Sanjuro37

Hathaway's got some good competition from Mellisa Leo and Sally Hawkins, but she's still the front runner. I think Anne was the best this year, but if any of these three won I wouldn't be disappointed.

And you want the Golden Globes to be the main one? The one in which a smug group of freelance "journalists" (and I use the term so fucking loosely) pick the nominees based on who they can schmooze with? The most bribed panel of judges in the history of entertainment? No way; as much as I hate the politics of the Academy and their insufferable need to award the big players no matter how much better up and comers were that year, I'll take a jury of peers over the downright shameful HFP any day of the week.

hardercore

The Globes, Boston, and the AFI have announced. Like it or not, Wall-E is currently a major contender for the big prize.

Picture
1. Wall-E (LAFCA, AFI**, BSFC**, NBR*, BFCA*)
2. Slumdog Millionaire (NBR, WAFCA, BSFC**, BFCA*, GG*)
3. Milk (NYFCC, AFI**, NBR*, BFCA*)
4. The Dark Knight (AFI**, LAFCA***, NBR*, BFCA*)
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (AFI**, NBR*, BFCA*, GG*)
5. Frost/Nixon (AFI**, NBR*, BFCA*, GG*)

Director
1. Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire” (WAFCA, LAFCA, NYFCC***, BCFA*, GG*)
2. David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (NBR, BFCA*, GG*)
3. Mike Leigh, “Happy-Go-Lucky” (NYFCC)
4. Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight” (LAFCA***, BFCA*)
5. Gus Van Sant, “Milk” (BSFC**, BFCA*)

Actor
1. Sean Penn, “Milk” (LAFCA, NYFCC, BSFC**, ISA*, BFCA*, GG*)
2. Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler” (WAFCA, BSFC**, LAFCA***, NYFCC***, ISA*, BFCA*, GG*)
3. Clint Eastwood, “Gran Torino” (NBR, BFCA*)
4. Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon” (BFCA*, GG*)
4. Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (BFCA*, GG*)

Actress
1. Sally Hawkins, “Happy-Go-Lucky” (LAFCA, NYFCC, BSFC, GG*)
2. Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married” (NBR, BFCA*, ISA*, GG*)
3. Meryl Streep, “Doubt” (WAFCA, BFCA*, GG*)
4. Melissa Leo, “Frozen River” (LAFCA***, NYFCC***, ISA*, BFCA*)
5. Angelina Jolie, “Changeling” (BFCA*, GG*)

Supporting Actor
1. Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” (WAFCA, LAFCA, BSFC, NYFCC***, BFCA*, GG*)
2. Josh Brolin, “Milk” (NBR, NYFCC, BFCA*,)
3. Eddie Marsan, “Happy-Go-Lucky” (LAFCA***)
3. Robert Downey, Jr., “Tropic Thunder” (BFCA*, GG*)
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt” (BFCA*, GG*)

Supporting Actress
1. Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (NBR, NYFCC, BSFC, LAFCA**, ISA*, BFCA*, GG*)
2. Viola Davis, “Doubt” (LAFCA***, NYFCC***, BFCA*, GG*)
3. Rosemarie DeWitt, “Rachel Getting Married” (WAFCA, ISA*)
4. Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler” (BFCA*, GG*)
4. Kate Winslet, “The Reader” (BFCA*, GG*)

Screenplay, Adapted
1. Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire” (WAFCA, NBR**, BFCA*, GG*)
2. Eric Roth, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (NBR**, BFCA*, GG*)
3. Peter Morgan, “Frost/Nixon” (BFCA*, GG*)
3. John Patrick Shanley, “Doubt” (BFCA*, GG*)
5. David Hare, “The Reader” (GG*)

Screenplay, Original
1. Jenny Lumet, “Rachel Getting Married” (WAFCA, NYFCC)
2. Mike Leigh, “Happy-Go-Lucky” (LAFCA, NYFCC***)
3. Dustin Lance Black, “Milk” (BSFC, BFCA*)
4. Nick Schenk, “Gran Torino” (NBR)
5. Charlie Kaufman, “Synecdoche, New York” (LAFCA***, ISA*)

Animated
1. Wall-E (NBR, NYFCC, BSFC, AA*, BFCA*, GG*)
2. Waltz With Bashir (NYFCC***, AA*, BFCA*, LAFCA*)
3. Bolt (AA*, BFCA*, GG*)
3. Kung Fu Panda (AA*, BFCA*, GG*)

Documentary
1. Man On Wire (NBR, WAFCA, LAFCA, NYFCC, BSFC, ISA*, BFCA*)
2. Waltz With Bashir (LAFCA***, NYFCC***)
3. I.O.U.S.A (BFCA*)
3. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (BFCA*)
3. Standard Operating Procedure (BFCA*)
3. Young At Heart (BFCA*)

Foreign Film
1. Sweden, “Let The Right One In” (WAFCA, BSFC, NBR*, BFCA*)
2. Israel, “Waltz With Bashir” (NBR*, BFCA*, GG*)
3. Italy, “Gomorrah” (ISA*, BFCA*, GG*)
4. France, “I’ve Loved You So Long” (BFCA*, GG*)
5. France, “The Class” (LAFCA***, ISA*)

Music (Score)
1. A.R. Rahman, “Slumdog Millionaire” (LAFCA, BFCA*, GG*)
2. Alexandre Desplat, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (LAFCA***, BFCA*, GG*)
3. Clint Eastwood, “Changeling” (BFCA*, GG*)
4. James Newton Howard, “Defiance” (GG*)
4. Hans Zimmer, “Frost/Nixon” (GG*)

Music (Song)
1. Bolt, “I Thought I Lost You” (BFCA*, GG*)
1. Wall-E, “Down To Earth” (BFCA*, GG*)
1. The Wrestler, “The Wrestler” (BFCA*, GG*)
4. Gran Torino, “Gran Torino” (GG*)
4. Cadillac Record, “Once in a Lifetime” (GG*)

Cinematography
1. Anthony Dod Mantle, “Slumdog Millionaire” (NYFCC, LAFCA***)
2. Christopher Doyle, “Paranoid Park” (BSFC)
3. Claudio Miranda, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (NYFCC***)

Art Direction
1. Synecdoche, New York (LAFCA)
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (WAFCA)
3. The Dark Knight (LAFCA***)

DeFan

In the post above, what do the *'s mean?

hardercore

* is a nomination (included for bigger groups only), ** is a tied win, *** is a runner-up win

lamphorn

Wall-E will certainly win Best Animated.

Sean Penn will win Best Actor

Kate Winslet will win Best Supporting Actress

Heath Ledger will win Best Supporting Actor

If there is any justice Best Original Screenplay would go to "Synecdoche, NY" but could easily go to "Milk".

Best Picture will be "Milk"... however there's a chance that "Slumdog Millionaire" could squeak by.

I wouldn't be surprised to see "Milk" sweep the Oscars as backlash to the Prop 8 vote. Hollywood is very angry about that and is seeing this movie as a timely answer to it.

Doctor Gonzo

AFI top 10 for 2008:


AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR-OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

THE DARK KNIGHT

FROST/NIXON

FROZEN RIVER

GRAN TORINO

IRON MAN

MILK

WALL¥E

WENDY AND LUCY

THE WRESTLER

Doctor Gonzo

Also, the New York Film Critics ONLINE announced today:

Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Director: Danny Boyle w/ Loveleen Tandan - “Slumdog Millionaire”
Actor: Sean Penn - “Milk”
Actress: Sally Hawkins - “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger - “The Dark Knight”
Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz - “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire - Anthony Dod Mantle
Screenplay: “Slumdog Millionaire” - Simon Beaufoy
Foreign Picture: “4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days”
Documentary: “Man on Wire”
Animated Feature: “Wall-E”
Score: Slumdog Millionaire - “A.R. Rahman”
Breakout Performance: Sally Hawkins - “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Debut As Director: Martin McDonagh - “In Bruges”
Ensemble Performance: Milk”


10 Best Pictures (alphabetical)
“Che”
“A Christmas Tale”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Happy-Go-Lucky”
“Milk”
“Rachel Getting Married”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“Wall-E”
“The Wrestler”



-- Boston Film Critics:

Best Picture: WALL•E and Slumdog Millionaire (tie)
Best Actor: Sean Penn for Milk and Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler (tie)
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Director: Gus Van Sant for Milk and Paranoid Park
Best Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black for Milk
Best Cinematography: Christopher Doyle and Rain Kathy Li for Paranoid Park
Best Documentary: Man on Wire
Best Foreign-Language Film: Let the Right One In
Best Animated Film: WALL•E
Best Film Editing: Chris Dickens for Slumdog Millionaire
Best New Filmmaker: Martin McDonagh for In Bruges
Best Ensemble Cast: Tropic Thunder

Daytripper

Huh!? Who or what is Loveleen Tandan??

Daytripper

I seriously seriously doubt "Milk" will win Best Picture. Regardless of how pissed Hollywood is at the Prop 8 vote. Sean Penn Best Actor? Yes. Hell, I think we might even see Gus win for Best Director. But "Slumdog" is not only the feel good movie the Academy likes. Most that have seen it like it too.

lamphorn

Don't forget that "Juno" was the feel good movie last year, but the award went to "No Country For Old Men" (though it should have gone to "There Will Be Blood").

I wouldn't be surprised if "Slumdog" won, but I think "Milk" has the edge at the moment because of Prop 8. If not for that vote this year, I wouldn't think it would win.

Boba Fett

I really think Eastwood is gonna get the pity award for Actor in Gran Torino; it's the best possible role he could end his career with, IMO.

EDIT: And by the way, the trailer really doesn't reflect the movie properly. It's not a vigilante film.

lamphorn

I don't know. I've heard mixed things about this one, and know at least one person who said it's a horrible movie.

I also don't see why you would say this is the end of his career. He's old, but his mom's still alive and kicking and he's now this year makes it the second time he's banged out two films in one year. I'd give him five more years of directing at a minimum.

wirefan

Unfortunately politics gets mixed in - I think Milk will get more consideration then it normally would have and has a better then even chance at winning, though Penn deserves a nomination and his potential win (it's him or Rourke?) regardless of politics.

Surprisingly no Jon Stewart or Letterman, with this being the last best chance to get in some real good Hollywood Bush-bashing. What will they do for humor?

And I hope In Bruges gets some nomination(s), but not being released within the last month or so of the year in formulaic Oscar-pandering style will hurt it.

I'm a big fan of Nolan (Following, Memento, Prestige) and would like to see him get nominated for Dark Knight.

Boba Fett

I meant acting career. I have no doubt he'll direct until the day he dies. I don't see him acting again, it would feel very cheap after this.

Doctor Gonzo

-- St. Louis Film Critics:

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

BEST ACTOR
Sean Penn (Milk)

BEST ACTRESS
Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis (Doubt)

BEST DIRECTOR

Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Slumdog Millionaire - U.K./U.S.A/India

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Man On Wire

BEST COMEDY
Burn After Reading

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Wall-E

MOST ORIGINAL, INNOVATIVE OR CREATIVE FILM
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Mandy Walker (Australia)

BEST SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL OR ADAPTED)
Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon)

BEST MUSIC (SOUNDTRACK OR SCORE, ORIGINAL OR ADAPTED)
The Visitor

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
The Dark Knight


-- Southeast Film Critics:

BEST PICTURE (En orden)
1. Milk
2. Slumdog Millionaire
3. WALL-E
4. The Dark Knight
5. The Wrestler
6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7. The Reader
8. The Visitor
9. Frost/Nixon
10. Revolutionary Road

BEST ACTOR: Sean Penn “Milk”
Runner-up: Mickey Rourke “The Wrestler”

BEST ACTRESS: Anne Hathaway “Rachel Getting Married”
Runner-up: Kate Winslet “The Reader”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger “The Dark Knight”
Runner-up: Robert Downey, Jr. “Tropic Thunder”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Runner-up: Viola Davis “Doubt”

BEST DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle “Slumdog Millionaire”
Runner-up: Gus Van Sant “Milk”

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Dustin Lance Black “Milk”
Runner-up: Robert D. Siegel “The Wrestler”

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Simon Beaufoy “Slumdog Millionaire”
Runner-up: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: “Let the Right One In” (Sweden)
Runner-up: “I’ve Loved You So Long” (France)

DOCUMENTARY: “Man on Wire”
Runner-up: “Young@Heart”

ANIMATED FEATURE: “WALL-E”
Runner-up: “Kung Fu Panda”


-- Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards:


Best Film
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Direction
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Screenplay Original
Wall-E - Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon

Best Screenplay Adapted
Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan

Best Documentary (Tie)
Man On Wire - James Marsh
Trouble The Water - Tia Lessen, Carl Deal

Best Actress (Tie)
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Kate Winslet - The Reader and Revolutionary Road

Best Actress In Supporting Role
Viola Davis - Doubt

Best Actor
Sean Penn - Milk

Best Actor in Supporting Role
Heath Ledger - Dark Knight

Best Ensemble Cast
Rachel Getting Married

Best Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall

Best Foreign Film
Tell No One

EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS

Best Woman Director
Courtney Hunt - Frozen River

Best Woman Screenwriter
Jenny Lumet - Rachel Getting Married

Best Breakthrough Performance
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Newcomer
Misty Upham - Frozen River

Women’s Image Award
Kristin Scott Thomas

Hanging in There Award for Persistence
Melissa Leo - Frozen River

Actress Defying Age and Ageism
Catherine Deneuve - A Christmas Tale

2008 Outstanding Achievement By A Woman In The Film Industry
Sheila Nevins, Producing/Programming at HBO

Lifetime Achievement Award
Catherine Deneuve

AWFJ Award For Humanitarian Activism
All of the Women in Pray The Devil Back To Hell

EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS

AWFJ Hall Of Shame Award
27 Dresses

Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent
Kate Hudson

Movie You Wanted To Love But Just Couldn‘t (Tie)
Mamma Mia!
The Women

Best Of The Fests
Hunger

Unforgettable Moment Award (Tie)
Dark Knight: Joker’s first scene
Slumdog Millionaire: Young Jamal jumps into the poop

Best Depiction Of Nudity or Sexuality (Tie)
Elegy
The Reader

Best Seduction
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Sequel That Shouldn’t Have Been Made Award (Tie)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Saw V

The Remake That Shouldn’t Have Been Made Award:
The Women

Cultural Crossover Award
Slumdog Millionaire

Bravest Performance Award
Mickey Rourke - The Wrester

Best Leap from Actress to Director Award
Helen Hunt - Then She Found Me

Most Egregious Age Difference Between Leading Man and Love Interest
The Wackness - Ben Kingsley and Mary-Kate Olsen

NoirFan

Or, The Woody Allen Honorary Award.

Daytripper

St. Louis Film Critics!? LOL! You mean there's more than one?

lamphorn

Wow, bummed by how little recognition "Synecdochy, New York" is getting. It'll be one of those things in 20 years people will be scratching their heads at how no one recognized it just like we wonder how the hell "2001" got nothing but best effects while "Oliver!" won best picture?

Most innovative film "Benjamin Button"? I'm gonna have to check this out, but it's going to have to re-invent the wheel to be more innovative/creative than "Synecdoche".

Daytripper

"Synecdochy"'s studio needs to be shot. It's on no one's radar. And it's their fault. If it weren't for Rottentomatoes, I would have never even heard of it. So I watched the trailer on Apple. And it looks great. But how many people like me have never heard of it either?

lamphorn

I agree. While there's a limited audience for a movie like this, they really didn't promote it at all. They also pulled it out of theatres after about two weeks, not allowing even a chance that word of mouth might bring some people in.

Unfortunately the time is coming soon when any non-blockbuster film will be straight to cable. You can smell the reluctance of these studios to even produce anything that wasn't hacked out by a Brett Ratner.

Buttmunker

I'm a little late in this game, and trying to catch up, but I"m about on Page 4 or so, and didn't see any mention of The Incredible Hulk. May I ask why all the hub-bub over The Dark Knight when the Hulk film was much more enjoyable - better story, better acting all around......and I didn't recognize William Hurt until almost half-way through (he should get another supporting actor nod).

And was Seven Pounds mentioned yet? Will Smith for Best Actor? Maybe it was. I shall see, I shall see. Back to reading.

The Antipodean

...Not sure I can see this perspective at all. Hulk was OK, but that's about it.

Buttmunker

Also, I think Robert Downey, Jr will walk away with a well deserved Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his astounding role in Tropic Thunder? Look, we all applaud Heath Ledger for his stint as The Joker, and the fact is that his sudden demise will have him high up in the running (Academy sympathizes), but Mr. Downey will win. And why? Call it a cumulative Oscar - a) for Iron Man; b) for surviving (sorry, Mr. Ledger) what might be a 35-year addiction problem; for losing in 1992 for Chaplin --- essentially for being successful in Hollywood films (and TV) since the mid-1980's. The man shines on the screen.

The only thing in Ledger's favor is the fact that this would be his last chance at winning an Oscar. But that didn't stop the Academy from denying such Hollywood greats in their declining years as Judy Garland, Peter O'Toole, and James Mason - just to name a few.

Was Heath Ledger that good? Would anyone care had he not tragically died? I saw The Dark Knight in the theater, but wasn't that impressed. Mr. Downey, however, impressed the hell out of me (as he usually does), but in addition to that, he made me laugh. He made me laugh hard.

For that matter, if Tom Cruise does not pick up his second Best Supporting Actor nomination for his extraordinary work in Tropic Thunder, then all is lost. I'm not saying he should win, necessarily, but he should get recognized - and get brought back into the Hollywood elite.

It would be nice to see Brad Pitt get a little recognition himself. His last nomination was in 1995 (supporting for 12 Monkees), and Hollywood has overlooked him since.

Buttmunker

The perspective is comparing two SuperHero films. One got hype; the other got zype. But from my perspective, after watching the two films, I thought the zyped one was actually a better film.

Come to think of it, I think Batman Begins had a better story than the sequel. Michael Caine was great in the first film.

Buttmunker

Someone should "bullet-point" the differences of TIH and TDK for Academy Award Consideration. Make sure you include the action sequences.