The Big Statue '09

For my first post, I decided that there would be no better way to open up than on a relevent topic. Today is the eve of the Oscar Nominations. Those nominee's can be viewed here: Oscar Nominations .

Unlike last year, this years show looks promising, and competitive. I would like to take this time so put forth my best guesses... scratch that, my list of whom I think deserves the win in the category. I will not repost the nominees, and I have not seen any of the documentary's or short films so... yeah your S.O.L. (Not a single god damn curse yet), and here... we... go:

Best (Original) Screenplay: Every year we are graced with new, wonderful biopics. There is always at least one in the runnings. Are these screenplay's really original? I know they are not always adapted, but I think they deserve to have their own category at least. On that note, the winner is between two amazing films. Neither of which are really serious movies, and both of which are artsy to the max. These are "In Bruge", a movie about a couple Hitmen laying low in... Bruge. It is staring Brendon Gleeson ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix") and Colin Ferrell (A bunch of bad movies, and "S.W.A.T."). The other film of course is the animated adventure of a robot named "Wall - E" whom lacks vocal chords. The only problem I have with this is that there really is no dialogue. All-in-all, AMAZING film! It focusses on the de-evolution of humans due to conveniance. With that said, the award should go to In Bruges for its exception plot, dialogue, and character arcs that even Colin Ferrell couldn't have made bad.

Best (Adapted) Screenplay: This in my eyes is just as important, if not more so than the original category. Adapting an already made work into a shootable script is no easy task. This years nominee list is too hard to pick from, but if I had to make a wager, "Frost/Nixon" Is going to take home the prize.

Visual Effects: The technical awards this year feature two common elements throughout... "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "The Dark Knight". Though as far as Visual Effects go, not to put The Dark Knight down but I think another Super Hero deserves this honor, "Iron Man"... here you go.

Sound Mixing / Sound Editing: Two seperate awards, but the winner of the previous should just remain on stage for the latter. This year seen a film released where the sound was just as important as what you were watching on the screen. From shattering glass and explosions, to gun fire and ambiance. This film is the story of the rise and fall of the last good man in Gotham City, "The Dark Knight".

Makeup: Three nominees for this category, and I do feel the need to list them. Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, and Hellboy II: The Golden Army. I thought I had to post these, for my own mind to wrap around. In one hand you have Brad Pitt ageing backwards in a giant mind-fuck, on the other is The Joker and Two-Face, on my third hand (Yup thats right) is absolutely everything about the second Hellboy film... oh, thats right there really isn't any competition. If by somehow The Dark Knight manages to win, I would be sorely upset. Hellboy II isn't a great movie, hardly a good one, but I'll be damned if it isn't the best looking film that I watched all year around. One should come to expect that anything Del Toro makes is to win this award.

Art Direction: I dare say the duchess, look it up, The Duchess to be gramatically corekt. While we're at it how about we throw in some Costume Design.

Cinematography: Call me Bias but Dark Knight has this one locked in the bag. The film itself stands as an achievment in Cinematography, being the first theatrically released film to incorporate scenes Made For and Shot In Imax format. The Dark Knight opens in Imax theatres... Today, what? Huh? Yeah thats what I said. The film has been re-released in Imax theatres and I myself am thinking about going to see it again.

Original Score / Original Song: I really couldn't care less but, I'll say Wall - E for both.

Best Feature Animated Film: As if the Miley Cyrus and Jack Black had a chance, Wall - E could have easily been Best Picture, period.

Best Actress In A Supporting Role: Okay so in a movie that makes comebacks look like they have never left the screen, Marissa Tomei stuns as a stripper in Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler". I don't know if it is her acting, or that the character is often very toppless, and for an older chick (and the film lets you know shes older) she is still gorgeous. George Costanza really missed out on this one. Though funny enough, I don't think I would even consider her if she and Mickey Rourke didn't compliment each other on screen with every scene they were in together.

Best Actress In A Leading Role: Merryl Streep for "Doubt" because I would really doubt miss Princess Diaries should ever be given a statue, and Angelina jolie should only be given a slap across the face. Eventually she's going to find out that one can only care for so many children.

Best Actor In A Supporting Role: Everybody, this should really be a five way tie. Realistically though, and it has merrit, Heath ledger is bound to get this award just as he did at the Golden Globes. His role in The Dark Knight, his portrayal wasn't just him, he was submerged in his character, and essencially created the entire movie. Likewise, his only real competition received less spotlight for his role that he submerged himself in in character, and in turn his character submerged himself in another character, and once more when he was submerged into that character, played a character in a movie within the movie. I am of course speaking of the amazing Robert Downey Jr. for his role as Kurt Lazarus in "Tropic Thunder"... A Comedy movie, a Ben Stiller movie, co-star nominated for an Oscar... WOW! But really, RDJ plays a white guy who plays a black guy (Don't worry, I promise I am speaking in real sentances that make sense.) . More so, he does it well and as a white guy pretending to be black adapts poorly the mannerisms of a culture which tend to get him in troube. When I look back, TT was probably the best movie I got to see all year, funny and well acted. Two of its best actor turns weren't even recognizeable unless you knew who they were. The other is Tom Cruise as the fat, balding, studio exec.

Best Actor In A Leading Rold: I have to stick by Mickey Rourke. I just watched this movie a couple days back and was so amazed by his performance... He is Marv from Sin City, only he wears tights. I think the reason I enjoyed him so much was because he was believable, probably the case as he essencially played himself in a different proffession. Good call on re-casting Nic Cage!

Best Director: I have been waiting to say David Fincher for years. He has made such gems as Seven, Fight Club, Zodiac, and now The Curious Case of Benjamin Button... the only thing is, as much as he is a good director, I have to say I have been waiting a while to say, Danny Boyle as well. Danny is a certain underdog as far as directors go. His resume include an almost perfect film about drug withdrawl and crime, "Trainspotting"... The discovery of THE BEST ACTOR IN THE WORLD, Cillian Murphy, when he put him in a world of farel infected zombie-like humans in what I would call the best Horror movie in the last 20 years "28 days later"... and quite possibly the best sci-fi movie since Planet of the Apes or maybe even Star Wars, "Sunshine". He comes at us now with his tale of a hindi version of Who Wants To be A Millionaire, and an amazing youth whom is under scrutiny and feared of cheating. This is "Slumdog Millionaire", and Danny Boyle, here's your statue.

The Best Picture Blog, I never like to speculate on as it is always hard, and often can't really decide on how to pick.

Best New Blog: "Dan Wilson Colon A Blog In The Making", by Dan Wilson. Because I am Dan Wilson, and you are not.