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Roestel vs. Razak: The Oscar predictions
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Fellow Film Examiner Jason Roestel and I sometimes have our differences when it comes to movies. For instance his opinion on the new Friday the 13th was very different from mine. That, however, is a good thing, especially when it comes to debating the Oscars and who we think is going to win. Jason and I have talked it over, duked it out and stomped our feet and now present to you our Oscar predictions. I'll be telling you what I think is going to win and also why Jason's predictions are totally wrong while he'll be doing the same thing to me on his page. Welcome to the first of what will hopefully be many Roestel vs. Razak features. (Have your own face-off: download the Oscar ballot!)
My pick: Previously I had said the Mickey Rourke would win this one for his role in The Wrestler. However, upon further consideration I just don't think that Oscar favorite Sean Penn in Milk is going to lose. Not only is he a fave, but the film he is in is based on a true story and a tear jerker at that (not that The Wrestler isn't a tear jerker either). Penn has the ability to entirely change himself for a role and he did it here too. I think this is another performance the academy just can't pass up.
Jason's pick: Rourke is the comeback kid here, but I don't think Oscar is entirely ready for his return. While his role in The Wrester is powerful I don't know if the Academy is going to jump on the Rourke train too quickly. He's had "comebacks" before and they haven't really worked out. Plus that whole WWE stunt probably left a bad taste in plenty of voters mouths.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
My pick: Heath Ledger is going to win. If he doesn't there will be angry people everywhere. I just don't see anyone else stealing it from him
Jason's pick: It's hard to argue this one so we both agreed.
BEST ACTRESS
My pick: I think I have to go with a surprise win here for Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married. Her performance in the film is the kind that sticks out to the voters in that it felt very open and honest. She's also one of the most popular actresses in the world right now and that never hurts when it comes to getting votes for the Oscars. The off the cuff nature of the film should lend itself to many picking her as an actress who can truly grasp a character and run with it.
Jason's pick: While Kate Winslet is an impressive force in The Reader I think that the Academy is going to move away from depressing historical roles in this case. I can't point out anything wrong with Winslet's performance here, but I pretty much just have a gut feeling.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
My pick: I've finally come to a decision on which actress from Doubt will win this award and it is Viola Davis. Her brief performance in the film is the most powerful and impressive in a powerful and impressive film. Judy Dench has already proven that you don't have to be on screen that long to win this award and as such I believe that Davis could swoop in and win this one pretty easily.
Jason's pick: Penelope Cruz did deliver a striking performance in Vicky Christina Barcelona, but the film itself wasn't too memorable and as such I think her performance will float by most voters. While her performance was strong it was nowhere near as powerful as Davis'.
BEST ANIMATED FILM
My pick: Wall E will win this award. The other two films don't even come close to the quality and heart of it. I wanted to see Wall E nominated for best picture I thought it was so good. Not that we get to know, but I can see Wall E getting every vote there is.
Jason's pick: It's hard to argue that Wall E isn't going to win it -- so we won't.
BEST DIRECTOR
My pick: Danny Boyle has been winning this award left and right and I don't think it's going to stop now. The Best Director award and the Best Film award often go hand-in-hand and since I think that Slumdog will be getting best picture it's pretty obvious to me that Boyle will get best director. The directing in the film is spot on and he masterfully weaves a story with many parts into a gorgeous and dramatic film. Boyle has been a fantastic director since he began and it's time the Academy showed the world that.
Jason's pick: Gus Van Sant is a phenomenal director and Milk is one of the best directed films of the year, but it isn't the best. Slumdog Millionaire is just on too much of a roll and too much of a favorite for Van Sant to win this one. The direction in Slumdog is also so much more eye catching and friendly.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
My pick: Dark Knig... oh, wait. Well since the clear winner wasn't even nominated I'll have to look elsewhere. Isn't it strange that most of the best films this year were adapted from somewhere else? That being said I'm going to have to give The Reader the win here. The film's story is strikingly powerful to the point of amazement. The screenplay deftly weaves through so many WWII issues and in the end delivers one of the greatest monologues on the Holocaust ever given. Just reading this screenplay would be a powerful experience.
Jason's pick: I liked The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but the screenplay was no fantastic achievement. Extending the short story out like that was well done, but I don't believe it was truly the best of the year or that it will grab voters the same way The Reader will.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
My pick: If the first 20 minutes of Wall E were written out with the old adage that a page of screenplay is about one minute of film than the first 20 pages of the screenplay would be blank. That, to me, is the most powerful type of screenplay when it works and I believe that Pixar's achievement here will win over voters. This could be my love of the film winning me over though.
Jason's pick: In Bruges was an fantastic film, but it definitely does not have enough buzz to snag an Oscar. I'm pretty sure half the readers are wondering right now what the film even is. Sorry, but the Oscars are all about being fresh in the minds of the voters and In Bruges is very far from that.
BEST PICTURE
My pick: As stated before I'm going with the obvious favorite of Slumdog Millionaire. I can't see anyone knocking this darling of the industry of its pedestal and I don't see why it should be knocked off there anyway. I'm pretty sure it is impossible to come away from the film with anything but a smile and a deep seated feeling that it was probably the best movie you've seen all year.
Jason's pick: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Check out his reasons why.
Read Jason's Full Article
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