Official Oscar Nominations 2008 & Reaction

Major surprises! I like a lot of these categories, except Actress :'(

My final prediction score was 66/101 (66%), which I'm fairly pleased with, considering there were a few surprises across the board. Three nominated songs for 'Enchanted'?!

Best motion picture of the year

“Atonement”
“Juno”

“Michael Clayton”

“No Country for Old Men”
“There Will Be Blood”

Prediction Score: 3/5

Reaction: YES! YES! YES! Atonement makes it! I was getting worried after Wright was snubbed but thank god. Into The Wild way weaker than people thought.

Achievement in directing

Julian Schnabel - “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
Jason Reitman - “Juno”
Tony Gilroy - “Michael Clayton”
Joel & Ethan Coen - “No Country for Old Men”
Paul Thomas Anderson - “There Will Be Blood”

Prediction Score: 4/5
Reaction: Well obviously they adore Juno, because I believe Reitman's only other nomination is for the ISA. Points for unpredictability though. Juno a contender for the win now?

Best 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 Score: 4/5
Reaction: Wow. Tommy Lee Jones makes it for a performance only previously nominated by the Golden Satellites. A prize for a good year most probably, and a shun to the young contenders to the Actor crown, Hirsch, Gosling and McAvoy. Oscar likes experience here.

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 Score: 5/5
Reaction: Pretty routine, although the lack of love for Into the Wild and surprising lead nom for Jones probably means that Holbrook was close to being ousted for Tommy.

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 Score: 4/5
Reaction: My poor Angelina! :'(

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 Score: 4/5
Reaction: FYI the next month will comprise of numerous digs at the overrated cameo of the now Oscar-nominated Ruby Dee.

Best animated feature film of the year

“Persepolis” (Sony Pictures Classics)
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney)
“Surf's Up” (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Prediction Score: 2/3

Achievement in art direction

“American Gangster”
“Atonement”
“The Golden Compass”
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
“There Will Be Blood”

Prediction Score: 3/5

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 Score: 5/5

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 Score: 3/5

Best documentary feature

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

Prediction Score: 3/5

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”

Prediction Score: 3/5

Best foreign language film of the year

“Beaufort” (Israel)
“The Counterfeiters” (Austria)
“Katyń” (Poland)
“Mongol” (Kazakhstan)
“12” (Russia)

Prediction Score: 3/5

Achievement in makeup

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

Prediction Score: 1/3

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

“Atonement”
“The Kite Runner”
“Michael Clayton”
“Ratatouille”
“3:10 to Yuma”

Prediction Score: 3/5

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 Score: 2/5

Best animated short film

“I Met the Walrus”
“Madame Tutli-Putli”
“Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)”
“My Love (Moya Lyubov)”
“Peter & the Wolf” (BreakThru Films)

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”

Prediction Score: 3/5

Achievement in sound mixing

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

Prediction Score: 2/5

Achievement in visual effects

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

Prediction Score: 1/3

Adapted screenplay

“Atonement”
“Away from Her”
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
“No Country for Old Men”
“There Will Be Blood”

Prediction Score: 4/5

Original screenplay

“Juno”
“Lars and the Real Girl”
“Michael Clayton”
“Ratatouille”
“The Savages”

Prediction Score: 4/5

Blood Spilled on Greenwood's Oscar Dreams

Johnny Greenwood's There Will Be Blood score is ineligible with Oscar according to The Envelope. Why do they have to announce these things so late in the day? Hmph. I've switched my prediction to Beltram's 3:10 To Yuma score.

Happy Nomination Day everyone! It feels like the announcement passes in a mere ten seconds but the wrath of the supporters of Oscar's annual snubees is always fun.

Final Oscar Predictions: Picture & Director

I've been mulling this over for a long time and I'm still not completely sure. I'm confident that No Country and Michael Clayton will make the lineup, as they seem to have had the strongest presence in all of the major precursors. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is similar to last year's Pan's Labyrinth, and that wasn't nominated, but it did get the PGA, and will probably have a strong presence elsewhere, so I'm gonna predict it. I feel like Atonement isn't popular enough, but its guilds snub means little considering Eastwood's Jima wasn't included there last year, and made it with just the NBR and LAFCA, when Atonement has the Globe. Plus it's SO Oscar. I just can't leave it out. So that leaves me with the choice of Penn's seemingly popular (at least with the actors) Into The Wild, the seeming popular (with everyone) Juno, and the seemingly popular (with the critics) There Will Be Blood. In a race this tight Blood will probably have to rely on a lot of #1 ballots, and I'm not convinced your average voter is going to prefer this to the other two. It's just so dark and heavy. By contrast Juno's style of comedy -- even in a year distinctly lacking in that -- may feel a little frivolous for Oscar. So I've decided, finally, that Into the Wild will be my fifth prediction.

Picture

Atonement

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Into the Wild

Michael Clayton

No Country For Old Men

Director

Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country For Old Men

Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton

Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Joe Wright - Atonement

Final Oscar Predictions: Acting

Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett – Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie – Away From Her
Marion Cotillard – La Vie En Rose
Angelina Jolie – A Mighty Heart
Ellen Page – Juno

Reasoning: It's tight for the fifth place in this line-up, but despite her film's scathingly bad reviews, Cate Blanchett's performance, the essence of 'thespian', should prevail over her other three competitors. I hope not though, because if she does, I'm going to have to see the pile of crap.

Actor in a Leading Role

George Clooney – Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis – There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp – Sweeney Todd
Emile Hirsch – Into the Wild
Viggo Mortensen – Eastern Promises

Reasoning: They seem to have the strongest films, bar McAvoy, who, despite his brilliance, is more the victim of the film than the dynamic active lead.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Cate Blanchett – I’m Not There
Catherine Keener – Into the Wild
Saoirse Ronan – Atonement
Amy Ryan – Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton – Michael Clayton

Reasoning: AMPAS seem to love Keener, and she's gotten more attention than Vanessa Redgrave. I don't like Ruby Dee's performance so I can't bring myself to predict her.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Casey Affleck – The Assassination of Jesse James…
Javier Bardem – No Country For Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson’s War
Hal Holbrook – Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson – Michael Clayton

Reasoning: It's Hoffman or Tommy Lee Jones. Both have had big years but Hoffman's has been bigger. I'm pulling for Tommy though. Tom Wilkinson could be snubbed for them both, but I think this is a more realistic line-up.

Final Oscar Predictions: Writing & Design

Original Screenplay

Juno
Knocked Up
Michael Clayton
Ratatouille
The Savages

Reasoning: The WGA noms plus Ratatouille. I dropped Lars and the Real Girl because I think it can only get in if Gosling does, and I'm not predicting Ryan.

Adapted Screenplay

Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Into the Wild
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Reasoning: I'm going on the strength of the film because I don't think there are any particularly dominant screenplays in this race.

Art Direction

Atonement
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Sweeney Todd
There Will Be Blood

Reasoning: 'Period' films usually dominate this category.

Costume Design

3:10 To Yuma

Atonement

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Lust, Caution

Sweeney Todd

Reasoning: Ditto.

Make Up

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

La Vie En Rose

Sweeney Todd

Reasoning: Of the shortlist these three are by far the most popular.

Final Oscar Predictions: Techs & Sound

Cinematography

The Assassination of Jesse James (Roger Deakins)
Atonement (Seamus McGarvey)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Janusz Kaminski)
No Country For Old Men (Roger Deakins)
There Will Be Blood (Robert Elswit)

Reasoning: The ASC nominees and general consensus, although Into the Wild could make an appearance here, should it turn out to be the major force some think it will be.

Film Editing

Atonement
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Michael Clayton
No Country For Old Men

Reasoning: Usually similar to the BP lineup. Bourne's quality editing has become common knowledge.

Visual Effects

300
The Bourne Ultimatum
Transformers

Reasoning: For all its faults 300's FX are so blatantly marvellous. I think the Bourne film is gonna do well in the techs since it got raves and obviously has technical fans if CAS and BAFTA are anything to go by.

Sound Mixing

American Gangster
Hairspray
No Country For Old Men
Sweeney Todd
Transformers

Reasoning: Anything remotely musical, technically assured + POPULAR.

Sound Editing

300
The Bourne Ultimatum
Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At Worlds End
Ratatouille
Transformers

Reasoning: Animated films tend to do well here. The rest are guesses.

Original Score

Atonement (Dario Marianelli)
Eastern Promises (Howard Shore)
The Kite Runner (Alberto Iglesias)
Lust, Caution (Alexander Desplat)
There Will Be Blood (Johnny Greenwood)

Reasoning: Well-known people with a presence in the precursors.

Original Song

Enchanted ('That's How You Know')
Hairspray ('Come So Far')
Into the Wild ('Guaranteed')
Love In The Time Of Cholera ('Despedida')
Once ('Falling Slowly')

Reasoning: The BFCA noms plus Shakira.

Final Predictions: Animated, Documentary & Foreign

Animated Feature

Persepolis
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie

Reasoning: These seem to be the only three with enough fans. Bee Movie may have some but The Simpsons are part of America's iconography really, and thus will surely be included.

Documentary Feature

In The Shadow of the Moon
Into Great Silence
No End in Sight
Sicko
Taxi to the Dark Side

Reasoning: No End In Sight seems to be the most popular critical choice. Is it possible to ignore Michael Moore? And the other three are the only ones eligible that I could find mentioned in any critics nominations this year.

Foreign Language Film

12 (Russia)
The Counterfeiters (Austria)
Days of Darkness (Canada)
Katyn (Poland)
The Trap (Serbia)

Reasoning: Anything involving war, repression, and/or somebody AMPAS may have vaguely heard of has to be at an advantage.

And the Nominations Cease

That's it for this awards season's major nominations before the ones that matter. In the next week leading up to the announcement of the Oscar nominees on Tuesday January 22nd I'll be summarising all the major races as best I can and will attempt to somehow put together a list of predictions. This year is one of the toughest to predict.

BAFTA Nominations

Generally good except the American Gangster love and the Angelina Jolie snub. Knightley deserved a nomination for Pride and Prejudice but not for this. Definitely a make-up nom, and part of the general love for the film here.

BEST FILM
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Brian Grazer/Ridley Scott
ATONEMENT – Tim Bevan/Eric Fellner/Paul Webster
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Quirin Berg/Max Wiedemann
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Scott Rudin/Joel Coen/Ethan Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – JoAnne Sellar/Paul Thomas Anderson/Daniel Lupi

BEST BRITISH FILM
ATONEMENT – Tim Bevan/Eric Fellner/Paul Webster/Joe Wright/Christopher Hampton
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Frank Marshall/Patrick Crowley/Paul L Sandberg/Paul Greengrass/Tony Gilroy/Scott Z Burns/George Nolfi
CONTROL – Orian Williams/ Todd Eckert/Anton Corbijn/Matt Greenhalgh
EASTERN PROMISES – Paul Webster/Robert Lantos/David Cronenberg/Steve Knight
THIS IS ENGLAND – Mark Herbert/Shane Meadows

THE CARL FOREMAN AWARD
for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer in their First Feature Film

CHRIS ATKINS (Director/Writer) – Taking Liberties
MIA BAYS (Producer) – Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
SARAH GAVRON (Director) – Brick Lane
MATT GREENHALGH (Writer) – Control
ANDREW PIDDINGTON (Director/Writer) – The Killing of John Lennon

DIRECTOR
ATONEMENT – Joe Wright
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Paul Greengrass
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Joel Coen/Ethan Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Paul Thomas Anderson

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Steven Zaillian
JUNO – Diablo Cody
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
MICHAEL CLAYTON – Tony Gilroy
THIS IS ENGLAND – Shane Meadows

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ATONEMENT – Christopher Hampton
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY – Ronald Harwood
THE KITE RUNNER – David Benioff
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Joel Coen/Ethan Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Paul Thomas Anderson

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY – Kathleen Kennedy/Jon Kilik/Julian Schnabel
THE KITE RUNNER – William Horberg/Walter Parkes/Rebecca Yeldham/Marc Foster
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Quirin Berg/Max Wiedemann/Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
LUST, CAUTION – Bill Kong/James Schamus/Ang Lee
LA VIE EN ROSE – Alain Goldman/Olivier Dahan

ANIMATED FILM
RATATOUILLE – Brad Bird
SHREK THE THIRD – Chris Miller
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE – Matt Groening/James L Brooks

LEADING ACTOR
GEORGE CLOONEY – Michael Clayton
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS – There Will Be Blood
JAMES McAVOY – Atonement
VIGGO MORTENSEN – Eastern Promises
ULRICH MÜHE – The Lives of Others

LEADING ACTRESS
CATE BLANCHETT – Elizabeth: The Golden Age
JULIE CHRISTIE – Away From Her
MARION COTILLARD – La Vie en Rose
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY – Atonement
ELLEN PAGE – Juno

SUPPORTING ACTOR
JAVIER BARDEM – No Country for Old Men
PAUL DANO – There Will Be Blood
TOMMY LEE JONES – No Country for Old Men
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – Charlie Wilson’s War
TOM WILKINSON – Michael Clayton

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
CATE BLANCHETT – I’m Not There
KELLY MACDONALD – No Country for Old Men
SAMANTHA MORTON – Control
SAOIRSE RONAN – Atonement
TILDA SWINTON – Michael Clayton

MUSIC
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Marc Streitenfeld
ATONEMENT – Dario Marianelli
THE KITE RUNNER – Alberto Iglesias
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Jonny Greenwood
LA VIE EN ROSE – Christopher Gunning

CINEMATOGRAPHY
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Harris Savides
ATONEMENT – Seamus McGarvey
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Oliver Wood
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Roger Deakins
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Robert Elswit

EDITING
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Pietro Scalia
ATONEMENT – Paul Tothill
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Christopher Rouse
MICHAEL CLAYTON – John Gilroy
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Roderick Jaynes

PRODUCTION DESIGN
ATONEMENT – Sarah Greenwood/Katie Spencer
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Guy Hendrix Dyas/Richard Roberts
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX – Stuart Craig/Stephenie McMillan
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Jack Fisk/Jim Erickson
LA VIE EN ROSE – Olivier Raoux

COSTUME DESIGN
ATONEMENT – Jacqueline Durran
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Alexandra Byrne
LUST, CAUTION – Pan Lai
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET – Colleen Atwood
LA VIE EN ROSE – Marit Allen

SOUND
ATONEMENT – Danny Hambrook/Paul Hamblin/Catherine Hodgson
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Kirk Francis/Scott Millan/Dave Parker/Karen Baker Landers/Per Hallberg
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Peter Kurland/Skip Lievsay/Craig Berkey/Greg Orloff
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Christopher Scarabosio/Matthew Wood/John Pritchett/Michael Semanick/Tom Johnson
LA VIE EN ROSE – Laurent Zeilig/Pascal Villard/Jean-Paul Hurier/Marc Doisne

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Peter Chiang/Charlie Noble/Mattias Lindahl/Joss Williams
THE GOLDEN COMPASS – Michael Fink/Bill Westenhofer/Ben Morris/Trevor Woods
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX – Tim Burke/John Richardson/Emma Norton/Chris Shaw
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END – John Knoll/Charles Gibson/Hal Hickel/John Frazier
SPIDER-MAN 3 – Scott Stokdyk/Peter Nofz/Kee-Suk Ken Hahn/Spencer Cook

MAKE UP & HAIR
ATONEMENT – Ivana Primorac
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Jenny Shircore
HAIRSPRAY – Nominees TBC
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET – Ivana Primorac
LA VIE EN ROSE – Jan Archibald/Didier Lavergne

SHORT ANIMATION
THE PEARCE SISTERS – Jo Allen/Luis Cook
HEAD OVER HEELS – Osbert Parker/Fiona Pitkin/Ian Gouldstone
THE CRUMBLEGIANT – Pearse Moore/John McCloskey

SHORT FILM
DOG ALTOGETHER – Diarmid Scrimshaw/Paddy Considine
HESITATION – Julien Berlan/Michelle Eastwood/Virginia Gilbert
THE ONE AND ONLY HERB MCGWYER PLAYS WALLIS ISLAND – Charlie Henderson/James Griffiths/Tim Key/Tom Basden
SOFT – Jane Hooks/Simon Ellis
THE STRONGER – Dan McCulloch/Lia Williams/Frank McGuinness

THE ORANGE RISING STAR AWARD
(voted for by the public)
SHIA LABEOUF
SIENNA MILLER
ELLEN PAGE
SAM RILEY
TANG WEI

Brit Award Nominations

Woohooo! Girls Aloud finally get noticed! Loving the Bat For Lashes and Bjork nominations too.

BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST

JAMIE T
MARK RONSON
MIKA
NEWTON FAULKNER
RICHARD HAWLEY

BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST

BAT FOR LASHES
KATE NASH
KT TUNSTALL
LEONA LEWIS
PJ HARVEY

BRITISH GROUP

ARCTIC MONKEYS
EDITORS
GIRLS ALOUD
KAISER CHIEFS
TAKE THAT

MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM

ARCTIC MONKEYS – FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE
LEONA LEWIS - SPIRIT
MARK RONSON – VERSION
MIKA – LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION
TAKE THAT – BEAUTIFUL WORLD

BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT

BAT FOR LASHES
KATE NASH
KLAXONS
LEONA LEWIS
MIKA

BRITISH LIVE ACT

ARCTIC MONKEYS
KAISER CHIEFS
KLAXONS
MUSE
TAKE THAT

BRITISH SINGLE

LEONA LEWIS – Bleeding Love
MIKA – Grace Kelly
TAKE THAT – Shine
KAISER CHIEFS – Ruby
SUGABABES – About You Now
MARK RONSON Ft AMY WINEHOUSE – Valerie
KATE NASH – Foundations
THE HOOSIERS – Worried About Ray
JAMES BLUNT – 1973
MUTYA BUENA – Real Girl

INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
KANYE WEST
MICHAEL BUBLE
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
TIMBALAND

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST

ALICIA KEYS
BJORK
FEIST
KYLIE MINOGUE
RIHANNA

INTERNATIONAL GROUP

ARCADE FIRE
EAGLES
FOO FIGHTERS
KINGS OF LEON
WHITE STRIPES

INTERNATIONAL ALBUM

ARCADE FIRE – NEON BIBLE
EAGLES – LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN
FOO FIGHTERS – ECHOES SILENCE PATIENCE & GRACE
KINGS OF LEON – BECAUSE OF THE TIMES
KYLIE MINOGUE – X

CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARD

ADELE

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY

The show takes place on Wednesday 20th February.

Producers Guild {Nominations}

I don't know what to make of things anymore.

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax)
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax/Paramount Vantage)
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage/Miramax)

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN ANIMATED THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

“Bee Movie” (Dreamworks Animation)
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation)
“The Simpsons Movie” (20th Century FOX)

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN DOCUMENTARY THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

“Body Of War” (Phil Donahue Productions/Mobilus Media)
“Hear And Now” (HBO)
“Pete Seeger: The Power Of Song” (The Weinstein Company)
“Sicko” (The Weinstein Company)
“White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki” (HBO)

Golden Globe Winners!

Woohoo! Atonement finally wins something. Well deserved. Schnabel's win makes him look strong but even if the DGA pick him, will Oscar? I'm glad Sweeney Todd and Johnny managed to win.

Best Picture: Atonement
Best Actor, Drama: Daniel Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Best Actress, Drama: Julie Christie, Away From Her
Best Picture Comedy/Musical: Sweeney Todd
Best Screenplay: No Country for Old Men
Best Actor Musical/Comedy: Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Best Director: Julian Schnabel, Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Best Actress - Musical Comedy: Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
Animated Film: Ratatouille
Best Song: Guaranteed
Best Score: Atonement
Best Foreign Film: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Prediction Score: 10/14 - I did well!

Bridge To Terabithia (2007)

Bridge To Terabithia

Directed by Gabor Csupo

Starring: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Bailee Madison, Robert Patrick, Zooey Deschanel

Grade: B

(This review contains major spoilers)

Things are not always as they seem. Upon first glance Gabor Csupo's Bridge To Terabithia (adapted from Katherine Paterson's book of the same name) looks every inch the magical children's fantasy, but in truth is a long way away from that. Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is a shy ten year-old living on a farm with his big but relatively poor family. When new girl Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) outruns him in the school sports day he resents her presence but soon perks up when she takes a keen interest in his drawing hobby. The two make friends and together explore the neighbouring farmland together, creating an imaginary land Terabithia, in which their real-life problems are tackled through their imagination; the school bully transformed into a giant troll, and so forth.

For the most part the screenwriters know exactly what to push and what not to push, introducing themes of child abuse, neglect, grief, and making none of these issues feel out of place, half-hearted or banded around for the mere sake of it. It even includes questionable parents that are neither token villains nor epiphanic figures, and don't really seem to learn anything in the film. If somebody asked you to write a book or a film about growing up, where on earth do you start? Terabithia draws all of its characters with such truth, and a knowledge of what it really means to be a kid, juxtaposing the honesty of these characters with the archetypal constructs of their inner demons in the imaginary world. The film's uncompromised vision is extended to what is its most touching element, the central relationship. Jesse and Leslie are never reduced to a cute couple, and there's never any blatant hell-for-leather attempt to suggest that they're going to be. Terabithia achieves most of what it achieves through this careful approach, crafting a relationship out of solace, and a fantasy world out of escapism.

It comes as an overwhelming shock then -- not really in the sense of tone or theme, but approach -- that after spending the first act of the film endearing Leslie to us, she is then killed off on the hour mark. Far be it from me to criticise something for not adhering to genre convention but if this knocked me for six, what is it going to do to the average 8-10 year-old who see this film, and probably don't even understand death? The event itself is cinematically problematic but when coupled with the film's marketing techniques makes Terabithia seem the insidious picture that at heart it really isn't. Death isn't used in the film to make the point but rather to re-enforce it, her presence in the film and lack thereof used to strengthen Jesse's arc, which is admittedly very touching. I feel harsh laying into a film that gets so much right, but the one thing it gets wrong is close to horrific. Leslie as a character, and her death, really calls into question her role in the film, her purity and apparent perfection almost suggest she be the film's 'angel' and not a character at all. There's no doubting that she has the most impact of any character but curiously her own family troubles are explored somewhat, which now makes me wonder why.

The oustanding uncertainty, and the overall lack of any real closure, will not please the film's average audience, yet for us who have lived through childhood and adolescence it strikes a telling chord. It takes a well-made picture to use death so brashly and abruptly and yet not feel manipulative. It stumbles a little in its final act but Terabithia is a gutsy and beautiful film because crucially, it knows what it wants to say, and doesn't need to jump through your hoops to say it.

Central Ohio Film Critics {Winners}

Best Films
1. No Country for Old Men
2. The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen)
3. Juno
4. Once
5. There Will Be Blood
6. Lars and the Real Girl
7. 3:10 to Yuma
8. The Savages
9. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
10. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le Scaphandre et le papillon)

Best Director
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Runner-up: Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Runner-up: Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl

Best Actress
Ellen Page, Juno
Runner-up: Amy Adams, Enchanted

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Runner-up: Ben Foster, 3:10 to Yuma

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Runner-up: Emily Mortimer, Lars and the Real Girl

Best Ensemble
No Country for Old Men
Runner-up: 3:10 to Yuma

Actor of the Year - For an exemplary body of work
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead , Charlie Wilson's War,
and The Savages

Breakthrough Film Artist
Sarah Polley, Away from Her (for directing and screenwriting)
Runner-up: Ellen Page, Juno (for acting)

Best Cinematography
Óscar Faura, The Orphanage (El Orfanato)
Runner-up: Roger Deakins, No Country for Old Men

Best Screenplay – Adapted
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Runner-up: Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

Best Screenplay – Original
Diablo Cody, Juno
Runner-up: Tamara Jenkins, The Savages

Best Score
Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, Once
Runner-up: Dario Marianelli, Atonement

Best Documentary
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Runners-up (tie): In the Shadow of the Moon and No End in Sight

Best Foreign Language Film
The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen)
Runner-up: The Orphanage (El Orfanato)

Best Animated Film
Rataouille
Runner-up: Paprika

Best Overlooked Film
Air Guitar Nation
Runner-up: The Lookout

Golden Globe Predictions

I'm gonna keep this brief because this awards season is so crazy I literally have no idea who the Globes are going to pick here.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

American Gangster
Atonement
Eastern Promises
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Prediction: Atonement. Having only seen four of these it is by far my favourite. It seems to be treading water in this race but it could be just that little bit late to hit it hard. I hope so anyway. It's the nomination leader so I'm picking it to win.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Cate Blanchett – Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie – Away From Her
Jodie Foster – The Brave One
Angelina Jolie – A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightley – Atonement

Prediction: I've seen all but Blanchett. My favourite here is the stunning Julie Christie but I wouldn't mind a Jolie win, given that she won't win anything else. I think Christie will grab this prize.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

George Clooney – Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis – There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy – Atonement
Viggo Mortensen – Eastern Promises
Denzel Washington – American Gangster

Prediction: Having seen all of these except the frontrunner and probable winner, Daniel Day Lewis, I'm rooting for James McAvoy. Clooney should be close though.

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy

Across The Universe
Charlie Wilson's War
Hairspray
Juno
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Prediction: Interesting. Any of these could win. If Juno manages to take this award it means it'll be incredibly strong for Oscar, given that they nearly always pick a musical. I think they're gonna go for Sweeney here.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Amy Adams – Enchanted
Nikki Blonsky – Hairspray
Helena Bonham Carter – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Marion Cotillard – La Vie En Rose
Ellen Page – Juno

Prediction: Cotillard Vs. Page with Adams an outside shot. Blonsky is a little fish and I'd be surprised (but delighted) if she were to win here. They'll have to adore Hairspray. I'm going for Cotillard.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy

Johnny Depp – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Ryan Gosling – Lars and the Real Girl
Tom Hanks – Charlie Wilson's War
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Savages
John C. Reilly – Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Prediction: They love Johnny, and why shouldn't they?

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Cate Blanchett – I'm Not There
Julia Roberts – Charlie Wilson's War
Saoirse Ronan – Atonement
Amy Ryan – Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton – Michael Clayton

Prediction: As much as I'd like Tilda Swinton to win she's probably the only one of these five who doesn't stand a chance. I think they may go for child star Saoirse Ronan, and back up their nomination leader some more. Boy does it need backing up lately.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Casey Affleck – The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem – No Country For Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson's War
John Travolta – Hairspray
Tom Wilkinson – Michael Clayton

Prediction: Come on John Travolta!!! I'm picking Bardem though. Haha.

Best Animated Feature Film

Bee Movie
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie

Prediction: Overrated rat story.

Best Foreign Language Film

4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days (Romania)
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (France, United States)
The Kite Runner (United States)
Lust, Caution (Taiwan)
Persepolis (France)

Prediction: I'll be appalled if the offensively simple Kite Runner wins over Ang Lee's gorgeous Lust, Caution. Diving Bell should have no problem here.

Best Director - Motion Picture

Tim Burton – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen – No Country For Old Men
Julian Schnabel – The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Ridley Scott – American Gangster
Joe Wright – Atonement

Prediction: The Coens are stronger than their film here.

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

Atonement
Charlie Wilson's War
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Juno
No Country For Old Men

Prediction: I'm gonna go for Juno, since Diablo Cody somehow seems to be making screenwriting fashionable amidst a strike at its base camp.

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Grace Is Gone
The Kite Runner
Atonement
Eastern Promises
Into The Wild

Prediction: Atonement

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

"Despedida" – Love In The Time Of Cholera
"Grace Is Gone" – Grace Is Gone
"Guaranteed" – Into The Wild
"That's How You Know" – Enchanted
"Walk Hard" – Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Prediction: Enchanted!

Writers Guild {Nominations}

Great to see Knocked Up here. Atonement is snubbed by yet another awards body, and I can say snubbed because I've seen Zodiac, and although I like it, it really ain't all that.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

JUNO, Written by Diablo Cody, Fox Searchlight
MICHAEL CLAYTON, Written by Tony Gilroy, Warner Bros. Pictures
THE SAVAGES, Written by Tamara Jenkins, Fox Searchlight
KNOCKED UP, Written by Judd Apatow, Universal Pictures
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, Written by Nancy Oliver, MGM

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, Screenplay by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD, Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
INTO THE WILD, Screenplay by Sean Penn
ZODIAC, Screenplay by James Vanderbilt

Online Film Critics Society {Awards}

*Yawn*... This top eight is looking ever more like the Oscar Winners.

Picture: No Country For Old Men
Director: Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men
Actor: Daniel Day Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Actress: Julie Christie - Away From Her
Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Original Screenplay: Juno
Adapted Screenplay: No Country For Old Men
Cinematography: No Country for Old Men
Editing: No Country For Old Men
Original Score: There Will Be Blood
Documentary: The King of Kong
Foreign Film: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Animated Film: Ratatouille
Breakthrough Filmmaker: Sarah Polley - Away From Her
Breakthrough Performer: Nikki Blonsky -Hairspray

Hottest Track: David Jordan - Sun Goes Down

2007: The Box

I realise this is a little late but with the Golden Globe and SAG coming up I've decided to do my own TV awards for the year of 2007. As I get older I seem to be watching less and less television, which is surely a good sign for my social life. Nevertheless, I have enough to make a solid list.

Best Series (Drama)

Agatha Christie's Marple

*Brothers and Sisters

Coronation Street
ER

Hollyoaks

Best Series (Comedy)

*Gavin and Stacey

Lead Balloon

Ugly Betty

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Drama)

*Sally Field - Brothers and Sisters

Jessica Fox - Hollyoaks

Geraldine McEwan - Agatha Christie's Marple

Lacey Turner - Eastenders

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Comedy)

America Ferrara - Ugly Betty

Ashley Jensen - Extras

*Joanna Page - Gavin and Stacey

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)

Charlie Clements - Eastenders

*James Sutton - Hollyoaks

Shane West - ER

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Comedy)

Jack Dee - Lead Balloon

Ricky Gervais - Extras

*Matthew Horne - Gavin and Stacey

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Calista Flockhart - Brothers and Sisters

*Rachel Griffiths - Brothers and Sisters

Gemma Merna - Hollyoaks

Alison Steadman - Gavin and Stacey

Carly Stenson - Hollyoaks

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Rob Brydon - Gavin and Stacey

Darren Jon-Jeffries - Hollyoaks

John Pickard - Hollyoaks

Sean Power - Lead Balloon

*Matthew Rhys - Brothers and Sisters

Best Ensemble

*Brothers and Sisters
Coronation Street
ER
Gavin and Stacey
Hollyoaks

Best Reality Series

Any Dream Will Do

Big Brother

I'm a Celebrity...

Project Runway

*Strictly Come Dancing

Best Entertainment Programme

Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
The F Word
*The Friday Night Project
The Graham Norton Show
The Paul O'Grady Show

Best Presenter

Simon Amstel - Never Mind the Buzzcocks
David Dimbleby - Question Time
Noel Edmonds - Deal or No Deal
Paul O'Grady - The Paul O'Grady Show
*Jeff Stelling - Gillette Soccer Saturday

Best Game Show

Come Dine With Me
Deal or No Deal
Eggheads
*Eight out of Ten Cats
Never Mind the Buzzcocks

Best Factual Series

Loose Women
Property Ladder
*Question Time

Time Team
Who Do You Think You Are?

Directors Guild {Nominations}

Screwed by the guilds, is that an end to Atonement's oscar hunt this year? Clearly nobody likes a show-off. Here are the nominations:

Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Sean Penn, Into the Wild
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Broadcast Film Critics Association {Winners}

*Yawn*

Best Picture - No Country for Old Men
Best Directors - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Best Actress - Julie Christie - Away From Her
Best Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Best Picture Made for Television - Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Best Documentary -Sicko
Best Family Film - Enchanted
Best Animated Film - Ratatouille
Joel Siegel Humanitarian Award - Don Cheadle
Best Foreign Language Film - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Best Supporting Actress - Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Best Supporting Actor - Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
Best Song - Falling Slowly - Once
Best Composer - Jonny Greenwood - There Will Be Blood
Best Comedy - Juno
Best Young Actor - Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada - The Kite Runner
Best Young Actress - Nikki Blonsky - Hairspray
Best Screenplay - Diablo Cody - Juno
Best Ensemble - Hairspray

Predicting the Director's Guild

The title of this post may as well be "Predicting Best Picture", because effectively at least four of the five nominated DGA directors go on to have their respective films nominated in the most prestigious category in the cinematic field. Yet the prominent presence of Julian Schnabel in this race instigates problems. I have no doubt that he will be nominated here, and at Oscar, but his film? I'm not so sure. And if Diving Bell isn't in AMPAS' top five this year that means that DGA (going by the past few years) must leave out men with films that have no chance at getting a BP Nom, such as the popular veterans Sidney Lumet and Mike Nichols, and men whose pictures could fail to make the grade, such as Tim Burton, Paul Thomas Anderson, or Ridley Scott.

But that all depends on what you deem to be the strongest films of the moment. A couple of weeks ago I didn't think that There Will Be Blood would cut the mustard with Oscar -- especially in a year where it could end up taking the place of a much-needed comedy or musical. For me the strongest three films are No Country For Old Men, Atonement, and Michael Clayton. I'm basing this on that they're the only three that have maintained their buzz and been a presence at the major precursors (with Atonement's SAG shutout an obvious exception). So the other two must come from either Into the Wild, American Gangster, Juno, Sweeney Todd, There Will Be Blood, or at a stretch but less likely, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

For me, Into the Wild and American Gangster seem to be the safest two choices on offer, being the least heavy and challenging. That's not a criticism, well certainly not of Into the Wild, which I haven't yet seen, but Gangster certainly doesn't ask much of its audience. Sweeney Todd takes risks with its music and dark subject matter, Juno takes risks with its youthful and daring attitude towards pregnancy, and There Will Be Blood is ambitious and apparentely not always pleasurable. I'd like to think that they will choose at least one of the daring directors, so I'm going to predict one, but it's partly in hope.

My predictions are (In order of most likely):

Joel and Ethan Coen - No Country For Old Men

Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Joe Wright - Atonement

Sean Penn - Into the Wild

Tim Burton - Sweeney Todd

Alternate: Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

The Oscar Invasion

Oscar could be invaded this year. I'm not talking about the clutch of villains in the Best Actor category, nor am I talking about the flurry of youth in the Best Actress category. I'm talking about this...

Yes, Oscar's makeup shortlist was announced today, and unbelievably, YES, Norbit is on this list. Here it is:

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”

“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”

“La Vie en Rose”

“Norbit”

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”

“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

“300”

I could take Click's nomination last year but this would be horrendous. I don't care if the makeup is decent. It's a grotesque film. What next? Uwe Boll getting nominated for Director? Jessica Alba nominated for Best Actress? Argh.

Kansas City Critics Circle {Winners}

There Will Be Blood might have made the Academy shortlist having emerged at a good time. I still can't decide. Final Oscar Predictions after the DGA, which I will predict soon...

Best Movie: There Will Be Blood
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson-There Will Be Blood and Julian Schnabel-The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (tie)
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis-There Will Be Blood
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard-La Vie en Rose
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem-No Country for Old Men
Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton-Michael Clayton
Best Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody-Juno
Best Adapted Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen-No Country for Old Men
Best Animated Film: Ratatouille
Best Documentary: In the Shadow of the Moon
Best Foreign Language Film: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Outstanding Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror Film: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

National Society of Film Critics {Winners}

Having now won the LAFCA and NSFC, 'There Will Be Blood' looks strong, but I can't help but think that it's still too heavy for this year. Especially when the evident frontrunner is the Coen brothers' violent 'No Country For Old Men'. Argh, this Picture race is fucked up.

BEST PICTURE
1. There Will Be Blood (48) – Paul Thomas Anderson [Paramount Vantage]
2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (28) – Julian Schnabel
3. No Country for Old Men (27) – Joel and Ethan Coen

BEST DIRECTOR
1, Paul Thomas Anderson (47) – There Will Be Blood [Paramount Vintage]
2. Joel and Ethan Coen (29) – No Country for Old Men
2. Julian Schnabel (29) – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

BEST ACTOR
1.Daniel Day-Lewis (66) – There Will Be Blood [Paramount Vantage]
2. Frank Langella (34) -- Starting Out in the Evening
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman (21) -- The Savages, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

BEST ACTRESS
1. Julie Christie (53) – Away from Her [Lionsgate]
2. Marion Cotillard (50) – La Vie en Rose
3. Anamaria Marinca (28) – 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1. Casey Affleck (37) - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford [Warner Bros.]
2. Javier Bardem (30) – No Country for Old Men
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman (29) – Charlie Wilson’s War

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1. Cate Blanchett (42) – I’m Not There [The Weinstein Company]
2. Amy Ryan (29) – Gone Baby Gone and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
3. Tilda Swinton (23) – Michael Clayton

BEST SCREENPLAY
1. Tamara Jenkins (28) – The Savages [Fox Searchlight]
2. Paul Thomas Anderson (19) – There Will Be Blood
3. Ronald Harwood (17) – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
1. There Will Be Blood (51) – Robert Elswit
2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (40) – Janusz Kaminski
3. No Country for Old Men (33) – Roger Deakins

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
1. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (57) – Cristian Mungiu [IFC]
2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (42) – Julian Schnabel
3. Persepolis (18) – Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud

BEST NONFICTION FILM
1. No End in Sight (43) – Charles Ferguson [Magnolia]
2. Sicko (20) – Michael Moore
3. Terror’s Advocate (18) – Barbet Schroeder

Supporting Actress Blogathon: Eva Mendes in We Own The Night

This is a part of StinkyLulu's Supporting Actress Blogathon. Last year I wrote about Vera Farmiga in Running Scared, which is now my favourite performance of last year. I'm not sure this post will have quite the same effect, but it's people like Eva Mendes who need to be raved about, and I'm gonna be the one to do it.

As We Own the Night opens to the iconic pounding bass of Blondie's 'Heart of Glass' the picture is clear. The swanky-surfaced party era of a thriving New York club scene, full of sex, drugs and rock n' roll. The former of these familiar taboos occurs but a scene into the film, with a sprawled Eva Mendes showing more than a little nipple -- and what lovely nipples they are too, even if I'm not inclined that way (well, they didn't intimidate me) -- in a raunchy scene with boyfriend and club owner Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix). Mendes' character, Amada Juarez, instantly feels dependent; not just upon sex and affection, but money and power. She looks every inch the trophy wife, if a little more reserved and unsure of herself than past trophy wives of cinema (I'm thinking Sharon Stone in Casino), though much of that derives from that she's a Puerto Rican ethnic minority, which even in the 80's must have brought with it a degree of caution.

Much has been said about the familiar, baity wronged wife role, complete with teary scenes and admirable values, usually regarding loyalty and family. Amada is loyal, no doubt, but you can see her inner struggle between trophy wife and homegirl. Although Phoenix is more the pretender than the showman she finds herself lodged in circles and situations that feel visibly alien to her. Most notably when she attends a gathering with Bobby's brother and father -- an awkward exchange. Most films are keen to integrate their 'wronged woman' in a way of getting at their precious leading man, and his moral arc. Mendes has more than one opportunity to play her character this way, and, though she can vent her wrath with the best of them, never shies away from her own fragmented mess.

At one point in the film she defies her boyfriends' wishes, leaving her safe retreat to pay a precious visit to her mother. In some ways she is blessed, because the film seems keen to give her some individuality, but amidst an airstrike of family politics and exhilarating detective chase she still embeds herself in your mind as the true dilemna of the film. The outsider looking into a world she knows little about. Considering how much she feels like a limpet on Phoenix's stolid shell in the first part of the film her motivation and independence in the second half feels like a revelation. It's a tall ask to match such players as Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix, but for what this performance is, it may just be the film's truest.

35 Films In 49 Days?

These are the 35 films I would really like to see before I make my final 2007 Awards in roughly seven weeks:

**Updated: Films in red are the ones I successfully managed to see**

3:10 To Yuma
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Across The Universe
Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
Bridge To Terabithia
The Bucket List
Bug
Charlie Wilson's War
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Flight of the Red Balloon
Hairspray
Hallam Foe
I Don't Want To Sleep Alone
In The Valley Of Elah
Interview
Juno
The Kite Runner
La Vie En Rose
Lady Chatterley (2006)
Lust, Caution
My Blueberry Nights
No Country For Old Men
Once
Paranoid Park
The Savages
Sicko
The Singer
Sweeney Todd
There Will Be Blood
Things We Lost In The Fire
Transformers
Two Days In Paris
Yella
Youth Without Youth

Online Film Critics Society {Nominations}

PICTURE

Atonement
Juno
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac

DIRECTOR

Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood
Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men
David Cronenberg - Eastern Promises
David Fincher - Zodiac
Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

ACTOR

George Clooney - Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Emile Hirsch - Into the Wild
Frank Langella - Starting Out in the Evening
Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises

ACTRESS

Julie Christie - Away From Her
Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose
Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
Laura Linney - The Savages
Ellen Page - Juno

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson’s War
Hal Holbrook - Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson–Michael Clayton

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett - I’m Not There
Jennifer Garner - Juno
Kelly MacDonald - No Country for Old Men
Saoirse Ronan - Atonement
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead
Eastern Promises
Juno
Michael Clayton
Ratatouille

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac

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

EDITING

Atonement
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac

SCORE

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Atonement
Into the Wild
Once
There Will Be Blood

DOCUMENTARY

In the Shadow of the Moon
Into Great Silence
King of Kong, The
No End in Sight
Sicko

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM (NON-ENGLISH)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Host
La Vie En Rose
Lives of Others
The Orphanage

ANIMATED FEATURE

Beowulf
Paprika
Persepolis
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie

BREAKTHROUGH FILMMAKER

Ben Affleck - Gone Baby Gone
Juan Antonio Bayona - The Orphanage
John Carney - Once
Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
Sarah Polley - Away From Her

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER

Nikki Blonsky - Hairspray
Glen Hansard - Once
Sam Riley - Control
Carice Van Houten - Black Book
Tang Wei - Lust, Caution

Hottest Track: Madonna - 4 Minutes To Save The World

Even though all that's been released so far is an instrumental version, people (including ME) are aching for Madonna's new song, Four Minutes to Save the World, featuring Justin Timberlake and produced by none other than Timbaland. Here it is