet could have gone without any nominations. We should all be greatful that this year the Oscars are honoring films directed by Danny Boyle, David Fincher and Gus Van Sant, and whats more is that their films all received at least 8 nominations. Be greatful that actors like Richard Jenkins, Frank Langella and Mickey Rourke have finally recieved a nomination, and that Michael Shannon, Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis are being honored. The Oscars may not have rewarded The Dark Knight, but they were brave enough to give movies like In Bruges, Happy-Go-Lucky and Frozen River nominations.
Yes, The Dark Knight was snubbed, yes Woody Allen and Jenny Lumet were robbed, yes, Leonardo Dicaprio wasn't nominated for the best male performance of the year.
The only snub that angered me was the Boss' not being recognized for his genius.
But in the end, at least the Oscars once again gave us something to talk about, at least we can all now bitch until the next January. That's half the fun of the Oscars anyways isnt it.
Either way, here are my thoughts on this year's nominees.

Best Picture
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Frost/Nixon
- Milk
- The Reader
- Slumdog Millionaire

This is what we all expected isnt it. The entire year, bloggers battled over whether or not the Dark Knight was going to be nominated, and in the end it wasn't. Yes, I thought the Dark Knight was one of the superior films from 2008, but there is not one film on that shortlist that was completely undeserving. The Reader, was not a bad film. In fact, it was actually a pretty decent movie, one that was generally well liked by critics and awards bodies alike. Frost/Nixon & Milk were fantastic biopics, boasting great direction and performances. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was one of the most fascinating film going experiences of the year, and Slumdog Millionaire was universally acclaimed despite a now rising backlash.
This is not a bad short list at all.

Best Director
- Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
- Stephen Daldry for The Reader
- David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Ron Howard for Frost/Nixont
- Gus Van Sant for Milk
Once again, how can you complain when Danny Boyle, David Fincher and Gus Van Sant show up as nominees. They are three of the most beloved cult directors, and they all nailed their movies with phenominal direction. I feel ambivalent towards Ron Howard's nod, and while Stephen Daldry did his best directing yet in The Reader, I still think that Christopher Nolan was robbed. His direction was iconic, and any number of images in that movie can be remembered with staggering clarity.

Meditations...

I dont know what to say about this morning's nominations right now...
Once I can contain my thoughts and gather them up, you readers will be hearing a diatribe against the AMPAS.

On a side note, I did not miss more than two nominees from any of the individual categories.

But...The Dark Knight snub....

I will be back later today

bet on it.

Tyler j. Pratt

Meditations on...The Innauguration andMy Final Oscar Predictions.

Wow, what a day, what a day. First off, I am still freezing from the hours spent waiting for the innauguration which really only lasted about an hour and a half, maybe two hours plus. But, this morning was one for the history books. Despite my personal feeling that this man has yet to prove himself in any political arena, it was hard to not be caught up in the emotions, inthe history that was being made before the eyes of millions of americans.

Well, thats it for the political crap today, lets move on to my favorite topic...the Oscars !

My Final Predictions will be up 100 percent sometime tommorow, once i get home from D.C., I will try to get something done on the plane, but I doubt it.

Computer Problems..

will delay my final predicitons until tommorow morning, noon at the latest, at least until I can get a new charger for my lap top. On a happier note, I am in D.C. for the innauguration ! Luckily I had the forsight to make the trip here on wednsday, and to make super early reservations at the hotel.
Either way I hope you oscar watchers are ready for tommorow...with a new era in american history and my final predix coming, you would be forgiven for being crazy with excitement.

-T.J.P

FINAL Oscar Predictions to come on Monday

Even with the news that the nominations announcement will be on Thursday this year, I am going to follow the great Kris Tapley's example of posting them on Monday as I had planned.
You only live once, right ? So I'm going with my gut feelings for the rest of the year, and I hope to have fun doing it.

Meditations.... On the BAFTA Nominations and the BAFTAS in General

BAFTAs have never really held that much importance to me. Maybe because of how different the British culture and way of thinking is compared to here in the U.S., maybe it's because I dont have BBC and, thus, cannot view them ever. One thing I am sure of, however, is the fact that the Orange Film Awards, or whatever they call them, are frequently a pretty good prognosticator of what is to come on Oscar night. Last year, both Marion Cottilard and Tilda Swinton were first awarded at the baftas along with Daniel Day-Lewis and Javier Bardem. In case you werent counting thats a 4-4 matchup in the acting categories. They also awarded Forest Whitaker, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Jamie Foxx in the three years before that, and in the Best Actress category, the Brits awarded both Helen Mirren and Reese Witherspoon matching with Oscar the last three years running. In the supporting categories the Baftas and Oscar both agreed over Alan Arkin and Javier Bardem the last two years, and the only time the two bodies disagreed on Supporting Actress since 2001 was in 2005 when Rachel Weisz recieved a lead actress nod instead of supporting.
Now, Best Director has been split up frequently between the Oscars and BAFTA, only matching up 3 times in the last decade, agreeing upon the Coen Bros. last year, Ang Lee in 2005 and Roman Polanski in 2002. So that is a category best left up to the DGA.

Finally, the Best Picture is...wait, Best Film ? Either way BAFTA can be confusing on this one. With three Best Film awards handed out each year, for Best Film, Best English Film and Best Film In A foreign Language, it can be very hard to find simmilarities with the Oscars, only agreeing 4 times since Shakespeare In Love won in '98. what does this mean ?

When it comes to Acting, BAFTA and OSCAR are best buds, but anywhere else, they always find a way to split up.

So..here are my thoughts on this year's BAFTA nominees. In the major categories only...for now.

Best Film

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
“Frost/Nixon”

“Milk”

“The Reader”

“Slumdog Millionaire”

Basically, this year has been boring as shit for movies if the same 4 keep getting nominated. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk and Slumdog Millionaire are getting nominations. I'd stake anything on that fact. Well...not anything, but I'm pretty sure about it.

The Reader's inclusion does not suprise me at all, as I predicted it yesterday, but even though I did predict a Dark Knight snub I didnt expect it. I still say it makes it on Tuesday morning though.

Slumdog Millionaire takes this with ease, with more than ease. I'd just give the movie it's award now, so as to not make viewers waste their time.

I'm calling for a Slumdog Sweep, right here and now, you heard it here first.

Best Director

Clint Eastwood, “Changeling”

Dvid Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”

Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”

Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”

This category shocked me. I loved Changeling but I did not expect at all that Clint would get a nod for it, and Ron Howard's inclusion was one I should have forseen. Instead, I opted for Sam Mendes and Chris Nolan. Why ? Because they are two beloved British directors. Duh..

On a side note, is it just me or is The reader building momentum ? Watch out for it, it could be the dark horse.

Just give it to Danny Boyle already, we all know that we're going to see a Slumdog sweep.

Best Actor

Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”

Dev Patel, “Slumdog Millionaire”

Sean Penn, “Milk”

Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”

I completely bombed these in my predix, only forseeing Langella and Penn making it in, along with Leo DiCaprio, Michael Sheen and Michael Fassbinder. When I saw the long lists, I cant believe that I didnt suspect that both TCCoBB and The Wrestler would score acting nods. And most suprising, pleasant but suprising, was Dev Patel making it in. This clearly means that Slumdog is this years Belle of the ball.

I'm gonna have a bit of fun and predict that Dev Patel steals this as part of that Slumdog sweep I was talking about. His performance wasnt he best in the group, but he benefits from being the lead in not only 2008's best picture front runner, but the lead in a british best picture front runner.

Best Actress

Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”

Kristin Scott Thomas, “I’ve Loved You So Long”

Meryl Streep, “Doubt”

Kate Winslet, “The Reader”

Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”

Hmm. do you think they like Kate Winslet ? I did pretty well actually in this one, sensing that Kate would get in twice for her roles, and also picking out Meryl streep and Krisitn scott Thomas. The only gal I missed was Angie, thinking that "Of course Happy-Go-lucky will get a ton of BAFTA love, freakin' Mike Leigh directed it, how could it not." Well, needless to say, but Sally aint a Happy-Go-Lucky girl right now. The BAFTAs were supposed to be hers to lose, and I bet that seeing her film entirely pimp-slapped didnt help either.

Kate takes it, but for which film ? I liked her better in Rev Road, but I'm thinking she'll win for the movie also nominated for Picture and Director.

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Downey Jr, “Tropic Thunder”

Brendan Gleeson, “In Bruges”

Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”

Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”

Brad Pitt, “Burn After Reading”

Well, kudos to me for picking Ledger and Gleeson at least. Apologies go out to Eddie Marsan, Peter O'Toole and especially David Kross, who I was dying to see get a little attention this year for his great english speaking debut in The Reader. On the bright side, I love these nominees, their so fun arent they ? Downey was a riot, I loved Gleason, Ledger was iconic yet again, Hoffman was amzing as always, and Pitt.. I've never seen the guy have so much fun on celluloid, this even tops Fight Club and Oceans 11. However, I think some well deserving actors were left off due to Pitt and Gleeson's inclusion.

Ledger takes this more easily than Slumdog in any other category.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, “Doubt”

Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

Freida Pinto, “Slumdog Millionaire”

Tilda Swinton, “Burn After Reading”

Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”

Freida Pinto and Tilda Swinton aside, I like these nominees very much. I'm happy to see Amy Adams continue to get love for her excellent turn in Doubt, as well as Penelope Cruz and Marisa Tomei. Otherwise, I think the oscars will also recognize Viola Davis and Kate Winslet for The reader along with Adams, Cruz and Tomei.

I'm sticking with my Slumdog Sweep vision, and picking the unworthy Freida Pinto to win in an upset.

That's all for now folks, I'm out for the day.

Tyler j. Pratt

BAFTA Thoughts. . .

To come soon, probably by 5:00 EST

Thoughts on The Golden Globes

Best Picture/Director/Screenplay/Score: Slumdog Millionaire

I think that pretty much every prognosticator, myself included, knew that this was a foregon conclusion. I mean, if one awards body was going to award Slumdog Millionaire the globes would be that group.

Best Foreign Film: Waltz with Bashir Best Animated Film: Wall-e

Two phenominal films that deserved to win, I love that Ari Folman is coming out of knowwhere to deliver these amazingly deep and moving political statements that actually make sense and dont offend anybody. Heres to the babies.

Best Picture Comedy/Musical: Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I just wish that Woody would get over himself and show up at an awards ceremony. He's an intelligent man with a great wit who never fails to get a laugh at the few shows that he's been to.

His movie also truly deserved to win.

Best Original Song: The Wrestler

Bruce Springsteen accepts his golden globe by being the coolest guy in the room, as always.

Best Supporting Actress: A double shot of Winslet is fine by me, and when it's a suprise the taste of it is even sweeter. Kate was so sweet and honest up at that podium that I almost shed a little tear. She was a deserving winner in both categories. Heres hoping that Oscar repeats the Globes next month.

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger
A sad but foregone conclusion by now, Heath gave what is without a doubt one of the most iconic screen performances of the decade. The fact that we will never see him accept an award in person makes it all the more tragic. Chris Nolan, once again. gave another eloquent tribute to a man who over all enjoyed his work and his life.

Best Actress Comedy/Musical: I missed the speech, but Sally Hawkins gave a great performance that was without a doubt the best in her category. She deserves it.

Best Actor In A Comedy/Musical: Colin was fantastic in "In Bruges" and gave the most worthy performance in his category. I wish I would have picked him over Franco last night, mostly because he was my personal favorite in the group. Extra points for giving a lyrical speech that was touchingly funny even with the cocaine jokes.

Best Actor In A Drama: Mickey Rourke

What can I say. Mickey has come a long way since his breakout role in Body Heat. He hit rock bottom and was able to scratch and claw his way back to the top, and for that we must all give him credit. Mickey's win for me was one of the biggest, most suprising nom-suprises of the night and his speech yielded two or three of the nights best moments.

The ovation met when his name was called must have hit him like a tidal wave because that was one emotional walk up to the podium. Mickey and Darren provided a great laugh with their exchange ending with a middle finger in the middle of the screen on live television, which is not common at all. Also, Mickey gave, the most touching speech closer of the night with his mini soliloquy that obviously came straight from the heart.

“Sometimes, when a man’s alone, that’s all you’ve got is your dogs.”

Finalized Globe Predicitons: Film Categories Only

The battle for Best Motion Picture-Drama seems to be a two horse race between The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Slumdog Millionaire, but I think that given Slumdogs popularity when combined with the Mumbai tradgedy and the films precursor near sweep that the edge has to go to Slumdog Millionaire.

Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical is a difficult race to predict. Usually when only one musical is nominated in this race it wins, but despite its poularity with audiences the film itself is horrible. Burn After Reading was good, but i doubt we'll see the Coen's on stage this year. In Bruges, I think is the dark horse that could upset for the win but something feels wierd about it. So that leaves Happy-Go-Lucky and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Happy-Go-Lucky is an international movie which could be a good thing but in the end I think people want to see Woody winning again.

Best Actor-Drama goes to either Penn or Rourke, its that simple. Mickey Rourke needs this more than Penn right now but I think he'll get his due at the SAG awards, not here. So, Sean Penn wins and continues toward oscar number two.

Best Actor-Comedy or Musical is another tough race in which anyone but Brendan Gleeson can win. James Franco is the hip choice, Dustin Hoffman is a beloved vet, Javier Bardem would be the obvious winner if VCB sweeps here, and Collin Farell was just absolutely phenominal in In Bruges. So who wins ? My pick is Dustin Hoffman because he's the beloved vet who you can count on for a great speech. Watch out for James Franco though..

Best Actress-Drama goes to Anne Hathaway I think because she's young, popular, and because this race is just too crowded to pick from and i'm in a lazy mood.

Best Actress Comedy or Musical goes to Sally Hawkins because she truly desrves it. She gave a marvelous performance that put a big smile on my face. However, if somehow Rebecca Hall were to win I would be xtremely overjoyed.

Best Supporting Actor- Heath Ledger. Period.

Best Supporting Actress: I would be stupid to bet against Penelope Cruz at a show that loves stars and international performers, plus she was actually pretty damn good in Vicky.

Best Director- No matter which film wins best picture, Danny Boyle has this one in the bag.

Best Screenplay- Slumdog Millionaire will wrap this one up.
Best Score- See above

Best Original Song-Bruce is bruce and always will be. The globes know that. The Wrestler wins it.

Best Animated Film- Wall-e, the biggest lock of the night.

Best Foreign Film- Waltz With Bashir because it was good, the subject is timely, and Ari Folman has at least two more great speeches in him for this season.

Meditations on the Critics Choice Awards, Part Deux

Best Supporting Actress- Kate Winslet for The Reader, this one shocked the bejesus out of me. There I was expecting the award to go to Penelope Cruz or Marisa Tomei, the two ladies who have been cleaning up during the critics awards, and if not them it was Viola Davis' to lose. I mean , these ladies are the front runners right ? I guess not as Kate Winslet finally won her first semi-major award of the season. Does this mean she's going to win the Globe now ?

Best Supporting Actor- Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight, completely deserved and 100 percent expected on my part, can there still be any doubt after this Sunday that Heath Ledger has this posthumous oscar wrapped with bow on it ? I also need to mention that beautiful speech delivered by Christopher Nolan, who said exactly what needed to be said and was a great tribute to a man who so prided his craft.

Best Actress- TIE ! Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, I loved this moment last night until before and after Anne opened her mouth. I never thought I'd get to see a big tie in my lifetime, and it was just as exciting as I expected. I think the race as of now is between these two women with Kate on the outside closing in. After Anne Hathaway wins this Sunday, it all comes down to the SAG awards.

Best Actor- Sean Penn for Milk, I deserving enough win but I thought this was Mickey Rourke's to lose as he and Richard Jenkins are this year's critical darlings. I think this win for Penn seals up the golden globes and the SAG awards, and he may be receiving his second oscar this year. On a side note, the guy was obviously drunk and stumbled throughg his speech, which is something I would have expected out of Rourke but not Penn.

Best Director/Picture- Slumdog Millionaire, I can already hear Jack Nicholson saying: " And the oscar goes to...whoa...Slumdog Millionaire". This thing is officially Slumdog's to lose, and because of that I am predicitng right here and now that Slumdog Millionaire will win both Best Picture and Director this February at the Oscars.

Meditating on the Critics Choice Awards

Last nights Critics choice awards were actually the best I've seen in years. There was just the right amount of surprises, as well as both good acceptance speeches and a horrible one , and a funny opening monologue from Jason Alexander. I  think last night was Slumdog Millionaire's coronation as this years frontrunner to win best picture as it picked up most of the awards it was up for, if not all of them. So, without further adu, here are my thoughts on this years winners.

Best Comedy Movie- Tropic Thunder, a decent choice and a decent film. I'm sad that Vicky Cristina Barcelona did not win this one, but I love to see examples of just how liked Ben Stiller is within the industry.

Best Acting Ensemble- Milk, I was pleasantly suprised to see a truly good ensemble win this year, in a year that featured some of the best ensemble acting of this decade. I would have been happy with any of the nominees.

Best Young Actor/Actress- Dev Patel, I loved his performance but I think David Kross had the most impressive debut of any other actor this year.

Best Writer- Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog millionaire, no big suprise, the oscar is his to lose.

Best Action Film- The Dark Knight, Another given.

Best Composer- A.R. Rahman for Slumdog Millionaire, I hated this score to be honest with you. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button's Alexandre Desplat should have won this, hands down.

Best Song- Bruce Springsteen's The Wrestler, Hands down the most deserving winner of the entire night. The best song from a film this year  in my opinion.

Best  Documentary- Man On Wire, biggest lock for an oscar win receives yet another award. Yawn

Best Foreign Language Film- Waltz With Bashir, Ari Folman gave the best speech of the night and truly deserves this award.

Best Animated Feature- Wall-e, loved the movie love that its winning awards.

Best Movie for TV- John Adams, didn't this come out exactly a year ago ?

Part Two: Tonight by 10, hopefully

Thoughts on The Critics Choice Awards...

will be on here by noon, so stay tuned !

Favorite FYC Ads of 2008

Producers Guild Announces 2008 Honorees

Best Motion Picture 2008

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Ceán Chaffin, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall)

The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas)

Frost/Nixon (Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard)

Milk (Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks, Michael London)

Slumdog Millionaire (Christian Colson, Paul Ritchie)

Best Animated Feature 2008

Bolt

Kung Fu Panda

Wall-e

Best Documentary Feature 2008

Man on Wire

Standard Operating Procedure

Trouble the Water

What do these awards tell us ? For one thing, I think we are looking at our Best Picture lineup as well as the nominees for Best Animated Feature.

These awards however are meaningless to these films unless they also recieve a coveted Directors Guild nomination on Thursday, the holy grail for films with Best Picture aspirations.

2009 Year In Advanced Predictions

I like to get these out of the way quick, so I can relax until the summer.

Here are my year in advance predictions for the Oscars in 2009.

Best Picture: The Lovely Bones
Best Director: Rob Marshall for Nine
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis for Nine
Best Actress: Helen Mirren for Love Ranch
Best Supporting Actor: Stanley Tucci for The Lovely Bones
Best Supporting Actress: Saoirse Ronan for The Lovely Bones
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Lovely Bones
Best Original Screenpaly: Funny People
Best Film Editing: Public Enemies
Best Cinematography: Nine
Best Art Direction: Nine
Best Costume Design: Watchmen
Best Make-Up: Nine
Best Original Score: Inglorious Basterds
Best Original Song: Whatever Works
Best Special F/X: Watchmen
Best Sound Editing: Watchmen
Best Sound Mixing: Nine
Best Animated Film: Up!
Best Foreign Film: Abrazos Rotos (Broken Hugs)- Spain
Best Documentary: Untitled Bob Marley Documentary

Clint vs. Leo: A Best actor Showdown

Heres the way I see it.

On one hand you first need to look at the critical support for both of their films. Gran Torino is recieving reviews from all over the critical spectrum. It's been called a B movie, a low brow comedy, and a one note movie starring a Clint Eastwood doing his novelty grumpy old man schtick.However, in some corners it has been met with prasie for it's screenplay and mostly for Eastwood's preformance. Revolutionary Road's reviews have pretty much mirrored that of Gran Torino's, running hot and cold as well, with the consensus being that while Road is a handsome film showcasing decent direction by Sam Mendes, and three powerhouse performances including DiCaprio's, the film is marred by a depressing tone and a weak screenplay that is unable to capture the depth of it's source novel.

Critics Wise: It's close, but while Gran Torino the movie has recieved a few more good reviews, Leonardo DiCaprio's performance has been hailed as a revelation of talent far more often than Eastwood's performance has.

Winner, Round One: Leo

During the precursor season is when most contenders break-out and begin their march towards the Kodac Theatre in Hollywood. However, what happens when the majority of the awards with one or two exceptions goes to the same two actors ? Well, that is precisely what has happened this year with Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke who have each collectively picked up almost every critical precursor award. Clint Eastwood's name has been mentioned three times this season during the awards pre-run. He started in a blaze of glory by winning the NBR Best Actor award, and having Gran Torino and Changeling appear on the top ten list, which bodes well for the vet. Gran Torino also won the screenplay award which does not bode well for the film.Since the NBR, Eastwood was nominated but lost with Chicago and has only gotten one more nomination to his credit. Best Song for Gran Torino. Leo's showing has been just as dire throuout the precursor season. He recieved a Sattelite nomination, which counts for nothing as that group didnt even nominate Daniel day-Lewis last year, and he recieved a Golden Globe nomination, a key nod that Eastwood did not recieve, at least not in the right place. When both Leo and Clint missed the SAG shortlist, they were both thrust into immediate danger.

Awards Wise: Clint has won a critics precursor, Leo has not. Leo recieved a globe nod, Clint did not. Leo's movie has recieved more precusor love, however it is mostly directed towards his co-star

Winner, Round 2: Clint

History is the last important factor in this race, heaven knows the Oscars are always preoccupied with it. Paul Newman won Best Actor after several losing bids because he was old and he was playing a weary old man, leaving the more deserving Bob Hoskins out in the cold. When Al Pacino finally won, it was the same situation, he was old and he played an old blind man. This left Denzel Washington, Robert Downey Jr., Stephen Rea and a younger Eastwood out even though all of them except Eastwood had delivered bettwer performances.Eastwood is an old man playing a grumpy, old racist man. Leo is a young man, playing a repressed young man. The Academy tends to favor young mostly in the actress category, and unfortunately for Leo he aint a woman.The oscars also tend to look at the number of nods before awarding an actor.Clint has lost twice for two roles in two best picture winners that he won best director for, so he certainly doesnt need another oscar, but the enticing factor that this is his swan song may be too much to ignore. Leo on the other hand has recieved two best actor nominations for Blood Diamond and The Aviator and one supporting nod for What's Eating Gilbert grape. He was also snubbed for The Departed and Titanic, which may be in the voters minds since he is teaming up with Winslet once again.Clint has never been snubbed for acting, in fact most would argue that he has ben over rewarded. In 2004, his inclusion left off Paul Giamatti who gave 2004's most lauded performance. In 92' his nod for Unforgiven came as a complete shock to those who thought Anthony Hopkins was in for sure.So history both helps and hurts them.

History Wise: Old men are oft rewarded by the academy. Young men are snubbed until they win their body of work oscar as old men.

Winner, Round Three: Clint

So who wins the bout ? Technically Clint, as I kept my oppinion of both performances out of this fight. Personally, for me, Clint played a cursing, old racist who is funny and dies in the end. Not much of a great performance to be found, though I love Clint's films and thought he was very funny in Gran torino. For me, Leonardo DiCaprio gave the best performance by an actor in 2008. He raged and screamed and cried and laughed. He played a weak, insecure man who only felt like a real man when he was out in the world. and for Leo's brave performance he deserves an oscar.
So who gets the nomination ?
I'm going with my gut feeling on this one. Despite history, critics, and the precursors evidence, I'm going with my instincts and saying here and now that Leo will get a nomination. In the end, I might be proven wrong and made to look like an idiot, but I'm not going to predict that someone who gave such a powerful piece of acting will be snubbed. I cant do it.
Leonardo DiCaprio will be nominated along with Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke, Brad Pitt and Frank Langella. Richard Jenkins will be snubbed, Giamatti style to much chargrin, and Clint Eastwood will get his due from the music branch by being nominated for Best Original Song.

The First Annual Oscar Hut Awards-revised edition

It seems that when I sat down on the morning of December 31st to post my first Oscar Hut awards for the year 2008, I somehow managed to jump the gun. That very same day i caught a quick showing of Revolutionary Road and Gran Torino which has seriously shaken things up quite a bit. I apologize to all the "Hutts" out there who continued to surf the Internet believing that my awards were finished, through, done for.

Well without further adu, here are the *Official* 2008 Oscar Hut Awards ! (TM)

Top Ten of 2008

*Note: The descriptions of the previous top ten still apply, so, with the exception of my #1, I will only provide reasoning for new additions.

Honorable Mention:

Cloverfield- Shocked me in ways I hadn't felt in years. The funnest, most breathtaking theater going experience I had been through since The Departed. However, the one hitch in the film for me was the actual reveal of the monster. The mystery of what was destroying NYC was one of the best aspects of Cloverfield for 2/3rds of the film.

In Bruges- I wish I had seen this more when it was out in theatres. I loved it upon seeing it, but it suffered the sands of time in my memory. Still great upon my second viewing, I just enjoyed it more the first time I saw it.

Tropic Thunder- No other movie from 2008 had me laugh as much or as often as Tropic Thunder did this past summer. Stiller, Black, and Mcconaghey were excellent. Tom Cruise was surprisingly funny(but in no way worthy of a golden globe nomination), and Robert Downey Jr. turned in what was without a doubt the funniest performance of this entire year.

Now for the Tops of 2008....

1. Doubt- One of the most pleasantly surprising films I've ever seen. I came in with low expectations and came out on a high. I absolutely adored the film, the direction and the acting which was sharply realized and crackled perfectly like chestnuts on a roasting fire.

2. Slumdog Millionaire

3. The Dark Knight

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

5. Wall-e

6. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

7. Changeling

8. Milk

9. The Reader

10. Revolutionary Road- Depressing ? Yes. Somber ? Yes. However the tone and screenplay for a film can be excused when you see direction, acting and technical feats like the ones on display in Revolutionary Road. Just a top notch film, that I believe is receiving unfair treatment from a majority of critics.

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio for Revolutionary Road

Leo was an absolute revelation from the moment go. He went into depths I never thought I'd see from him, turning in his most emotional, most vulnerable, and most rage filled performance of his career. He was perfect. Better than the awards bodies have been treating him. An Oscar he deserves. Thus it is written. Thus it shall be done.
Runner Up: Sean Penn for Milk

Best Actress: Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road
Kate the great delivered exactly as I had hoped and expected. Yet another performance head over heels better than anything most young actresses will ever do. I knew she had delivered the best performance of any other actress this year within 5 minutes of screen time. That look from the mirror got me hook, line and sinker.

Runner-Up: Meryl Streep for Doubt

Best Supporting Actor: Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt.
Hoffman blew me away yet again with his performance as the priest accused of molesting a child. Though we never truly find out whether or not he is guilty, the fact that Phillip made such a vile character type sympathetic earns him an automatic spot on my short list. Whats more is that, he also was excellent in the film. His sermon scenes were sublime and his fiery encounter with Streep was incendiary.

Runner-Up: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams for Doubt

Adams is her character in this film. She is sweet, and pure and innocent. And at the same time she holds her own with Streeps' firm Sister Aloyisius and Hoffman's powerful Father Flynn. I have never been a fan of Adams' work, so after walking out of Doubt I felt floored by the work she displayed as the films emotional center. Viola Davis may be stealing all the praise but I feel Adams gave the better performance, end of story.

Runner-Up: Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Direction: David Fincher

To describe how beautiful the direction of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in words would do it no justice. Just go see the movie, and you will know why Fincher has this spot. But I cant leave this without saying the pull back character exit sequence at the end of the film was phenomenally done.

Breakthrough Actor and Actress of 2008: David Kross and Rebecca Hall

David Kross gave, in my opinion the 3rd best leading actor performance of 2008 behind only Leo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. His intense performance was gutsy and nuanced, and Kross literally and figuratively let it all hang out on the screen. I was surprised at the emotions his performance stirred in me, especially since this is his first English speaking role. Kross played Michael perfectly allowing himself and the character evolve from the innocence before his affair to an adult haunted by his past moral indiscretions. Forget Dev Patel, I predict that David Kross will have an Oscar in his hands within ten years, mark my words.

Rebecca Hall on the other hand gave a much different performance as Vicky in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Hall outshone Woody Allen's "muse" Scarlet Johansen as well as Javier Bardem and nearly gave Penelope a run for her money.Rebecca perfectly plays with the Woody Allen neurotic intellectual persona, creating a character that is endearing, witty, and extremely sexy. Bonus points for her look of terror during the plane scene, it reminded me of my favorite moment from Annie Hall in which Woody is forced to drive with Christopher Walkin's suicidal crash enthusiast. I loved her verbal exchanges with Javier Bardem, and rank them among some of Allen's best writings. Rebecca Hall is most definitely an actress to watch, and hopefully she will soon become the star she deserves to be.

Best Ensemble: The Dark Knight

It is beyond me that The Dark Knight somehow missed out on SAG's shortlist. Just look at the cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Eric Roberts and Cillian Murphy. And every single one of them turned in a good if not great if not excellent performance. They were cohesive, each serving not only their characters but the rest of the cast as well, all the while best in show scenes and performances were abundant. This was especially true of Heath Ledger's hypnotic agent of chaos, Aaron Eckhart's good man driven to evil by loss and heartbreak, and Gary Oldman's weary yet tireless performance as man who believes in doing good and sacrificing one's self for the better good. Just grade A work all around.

Runners-Up: Doubt, Milk, Rachel Getting Married, Synecdoche New York, Slumdog Millionaire, and Tropic Thunder. 2008 was truly a year filled with excellent ensemble work.

Now for the superlatives....

Most Inspiring: Slumdog Millionaire (cliched, yes. but a given)

Most Shocking: Cloverfield

Funniest: Tropic Thunder

Most Depressing: Revolutionary Road(but that don't mean it ain't good)

Most Literary Original Film: Vicky Crisitna Barcelona

Most Un-Literary Adaptation: The Dark Knight

Most Disappointing: Australia (to apply the term epic to a film, raises expectations way to high a-la Cold Mountain)

Most Cinematic Film: The Dark Knight

Least Cinematic Film: W. (If it were made for t.v., the awards would be rolling in)

I hope all of you enjoyed 2008 as much as I did. It may not have contained as many instant classics as last years crop, but there can be no doubt that there was certainly an abundance of true quality films, both mainstream and independent. And for that I thank the movie gods...lets hope for an amazing 2009!

Now lets take one last look back at '08, courtesy of Matt Shapiro...................