Andrew McMurtry81st Oscars Nominations (2009)
February 5th 2009 01:49
We're less than a month away from the announcement of the 81st Academy Awards on the 22nd of February. I'm going to show the early predictions and the nominee I hope will win on the night.
First up, Best picture. The nominees are:
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
Frost/Nixon
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Hope: Frost/Nixon - It's not often a movie about an interview will create this much buzz. It would be nice for a relatively unknown to the rest of the world piece of American history like this movie to win the award but I dont know if it has the same hype around it that Benjamin Button or Slumdog Millionaire have.
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire - Brilliant film. It is so complete with great acting, story and directing not to mention the costuming and soundtrack. Deserves to be front runner.
Next, Best director nominees:
Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Stephen Daldry (The Reader)
Gus Van Sant (Milk)
Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Hope: Danny Boyle - I a strong field I feel like Boyle has got a lock on this award. To do what he did, with the budget he had and without any huge marquee actors in the cast, he has really done a great job and thoroughly deserves this award. Not to say the others dont but it is hard to go past this wonderful directorial performance.
On to the Best actor nominees, who are:
Richard Jenkins (The Visitor)
Sean Penn (Milk)
Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)
Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Hope: Mickey Rourke - Mickey has been a good actor for a long, long time but hasnt had anything like this performance.
Prediction: Unknown - It's probably too close to call, though Mickey Rourke seems to deserve it and is the favourite. But everyone else in this field had great performances as well, so this is probably one of the hardest field to call.
The Best actress nominees are:
Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Angelina Jolie (Changeling)
Melissa Leo (Frozen River)
Hope - Australia hasnt received many of these movie so I cant really make an educated decision but I do hope the best for Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep, who won the Screen Actors Guild Award in this field.
Prediction: Kate Winslet - He performance in this film where she has to look much older than she actually is has been critically acclaimed and she is the current favourite to win especially after her Golden Globe wins.
Now the nominees for Best supporting actor:
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Josh Brolin (Milk)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt)
Robert Downey Jr (Tropic Thunder)
Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road)
Hope: Heath Ledger - Nothing really needs to be said. Ledger has basically had a lock on this award since The Dark Knight came out. It would be a huge shock if he lost.
Prediction: Heath Ledger - The brilliant performance from Heath deserves the award. It will be only the second posthumous award awarded to an actor if he wins after Peter Finch won the award after his performance in Network in 1977.
Best supporting actress nominees:
Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Viola Davis (Doubt)
Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)
Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Amy Adams (Doubt)
Hope: Taraji P. Henson - She was brilliant in Benjamin Button as his adopted mother. No matter what you think of the film you have to acknowledge that he performance was great.
Prediction: Unknown - Taraji was great but it is a strong field in which anyone could win. There is no clear cut winner for me in this field.
And finally, Best animated feature film:
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E
Hope: Bolt - This is just a personal preference. I loved Bolt, thought it was the best Disney film since The Incredibles. Kung Fu Panda was too overhyped for me and I have only seen part of Wall-E.
Prediction: WALL-E - But Wall-E will win.
This is my Oscars pre-game wrap. Whatever happens, it will be a great night honouring the best of the best in film over the past year.
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Comment by Michelle Sweeney
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