Oscar Night Predictions
I spent the last three days seeing Oscar nominated films. I haven't done this in a few years but this year had so many great films that I just had to be in the loop. I saw Slumdog, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Reader, The Wrestler, Changeling, Revolutionary Road, Batman . I unfortunately missed Doubt, Milk and Frost/Nixon. It will be a tight race this year but I do have my favorites.
Best Film
Milk (Did not see)
Frost/Nixon (Did not see)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Yesterday I saw the Curious Case of Benjamin Button about a baby born old who is reversing in age (back to youth) while the love of his life gets older. It was a great film, though it could have been cut down a bit. The acting was wonderful on all sides. My highlights were Taraji P. Henson. She gave a heartwarming performance without the gush and cheese. Cate Blanchett looked gorgeous as a dancer. There is a beautiful scene where she tries to seduce Benjamin (Pitt) by dancing in the moonlight while discussing the dance word in a very sensual manner. Great scene. I love my Brad and he acted wonderfully but in the end this was not my favorite film.
The Reader
I loved this film! The characters, the subject matter, and pace was fascinating. The relationship between Hanna and Michael pushed boundaries. In my newest novel I am pushing relationship boundaries so this encourages me. I think Winslet (who I also saw in Revolutionary Road) is stunning, physically and acting wise. I could watch her for hours. During one of the final scenes with her and the young Michael she is holding him and says, "Now you must go back to your friends." Such a simple line coming from her was so powerful and poignantly spoken. I cried. It was one of the most passionate emotional movies I've seen in years. I would love this film to win but my vote goes to Slumdog.
Slumdog Millionaire
The little boys in the film, especially Jamal, were too cute. I would've stolen Jamal if I could. Some of the cutest kids I've seen in recent cinema. I think attaching each Millionaire question to a dramatic, poignant, funny or horrific event in Jamal's life was brilliant. I thought the soundtrack was amazing. M.I.A's work in it including Paper Planes was exciting and moving. I thought that it really showed the not so pretty India in a captivating way. The acting was strong throughout. And the Bollywood closing credits theme was so fun and really helped relieve some of the darkness that was shown in the film. I have seen many films from India (especially during The Toronto International Film fest) so I am picky and assumed this one would be very commerical but it was not. It would mean a lot to the actors and the country to win so my vote goes for Slumdog.
Best Actress
Kate Winslet for The Reader
She's just stunning on all levels. A fabulous actress.
Best Supporting Actress
Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler
Boy Marisa put it all on the line. Her body is hotter than 19 yearolds and I've worked in a pricey swimsuit store where people can pay for hot bodies. Were the nipple rings real? I thought she was daring and raw and spot-on. She played a flirty distant put-upon stripper with great complexity. She is complacent, reluctant and distrustful. It is a dissolute world her and the Randy "the Ram" live in and her and Rourke captured it pitch-perfectly. Big comeback!
I liked Taraji P. Henson in the Curious Case of Benjamin Button a lot. So I would also be happy to see her walk away with the trophy.
Best Actor
Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler
Rourke can say a line so causally and naturally it sounds improvised. Both the Ram and Cassidy are like meat, exploited, abused, past its prime. But they are such rich characters and exude so much that I could have seen another hour of that film. Rourke was able to show kindness, longing, rage, shame so beautifully. And though it contained some of the most violent scenes, the staple gun scene was like watching someone being raped almost, the film was able to capture friendships, camaraderie, and humanity. I loved how it ended too. It's not a pretty hopeful world but it is a world with value.
Best Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger for The Joker in Batman II
Regarding the Joker role, there is a petition being circulated by fans who are hoping that the Joker role be retired so that no other artist can play the joker again in film. While I agree that Ledger's performance was brilliant and legendary (It will be hard for another actor to ever live up to it) I still believe other actors and other generations deserve a chance to try.
Best Director
My vote goes to Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire, though my heart says the Reader.
Best Song goes to M.I.A for O Saya for Slumdog Millionaire
