There was a thread hijack in one of Grants posts recently that caused a lot of movie talk.  I am a big movie fan and like talking about them quite a bit.  This post may come off as pretentious and that is not at all my goal and I apologize in advance if I come off as such.  Please remember that this is only my opinion. 

So, who/what do you feel should win varoius awards?  I added a poll to this post and I ask that you only vote if you have actually seen enough of the films to fairly judge your choice against others.  Admittedly, I have not seen all the films...well, the only one I haven't seen is Ben Button.  I'll get to that one, soon.  I also left a couple films off because I am fairly certain the five nominees will come from the seven.  Definitely four of them and in that case the fifth will be one of these:  The Reader, Doubt, Synecdoche, NY, Gran Torino...and the two horses that are so dark that you wouldn't be able to see them in a white room: Dark Knight and Let The Right One In.

Best Pictures, and my thoughts:

1 - Wall-E.  This is my personal choice for best picture though I am dubious that it wiill garner nomination.  This is in large part because of the "animated" category.  The thing is, this movie goes beyond being just a kids film.  I have never felt so good about being alive after a film as after seeing this the first time.  Children love it.  Adults love it.  It will stand the test of time.  The only complaint that a reasonable person could make is that the message is a bit heavy handed.  Other than that it is a perfect film.  Wall-E is such a real character that he somehow captures love in a way that anyone can feel.  Also, the space dance is the most beautiful scene I've ever seen.

2- Revolutionary Road.  This will definitely get a nomination.  The film is a true work of art made by one of cinemas true craftsmen.  It is not the most pleasant film to experience due to the realism of the Wheelers relationship.  Great cinematography.  Incredible acting.  Wonderful subtle touches..for instance, Leo appears to have put on weight so he would look like a man actually did in the 50s.  Everything that the people do is believable.  We are fortunate to be able to see a film as fine as this.  I believe this really is the best picture of the year.  At least in terms of a normal type of best picture. 

3 - Milk.  My sense is this will win best picture because the academy seems to like political statements and in most years this would be a fine film to honor.  I don't feel it is as good as a few others, though.  Mainly because the plot is a little bit thin.  It will definitely get nominated.

4 - Slumdog Millionaire.  This will definitely get nominated, too.  I really hope it doesn't win as it just doesn't stand up compared to some of the other films.  It's a good film, just not great.  It has flaws that are pretty apparent when you think about things.  It's enjoyable, funny and feel good.  It's not the best picture of the year.

5 - Frost/Nixon.  Rivetting from start to finish.  Well-directed, well-acted.  Nothing bad can be sad about this film.  I wouldn't be surprised to see it win, but it won't happen based on the extremely stiff competition.

6 - Ben Button - I have not seen this.  I hear it is good but long.  Everyone says it is long.  This tells me that the movie has a major flaw in the way it flows.  Oscar bait but it won't win.

7 - The Wrestler - I don't know if this will get nominated.  I wouldn't give it a nom mainly because I think those first five I mentioned were all much better.  I do think this is a great film but it has a very amateurish look to it.  I realize this is deliberate.  It's gritty, it's real, but it's also suffering from exteme competition.

Others:

Dark Knight - Highly overrated.  Easily the best part(s) of the film are when Batman and Joker are on screen and that is like ten minutes of the film.  The movie wasn't even about Batman, it was about Harvey Dent.  Nolan wanted this to be his last Batman film and tried to do too much and almost nailed it, but missed.  Split this into two films or tack on another hour or who knows what and it could have been great.  Also, Iron Man was the better super hero film...and that is because the star, Robert Downey Jr., made it so.

Let The Right One In - A true dark horse for a nom.  Great flick.  Just not meaty enough to stack up against the main contenders.

Synecdoch, NY - I said this in the other post but I truly believe that in ten or fifteen years or longer, this will be viewed as a masterpiece.  Kaufmans first film as director and he not only tried to hit a home run, not only a grand slam, he tried to create the greatest movie ever made.  He missed the mark but comes close.  I won't even talk about the screenplay category because I don't think there is anything that comes close to this one.  Original screenplay, that is.  I give adapted to either Rev. Road or Slumdog.

Actors:

1 - Sean Penn - He's gonna win.  There is no doubt of this.  Not for a second did I think "hey, tha't Sean Penn acting up there."  Daniel Day Lewis was a shoe in last year, Penn was better this year.

2 - Leo - He's getting closer and closer.  He suffers in large part because he was acting next to Kate Winslet and he just doesn't stack up yet.  But wow he is getting so so good.  He is definitely going to win some day.

3 - Mickey Rourke - No, just no.  Yes he was great in a role that he fits perfectly.  He really is great.   But c'mon...

4 - Frank Langella (Nixon) - Think about this: he made Nixon human, sympathetic and likable.  If Penn wasn't just so freaking amazing I'd give it to Frank.

5 - I am guessing Pitt will get a nom.  The four above are pretty much shoe-ins, though.

Actress:

1 - Winslet.  She's going to win. Just amazing, as usual, but more so than usual.  If that makes sense.  (Rev. Road, btw)

I actually can't think of many that really stand out to me this year.  I would nominate Merryl Streep for Mamma Mia.  She gives a poofy film a soul and is so genuine in doing so.  Plus she can sing.  I doubt this will happen but it's a role that really stood out to me.

Supporting Dude:

1 - Heath Ledger - Sympathy vote and he truly was awesome.  My pic.

2 - James Franco - Milk.  Mainly because the role he plays is so different from other roles I have seen from him while still being real.

3 - I think i'm starting to burn out as I can't even think of others at the moment.  Oh well.

Supporting Chick:

1 - My choice is Dianne Wiest in Synecdoche.  Only one that stuck out to me this year.  Also, I'm not looking at the golden globe noms.

EDIT: 2 - Marissa Tomei (Thanks to Neifichicken for the reminder).  I was going to add her initially and think she is very deserving.  My fav part of that film.  (Wrestler)

Best Director

1 - Sam Mendes - Rev. Road.  My choice because of just how real everything is. 

2 - Gus Van Sant - I think he will win.  Mendes has won before, Van Sant hasn't and Milk is great.  Not a bad choice, by any means.

3 - Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler.  He's got a good chance, too.  I feel his directing was better than Van Sants.  This movie looks REAL.  Some people who saw it thought it was a real documentary.  The wrestling stuff itself is incredibly well done.  Very deserving.

4 - Danny Boyle - Slumdog.  He's got a decent shot, too, but as I mentioned before...the film has flaws and parts that pulled me out of the film.  Not good enough.

I'm pretty sure those four will be in, dunno what would be #5.  My choice:

5 - Charlie Kaufmann.  Won't happen because a movie with no act structure is off putting, but wow what a debut.

So..that was a long read.  Go ahead and skewer me for being overly pretentious or not giving TDK or your favorite film enough love.  I really hope this sparks good coversation as there hasn't been any Manny news in a while and I love movies and peoples thoughts about them.

---

Addendum.  This is something howtheyscored wrote that I really feel needs to be highlighted...it's about Wall-E.

Like I said, it’s ballsy for the younger demographic. It’s not that ballsy in a wider sense, but the overall tone is pretty damning. Earth as a barren wasteland. Humans disaccociated from not only each other, but also life as a whole. It might not be anything you’ve never seen, but it’s the kind of thing that is dumbed out of a lot of these movies to keep them kid friendly. I appreciate that the movie took the risk to show that difficult concepts can be kid friendly.

And as for it being a love story, it’s not a love story in the sense I think you’re going for. The whole love theme in the movie is based around the idea of contact, and specifically holding hands. It’s not just Wall-E and Eve, though they are the characters who present the theme most directly. You see it played through with John and Mary (wow, I just realized what their names are). But the idea of touching and being touched, though visually very literal in the movie, is standing in for the idea that human contact improves individual life. When people begin interacting, then good things start happening, and therein lie the seeds of love.

Which is the theme that I’m getting at. It’s not the LOVE story. It’s a story about where love, where all of the best parts of society start. That’s the theme you get with the plant bud. It’s just sprouting. But even it doesn’t survive without human interaction (remember, the Captain waters it). You see Wall-E and Eve, and then John and Mary experience the beginnings of love. You see again the idea of love and beginnings when John and Mary save the babies (“John, get ready to have some babies,” Mary says). Then again, through the credits, you continue to see the motif of sprouting, the ideas of interaction, cooperation, relationship building, etc.

Although, when you say “You might as well have parrots in love. (Say! There’s an idea.)” it just makes me think that everything you’re missing is the result of an inability to suspend your disbelief for some “robots.” And if that’s the case, you’re missing a damn lot.