and the award is going to go to

Golden Globes are on Sunday, and even though I’m swamped with headlines and shit like that I need to get this post in before they air. That way if I pick all the winners you know I didn’t cheat…(complete list of the nominees can be found at goldenglobes.com)

Best Motion Picture

Revolutionary Road – I’m ashamed to say I haven’t seen any of the nominees (going to RR tonight)…not saying I don’t think they aren’t worthy…just saying there are only so many hours in the day, 4-5 of which I try to devout to sleep and 2 for workouts…the rest I’m writing ad stuff…there isn’t anything on this list that surprised me – go 2008 movies!!

Best Performance-Actress-Drama

Kate Winslet (RR) – you may be wondering how I know she will win when I haven’t seen the movie yet? because I trust her and I know that her talent along with a good direction and outstanding costars she will do well, however the website already listed Anne Hathaway as winner. As much as I liked seeing her in a new light…I didn’t buy it 110 percent…I still saw Anne…if that makes sense. (how do you rehearse your gracious loser face when you think you might actually win…if she doesn’t someone should give her an Oscar for her Golden Globe performance.)

Best Performance-Actor-Drama

Sean Penn (Milk)-this may change after tonight but like I said in the review of the movie Milk, there is a point where you just know he has completely become Milk. Pure talent.

Best Picture-Musical or Comedy

Vicky Cristina Barcelona – personally I don’t think any light little movie like Mama Mia stands a chance against some well written, well acted comedies (especially when you throw some darkness into the mix) Only at the Globes will Mama Mia have a nomination. Plus VCB has a cool title…two names and a city with no punctuation or explanation 

Best Performance-Actress-Musical or Comedy

Frances McDormand (Burn After Reading) – I love Frances, I love the Coen Bros, I love when she brings their characters to life!

Best Performance-Actor-Musical of Comedy

Javier Bardem (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) – from psycho to womanizing artist. Crazy bros to comic genius-he’s pretty awesome.

Best Performance by Actress in a Supporting Role

*Supporting role note – it sucks if you are supporting someone. there is only one category for this…comedic actos are against drama and that sucks because comedy is fun but it’s rarely done well enough to win against drama…why don’t they have two separate category???

Penelope Cruz(VCB)-crazy, pyscho bitch. winner.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Heath Ledge (The Dark Knight) – how can you be in Tropic Thunder and think you can compete against Heath and Seymour Hoffman? seriously.

Best Animated Film

Wall-E – simple dialogue, simple love story. simple stole my heart.

Best Foreign Language Film

I’ve Loved you So Long-just from the cast I think it will win.

Best Director

Sam Mendes (RR) … American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Leo and Kate…winner.

Best Screenplay

Slumdog Millionaire – all the other nominees are based on previously written material, this one is original.

Best Original Score

Changeling – Eastwood makes good choices when he directs, I trust him (whoa, he is missing from best director…??)

Best Original Song

Gran Torino – Because of Clint.

Now onto TV…I watch a lot of TV but I’m not obsessed with it like I am with movies…but I still picked ‘em

Best TV Series

Mad Men – based on a not that exciting series of Dexter…

Best Performance by an Actress – drama

Anna Paquin (True Blood)-Sookie…vampires…sex…yum.

Best Performance-Actor-drama

Michael C. Hall(Dexter) – never ceases to amaze me, plus I’ve been rewatching Six Feet Under so I’m pretty much obsessed with him.

Best TV Series – Comedy

The Office

Best Performance-Actress-Comedy

Tina Fey (30Rock)- even though Sarah Palin wasn’t on 30 Rock…she still kicked ass

Best Performance-Actor-Comedy

Alec Baldwin(30Rock)-he’s a funny dude

Best Mini-Series

Recount-made me hate Bush even more…never thought it was possible

best performance by an actress in a series, mini-series, or made for tv movie

Catherine Keener (American Crime)-super bitch

Best Actor-blah blah blah

Kevin Spacey-i like him

Supporting Actress

Laura Dern-stupid, super bitch…not her…her character

supporting actor

Neil Patrick Harris-from Doogie to gay. love it. (iguess he could have been a gay doogie but none of us knew about it)

Recap: Clint Eastwood always wins. Bitchy characters always win. Mama Mia won’t win. I love Kate and Leo.

Who is missing?  Eastwood in direction. Doubt in Best Picture…that boy in Milk (emile hirsch I believe…)I can’t think anymore I’ll add later.

and the Oscar goes to…

Alright now that I have a chance to actually sit and think and sit and write I’ll give you my thoughts on the 2008 Academy Awards. I’d like to start by saying I picked 14 out of 24 correctly and I am quite excited. Of the 19 “main” awards (excluding documentary and shorts-only because I saw NONE of them) I picked 13 correctly. This was a great year for movies, my shoes stayed on my feet and nothing flew at my tv, there was no yelling and only applause. I’m not sure where to start – so I’ll start at the beginning of my printable ballot (found at www.oscars.com)

Best Actor – Leading

Splicegirl: George Clooney

Oscar: Daniel Day Lewis

I knew this would happen, I wasn’t surprised. Daniel is a great method actor who lives in his roles, in fact during his acceptance speech he morphed between D. Day Lewis and D. Plainview – kinda creepy, but hey he is good (just ask him, I’m sure he won’t deny it) He won one time previous for My Left Foot – I had to watch this movie in Health class in middle school and I was freaked out, I had no idea it was a winner back then! I loved him as the Butcher in Gangs of New York…and maybe that dynamic role should have beat out Adrian Brody, his weird ass nose and his boring movie about the piano…just sayin’…Me picking Clooney was my way of picking the underdog in hopes of an upset so I could win big money if money were involved (i.e. had you put the giants over the patriots in the big game…you can’t be sure but it could happen…but it did…and Clooney really could have won it – go rent Michael Clayton and tell me you weren’t on the edge of your seat.)

Actor – Supporting

Splicegirl: Javier Bardem

Oscar: agreed

This was unsurprising, the only person who looked in shock was his mother – who he so kindly gave a shout out to in Spanish, aww.

Actress – Leading

Splicegirl: Marion Cotlilard

Oscar: concur

This was surprising, the look on this lucky girl’s face when they called her name brought tears to my eyes! I was so impressed with this movie, and had never seen Cotilard without the makeup of the older singer and I was amazed! She is so gorgeous, my only complaint – she didn’t actually do the singing in the movie (but neither did stupid Jamie Foxx when he won his little statue…then again La Vie En Rose didn’t put me to sleep and she did so much more than just wave her head around and pretend to be blind…sorry Foxx – I could have played Ray and no one would have noticed…mostly because no one would be able to finish the film due to BOREDOM!) and yes Marion, there are angels in the city…congrats – you were slated as the black horse and you finished on top!

Actress – Supporting

Splicegirl – Amy Ryan

Oscar – Tilda Swinton

When this happened (early in the show) I was sure Clooney had a shot, that maybe Michael Clayton was going to get more recognition than I thought…it didn’t but she did. Swinton did a great job playing the ruthless bitch in this movie…however she looked like shit, no makeup? A garbage bag of a dress (I can play that part too…I’d like to thank the Academy…

Art Direction

Splicegirl – Sweeney Todd

Oscar – same

Sweeney Todd did not do too well on Oscar night, however the art direction from the successful musical brought home the gold – dreary, dark and totally perfect. Last year it was Pan’s Labyrinth, Sweeney Todd was no Pan’s, but it was dark…and apparently that’s what they like in this category.

Cinematography

Splicegirl – Atonement

Oscar – There Will Be Blood

Ooooo, this is one of the two areas I thought Atonement deserved to win – the scene with the soldiers in the war zone was beautiful and devastating at the same time, but oil rules the world.

Costume Design

Splicegirl – Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Oscar – same

When in doubt choose the period piece that dates back the most.

Directing

Splicegirl – No Country for Old Men

Oscar – yup

I knew it, you knew it, the Coen Bros. knew it. No surprises here.

Film Editing

Splicegirl – There Will Be Blood

Oscar – The Bourne Ultimatum

Not that I’m knocking the Bourne trilogy, I’ve only seen the first, but when a movie is in a three and doesn’t win for the other 2 the 3^rd wins. It just does. Take Lord of the Rings (and I am knocking that one…stupid, tragic, quite possibly the worst pick of Best Picture! It never should have beat Mystic River or Lost in Translation. A picture that has no acting nominations should not be allowed to win – visuals do not a movie make, grr)

Makeup

Splicegirl – La Vie En Rose

Oscar – the rose

Thank GOD Norbit didn’t win…and I don’t think Eddie Murphy showed since you know he won a Razz a few nights before…his role in Dreamgirls is forgotten since he continued to make horrible movies and refused to go for the tough roles.

Original Score

Splicegirl – Atonement

Oscar – Atonement

As I am typing this I can hear the score with the typewriter keys pounding out the percussion – genius

Original Song

Splicegirl – Falling Slowly – Once

Oscar – fell for it

This movie was so underrated, and I LOVED it when I rented it. I bought the soundtrack and it is pretty amazing. Did you know they shot this with $100,000 and only like 13 days? Did you know these guys wrote all but one of the songs on the soundtrack? Did you know that Glen is one of the hottest little foreigners I’ve ever seen and Marketa has such a pure voice? The applause they received before, during and after their performance gave it away – those who work in Hollywood truly appreciated their talent and it showed. This is the one award I was most happy with this year – these two musicians deserved it so much more than a stupid Disney creation (where the songs ALL sounded like every other Disney song ever created) GOOD CHOICE!!! And thanks to Stewart for letting Marketa give her speech…so sweet

Best Picture

Splicegirl – No Country for Old Men

Oscar – No Country

I was torn…but this was the better choice, obviously. The weird thing is for being a best picture it isn’t a movie I want to watch over and over again…I loved it the first time, but one more time might be enough.

Screenplay – Adapted

Splicegirl – No Country for Old Men

Oscar – NCFOM

Duh, no question about it.

Screenplay – Original

Splicegirl – Juno

Oscar – Juno

This was fun to watch, when Diablo Cody heard her name called she was so excited! I cried, I really did.

I don’t like Jon Stewart as the host…bring back Ellen, bring back Conan, Whoopi or even Billy but Johnny, no. There weren’t too many surprises with the exception of Best Actress – both leading and supporting. The Coen Bros. knew they would win…and their speeches gave that away, Daniel Day Lewis knew it, Once was a surprise too I guess…I loved watching that one win!! I also love watching the past winners give their speech – Cuba Gooding Jr.- awesome! Damon and Affleck winning as screenwriters? Amazing…but none of that really happened this time. Regardless it was a great year for movies, and unfortunately there will be a bunch of shitty movies until around October and Oscar season starts again. I can’t wait!

Ebert says it best

“My heart screams Juno but my head says Coen Bros” My thoughts exactly. See his predictions at
rogerebert.suntimes.com

Oscar Watch

and the nominees are…and my predictions are…Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in “Michael Clayton”
Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood”
Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Tommy Lee Jones in “In the Valley of Elah”
Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises”

Prediction: Originally I would have picked Daniel Day-Lewis, but then I saw There Will Be Blood and although I by no means think he did a bad job, he was excellent but I loved Michael Clayton and would love to see George win it this year!

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”
Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men”
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Charlie Wilson’s War”
Hal Holbrook in “Into the Wild”
Tom Wilkinson in “Michael Clayton”

Prediction: Javier Bardem. He was amazing. Period. End of discussion.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
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”
Ellen Page in “Juno”

Prediction: Marion Cotillard. I just watch La Vie en Rose and I was left in awe! She takes on this French singer…and you truly believe she is back from the dead.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in “I’m Not There”
Ruby Dee in “American Gangster”
Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement”
Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone”
Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton”

Prediction: Amy Ryan. Cracked out mother of missing young girl with an East Coast accent, what’

s not to love?

Best animated feature film of the year
“Persepolis”
“Ratatouille”
“Surf’s Up”

Prediction: I don’t watch animated films, but I love penguins. Surf’

s Up.

Achievement in art direction
“American Gangster”
“Atonement”
“The Golden Compass”
“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
“There Will Be Blood”

Prediction: Sweeny Todd. Darkness and blood – Tim Burton by the book…

but definitely good enough to win here.

Achievement in cinematography
“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”
“Atonement”
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
“No Country for Old Men”
“There Will Be Blood”

Prediction: Atonement. One of two awards I think this movie deserves.

Achievement in costume design
“Across the Universe”
“Atonement”
“Elizabeth: The Golden Age”
“La Vie en Rose”
“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Prediction: Probably Elizabeth: The Golden Age. The time period lends itself to be a top contender.

Achievement in directing
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Julian Schnabel
“Juno” Jason Reitman
“Michael Clayton” Tony Gilroy
“No Country for Old Men” Coen Bros
“There Will Be Blood” Paul Thomas Anderson

Prediction: No Country for Old Men. The Coen bros deserve this one.

Best documentary feature
“No End in Sight”
“Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience”
“Sicko”
“Taxi to the Dark Side”
“War/Dance”

Prediction: I don’t know, but I really don’

t want to listen to Michael Moore give a speech.

Best documentary short subject
“Freeheld”
“La Corona (The Crown)”
“Salim Baba”
“Sari’s Mother”

Achievement in film editing
“The Bourne Ultimatum”
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
“Into the Wild”
“No Country for Old Men”
“There Will Be Blood”

Best foreign language film of the year
“Beaufort” Israel
“The Counterfeiters” Austria
“Katyn” Poland
“Mongol” Kazakhstan
“12″ Russia

Achievement in makeup
“La Vie en Rose”
“Norbit”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”

Prediction: La Vie en Rose. It was pretty amazing not going to lie…and if Norbit wins I’

m throwing my shoe at the tv.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Atonement”
“The Kite Runner”
“Michael Clayton”
“Ratatouille”
“3:10 to Yuma”

Prediction: Atonement. The only other award it will win.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Falling Slowly” from “Once”
“Happy Working Song” from “Enchanted”
“Raise It Up” from “August Rush”
“So Close” from “Enchanted”
“That’s How You Know” from “Enchanted”

Prediction: Falling Slowly from Once. This was a cute movie, and the only reason I liked it was because of the music! What’s with Enchanted? 3 song nominations –

seriously? So that one is going to hurt when they lose huh?

Best motion picture of the year
“Atonement”
“Juno”
“Michael Clayton”
“No Country for Old Men”
“There Will Be Blood”

Prediction: I’m torn, Juno or No Country for Old Men. I’m not sure Juno is as strong as Little Miss Sunshine so I don’t think it will win. But I do love the movie. How ironic that I saw these two movies in the same night (don’t judge…

I went to two different theatres)

Best animated short film
“I Met the Walrus”
“Madame Tutli-Putli”
“My Love (Moya Lyubov)”
“Peter & the Wolf”

Prediction: Madame Tutli-Putli, with a title like that you deserve a statue.

Best live action short film
“At Night”
“Il Supplente (The Substitute)”
“Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)”
“Tanghi Argentini”
“The Tonto Woman”

Achievement in sound editing
“The Bourne Ultimatum”
“No Country for Old Men”
“Ratatouille”
“There Will Be Blood”
“Transformers”

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Bourne Ultimatum”
“No Country for Old Men”
“Ratatouille”
“3:10 to Yuma”
“Transformers”

Prediction: Can 3:10 to Yuma please win something since the acting got totally overlooked??

Achievement in visual effects
“The Golden Compass”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”
“Transformers”

Prediction: The Golden Compass, granted I didn’t see Transformers…

though I heard it was a great movie (insert sarcasm here).

Adapted screenplay
“Atonement” Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
“Away from Her” Written by Sarah Polley
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
“No Country for Old Men” Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“There Will Be Blood” Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

Prediction: No Country for Old Men, if the movie was that great I don’t even want to read the book. Ok maybe I will read it since the book is always better…and in this case it may be the best book I’

ve ever read.

Original screenplay
“Juno” Written by Diablo Cody
“Lars and the Real Girl” Written by Nancy Oliver
“Michael Clayton” Written by Tony Gilroy
“Ratatouille” Screenplay by Brad Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
“The Savages” Written by Tamara Jenkins

Prediction: Another tough category for me – I’

ll be happy with anything except Ratatouille. Seriously this is my favorite category this year! 

Response to the Globes

The Golden Globes have never been my favorite. Sure, the actual show is more laid back and light hearted than the Oscars, making it hard for me to take it too seriously. The way they separate out the comedies and musicals from the dramas makes me think I’m in high school where a cheerleading squad is allowed to have 40 girls with pompons because ‘everyone deserves a chance’. One reason I love the Oscars more is because you have to be good to win – a well written/well acted comedy can win awards against the most serious dramas (Little Miss Sunshine), it is starting to have less and less to do with genre and more and more to do with quality. Also, did you know it is a panel of journalists that pick the winners? Not film makers, not actors, not even screenwriters – but entertainment news writers, which leads me to think the movies with the most press and hype should win, and not necessarily the movies with the best content and film making. I was disappointed in the picks this year, with a few exceptions. Here is my response. And I’m not going to talk about the TV side – that’s not what I’m about (tho I am stoked about Mad Men bringing home a couple of statues) Oh and I also am not commenting on all of the movie categories, some of them I haven’t seen yet (foreign and animated) so I can’t really say much now can I?

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Winner: Atonement

My Thoughts: A movie that translated so poorly to film that lacked in acting should never have won. This is like Lord of the Rings III winning for Best Picture without having any actor/actress nominations, a Best Picture is the big picture and acting makes up a big chunk of that movie…never should have happened.

What should have won: No Country For Old Men – this movie had the whole package and was brilliant. Totally robbed.

 

Best Actress – Drama

Winner: Julie Christie (Away From Her)

My Thoughts: Thank God it wasn’t Keira Knightley! I didn’t have a favorite…only a least.

Who should have one: can’t say, only saw two of them

Best Actor – Drama

Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)

My Thoughts: It’s all good, I thought this was the best category, totally packed with great actors

Who should have won: I was rooting for Day-Lewis or George Clooney, I’m happy.

Best Motion Picture – Musical/Comedies

Winner: Sweeny Todd

My Thoughts: The more I thought about it the less and less I wanted it to win…

Who should have won: Juno? Across the Universe? Something more original? I did like Sweeny Todd…but it wasn’t the best by far.

Best Actress – M/C

Winner: Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose)

My Thoughts: I’ve wanted to see this movie for a while…it’s at the top of my blockbuster list…no other thoughts really..

Who should have won: duh? Ellen Page – that girl may not be mainstream but she is versatile.

Best Actor – M/C

Winner: Johnny Depp (Sweeny Todd)

My Thoughts: Edward Scissorhands a few years older and with blades instead of scissors, nope not a winner in my mind. What the hell was Walk Hard doing getting a nomination? Remember when John C. Reilly was a good actor?

Who should have won: Ryan Gosling, I would have even settled for Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Best Supporting Actress

Winner: Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There)

My Thoughts: haven’t seen it

Who should have won: I liked Amy Ryan, but without seeing the winner in her film I can’t really say

Best Supporting Actor

Winner: Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men)

My Thoughts: THANK GOD

Who should have won: he won it…and he’ll win it again. Hard to believe it was a supporting role…

Best Director

Winner: Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)

My Thoughts: I guess that’s ok…I’ve heard good things

Who should have won: I like the Coens for their genius but I guess directing a movie about a guy who can only blink an eye for communication could be challenging too.

Best Screenplay

Winner: No Country for Old Men

My Thoughts: At least the Coens won something

Who should have won: I would have liked Juno…but I liked this one too

Best Original Score

Winner: Atonement

My Thoughts: This was one of the only good things about this movie.

Who should have won: Atonement..when it was good, it was real good