We disagreed on Best Supporting Actress. The Academy selected Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton, who was my #3 selection behind Cate Blanchett & Amy Ryan. When I heard her name called I was really surprised! Judging by her reaction I think she was really surprised as well. =)

As for the show itself, Jon Stewart did an excellent job as usual - I hope they continue to bring him back. As for me, I’ll probably go quiet for a few weeks as I move back to Seattle. So close your browser and go out and see No Country for Old Men, and Juno. =)

#5 - Atonement

#4 - Michael Clayton

#3 - There Will Be Blood

#2 - Juno

#1 - No Country for Old Men

The Oscars air at 8 PM, starting with the red carpet arrivals, then the actual ceremony begins at 8:30. Should be fun!

#5 - Jason Reitman, Juno

Juno is a fun movie to watch, and I’ve hard from many people that they left the theater more upbeat, happier about live and love. Perhaps its these qualities are the reason behind Jason’s nomination… If not, then I’m a bit confused - I thought the movie was told in a straightforward manner and didn’t see much evidence that this film was pushing the definition of the art. So it’s my #5 selection.

#4 - Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton

Among other things, I was struck by how this movie was able to build such tense moments. The very beginning of the film throws us directly into the fire with an intense, passionate narration from Tom Wilkinson - there isn’t much on the screen so we gravitate towards the madness in his voice. This is juxtaposed against the out of breath, sweaty Tilda Swinton which immediately starts your mind racing. Tony rewinds to four days earlier and uses much of the film to build the tension back up to, then passing this level. It was a really effective technique and keep my interest in the film peaked throughout.

#3 - Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a movie about a man (Jean-Dominique) who has a stroke that leaves him paralyzed. He’s only able to blink one eye, which is how he communicates with the world. The directing in this movie was really amazing and very different from anything I’d seen prior. The movie begins with a blurry picture, it’s hard to focus and recognize people, and then you realize that it isn’t a story about some character, it’s a story about YOU. YOU ARE Jean-Dominique. The first half of the movie is told entirely from your perspective. You try to speak with others, but you can’t move our mouth. The narration (if you can call it that) is actually what you’re thinking. This technique is so effective that during the last half of the film, which is focused mostly on Jean-Dominique’s family, we know exactly what Jean-Dominique is feeling. He’s completely motionless, except for his eye, yet we know exactly what must be going on in his head.

#2 - Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

There Will Be Blood begins by showing us just how difficult mining was back in the late 1800’s. There’s no dialog for the first 15-20 minutes as we simply absorb the struggle and determination of Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis). The movie also has humor at unexpected moments, and creative musical elements during important scene transitions. Although long (2 hours 40 minutes) the pace is steady and keeps our interest (unlike the unnecessarily long & slow moving Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford from Andrew Dominik).

#1 - Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

This year my pick goes to the Coen brothers for No Country for Old Men. This film is an amazing, modern western. Watching the film, I was surprised by the lack of music. There is absolutely no music throughout the entire film. This leaves it up to the director & actors to produce all the drama seen on screen. This might tank other films, rendering important scenes as comical or scripted - yet in this movie the pacing & characters bring the film to life. Some scenes are bleeding with tension, others evolve with a sense of discovery - actions & reactions seem more genuine, more visceral. The film was amazing to watch, and I think the directorial vision was the biggest reason why.

#5 - Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah

Tommy Lee Jones plays the role of Hank Deerfield, a former military officer who investigates the disappearance of his son who has returned from Iraq. When his son is found murdered, he helps a local detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron) investigate. The story has a mild set of twists and turns, but nothing overly surprising. Eventually they piece together what happened the night his son was murdered.

As explained during the movie, the title refers to the valley where David fought Goliath. Hank uses this story to illustrate that much is possible when you conquer your fears, also that things aren’t always what they appear. In many ways, this is an analogy to many parts of the plot line. Hank has a shrine to his Army son at home and believe’s he’s every bit the respectable soldier that he was. Yet this reality falls apart the more Hank investigates exactly who his son was. Just like David, Hank must push past his fear that his son was not completely honorable. Tommy does a good job with this, but I felt the role was fairly straightforward, and others could have played the part just as well. Tommy’s role as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell in No Country for Old Men was a much better performance.

#4 - Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Johnny Depp is Benjamin Barker, a barber falsely arrested by the evil Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) who has the hots for his wife. After returning from imprisonment he adopts the name Sweeney Todd and plots his revenge against Judge Turpin. He’s unable to capitalize on an opportunity to murder the Judge and instead takes out his anger on innocent visitors to his barber shop. Eventually the Judge does return and Todd is able to get his revenge. As you probably already know, the entire film is a musical - there’s little direct dialog from Depp, nearly all his of his lines are sung.

I was impressed that Johnny Depp did all his own singing in this film. His songs are very moody and draw you into his character. The lack of direct dialog means we’re drawn more to his eyes, body language and mannerisms - all qualities that Depp is skilled at (think: Captain Jack Sparrow, or Willy Wonka). As a result this role is an excellent fit for him and the result is quite memorable.

#3 - Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

Viggo Mortensen plays the role of Nikolai, a driver for Kirill (Vincent Cassel), the son of a Russian mob boss Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl). They operate out of Semyon’s restaurant in London. Nikolai is the cleanup man for the operation and handles the disposal of bodies as well as the protection of Kirill. When Kirill kills a rival Chechen leader, Semyon hatches a plan to save his son from their revenge. He promotes Nikolai (giving him the same distinctive tattoos) then tells the Chechen’s that Nikolai is actually the one they’re looking for. This culminates in a brutal fight scene in a Russian bath house.

I think Viggo is a strong actor, he played the role of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings series, and was the star of A History of Violence. In this role he has a really interesting character - the movie unfolds showing him as an integral part of the mob - he has a thick Russian accent and a slew of tattoos that attest to his rank. Yet as we follow the escapades of Kirill, who brings Nikolai everywhere he goes, we learn that Nikolai has a good & pure heart. The conflict leaves you feeling uneasy, as if you don’t really understand what Nikolai is all about, yet he’s confident in his actions. When it’s later revealed he’s an undercover police officer things drop into place. I found myself rethinking many earlier parts of his performance as a result… Ohh, and that brutal fight scene? It’s very intense. Roger Ebert says it "sets the same kind of standard that The French Connection set for chases. Years from now, it will be referred to as a benchmark." You’ve been warned.

#2 - George Clooney, Michael Clayton

George Clooney is Michael Clayton, an attorney at a large New York law firm who’s often called upon as a ‘fixer’. He will go anywhere at anytime to help important clients and important cases with difficult issues. One such case is the U-North case. The lead defense attorney, Arthur (Tom Wilkinson), has gone off his medicine and caused a scene during a deposition. Michael tries to help Arthur, who’s also a longtime friend, but a few days later Arthur mysteriously dies. Michael breaks into Arthur’s apartment and finds that he was actually building a case for the prosecution. Michael suspects foul-play, and when his car is also blown up (luckily not harming him), he finishes the job Arthur began by confronting U-North with the incriminating evidence Arthur found.

George Clooney does a really good job in this film - his character has just the right balance of affection for his friend Arthur, aspirations for a better career, bad habits, and moral integrity. George plays the role without going over the top in any one these areas, which makes him very relatable. He has a commanding presence in many scenes, forcefully dishing out his agenda & taking control of key moments - such as advising an important client who’s hit a jogger, and in the final scene where he confronts a director at U-North. For all these reasons, he ranks highly in my picks this year.

#1 - Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

Daniel Day-Lewis is Daniel Plainview, an oil speculator in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s. After doing the digging & striking oil on his first well, he goes on to manage his own oil prospecting company. One day he’s approached by a man named Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) who tells him that he knows where oil is so plentiful, it seeps out of the ground. Daniel follows his lead to the small town of Little Boston, and after confirming his claim buys up all the land he can and begins drilling. Many things happen during his quest for oil in Little Boston, his adopted son loses his hearing due to a drilling accident, a man claiming he’s Daniel’s brother is revealed as a fraud, and Daniel must play nice with an influential local resident, Eli Sunday (Paul’s twin brother), to keep up appearances. This is a really broad summary of the movie (which is almost three hours) - there’s much more going on here than I can write in a paragraph.

Anyway, Daniel Day-Lewis is my pick for best actor this year. His character is dedicated to his business. He cares about nothing else (not even his own health as shown in the beginning) - he’s 100% focused on being absolutely the best oil man possible. This personality trait comes into conflict many times during the movie. What’s interesting is how Daniel resolves each of these conflicts in different ways. One common theme is how the intensity at which he deals with these conflicts increases as his oil business grows. By the end of the film, he’s developed such a distaste for others that he ends up disowning his son and killing another almost as if to only amuse himself. It’s an amazing and eerie performance.

Next up - best director, then best picture. Hopefully I can get both posted before the Oscars begin tomorrow night.

#5 - Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Cate Blanchett plays Queen Elizabeth I. The film begins in the year 1585 and Elizabeth has yet to marry or have a child. She’s under pressure to find a husband because if she does not, her imprisoned cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots will be heir to the throne. There are many suitors, but she’s only attracted to Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen) who has just returned from the New World and is eager to return.  Meanwhile King Philip II, King of Spain has built the Spanish Armada in order to invade England, and Mary organizes an attempt to assassinate Elizabeth. The assassination attempt fails, and Elizabeth must sign the order to execute Mary. The invasion attempt also fails as Elizabeth leads the battle to defend England from the approaching armada.

While the movie was entertaining, I didn’t find her acting really exceptional. Perhaps a big reason is because it’s the second time she’s played the same character (she played a younger Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Elizabeth). She faces a slew of trials in this movie and is able to act the part in each, but the movie is just a glorified soap opera. In the end I don’t think the performance is Oscar worthy. Her performance as Jude Quinn in I’m Not There was better.

#4 - Laura Linney, The Savages

Laura Linney is Wendy Savage. Her father, Lenny (Philip Bosco) has grown elderly and has dementia. He was living in Arizona with his longtime girlfriend, but after she dies, Wendy and her brother Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) decide to bring him back to Pennsylvania & put him in a nursing home. The story mostly focuses Wendy, an aspiring playwright who’s been unsuccessful at finding love or success in her career. It seems she’s been spinning her wheels for awhile, not really making any progress on either front. But this changes after spending time closer to her brother & father.

Laura’s performance was interesting to watch – there’s a definite transition in her character through the course of events with her father. At the beginning, she seems confused with life, not really grasping onto any one thing in particular and lying to everyone around her. It’s as if she’s told so many white lies, she doesn’t know what she wants out of life anymore. But this changes when she puts her father into the nursing home. She desperately wants her father to have the best home and for him to be comfortable. Yet, because he has dementia he doesn’t recognize her efforts, or even who she is – he thinks she’s just another annoying caregiver. Laura plays the part well, balancing the jumbled set of emotions and priorities with her longing for success and desire for appreciation from others. Yet the performance wasn’t quite as good as my next pick.

#3 - Ellen Page, Juno

Ellen Page is Juno MacGuff, a high school student who accidentally gets pregnant with her longtime friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). Paulie’s clearly in love with Juno, yet Juno isn’t sure if she loves him. Juno contemplates getting an abortion, but eventually decides that she will have the baby and give it to a needy family. Through a newspaper ad (Pennysaver FTW!), she finds Mark & Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman & Jennifer Garner) and signs the paperwork to give her baby to them. During the remaining months before giving birth, Juno forms an odd friendship with Mark, developing a crush on him. When Mark decides to leave Vanessa, Juno has second thoughts about handing over her baby. But in the end, Juno realizes that Vanessa will provide a good home for the baby & also decides she really does love Paulie.

I really liked this film, and Ellen Page is a big reason why. Her character begins as a confident high school student, who knows exactly what she likes and why others are the way they are. But this perspective shifts during her pregnancy. Many different elements evolve Juno. Her friendship with Mark makes her realize there’s room to explore her musical interests. Her "stupid step-mother" becomes one of her best friends. After getting to know Vanessa better, she realizes that she should try not to judge others. She learns her father is wiser than she gives him credit, and that she really does love her best friend Paulie. Ellen strings all these experiences together into a character that evolves as the movie unfolds without seeming like she’s going through the motions. Her narration also helps us understand how her perspectives evolve. In the end, not only do you leave the movie feeling good about Juno, you leave feeling better about yourself (wow that’s corny, I can’t believe I just wrote that).

#2 - Julie Christie, Away from Her

Julie Christie plays Fiona Anderson, an older woman who’s begun losing her memory due to Alzheimer’s disease. Before it gets too bad, she convinces her husband Grant (Gordon Pinsent) that it would be best for the both of them if he were to place her in a nursing home. He reluctantly does, even though he doesn’t like the nursing home’s policy that prohibits him from visiting for the first 30 days (supposedly so she will adjust to her new surroundings). After 30 days, he visits for the first time and finds that she’s forgotten who he is, and has become affectionate for another resident. Grant’s saddened, but he keeps visiting her, often just to watch her from across the room. He tries to read her books to remind her of the past, but although she seems to recognize him as a kind person, she doesn’t seem to recognize him as her husband any longer. In the end, Grant’s efforts turn towards making her happy rather than trying to fight her disease.

This movie was really touching and very emotional to watch. Julie’s performance was amazing. At first, she slowly transitions her character as the disease sets in. It begins with momentary lapses of concentration, then episodes confusion, then scenes of bewilderment. It becomes more serious as she becomes mentally detached from the importance of her surroundings such as her home and mementos. Things change a bit after she moves into the nursing home & bonds with another patient - she seems more up-beat, less isolated. Yet when Grant tries to make her happy (mostly by reading to her) you can tell inside she really is very unhappy - she clearly longs for memories that escape her grasp. Julie does all this with a very genuine touch, without seeming corny. It was really an amazing performance.

#1 - Marion Cotillard, La Môme (La Vie en Rose)

Finally, Marion Cotillard stars as Édith Piaf in La Môme (AKA "La Vie en Rose" here in the US). The movie covers Edith’s entire life, interweaving her childhood & adolescence, with that of her career at its peak. The movie ends with the final years of her life. The film is a dramatized documentary of the life of Édith Piaf, an extremely popular French singer. We watch her early years unfold as a child, then singing on street-corners, then advancing to sing in a popular nightclub, then advancing into full-fledged international celebrity as a highly regarded music hall singer. Throughout nearly all of the movie she’s shown as a heavy drinker, which has consequences for her health later in life.

Marion’s performance wasn’t as touching or emotional as Julie Christie’s, but I was amazed at her technical ability and extreme range. Marion’s performance stretches nearly all of Édith’s life. Marion’s able to capture Édith’s drunken & insecure adolescence - singing on street corners and in nightclubs, often with wild mood swings. She’s able to capture her love/hate relationship with her celebrity during her rise to fame. After falling in love with a boxer, there’s an extremely emotional scene when she finds out he won’t be visiting her any longer. In her last phase of life, she’s shown completely deteriorated, and unable to care for herself as a result of her youthful excesses and extreme arthritis. During each of these phases Marion is absolutely excellent - I was astounded that she performed so well during all these different phases of life. Which is exactly why she’s my selection for Best Actress this year.

Expect posts for Best Actor, Best Director & Best Film soon. I’ve only have one film left to watch before the Oscars on Sunday!

#5 - Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

Tom Wilkinson plays the role of Arthur Edens, an attorney who has spent the past few years of his life building a defense for a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit against an agricultural products company, U-North. His life takes a turn when he has a mental breakdown during an important deposition. He decides that he’s been living a lie defending a company he knows to be guilty. He knows U-North knowingly produced cancer causing chemicals and his new found fondness for one of the victims causes him to pursue U-North rather than defend them.

Tom’s my #5 pick because I didn’t see Arthur’s history in much of Tom’s performance. Arthur is supposedly the law firms most experienced lawyer, someone who has been working the U-North account for quite some time, but also known to be a bit erratic when not taking his medication. But all this is spoken too and doesn’t really seem evident in his performance. Instead we’re introduced to him after he’s off his medication, so we only see his eccentricities. Such a strong and capable lawyer surely would be struggling to balance a mental instability with the logical & reasoned application of the law. I was also disappointed that his character never really explores his affections for one of the victims.

#4 - Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson’s War

Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the role of Gust Avrakotos, a frustrated CIA agent eager to help congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) fight against the Soviet incursion into Afghanistan. With Charlie’s help to obtain congressional funding, Gust and a small group of CIA agents help fund the local Mujahideen fighters. Their (US funded) resistance is a success and the Soviets withdraw, but Gust is left disappointed that the US government is not willing to assist the Afgans with rebuilding their society.

Usually I’m a big fan of Philip Seymour Hoffman. I thought he was amazing in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Love Liza, and especially Capote (where he won the Oscar for Best Actor, as I predicted two years ago). I’m not sure who I would cast for this role, but it would not have been Philip. It’s not that he did a bad job - he had the best acting (by far!) in this movie. The problem here is that I don’t think the role is very unique (how many frustrated government employees in bad moustaches have we seen before). His character is entirely predictable, he has no bonds to others, no intriguing morals, no real personal depth. Winning an academy award demands an amazing character and performance, and the character just isn’t Gust.

#3 - Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild

Hal Holbrook plays the role of Ron Franz, an older gentleman living by himself with no immediate family. He meets the movie’s main character, Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) when he spots Chris hitch-hiking and offers him a ride. Chris has been hitch-hiking across the country in a heroic effort to seek personal truth, a reconnection with nature, a freedom that can only be realized through poetic ideals unencumbered by the motions of modern life. Chris’s encounter with Hal is especially memorable because of how Chris challenges Hal’s unconscious assumptions & for the strong bond formed between the two.

Ron is an especially interesting character because he arrives at a turning point in Chris’s travel to Alaska. Chris has already been on the road for some time, and has planned to leave society forever and head to Alaska. Ron is the last person he befriends on that journey. When Ron first meets Chris, he’s clearly confused. He doesn’t understand why a well educated young person would want to ignore his potential and ‘live in the dirt’. Yet as the two get to know one another, it’s clear Ron begins to question who’s actually living the better life - the young traveler, or the old man set in his ways. Their relationship ends on an especially poignant moment - a moment Hal delivers exceptionally well, leaving us wondering what happened to Ron after Chris heads to Alaska.

#2 - Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Casey Affleck plays the coward Robert (Bob) Ford. Yes, apparently every time I mention Robert Ford, I must also remind you that he was a coward for shooting Jesse James (Brad Pitt). The movie moved at a snails pace, chronicling Bob’s affection for Jesse James & for his outlaw lifestyle. Bob’s eager to join his gang of outlaws & be just as much a celebrity as Jesse. Yet his eagerness turns against him as Jesse jokes about his seemingly childish affection. Bob never earns the complete trust of Jesse and his desire for celebrity ultimately causes him to assassinate Jesse. Jesse was considered by many to be the Robin Hood of the wild west, and Bob is forever branded as a coward.

Casey was impressive in this role. At first he’s in awe of Jesse, eager to prove himself worthy of being a member of the gang. He completely idolizes Jesse & trembles when in Jesse’s presence. Yet his obsession turns resentful when his brothers tease him about his admiration, and he fails to gain Jesse’s trust. Gradually we see Casey’s resentment turn into a desire to prove himself better than Jesse, which leads to his assassination. Afterwards his character transitions once again, to that of someone haunted with extreme guilt & resentment. Casey managed to make all these transitions believable - transparent to the viewer, yet complex when viewed by other characters.

#1 - Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men

Javier Bardem plays the role of Anton Chigurh, a professional hitman, hired to collect a bag of money that’s been found Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin). He follows the signal from a tracking device hidden in the bag as Llewelyn tries to escape traveling city to city. He’s quick to eliminate people he believes are sinners (those trying to steal the loot), and he uses the flip of a coin to determine if the innocent should also be dispatched.

This movie was incredibly captivating, largely in part to Javier’s performance. He’s ‘the hunter’, methodically chasing after the stolen money. He’s has no problem murdering those in his way. Yet he’s not a mindless killer - as we follow him, we learn he believes he’s principled in his ways. He uses the flip of the coin to decide what to do with innocents. The tension and randomness of the flip introduces some tremendously tense moments in the film. His encounter with a gas station attendant is especially captivating. I was left holding my breath the entire scene, completely entranced by his performance as he asked the attendant to call the coin-flip without knowing the consequences of being wrong. Javier commanded my attention and put on an amazing performance which makes him my pick for best supporting actor.

I’m down to 6 films left to watch - hopefully I can get through them before the award ceremony!

This year, there were a total of 19 films nominated for the acting awards, best picture & best director. I had only seen a few of the films before they were nominated (Atonement, Juno, No County for Old Men) - so it’s been a mad scramble to try and watch all 16 other films. Although I still have a few to watch, I have finished a few categories. So let’s start out with my pick for best actress in a supporting role.

My selection, in reverse order:

#5 - Ruby Dee, American Gangster

Ruby Dee plays the mother of self-made drug lord Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington). She has very little screen-time in this film - Denzel Washington (Frank Lucas) & Russell Crowe (Detective Richie Roberts) dominate the picture, but her character plays a very important role in Frank’s life. Although Frank runs a heroin empire, he built his business on a foundation of family-first thinking and a strong work ethic. It’s evident that his mother is a very important figure in his life - she’s possibly the only person he actually respects & honors.

I imagine this must be a very difficult role to cast. Imagine looking for an actress that could command the respect & devotion of a drug-lord son played by Denzel Washington. In the end, Ruby did just that. In particular - while it doesn’t look it from the still above, she towers over Denzel with fiery emotion & conviction in that scene. But, in the end, her lack of screen time & importance to the plot mean she’s my #5 selection.

#4 - Saoirse Ronan, Atonement

Saoirse Ronan plays the role of 13 year-old Briony Tallis, the younger sister to Cecilia (Keira Knightley). Cecilia and the housekeeper’s son Robbie (James McAvoy) seem to have a ‘thing’ for one another. One night, Robbie asks Briony to deliver a note to Cecilia. He thought he gave Briony an apology note (for breaking a vase earlier in the day), but he accidentally gives her a sexually explicit love letter. Briony reads the note, but delivers it to Cecilia without a word. Later that night, she catches Robbie & Cecilia making love. Then, before the night is up she also finds her cousin being raped by someone who flees into the darkness. She tells the police it must have been Robbie and shows them the love letter as evidence of his ‘crazed sexual urges’. Robbie is taken from Cecilia, put in jail then shipped off to war. Only later does she realize she had jumped to conclusions and that Robbie was innocent. Much of the movie follows Robbie & Cecilia during this time, how they long for one another, and the guilt Briony feels for separating a couple in love.

Although I didn’t enjoy the film (I’ll save that commentary for my post on best picture nominees), Saoirse does a good job with this character. She makes it quite clear what an imaginative & active mind young Briony must have, writing screenplays, carefully analyzing others, and yet she remains somewhat of an introvert. However, if I were forced to make a best supporting actress selection from this film, I would have selected Romola Garai for her role as the 18 year-old Briony. I think the 18 year-old Briony was much a more emotionally conflicted & complex character.

#3 - Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Tilda Swinton plays the role of Karen Crowder, a director of a large agricultural products company, U-North. U-North is the target of a multi-million dollar lawsuit, alleging that their products are actually toxic. When the lead lawyer representing the plaintiffs discovers a damaging internal U-North memo & has a mental breakdown, Karen tries to cover it up in an all out effort to save U-North and solidify her reputation as a top company official.

I’ve been a bit vague in my description, since I do not want to spoil anything for those who haven’t seen this movie. If you haven’t seen Michael Clayton, I do recommend it. As for Tilda’s role, it was quite good. Her character is put under tremendous stress given how important winning this case is to both her company and her professional reputation. As the tension in the movie escalates, I found it really interesting to watch her character push her personal comfort zone. It takes a unique skill to portray her character’s goal of outward confidence in the face of ever increasing internal distress when making decisions. In the end, these tensions clearly shake her character to her core.

#2 - Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone

Amy Ryan plays the role of Helene, mother to a child who’s gone missing. Casey Affleck plays a local private investigator (Patrick), hired by Helene’s sister to help find her niece. Ed Harris & John Ashton play detectives under the command of Morgan Freeman. The story has a fair number of twists and turns, following Patrick as he uncovers a tangled web of relationships between pimps, drug dealers & crack heads. The movie also presents many morally ambiguous situations which I imagine could spark much heated debate among viewers.

Amy’s role in this film was pretty amazing - she’s a selfish, low-income crack-addict of a mother. She’s so preoccupied with satisfying her own interests that she completely neglects her child. During the investigation into her daughters disappearance we begin to see this attitude shift — she begins to realize how much she loves & misses her daughter - yet in the end she returns to her old selfish ways. This spectrum of motherly devotion is what Amy delivered so well in this movie and makes her my #2 pick.

#1 - Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There

Finally, Cate Blanchett plays the role of Jude Quinn in I’m Not There. The movie is meant to show the different stages of Bob Dylan’s life. It does this by using six different actors, all playing different characters, all meant to portray a unique part of Bob Dylan. Not knowing this, the movie can be confusing to take in. I’m not a Bob Dylan fan, and I don’t know his history so it was even more confusing for me. While watching the movie, I was constantly trying to think about how these characters connected and how to make sense out of the film.

In fact, I had become so distracted by trying to sort out the plot and meaning of the film that I had forgotten to pay attention to the actors themselves. When I caught myself mid-film and realized that I had been watching Cate all along, I was taken aback. I had been so distracted that I hadn’t picked up that Cate was playing the role of a man. I was so completely sucked into the lifestyle, mannerisms and personality of her character that I hadn’t thought to evaluate the actress behind the character. I was even more amazed when I had a “wow” moment thinking about how she had been nominated as the best supporting actress for playing the role of a man. Overall, I was completely impressed by her acting in this film and she gets my pick for best actress in a supporting role.

Over the next few days I’ll post my picks in the other major categories. Hopefully I can finish everything before the big night - next Sunday, Feb 24th.

Well, the results are in. The winners were:

• Best Picture: The Departed
• Best Director: Martin Scorsese
• Best Actress: Helen Mirren
• Best Actor: Forest Whitaker
• Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson
• Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin

So how did I do?… Well, I got everything right. The academy on the other hand got 3 of the acting awards wrong. =) Alan Arkin was a total surprise, Helen Mirren was a sensible choice (she was my #2), and Jennifer Hudson was the media favorite – everyone knew she was going to win.

But watching the awards, I couldn’t help but get upset over the directing of the show itself. Rapid, unnecessary camera changes, reaction shots from the wrong people, and a horrible salute to American filmmaking ensured the show was as dreary as years past. But let me cite a few specific examples…

First, during the introduction to the best international film category WHY would you put the camera on Sacha Baron Cohen (you know him as Borat)… HE ISN’T NOMATED IN THAT CATEGORY. HE DIDN’T MAKE A FOREIGN FILM. HE MOUTHED IT SO YOU WOULD GET A CLUE!… If disparaging the entire category was the directors goal, then he certainly succeeded.

Second, during Alan Arkin’s acceptance speech, he put the Oscar down on the ground so he could read his notes. Right as Alan Arkin begins to get choked up, so surprised that he won this category the director switches the camera TO A CLOSEUP OF THE OSCAR ON THE FLOOR. WHY?! Were all the computer animated Oscar tropies not enough to show us what it looks like?! Alan Arkin was a complete underdog in this category – why can’t we watch his tearful acceptance speech? Argh!

Third, … well, I’m not even going to talk about how magnificently Clint Eastwood botched the introduction of Ennio Morricone. The guy is a musical legend. A master! And you couldn’t be bothered to memorize his introduction or bring your glasses!? I’m glad I didn’t get a chance to see your film!

Fourth – Graham King, producer for the Departed gave a wonderful, tearful acceptance speech when he won best picture. Scorsese won best director just prior, and even before best picture was nominated you could tell how moved both Graham and Marty were. So after Graham finishes his speech and walks backstage with Jack Nicholson at his side, to meet with Marty the camera switches to watch the confetti drop?!… WTF?! Show us the backstage celebration! Show us Scorsese celebrating his film! Show us Jack!

Fifth – Chris Connelly… I think I wore out my mute button. Nuff said.

Gah I’m pissed.

Finally, best actress… My picks, in reverse order…

#5: Penelope Cruz – Volver

I can’t summarize the plot of this movie in just a few sentences, there are just too many important pieces and people that you need to know about. For my review, all you need to know is Penelope plays Raimunda, a woman who was raped by her father (when she was younger), and who believes her mother died in a fire. She has a daughter, and when her daughter murders her husband after he tried to rape her, she helps conceal the death and hide the body. In addition, we find out that her mother isn’t really dead after-all, but has been living with and caring for Raimunda’s aunt in secret. Raimunda reunites with her mother and begins to bond with her due to the recent events.

This movie is really interesting to watch, but the complexity of the plot steals much of the spotlight from the acting. It’s not that the plot is overly complicated or tricky to follow, it’s just there are many different connections between Raimunda’s past and present which are revealed slowly, as the story unfolds. Another important part of the story is the culture of La Mancha where everything takes place. There is a deep connection with the dead, and many people believe that restless ghosts visit family members. All of this makes it difficult to see the strengths in Penelope’s performance. She does a good job, but the role doesn’t give her a chance to deliver a performance we’ll remember for years to come.

#4: Meryl Streep – The Devil Wears Prada

Meryl plays Miranda Priestly, editor in chief of Runway magazine – a high fashion magazine based in New York. The story follows Andy (Anne Hathaway), hired as a personal assistant to Miranda. For much of the movie, we’re shown how ruthless, arrogant and cynical Miranda is. She’s completely focused on her magazine and has no time or patience to deal with ‘incompetence’ around her. But as Andy bonds with Miranda, we end up seeing glimpses of her humanity, of her human vulnerability. But it’s only a tease because in her world there’s no time for such distractions.

This is a really good performance. Meryl’s character is completely intertwined with her business. She’s structured her entire world around her magazine. She’s put up a seemingly impenetrable façade around her humanity, around her true feelings and emotions. Maintaining this illustion is what makes her performance so good. By the end of the movie, when we finally see Miranda crack a smile we beam. Why? … because we know how significant such a thing must be for Miranda. When she quickly snaps back to her usual self we feel a sense of secret pride, as if we got to see a small part of her that nobody else did.

#3: Judi Dench – Notes on a Scandal

Judi plays a school teacher. Bitter, old and close to retirement she lives alone with her cat Portia. To pass the time, she writes in her diary – which has grown to span many journals over the years. She becomes friends with a new teacher, Sheba (Cate Blanchett). As time passes, she begins to fall in love with Sheba and when she learns of Sheba’s affair with a student, she uses it against her in a twisted attempt to get her attention.

In this role, Judi makes it seem as if she’s constantly plotting how to get the attention of Sheba. It’s awkward, how she narrates her thoughts and plans to us as she writes in her diary. She’s clearly obsessed with Sheba, completely fixated on this idea that they were meant for each other. And at times when things don’t go her way (like when her cat dies, and she wants Sheba to comfort her, but Sheba has to go to her son’s school play) she totally flips out. She’s crazy and gross at times because Sheba doesn’t realize what she’s doing until she discovers the diaries near the end of the movie… I don’t think I’ll look at lonely old grandmas in the same way ever again…

#2: Helen Mirren – The Queen

Helen plays The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II. The movie is the fictional story of what the royal family went through during the time of Tony Blair’s election to Prime Minister, and Princess Diana’s untimely death.

This role must have been very challenging. She plays a Queen stuck in the ways of tradition, but compelled to deal with her disconnect from common people. Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) tries to help her bridge this gap – you see, he was elected by the people as a reformist, someone who could help modernize an antiquated government. In the end, it’s this constant pressuring that made Helen’s performance so great. She has to come to terms with the changing attitudes of her people. And as the film unfolds we see small changes in her. She seems more open, a bit less rigid and more caring… the changes are very slight and it’s the slow evolution that makes Helen so good in this role.

#1: Kate Winslet – Little Children

Kate plays Sarah Price, a mother disconnected from her husband and somewhat distant from her daughter. She regularly goes to the local park, where she meets Brad (Patrick Wilson), and kisses him on a dare. When she discovers her husband jacking off to an Internet porn site, she begins an affair with Brad.

I really liked how we see Kate’s character change when she begins to pursue and have an affair with Brad. Early in the movie she’s quiet, unhappy in her marriage, frustrated that she needs to care for her daughter all the time. But when she connects with Brad we see her spark back to life. She’s becomes more romantic, more passionate, and the chemistry she has with Patrick Wilson is clearly apparent. As more time passes, she begins to feel more alive. She’s happier in life. And when Patrick asks her to run away with him so they can finally be together, she agrees. This transformation is why Kate’s my Oscar pick this year. At first it happens slowly, we know something’s changed when she decides to go after Brad, but by the time they decide to run away, she’s completely different from how she began. This is something I didn’t see in any of the other nominees this year (well, except in The Queen but to a much smaller degree), and makes Kate stand out.

Well, the awards are tonight… we’ll see if the academy agrees with me. =)

Next up, best actor… Here’s my list, in reverse order as usual:

#5: Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond

Leonardo plays Danny Archer, a mercenary who overhears the tale of a father (Solomon) who’s been separated from his family, and hid a huge diamond he found. Danny offers to help Solomon find his family in exchange for the stone.

As I said in my review of Djimon Hounsou (nominated for best supporting actor for playing Solomon), this movie was entirely predictable. Danny’s story was no exception. His character had no depth and was completely uninteresting. Emotional moments in the story felt like a joke gone wrong, I couldn’t wait for this film to finish so I could watch something much better. I don’t know why Leo got nominated for this role – he was much better in The Aviator and The Departed. This movie and Leonardo’s performance are entirely forgettable.

#4: Peter OToole – Venus

Peter plays Maurice, an aging actor who spends his time hanging out with another old friend, Ian. All they do is sit around and talk about their acting careers and inevitable deaths. One day Ian’s agrees to let his niece’s daughter Jessie move in and take care of him. But when she does, Ian realizes that he can’t stand her. She’s not interested in caring for him, she’s rude, and she drinks a lot. But when Maurice sees her, he can’t help but feel compassion for the girl. As time passes, he develops a romantic interest in the girl (even though she’s like 60 years younger than him).

I liked Peter’s performance – he’s witty (compared to his aging, self-obsessed, lethargic friend) and at first the relationship he forms with Jessie seems perfectly ordinary. But Jessie turns out to be vulnerable, she stays at home all day living with an old man, has no friends, no job, no motivation to go outside and make something of herself. Maurice takes advantage of this and builds a romantic fantasy that revolves around her. Peter excels at giving us a character that is part dirty old man, part dying old man. At times he’s warm, at times honest, and he builds a unique chemistry with Jessie. The end is touching, even though Maurice is a creepy old guy at times, we feel a strong sense loss and emptiness when he’s gone.

#3: Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson

Ryan plays Dan Dunne, an inner-city high school teacher. During the day he teaches history, during the afternoon he’s a girls basketball coach, at night he’s got a nasty drug habit. After a basketball game, one student, Drey, finds him smoking crack in the girls bathroom. She’s a bit of a loner, quiet and mostly self-reliant, but she forms a friendship with him.

This isn’t your ordinary “ambitious inner-city school teacher shakes up the world” story… In Half Nelson, Ryan turns to drugs because he realizes his goal of ‘changing the world’ was too ambitious. Drugs give him a way to escape the pain of reality – that most of his students don’t care about history, aren’t motivated and just don’t want to be there. But Drey is different. What I like about Ryan’s performance is the spark you see in him whenever he’s with Drey. He begins to care about here and wants to keep her out of harm’s way. But he can’t escape who he is and in the end seems resigned to the fact that nothing is going to change. You can see his spark change in the latter half of the movie. The energy in his eyes starts to fade, his body language emphasizes how he’s lost his motivation, and he gives off a sense of connected honesty, that he knows his role in life and is stuck there. His overall performance is really good.

#2: Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman. After a series of tough days, he notices how happy people in the financial district seem. They seem to be living a wonderful life. So he decides that he wants to become a stock broker. But when his wife leaves and his bank account runs dry, it becomes increasingly tough to pursue his dream while being a good father.

This was an eternally sad movie. Chris’s life just keeps going downhill even though he has the best of intentions for his future and for raising his son. It’s this massive contrast between his dedication to pursuing his hopes and dreams and the reality around him that causes us connect with him so deeply. One scene in particular – where he’s forced to spend the night in a bus station bathroom - is particularly moving. Even scenes that should be happy elicit a sense of sadness – like when his son tells him he’s a good father – we’re still sad because we’ve seen how hard it’s been for Chris to do his best. This is what’s best about Will’s performance – the earnestness he shows in the light of sacrifice.

#1: Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland

Forest plays Idi Amin, the brutal dictator of Uganda in the 1970’s. The story is told through the eyes of his doctor, Nicholas (played by James McAvoy). Nicholas is one of Amin’s closest advisors, and forms a bond with the dictator who seems to have nothing but best intentions for Uganda. But as time passes, that changes. Amin’s afraid of being assassinated and anyone even suspected of acting against the dictators wishes ends up brutally murdered.

When I began writing this, I listed Forest as my #2 pick. But after thinking back on how good this performance is, I had to boost him to #1… Forest delivers a really exceptional performance – he’s incredible in this role. As the president of Uganda he starts off seemingly wanting only the best for his country. He’s extremely personable, gregarious and everyone around him seems to be drawn in by his jolly personality. But as the movie progresses, we see Amin become increasingly paranoid. He suspects everyone wants to kill him. Forest does such a good job here of showing us his paranoia without directly speaking to it. It’s in his eyes, his expression, the odd pauses when answering a question. As more time passes, it develops further. We see sudden shifts between a jolly, happy president and a brutal, murderous, vengeful man. To some degree, it even inspires fear in us – we’re not sure how he will react as events unfold. He’s my Oscar pick this year.

So, tomorrow I’ll post my pick for best actress. I’m not going to post a pick for Best Picture or Best Director because I haven’t been able to watch Letters from Iwo Jima. It’s not playing in theaters anymore… maybe I’ll rate the other films… but I’m not sure yet…. I’m disappointed I didn’t get a chance to see all the films nominated this year… =(

Next up, best supporting actress… I know everyone thinks Jennifer Hudson is going to win it this year, but what do I think? Read on… Here are my picks, in reverse order:

#5: Cate Blanchett – Notes on a Scandal

Cate Blanchett plays a young teacher (Sheba) who befriends a fellow teacher (Barbara) played by Judi Dench. After becoming close, she confesses that she’s been having an affair with a student. Barbara, being an old woman who lives alone tries to use the affair to get “close” to Sheba (in an old woman who’s desperate for the love and attention of another woman type of way). You know where this is headed…

Anyway, I wasn’t impressed by Cate’s performance in this film. I think she had better performances in other films (The Aviator & Talented Mr. Ripley spring to mind). There’s the potential for greatness in this role. Her situation at home (dull husband, mentally challenged son) pushes her towards the affair with the student… There’s also a reverse situation at play between the older woman who wants to have an affair with her. But in the end it was the dialog (not the delivery) that provided the most drama in these two dilemmas. Partially I fault the direction because I know Cate can do better, but with constant narration (in the form of reading Barbara’s diary) we get Barbara’s perspective forced down upon us at times, rather than Cate’s performance leading the way.

#4: Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine

Abigail plays Olive, the adorable, naive little girl who’s the center of Little Miss Sunshine. After qualifying for the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant, her family drives to California so she can participate. In many ways, she’s what holds the family together, because along the way they all experience individual tragedies. But they pull through these tough times together, because collectively they can’t give up – they all want Olive to succeed.

Abigail’s performance is amazing, especially for her age. I mean she’s 10! Born in 1996! (Damn I feel old…) What I especially like about her performance is the blend of naiveté and conviction she brings to the role. She doesn’t realize that her big glasses, tubby stomach and general lack of on-stage personality mean she’s unlikely to win the beauty pageant. She’s convinced that if she tries hard enough she’ll succeed. In some way, everyone in the family is envious of this conviction – they wish the world around them functioned as Olive see’s it. Even the audience is behind her, we’re rooting her on and we’re charmed by her personality. Making this type of impact is no easy feat, and Abigail plays the role brilliantly.

#3: Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls

Jennifer Hudson plays Effie White, the lead singer of the Dreamettes. Spotted at a talent competition, they are hired as backup singers for James “Thunder” Early (Eddie Murphy). They have limited success themselves, but then break into the mainstream when Deena (Beyoncé) takes over as lead singer. This creates rift between Effie and the group, and later she’s replaced (behind her back) and the Dreamettes break into the mainstream.

Now, I didn’t really like Dreamgirls, but I have to give Jennifer Hudson some credit here. This is her first movie role, and it was damn good. She’s nominated for a fucking Oscar in her first film?… Clearly she did something right in this role. So what was it?… Personally, I think it was the sheer range of her performance. We see practically every emotion from her in this film, happiness, sorrow, anger, desperation, confusion, exhaustion, rejection, longing, thankfulness, and more. What’s amazing is that she’s able to blend this all into a believable character, with a strong willed personality complete with her own set of principles and drive. Everyone who watches this movie can identify with her at one point or another and we all feel sympathy for her. Coupled with the fact that she sings much of the soundtrack, it’s no wonder that the press thinks she’s guaranteed to go home with Oscar.

#2: Adriana Barraza - Babel

Adriana plays Amelia, housekeeper/nanny for Richard & Susan (Brad Pitt & Cate Blanchett). She’s watching over their two children while they travel through Morocco. However, when Richard & Susan are delayed in Morocco, she’s forced to take the two children to her son’s wedding in Mexico because she can’t find anyone else to care for them. But on the way back into the United States, border guards suspect her nephew (who’s driving) is intoxicated. He flees into the desert, leaving Amelia and the two kids stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Adriana is excellent. Her character is good natured, selfless, and cares tremendously about those around her, especially the two children. Throughout the movie, it’s clear she’s dedicated to their wellbeing. The strength in her performance is “underneath” her interactions with the children. It’s how she tucks them in at night. It’s how she reassures them about the strange things they see in Mexico. It’s how she goes above and beyond to rescue them after being stranded in the desert. But in the end, there’s one scene (where she’s talking with a border agent about being deported) that really irritates me. That scene in particular “feels” scripted, forced and unnatural compared to the rest of her performance. This scene reminded me that I was watching a movie and as a result I can’t pick Adriana for the award.

#1: Rinko Kikuchi - Babel

That leaves Rinko Kikuchi. She plays Chieko, a deaf Japanese teenage girl who desperately wants the attention of the world around her. She’s distant from her father and desperate to be desired by the opposite sex. She tries to interest boys but is constantly rebuffed. Even explicit attempts are met with failure, further contributing to her feelings of isolation.

I picked Rinko because of the emotion her performance extracts from viewers. We’ve all had situations in our past where we didn’t exactly fit in with those around us. But for Chieko it’s a never ending saga. She constantly struggles to fit into the world around her. I thought there were also two exceptionally powerful moments in her performance. In the middle of her story, there’s the possibility that a boy finds her interesting. They hang out, have fun, and end up at a club where they start dancing. Chieko finally has a moment where she seems to fit in with everyone else – enjoying a club like a normal teenager and with a boy who seems interested in her. But then her dreams are crushed in a really powerful moment that blends how she experiences the world with how the world looks upon her.

The movie ends with another powerful scene, in which after being rejected by a boy she stands naked on a skyscraper balcony. The movie ends when her father finds & comforts her. It’s unclear what she said in the note she leaves with the detective, if she was going to jump, or if her nakedness a symbol of desperation to be desired. The entire performance was really powerful and she gets my pick for best supporting actress.

Next up, Best Actor, Actress, Film & Director. =)

So, last year I decided that I would watch all the movies nominated for the top Oscar awards and pick my favorites. It was a lot of fun, so I’ve done it again this year. The next few posts are going to be all about what I thought of the nominees, and who I would vote for if I was an academy member.

First up, best actor in a supporting role. Here are my picks, in reverse order:

#5: Djimon Hounsou – Blood Diamond

Djimon plays a Sierra Leone man (Solomon) who’s family is torn apart. His wife and daughters flee an attack on his village and his son is kidnapped by rebels. He forced by the rebels to work in a diamond mine where he finds (and hides) a huge diamond. The mine is raided by police and after ending up in Jail he meets Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio). Danny overhears the story of the large rock and offers to help Solomon locate his family in return for the stone.

I’ve got to be honest – this was one (of a few!) movies I was not looking forward to watching. Every aspect of the story and the performances was predictable. We learn barely anything about the background and motives behind the characters, and their personalities are shallow and uninteresting. That being said, I did like two interesting aspects of Djimon’s character. The first was how dedicated he was to locating his family. Everything else in his world was secondary and when he meets up with his wife and daughters at the refugee camp, this point is really driven home in an emotional scene. The second was his good nature. In a country full of barbarism Djimon tried heroically to be a good role model for his son. He was willing to sacrifice everything to help educate his son to one day become a doctor. While these are moving qualities, the overall performance isn’t Oscar worthy in my opinion.

#4: Alan Arkin – Little Miss Sunshine

Alan Arkin plays “Grandpa”, an opinionated father to Greg Kinnear (Richard). He’s been kicked out of Sunset Manor (an old folks’ home) and likes to snort heroin and talk about sex. He also teaches Olive her dance routine for the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant.

I really liked the Grandpa character. He’s crass & opinionated, but respectful of Olive and wants nothing but the best for her. While travelling to California, Olive is listening to her headphones while Grandpa gives advice to Duane (”Fuck a lot of women, Duane. Not just one woman, a lot of women. Are you getting any? You can tell me Duane, are you getting any? No? Jesus! You’re what? 15?! My god man! You should be getting that young stuff!”) and talks about the old women at Sunset Manor (”Ho ho! I had second degree burns on my Johnson I kid you not.”). But when Olive takes off her headphones he tells her they were just talking about politics. Later, in the Hotel room, Olive’s concerned that she’s not going to win the competition, she’s in tears because she thinks she’s a loser. But Grandpa convinces her that she’s not, that she’s beautiful and the only real losers are those that don’t even try.

What’s really interesting is how Olive’s performance at the beauty pagent reminds you of Grandpa’s character. Grandpa’s personality & the impression he leaves with you resurfaces here and it really speaks to how well his character was portrayed.

#3: Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls

Eddie Murphy plays James “Thunder” Early, a popular pop star who dreams of becoming an international sensation. But in the end, his inability to try new material and appeal to a broader audience ends up holding back his career.

Now, I really didn’t like Dreamgirls in general (you’ll see this theme in my other reviews I’m sure), but Eddie did have really good moments that I think deserve credit… Yes, in general he’s that same loudmouth Eddie character we’ve seen time and time again, a bit loony, short sighted and impulsive, but I really like how he shines at some parts in the movie… especially after he records the duet “Patience” (which was nominated for Best Song).

You see, he goes out on a limb with this song, recording something with a completely new sound in the hope he can please Curtis (Jamie Foxx), and finally break out of the musical rut he’s in. When he presents it to Curtis, he’s excited, convinced that it’s that new sound he’s looking for. But Curtis shoots him down, saying “… still, it’s a message song.” Everyone looks at him in disbeleif, they’re convinced that the song captures the mood of the nation, but Curtis says that’s not the point – “Music is supposed to sell. But don’t worry about it, we’ll find you some new material.” Eddie is devestated. It’s written all over his face. After hearing that, he becomes disconnected from everyone else. It’s Christmas but he decides to shoot up. In his eyes, it looks like he’s lost the will to keep on trying. It’s really quite sad, and something I didn’t expect from Eddie.

There are other moments in the film as well, but these alone aren’t good enough to get my Oscar vote.

#2: Mark Wahlberg – The Departed

Mark plays “Dignam” a police captain in charge of a Boston undercover unit in the Massachusetts State Police. Around the office, he’s crude, disrespectful, witty and honest. He’s got a rapid fire conversation style and doesn’t worry about the opinions of others. Here’s a good example, when he briefs Ellerby (Alec Baldwin) and company on his undercover operation:

Dignam: Ok, my people are out there. They’re like fucking Indians. You’re not going to see them, you’re not going to hear about them. Except through me, and Captain Queenan. You will not ever know the identity of undercover people. Unfortunately this shit hole has more leaks than the Iraqi navy.

Ellerby: Fuck yourself.

Dignam: I’m tired from fucking your wife.

Ellerby: How’s your mother.

Dignam: Good, she’s tired from fucking my father.

This style of dialog really makes me smile, but also the confidence in how it’s delivered really speaks to how dedicated Dignam is to the police force. This dedication shines through at the end of the movie, but also makes me excited every time I see Dignam walk into a scene. You know his character isn’t going to hold back, and will light up the conversation. Part of this is good writing (or improvisation if reports are true) and part is outstanding delivery. I really like the characters Mark plays (back to I [Heart] Huckabees, Four Brothers, and 3 Kings) and he really did well in this role.

#1: Jackie Earle Haley – Little Children

This was a difficult movie to watch at times, especially when Jackie was on screen. He plays a pedophile named Ronnie. Ronnie’s recently moved back into the community (he’s moved in with his mother), and many in the town are uneasy knowing that he lives in their midst. Through much of the movie, we don’t get to know him very well. He’s an outcast, and really, I mean really creepy. In one scene, he goes to the town swimming pool and snorkels underwater to watch kids swim. After a dinner date he can’t restrain himself from jacking off while the girl isn’t paying attention, talking to herself in the car. It’s fucking NASTY.

There are moments when we sympathize with his plight, pretty much anytime he’s alone with his mother. It’s clear in these scenes that his mental age is that of a small child, he calls his mom “mommy” and desperately wants to be her “good boy” even though he looks to be in his 40′ies. In the end, he ends up mutilating himself because he’s so upset with the pain & suffering he’s caused around him. It’s tragic, but also hard to take in because he just can’t escape the creepiness of his character. This is why I end up giving him my Oscar pick – because even though we hate him, we hate him so vehemently that it overrides our sense of compassion.

Stay tuned – my pick for Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Film are still coming up. =) In the meantime, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Don’t care? Speak your mind!

I just finished watching the Academy Awards… Good show this year, John Stewart did an awesome job - the Best Actress & Best Sound Mixer promotional ads were really funny.. =)

I’m happy to see that 50% of the academy agreed with my selections. We both picked:

• Best Motion Picture: Crash
• Best Achievement in Directing: Ang Lee
• Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman

We disagreed on:

Best Supporting Actor: I picked Matt Dillon, but the academy gave Oscar to George Clooney. George had the best acceptance speech of the night, and he was my #2 pick in this category, so I was happy he won.

Best Supporting Actress: I picked Amy Adams, but the academy choose Rachel Weisz. I’m a bit disappointed that Amy didn’t get it (Roger Ebert and I are totally in sync - go see Junebug!), but I’m happy with giving it to Rachel. She was my #3 pick in this category.

Best Actress: I picked Felicity Huffman, but the academy choose Reese Witherspoon. I’m a bit disappointed in this category. Reese was my #2 pick in this category, but I really don’t think Reese is ready for an Oscar at this point in her career. Ohh well…

In any case, I’m probably going to stop blogging as much as I have been. This week is going to be pretty hectic and I’ve got to head down to Oregon next weekend. Perhaps I’ll stop at Mt. Bachelor for some snow on Sunday… I’ll take pictures if I do.

Later.

Ohh wait - I totally forgot to mention 36 Mafia!!.. First, why the fuck can’t they say bitches?! According to the press, all systems were go, but in the performance they sung “witches” instead… Lame!! But who could have picked them as the winner?! _O_M_G_!… I don’t think the press will cover this much, but I see it as a really big turning point in hip hop history… This is going to push rap to another level, the future is going to be awesome! =)

Well, it’s the last installment… I’m posting a bit late tonight (spent the evening snowboarding again) because we had to drop Striker off at the hospital. He landed on his wrist when trying to land a jump. Hopefully it’s not broken and he can keep playing Geometry Wars… =)

In any case, back to the Academy Awards, here are my picks for best motion picture, in reverse order:

#5: Good Night & Good Luck

There are number of things I’m looking for in a movie, to get my pick as best film. One of those qualities is ‘repeat watchability’ - do I want to see this film over & over again or is one time enough? For Good Night & Good Luck, one time is enough. It just doesn’t seem like I’m going to learn anything new about the characters or their story. And the movie isn’t going to evoke any of the original emotions you feel when watching it for the first time. These are important to me, so this film goes on the bottom of my pick list.

#4: Munich

On the contrary, with Munch I feel there is something more to learn about these characters. But, the story is very linear… The movie doesn’t require any mental horsepower to figure out what’s going on - at no point is the viewer left in suspense - well, longer than one scene that is. I enjoyed the varied action in this film - from scenes of intense action to much calmer, even comedic scenes when planning the next hit. Mixing it up like that makes me think that I would enjoy this film if I saw it again. =)

#3: Capote

Picking #3 was really difficult for me. I really can’t say enough about Philip Seymour Hoffman, I’ve always been a big fan of his and I think I would really enjoy watching his films over & over again. But, this film doesn’t quite have the emotional punch that Brokeback Mountain has… So if I were to watch Capote again, I think my primary reason would be to appreciate Philip’s abilities, not to experience the story for a second time.

#2: Brokeback Mountain

That means that Brokeback Mountain is my #2 pick. This is a film that is told with such patience and grace - I think you can reconnect with these characters many times over. What’s also amazing is how this film sucks you into the story - it pulls you away from your everyday reality. That gives this film a real lasting quality…

#1: Crash

Crash is the movie that exceeded all of my expectations for a good film, and is the movie I would pick for Best Picture. As I’ve mentioned before, the unpredictable intersecting plotlines are wonderful, and the acting is multidimensional yet not overt. I liked how there wasn’t a single dominate character - the film relied on the entire cast to make it good. The story also significantly varies how you feel when watching. This movie will make you angry, laugh, cry, depressed, hopeful, frustrated, wide-eyed, sympathetic, and a whole slew of other things… Also, I imagine the subject matter will remain relevant for quite awhile - it’s something you can’t help but talk about after watching.

Of course, I have no idea who’s going to win on Sunday night, it will be interesting to see where the Academy and I align & where we diverge. I hope the academy members actually saw all of these films, they were all great - their nominations were all deserved…

On a side note - I’m not headed to Dubai next week after all (office politics - hmph!), but I will be in Eugene on 3/13 to try and get rid of a speeding ticket, and I’ll be in Las Vegas 3/16 - 3/20 for an extended bachelor party.. Woo!

Later.

I didn’t get a chance to post over the weekend - we got a ton of rain on Thursday, which required another evening snowboard trip Friday. Went cruising with a bunch of other Microsoft-ies on Saturday… Had a going away party for a friend on Sunday…. In any case, here are my picks for Best Achievement in Directing:

#5: George Clooney for Good Night & Good Luck

Watching this film, you can clearly recognize a number of choices & styles that speak to a strong-willed director. Choices that I found really interesting… One example: Clooney does a nice job contrasting the jovial atmosphere in the newsroom (gathering news stories, joking about personal lives) with the tension delivering his reports on air. I think this tactic really gives you a deeper appreciation for the characters - not only are they fighting the uphill battle that is McCarthy-ism, but they’re trying to lead normal lives at the same time. But, with that said - I don’t see George pushing himself to the next level with this film… It’s a strong performance, but I think there will be other opportunities for George to really strut his stuff in the future.

#4: Bennett Miller for Capote

I really enjoyed the pace of this film… I think more novice directors would have been tempted to rush the story, not taking the time to illustrate the different sides of Truman’s character… I also liked how the film never deviated from the story of Truman… That is, the movie never diverted into a story about the murder’s themselves, we never debated the merits of the killers, we never dug deep into the mind of the town sheriff… The film stayed focused on Truman’s investigation & his life. That made events more emotional, more memorable…

#3: Steven Spielberg for Munich

I really liked the attention to detail in this movie. I felt like I was in 70’s Europe. There wasn’t any one element that made me feel that way, but the combination of costume, scenery, props, even the way the actors carried themselves, all made me realize that the events in the film took place at a radically different time. I also liked the slow transition that Spielberg evokes from the leading character. He starts as a naive officer, but ends up as a cold blooded assassin and I have no idea when that change took place. Propelling that character down such a transition without any clear pivot point really gives me an appreciation for Spielberg’s film direction..

#2: Paul Haggis for Crash

I think there are two big reasons to acknowledge Paul’s direction in this film. The first is the subject matter - directing a film about stereotypes is no easy matter, but Paul does a good job not only getting you totally pissed at the bigotry these characters show, but he also gets you attached to the them. I feel a sense of compassion for their ignorance… The second reason is the intersecting plotlines. I know what you’re saying - it’s been done before. Sure it has, but Paul does it in a way that leaves you guessing. Predicting the intersections is impossible and when they suddenly appear they make the scene really pop - forcing characters to deal with their conflicts and make tough decisions. Each intersection makes the lives of both characters more memorable, and that’s really skillful.

#1: Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain

Ang must be the industry favorite for this category. He took a movie that Hollywood has passed on for years, the “gay cowboy” story and produced a really emotional & touching film. As a viewer you’re left with a sense of “what could have been” and even a hint of “forbidden love” … He weaves the wonderful landscapes of Wyoming into the film to give a sense of peace and tranquility to the time Jack & Ennis spend together, and he highlights the mundane off the mountain to further heighten the longing between the two main characters. For having such a delicate hand and weaving in such emotion, Ang Lee gets my pick for best director.

Next up, my last pick - Best Motion Picture of the Year…

Pride & Prejudice = DONE… So, here are my thoughts about the nominees for Best Leading Actress:

#5: Charlize Theron for North Country

On the whole, I wasn’t very impressed with Charlize in this movie. Her character did not provide her with enough fresh material to really shine… So she’s playing a tough girl, so she’s had a rough past, so she’s a single mom. These are all characters that I’ve seen before and I don’t think that Charlize did enough to elevate them to another level… Previous movies such as Monster, Sweet November (I liked it!), Reindeer Games, Devil’s Advocate, or even the Legend of Bagger Vance have required more creativity…

#4: Judi Dench for Mrs. Henderson Presents

I didn’t know what to expect from this movie before watching it. I didn’t know what the plot was about, and I assumed it would be a long boring period piece. It was actually pretty good, it was interesting, funny and peppy. The banter between crabby old Mrs. Henderson & Mr. Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) was witty & kept my attention. But other than that I don’t recall anything unique about Judi’s performance. I mean she did her job, but I don’t think it was a standout role for her… BTW - Which movie has more boobs? Mrs. Henderson presents or 40 days & 40 nights? - I honestly don’t know, you tell me..?

#3: Keira Knightley for Pride & Prejudice

I really liked Keira’s character in this movie… Man, Keira’s cute… Great face, eyes, eyebrows!, skin, teeth (I like her pointy teeth - mine are pointy too), she’s freakin hot!…. Ahem, wait… err… …. anyway, back to her performance.. Getting the role of Elizabeth is an accomplishment for any actress, her character is strong willed, a hopeless romantic & intelligent - starting with that it would be difficult for any actress to go wrong. There were many moments where I really enjoyed Keira’s performance - telling off Mr. Darcy in the rain, outside his estate, asking for her fathers marriage blessing, and her private moments with her sister Jane. There were also moments in this movie where I was confused about the director’s intent (the symbolism behind spinning on the swing, when she & Mr. Darcy are suddenly dancing alone, the focus on Mr. Darcy’s hand…) Anyway, Keira gets #3 on my list.

#2: Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line

I’m not sure what it was that I liked about Reese in this role. I’m not really a fan of her work as an actress, but I may be jaded when I try to evaluate her in a more critical role. I keep getting images of her in more teenage roles, like Legally Blonde, Election or Cruel Intentions… But that said, I think she did a really good job with Walk the Line - her character demanded a very wide range of emotions and she did a good job with them all (from anger, happiness, despair, hope, friendship, determination, compassion, love, sadness, the list goes on…) That’s why she gets #2 in my list.

#1: Felicity Huffman for Transamerica

This was a good movie - I had no idea where the story was going and I was unprepared for all the different situations that Bree gets into during the course of this movie. But what really amazed me was the entire concept of a woman, playing a transsexual who is desperate to complete her transition to womanhood by undergoing gender reassignment surgery. I was blown away by all the different elements that Felicity had to pull together to make this character believable while simultaneously getting the audience to really engage with her & her desires. Take one small element, such as the way Bree walks, she doesn’t walk like a woman. She doesn’t walk like a man. She walks like a man who desperately wants to be like a woman. She’s conscious of her height, her stride, the way she carries herself, the way her arms fall - Felicity blends all these elements together and keeps them in sync throughout the film… And walking around is just one tiny part of her overall performance… Felicity definitely deserves to go home with Oscar this year…

It’s been raining all day, hard at times - so that means fresh snow! I’ll post my pick for Best Director tomorrow night after I get back from the slopes… Later!

Another night, another movie… Tonight I watched North Country which means I can bring you my picks for Best Supporting Actress…

#5: Catherine Keener for Capote

I remember Harper Lee as a mostly a sounding board for Capote’s brainstorming sessions… Sure, there’s a part of the movie where she basks in the success of her book (To Kill a Mockingbird), but her character fades into the background when I think back to what I enjoyed most. I don’t mean that to be a criticism of her acting, but she didn’t really need to do much to “support” as this character…

#4: Frances McDormand for North Country

I feel almost the same way about Glory in North Country - yeah she’s tough, yes it’s touching to see her struggle with sickness, but she just didn’t blow me away in this role. Maybe I just can’t get Fargo out of my mind, but she felt odd and somewhat stiff in this role. Ohh well..

#3: Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener

This was a really interesting role to evaluate. Rachel stars in the first half of the film, but then she disappears and the story builds around Justin’s search for what happened to her… She’s near the top of my list because she made such a strong impression on me during that time she was on screen. I sympathized a lot with Justin (Ralph Fiennes) thinking back to the moments when she was around. Building a strong connection with the viewer in those short moments gets my recognition.

#2: Michelle Williams for Brokeback Mountain

This was a hard pick for me - Michelle Willams was the front runner for quite a while. Her character is so sad, torn between being a mother, between working a job and between a husband who isn’t everything she thought he was. She shows genuine raw emotion when she finds out what Ennis really does up on the mountain. I feel for her when she finally separates from Ennis. Her performance was excellent and I would not be surprised if she ends up taking home Oscar this year…

#1: Amy Adams for Junebug

But, I was even more impressed with Amy Adams in Junebug. I don’t understand her character at all - she’s soo perky & positive - she’s like a sponge eager to suck up the world. Part of me wants to just give her a fucking encyclopedia to shut her up - and part of me wants to hear what comes out of her mouth next. This is a one of a kind character and I’m always going to think back to this role whenever I see Amy Adams again. Great stuff!

Only two more films to go: Pride & Prejudice and Transamerica… I’m saving my best director & best picture picks for last, so you’ll have to wait a few days before my next post…

Tonight, my picks for best supporting actor…

#5: William Hurt for A History of Violence

I don’t know what to make of this nomination. William Hurt is only in A History of Violence for one scene, perhaps less than 10 minutes overall. IMO, Ed Harris should have received the nomination if you were required to pick someone from this film. I don’t mean to disparage William’s performance it was excellent and quite forward, but I can’t place him higher than the other nominees.

#4: Paul Giamatti for Cinderella Man

This is probably the movie I looked forward to seeing the LEAST. I’m not a Russell Crowe fan. You know there aren’t going to be any suprises in this film, everyone knows what the story is going to be, and everyone knows it will be about a character who faces tough times but eventually triumphs. Great, seen it, done it, thank you but no thanks. Paul does a good job in this film but his character is completely overshadowed by the trials & triumphs of Jim Braddock. He doesn’t have enough room to shine in this role. Part of me thinks that Paul was nominated partly because he didn’t take home an Oscar for Sideways last year - if he wins this category I’m going to be really upset.

#3: Jake Gyllenhaal for Brokeback Mountain

Many people I talk to really liked Jake’s performance in Brokeback - I wasn’t as excited. There’s something about Jake’s eyes, his expressions that don’t ring true to me. No matter how hard I tried to recognize this character as Jack I always saw him as Jake. Ohh well…

#2: George Clooney for Syriana

I was really excited to see this movie, I enjoy overlapping plots and I’ve met both George Clooney & Matt Damon (shameless plug) and respect them. What I liked most about George’s performance in this film was his characters’ unwavering commitment to try and do the right thing, in a world filled with turmoil. George really made me believe in his character - I think it was how he really showed great concern when “the wrong” decisions were being made. George made me root for his character, all the way to the bitter end…

#1: Matt Dillon for Crash

Matt Dillon is my pick for best supporting actor. I picked Matt because of how he played the two different sides to Officer Ryan. On one side, his character is a racist cop, but on the other he’s a caring & concerned son. When I think back to Matt’s performance in this film, I think of these two qualities and the scenes where both blended together - fighting for medical care for his father while being an unashamed bigot. It’s a long way from his role in Something About Mary…

So, what am I watching next? I’ve got to finish North Country (Charlize!), Pride & Prejudice (Keira!), & Transamerica… I’ve finished all the other nominated films and I’ll post my picks in the other categories this week.

Later…

It’s Oscar time… Every year I have a few favorites going in, but I’ve never actually seen all the movies nominated. This year, I’m taking a few hours out of each night to screen movies nominated for the top categories. Over the next week I’ll post my picks here…

As usual, there are a number of strong performances nominated for best leading actor. My picks - in reverse order:

#5: David Strathairn in Good Night & Good Luck

His character (Edward R. Murrow) demanded a strong performance and David delivered it. I call it a strong performance because so much of the character is delivered without dialogue. The nervous moments before going on camera, the scene in the bar when we find out what happens to Ray, and the way he delivers such precisely worded commentary are shining moments. But it wasn’t quite enough to best my next pick…

#4: Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow

I saw Crash before watching this movie, so I thought I knew what to expect from Terrence in this type of role - but he proved me wrong right off the bat. Terrence _is_ DJay… I never questioned this character throughout the entire movie, his acting was completely transparent to me. This role required a lot focus & dedication and Terrence delivered.

#3: Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line

Out of all 5 movies, this is the one I saw last and wanted to see the least. I’m not a Johnny Cash fan and I didn’t really care about his life story. But personal interests aside, it does feature a powerful performance from Joaquin. Just like Terrence, Joaquin completely takes over the character. Joaquin _is_ Johnny Cash. The fact that he also performed all the songs himself really impresses me… But, just like Terrence I feel like I understand everything there is to understand about this character. I don’t feel like I would discover a new depth to the character by watching the film again…

#2: Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain

This was a tough decision… Unlike Terrence & Joaquin I feel like there are undiscovered aspects to the performances of Heath & Philip. It’s hard to explain… But I can see many different levels to these characters - perhaps it’s due to their circumstances… In the case of Ennis he has a different style of interaction depending on where he is, and who he’s with. Think back to Ennis by himself (travelling alone or waiting outside the office) and compare that to Ennis on the mountain with Jack and compare that to Ennis at home with Alma and compare that to Ennis with his teenage daughter at the end of the film and compare that to Ennis at Jack’s parents house… There are many different sides to this character and I like how the viewer is left to fit them all together to come up with our own interpretation of who he really is…

#1: Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote

But…. I think Philip is going to take the award this year… Again, I really enjoyed the multiple different levels that Philip plays. When I left this movie, I was struck by how different Truman is depending on who he interacts with. Compare Truman’s interactions with Perry Smith (one of the killers), to interacting with Jack the sherrif, compared to Harper Lee, compared to his publisher, compared to his personality at parties… I’m never sure who the real Truman is but I enjoy piecing together all the different personalities. Philip does a tremendous job in this role and is my pick for best leading actor.

So, now it’s your turn - What do you think? Who is your pick?