Final SAG Predix

Brian

Unfortunately I won't be able to watch these tonight, but here are my predix anyways:

BEST ENSEMBLE
Prediction: Milk
Runner-Up: Doubt (but don't be surprised if Slumdog wins just...because)

BEST ACTOR
Prediction: Sean Penn - Milk
Runner-Up: Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon (Rourke too...honestly I can see any of the three taking it)

BEST ACTRESS
Prediction: Meryl Streep - Doubt
Runner-Up: Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Prediction: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Runner-Up: Josh Brolin - Milk (does it really matter?)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Prediction: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Runner-Up: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (maybe Viola Davis?)

Daniel

I'm going to be unrealistic and go with my heart, rather than my head, that Slumdog goes home empty handed tonight. Apart from Boyle's superb direction, I really don't think the film deserves to be sweeping every awards show. If Slumdog wins Ensemble tonight, I will be sorely disappointed. Slumdog is NOT a film defined by its actors; the SAG shouldn't vote for it as such. However, it's definitely worthy of its nominations this season. That, however, is a completely different story. Anyway, here they are:

BEST ENSEMBLE
Prediction: Milk
Runner-Up: Doubt

BEST ACTOR
Prediction: Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Runner-Up: Sean Penn, Milk

BEST ACTRESS
Prediction: Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Runner-Up: Meryl Streep, Doubt

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Prediction: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Runner-Up: Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Prediction: Viola Davis, Doubt
Runner-Up: Kate Winslet, The Reader

2008 Oscar Nominations

They're finally here! After months of speculation, here are the nominees for the 81st annual Academy Awards:

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

Best Director
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk

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

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

Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best Original Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Courtney Hunt - Frozen River
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon & Pete Docter - WALL-E

Best Adapted Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare - The Reader
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth & Robin Swicord - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

Best Animated Feature Film
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

Best Foreign Language Film
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

Best Art Direction
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Best Cinematography
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Costume Design
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Best Film Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Best Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Best Original Song
'Down to Earth' (Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman) - WALL-E
'Jai Ho' (A.R. Rahman) - Slumdog Millionaire
'O Saya' (A.R. Rahman) - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Sound Editing
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Best Sound Mixing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Best Documentary Feature Film
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

Best Documentary Short Subject
The Conscience of Nhem Eh
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

Best Live Action Short Film
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toy Land)

Best Animated Short Film
La Maison de Petits Cubes
Lavatory - Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up

Notes: Oscars always provide us with surprises for the nominations announcement, but this year a lot of cinephiles will be greatly upset. Not only did WALL-E fail to make the Best Picture list despite numerous precursor wins for Best of the year, but The Dark Knight did not make it either. A lot of people will argue the animated feature category hurt WALL-E's chances and The Dark Knight is still a superhero film, but it would've been nice of the Oscars to actually take a chance and nominate the films which were truly appreciated by not only the critics but by the fans as well. It is also a disappointment Christopher Nolan did NOT pick up a Best Director nom despite being present all throughout the Award Season, so I do not applaud the Academy this year for letting him out. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are both nominated this year so look for the gossip columns to be happy. Kate Winslet is nominated for The Reader in the Best Actress category so she is not a double nominee. Her chances are still good, but that leaves the Best Supporting Actress race wide open, so it'll be an interesting race. Bravo Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road, a deserved nomination. How does The Wrestler not pick up a nomination for Best Original Song? That is truly a tragedy in itself. Here are the nominations tally:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button : 13 nominations
Slumdog Millionaire : 10 nominations
The Dark Knight : 8 nominations
Milk : 8 nominations
WALL-E : 6 nominations
The Reader : 5 nominations
Frost/Nixon : 5 nominations
Doubt : 5 nominations

What do you think?

Final Predix Revamp

BRIAN

Best Picture
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. Milk
3. Frost/Nixon
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. The Dark Knight

Best Director
1. Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
2. Gus Van Sant - Milk
3. David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
5. Stephen Daldry - The Reader

Best Actor
1. Sean Penn - Milk
2. Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
3. Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
4. Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino

Best Actress
1. Meryl Streep - Doubt
2. Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road
3. Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
4. Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
5. Angelina Joile - Changeling

Best Supporting Actor
1. Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
3. Josh Brolin - Milk
4. Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
5. James Franco - Milk

Best Supporting Actress
1. Kate Winslet - The Reader
2. Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
3. Viola Davis - Doubt
4. Amy Adams - Doubt
5. Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Original Screenplay
1. Milk
2. WALL-E
3. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
4. Rachel Getting Married
5. In Bruges

Best Adapted Screenplay
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Frost/Nixon
4. Doubt
5. The Reader

DANIEL

Best Picture
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Milk
4. Frost/Nixon
5. The Dark Knight

Best Director
1. Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
2. David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight
4. Gus Van Sant, Milk
5. Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon

Best Actor
1. Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
2. Sean Penn, Milk
3. Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
4. Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
5. Josh Brolin, W.

Best Actress
1. Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
2. Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
3. Meryl Streep, Doubt
4. Melissa Leo, Frozen River
5. Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Supporting Actor
1. Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
2. Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
3. Josh Brolin, Milk
4. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
5. James Franco, Milk

Best Supporting Actress
1. Kate Winslet, The Reader
2. Viola Davis, Doubt
3. Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
4. Amy Adams, Doubt
5. Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Best Original Screenplay
1. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
2. WALL-E
3. Milk
4. Rachel Getting Married
5. In Bruges

Best Adapted Screenplay
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Frost/Nixon
4. The Dark Knight
5. Doubt

DAVID
Best Picture
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. The Dark Knight
4. Milk
5. WALL-E

Best Director
1. Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
2. David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
4. Gus Vas Sant - Milk
5. Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Best Actor
1. Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
2. Sean Penn - Milk
3. Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
4. Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. Richard Jenkins - The Visitor

Best Actress
1. Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
2. Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road
3. Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
4. Meryl Streep - Doubt
5. Melissa Leo - Frozen River

Best Supporting Actor
1. Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
2. Josh Brolin - Milk
3. Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
4. Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
5. Eddie Marsan - Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Supporting Actress
1. Kate Winslet - The Reader
2. Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
3. Viola Davis - Doubt
4. Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
5. Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Original Screenplay
1. Dustin Lance Black - Milk
2. Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon - WALL-E
3. Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
4. Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler
5. Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Adapted Screenplay
1. Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
2. Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
4. Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
5. John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

Final Tech Predix

(For some reason it's not letting me copy and paste from a Word document, so for now I can't post my predix)

DAVID

Best Animated Feature Film
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E
Waltz With Bashir

Best Foreign Language Film
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden)
The Necessities of Life (Canada)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

Best Documentary Feature Film
Encounters at the End of the World
I.O.U.S.A.
Man on Wire
Standard Operating Procedure
Trouble the Water

Best Art Direction
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Revolutionary Road

Best Cinematography
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Costume Design
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Best Film Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader

Best Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Best Original Song
'Down To Earth' (Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman) - WALL-E
'Gran Torino' (Jamie Cullum) - Gran Torino
'I've Thought I Lost You' (Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele) - Bolt
'Jai Ho' (A.R. Rahman) - Slumdog Millionaire
'The Wrestler' (Bruce Springsteen) - The Wrestler

Best Sound Editing
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
WALL-E

Best Sound Mixing
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Quantum of Solace
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

DANIEL

Best Art Direction
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Milk
3. Revolutionary Road
4. Changeling
5. The Dark Knight

Best Cinematography
1. The Dark Knight
2. Slumdog Millionaire
3. Revolutionary Road
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. Milk

Best Costume Design
1. Australia
2. The Duchess
3. Revolutionary Road
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. The Dark Knight

Best Film Editing
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. The Dark Knight
4. Frost/Nixon
5. Milk

Best Make-Up
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. The Dark Knight
3. Tropic Thunder

Best Original Score
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. WALL-E
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Revolutionary Road
5. The Dark Knight

Best Original Song
1. "The Wrestler", The Wrestler
2. "Down to Earth", WALL-E
3. "Jaiho", Slumdog Millionaire
4. "Gran Torino", Gran Torino
5. "Rock Me Sexy Jesus", Hamlet 2

Best Sound Editing
1. WALL-E
2. Iron Man
3. The Dark Knight
4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
5. Hancock

Best Sound Mixing
1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. WALL-E
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. Slumdog Millionaire

Best Visual Effects
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. The Dark Knight
3. Iron Man

Best Animated Film
1. WALL-E
2. Waltz with Bashir
3. Kung Fu Panda

Best Animated Short
1. Presto
2. Wallace and Gromit in "A Matter of Loaf and Death"
3. Codswallop
4. Hot Dog
5. Sebastian's Voodoo

Best Foreign Film
1. Waltz with Bashir
2. The Class
3. Three Monkeys
4. Everlasting Moments
5. The Badder Meinhof Complex

Best Documentary Feature
1. Man on Wire
2. I.O.U.S.A.
3. Trouble the Water
4. Standard Operating Procedure
5. Encounters at the End of the World

Best Documentary Short
1. David McCullough: Painting with Words
2. The Final Inch
3. Viva La Cause
4. The Conscience of Nhem En

Best Live Action Short
1. My Olympic Summer
2. Love You More
3. Megatron
4. Ralph
5. The Business Trip

Personal Big 8

Here are my personal best choices for the Big 8 categories of the year, and I'll number the order of those pix:

Best Picture
1. WALL-E
2. Slumdog Millionaire
3. The Dark Knight
4. Milk
5. The Wrestler

Best Director
1. Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
2. Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
3. Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
4. Andrew Stanton - WALL-E
5. Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler

Best Actor
1. Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
2. Sean Penn - Milk
3. Colin Farrell - In Bruges
4. Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
5. Benicio Del Toro - Che

Best Actress
1. Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
2. Meryl Streep - Doubt
3. Frances McDormand - Burn After Reading
4. Kristin Scott Thomas - I've Loved You So Long
5. Melissa Leo - Frozen River

Best Supporting Actor
1. Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
2. Eddie Marsan - Happy-Go-Lucky
3. Brad Pitt - Burn After Reading
4. Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire
5. Emile Hirsch - Milk

Best Supporting Actress
1. Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Viola Davis - Doubt
3. Missy Upham - Frozen River
4. Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
5. Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married

Best Original Screenplay
1. Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon - WALL-E
2. Nick Schenk - Gran Torino
3. Joel Coen & Ethan Coen - Burn After Reading
4. Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
5. Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Adapted Screenplay
1. Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
2. Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
3. John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
4. Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
5. Peter Buchman & Benjamin A. van der Veen - Che

What do you think?

Razzie Awards 2008 Nominations

Taking a break from the best of the year, here are the 2008 nominees for the worst of the year as selected by the Razzies:

Worst Picture
Disaster Movie
The Happening
The Hottie and the Nottie
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
The Love Guru
Meet the Spartans

Worst Director
Uwe Boll - 1968: Tunnel Rats, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, Postal
Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer - Disaster Movie, Meet the Spartans
Tom Putnam - The Hottie and the Nottie
Marco Schnabel - The Love Guru
M. Night Shyamalan - The Happening

Worst Actor
Larry the Cable Guy - Witless Protection
Eddie Murphy - Meet Dave
Mike Myers - The Love Guru
Al Pacino - 88 Minutes, Righteous Kill
Mark Wahlberg - The Happening, Max Payne

Worst Actress
Jessica Alba - The Eye, The Love Guru
The Entire Cast - The Women
Cameron Diaz - What Happens in Vegas
Paris Hilton - The Hottie and the Nottie
Kate Hudson - Fool's Gold, My Best Friend's Girl

Worst Supporting Actor
Uwe Boll - Postal
Pierce Brosnan - Mamma Mia!
Ben Kingsley - The Love Guru, War Inc., The Wackness
Burt Reynolds - Deal, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Verne Troyer - The Love Guru, Postal

Worst Supporting Actress
Carmen Electra - Disaster Movie, Meet the Spartans
Paris Hilton - Repo: The Genetic Opera
Kim Kardashian - Disaster Movie
Jenny McCarthy - Witless Protection
Leelee Sobieski - 88 Minutes, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

Worst Screen Couple
Uwe Boll & Any Actor, Camera or Screenplay
Cameron Diaz & Ashton Kutcher - What Happens in Vegas
Paris Hilton & Christine Lakin or Joel David Moore - The Hottie and the Nottie
Larry the Cable Guy & Jenny McCarthy - Witless Protection
Eddie Murphy IN Eddie Murphy - Meet Dave

Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel
The Day the Earth Blowed Up Real Good
Disaster Movie, Meet the Spartans
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Speed Racer
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Worst Screenplay
Heidi Ferrer - The Hottie and the Nottie
Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer - Disaster Movie, Meet the Spartans
Mike Myers & Graham Gordy - The Love Guru
M. Night Shyamalan - The Happening
Doug Taylor - In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

Worst Career Achievement
Uwe Boll: Germany's answer to Ed Wood (Description provided by razzies.com)

Well, do you agree? What do you think?

Co-announcer

It has been announced that Sid Ganis, the president of AMPAS, will announce the nominations tomorrow morning at 5:30 Pacific time for the big 8, the Animated Feature Film and the Foreign Language Film categories with Oscar winner Forest Whitaker. Be sure to tune in.

Possible Surprises on Thursday: Lead Acting

SALLY HAWKINS is Snubbed

This would break my heart, but, as the SAG snub indicated, perhaps she's just too out of place for this season. But hopefully the feel-good nature of the film and her performance will be enough to get her the nod.MICHELLE WILLIAMS Surprises

This is the surprise everyone has been talking about all season, but ultimately, I think the film's size will restrict her from getting the nomination. And, as someone who has seen the film, I would agree that Williams is very good, but I don't think her snub would be the injustice some fans of the film are making out to be.CATE BLANCHETT Surprises

Because...well you know. She's Cate Blanchett. I guess it's possible.BRAD PITT is Snubbed

This is the snub everyone is predicting, and because it's almost expected to happen at this point, I think his nomination is likely because voters will have more of an incentive to vote for him. But at the same time, it's quite possible and it's a very easy performance to snub.LEONARDO DiCAPRIO Surprises

Like Pitt's snub, I think this is too widely predicted to be considered a "surprise", and therefore probably won't happen.What lead actors do you guys think could be snubbed on Thursday?

Online Film Critics Society 2008 Winners

Here are the recipients of the 2008 OFCS awards:




Best Picture: WALL-E
Best Director: Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Best Actress: Michelle Williams - Wendy and Lucy
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Best Original Screenplay: Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon - WALL-E
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ajvide Lindqvist - Let the Right One In
Best Foreign Language Film: Let the Right One In
Best Documentary: Man on Wire
Best Animated Feature Film: WALL-E
Best Cinematography: Wally Pfister - The Dark Knight
Best Editing: Chris Dickens - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Score: Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard - The Dark Knight
Breakthrough Performance: Lina Leandersson - Let the Right One In
Breakthrough Filmmaker: Tomas Alfredson - Let the Right One In

Notes: WALL-E continues to make its case to reach the Best Picture category, also winning Original Screenplay, so we'll see on Thursday. Let the Right One In picks up the most awards, as well as The Dark Knight, with 4 but unfortunately will not be in contention for the Foreign Language Film category, but its success isn't ignored. Michelle Williams picks up an award here but was her performance noticed enough to make it to the top 5? Marisa Tomei confirms her status in the top 5 with this one, but will she beat the competition, especially with Kate's momentum? What do you think?

Possible Surprises on Thursday: Best Supporting Actress

AMY ADAMS Scores the Nomination Instead of VIOLA DAVIS

While it is most likely that either both women from Doubt or else just Davis will get nominations, it is worth noting that Adams has garnered the strongest audience following for her performance, and, while critics prefer Davis, Adams has actually scored more precursor nominations (in fact, this very situation occurred at the BAFTA's). Something to look out for.FREIDA PINTO Surprises

I can't figure out what, exactly, she did in this movie that was so remarkable, but, as the BAFTA nomination indicates, if the Academy really goes apeshit for Slumdog she could easily ride the bandwagon. I actually think this will happen.ROSEMARIE DeWITT or DEBRA WINGER Surprise

Both of these performances have, like Adams or Franco, built and maintained a very supportive fanbase for quite some time, which could be enough to win one of them the nomination (most likely Winger). Plus, if they're all over Hathaway, a supporting nomination would only help her.The only one of these I really see happening is maybe Pinto, but who knows. Who do you guys think could surprise in this category?

David's Final Oscar Predix

After all the Award ceremonies and winners in some cases, it's finally time to offer up my predictions on the nominees which will be announced on Thursday. I'll put my comments for the Big 8. Contrary to some bloggers who have already predicted, I will NOT make any alternate picks to the nominees I pick because it's just too easy to get it right with 2 or 3 backup choices. The Oscars have a mind of their own, so I hope to get most of them right and that you will agree with most of them, so here goes:

Best Picture

3 films which have been nominated for the 3 Guild Awards did not get a nod in the Picture category: Being John Malkovich, Almost Famous and Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly). It is hard to ignore Frost/Nixon as it's been a strong and consistent contender throughout the Award season and it might make the cut, but it just seems like a year where a great film like WALL-E will slip in. After all, never have all 5 films nominated for the PGA went on to be nominated for Best Picture. Hopefully, WALL-E will be the 2nd animated film to make the top 5.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Best Director

Going the safe route here with all 5 DGA nominees.

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

Best Actor

3 of the actors will be clear locks for nominations: Rourke, Penn and Langella. The other two spots will be fought between 4 actors: Clint, Brad, Leo and Richard Jenkins. Leo is losing momentum and Kate's getting the attention for Revolutionary Road so he might sit it out this year. Brad will make the cut seeing as he got the Globe and SAG noms and the film was considered the favorite very early on. Clint's last performance as an actor might get a sympathy vote from the Academy as a Thank you, but I've a feeling we won't be seeing the last from Clint at the Oscars (a Nelson Mandela film in the works with Morgan Freeman will probably get him another Director nod and/or award). I'll give the final nod to Richard Jenkins because he got a SAG nom and they'll want to give him a first nomination.

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

Best Actress

Kate Winslet had quite a night at the Globes so she's a sure bet for a nom. Count Meryl in no questions asked. Anne Hathaway hasn't always won but she made it throughout the season so she'll be in too. My personal favorite, Sally Hawkins, had quite the challenging role but she seems like the darling amongst her peers and she'll represent the comedies this year. With one spot left, the most likely candidate will probably be Melissa Leo. Kristin Scott Thomas and Angelina Jolie lost momentum, Michelle Williams' movie might be too small and Cate Blanchett will miss out this time.

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet- Revolutionary Road

Best Supporting Actor

This is my favorite category this year because I will probably end up surprised by the nominees. It seems clear at this point that Heath will win the award uncontested. Philip Seymour Hoffman has been nominated throughout the Award Season, as Josh Brolin and Robert Downey Jr. so count them in. That leaves the final spot. Michael Shannon was great as the overhonest man in RR but he's been overlooked many times. I loved Dev Patel, the SAG nom helped his chances and Slumdog is rolling right now, but he might just miss out. We shouldn't count out James Franco but he has lost momentum. Ralph Fiennes has two films that might sneak him in the category, but choosing one particular film will not get him enough votes. I'll take a chance and say that the 5th spot will go to Eddie Marsan in Happy-Go-Lucky because Hawkins' best scenes are with him and he'll be able to sneak in without being really noticed by the Awards beforehand.

Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Eddie Marsan - Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Supporting Actress

Kate Winslet will probably win her first Oscar in this category for The Reader. Penelope Cruz' buzz is still strong so she'll be nominated. Viola Davis' performance is short but strong so count her in too. Marisa Tomei was nominated a lot throughout the season so she should make the cut, even though the attention is around Rourke. With one spot left, the likely candidates are either Amy Adams or Taraji P. Henson, seeing as both Rosemarie DeWitt and Debra Winger lost momentum a long time ago. Amy Adams is great as the observer of the events in Doubt, but it just seems that Taraji's performance will be noticed more by Oscar voters, so I'll put her in.

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

Best Original Screenplay

Dustin Lance Black is the strongest contender in this category for Milk. Woody Allen is getting a lot of love for Vicky Cristina Barcelona and it's not because of the Cruz-Johansson kiss. Normally an animated film makes the list so we can count WALL-E in for Andrew Stanton. Robert Siegel should make it also for taking us in the wrestling world. Nick Schenk's very real and crude dialogue for Gran Torino is very popular. Mike Leigh wrote a great script reminding us of the joys of every day life. Tom McCarthy's script for The Visitor is fantastic but might go unnoticed. Jenny Lumet has lost too much momentum for Rachel Getting Married, so I'll give the edge to Leigh at this point.

Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler
Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon - WALL-E

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Best Picture nominees shoud get the nominations in this category. With Peter Morgan who'll be a sure bet, there's one spot left, and it will probably be between David Hare for The Reader and John Patrick Shanley for Doubt, but Shanley has the edge.

Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

Best Animated Feature Film
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E
Waltz With Bashir

Best Foreign Language Film
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden)
The Necessities of Life (Canada)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

Best Documentary Feature Film
Encounters at the End of the World
I.O.U.S.A.
Man on Wire
Standard Operating Procedure
Trouble the Water

Best Art Direction
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Revolutionary Road

Best Cinematography
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Costume Design
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Best Film Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader

Best Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Best Original Song
'Down To Earth' (Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman) - WALL-E
'Gran Torino' (Jamie Cullum) - Gran Torino
'I've Thought I Lost You' (Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele) - Bolt
'Jai Ho' (A.R. Rahman) - Slumdog Millionaire
'The Wrestler' (Bruce Springsteen) - The Wrestler

Best Sound Editing
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
WALL-E

Best Sound Mixing
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Quantum of Solace
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

So here's the final recap:

13 nominations: The Dark Knight, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
8 nominations: Slumdog Millionaire
7 nominations: Milk, WALL-E
5 nominations: Frost/Nixon
4 nominations: The Wrestler, Doubt, Revolutionary Road
3 nominations: Happy-Go-Lucky, The Reader, Iron Man
2 nominations: Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Changeling

Well, what do you think?

Possible Surprises on Thursday: Best Supporting Actor

Now that we're in the final stretch to nomination morning, I thought I'd go over some of the possible snubs and surprises that I've been thinking about in the major categories. We'll start with Supporting Actor.

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. is Snubbed
Even though Tropic Thunder's double Globe nods in this category make Downey look stronger than ever, it seems possible to me that the Academy will ultimate chicken out and snub him in favor of something baitier. And frankly, that'd be okay with me.JAMES FRANCO Surprises
Franco has been popping up here and again in minor precursors, but this performance has kept a solid fanbase all season and could ultimately end up in a nod. Plus, seeing as how Milk has been buzzed to have the "best ensemble of the year", it would only be fitting for it to receive double nominations in this category.

MICHAEL SHANNON Surprises

Have we written off Revolutionary Road too quickly? Maybe, maybe not. But even people who loathed the film have raved about Shannon's brief-but-effective performance. Whether or not these raves are strong enough for a nomination is debatable, but it's definitely worth considering.EDDIE MARSAN Surprises

Like Franco, Marsan has retained a strong group of supporters for his hilarious performance in Happy-Go-Lucky throughout the season, and, if they really love the film and want to add some levity to the male acting lineups, he's the perfect choice.The problem is: I can see plenty of people making the lineup, but I can't really see any of the major players (Ledger, Hoffman, Brolin, Patel, even RDJ) being snubbed. We'll see. Who do you guys think could surprise in Best Supporting Actor?

BAFTA 2008 Nominations

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

Best British Film
Hunger
In Bruges
Mamma Mia
Man on Wire
Slumdog Millionaire

Carl Foreman Award (Special for British Director, Writer or Producer for First Feature Film)
Simon Chinn (Producer) - Man on Wire
Judy Craymer (Producer) - Mamma Mia
Garth Jennings (Writer) - Son of Rambow
Steve McQueen (Director/Writer) - Hunger
Solon Papadoulos, Roy Boulter (Producers) - Of Time and the City

Best Director
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
Clint Eastwood - Changeling
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Best Original Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Phillip Claudel - I've Loved You So Long
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen - Burn After Reading
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
J. Michael Stracyznski - Changeling

Best Adapted Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare - The Reader
Justin Haythe - Revolutionary Road
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Film Not in the English Language
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Gomorrah
I've Loved You So Long
Persepolis
Waltz With Bashir

Best Animated Film
Persepolis
WALL-E
Waltz With Bashir

Leading Actor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Leading Actress
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Kristen Scott Thomas - I've Loved You So Long
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

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

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Freida Pinto - Slumdog Millionaire
Tilda Swinton - Burn After Reading
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Music
Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus - Mamma Mia
Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Thomas Newman - WALL-E
A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire
Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard - The Dark Knight

Cinematography
Anthony Dod Mantle - Slumdog Millionaire
Chris Menges & Roger Deakins - The Reader
Claudio Miranda - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Wally Pfister - The Dark Knight
Tom Stern - Changeling

Editing
Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Joel Cox & Gary D. Roach - Changeling
Chris Dickens - Slumdog Millionaire
Jon Gregory - In Bruges
Mike Hill & Dan Hanley - Frost/Nixon
Lee Smith - The Dark Knight

Production Design
Donald Graham Burt & Victor J. Zolfo - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Nathan Crowley & Peter Lando - The Dark Knight
Mark Digby & Michelle Day - Slumdog Millionaire
James J. Murakami & Gary Fettis - Changeling
Kristi Zea & Debra Schutt - Revolutionary Road

Costume Design
Lindy Hemming - The Dark Knight
Deborah Hopper - Changeling
Michael O'Connor - The Duchess
Jacqueline West - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Albert Wolsky - Revolutionary Road

Sound
Jimmy Boyle, Eddy Joseph, Chris Munro, Mike Prestwood Smith, Mark Taylor - Quantum of Solace
Ben Burtt, Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Matthew Wood - WALL-E
Glenn Freemantle, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pryke, Tom Sayers, Ian Tapp - Slumdog Millionaire
Lora Hirschberg, Richard King, Ed Novick, Gary Rizzo - The Dark Knight
Walt Martin, Alan Robert Murray, John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff - Changeling

Special Visual Effects
Eric Barba, Craig Barron, Nathan McGuinness, Edson Williams - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Chris Corbould, Nick Davis, Paul Franklin, Tim Webber - The Dark Knight
Chris Corbould, Kevin Tod Haug - Quantum of Solace
Pablo Helman - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Shane Patrick Mahan, John Nelson, Ben Snow - Iron Man

Makeup & Hair
Steven E. Anderson, Michael White - Milk
Jean Black, Colleen Callaghan - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Edouard Henriques, Kim Santantonio - Frost/Nixon
Daniel Phillips, Jan Archibald - The Duchess
Peter Robb-King - The Dark Knight

Short Animation
Codswallop
Varmints
Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death

Short Film
Kingsland #1 the Dreamer
Love You More
Ralph
September
Voyage D'Affaires (The Business Trip)


Notes: It's not very surprising The Reader makes the top 5 instead of The Dark Knight but it is weird Christopher Nolan, a British director, does not make the cut for Best Director. It will be funny to sort out whether Dev Patel will be nominated, either in the Leading or Supporting category. Bravo for Brad Pitt for a double nom: it's nice to finally see him recognized for Burn After Reading. We have a strong idea who to vote for the technical categories. What do you think?

Foreign Language Film Shortlist

Only nine films made the final cut to compete for the slots for the Foreign Language Film category. Here are the films which will try to make the list:

3 Monkeys (Turkey)
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden)
The Necessities of Life (Canada)
Revanche (Austria)
Tear This Heart Out (Mexico)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

The big snub here is the absence of Gomorrah, considered one of the favorites for the Oscars throughout the season. We'll see if Waltz With Bashir shall walk away with the award here again. What do you think will make the top 5?

Amercian Cinema Editors 2008 Nominations

Here are the nominees for the 2008 Eddie Awards:

Best Edited Dramatic Feature Film
Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Chris Dickens - Slumdog Millionaire
Dan Hanley & Mike Hill - Frost/Nixon
Elliot Graham - Milk
Lee Smith - The Dark Knight

Best Edited Comedy or Musical Feature Film
Jon Gregory - In Bruges
Greg Hayden - Tropic Thunder
Alisa Lepselter - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Stephen Schaffer - WALL-E
Lesley Walker - Mamma Mia

Best Edited Documentary
Steve Audette - Bush's War
Jinx Godfrey - Man on Wire
Stuart Levy - Chicago 10

No big surprises here since the top 5 in the Dramatic category will probably end up at the Oscars. What do you think?

2008 Golden Globe Winners

Here's the complete list of 2008's Golden Globe recipients as voted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:

Best Motion Picture - Drama: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor In a Drama: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Best Actress In a Drama: Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road
Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Actor In a Musical/Comedy: Colin Farrell - In Bruges
Best Actress In a Musical/Comedy: Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Best Director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Feature Film: WALL-E
Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz With Bashir
Best Original Score: A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Song: 'The Wrestler' (Bruce Springsteen) - The Wrestler

Notes: Not surprinsingly, Slumdog Millionaire took home the most awards with 4 so it remains the clear favorite come Oscar time. The race is still on between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke, the SAG might provide the deciding vote. Hats off to Kate Winslet winning both Best Actress AND Best Supporting Actress. Not one actor or actress has walked with both Lead and Supporting Acting Oscars in the same ceremony. It would be unlikely she'd win both but we can probably say with confidence Kate will finally win an Oscar this year. Bravo to Colin Farrell, simply great in In Bruges winning Best Musical/Comedy Actor. Well, will these GG influence much the Oscars this year? What do you think?

Daniel's Final Golden Globe Predictions

Best Picture (Drama): Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor (Drama): Sean Penn, Milk
Best Actress (Drama) : Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Best Picture (Musical/Comedy): In Bruges
Best Actor (Musical/Comedy) Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey
Best Actress (Musical/Comedy) : Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Feature Film: WALL-E
Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz with Bashir
Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Original Song: Bruce Springteen, "The Wrestler", The Wrestler

Brian's Final Golden Globe Predix

It's here! I'm gonna do Will Win and Runner-Up, and I'll try to remain unbiased in my predix until I post my personal picks in the 3rd Annual Oscar Obsession Honors. Anyway, here we go...

Best Picture (Drama)
Will Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Runner-Up (Next Most Likely to Win): Slumdog Millionaire

Even though Slumdog has the whole foreign atmosphere going on, that's more a backdrop than anything else (the way Catholicism was a backdrop in Doubt). Ultimately, I think that the Globes will succumb to the weepiness and huge scope of Ben Button, but Oscar will likely take a different route.Best Picture (Musical or Comedy)
Will Win: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Runner-Up: Happy-Go-Lucky

While the Globes don't love Allen as much as one may think, VCB's foreignness and sexiness could ultimately give it the award, but Happy-Go-Lucky could easily ride Hawkins' bandwagon in this category, and Mamma Mia! could play the musical card.Best Actor (Drama)
Will Win: Sean Penn - Milk
Runner-Up: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Simply because Penn has the buzz right now. But Rourke should be able to renew the stale mate with a SAG win in a week or two.


Best Actress (Drama)
Will Win: Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Runner-Up: Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

I would venture to say that Hathaway, Winslet and Streep all have equal chances at this point, but Hathaway is probably a hair ahead because, like Sean Penn, that's just where the buzz is at this point. Still, watch out for Winslet because she still hasn't won a GG yet, and for Streep because of her recent BFCA win (well, tie).

Best Actor (Musical or Comedy)
Will Win: Dustin Hoffman - Last Chance Harvey
Runner-Up: Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I gues Hoffman will win because this is a category where they can afford to be sentimental. But watch out for Bardem, who could win his second Golden Globe in as many years if they really like Vicky Cristina Barcelona.Best Actress (Musical or Comedy)
Will Win: Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Runner-Up: Meryl Streep - Mamma Mia!

Hawkins should have this in the bag, seeing as how she's the only real contender in the lineup, but I guess if they decide that they want to reward Mamma Mia and/or Streep in some way they could do it here.Best Director
Will Win: David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Runner-Up: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

I'm thinking this will be the first of two times tonight that Benjamin Button upsets Slumdog. But Boyle could easily pull off the win here, which would yield a BP victory for Slumdog at the end of the evening.

And the rest:

Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Runner-Up: Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder (I guess)

Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Runner-Up: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (VERY close)

Best Screenplay
Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Runner-Up: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Original Score
Will Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Runner-Up: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Song
Will Win: "The Wrestler" - The Wrestler
Runner-Up: "Down to Earth" - Wall-E

Best Animated Feature
Will Win: Wall-E
Runner-Up: Kung Fu Panda(?)

Best Foreign Language Film
Will Win: Gomorrah
Runner-Up: Waltz With Bashir

This looks to be an exciting ceremony. What are you guys thinking will win tonight?

David's Golden Globes Predictions

Here's who I believe will walk away with the Golden Globes this year:

Best Motion Picture - Drama: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor In a Drama: Sean Penn - Milk
Best Actress In a Drama: Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Actor In a Musical/Comedy: Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Actress In a Musical/Comedy: Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Best Director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Feature Film: WALL-E
Best Foreign Language Film: Gomorrah (Italy)
Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Original Song: 'The Wrestler' (Bruce Springteen) - The Wrestler

I'll be working so I won't be able to assume coverage for the ceremony, but I hope it'll be good. What do you think?

Art Directors Guild 2008 Nominations

Here are the nominees for the 13th annual Art Directors Guild Award:

Period Films
Donald Graham Burt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Michael Corenblith - Frost/Nixon
Bill Groom - Milk
David Gropman - Doubt
James J. Murakami - Changeling

Fantasy Films
James Bissell - The Spiderwick Chronicles
Nathan Crowley - The Dark Knight
Guy Hendrix Dyas - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Ralph Eggleston - WALL-E
J. Michael Riva - Iron Man

Contemporary Films
Mark Digby - Slumdog Millionaire
Dennis Gassner - Quantum of Solace
Jess Gonchor - Burn After Reading
Timothy Grimes - The Wrestler
James J. Murakami - Gran Torino

Who do you think will win and who will make the top 5 at the Oscars?

2008 Critics Choice Awards

Here are the winners chosen by the BFCA for the best of 2008:

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Sean Penn - Milk
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married & Meryl Streep - Doubt (tie)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Best Acting Ensemble: Milk
Best Director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Writer: Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Feature: WALL-E
Best Young Actor/Actress: Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Action Movie: The Dark Knight
Best Comedy Movie: Tropic Thunder
Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz With Bashir
Best Documentary Feature Film: Man on Wire
Best Original Song: 'The Wrestler' (Bruce Springsteen) - The Wrestler
Best Composer: A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire cleans house with 5 awards clearly keeping its early favorite status. Sean Penn is still making the competition interesting with Mickey Rourke for Best Actor. Kate Winslet may yet win an Oscar this year but for Best Supporting Actress (the role does seem more baity). Will Waltz With Bashir take the Foreign Language Film award this year? What do you think?

Directors Guild of America 2008 Nominations

Here are the top five directors selected by the DGA to compete for the 2008 Award:

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

No surprising picks here as the films presented here may very well end up competing for Best Picture at the Oscars. Do you think these directors will be there as well? What do you think?

Writers Guild of America 2008 Nominations

Here are the scripts nominated for the 2008 WGA Awards:

Original Screenplay
Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen - Burn After Reading
Tom McCarthy - The Visitor
Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler

Adapted Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

Notes: The Coens once again pick up a nomination for their genius writing revisiting the dark comedy genre. Woody Allen proves he's still in the game, and great for Tom McCarthy picking up a nom. Will this hurt WALL-E's chances? For the Adapted category, no surprises here (I picked out all 5 in my predix), so The Dark Knight are continuing to pile up the Guild nominations, very important for the nominee ballots. If Christopher Nolan picks up a nom for the DGA tomorrow, will we see The Dark Knight for Best Picture at the Oscars? Who knows?
Well, what do you think?

American Society of Cinematographers' Nominations

Another category gets help narrowing the films which should be nominated at the Oscars come January 24th. The ASC has posted its list of nominees and this should be a close one:

Roger Deakins - Revolutionary Road
Roger Deakins & Chris Menges - The Reader
Anthony Dod Mantle - Slumdog Millionaire
Claudio Miranda - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Wally Pfister - The Dark Knight

Do you think this will make the top 5 at the Oscars?

Makeup Shortlist

Well, like the Visual FX category, 3 contenders will be chosen from these 7 films selected to compete for the Oscar for Best Makeup. The films are:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Reader
Synecdoche, New York
Tropic Thunder
The Wrestler

Which ones do you think will be nominated?

Visual FX Shortlist

From the 15 films competing for the shortlist in the Visual FX category, 7 have made the cut from which 3 films will be nominated for the category at the nomination announcements. Decide for yourselves which ones should be nominated:

Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Iron Man
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

What do you think?

David's Top 10 of 2008

Well, after seeing Benjamin Button yesterday (finally!), I've watched most of the movies I wanted to see in order to make the list, so I'll put my 11 through 20 in alphabetical order and proceed with my top 10 of the year.

11 thru 20: Burn After Reading, Changeling, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Gran Torino, In Bruges, Iron Man, Pineapple Express, The Reader, Revolutionary Road, Zack and Miri Make a Porno

10. Happy-Go-Lucky
9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
8. Frost/Nixon
7. Tropic Thunder
6. Doubt
5. The Wrestler
4. Milk
3. The Dark Knight
2. Slumdog Millionaire
1. WALL-E

The last 4 years my #1 film ended up winning for Best Picture. I doubt VERY much WALL-E will win this year, but wouldn't it be a great upset? Well, I hope you all include your top 10s. What do you think?

WGA Predix

With the DGA nominations on Thursday, I'll also offer my predix for the WGA which will be announced on Wednesday. Here goes:

Original Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Jenny Lumet - Rachel Getting Married
Thomas McCarthy - The Visitor
Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler
Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon - WALL-E

Adapted Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

What do you think?

DGA Predix

With the announcement on Thursday, here are the five directors I believe will make the cut:

Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk

I'm not saying these will be the directors who'll end up at the Oscars, but these seem the likely candidates that will compete for the Award. What do you think?

Online Film Critics Nominees

Here are the 2008 nominees from the OFCS:

Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
The Wrestler

Best Director
Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Andrew Stanton - WALL-E

Best Actor
Benicio Del Toro - Che
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best Actress
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Michelle Williams - Wendy and Lucy
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Eddie Marsan - Happy-Go-Lucky
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader

Best Original Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Charlie Kaufman - Synecdoche, New York
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler
Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon - WALL-E

Best Adapted Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
John Ajvide Lindqvist - Let the Right One In
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Documentary
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Encounters at the End of the World
I.O.U.S.A.
Man on Wire
My Winnipeg

Best Foreign Language Film
A Christmas Tale
The Counterfeiters
I've Loved You So Long
Let the Right One In
Waltz With Bashir

Best Animated Feature Film
Bolt
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E
Waltz With Bashir

What do you think?

PGA Nominees

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Exactly as I thought it would be. No surprises here, but it's great to see TDK re-establishing itself (even though it never really lost its status, I don't think). I think there's a very good chance Oscar will end up matching this.

Are We in for a Bizarre Golden Globe Ceremony?

First post of 2009!

Lest you have blocked it from your memory, I think we all remember what the general reaction to the 2008/9 Golden Globe nominations were. The Reader over Milk? Ralph Fiennes? Tom Cruise?! And, since the remainder of the local critics have announced winners and SAG announced nominees, it seems as though people have more or less forgotten about the Globes' existence. That combined with the fact that the nominees are already strange as can be, who is to say that it won't be an evening full of bizarre upsets? Both BP categories are looking seceptible.

Best Picture (Drama)
Frontrunner: Slumdog Millionaire
Likely Upset: Revolutionary Road

Even though Slumdog screams HFPA, doesn't it feel a bit too...obvious? Revolutionary Road is just as suitable, plus they love to throw in surprises. If RR can pull off the upset (big if), then it should be guaranteed a BP nod no matter what happens, and it's looking increasingly possible by the day. Not to say that it's not still next to impossible.
Best Picture (Musical or Comedy)
Frontrunner: Happy-Go-Lucky or Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Likely Upset: Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! is the choice movie of British tweens, which, at times, seems to be the HFPA's demographic. The fact that VCB isn't really a comedy and that only one Allen film has won this prize before (Hannah and her Sisters) and that's looking weak, and Happy-Go-Lucky already has an award to win, and you've got a strong case for Mamma Mia! But please, please make it go away.What do you guys think? Will the Globes take a linear route, or will they be as surprising as the nominations?