Saturday, February 21, 2009

Today: Best Actress Nominees And My Pick


Three great performances: Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep and Melissa Leo.
One good performance: Angelina Jolie.
One hysterical, over the top performance in the worst movie of the year: Anne Hathaway.

You know who I want to win. You know who I think will win. You know who I think should win.

You know they've snubbed her 5 times already.
You know I don't trust the voters.
You know I shouldn't care.
But this year I do more than most in this category.

So I'm going out on the proverbial limb.

The winner should be: Kate Winslet.
The winner will be: Kate Winslet.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Best Actor Nominees And My Picks



A strong group of contenders. The odds are going toward a win for Mickey Rourke. A lot of actors who think their careers are over will vote for him.
Great actors will go for Sean Penn. But I repeat how great Richard Jenkins was in the pretty much forgotten 'The Visitor'.
Brad Pitt is always underestimated. He may be the new Cary Grant who was always underestimated.

The Oscar will go to Mickey Rourke I believe.

The Oscar should go to Sean Penn for 'Milk"

'Real Time With Bill Maher' Returns Tonight on HBO










Thursday, February 19, 2009

So Guess Who Made The Time Magazine Oscar Cover?

Kind Of Clever: From Pope To Hope

Oscar Predictions From MSNBC My Favorite News Station



'At The Movies' Best Actress Pick

I am not alone regarding Kate the Great!


Today: Best Supporting Actress Nominees And My Pick



This may be the hardest category of all. 5 deserving nominees in 5 brilliant performances.
I narrowed my choice down to 2. Penelope Cruz and Taraji P. Henson. And I feel like poking an ice pick into my brain.

But I must mark my Ballot. So here goes as I pray for a tie...

Who I would mark the ballot for: Taraji P. Henson
Who will win: Penelope Cruz and I will have no argument with the win.


Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Countdown To The Oscars: Today The Best Supporting Actor Nominees





The winner will be Heath Ledger. I really don't believe the premature death of an actor should make you the winner. Heath was great and i grant that. But had Heath lived this race would not be a done deal. There would be a RACE.

The Oscar should go to Michael Shannon the crazy man who who the sanest man in a world of so called sane people who were totally crazy. Despite Kate and Leo he gave the best performance in 'Revolutionary Road' which was no small feat.

So the winner is Heath Ledger .




The winner should be Michael Shannon.



Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Countdown To The Oscars: Today The Best Director Nominees




The countdown is here
So today I make my pick for Best Director.

The Oscar should and will go to Danny Boyle.

He just created a film of joy and eye filling pleasures on the smallest budget of all these nominees. He directed a cast of thousands in a new way. A real way. Not the Cecil B. DeMille way. From the leads and the kids who played them as children he got real performances. Only Robert Mulligan's direction of kids has been able to do this so naturally until Danny Boyle.

I am not going along with the crowd here. I never do. This year the crowd happens to agree with me and not vice versa. Danny Boyle is and will be Best Director come Sunday night.



(Tomorrow Best Supporting Actor)

Sunday, February 15, 2009

'Frozen River'


I've always enjoyed Melissa Leo's work starting with 'Homicide: Life on the Streets'.
Her performance here is certainly Oscar worthy.

The film itself taught me something. It took me to a place I did not know existed. It introduced me to people I only heard about in passing. Therefore, I say it is a wonderful film. Worth a watch.


'The Visitor'



Caught up with this nominee on DVD. It is certainly worth a watch. One of those small but surprising films.
Richard Jenkins in a quiet role gives an Oscar worthy performance here.




Friday, February 13, 2009

Nominees: The Glamour Shots*



*courtesy of entertainment weekly

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Oscar Winners 10-25-50-75 Years Ago

10 Years ago:



25 Years ago:



50 Years ago:



75 Years ago:

'Vicky Chistina Barcelona'




Finally caught up with this on DVD. Not being a big Woody Allan fan I must admit he is great directing actresses. Especially his new muse Scarlett Johansen.

Penelope Cruz certainly deserves her supporting nod and there is no argument from me if she wins. I'll tell you the Supporting Actress category this year is full of great performances making it a tough choice to make a final decision. But I will.




Tuesday, February 10, 2009

OSCARless To Date

Here are a handful of OSCARless actors. There are others of course but these are, were, most deserving.
Some for the obvious reason will never win.

Hopefully one of these will leave this illustrious group on February 22nd.

I wonder who I mean?!?

Monday, February 9, 2009

OSCARless


Kate, 'Slumdog' and Penelope Get BAFTA Awards





Best film
Slumdog Millionaire

Director
Slumdog Millionaire - Danny Boyle

Leading Actor
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Leading Actress
Kate Winslet - The Reader

Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Supporting Actress
Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Original Screenplay
In Bruges - Martin McDonagh

Adapted Screenplay
Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy

Animated Film
WALL•E
Music
Slumdog Millionaire - A. R. Rahman

Cinematography
Slumdog Millionaire - Anthony Dod Mantle

Editing
Slumdog Millionaire - Chris Dickens

Production Design
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Donald Graham Burt / Victor J. Zolfo

Costume Design
The Duchess - Michael O'Connor

Make Up & Hair
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Jean Black / Colleen Callaghan

Sound
Slumdog Millionaire - Glenn Freemantle / Resul Pookutty / Richard Pryke / Tom Sayers / Ian Tapp

Special Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Barba / Craig Barron / Nathan McGuinness / Edson Williams





''What If'' Kate Finally Won?


Sunday, February 8, 2009

Oscar Posters Revisited





Best Picture Winners 1980's


Keith's Special Comment On Darth Vader