Ryan McNeil
There’s just one more sleep until Oscar Night, and I can’t help but wonder if all these categories are going to be as predictable as they seem to be shaping up, or if we have a surprise or two in store.My calls for the two lead actor categories after the jump.
As the old saying goes, ladies first. Much like Phil Seymour-Hoffman, Laura Linney is quickly becoming the sort of actress who can net an Oscar nomination just by showing up to work. Sadly though, despite her wonderful performance in THE SAVAGES this still isn’t her year. I’d suggest that she track down Julia Roberts and challenge her to a hell-in-the-cell match for the Oscar she should have won back in 2000.
Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett will have to take her double nomination as reward enough, since her performance in ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE isn’t likely to grab her the gold either. Perhaps she can fight Gweneth Paltrow in a rage-in-the-cage match for the Oscar she should have won back in 1998. Then we have Ellen Page. Ellen’s performance, while charming, feels a bit too slight for what the Academy usually looks to honour in this category. So while I’d love to see Halifax represent at the podium, she’ll have to be honoured just to be nominated.
The likely winner could well be Julie Christie for her heartbreaking role in AWAY FROM HER. She’s been universally acclaimed for her role as a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s, and the award also carries with it the sort of unofficial ‘lifetime achievement’ cache that Oscar voters like to dole out from time to time. BUT…
If there’s one woman who can derail The Christie Express, I believe it to be Marion Cotillard. She goes through a startling physical transformation for the part, convincingly plays a woman twenty-some years her senior, and gives arguably the most memorable performance of the five women nominated. Some might argue that her work is more an impression than a true performance, but she really brought Edith Piaf to life in LA VIE EN ROSE…and might have impressed just enough people to provide tomorrow night’s biggest surprise.
The Hatter’s Call… Cotillard will be Sunday night’s New York Giants.
Let’s hear it for the boys! There’s a name or two missing from this list, but in this category we have five amazing performances to pick from. Too bad four of them are badly over-matched.
Tommy Lee Jones was the surprise of the bunch. While I felt his work in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN easily could have netted him a supporting nod, it was his grizzled role as a soldier’s father for IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH that seems to have touched The Academy on a deeper level. It was one of the more surprising nominations, and I think Mr. Jones will have to be happy with that as his achievement. Ditto Viggo Mortensen- another slight surprise for his work in EASTERN PROMISES. I’m glad to see Viggo making the most of his post-Middle Earth career, but much like Tommy Lee, I hope he has boned up on his fake smile for when the winner is announced.
If I had a vote, I’d almost be tempted to give it to George Clooney for MICHAEL CLAYTON. Primarily, because it’s the first time I’ve watched him play a character that isn’t George Clooney. I’m happy to see George stretching himself a bit further with projects like MICHAEL CLAYTON, SYRIANA, and GOODNIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, but his last win was just two years back, he’ll have to wait a bit longer.
The question isn’t if Johnny Depp will win an Oscar, the question is when? He has a knack for choosing some of the most memorable parts in movies, and gives each one of them a truly unique identity. Unfortunately for Depp though, SWEENEY TODD seems to have missed the mark in voter’s eyes…not a shock since it’s not the most accessible musical around. Sorry Johnny, but keep up the good work.
If you ever find yourself asking “Is this movie any good?”, just look to see if Daniel Day-Lewis is in it. The man only acts when he wants to…taking five years off in between projects lately. So suffice to say, when he gets the urge to act, he’s choosy over what part he’ll take.THERE WILL BE BLOOD is many things- dark, depressing, violent, long, frustrating, disturbing, and unarguably a command performance. It’s been almost twenty years (!) since Day-Lewis won best actor for MY LEFT FOOT…far too long for one of the most gifted actors in the world to be honoured a second time.
The Hatter’s Pick… Hide your milkshakes. Day-Lewis will take this in a walk.