Right, this year, unlike other years, I have not exactly kept myself up to date with some of the best movies of the year. Most of my time being taken up by Senior Design in the early half of 2008, graduating, summer trip and moving off for a new job and a serious lack of a quality art theater near where I stay now has prevented me from my favorite activity, catching quality cinema. Instead, I resorted to BitTorrent for some, which may have limited my appreciation for some of these fine works.
The past 3 years or so, I would have seen most, if not all, of the movies nominated for major awards to make an informed opinion on who should win and who is likely to win. For my friends reading this for the first time (I had deleted my Facebook account at one point, so I was not able to recover my earlier entries) I make my pick in 2 ways. 1, my personal pick, if I were a voter and could vote, that's what I would vote. 2, most likely to win is my 'prediction' of who's likely to win, since my thoughts sometimes may not necessarily be how others view the pick.
Here it goes.
Best Animated Feature Film of Year
My Pick: Wall-E
Seriously, has there been an impressive animated movie as Wall-E in the recent years? Bolt and Kung-Fu Panda are good, but Wall-E is on another level. If it were up to me, I'd nominate Wall-E for best picture too.
- Most Likely to Win: Wall-E
Best Foreign Language Film of Year
My Pick: Vals Im Bashir (Waltz with Bashir)
This will give Wall-E a pretty good competition if it was up against each other. It goes for a Persepolis styled visuals and effectively conveys the raw emotions felt through the movie. Entre Les Murs may have a shot.
- Most Likely to Win: Vals Im Bashir (Waltz with Bashir)
Best Documentary, Features
My Pick: Man on Wire
Man on Wire was just simply, amazing. Encounters at the End of the World also had impressive visuals, but didn't captivate me as much as Man on Wire.
- Most Likely to Win: Man on Wire
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
My Pick: Slumdog Millionaire
Can't disagree, bringing a book to life is hard, but can't quite out-do an already interesting tale.
- Most Likely to Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
My Pick: In Bruges
In Bruges was charming, witty and enjoyable. Colin Farrell did a great job of bringing that out. On the other hand, making Milk also took a lot of effort and deserves the nomination and maybe the award ahead of In Bruges.
- Most Likely to Win: Milk
Best Achievement in Directing
My Pick: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
As I mentioned, a fun script, but bringing that to life takes a lot of effort, creativity and genius. Danny Boyle nailed it. I would have thought Christopher Nolan will be in the running, but even if he were, he wouldn't stand for a good fight against Boyle.
- Most Likely to Win: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
My Pick: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Penelope had only few hours to read through the script and decide if she wanted the role. Thank god she did, because the role seemed perfect for her. She was crazy, she was hot and she made me believe she was her.
- Most Likely to Win: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
My Pick: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
OK, I really would like to beg the question, because it seems like it's a sin if you don't automatically give out this award to him; would he have been an automatic choice if he hadn't died? I'm in support for giving out the award to the best, not posthumously. Yes, his portrayal of The Joker was simply perfection, but I feel bad for all the others nominated because they simply don't stand a chance of winning now.
- Most Likely to Win: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
My Pick: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Kate always showed streaks of brilliance in some of her other works, but she managed to keep it alive for the entire movie in The Reader. Meryl Streep gives her a good competition for this award, but I see Kate pushing through for the win. And Sarah Hawkins from Happy Go Lucky should be in this list.
- Most Likely to Win: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
My Pick: Sean Penn, Milk
I think Sean Penn nailed this role. He was enigmatic, convincing and made the character alive again. But then again, Hollywood and America loves the underdog or the rags to riches story. In which case, it will end up going to Mickey Rourke, whose career was considered pretty much over. He did pull off a man man show though, props to him. I just preferred Sean Penn over him.
- Most Likely to Win: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best Motion Picture of the Year
My Pick: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Most people would be shocked, offended, because Slumdog Millionaire was so good. I don't deny that, it was great. But I personally think The Curious Case was a masterpiece in terms of overall quality of a movie. I for one, think Slumdog Millionaire is slightly overrated. Great, but not 'oh my god' great. Curious Case had the intriguing story, the characters, Pitt, Blanchett, cinematography and the overall package of what makes a best movie of the year. Both are great movies, I think Curious Case is slightly better. But as I mentioned above, we know what people love. So it's going to Slumdog Millionaire.
- Most Likely to Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Honorable Mentions
Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino
Seriously, how was he not even nominated for Best Actor?
Check out the list of nominations and see for yourself.
