The Observer, February 8, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 16
The Observer's Oscar picks for this year
Best Film
Nominees:
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Andrew – No Country for Old Men
It's about time.
Naveed – No Country for Old Men
Anything other than No Country for Old Men taking the top prize would be a colossal upset on par with last Sunday's Super Bowl.
Best Director
Nominees:
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Jason Reitman, Juno
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood
Andrew – Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
The two brothers have mastered their craft of modern film noir, and it's about time they reach public critical success. I would like to see them win everything. Biased? Yes, but how can you blame me?
Naveed – Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Joel and Ethan Coen are no doubt among the best filmmakers of our time. Voters feel obligated to reward the duo and they should take home the prize come Feb. 24.
Best Actor
Nominees:
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 Mortenson, Eastern Promises
Andrew – Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Day-Lewis completely dominates this role…there is simply no other contender.
Naveed – Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
On a night where nothing will be certain, this really is the only guarantee of the evening. There is no way Daniel Day-Lewis won't win. None.
Best Actress
Nominees:
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno
Andrew – Ellen Page, Juno
Julie Christie seems to be the well-established choice for a win, but it would be nice to see Page win something for her small little film (remember Alan Arkin winning for Little Miss Sunshine?).
Naveed – Julie Christie, Away From Her
Julie Christie is probably going to win this award as Fiona in Away From Her because of her appeal to the older Academy voters. It really is a shame because Ellen Page gives the most unique and heartwarming performance of the year.
Best Supporting Actor
Nominees:
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
Andrew – Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
I have never seen such a realistic villain in such an intense film…this guy's screen presence scared me the heck out of me.
Naveed – Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Anton Chigurh, Javier Bardem's character, is likely the most ruthless, dominating, and evil villain to come on screen this century. Javier Bardem is an Academy Award-level actor and shows why with his portrayal of Chigurh.
Best Supporting Actress
Nominees:
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Nominees:
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Andrew – Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Frankly, I refused to see this movie, but Dee is from Cleveland. Let's hear it for a hometown win!
Naveed – Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
The Academy really didn't have to nominate Cate Blanchett for her role in the experimental film I'm Not There, but they did. It is one thing to portray music icon Bob Dylan; it is quite another thing to portray Bob Dylan when you are a woman.
