so, this year i have been watching TONS of likely to be nominated movies (thanks fileshare and screener copies!) and want to discuss with other oscar and/or film junkies...

just finished watching changeling and must say that i have rarely been as disturbed and moved by a movie as i was by this extraordinary film. while i HIGHLY recommend seeing it, i will warn you that it is VERY disturbing, much more so to people with children, i would imagine. what makes it particularly terrifying is that it's a true story. angelina jolie seems like a likely contender for best actress, clint eastwood for director, and the film itself for best picture. i am sure it will also be up for cinematography, screenplay, and costume. if there were any justice, this would win, but the VERY disturbing nature of it is likely to turn off a number of academy voters.

which brings me to gran torino. clint eastwood has pulled a mighty two-punch combo between changeling and this, released within months of one another. while it is a completely different film from changeling, it is also very very good in it's own right. it's more palatable and less disturbing than changeling, and while i liked it quite a bit, i personally thought changeling was much better. eastwood might get a nomination for best actor, as he is very good in the film. the problem is splitting the voters between the two might cost both films nominations, as splitting the votes between the two might keep torino from getting many or even any nominations.

watched milk last night, and while i liked it a lot, it's a case of right place, right time. years from now, this movie will be viewed as a milestone, but will lack a strong place in history in terms of the gay rights movement and gay history. sean penn is virtually assured a nomination for best actor, and i would be suprised if josh brolin doesn't get a supporting actor nom for his great performance as milk's assasin. it seems likely to recieve nominations for best picture and director, but if the film wins in anything, it will probably be script and for penn's performance. i wanted to love it, and frankly, i feel a little guilty that it wasn't my favorite. a great movie, but inevitably compared to brokeback mountain, it lacks the emotional punch brokeback mastered.

frost/nixon is a gripping film. granted, i am a person who is fascinated by politics, but it's a powerful piece. i passed up the opportunity to see the play when it was on broadway, and watching the movie made me kick myself for missing out. frank langella gives a STRONG performance, and will assuredly be nominated. ron howard has masterfully directed it, and will undoubtedly get a nomination, as will the flawless script, and probably the cinematography as well. it also seems like a very strong contender for best picture as well.

which brings me to doubt, another play made into a movie. i DID see doubt and am enamored of the play. the movie... not so much. meryl streep will get a nomination, but is overaacting the part. cherry jones was much better in the play, and should have been in the movie. phillip seymour hoffman is miscast. so much of the brilliance of the script relies on the casting of the priest, and as creepy as hoffman reads, he makes it seem more likely that the priest is guilty than not, and the movie suffers for it. viola davis seems like she will not only be nominated, but win in the best supporting actress category, where she will most likely aslo be up against amy adams, who also gives an extraordinary performance. while i personally don't think it should, it will probably also be nominated for script and best film, with a possible nomination for the director.

if the playing field was fair, wall-e would get a best picture nomination. but aside from beauty and the beast, it's never happened. expect it to get a script nomination instead.

i loved the dark knight. i think it is easily one of, if not the best comic book movies ever made. it seems possible that christopher nolan could get a best director nomination, and heath ledger a supporting actor nom. (i think he deserves it not only for his incredible performance as the joker, but as tribute for not winning for brokeback as he should have). i suppose it is possible that it could get a best picture nomination, but as is the case with wall-e, the academy doesn't often break with tradition when it comes to nominating dark horses.

have not yet seen slumdog millionare, revolutionary road, the reader, the wrestler, or the curious case of benjamin button yet, but will be watching them soon.

any other film junkies want to comment?





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[Edited 12/28/08 16:58pm]

slumdog millionaire was my favorite movie, in a longgggg time.