It's Oscar Time!

For those who know me, you already know that I am an enormous Hollywood fan. I try to see every film nominated in the "big 6" categories, and I always post my predictions before Oscar night. Here are my picks and comments on this year's actors, films, and directors. Enjoy!!!

It’s Oscar time again, and I am once again blogging my predictions in the top 6 categories! This has been quite a year for Hollywood – the films are darker, shorter (with the exception of Ben Button), and leave the viewers with little reason to have any hope. I guess art does reflect life. On with the picks!!!

Best Actor:

Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"; Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"; Sean Penn, "Milk"; Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Early on, the buzz was with Frank Langella. I thought he was captivating in his role as Richard Nixon. Unfortunately, he has stiff competition from Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn. You know an actor did a good job when you can’t imagine anyone else in the same role. Mickey Rourke, the washed up has-been in real life makes a stunning comeback with his first big lead in years as, well, a washed up has-been. Of this year’s choices, he is the only actor besides Heath Ledger who successfully managed to make the movie he starred in all about him. That being said, the academy LOVES them some Sean Penn. He stars as Harvey Milk, the camera store owner whose decision to campaign for a place on San Francisco's Board of Supervisors becomes a landmark event within the gay rights movement. And we all know that while actors are nominated for ONE role, they win because of their body of work. But, I am going with Mickey Rourke. If he were reading this, I’d ask him to PLEASE not mention his dogs in his acceptance speech. People already think he’s a weirdo, but are willing to overlook that because of this performance. No need to confirm their suspicions!

Best Actress:

Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"; Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"; Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"; Meryl Streep, "Doubt"; Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

This is an amazing category this year. You have the seasoned veteran, Meryl Streep, with quite a body of work (Mamma Mia, Devil Wears Prada) in the last couple years. You have Kate Winslet, currently 0 for 5 in the “Oscar Winner” category. And you have Anne Hathaway, who really earns her acting chops as a very disturbed recovering addict on a weekend stay out of her recovery facility to attend her sister’s eclectic wedding. To me, it pretty much comes down to first-time nominee Anne Hathaway Kate Winslet (currently running 0 for 5). This year’s competition for “Best Actress” pits a fresh face vs. experience, indie vs. studio. Regardless of who gave the best performance, Winslet will probably win because she’s paid her dues while Hathaway is still too wet behind the ears. And, by the way, she is fabulous in The Reader. Another must-see movie.

Best Supporting Actor:

Josh Brolin, "Milk"; Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"; Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"; Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

All the nominees in this category are super strong this year. But, there is no real contest. Heath Ledger will win, because he plays the scariest villain in comic book history. It is sad that we will not get to see any more performances by this talented actor, but make no mistake – he won’t win because he died. He will win because he was great. PSH in Doubt was also phenomenal –it is hard to decide if he is guilty – but he already has the hardware.

Best Supporting Actress:

Amy Adams, "Doubt"; Penélope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"; Viola Davis, "Doubt"; Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"

This is the hardest category for me this year. Amy Adams and Viola Davis are incredible in Doubt. Marisa Tomei has received her fair share of buzz for The Wrestler. But, I am going with Penelope Cruz. While the academy doesn’t like Woody Allen much, they do like his work. And, the quirky Vicky Christina Barcelona is said to be among his best. Javier Bardem (winner last year) was also in the film, so it has a strong cast. I’ll let you know if my prediction has any merit as soon as I see the film!

Best Director:

David Finchner: Benjamin Button, Ron Howard: Frost/Nixon, Gus Van Smart: Milk, Stephen Daldry: The Reader, Danny Boyle: Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle is a respectable director. He’s made a handful of decent movies (”Millions,” “The Beach,” “28 Days Later”), but a lot of his work is very hit (”Trainspotting) or miss (”Sunshine”).“Slumdog Millionaire” fits more in the miss column. It seems a shame to award a good filmmaker for one of his not so great movies. This seems to be a tradition at the Academy Awards - two years ago Martin Scorsese won for “The Departed” (a solid film but not his best by a long shot) and last year the Coen brothers took the trophy home for “No Country for Old Men” (again, a commendable effort but minor compared to “Fargo” or “The Big Lebowski”). David Fincher and Gus Van Sant, two capable directors, are also nominated for some of their poorest contributions to cinema: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Milk.” Maybe it is a testament to how often the academy fails to get it right. After all, they left the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Luis Bunuel, and Ingmar Bergman completely empty-handed.

Best Picture:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog wins because, as Roger Ebert says, “It tells the story of an orphan from the slums of Mumbai who is born into a brutal existence. A petty thief, impostor and survivor, mired in dire poverty, he improvises his way up through the world and remembers everything he has learned.” The movie is almost impossible to watch for the first hour. Danny Boyle captures a realistic depiction of the Indian slums and the conditions some children are born into. But Jameel is a survivor. Even in the direst of situations, he holds on to hope. And in the end, things work out for him.
I wish I was excited about this film winning (like I was with Dreamgirls in 2007), but I’m not. It doesn’t do anything to advance the cause of children’s rights around the world. It doesn’t really inspire people to greatness. It just kind-of shows us how depraved some societies are. Maybe next year, there will be a “feel good” movie I can really get behind. Not this year.

Happy watching!!