Oscars 2007

The Academy Awards approaches us, and I am very excited this year because some of my favourite actors and screenwriters are going to be up for awards. This is about the time of year when I make my predictions. So, here I go.

Best Supporting Actor - nominees : Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men; Hal Holbrook in Into the Wild; Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Philip Seymour Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War; Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton.

Predicted Winner - Javier Bardem
Preferred Winner - Javier Bardem

*This one is a no brainer. I like villains, and Javier Bardem is the best on screen psychopath since Hannibal Lecter. I couldn't remember a time that I've wanted to be a villain more than when I first saw Silence of the Lambs (I know the script front and back). But this one was a close second, and Bardem deserves this award, and he will win it. Anyone that makes killing with a cattle gun stylish deserves the gold.

Best Supporting Actress - nominees: Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There; Ruby Dee in American Gangster; Saoirse Ronan in Atonement; Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton; Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone.

Predicted Winner - Cate Blanchett
Preferred Winner - Cate Blanchett

*She is a limitless actress, and, although I haven't seen I'm Not There (I must wait til it comes to the Kimbal in a few weeks), I have seen short clips of Cate on YouTube in this role. Just this three minute clip, I think, merited the gold. She can do Elizabeth, Katherine Hepburn, Sheba Hart, and now Bob Dylan. I don't care if she's won before (she deserved it, as she made an insanely dull film somewhat interesting with her role), she bloody deserves it again!

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

Predicted Winner - Daniel Day-Lewis
Preferred Winner - Daniel Day-Lewis

*Again, anything that this guy touches makes the movie that much better. My Left Foot? The Gangs of New York? In the Name of the Father? This is one incredible role, and it has been unmatched this year.

Best Actress - nominees: Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age; Julie Christie in Away From Her; Marion Cottilard in La Vie en Rose; Ellen Page in Juno; Laura Linney in The Savages

Predicted Winner - Ellen Page
Preferred Winner - Laura Linney

*This is always a complicated category for me. Last year, I didn't care who won - for me, it was a five way tie (and Dame Helen was 20 per cent equally deserving as the others). Now, I would love to see Laura Linney take home her long overdue statue. I was so incredibly excited when I heard her name nominated. Right now, it would seem that Julie Christie should be the front runner, but I think the Academy is going to go for young blood this time. Since Julie has already got her gold. I want to confidently say that it's Laura Linney's turn, but based on the nominee luncheon the other day, I think Academy voters are going to like to hear the Oscar speech from an enthusiastic and young Ellen Page (and I won't be upset, because her role was very well done).

Adapted Screenplay - nominees: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood); Sarah Polley (Away From Her); Christopher Hampton (Atonement); Ethan & Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men); Ronald Harwood (The Diving Bell & The Butterfly)

Predicted Winner - Ethan & Joel Coen
Preferred Winner - Sarah Polley

*I'm pretty sure that the Coens will win (and they deserve it), but I was somewhat disappointed when Polley didn't get the director nomination that she deserved - the kind of movie she made at age 28 is exemplary. So, I'd like to see her take home something.

Original Screenplay - nominees: Diablo Cody (Juno); Nancy Oliver (Lars and the Real Girl); Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton); Brad Bird (Ratatouille); Tamara Jenkins (The Savages)

Predicted Winner - Diablo Cody
Preferred Winner - Diablo Cody

*Juno was such a big hit that they have to give it something. Like Little Miss Sunshine and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind previous, Original Screenplay is where it will strike gold.

Director - nominees: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood); Ethan & Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men); Jason Reitman (Juno); Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton); Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell & The Butterfly).

Predicted Winner - Ethan & Joel Coen or Paul Thomas Anderson *see Best Picture
Preferred Winner - Paul Thomas Anderson

Picture - nominees: Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood

Predicted Winner - No Country for Old Men or There Will Be Blood
Preferred Winner - No Country for Old Men or There Will Be Blood

**Ok, explanations .. . It's been a while since one single movie has dominated the Big 8 - the last time being Million Dollar Baby. And I think this year is no exception. I am predicting No Country and TWBB to win most of the big ones. I think whichever one wins best picture will not win director. If I were to make a prediction, TWBB will win Picture and the Coens will take home the director award. I'd like to see the opposite. I think Paul Thomas Anderson's director award is long overdue (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love anyone?), not to say that the Coens don't merit one, but my heart if more for Paul Thomas Anderson. Whichever one of these films wins best picture, however, I will be satisfied.


So, yep. Them my predictions. The next time I will talk about the Oscars will be the day after - with my reactions to the awards and fashion critiques.

l8rs,
~~~~p