The Assassination of Justice by the Academy Awards

Ok, ok... it's not that bad. My predictions were a little off (but so were everyone else's) and my hopes were a little too high for some people (Jennifer Garner, Max Von Sydow), but all and all, not too many shockers. Here is my analysis of the nominations for the 80th Annual Academy Awards. I've listed the nominees, followed by my thoughts and then my picks are in blue.

Best motion picture of the year

"Atonement"
"Juno"
"Michael Clayton"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

I'm glad "Atonement" made it in, although I'm sad that it took the place of "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." "Juno" is being called this year's "Little Miss Sunshine" but at least "Juno" deserves all the recognition it is getting... it is much more deserving than "Little Miss Sunshine." "No Country For Old Men" deserves the win at this point, although, "There Will Be Blood" is an awfully stunning piece of work that keeps getting better the more you think about it. Several movies could have been justified at getting a Best Picture nod. I think that if "I'm Not There" wasn't too much for some people to understand completely, it would be a sure nominee. The mind of Todd Haynes is crazy and intricate and it spills onto the screen with such brilliance that it can't be denied. "Zodiac" is such a strong film... when David Fincher finally gets recognized, it is going to be powerful. "Ratatouille" is probably the best animated movie ever made and very deserving of a Best Picture nod. Surely that if there wasn't a Best Animated Picture category, it would be one of the five nominees. Don't think I'm crazy... but "Sunshine" is good enough for a slot as well. Very few films that are both sci-fi and horror are good to begin with, yet alone award-worthy good. Finally, "Once" is the underdog of the century. Everyone seemed to be rooting for it all year but it seems not to have paid off. Watch this once (haha) and you'll see why I am so in love with it. This is the first year I've seen all five nominees before nominations came out. I feel like I'm pulling my teeth out trying to narrow down my personal picks. I would like all nine of these to be in the field...

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Atonement"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
"I'm Not There"
"Juno"
"No Country for Old Men"
"Once"
"Ratatouille"
"There Will Be Blood"

...but I can't do that. This is so hard!

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Atonement"
"No Country for Old Men"
"Once"
"There Will Be Blood"

Performance by an actor in a leading role

George Clooney in "Michael Clayton"
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood"
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah"
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises"

As can be expected, I suppose. George and Daniel were locks. Johnny Depp was an almost lock (many, including myself, thought he might get snubbed at the last minute, though). Tommy Lee Jones is an excellent surprise! It is the only film here I have not seen, but I hear he was fantastic. Viggo Mortensen deserves this very, very much. He gave a very impressive performance (Come on, a full nude fight scene in a sauna were he kills two Russian mobsters with a small knife? Give it to him). There were all sorts of possibilities for spoilers... It really doesn't matter, though... Daniel Day-Lewis has won his second Oscar. I would've liked to have seen Benicio Del Toro nominated for one of the best and most underseen performances of the year, Brad Pitt for "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," Casey Affleck for "Gone Baby Gone" and James McAvoy nominated for "Atonement" while the other three can stay the same. But then I have 7 nominees. I like Tommy Lee Jones so much, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and hesitantly cut James McAvoy and Casey Affleck. Johnny Depp and George Clooney were good... but not good enough. I would've been cool with Ryan Gosling, Emile Hirsch or Frank Langella nominated too. Also, Eduardo Verastegui was good enough, I feel, for "Bella."

Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood"
Benicio Del Toro in "Things We Lost in the Fire"
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah"
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises"
Brad Pitt in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie in "Away from Her"
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose"
Laura Linney in "The Savages"
Ellen Page in "Juno"

YEAH FOR CATE BLANCHETT! Her buzz peaked way too early this year and it wasn't looking great for her to land a nomination for this role... but the Academy loves her (rightfully so!) and they loved her in the first movie (for which she lost the Oscar to Gwyneth Paltrow, really?) and want to make up for her not getting that first Oscar with at least another nomination. Hate the movie all you want, but she was still a force to be reckoned with in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." Julie Christie was great in "Away From Her" even if I hated the pitiful film. Laura Linney is the same story... a very unpleasant movie (and even an unpleasant performance) but she was very good in that role. Ellen Page is a firecracker with the fuse lit. Good for her. I would've liked to have seen Angelina Jolie in there for "A Mighty Heart," Marketa Irglova for "Once" or Keira Knightly for "Atonement," but I suppose I am ok with these picks. None of them matter too much, however, because this award belongs to Marion Cotillard. I believe they are already engraving her name on it.

Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie in "Away from Her"
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose"
Angelina Jolie in "A Mighty Heart"
Ellen Page in "Juno"


Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men"
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War"
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild"
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton"

I saw all of these and all are nomination worthy, for sure. Philip Seymour Hoffman is amazing as always and he had a great year... but this performance didn't really have any depth (even though it was the best thing about the movie), so he would be the first cut on my list. Next casualty would be Tom Wilkinson, who was great but almost a bit too over-the-top at times. Max Von Sydow should have been nominated for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." If I cried in movies (besides "The Passion of the Christ" and when I was a little kid), I would've cried watching him. Tommy Lee Jones deserves a nod for "No Country for Old Men" but I'll keep him off the list since he got one for "In the Valley of Elah" already. Irfan Kahn deserves a nomination for his work in both "The Namesake" and "A Mighty Heart." Paul Dano was great in "There Will Be Blood." Paul Schneider is worthy for both "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" and "Lars and the Real Girl." Michael Cera and J.K. Simmons were great in "Juno" as was Ed Harris in "Gone Baby Gone" and Robert Downey, Jr. in "Zodiac." But... my fifth pick (which almost goes to Irfan Kahn)... would have to be... Ashraf Barhom in "The Kingdom."

Casey Affleck should win... but Javier Bardem should also. Javier Bardem will take home the trophy, though.

Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men"
Ashraf Barhom in "The Kingdom"
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild"
Max Von Sydow in "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"


Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There"
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster"
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement"
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton"

As usual, this is one of the most crowded categories in terms of potential nominees. All three Brionys in "Atonement" are worthy. Saoirse Ronan maybe most so... but my favorite was Romola Garai because you can see her start to realize the extent of what she did. Vanessa Redgrave really hits that ball out of the park, though. Kelly MacDonald was sooooo close to a nod for "No Country for Old Men." I really wish her name were up here. The only nominee I haven't seen is Ruby Dee... so she better be good. Not having seen her performance, though, I would cut her. I would cut Saoirse as well (sorry, dear!) and replace them with Jennifer Garner in "Juno" and Kelly MacDonald. This was probably the hardest category for me, though, because there is so much to love. I would've liked to have nominated everyone I mention. Other worthy women include Tabu for "The Namesake," Charlotte Gainsbourg for "I'm Not There," Emily Mortimer for "Lars in the Real Girl" Allison Janney for "Juno" and Catherine Keener & Kristen Stewart both for "Into the Wild". I am thrilled to see Cate Blanchett (the winner), Amy Ryan and Tilda Swinton up there as they should be.

Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There"
Jennifer Garner in "Juno"
Kelly MacDonald in "No Country for Old Men"
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton"

Achievement in directing

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" - Julian Schnabel
"Juno" - Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton" - Tony Gilroy
"No Country for Old Men" - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" - Paul Thomas Anderson

I thought for sure the Academy would go for their beloved Sean Penn for his great film "Into the Wild." I must say, though, that I am impressed that they chose second-time director Jason Reitman instead. All of these guys were great. A few names I'll just toss out there are Todd Haynes for "I'm Not There," Joe Wright for "Atonement," Andrew Dominik for "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" and David Fincher for "Zodiac."

Adapted screenplay

"Atonement"
"Away from Her"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

I would definitely sub in "Zodiac" for "Away From Her."

"Atonement"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"
"Zodiac"


Original screenplay

"Juno"
"Lars and the Real Girl"
"Michael Clayton"
"Ratatouille"
"The Savages"

I'd put in "I'm Not There" and "Once" for "Michael Clayton" and "The Savages" although both are well done.

"I'm Not There"
"Juno"
"Lars and the Real Girl"
"Once"
"Ratatouille"


Best animated feature film of the year

"Persepolis"
"Ratatouille"
"Surf's Up"

"Surf's Up?" Really? For serious? Did people pick that as a joke? I mean, it didn't horrible... but this over "The Simpsons Movie," "Bee Movie" and "Beowulf?" Questionable. "Ratatouille" would've been justified in a Best Picture nomination too. But I'll take the five nominations it did get.

"Persepolis"
"Ratatouille"
"The Simpsons Movie"


Achievement in art direction

"American Gangster"
"Atonement"
"The Golden Compass"
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
"There Will Be Blood"

"American Gangster" over "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford?" "Sunshine" and "I'm Not There" would've been two I'd consider as well. Toss "300" in there for consideration. I don't know who I would bump for "Sunshine," though. Maybe "Sweeney Todd." Perhaps I'll keep it.

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Atonement"
"The Golden Compass"
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
"There Will Be Blood"


Achievement in cinematography

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Atonement"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

Finally, the first category that is 100% right! "Zodiac" and "Sunshine" would be the two back ups for me, but I love all five of these nominees and called all five here.


Achievement in costume design

"Across the Universe"
"Atonement"
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
"La Vie en Rose"
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

Hmm... all are good, I suppose. But I would bump "Across the Universe" because I think it would be more appropriate for an Art Direction nod than a Costume nod. "Sweeney Todd" had good costumes but didn't most of the characters where about the same thing the whole time? They were great costumes, though. In these two film's places, I would place "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" and one of either "300" or "3:10 to Yuma."

"3:10 to Yuma"
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Atonement"
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
"La Vie en Rose"


Best documentary feature

"No End in Sight"
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience"
"Sicko"
"Taxi to the Dark Side"
"War/Dance"

I haven't seen any of these... but I am probably most interested in "War/Dance." Besides "Sicko," its the one I've heard most about.


Best documentary short subject

"Freeheld"
"La Corona (The Crown)"
"Salim Baba"
"Sari's Mother"

Cool.


Achievement in film editing

"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
"Into the Wild"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

Good choices. I have to say, I am glad "Michael Clayton" isn't included here... I think it's a bit over-represented. "La Vie en Rose" could be an alternate nominee... it was quite a feat to edit (and you won't get the complete effect of it until the second time you watch it). If I had to replace one of these, it would be "Into the Wild," but I'll stick with it. The winner might have to be "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" but then I think about "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" and I can't decide.


Best foreign language film of the year

"Beaufort" Israel
"The Counterfeiters" Austria
"Katyn" Poland
"Mongol" Kazakhstan
"12" Russia

I haven't seen any of these choices! I hope I am able to before the Oscars air.


Achievement in makeup

"La Vie en Rose"
"Norbit"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

Um, yeah. I'm gonna go with "La Vie en Rose."


Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

"Atonement" - Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner" - Alberto Iglesias
"Michael Clayton" - James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille" - Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma" - Marco Beltrami

"Michael Clayton!" Are you serious?! Did that even have a score besides some brooding dull beats? Agh. I'm so pissed that "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" was left out. Listen to that score and you will be too. I don't know if "Sunshine" was eligible, but if so, it should be included. "There Will Be Blood" was ineligible, but it would definitely be up there on my list if it were allowed. "The Kite Runner" had good music, but I think some of it was mismatched for what was going on on-screen at times. "Ratatouille" is great, as is "3:10 to Yuma" and "Atonement" is nearly revolutionary. It will win.

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" -Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
"Atonement" - Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner" - Alberto Iglesias
"Ratatouille" - Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma" - Marco Beltrami


Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

"Falling Slowly" from "Once"
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted"
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush"
"So Close" from "Enchanted"
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted"

I guess we all knew that "Enchanted" was coming with a force here. "Falling Slowly" from "Once" has GOT to win. It's amazing and the movie is drastically under-represented. The other eligible song from "Once" was "If You Want Me" and should also be included in the shortlist. "Guaranteed" from "Into the West" and "Le Festin" from "Ratatouille" should be nominated. "Rule the World" from "Stardust" was pretty good too... but I admit that I'm not familiar with all the choices (who is? I doubt all the voters, if any).

"Falling Slowly" from "Once"
"If You Want Me" from "Once"
"Guaranteed" from "Into the Wild"
"Le Festin" from "Ratatouille"
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted"


Best animated short film

"I Met the Walrus"
"Madame Tutli-Putli"
"Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)"
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)"
"Peter & the Wolf"

Congratulations to them all.


Best live action short film

"At Night"
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)"
"Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)"
"Tanghi Argentini"
"The Tonto Woman"

They all have very good titles!


Achievement in sound editing

"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"No Country for Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"There Will Be Blood"
"Transformers"

Good choices. Don't know what I would change.


Achievement in sound mixing

"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"No Country for Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"3:10 to Yuma"
"Transformers"

"La Vie en Rose" and "I'm Not There" would be appropriate here, yes? Especially "I'm Not There." But I don't know what I would change.


Achievement in visual effects

"The Golden Compass"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
"Transformers"

"Sunshine" would be very close for me. "Transformers" has got to win. Did you see those effects?