Preliminary SAG Predictions: Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture

The following represents some preliminary thoughts on Screen Actors’ Guild Awards contenders for the given category. Predictions will be revisited following the announcement of the Golden Globe Awards nominations, which often solidifies the contenders. SAG categories often match up 60-100% with corresponding Oscar categories, though SAG tends to recognize some more independent fare every once in a while.

Last year’s winner:
FOREST WHITAKER, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND

The top contenders:
DENZEL WASHINGTON, AMERICAN GANGSTER
He is a powerhouse actor in a meaty role. Some people liked “American Gangster”, others did not. I think the Globes will really tell whether “American Gangster” and its stars will have a fighting chance throughout awards season. My gut tells me Washington is out.

BRAD PITT, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
The role is a terrific one, and Pitt plays it well, but his subtlety may not catch voters’ eyes. Pitt missed out on a SAG nomination twelve years ago after winning a Golden Globe for his supporting performance in “Twelve Monkeys”, but I think he has markedly matured now and his fellow actors may respect that.

JAMES MCAVOY, ATONEMENT
He is a budding young actor with multiple great roles this year. He should have been here last year in the supporting category for “The Last King of Scotland”, and I doubt SAG voters will snub him again this year, especially given the roaring success “Atonement” is supposed to be.

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD
I am hesitant to say which film Hoffman is more of a contender for – “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” or “The Savages”. Hoffman is a past winner in this category (for “Capote”) and was previously nominated when other guilds snubbed him (for “Flawless” in 1999). I do not think either of his roles will be enough to get Hoffman in this year, but he is certainly a go-to independent choice.

TOM HANKS, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
Hanks is having fun in this film but I do not think he fits the role.. What worries me as far as Hanks goes is that Mike Nichols’ last film, “Closer”, garnered Golden Globe wins for stars Clive Owen and Natalie Portman, who were then both snubbed by SAG. Maybe the screenplay by Aaron Sorkin (whose “West Wing” has berthed many SAG winners) will boost the actors’ likeability of Nichols’ characters.

JOHN CUSACK, GRACE IS GONE
I am not quite certain why I am putting Cusack here, since I think the performance is probably overrated, the film does not look great, and its release date has been pushed back. But I feel like if Cusack is going to turn up anywhere, it will be here. He is an actor who has hardly ever been rewarded in any way and this could be just the time and place.

TOMMY LEE JONES, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
He is an esteemed actor but his last awards stretch was a year before the SAG Awards came into existence (“The Fugitive” in 1993). No precursors is never a problem for SAG, and I think that if the quality of Jones’ performance can eclipse the lukewarm reception to the film, Jones should be in for sure.

GEORGE CLOONEY, MICHAEL CLAYTON
They gave him the award for a performance he did not deserve it for two years ago, so why not now? Clooney was just more subdued in “Syriana”, and the combination of that same subtlety mixed with a bit of fiery lawyer-fixer rage may be just what SAG voters are looking for. I think “Michael Clayton” is by no means (though it should have been) an actors’ film, and may suffer the consequences.

JOHNNY DEPP, SWEENEY TODD
I am torn on Depp’s chances. His win here for “Pirates of the Caribbean” four years ago and the overwhelming reception for 2002’s “Chicago” seems to indicate that Globe voters do in fact love musicals. I just do not think that “Sweeney Todd” is the kind of movie that screams for recognition for its actors. I could well be wrong, but I have a feeling that “Sweeney Todd” will do well at the Golden Globes and skip straight to the Oscars.

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, THERE WILL BE BLOOD
If there is one lock in this category, it is Day-Lewis. The film looks to be interesting, but most definitely Day-Lewis has a role full of scenery-chewing. He won this award in 2002 for “Gangs of New York” and his latest role looks to be very similar, not in a been-there-done-that way, but rather a he-is-going-to-be-awesome way.

Current predictions:
BRAD PITT, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
JAMES MCAVOY, ATONEMENT
JOHN CUSACK, GRACE IS GONE (I do not know about this one)
TOMMY LEE JONES, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Satellite Awards Reaction

Not so unexpectedly, my prediction rate was fairly low, at 43% overall, slightly better for the film side of things. I correctly predicted 58 out of 132 nominees, or 42%. I am most proud to say that I got five out of the six documentary nominees (going for “Rape of Europa” instead of the selected “King of Kong”). Additionally, I predicted four out of six of the Best Motion Picture – Drama nominees (I suspected the “Away from Her” love) and the same in the Best Director category. “The Lookout” played an unexpected part in things, garnering five nominations, including one for Best Motion Picture – Drama. Films like “Sweeney Todd” and “Charlie Wilson’s War” were completely shut out, with others like “In the Valley of Elah” and “There Will Be Blood” garnering only one nomination. Supposed comedy/musical stars Laura Linney (“The Savages”) and Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”) were shifted to the drama category, and Cate Blanchett received a promotion to the lead category for “I’m Not There”. “La Vie en Rose” shocked by receiving the most nominations (seven).

When looking at these nominees, it is important to recognize those are truly non-contenders. Tilda Swinton will not be receiving an Oscar nomination for “Stephanie Daley” (I thought I was the only one who saw that). “Shoot ‘Em Up” should not appear on anyone’s predictions for Best Picture come Oscar morning. I will go into the supporting categories in detail but the rest is generally self-explanatory.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Emmanuelle Seigner, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax Films)
Taraji P. Henson "Talk to Me" (Focus Features)
Ruby Dee, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)

Emmanuelle Seigner and Taraji P. Henson have pretty much a zero shot at Oscar. The chances for Swinton, Ryan, and Dee should all shoot up as a result of this list (not the guild itself, but rather the fact that people obviously like the performances), despite weak reception for each of their films. Saoirse Ronan is officially the frontrunner for this category, but one should remember that Cate Blanchett will probably end up in this category for “I’m Not There”. The actresses with smaller roles missed out on nominations despite stellar reception for their films (“Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” and “No Country for Old Men”). And this list does not make it look for the comedy actresses, such as Leslie Mann and Jennifer Garner. I think this list should only match up at most 3/5 with Oscar, but Swinton will likely fall out before nomination day and only Ronan and Ryan will be left in.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Jeff Daniels, "The Lookout" (Miramax Films)
Brian Cox, "Zodiac" (Paramount Pictures)
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Ben Foster, "3:10 To Yuma" (Lionsgate)
Javier Bardem, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Affleck and Bardem should have no problem going the distance, but I am pretty sure Cox’s inclusion is a fluke. Wilkinson has an uphill battle, especially if Tilda Swinton takes most of the attention for “Michael Clayton”. This is a huge resurgence for both Jeff Daniels and Ben Foster, whose films came out long ago but garnered them raves. I doubt either will become a major contender, especially since this list clearly ignores players like Hal Holbrook, Paul Dano, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Ed Harris. Only time will tell.

The rest of the nominees:
ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Julie Christie, "Away From Her" (Lionsgate)
Angelina Jolie, "A Mighty Heart" (Paramount Vantage)
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Tilda Swinton, "Stephanie Daley" (Regent Releasing)
Keira Knightley, "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Laura Linney, "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Denzel Washington, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)
Josh Brolin, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
Christian Bale, "Rescue Dawn" (MGM)
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
Frank Langella, "Starting Out in the Evening"(Roadside Attractions)
Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent Pictures)

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Katherine Heigl, "Knocked Up" (Universal Pictures)
Amy Adams, "Enchanted" (Walt Disney Pictures)
Ellen Page, "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)
Emily Mortimer, "Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)
Nicole Kidman, "Margot at the Wedding" (Paramount Vantage)
Cate Blanchett, "I’m Not There" (The Weinstein Company)

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Richard Gere, "The Hoax" Miramax
Seth Rogen, "Knocked Up" (Universal Pictures)
Ben Kingsley You Kill Me Ifc Films
Ryan Gosling, "Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)
Clive Owen, "Shoot ‘Em Up" (New Line Cinema)
Don Cheadle, "Talk to Me" (Focus Features)

MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
"The Lookout" Miramax
"Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead" (ThinkFilm)
"Away From Her" (Lionsgate)
"Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
"No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
"3:10 To Yuma" (Lionsgate)

MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
"Hairspray" (New Line Cinema)
"Juno"(Fox Searchlight)
"Shoot ‘Em Up" (New Line Cinema)
"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)
"Knocked Up" (Universal Pictures)
"Margot at the Wedding" (Paramount Vantage)

MOTION PICTURE, FOREIGN LANGUAGE
"Ten Canoes" Australia (Palm Pictures)
"Offside Iran" (Sony Pictures Classics)
"La Vie En Rose" France (Picturehouse Entertainment)
"Lust, Caution" China (Focus Features)
"4 Months 3 Weeks & 2 Days" Romania Ifc Films
"The Orphanage" Spain (Picturehouse Entertainment)

MOTION PICTURE, ANIMATED OR MIXED MEDIA
"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics)
"The Simpsons Movie" Twentieth Century Fox
"The Golden" Compass (New Line Cinema)
""Ratatouille"" (Buena Vista Pictures)
"300" Warner Brothers
"Beowulf" (Paramount Pictures)

MOTION PICTURE, DOCUMENTARY
"The King Of Kong" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
"The 11th Hour Warner" (Independent Pictures)
"Sicko" (Lionsgate)
"No End In Sight"(Magnolia Pictures)
"Darfur Now Warner" (Independent Pictures)
"Lake Of Fire" (ThinkFilm)

DIRECTOR:
Ang Lee, "Lust, Caution" (Focus Features)
Olivier Dahan, "La Vie En Rose" (Picture House Entertainment)
David Cronenberg, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
Sidney Lumet, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (ThinkFilm)
Sarah Polley, "Away From Her" (Lionsgate)

SCREENPLAY, ORIGINAL
Scott Frank, "The Lookout" (Miramax Films)
Diablo Cody, "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)
Kelly Masterson, "Before the Devil Knows You’Re Dead" (ThinkFilm)
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Nancy Oliver,"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)
Steven Knight, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED
James Vanderbilt, "Zodiac" (Paramount Pictures)
Christopher Hampton "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
David Benioff, "The Kite Runner" (Paramount Vantage)
Sarah Polley,"Away From Her" (Lionsgate)
Wang Hui Ling, James Schamus,"Lust, Caution" (Focus Features)

ORIGINAL SCORE
Dario Marianelli, "Atonement" (Focus Features)
James Newton Howard, "The Lookout" (Miramax Films)
Michael Giacchino, "Ratatouille" (Buena Vista Pictures)
Alberto Iglesias, "The Kite Runner" (Paramount Vantage)
Howard Shore, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
Nick Cave, "The Assassination of Jesse James" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

ORIGINAL SONG
"Do You Feel Me"/Diane Warren, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)
"If You Want Me"/Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, "Once" (Fox Searchlight)
"Come So Far"/Marc Shaiman, "Hairspray" (New Line Cinema)
"Rise"/Eddie Vedder, "Into The Wild" (Paramount Vantage)
"Grace Is Gone"/Clint Eastwood & Carole Bayer Sager, "Grace Is Gone" (The Weinstein Company)
"Lyra"/Kate Bush, "The Golden Compass" (New Line Cinema)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Harris Savides, "Zodiac" (Paramount Pictures)
Robert Elswit, "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage)
Bruno Delbonnel, "Across The Universe" (Revolution Studios)
Janusz Kaminski, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax Films)
Roger Deakins, "The Assassination Of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Henry Braham, "The Golden Compass" (New Line Cinema)

VISUAL EFFECTS
Scott Farrar, "Transformers" (Paramount Pictures)
Michael Fink, "The Golden Compass" (New Line Cinema)
Chris Watts, Grant Freckelton, Derek Wentworth, Daniel Leduc, "300" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Peter Chiang, Charlie Noble, David Vickery, Mattias Lindahl, "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal Pictures)
Thomas Schelesny, Matt Jacobs, Tom Gibbons, "Enchanted" (Walt Disney Pictures)
Jerome Chen, Sean Phillips, Kenn Mc Donald, Michael Lantieri, "Beowulf" (Paramount Pictures)

FILM EDITING
Pietro Scalia, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)
Jill Savitt, "The Lookout" (Miramax)
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax)
Richard Marizy, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Christopher Rouse, "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal Pictures)
Ronald Sanders, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

SOUND (EDITING & MIXING)
Mike Prestwood-Smith, Mark Taylor, Glenn Freemantle, "The Golden Compass" (New Line Cinema)
Nikolas Javelle, Jean-Paul Hurier, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Christopher Boyes, Paul Massey, Lee Orloff, George Watters II, "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’S End" (Buena Vista Pictures)
Scott Heckler, Eric Norris, Derek Vanderhorst, "300" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Karen Baker Landers, Kirk Francis, Per Hallberg, "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal Pictures)
Tod Maitland, Skip Lievsay, Rick Kline, Jeremy Peirson, "I Am Legend" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION DESIGN
Guy Dyas, David Allday, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal Pictures)
Patricia Norris, Martin Gendron, Troy Sizemore, "The Assassination Of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Dennis Davenport, David Gropman, "Hairspray" (New Line Cinema)
Mark Tildesley, "Sunshine" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Gary Freeman, Stephen Morahan, Denis Schnegg, David Allday, Matthew Gray, Charles Wood, "Amazing Grace" (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Mark Friedberg, Peter Rogness, "Across the Universe" (Revolution Studios)

COSTUME DESIGN
Alexandra Byrne, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal Pictures)
Yvonne Blake, "Goya’s Ghosts" (Samuel Goldwyn Pictures)
Marit Allen, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Rita Ryack, "Hairspray" (New Line Cinema)
Jenny Beavan, "Amazing Grace" (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Jacqueline Durran, "Antonement" (Focus Features)

Disappointing but Funny: Charlie Wilson's War

Charlie Wilson's War (Advance Screening)
Directed by Mike Nichols
To be released December 25, 2007

This odd film about a congressman working to help Afghanistan fight back against the Soviet Union is not a complete misfire, but with the team involved, it really should have been better. The biggest problem throughout the film is that it presents itself as a goofy, aloof dramatization yet it splices in extremely serious issues and the general plot of the film involves helping a repressed people being slaughtered without any hope of defense. This imbalance makes for an often hilarious but not quite satisfying experience. The direction and editing are off a bit, and the script by "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin is not as sharp and quick as it should be (though all the actors do talk very fast). Stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are fine, but this is by no means an Oscar comeback for either of them (thought their pedigrees and awards history do not discount them completely). Hanks is not quite right for the role, as he is too inherently likeable to seem sleazy and womanizing. Roberts has a small role and her accent is a bit much. Philip Seymour Hoffman, on the other hand, is terrific in his supporting role as a sarcastic, deadpan CIA agent. His role, like the film, is often unexpectedly more serious and he does not have much to do in that case. I think this film may do well with the Golden Globes, but I have removed it from my Oscar predictions with the exception of Hoffman, who I think may make it in due to lack of competition. There is always the chance that this likeable cast and crew might be well-received by audiences and awards groups, but I, for one, am a bit let down.

B-

For the Record: Oscar Predictions

**UPDATED**
After seeing "Charlie Wilson's War", I think I am going to remove it from my predictions. It may still make it in, and I'm not too confident about my replacement choice ("Into the Wild"), but right now I just do not see "Charlie Wilson's War" making it in, especially not Roberts (but who will replace her??).

I am revising my Oscar predictions before the Golden Satellite award nominations. I previously posted predictions for the top eight categories on October 3rd. I have dropped "American Gangster" from the Best Picture lineup and replaced it with "Charlie Wilson's War". Neither of the supporting categories have gotten any clearer or easier to predict. I have added the additional categories and will be making continued changes to this list as time passes.

Best Picture
Atonement
Into the Wild
In the Valley of Elah
Once
No Country for Old Men

Best Director
Joe Wright, Atonement
David Cronenberg, Eastern Promises
Todd Haynes, I’m Not There
Sean Penn, Into the Wild
The Coen Brothers, No Country for Old Men

Best Actor
Brad Pitt, The Assassination of Jesse James
James McAvoy, Atonement
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

Best Actress
Julie Christie, Away from Her
Ellen Page, Juno
Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
Laura Linney, The Savages
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose

Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson’s War
Ed Harris, Gone Baby Gone
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Marisa Tomei, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There
Kelly Macdonald, No Country for Old Men

Best Original Screenplay
In the Valley of Elah
Juno
Knocked Up
Ratatouille
The Savages

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Assassination of Jesse James
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Into the Wild
No Country for Old Men

Best Cinematography
The Assassination of Jesse James
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Into the Wild
No Country for Old Men

Best Film Editing
Atonement
Charlie Wilson’s War
Eastern Promises
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Art Direction
Atonement
The Golden Compass
Hairspray
Lust, Caution
Sweeney Todd

Best Costumes
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
The Golden Compass
Hairspray
Lust, Caution
Sweeney Todd

Best Original Score
Atonement
The Golden Compass
The Kite Runner
Ratatouille
There Will Be Blood

Best Original Song
Enchanted, “That’s How You Know”
Hairspray, “Come So Far”
Into the Wild, “Guaranteed”
Once, “Falling Slowly”
Once, “When Your Mind’s Made Up”

Best Sound
Beowulf
The Golden Compass
Hairspray
Sweeney Todd
Transformers

Best Sound Editing
Beowulf
Live Free or Die Hard
Pirates of the Caribbean 3
Spider-Man 3
Transformers

Best Make-Up
Beowulf
Love in the Time of Cholera
Sweeney Todd

Best Visual Effects
Beowulf
The Golden Compass
Transformers

Best Animated Film
Bee Movie
Persepolis
Ratatouille

Best Documentary
For the Bible Tells Me So
Lake of Fire
No End in Sight
The Rape of Europa
Sicko

Best Foreign Film
The Edge of Heaven
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
Persepolis
XXY
The Year My Parents Went on Vacation

Independent Spirit Award Nominations

I always tell myself that I am going to be vigilant about following every single awards guilds and keeping up with predictions, but I always seem to miss one or two. Today the Independent Spirit Award nominations were announced, which are not a great predictor for the Oscars or any other awards in that they are highly selective and the boundaries of eligibility are much broader. The Best Feature list is great, and includes "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", "I'm Not There", "Juno", "A Mighty Heart", and Gus Van Sant's "Paranoid Park", which does not hit theatres until March of 2008. There is not too much else to say about the nominations, other than the fact that Nicole Kidman ("Margot at the Wedding"), Laura Linney ("The Savages") and Christian Bale ("Rescue Dawn") were all left off the list while other players in their films made the list. I highly disagree with the inclusion of Sienna Miller in the Best Actress category for "Interview". Reading quickly, I assumed that Irrfan Khan was nominated for "A Mighty Heart", which was recognized in other categories, but looking again, I saw that he was nodded for "The Namesake", which is regrettable since he was infintely better in the former film. Also great: "The Lookout" for Best First Feature, "Waitress" for Best Screenplay, and the hilarious inclusion of "Once" in the Best Foreign Film category (Ireland).

Nominations can be found here.

Intoxicating and Brilliant: I'm Not There

I'm Not There
Directed by Todd Haynes
Released November 21, 2007

Todd Haynes' bizarre look at the "many lives" of Bob Dylan is a fresh and infectious film. I know pretty much nothing about the history or music of Bob Dylan, and this weird and warped movie does little to enlighten me, but I sure enjoyed it, and I am certain that Dylan fans will love it as well and may even enjoy it more. It absolutely works better than this year's Beatles film "Across the Universe", this time inserting music as transitions between scenes or background music rather than a distracting, front-and-center barrage. I really disliked the Richard Gere segment, but the rest were fantastic. Each of the five actors who portray Dylan's alter agos (I am discounting Gere) get so perfectly lost in the roles. I personally enjoyed Marcus Carl Franklin as an 11-year-old guitar-playing prodigy the best, but there is no denying that Cate Blanchett's portrayal is truly impressive. The most wonderfully surprising thing about this film is that it actually tells a compelling story even though it is continually confusing and splinters Dylan's history into six different people in six different times. This one is playing at a select few theatres, but I highly recommend checking it out once it expands.

B+

Imagined Futures in Sci-fi: Fight Club

I am taking a course called "Utopia/Dystopia: Imagined Futures in Sci-fi" which focuses on science fiction films from the fifties to the present. I will be writing a few words about each of the films I watch in class.

Fight Club
Directed by David Fincher
Released October 15, 1999

Clearly I had seen this film before, but not in this context where we were looking at it as an examination of a near-future dystopia. The testerone-motivated "fight club" designed by a disillusioned insomniac mutates into a vicious and unstoppable cult with members deeply rooted in nearly every organization and capable of controlling major events. This concept is highly disturbing but is balanced by the extremely dark comedy throughout the film. Edward Norton and Brad Pitt play perfectly off each other, and Helena Bonham Carter does a great job as well. Director Fincher makes his films in a highly stylized manner, and this certainly shows it. From the pounding opening credits with furious music by the Dust Brothers, this is one intense thrill ride.

A-

Awards Season Begins Friday!

I am thrilled to announce that this Friday marks the nominations announcement of one of my favorite awards groups - The Golden Satellites. This wonderful wacky guild is slightly less popular than the Golden Globes (and has actually dropped the "Golden" from their name, making them now just the Satellites). It is fun because some of the nominees are so weird and out of nowhere (Joshua Jackson for Best Actor in "Aurora Borealis") but also serves as a decent predictor. Last year, eight of the eventual ten Golden Globe nominees for Best Picture showed up in the corresponding category at the Satellites. Contenders are often confirmed, but there are also false positives, like actors who were thought to have a chance and will still have no shot after their nomination here (such as Adam Beach for "Flags of our Fathers".

These nominations should pave the way for the following announcements, the nearest being the Golden Globes on December 13th. I am excited for the Satellite announcement, and tried for the first time (I never quite finished) to predict the nominees. It was fun for a while, but became tiring after I was just making up nominees to try to make them seem differentiated from other groups. Side note: all categories have six nominees, though they really can have anywhere from five to eight. Television nomination predictions can be found on the TV blog and are linked below. Without further ado, my random predictions. Nominees are in alphabetical order by film title and listed as the press release by the Satellite Awards lists them.

1. ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
A. KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, ATONEMENT
B. JULIE CHRISTIE, AWAY FROM HER
C. CATE BLANCHETT, ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
D. TANG WEI, LUST, CAUTION
E. ANGELINA JOLIE, A MIGHTY HEART
F. HALLE BERRY, THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE

2. ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
A. BRAD PITT, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
B. JAMES MCAVOY, ATONEMENT
C. VIGGO MORTENSEN, EASTERN PROMISES
D. JOHN CUSACK, GRACE IS GONE
E. CHRISTIAN BALE, RESCUE DAWN
F. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, THERE WILL BE BLOOD

3. ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
A. AMY ADAMS, ENCHANTED
B. NIKKI BLONSKY, HAIRSPRAY
C. ELLEN PAGE, JUNO
D. LAURA LINNEY, THE SAVAGES
E. MARION COTILLARD, LA VIE EN ROSE
F. KERI RUSSELL, WAITRESS

4. ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
A. JASON SCHWARTZMANN, THE DARJEELING LIMITED
B. JOHN TRAVOLTA, HAIRSPRAY
C. RYAN GOSLING, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
D. PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, THE SAVAGES
E. JOHNNY DEPP, SWEENEY TODD
F. DON CHEADLE, TALK TO ME

5. ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
A. MARISA TOMEI, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD
B. MICHELLE PFEIFFER, HAIRSPRAY
C. CATE BLANCHETT, I’M NOT THERE
D. TILDA SWINTON, MICHAEL CLAYTON
E. LAURA LINNEY, THE NANNY DIARIES
F. KELLY MACDONALD, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

6. ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
A. GORDON PINSENT, AWAY FROM HER
B. ALBERT FINNEY, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD
C. JAVIER BARDEM, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
D. MARK RUFFALO, RESERVATION ROAD
E. PHILIP BOSCO, THE SAVAGES
F. PAUL DANO, THERE WILL BE BLOOD

7. MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
A. ATONEMENT
B. AWAY FROM HER
C. BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD
D. EASTERN PROMISES
E. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
F. THERE WILL BE BLOOD

8. MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
A. HAIRSPRAY
B. JUNO
C. ONCE
D. THE SAVAGES
E. SWEENEY TODD
F. WAITRESS

9. MOTION PICTURE, FOREIGN LANGUAGE
A. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
B. 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS
C. THE KITE RUNNER
D. LUST, CAUTION
E. THE ORPHANAGE
F. LA VIE EN ROSE

10. MOTION PICTURE, ANIMATED OR MIXED MEDIA
A. BEE MOVIE
B. BEOWULF
C. ENCHANTED
D. PERSEPOLIS
E. RATATOUILLE
F. THE SIMPSONS MOVIE

11. MOTION PICTURE, DOCUMENTARY
A. DARFUR NOW
B. LAKE OF FIRE
C. NO END IN SIGHT
D. RAPE OF EUROPA
E. SICKO
F. THE 11TH HOUR

12. DIRECTOR
A. SARAH POLLEY, AWAY FROM HER
B. SIDNEY LUMET, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD
C. DAVID CRONENBERG, EASTERN PROMISES
D. JOEL COEN, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
E. PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON, THERE WILL BE BLOOD
F. ADRIENNE SHELLEY, WAITRESS

13. SCREENPLAY, ORIGINAL
A. BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD
B. EAGLE VS. SHARK
C. EASTERN PROMISES
D. ONCE
E. THE SAVAGES
F. WAITRESS

14. SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED
A. ATONEMENT
B. AWAY FROM HER
C. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
D. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
E. INTO THE WILD
F. THERE WILL BE BLOOD

15. ORIGINAL SCORE
A. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
B. ATONEMENT
C. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
D. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
E. THE KITE RUNNER
F. THERE WILL BE BLOOD

16. ORIGINAL SONG
A. ENCHANTED – “That’s How You Know”
B. HAIRSPRAY – “Come So Far”
C. INTO THE WILD – “Guaranteed”
D. ONCE – “Falling Slowly”
E. ONCE – “Leave”
F. ONCE – “When Your Mind’s Made Up”

17. CINEMATOGRAPHY
A. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
B. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
C. LUST, CAUTION
D. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
E. SMOKIN’ ACES
F. THERE WILL BE BLOOD

18. VISUAL EFFECTS
A. BEOWULF
B. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
C. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
D. LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD
E. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 3
F. SPIDER-MAN 3
G. TRANSFORMERS

19. FILM EDITING
A. ATONEMENT
B. EASTERN PROMISES
C. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
D. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
E. SMOKIN’ ACES
F. THERE WILL BE BLOOD

20. SOUND (EDITING & MIXING)
A. BEOWULF
B. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
C. LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD
D. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
E. SMOKIN’ ACES
F. TRANSFORMERS

21. ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION DESIGN
A. BEOWULF
B. ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
C. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
D. HAIRSPRAY
E. HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
F. LUST, CAUTION

22. COSTUME DESIGN
A. BEOWULF
B. ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
C. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
D. HAIRSPRAY
E. LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
F. LUST, CAUTION

BEST ENSEMBLE, MOTION PICTURE
JUNO

And continuing on to the TV predictions...

Thanksgiving Movie: The Shining

The Shining
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Released May 23, 1980

I had not seen this classic before simply because I am not a fan of horror films. I will see one only if it is supposed to be a terrific film, and I had always planned to see this one, eventually. That eventual viewing was accelerated as a result of staying at the Mohonk Mountain House (Alan Alda was a guest there as well), which is the hotel “The Shining” is based on, over Thanksgiving. My brother insisted we watch the film while we were staying there.

I can safely say that “The Shining” is in no way a letdown. Kubrick builds tension delicately by using eerie music and long tracking shots down mysterious hallways which all look the same. Kubrick masterfully uses the enclosed setting to create a true feeling of no escape, and the film is completely captivating. I liked the fact that things do not jump out to frighten the audience, but instead the music cues the viewer to expect something scary. The combination of supernatural mystery and psychological terror makes for one thrilling film. I personally enjoyed Shelley Duvall’s antics, but in my follow-up research I noted that the Razzie Awards awarded her a nomination for this film. They also nominated Kubrick for Worst Director, so they clearly disagreed with the majority of diehard fans of this movie. One of the best elements of the film is obviously Jack Nicholson, marvelously creepy as the unforgettable Jack Torrence. All in all, this is an excellent film certainly worth seeing if you are not a fan of being scared.

A-

Awards Season is Coming Up!

Check back after Thanksgiving for revised Golden Globe predictions, as well as all the buzz on the PGA, DGA, WGA, SAG, and critics' prizes. Preliminary Oscar predictions are also coming soon, and the first ever AFT Film Awards nominations will be unveiled in early January!

Nothing to Like: Margot at the Wedding

Margot at the Wedding
Directed by Noah Baumbach
Released November 16, 2007

Every one of the characters in Noah Baumbach's follow-up to "The Squid and the Whale" are so inherently dispecable and unlikeable. Unlike the negative, manipulative parents in "The Squid and the Whale", Nicole Kidman's Margot constantly insults her son for no reason to the point where it feels like we the audience are being berated for not being impressed by Margot's cruelty. It is hard to like any of the other characters, even though we would be hard pressed not to side with them against the vicious Margot. This also pales in comparison to "The Squid and the Whale" as far as the child actors go - they were so great in the former film but here are less than impressive (save for "Squid" import Halley Feiffer, who has altogether too much energy for this film in relation to her castmates). For all the buzz surrounding her performance, Jennifer Jason Leigh really has little to work with as Margot's engaged sister. The lackluster script is poorly complemented by a truly dreadful performance from Jack Black. He is trying so hard to be serious despite clearly being comic relief, and it is painful to see him attempt to cry in some of his more dramatic moments. Supporting actors Ciaran Hinds and John Turturro seem much better suited in period dramas, and in any case their roles here are not stellar. Kidman does nothing to elevate Margot to a position of supreme bitch, but also fails to make her remotely sympathetic. That is sadly the case for the entire film; there is no one with whom to sympathize.

C-

Avoid It At All Costs: Southland Tales

Southland Tales
Directed by Richard Kelly
Released November 14, 2007

The first hour is just confusing and weird. After that, I was hoping that the projector would stop working. People seriously got up and left. That is the risk you take when the director of the super-bizarre "Donnie Darko" makes a film with the strangest cast ever, including The Rock, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, Jon Lovitz, Seann William Scott, and Justin Timberlake. No one is necessarily good or bad, but the film as a hole falls flat. Apologies in advance to "Buffy" fans, but I really cannot stand Sarah Michelle Gellar, so all her scenes were annoying to me. The Rock does do the best with his material and is often quite funny. Seann William Scott in the token dramatic role was not a good idea, however. For all its fantasy elements and technological babble, there is not one ounce of sense in this movie. The impending end of the world is interesting for a moment, but each character manages to make it just seem dumb. The very technology-oriented future is chock full of disturbing reckless killing and dystopian elements, but it is like a misguided amalgam of "Brazil" and "Idiocracy" on crack. When characters begin to utter the film's horrid tagline "I'm a pimp, and pimps don't commit suicide", I almost had to look away. Two and a half hours is much to long to have to suffer through this film. I can see why it got booed at Cannes.

F

Moving and Stunning: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Advance Screening)
Directed by Julian Schnabel
To be released November 30, 2007

I really hope this small foreign film will be seen by a lot of people. I went in knowing nothing about the film, other than that it was directed by American director Julian Schnabel but it is filmed completely in French. Based on a true story about an Elle editor who was completely paralyzed except for his left eye after a stroke, this is a difficult film to get through but a wholly worthwhile one. Very much like the 2004 film "The Sea Inside", it combines beautiful cinematography with an excellent script. Mathieu Almaric delivers an affecting, mostly verbal performance as the paralyzed protagonist, but it is the uniformly terrific supporting cast that really shines. While the subject matter is disturbing, the film is ultimately a hopeful and wonderful experience.

B+

Imagined Futures in Sci-fi: Brazil

I am taking a course called "Utopia/Dystopia: Imagined Futures in Sci-fi" which focuses on science fiction films from the fifties to the present. I will be writing a few words about each of the films I watch in class.

Brazil
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Released December 18, 1985

What an amazingly interesting film this is! Part dystopian future, part acid trip, this is one absolutely unforgettable and fairly incomprehensible film. It is so fascinating that I could hardly look away. Jonathan Pryce stars as a bureaucrat who becomes enchanted with a mysterious woman afterr an error occurs where an innocent man is arrested instead of a rogue heating engineer. Robert DeNiro's role as the rebel engineer, Tuttle, is classic. The art direction and scenery is dazzling. The script is wildly inventive in a really good way. I cannot say I understand it, but this is one film you should definitely see. Note: I saw the director's cut.

B+

Golden Globe Musings: Best Motion Picture - Drama

The following represents some preliminary thoughts on Golden Globe contenders for the given category. Predictions will be narrowed and revised towards the end of November or the beginning of December. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is way to early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point. This category feels pretty locked up at this point. This category in particular often includes films which have not yet opened at the time of the nominations announcement and start off campaigns for those films.

The top contenders:
AMERICAN GANGSTER
Will backlash against this over-hyped film hurt its chances? More importantly, is there really that much backlash? The release did come at a great time.

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
Did people like it or did they think it was too long? Praise may be reserved for Casey Affleck, but I suspect “Jesse James” will show up in a lot of places. As long as they do not have Jessica Biel announcing again, who last year had to stumble through the entire extended "Borat" title.

ATONEMENT
This film will be opening a week before the nominations are announced and should easily make it in given the rave reviews that it has been getting.

CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
This is one of the films which will depend entirely on Globe reception because its release is not until Christmas. A few years back “Closer” popped up here, and “Charlie Wilson’s War” may be a more generically appealing film if it is not too hokey.

EASTERN PROMISES
Dark and violent, David Cronenberg’s thriller may have disappeared from voters’ minds. It did receive a great deal of good marks back in September, and Cronenberg’s last effort, “A History of Violence” made it in here.

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
Paul Haggis’ drama received so-so reviews and will really need to resurge before awards season to make it in.

INTO THE WILD
This is a great film, but as I have said everywhere else I predicted it, I just do not know how much critics went wild for it. This could be a good entry point for the film into the awards mania.

MICHAEL CLAYTON
A lot of people called it the best movie of the year. I did not. Regardless, Clooney proved a few years ago that he was an unstoppable force, but even “Syriana” did not make it in to this category (despite my predicting it).

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
The Coen Brothers’ bloody film is getting excellent reviews and they are awards favorites. “The Man Who Wasn’t There” was recognized here in 2001, and this film is a far bigger and better deal.

THERE WILL BE BLOOD
P.T. Anderson’s oil drama is another one that will peek really late, hitting theatres December 26th. The release date did no favors for “Children of Men” last year, but I think buzz may help this film’s chances.

Anything else? Sidney Lumet’s latest, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, is earning good marks but I think it is too small. Same goes for Gone Baby Gone, although it could surprise. I have no idea whether I’m Not There is considered a drama, but I think it will be a bizarre experience regardless which Globe voters may hesitate to reward. I remember seeing a movie about Love in the Time of Cholera last year (“The Painted Veil”), and that one did not do well with awards despite a well-known cast. Hopefully there will be a surprise contender here that is not 3:10 to Yuma.

Current predictions:
THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
ATONEMENT
CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
EASTERN PROMISES
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Golden Globe Musings: Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical

The following represents some preliminary thoughts on Golden Globe contenders for the given category. Predictions will be narrowed and revised towards the end of November or the beginning of December. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is way to early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point. This category feels pretty locked up at this point.

The top contenders:
THE DARJEELING LIMITED
The Globes do not usually respond to Wes Anderson, and despite this movie being so good, I do not think it will change matters. There is very little competition this year, so the film could have a shot.

ENCHANTED
I do not think it looks good, but it does look quite intriguing and like the kind of fare that could fit in to this category. Entries like “Nicholas Nickleby” and “Bend It Like Beckham” have been recognized in the past and this could be a wonderfully weird comedy/musical/animation hybrid.

HAIRSPRAY
The Globes do love a good musical and this one did quite well with critics and audiences alike. I cannot imagine what would get in the way of this film getting nominated.

JUNO
I just saw this film and can pretty much assure that it will make it into the top five. The sharp script and excellent cast work stunningly together to make for an unforgettable comedy.

KNOCKED UP
It came out a while ago and was a hit. Previous Judd Apatow effort “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” did not make the cut, but this is a fairly empty year and I think “Knocked Up” should be fine.

MARGOT AT THE WEDDING
This film is from Noah Baumbach, whose last film “The Squid and the Whale” was nominated in this category. This looks a bit more bizarre and possibly a bit darker, so I am not as convinced that it will get in.

ONCE
At the beginning of this summer, this musical was a major hit. If Globe voters still remember it, it should score here and in the song categories.

THE SAVAGES
It does look terrific, and I see no reason why it should not make the cut, but at the moment I am feeling like it will merely be stars Hoffman and Linney who get nominated.

SWEENEY TODD
It looks like a load of fun, and it should be just weird enough to please Globe voters.

WAITRESS
It came out very early but received positive reviews. I would be happy to see it recognized, but I think it was too long ago.

Anything else? It would be great to see Superbad here, but I think it is just a bit too inappropriate. The Bucket List might be a success with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, but I do think it will steer clear of any awards. Ryan Gosling should get all the buzz for Lars and the Real Girl. And Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium looks like too much of a kids’ movie.

Current predictions:
HAIRSPRAY
JUNO
KNOCKED UP
ONCE
SWEENEY TODD

Golden Globe Musings: Best Director

The following represents some preliminary thoughts on Golden Globe contenders for the given category. Predictions will be narrowed and revised towards the end of November or the beginning of December. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is way to early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

The top contenders:
RIDLEY SCOTT, AMERICAN GANGSTER
This all depends on how “American Gangster” is received. Besides “Gladiator”, Scott has earned two Oscar nominations for films that were not nominated for Best Picture. The same is not true at the Globes. Scott has only one nomination, for “Gladiator” and might find himself stuck with that statistic after this year.

ANDREW DOMINICK, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
I think that people may be underestimating this one. I personally think it will show up for Best Picture, but not here. Dominick has only one other film credit to his name, so this could be a spot where he first makes his mark.

JOE WRIGHT, ATONEMENT
Wright is all but assured a placement here. If for some reason the film backfires at the last minute, Wright’s lack of extensive credits could hurt him, but I think he is safe.

MIKE NICHOLS, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
This one is still looking pretty strong. Nichols was nominated last time one of his films started off with great praise but ultimately bit the bullet with awards (“Closer”). This category encompasses both comedy and drama, so voters do not have to decide which one his film is.

DAVID CRONENBERG, EASTERN PROMISES
Cronenberg has been ignored time and time again throughout his career. Two years ago, his film received a Best Picture mention but he missed out in this category to a barrage of famous directors (Woody Allen, Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg). Can he make it in this time or have people forgotten the film?

PAUL HAGGIS, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
I think this is the real underdog to watch, but that does not mean it will show up strong at the Globes. “Crash” managed only two nominations (one for supporting actor Matt Dillon, one for Screenplay) before going on to win the Oscar for Best Picture. Still, Haggis is quite popular these days.

SEAN PENN, INTO THE WILD
I still cannot tell whether critics liked this one, but I know I did. Penn has amassed four acting nominations, and if his film is popular enough, should earn a fifth one in this category.

THE COEN BROTHERS, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
After seeing this one, I am fairly confident in predicting it. The film should do really well with critics and awards alike. Even the Coen Brothers’ less-noticed “The Man Who Wasn’t There” earned a Globe nod for Best Picture. Enough said.

TIM BURTON, SWEENEY TODD
Burton has yet to crack his way into this category despite a couple of his films being nominated for Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical (“Big Fish”, “Ed Wood”). Burton and Depp together should be an irresistible combination for Globe voters, though comedies always have a hard time in this category.

PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON, THERE WILL BE BLOOD
I am reconsidering my initial evaluation of this film’s chances. I think it may do better than I originally thought. In the past, P.T. Anderson’s films have only earned nominations for performers at the Globes (Adam Sandler, Tom Cruise, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore). Daniel Day-Lewis is almost certain to make it in, but can Anderson?

Anyone else? “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” is earning Sidney Lumet positive marks. I could not hope to tell you if Todd Haynes realistically has a chance for his bizarre Bob Dylan movie “I’m Not There”. If “Michael Clayton” does well in other categories, look for Tony Gilroy’s name here. Both Marc Forster and Ang Lee could get nominated for their foreign-language entries “The Kite Runner” and “Lust, Caution”. Comedies and musicals are a tough sell, but “Juno” and “Once” may be popular enough to allow Jason Reitman and John Carney to slide in. The late Adrienne Shelly did a remarkable job with “Waitress”, but it came out so long ago. And don’t count out Ben Affleck for “Gone Baby Gone”.

Current predictions:
JOE WRIGHT, ATONEMENT
MIKE NICHOLS, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
DAVID CRONENBERG, EASTERN PROMISES
THE COEN BROTHERS, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
TIM BURTON, SWEENEY TODD

Bloody and Tense: No Country for Old Men

No Country for Old Men
Directed by Ethan & Joel Coen
Released November 9, 2007

The Coen Brothers' latest feature is not as altogether stunning as "Fargo", but it certainly deserves a good deal of praise for its execution. The western feel of the film is perfectly accomplished, and all members of the cast fit in so well to their surroundings. I hardly noticed the lack of scoring for the film and it did not distract from my enjoyment of the film, though my friends felt it did detract from their experience. The film starts off fairly slow but hardly lets the viewer off the hook, keeping a feeling of uncertain suspense throughout. Javier Bardem is excellent as a psychotic but calculating killer, and he will have no trouble earning an Oscar nomination for this performance. When I reviewed Goya's Ghosts earlier this year, I said that Bardem was much better off in his native language, but this is proof that "Goya's Ghosts" was merely a fluke (take my word for it, do not try to see it for yourself). Tommy Lee Jones delivers another fine performance, but it pales in comparison to his work in "In the Valley of Elah". Josh Brolin, who I usually find obnoxious, fits in well with the scenery even if he does little. Both Kelly Macdonald and Woody Harrelson have extremely limited screen time but make an impact with their appearances. This film, like many of the Coen Brothers' previous efforts, is quite violent but well worth it.

B+

Entertaining and Clever: Juno

Juno (Advance Screening)
Directed by Jason Reitman
To be released December 5, 2007

This highly anticipated new comedy pretty lives up to all the hype surrounding it. A terrific cast makes for a "Little Miss Sunshine"-esque feature from the director of "Thank You For Smoking". The script by Diablo Cody has received a ton of praise, and it really sparkles with hilarious dialogue and sharp characters. In describing the film, some have said "Think 'Knocked Up', but younger" and that is a fair description of the film. It is just as good, with an even better cast. Ellen Page in particular carries the film with her carefree portrayal of our young pregnant heroine. Michael Cera, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, and Jason Bateman make up part of the great ensemble. Jennifer Garner has received lots of buzz for her performance as a wife "desperately seeking spawn" and she does a decent enough job but the role does not substantiate a nomination of any sort. The marketing for this film should help it outdo any box-office predictions, and it is a refreshing thought. This is a heartwarming and inventive comedy that really delivers. Make sure to see this one when it comes out.

B+

Golden Globe Musings: Best Animated Film

The following represents some preliminary thoughts on Golden Globe contenders for the given category. Predictions will be narrowed and revised towards the end of November or the beginning of December. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is way to early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point. This particular category is only going into its second year, so it is possible it may be stretched to five nominees instead of three.

The top contenders:
BEE MOVIE
I loved it, but I guess critics did not feel the same way. I still think it might break through with the popularity of Jerry Seinfeld and the trillions of obnoxious ads which aired on NBC.

BEOWULF
This is an odd case, because it is not your typical type of animation. “A Scanner Darkly” did not make it in last year. Robert Zemeckis might turn this film, which truthfully looks awful, into a major surprise hit.

MEET THE ROBINSONS
All I need to know is that I laughed every single time a local movie theatre showed a clip where the frogs took all the cell phones, threw them in the trunk of a car, and then closed the lid to indicate that cell phones should be shut off. The movie probably was not as good.

RATATOUILLE
Probably the biggest lock of the century. This one is almost guaranteed the win. It was so unbelievably good, I could not agree more.

SHREK THE THIRD
The first two were a huge hit; this one did not seem to do as well. I am not convinced that people are ready to let Shrek go yet (I of course have yet to see this installment).

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE
The film was received pretty well, and the TV-to-film transition seems to have gone fine. The television show did receive a nomination for Best Comedy Series back in 2002.

SURF’S UP
I won a prize which was a goodie bag with stuff pertaining to this movie. I have yet to see it, but I am assuming that it is not much more than Happy Feet Part Two. Which may not be the worst thing.

Current predictions:
BEE MOVIE
RATATOUILLE
SHREK THE THIRD