oscar picks 2009

Its that time of year again, Oscar time. Before I get started much like the last couple years I’ll mention my dream of getting the Dannis off the ground, I continue to bitch about the irrelevance of some of todays awards, save the Geminis of course. So another year another year without Dannis, so without that I guess I will stick to what I do best, bullshitting my way to a semi respectable percentage of correct picks in the hopes of someday living the dream of a primetime oscar special. As per the norm I have seen far from all of these movies, but use my pre-conceived judgements about the ones I haven’t. So without further ado I will get started.

I will be going in the order that I have the nominations so if there is any dramatic effect to the way they are listed thank the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for listing in it exciting order, if not, fuck them, bunch of snobs.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
I actually saw all but one of the performances nominated for this category, this actually makes it tougher since I liked most of them a lot. I didn’t see The Reader, but I have never heard of Richard Jenkins before so I will just write him off. I want to say Mickey Rourke here, because I think he has a good shot, but in this case I will not go for who I think will win but who I would choose. Sean Penn in Milk. Out of all the Oscar vehicles Milk was I think the first one I got to take for a drive, and it might be my favorite. I hadn’t heard much hype about it and got to see it with a blank slate going in. Sean Penn was inspirational in completely becoming someone else. You can see Mickey Rourke in the Randy the Ram, but there is only Harvey Milk in Milk.

Actor in a Supporting Role:
Can’t believe that that shithole of a movie Tropic Thunder got an Oscar nod even if it was for the infinitely likable Robert Downey Jr. I liked Emile Hirsch in Milk too, but he didn’t get a nod. I predict he’ll have a trophy within five years. I didn’t mention anything about the winner here because Heath is as much of a sure thing as there ever was. The role killed him. Sad.

Actress in a Leading Role
I only saw one of these movies, Changeling, it didn’t get my whole attention because I watched it in Ottawa Airport while my plane was delayed, even still it didn’t blow my mind enough to think she has a shot at winning. Part of me wants to go with the gorgeous Anne Hathaway, but I will give it to Kate Winslet because I heard that she bares it all for this movie and you gotta respect that.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Marisa Tomei is a goddess, the only unbelievable part in the Wrestler was when the stupid punks didn’t want a lap dance from her. She could model paper bags for me and I would buy them. I voted against The Wrestler for best actor, so I have to give it some love here.

Animated Feature Film
Wall-E. I stopped watching after 20 boring minutes without a word. But Dan Mack raved about it and I was watching it under horrendous circumstances with a couple of impatient buggers, after a big night. To put things into perspective we chose to watch MTV all day instead.

Art Direction.
The Duchess. This movie only got two nods, and the other was in costume. Its a period piece so I assume they had some good art direction.

Cinematography
It didn’t get a best picture nod which was surprising so I will vote for the cinematically stunning Dark Night in this one.

Costume Design
Again I will go with the Duchess I can see two meaningless Oscars on the DVD sleeve already.

Directing
When in doubt go with Slumdog. The directing style for this story was enthralling, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end, Dan Mack tells me Danny Boyle has paid his dues, and it takes one Danny to know one.

Documentary
I only saw one of these movies and it was breathtaking. Man on Wire was suspenseful and the images were unbelievable. It was a documentary that could easily be made into a dramatic film. I don’t see a whole lot of documentaries but this one is my pick. However it is far from a good choice for a post-party viewing, unlike The Hidden World of Secret Societies.

Documentary Short
I have absolutely no inkling for this category, so I am going to go with The Witness because it brings back memories of The Wire, and reminds me that if you go around witnessing shit you end up 6 feet under.

Film Editing
Film editing is hard work, I can attest to that. I am going to go with Frost/Nixon here I really liked the editing and how they were able to treat certain parts like an interview and mix in real footage as well, I also think Frost/Nixon is bound to win some trophies and I haven’t picked it yet.

Foreign Language Film
I have only heard of two of these movies, The Class and Waltz with Bashir. I want to see them both a lot though, and I have heard oodles of good things about them both. However I think it will go to Waltz With Bashir, especially with the todays renewed struggles in Israel, the Academy will no doubt Waltz With Bashir.
Make-Up
Wish this award could go to Lady Gaga for the makeup on her poker face, but I will instead award it too Benjamin Button for creepily making Brad Pitt look like a decrepit old man and a bonafied sex symbol all in the same movie.

Music
I want to go with Danny Elfman because I recognize his name, but the score from Milk does not stand out in my mind, I do however remember the music from Slumdog Millionaire and how fitting and perfect it was for the movie. So I will give it to AR Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire

Original Song
This should clearly be awarded to The Wrestler by the Boss, who wasn’t even nominated, so instead I will give it to Peter Gabriel because he knows how to make hits, and these trophies often go to the big animated Disney film who pulls out someone from Genesis to make a song for them. Plus Peter Gabriel is a bad ass who refused to play the Oscars because they wanted him to cut his song short.

Animated Short
Don’t have a clue about any of these but I will go with Presto, because its made by Pixar, and I hear good things about Pixar.

Live Action Short
New Boy sounds about right.

Sound Editing
I want to say Wanted because that movie was surprisingly amazing. But no way it wins an Oscar. I’m going to go with Wall-E again because it managed to go on for 20 minutes with no dialogue and only sound. So thats gotta count for something.

Visual Effects
Iron Man was great, but The Dark Knight was better, so I am going with the Knight

Adapted Screenplay
Frost-Nixon took a play and real life interview and made it into a great movie, adaptation at its finest.

Original Screenplay
Milk was quite possibly my favorite movie of the year so I’m going with Milk.
It’s also good for your bones.

I saved best picture for last despite the order I got.

Best Picture
I saw all of the nominated movies except for The Reader. I think the Batman deserved some props, but what can you do. Benjamin Button was only so-so if you ask me. Frost/Nixon was great but I don’t think it has the legs for a best picture nod. Milk was also incredible but I think it has to go to Slumdog Millionaire a heartwarming movie which I liked a lot, but did not get the same blank slate that was afforded to me pre-Milk. I went in with the notion that it was God’s gift to cinema. Expecting every single scene to be pure genius sort of hurt my enjoyment of it. But it was the movie of the year, and therefore the Best Picture of the Year

Hopefully these picks turn out, and until next year when I will do it all again.
Adios