Here we are again with another installment from "Voices from a Stranger." This one comes from us from a St. Cloud native that likes to gamble now and again. Enjoy!
The big day has finally come. I watch all season as the participants battle it out to become the year’s best. I analyze their every move trying to decide who is going to take home the trophy on that Super Sunday in February where all the stars come out for a huge party. No, not the Super Bowl, THE OSCARS! For awhile it looked like this years Oscars might be headed for a glorified news conference like the Golden Globes. But the strike is over and the party is set. Now being the former St. Cloud Times Oscar Challenge champion that I am (Free movie passes at Parkwood 18 Movie Theater for a year), I thought this year I would share my picks with the rest of the world. Here we go...
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
This is the category known for upsets (See Marisa Tomei - My Cousin Vinny) and this year might be no different. It looked like Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There) had this category wrapped up when she took home the Golden Globe. But the SAG awards gave Ruby Dee (American Gangster) some momentum and people are really falling in love with her. I think what will hurt Ruby is Cate’s nomination in this category and her nod in Best Actress as well (Elizabeth: The Golden Age). She won’t win Best Actress so I believe the Academy will reward her with this.
WINNER: CATE BLANCHETT
COULD UPSET: RUBY DEE
MY FAVORITE: AMY RYAN (Gone Baby Gone) Wire fans know her as Beadie, McNulty’s latest fling. Great performance in this movie, just not enough screen time.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
I feel bad for all nominees in this category not named Javier. There were some great performances but none have a chance in hell against the monster that was Anton Chigurh. Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) was the best villain movies have seen since Hannibal Lector (I’m not talking about Hannibal Rising Either). When he was on the screen you paid attention. And when he wasn’t on the screen you wondered where the hell he was. Epic performance.
WINNER: JAVIER BARDEM
COULD UPSET: HANNIBAL LECTOR 20 years ago
MY FAVORITE: HAL HOLBROOK (Into the Wild) This old man’s performance was amazing and he had one of the greatest scenes in a movie all year asking young Chris Mccandless if he could adopt him. Maybe any other year.
BEST ACTRESS:
This is a very strange category this year with no real big names and no real big movies. Julie Christie (Away From Her) has been collecting all the awards this year and looks like a solid lock. I’ve been hearing a lot of late buzz going for Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose). To pretend like I know who that is or what movie that is would be a lie. It would be nice for Ellen Page (Juno) to sneak a win but do you think anyone in the Academy understood Juno? Not a chance. Julie it is.
WINNER: JULIE CHRISTIE
COULD UPSET: MARION COTILLARD
MY FAVORITE: ELLEN PAGE (Juno) If you haven’t seen her by now where have you been? Her and Paulie Bleeker should dominate the MTV movie Awards (Do they still do those?)
BEST ACTOR:
Like the best supporting actor category, this one is Lock #2. I really wish Javier Bardem would have been nominated as a best actor because he could have given Daniel Day Lewis (There Will be Blood) a great race. What a battle that would have been. Instead Lewis is going to run away with this award. When this guy gets into a roll he is one of the best actors we have ever seen. If it weren’t for him in this movie (a Movie I have renamed There Will be Boredom) it might be nominated for a Razzie rather than Best Picture. Another lock you can bet, there will be Heath Ledger references in his speech. 
WINNER: DANIEL DAY LEWIS
COULD UPSET: GEORGE CLOONEY (Michael Clayton)
MY FAVORITE: VIGGO MORTENSEN (Eastern Promises) Dude should win based on the Sauna scene alone, even though I closed my eyes for 90% of it.
BEST DIRECTOR:
One thing is for sure; the Academy does not like Duo Directors and apparently doesn’t like the Coen brothers on top of that. With that said, they have no choice but to give the Coen’s (No Country for Old Men) the hardware this year. They are the only directors in this category with a previous nomination and have directed the best movie of the year. The Golden Globe victory of Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) might have the Coen’s a little scared, but this win is long overdue.
WINNER: COEN BROTHERS
COULD UPSET: JULIAN SCHNABEL
MY FAVORITE: COEN BROTHERS
BEST PICTURE:
For awhile it looked like this was a two horse race with No Country for Old Men and There Will be Boredom. A lot of people thought that Daniel Day Lewis’s performance would give Boredom the edge, but the Best Actor winner has not led his movie to a Best Picture win since Russell Crowe in Gladiator. Some other people think that No Country and Boredom will split votes opening the door for Michael Clayton or Juno. With all that said, there is no stopping No Country this year. I think the academy will be a little hesitant to give another bloody, murderous movie the title after The Departed’s victory last year but I believe the non-Hollywood, controversial ending will win the voters over and it will be No Country’s night at the Oscars.
WINNER: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
COULD UPSET: MICHAEL CLAYTON
MY FAVORITE: JUNO
BEST OF THE REST:
Best Original Screenplay: Juno
Best Adapted Screenplay: No Country for Old Men
Best Animated Film: Ratatouille
Best Documentary: No End in Sight (Although SICKO was the best, they will never let Mike Moore on stage again)
Best Costume: Atonement
Out,
Bargs
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Voices from a Stranger
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Bargs, phenomenal piece on something that none of us could've have written. I think you should give us a movie update every other month so we can inform our readers of any good purchases.
Viggo was off the charts in Eastern Promises and Daniel Day Lewis made that movie a D in my mind. It was an easy F without him.
When is this so called sports site going to talk about sports?
We need more of Bargas. I'm thinking a weekly column at least. Make it happen, Dogg.
SMN
Boredom?! How dare you? There Will Be Blood was easily in the top two movies of the year, and not just because of Day-Lewis. I loved everything about it: the pacing, the music, the bareness, the cinematography, the cold suspense. Paul Dano was spectacular.
Considering your preference for Juno (decent, but c'mon) and all the American Idol coverage lately, I'm beginning to wonder which middle school girls are actually writing this thing. ;)
Maybe you should watch it again after reviewing the Paul Thomas Anderson oeuvre. Begin with Boogie Nights, continue to Hard Eight, carry on with Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love as you see fit, if at all. Your perspective may evolve.
This is not just a sports blog Nick so hopefully we can accomodate your wants and needs with future pieces. You obviously like movies as do we so, and also enjoy TV more than a lot of other adults out there so this is an all purpose blog. If you don't like Idol, don't read the article. We the writers are obsessed with the show and therefore will talk like little girls about it.
"There Will Be Blood" was not a good movie in our eyes.
Three things:
1) I'm a sucker for Idol. I can't deny that.
2) This piece wasn't written by a writer. This was a strangers opinion on the Oscars. Well done I thought but doesn't represent all of the writers opinions because...
3) I haven't seen "There will Be Blood." Dogg obviously didn't enjoy it and I don't know if Mr. Cue has seen it either. I've heard mixed reviews and now I for sure want to see it because I've heard no middle ground with this film.
Sorry for my bad english. Thank you so much for your good post. Your post helped me in my college assignment, If you can provide me more details please email me.
Post a Comment