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My 2008 Oscar Predictions

The 80th Academy Awards comes to the boob tube this Sunday night,
February 24, 2008. Those of you who read GRITZ on a regular basis know that the only thing that even comes close to my love of music are movies and books. This may be the first year I have actually seen all of the major nominated films, so I decided to go out on a limb and post my predictions for this year’s Oscars. So here is your “Buffalo’s Guide to the 2008 Oscars.” If my choices are right, “I told you so.” If I am wrong, hey, I’m just an old Southern rocker, I never claimed to know movies!”

Best actor in a leading role:
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton"
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood"
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah"
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises"

I really like Clooney, but this particular role was nothing special in my book, same with Tommy Lee Jones’ role in Elah. (Should have nominated Tommy Lee in “No Country”) I’d love to see either of them win, but not necussarikly for these films. Viggo rocked his role as a tough as nails mob infiltrator, but as for top of the line acting skills in a killer role, Daniel Day Lewis is my pick.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men"
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War"
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild"
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton"

Javier Bardem, hands down. His role as the absolutely insane serial killer with an air compressor is the bomb.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie in "Away from Her"
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose"
Laura Linney in "The Savages"
Ellen Page in "Juno"

All of these ladies were awesome, but young Ellen Page is my choice. Her character made every man from 17-50 fall in love with her. Attitude plus.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There"
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster"
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement"
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton"

Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement,” no doubt. I still can’t figure why Kiera wasn’t nominated for best actress in the same film.

Best animated feature film of the year
"Persepolis"
"Ratatouille"
"Surf's Up"

All three were good, but "Ratatouille" was really special. A good story, excellent animation.

Achievement in art direction
"American Gangster"
"Atonement"
"The Golden Compass"
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
"There Will Be Blood"

"There Will Be Blood.” Excellent scenery, costumes, art direction, everything.

Achievement in cinematography
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Atonement"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

Again, "There Will Be Blood.”

Achievement in costume design
"Across the Universe"
"Atonement"
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
"La Vie en Rose"
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

It’s a hard choice between all of these, but I’m going with "Atonement,” from the 1930’s clothing to the authentic military uniforms.

Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” Julian Schnabel
"Juno,”  Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton,”  Tony Gilroy
"No Country for Old Men,” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood,” Paul Thomas Anderson

I’m going with the Coen Brothers. What a great movie.

Best documentary feature
"No End in Sight"
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience"
"Sicko"
"Taxi to the Dark Side"
"War/Dance"

Michael Moore’s medical menagerie, “Sicko.”

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
"Atonement"
"The Kite Runner"
"Michael Clayton"
"Ratatouille"
"3:10 to Yuma"

I really love the soundtrack score of "Atonement.” My pick.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"Falling Slowly" from "Once" Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted"  Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush" Music and Lyric by Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas
"So Close" from "Enchanted" Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

Wow. Three out of the five are from Disney’s “Enchanted.” My pick is "That's How You Know."

Best motion picture of the year
"Atonement" Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
"Juno" Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
"Michael Clayton" Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
"No Country for Old Men" Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
"There Will Be Blood" JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers

“Atonement” will probably take home the Oscar, but I stand by my choice "No Country for Old Men.” My favorite movie of the year.

So there you have it. My predictions. Should be interesting to see how many/few I get right. No matter who wins, I still recommend “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood” as the two “must see” films of the year.

Now, where did I put my Blackfoot CD?

Keep it Real. Keep it Southern.
Buffalo

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