Oscar preview 2008: the best of the best
Matthew Howard
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Life!
Here are my predictions for the major categories of the Oscar's scheduled for March 2 this year.
Best Motion Picture:
Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood.
No Country for Old Men was the only nearly perfect film to come out of theaters this year. Everything from the acting, to the editing all the way down to the subtle details that the Coen Brothers captured made for the best film this year. No Country... has already won the Golden Globe for best drama.
Best Actor:
George Clooney in Michael Clayton, Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd, Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah, and Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises.
Daniel Day-Lewis is extremely selective in the projects he undertakes. Every few years he decides to end his multi-year vacations and take on a very challenging role.
This year was no exception. His performance as an oil tycoon proves that he is one of the best, if not the best, actor of his generation.
Best Actress:
Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Julie Christie in Away from Her, Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose, Laura Linney in The Savages, and Ellen Page in Juno.
Julie Christie, far and away, gives the strongest of all the performances.
Her portrayal of an aging woman suffering from Alzheimer's Disease is the most authentic and emotional performance of the five nominees. She should bring home her second, Best Actress Academy Award (her previous was in 1965 for Darling.)
Best Supporting Actor:
Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James, Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men, Philip Seymour Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War, Hal Holbrook in Into the Wild, and Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton.
Hal Holbrook gave the most memorable and emotional performances in the past decade. He should be rewarded for everything he had done for the film industry the last sixty-six years.
Best Supporting Actress:
Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There, Ruby Dee in American Gangster, Saoirse Ronan in Atonement, Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone, and Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton.
The under-appreciated Tilda Swinton gives the strongest performance of her career. Most pundits are predicting the other four candidates to win; but its Swinton's dedication to her work that gets my vote. Her role contains a number of extremely unflattering shots which earned my deepest respect.
All of the actors deserve some sort of recognition, but there are those who are more worthy than most. We will, of course, have to wait to find out.
Best Motion Picture:
Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood.
No Country for Old Men was the only nearly perfect film to come out of theaters this year. Everything from the acting, to the editing all the way down to the subtle details that the Coen Brothers captured made for the best film this year. No Country... has already won the Golden Globe for best drama.
Best Actor:
George Clooney in Michael Clayton, Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd, Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah, and Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises.
Daniel Day-Lewis is extremely selective in the projects he undertakes. Every few years he decides to end his multi-year vacations and take on a very challenging role.
This year was no exception. His performance as an oil tycoon proves that he is one of the best, if not the best, actor of his generation.
Best Actress:
Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Julie Christie in Away from Her, Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose, Laura Linney in The Savages, and Ellen Page in Juno.
Julie Christie, far and away, gives the strongest of all the performances.
Her portrayal of an aging woman suffering from Alzheimer's Disease is the most authentic and emotional performance of the five nominees. She should bring home her second, Best Actress Academy Award (her previous was in 1965 for Darling.)
Best Supporting Actor:
Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James, Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men, Philip Seymour Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War, Hal Holbrook in Into the Wild, and Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton.
Hal Holbrook gave the most memorable and emotional performances in the past decade. He should be rewarded for everything he had done for the film industry the last sixty-six years.
Best Supporting Actress:
Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There, Ruby Dee in American Gangster, Saoirse Ronan in Atonement, Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone, and Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton.
The under-appreciated Tilda Swinton gives the strongest performance of her career. Most pundits are predicting the other four candidates to win; but its Swinton's dedication to her work that gets my vote. Her role contains a number of extremely unflattering shots which earned my deepest respect.
All of the actors deserve some sort of recognition, but there are those who are more worthy than most. We will, of course, have to wait to find out.