If We Picked the Winners

Alright, LK I have a game for us to play. I'm watching "At the Movies" which used to be "At the Movies with Siskel and Ebert" and "At the Movies with Ebert and Roeper" and their episode this week is the annual "If We Picked the Winners" so I thought we should play this. Show the nominees, say who will win and who we think should win and then explain why.
I'll go first

Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Cean Chaffin
Frost/Nixon - Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Eric Fellner
Milk - Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen
The Reader - Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Redmond Morris, Donna Gigliotti
Slumdog Millionaire - Christian Colson

Who I Think Should Win:
My pick is "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" because it is an astounding accomplishment. It is broad and expansive but also an intimate portrait about life and death. The special effects are amazing and movies don't come around like this every year.

Who I Think Will Win:
"Slumdog Millionaire" because it has won every major award this award season. I haven't seen it but it is a critical darling and in the tradition of small movies that make it big and make people feel good I think the voters are going to pick this film as a sign of optimism in todays rough economic climate.

Best Director
Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant – Milk

Who I Think Should Win:
Gus Van Sant for "Milk." With a small budget of $15 million he and his team managed to recreate San Fransisco of the 1970s. He made a film that is a great portrait of a man who made a difference and will live on continuing to inspire people, gay and straight, for years to come.

Who I Think Will Win:
Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire."

Best Actor
Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Should Win and Will Win:
Sean Penn in "Milk." Hands down the greatest performance this year by an actor. He make Harvey Milk come alive and even though Penn overall is very stoic and introverted he shows his great acting ability by tackling on such a complex and edgy character without a hint of reservation. Great work!

Additionally I want to say that in a less competetive year I think the Oscar would go to Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Much has been said that Pitt isn't really acting in most of his films or even if he is, he is just used as a sex object who's main goal is to show off his hot body. This film shows that he has incredible depth and the ability to understand the most complex characters.

Best Actress
Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Melissa Leo – Frozen River
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kate Winslet – The Reader

Will and Should Win:
Kate Winslet. Nothing more to say. This is Kate's year!

Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin – Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road

Who Will/Should Win:
Heath Ledger in his last full film performance in "The Dark Knight." I don't know that if Heath was alive he would win for this performance but his death caused everyone to pay attention to this amazing performance and the Oscar would be a fitting recognition to his incredible talent and diverse acting.

As I said, if Heath was still alive he probably wouldn't win and then the Oscar would go to Josh Brolin in "Milk." An incredible performance where he really allows you to like him, hate him, understand him and then be repulsed.

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams – Doubt
Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Who Should/Will Win:
You've said that you think the Oscar will go to Marisa Tomei, but I think the Academy should and will pay attention to Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" who managed to act in the same film as Cate Blancett and got the attention. She was unafraid to age and she injects her character with warmth and kindness. A truly memorable screen performance.

So, random but about the Oscars this year. In 1998 Leonardo DiCaprio did not go the Academy Awards, many thinking because he did not get nominated for "Titanic." I hope that he does go even though he was not nominated for "Revolutionary Road" in support of his girl Kate Winslet. They have been friends for so long and it would be great to see the camera cut to him while she is on the stage.