Oscars 2008

[Liselle]

So the nominations for this years Oscar cermony have been revealed....

Oscars 2008 Best Picture Atonement Juno Michael Clayton No Country for Old Men There Will Be Blood Best Actor George Clooney, Michael Clayton Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises Best Actress Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age Julie Christie, Away from Her Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose Laura Linney, The Savages Ellen Page, Juno Best Supporting Actor Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton Best Supporting Actress Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There Ruby Dee, American Gangster Saoirse Ronan, Atonement Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton Best Director Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Jason Reitman, Juno Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood Best Original Screenplay Diablo Cody, Juno Nancy Oliver, Lars and the Real Girl Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton Ratatouille (written by Brad Bird; story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird) Tamara Jenkins, The Savages Best Adapted Screenplay Christopher Hampton, Atonement Sarah Polley, Away from Her Ronald Harwood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

So do you think there are any surprises or glaring omissions?

Will there be an Oscar Ceremony or should there be a cermony?

Who would you like to see win the major categories?

[Fawkesfan1]

These are my picks for the above catagories:

Best Picture
Michael Clayton


Best Actor
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street


Best Actress
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose


Best Supporting Actor
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild


Best Supporting Actress
Ruby Dee, American Gangster


Best Director
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men


Best Original Screenplay
Ratatouille (written by Brad Bird; story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird)


Best Adapted Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

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So do you think there are any surprises or glaring omissions?
Probably, every year at the Oscars there usually is .

Will there be an Oscar Ceremony or should there be a cermony?
I don't expect to see one this year due to the writer's strike.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

So do you think there are any surprises or glaring omissions?
There always are, and no shortage of them this time. The biggest, and I'm not just saying this because I'm posting on an HP forum, but I really expected to see Stuart Craig and Stephanie McMillan nominated in Art Direction (and Set Decoration). I was hoping for it, too, of course, but I really thought that I'd see Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix on that list today. (I've never been angrier about a snub. ) It also really threw me for a loop that Sweeney Todd didn't make an appearance in the Sound Mixing and Cinematography categories; it just seemed like a given that they would, and they certainly should have. And how Spider-Man 3 didn't get a visual effects nod I still can't fathom (especially considering I didn't enjoy much else in that movie). In the major categories, I did not expect Cate Blanchett's nomination for Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Jason Reitman's for Juno, Tommy Lee Jones' for In the Valley of Elah, or Surf's Up for Best Animated Feature.

Will there be an Oscar ceremony or should there be a ceremony?
Well, I do think there should be a ceremony, but I really doubt if there will be. I can't see the WGA just caving in and not picketing outside as they likely would; if that occurs, who would cross the picket lines, really? I can't see the press conference approach that the Golden Globes took occuring again here. Perhaps it'll just be that the show will be postponed 'til March, once the usual month, in the hope that some progress will be made within a month? I don't know what will happen, but it's hard for me to imagine things proceeding as usual (of course).

Who would you like to see win the major categories?

Here are the predictions I have so far, based on critical opinion, major and not-so-major award wins so far, and other educated guesses:

Best Picture
No Country for Old Men

Best Director
Ethan & Joel Coen, No Country for Old Me

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

Best Actress
Julie Christie, Away from Her

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There

Best Original Screenplay
Juno, Diablo Cody

Best Adapted Screenplay
No Country for Old Men, Ethan & Joel Coen

Best Animated Feature
Ratatouille

Best Documentary Feature
No End in Sight

Best Foreign Film
The Counterfeiters

(technical)

Best Visual Effects
Transformers

Best Costume Design
Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Best Score
Atonement,
Best Original Song
"Falling Slowly", Once,

Best Cinematography
No Country for Old Men

Best Film Editing
No Country for Old Men

Best Sound Mixing
Ratatouille

Best Sound Effects Editing
Transformers

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Atonement

Best Makeup
La Vie En Rose

I'm not sure about the rest. As for picks, well, as often happens, I haven't seen very many of the films nominated in the major categories, so really the only strong preferences I have in those are for Johnny Depp in Best Actor and Ratatouille in Original Screenplay. However, as you can see, I don't think either has a shot.

[Fury]

Best Picture
No Country for Old Men
Though I haven't seen any of the movies!

Best Actor
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Can't choose... I want Viggo to win, but Johnny may very well win.

Best Actress
Ellen Page, Juno
Said to be Superb in the movie!

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Can't choose between the two...

Best Supporting Actress
Ruby Dee, American Gangster

Best Director
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Best Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody, Juno
Ratatouille (written by Brad Bird; story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird)
One of these two

Best Adapted Screenplay
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Best Animated Feature
Ratatouille


----------------------------
If Atonement or Juno doesn't get a couple, I think No Country for Old Men will have a great night at the Oscars.

Also, I hope Transformers get something. Can't believe it is not in any of the main awards.

I really hope the strikes don't screw everything up for the Oscars. I was a bit peeved when they did it for the Golden Globes.

[HouseStark]

How is Denzel Washington not nominated for Best Actor for American Gangster?

And 300 isn't even nominated for Best Visual Effects, just proves the Academy voters immediately disqualify movies based on the nonsense spewed by "film critics".

[acorns_lamppost]

Best Picture
Juno...this movie was completely fantastic. It had the perfect balance of wit/humor to go along with such a serious subject.


Best Actor
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street...the man has never won an Oscar. It is about time that the Academy recognizes him for his marvelous work.


Best Actress
Ellen Page, Juno...there are four other very talented actresses in this catrgory, but I really think the Oscar should go to Ellen. She did an amazing job in Juno and the movie got snubbed at the Globes.


Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
....I wouldn't really care which one of these guys won. They all do an amazing job, but I think Javier Bardem will win.

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
...again all amazing. Could go to any of them for me.

Best Director
Jason Reitman, Juno...most awesome movie, very well done, but the award will probably go to the Coen brothers.


Best Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody, Juno...there was never a dull moment in this script. The entire thing was well writen and was abundent in wit.


Best Adapted Screenplay
Christopher Hampton, Atonement...my personal vote, although I don't think it will win.


As always with the Oscars or any award show, someone is bound to be left out, but all in all, great nominees.

I really hope we have an awards this year. I think there should be an awards show. I also think that the strike has gone on long enough. The studios and WGA need to come an agreement, before I pull my hair with the lack of tv and the promise of a lack of movies for 2009. They really need to settle this already. Come on guys, work it out!

[Wab]

Originally Posted by Fawkesfan1

Will there be an Oscar Ceremony or should there be a cermony?
I don't expect to see one this year due to the writer's strike.

The lack of a ceremony won't bother me. I stopped watching years ago because of the tedious production numbers, actors being given unfunny banter poorly delivered and otherwise entertaining hosts being prevented from saying anything funny.

[YellowRose]

Originally Posted by Wab

The lack of a ceremony won't bother me. I stopped watching years ago because of the tedious production numbers, actors being given unfunny banter poorly delivered and otherwise entertaining hosts being prevented from saying anything funny.

I have to agree with this. The ceremony would be much better a lot shorter and with unscripted adlibs.
Saying that..I hope Johnny Depp finally wins an Oscar, he was so good in ST.

[Colonel_Fubster]

Johnny Depp!

As long as he wins, I don't care who gets the rest of the trophies.

My roommate likes to look at the dresses, so we usually watch the red carpet thing, but the ceremonies are really boring. If they just announced the winners and had the acceptance speeches, it wouldn't be too bad, but the silly production stuff and fake banter justs wastes time.
I think it's really crazy that the people who are being "honoured" with the awards aren't allowed to give proper speeches, and many are cut off in the middle, while completely irrelevant stuff gets more time.

[MmeBergerac]

Though I haven't seen most of the nominated movies (Atonement, for instance, was released in my country just two weeks ago, and There Will Be Blood or No Country for Old Men haven't benn released at all), I'm quite surprised, because I expected Zodiac, by David Fincher, would be get nominations (at least, I expected Best movie, best director for David Fincher, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Jake Gyleenhaal). It was a great movie, but I see that it's got forgotten for the awards. Anyway, that's no so terrible: Hitchcock never won an Oscar.

[Wab]

Originally Posted by acorns_lamppost

Best Actor
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street...the man has never won an Oscar. It is about time that the Academy recognizes him for his marvelous work.

Just because a person hasn't won an Oscar (deserved or not) it doesn't mean you should give them one for an undeserving performance; as they did Paul Newman for The Color of Money.

And the chances of a person picking up a statuette for a musical, comedy or other genre film are slim.

Talented as he is, I do feel Depp is overrated.

In other news it appears Atonement may be a Driving Miss Daisy.

[LoonyMagic]

I really want Johnny Depp to win Best Actor I can't believe he hasn't won an Oscar already for his any of his previous roles. He has been an excellent and consistant actor, and I just love him so much! However, I haven't seen him in Sweeney Todd, so I cannot comment on his performance, but I'm sure it was as awesome as ever

[mariebeth83]

Best Picture
Atonement
Juno

I loved these two movies and would be very happy if either of them won I can't decide on either one, so it's lucky I don't have to!

Best Actor
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

As I haven't seen any of the performances, I'm just going to be biased & say Johnny cos he's my favourite actor for a number of reasons! He deserves it, he's missed out too many times IMO.

Best Actress
Ellen Page, Juno

I loved her in Juno - she's a very natural actress and seemed to be really in character the whole time.

Best Supporting Actress
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement

I thought she was really good in this role, she made me hate her but kind of like her all at the same time.


Best Director
Jason Reitman, Juno

It's the only movie in the list that I have seen!


Best Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody, Juno

It's just so catchy, and I thought the writing was amazing!

Best Adapted Screenplay
Christopher Hampton, Atonement

I haven't read the book, but I thought the writing and the whole movie was beautiful, so I'm going with this choice!

[MHPFAN]

I really enjoy the Oscars, though they could use a bit of cutting of time. They are sooo long sometimes, that I'm pretty sure the show could benefit with some of those awards being given before the actual broadcast. Of course, this is considering the Writer's Strike is resolved by then, which I have not seen an end to yet. I love the impromptu fashion shows that are generated through the Oscars, and I would be disappointed yet again if it's not shown, as I was with the Goldend Globes.

[hpgirl21053]

Saw There Will Be Blood, and although Daniel has won an oscar, he is WAYYYY better than johnny depp, and i LOVE johnny depp...but come on, DDL is a god and was snubbed when Adrien Brody won for the Pianist....

[Israely_Wizard]

You all forgot the most important catagory to people outside the US:
Best Foreign Language Film:
Beaufort - Israel(!)
The Counterfeiters - Austria
Katyn - Poland
Mongol - Kazakhstan (I actualy saw this movie, and it's prettey good; but I think it's too "actiony" for the Oscars)
12 - Russia

Personaly, as an Israely, I want Beaufort to win. But if I wasn't biassed, I would have picked Mongol as the winner.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

Originally Posted by Israely_Wizard

You all forgot the most important catagory to people outside the US

It's not that anyone forgot, but more likely that no one who's posted here so far has seen any of those films. I haven't at least, so I have no prediction or preference in the category myself. Actually, it really surprised me that 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days from Romania wasn't nominated.

[Liselle]

I'd like atonement to win something ~ Saoirse Ronan was absolutely brilliant I thought.

[DeathlyH]

I really hope Johnny wins best actor for Sweeney Todd- that was one of the most brilliant performances film-wise that I'd seen in a while. I haven't really seen many of the others, though, so I can't judge it against them.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

Originally Posted by deathly721

I really hope Johnny wins best actor for Sweeney Todd- that was one of the most brilliant performances film-wise that I'd seen in a while. I haven't really seen many of the others, though, so I can't judge it against them.

It was extraordinary, wasn't it? And same here; I haven't seen any of those other performances either, 'though I'd like to see There Will Be Blood (with my predicted winner, Daniel Day-Lewis).

And it looks like we will have our standard Oscars if the strike has indeed come to it's close (we'll soon find out if the board agreed to the terms of the agreement between the WGA and the AMPTP).