What do you think? Is Ruby Dee a deserving Best Supporting Actress nominee?
The SAG Award for Best Ensemble is usually a great Oscar predictor but what to do this year when out of the 5 nominees, only No Country for Old Men is hoping for Oscar glory.
Breaking newsBest Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Screenplays
Technical Nominations
Costume Design
Igloo Prediction - 2/5 - missing Elizabeth: The Golden Age, La Vie en Rose, Across the Universe
Davis Blog - 4/5 - missing Across the Universe
Cinematography
Igloo Predictions - 5/5 !!!!
Davis Blog - 5/5 !!!!
Film Editing
Igloo Predictions - 4/5 - missing The Diving Bell & the Butterfly (alternate)
Davis Blog - 4/5 - missing The Diving Bell & the Butterfly
Makeup
Igloo Prediction - 1/3 missing Pirates & Norbit (both alternates)
Davis Blog - 1/3 missing Pirates & Norbit
Original Score
Igloo Prediction - 3/5 - missing 3:10 to Yuma & Michael Clayton
Davis Blog - 3/5 - missing Michael Clayton & Ratatouille (alternate)
Original Song
Igloo Prediction - 2/5 - missing two Enchanted songs and August Rush
Davis Blog - 1/5 - only naming Once "Falling Slowly"
Sound Mixing
Igloo Prediction - 3/5 - missing 3:10 to Yuma & Ratatouille
Davis Blog - 2/5 - only getting Bourne & Transformers
Sound Editing
Igloo Prediction - 2/5 - only calling Ratatouille & Transformers
Davis Blog - 2/5 - only calling Ratatouille & Transformers
Visual Effects
Igloo Prediction - 3/3 !!!!
Davis Blog - 3/3 !!!!
All in all, a pretty great day. What was the most surprising to you?
...Tomorrow, when everyone in the world but us (film lovers) is sleeping, nominations for the 80th Academy Awards will be finally announced. Will Atonement come back to the main race? Will Cate Blanchett receive two more nods? Will Zodiac find some love, anywhere?
Just when we are thinking the road to the Oscar is getting very predictable, the Academy always throw in one or two big shockers... In a year with so many worthy contenders, who do you think will be snubbed?Besides these 9 films, are there any surprises to come through? Of course.
3:10 to Yuma could show up, maybe Haispray (God I hope not.) What if the Academy becomes supercool and nominates The Bourne Ultimatum. (Yeah right, they're not cool like that yet.)
So who is going to make the cut in the Best Picture race? Why don't you tell us, comment the post.
Predictions
Alternates
While she is not a household name like Angelina Jolie; Marion Cotillard (who gave in my opinion the best performance of 2007) certainly deserves better than to be mistaken for the girl from "Bones."The Directors Guild of America will announce their nominees tomorrow and this will definitely clear the Best Picture race up a little bit. At this point, The Coen Bros. are the only lock and any of the predictions 2 through 5 can be left off for any of the alternates. So, your guess is as good as mine. Leave your predictions on the post. And thanks to Joey M. for covering the coverage of the BFCA's, analysis and comments will come tomorrow. This is what happens when you have a Monday night class that doesn't understand the importance of awards season.
Alternates
Best Picture
Of all the ten nominees, I'd say at least five can take it without any surprise following. The three listed above, There Will Be Blood and Sweeney Todd all have viable shots. The critical support of No Country for Old Men should seal the deal as this season's critical darling and frontrunner. Watch out for Atonement to get a leg up back in the race or Into the Wild. (it didn't have the most nominations for nothing!)
Best Actor
The three "locks" of the Best Actor race will be fighting for the win here. Day-Lewis has the support from and the critic wins but don't underestimate the fire star power of Mr. Depp, who could still walk up to the podium, especially if this might be one of our only chances to see a star on stage this season.
Best Young Actor
Michael Cera's great breakout year should be enough for him to have a leg up on his competitors but he is double nominated here which could split his own votes but his Juno performance is much more acclaimed. As long as Freddie Highmore doesn't win again, I'm satisfied.
Best Actress
Even though the Best Actress race seems to be between Christie and Cotillard, I expect Ellen Page to grab this based on the popularity of Juno. No expectations for Blanchett, Adams and Jolie but if any of them were to win (which would be an act of God) than expect hear the keyboards of bloggers across America, changing their predictions.
Best Young Actress
If Saoirse Ronan does lose this award, which is obviously not the Best Supporting Actress race, this would show her once "locked" status has made room for another lady. (which I believe to be her castmate Vanessa Redgrave) If she does lose, than Hairspray's popularity will follow to Nikki Blonsky.
Best Supporting Actor
This race is quite unclear for who is the possible winner. No Country for Old Men's critical darling status holds well for Javier Bardem. Casey Affleck's LEAD turn in The Assassination of Jesse James gives him the screentime needed to win. Hal Holbrook as the veteran and very powerful performance to win also but BFCA tends to be hip and cool, so they'll likely choose Bardem who will likely mirror No Country's Best Picture win.
Best Supporting Actress
Even though I don't believe Cate Blanchett to be the frontrunner anymore in the Oscar race, (and not with Ryan to be the upset) this will probably be Blanchett's first and last critic win of the season. Amy Ryan can upset pretty easy but I would say watch out for Catherine Keener, not only for BFCA but for Oscar.
Best Director
Point blank, this is all about the Coen Bros. and their picture but watch out for Schnabel and Penn if Into the Wild makes a strong play.
Best Writer
With Juno being the frontrunner in the Original Screenplay race and No Country for Old Men in the Adapted, it's safe to assume that one of them will win. I'll go with Juno based on that rich dialogue that everyone loved and wouldn't it have been great to see hot and vivacious Diablo Cody on stage. (I'm in love in case you didn't know!)
Best Song
Best Documentary
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Acting Ensemble
I'd say any of the Acting Ensemble nominees could win except for Sweeney Todd which is the Johnny Depp show. No Country for Old Men has won a slew of Ensemble prizes along with Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, which is the Best Cast of the Year. Even though Juno was ignored by SAG, this is award it rightfully deserves.
Best Comedy Movie
Best Composer
Best Family Film
Best Animated Feature
Some of you might have been on vacation during Christmas week but I am running a contest for the Igloo. Thanks to Victor for the suggestion! I received an e-mail about the contest and that I should list all the worthy contenders and list of films seen. Contest works as follows:
You are guessing my favorite films and nominees of the year. Pick 5 from each of the following categories: Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original and Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Original Score, and Cast Ensemble. You have to also guess my top ten films of the year in numerical order. You are allowed ONE alternate in each category.
Best Actor
Emile Hirsch-Into the Wild
Philip Seymour Hoffman-Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
James McAvoy-Atonement
Casey Affleck-Gone Baby Gone
Denzel Washington-The Great Debaters
Russell Crowe-3:10 to Yuma
Morgan Freeman-The Bucket List
Brad Pitt-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Gordon Pinsent-Away from Her
Viggo Mortensen-Eastern Promises
Johnny Depp-Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tom Hanks-Charlie Wilson’s War
Will Smith-I Am Legend
Joaquin Phoenix-We Own the Night
Matt Damon-The Bourne Ultimatum
Jack Nicholson-The Bucket List
Best Actress
Keira Knightley-Atonement
Ellen Page-Juno
Julie Christie-Away from Her
Helena Bonham Carter-Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Angelina Jolie-A Mighty Heart
Nikki Blonsky-Hairspray
Amy Adams-Enchanted
Katherine Hiegl-Knocked Up
Best Supporting Actor
Hal Holbrook-Into the Wild
Ethan Hawke-Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Ed Harris-Gone Baby Gone
Forest Whitaker-The Great Debaters
Ben Foster-3:10 to Yuma
Casey Affleck-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem-No Country for Old Men
Armin Mueller-Stahl-Eastern Promises
Vincent Cassel-Eastern Promises
Philip Seymour Hoffman-Charlie Wilson’s War
Elijah Kelley-Hairspray
Russell Crowe-American Gangster
Albert Finney-Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Jeremy Piven-Smokin’ Aces
Marcus Carl Franklin-I’m Not There
Jason Bateman-Juno
Michael Cera-Juno
J.K. Simmons-Juno
Kevin James-I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Best Supporting Actress
Vanessa Redgrave-Atonement
Saoirse Ronan-Atonement
Romola Garai-Atonement
Amy Ryan-Gone Baby Gone
Catherine Keener-Into the Wild
Marisa Tomei-Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Allison Janney-Juno
Jennifer Garner-Juno
Kelly MacDonald-No Country for Old Men
Amy Adams-Charlie Wilson’s War
Michelle Pfeiffer-Hairspray
Cate Blanchett-I’m Not There
Jurnee Smollett-The Great Debaters
Naomi Watts-Eastern Promises
Ruby Dee-American Gangster
Gretchen Mol-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Best Director
Ben Affleck-Gone Baby Gone
Sean Penn-Into the Wild
Sidney Lumet-Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Paul Greengrass-The Bourne Ultimatum
Denzel Washington-The Great Debaters
James Mangold-3:10 to Yuma
Joe Wright-Atonement
Jason Reitman-Juno
Andrew Dominik-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Sarah Polley-Away from Her
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen-No Country for Old Men
David Cronenberg-Eastern Promises
Tim Burton-Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Mike Nichols-Charlie Wilson’s War
Films Seen in 2007
3:10 to Yuma (***½)
300 (**½)
A Mighty Heart (***)
American Gangster (***)
Atonement (***½)
Away from Her (***½)
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (****)
Charlie Wilson’s War (***)
Eastern Promises (***½)
Enchanted (**)
Gone Baby Gone (****)
Hairspray (***)
Halloween (**)
Hannibal Rising (½)
I Am Legend (***)
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (**½)
I’m Not There (**½)
Into the Wild (****)
Juno (***½)
Knocked Up (***½)
No Country for Old Men (***½)
Smokin’ Aces (***)
Spider-Man 3 (***)
Superbad (**½)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (***)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (***½)
The Bourne Ultimatum (****)
The Bucket List (***½)
The Great Debaters (***1/2)
The Simpsons Movie (**½)
Transformers (***½)
We Own the Night (**½)
Post your NAME, E-mail, and nominees on THIS post. You can only submit one entry. The winner will win a Double DVD of Terminator 2 and Robocop. One honorable mention will a book on "How to be a Film Critic!"....Good LUCK!
