Thursday, September 3, 2009

September Oscar Predictions

Here are my September predictions. I'm sorry that I did not update in August. So here they are.

Best Picture
-Bright Star (7 nominations)
-An Education (4 nominations)
-The Hurt Locker (8 nominations)
-Invictus (6 nominations)
-The Lovely Bones (9 nominations)
-Nine (9 nominations)
-Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (5 nominations)
-A Serious Man (3 nominations)
-Up (6 nominations)
-Up in the Air (3 nominations)

Best Director
-Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker
-Lee Daniels for Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
-Clint Eastwood for Invictus
-Peter Jackson for The Lovely Bones
-Spike Jonze for Where the Wild Things Are (3 nominations)

Best Lead Actor
-George Clooney for Up in the Air
-Adam Dancy for Adam (1 nomination)
-Daniel Day-Lewis for Nine
-Morgan Freeman for Invictus
-Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker

Best Lead Actress
-Abbie Cornish for Bright Star
-Carey Mulligan for An Education
-Soarise Ronan for The Lovely Bones
-Gabourey Sidbe for Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
-Hillary Swank for Amelia (2 nominations)

Best Supporting Actor
-Matt Damon for Invictus
-Richard Kind for A Serious Man
-Peter Sarsgaurd for An Education
-Stanley Tucci for The Lovely Bones
-Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds (1 nomination)

Best Supporting Actress
-Penelope Cruz for Nine
-Judi Dench for Nine
-Mo'nique for Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
-Meryl Streep for Julie and Julia (1 nomination)
-Rachel Weisz for The Lovely Bones

Original Screenplay
-Mark Boal for The Hurt Locker
-Jane Campion for Bright Star
-Ethan & Joel Coen for A Serious Man
-Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber for (500) Days of Summer (1 nomination)
-Bob Peterson for Up

Adapted Screenplay
-Nick Hornby for An Education
-Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, & Phillipa Boyens for The Lovely Bones
-Damien Paul for Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
-Anthony Peckham for Invictus
-Jason Reitman for Up in the Air

Animated Feature Film
-Coraline (2 nominations)
-9 (1 nomination)
-Ponyo (1 nomination)
-The Princess and the Frog (2 nomination)
-Up

Documentary Feature Film
-Capitalism: A Love Story (nomination)
-The Cove (1 nomination)
-Earth (1 nomination)
-Food Inc. (1 nomination)
-Tyson (1 nomination)

Foreign Language Film
(Coming Soon)

Film Editing
-Avatar (7 nominations)
-The Hurt Locker
-Invictus
-The Lovely Bones
-Nine

Cinematography
-Bright Star
-The Hurt Locker
-The Lovely Bones
-Nine
-Where the Wild Things Are

Art Direction
-Avatar
-Bright Star
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (1 nomination)
-Nine
-Where the Wild Things Are

Costume Design
-Amelia
-Bright Star
-Cheri (1 nomination)
-Nine
-The Young Victoria (1 nomination)

Visual Effects
-Avatar
-District 9 (3 nominations)
-Star Trek (3 nominations)

Make Up
-Avatar
-District 9
-The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2 nominations)

Original Score
-Avatar
-Bright Star
-Brothers (1 nomination)
-The Lovely Bones
-Up

Original S0mg
-Coraline
-Fame (1 nomination)
-The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
-Nine
-The Princess and the Frog

Sound Mixing
-Avatar
-The Hurt Locker
-Star Trek
-Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (1 nomination)
-Up

Sound Editing
-Avatar
-District 9
-The Hurt Locker
-Star Trek
-Up

New Blog Announcment

I'm starting a new blog that is more expansive on what it deals with. It will be titled "Nedoh Media." I will expand on more in depth discussion on films, music, books, and television, That doesn't mean that I will cease to publish on this blog, I will focus less on film, and reach out to other media. It might not be up for a little bit, but be aware. Thank you, and I will keep you posted.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Winners of Best of the 90s

I've finally finished my best of the 90s. The big winner is Fargo, with five awards. Next up, we have Romeo + Juliet, with four awards. With two awards, we have Being John Malkovich, Forrest Gump, Schindler's List, and Toy Story. Enjoy.

Film
Winner: Fargo
Honorable Mention: Toy Story

Director (Tie)
Winner: Spike Jonze "Being John Malkovich" and Baz Luhrman "Romeo + Juliet"
Honorable Mention: Robert Zemeckis "Forrest Gump"

Ensemble Cast
Winner: Being John Malkovich
Honorable Mention: Fargo

Lead Actor
Winner: Tom Hanks "Forrest Gump"
Honorable Mention: Jim Carrey "The Truman Show"

Lead Actress
Winner: Frances McDormand "Fargo"
Honorable Mention: Kate Winslett "Titanic"

Supp. Actor (Tie)
Winner: Kevin Spacey "The Usual Suspects" and William H. Macy "Fargo"
Honorable Mention: John Malkovich "Being John Malkovich"

Supp. Actress
Winner: Kim Basinger "L.A. Confidential"
Honoorable Mention: Catherine Keener "Being John Malkovich"

Writing (Original)
Winner: Fargo
Honorable Mention: American Beauty

Writing (Adapted)
Winner: Schindler's List
Honoarble Mention: Sling Blade

Animated Feature Film
Winner: Toy Story
Honorable Mention: Chicken Run

Foreign Language Film
Winner: Life is Beautiful (Italy)
Honorable Mention: Kolya (Czeck Republic)

Art Direction
Winner: Romeo + Juliet
Honorable Mention: Titanic

Costume Design:
Winner: Schindler's List
Honorable Mention: Titanic

Film Editing
Winner: Romeo + Juliet
Honorable Mention: American Beauty

Cinematography
Winner: Fargo
Honorable Mention: American Beauty

Original Music (Score)
Winner: American Beauty
Honorable Mention: Toy Story

Original Music (Song)
Winner: "Talk Show Host" Romeo + Juliet
Honorable Mention: "Miss Misery" Good Will Hunting

Sound (Mixing)
Winner: Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Honorable Mention:

Sound (Editing)
Winner: Titanic
Honorable Mention: Toy Story

Make Up
Winner: Dick Tracy
Honorable Mention: The English Patient

Visual Effects
Winner: Forrest Gump
Honorable Mention: Titanic

Monday, June 29, 2009

Best of the 90s Nominees

Best Film
-Being John Malkovich
-Fargo
-Good Will Hunting
-L.A. Confidential
-Pulp Fiction
-The Shawshank Redemption
-Titanic
-Toy Story
-The Truman Show
-The Usual Suspects

Best Director
-James Cameron for Titanic
-Joel Coen for Fargo
-Spike Jonze for Being John Malkovich
-Baz Luhrman for Romeo + Juliet
-Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction
-Peter Weir for The Truman Show
-Robert Zemeckis for Forrest Gump

Best Ensemble Cast
-Being John Malkovich
-Fargo
-L.A. Confidential
-Magnolia
-Pulp Fiction
-The Sixth Sense

Best Actor in a Leading Role
-Jim Carrey for The Truman Show
-Roberto Benigni for Life is Beautiful
-John Cussack for Being John Malkovich
-Matt Damon for Good Will Hunting
-Morgan Freeman for The Shawshank Redemption
-Tom Hanks for Forrest Gump
-John Travolta for Pulp Fiction

Best Actress in a Leading Role
-Helena Bohnam Carter for The Wings of the Dove
-Claire Danes for Romeo + Juliet
-Jodie Foster for The Silence of the Lambs
-Frances McDormand for Fargo
-Emma Thompson for Howards End
-Kate Winslett for Titanic

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
-Cuba Gooding Jr. for Jerry McGuire
-Samuel L. Jackson for Pulp Fiction
-William H. Macy for Fargo
-John Malkovich for Being John Malkovich
-Haley Joel Osment for The Sixth Sense
-Kevin Spacey for Se7en
-Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects
-Robin Williams for Good Will Hunting

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
-Kim Basinger for L.A. Confidential
-Toni Collette for The Sixth Sense
-Minnie Driver for Good Will Hunting
-Catherine Keener for Being John Malkovich
-Gloria Stuart for Titanic
-Diane West for Bullets Over Broadway

Best Writing (Original)
-American Beauty
-Being John Malkovich
-Bullets Over Broadway
-Fargo
-Good Will Hunting
-Toy Story
-The Usual Suspects

Best Writing (Adapted)
-Howards End
-L.A. Confidential
-Romeo + Juliet
-Schindler's List
-Sling Blade
-Titanic
-The Wings of the Dove

Best Animated Feature Film
-Aladdin
-The Beauty and the Beast
-Chicken Run
-The Prince of Egypt
-Toy Story

Best Foreign Language Film
-All About My Mother (Spain)
-Il Postino (Italy)
-Indochine (France)
-Kolya (Czech Republic)
-Life is Beautiful (Italy)
-Microcosmos (France)

Best Art Direction
-Dances With Wolves
-Dick Tracy
-The English Patient
-L.A. Confidential
-Romeo + Juliet
-Titanic

Best Costume Design
-The English Patient
-L.A. Confidential
-Schindler's List
-Shakespeare in Love
-Titanic
-The Wings of the Dove

Best Film Editing
-American Beauty
-Forrest Gump
-Romeo + Juliet
-Saving Private Ryan
-Se7en
-Schindler's List
-Titanic

Best Cinematography
-A River Runs Through It
-American Beauty
-Being John Malkovich
-Fargo
-JFK
-The Shawshank Redemption
-Titanic

Best Original Music (Score)
-American Beauty
-Beauty and the Beast
-Forrest Gump
-The Shawshank Redemption
-Titanic
-Toy Story
-The Truman Show

Best Original Music (Song)
-"A Whole New World" Aladdin
-"Beauty and the Beast" Beauty and the Beast
-"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" The Lion King
-"Misourlu" Pulp Fiction
-"Miss Misery" Good Will Hunting
-"Talk Show Host" Romeo + Juliet
-"You've Got a Friend in Me" Toy Story

Best Sound (Mixing)
-Apollo 13
-L.A. Confidential
-Se7en
-Terminator 2: Judgment Day
-The Shawshank Redemption
-Toy Story

Best Sound (Editing)
-Apollo 13
-L.A. Confidential
-Se7en
-Titanic
-Toy Story
-The Usual Suspects

Best Make Up
-Dick Tracy
-The English Patient
-Forrest Gump
-The Shawshank Redemption
-Titanic

Best Visual Effects
-Forrest Gump
-Independence Day
-Jurassic Park
-Terminator 2: Judgment Day
-Titanic

A River Runs Through It 1 nominations
Aladdin 2 nominations
All About My Mother 1 nominations
American Beauty 4 nominations
Apollo 13 2 nominations
Beauty and the Beast 3 nominations
Being John Malkovich 8 nominations
Bullets Over Broadway 2 nominations
Chicken Run 1 nomination
Dances With Wolves 1 nomination
Dick Tracy 2 nominations
The English Patient 3 nominations
Fargo 7 nominations
Forrest Gump 6 nominations
Good Will Hunting 6 nominations
Howards End 2 nominations
Il Postino 1 nomination
Independence Day 1 nomination
Indochine 1 nomination
Jerry McGuire 1 nomination
JFK 1 nomination
Jurassic Park 1 nomination
Kolya 1 nomination
L.A. Confidential 8 nominations
The Lion King 1 nomination
Magnolia 1 nomination
Microcosmos 1 nomination
The Prince of Egypt 1 nomination
Pulp Fiction 6 nominations
Romeo + Juliet 6 nominations
Saving Private Ryan 1 nomination
Schindler's List 2 nominations
Se7en 4 nominations
Shakespeare in Love 1 nomination
The Shawshank Redemption 6 nominations
The Silence of the Lambs 2 nominations
The Sixth Sense 3 nominations
Sling Blade 1 nomination
Terminator 2: Judgment Day 2 nominations
Titanic 13 nominations
Toy Story 7 nominations
The Truman Show 4 nominations
The Usual Suspects 3 nominations
The Wings of the Dove 3 nominations

June Oscar Predictions

There's a lot that's changed since my last predictions. Most notably, the nominee list for Best Picture has expanded from five films, to ten. So here are my new predictions.

Best Picture
-Amelia
Hillary Swank + Mira Nair + Amelia Earhart Biopic + Period piece = Indisputable Oscar Bait. The only question left is whether or not it's actually going to be good. Though if The Reader could crack the top five as a mediocre film, Amelia could be terrible and still crack the top 10.
-Avatar
Okay, so maybe the film does not seem like Oscar material. This is also made harder by the fact that next to nothing is known about this film. Though look at it more carefully you'll see tht it could be. You have James Cameron directing a film right up his alley. It seems to be a very visual film. If Cameron can exercises his old magic, this could be as big as Titanic, or even Aliens or T2.
-The Hurt Locker
The reviews for this film have been on par with Up. Only 2% less critic support (according to Rotten Tomatoes.) It was even getting praise last year. It scored two nominations at last years Independent Spirit Awards (for Best Actor, Jeremy Renner, and Best Supporting Actor, Anthony Mackie.) It may be the one Iraq film to be able to crack this category,
-Invictus
This film screams Oscar. A Nelson Mandela biopic starring Morgan Freeman, and Matt Damon, directed by Clint Eastwood. You've got a gallery of Oscar winners, and a great story. This combination doesn't always succeed, but the odds are in favor of Eastwood.
-The Lovely Bones
A beloved novel with Peter Jackson behind direction, and co writing. An all star cast including Mark Whalberg, Rachel Weisz, Soarise Ronan, Stanley Tucci, and Susan Surandon. I can't say it'll win anything, but there's a safe bet that the film will go far.
-Nine
This is one film (along with Invictus and The Lovely Bones) that has been in contenton since the beginning of the year's Oscar race, and for good reason. You have Rob Marshall, the director of Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha. A combined total of 19 Oscar nominations between those two films. Not only that, you've got a cast that is truly remarkable. Filled with Academy Award winners and nominees (Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Sophie Loren, Marion Cotilard, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, etc.) A shoe-in for all for of the technical categories. What more could you want?
-Precious
Sometimes this thing called "The Oprah Effect" can muddle the equation, and influence the outcome of the Oscars. An example of this is the much disputed Crash over Brokeback Mountain contreversy. This has sort of happened with this film. Though maybe it won't need that. On one hand, a story about illiterate black kids isn't exactly Oscar material, but the word from Cannes has been good. I'm a little excited for it.
-Public Enemies
Michael Mann is a hit or miss director. Though he's had more success' (The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, Manhunter, The Insider, Collateral) than misses (Miami Vice.) The reviews are pointing somewhere in the middle. Only 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, but films like Babel, The Reader, Crash, Forrest Gump, and Dances with Wolves have gotten mediocre reviews and still won Oscars. It's got Johnny Depp, arguably the biggest actor in Hollywood, maybe America. It's a period piece, and there's been good word on Marion Cotilard and Billy Crudup in supporting roles.
-Shutter Island
Marty's first film since The Departed, with his new man, Leo. A story based off of the Dennis Lehane novel, which always seem to be critical success'. A cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, and Jackie Earle Haley. I just feel that it'll do well.
-Up
It's the most critically acclaimed widely distributed film this year. It's a Pixar film that is probaly going to take the prize for Best Animated Feature. It's the only potential nominee I've seen, so I can say that it's a truly great work. I enjoyed it, as has everyone else that I know who has seen it. Could it be the first animated film since the 1990 Beauty and the Beast to be nominated for the top prizef? More importantly, can it take the top prize? The only thing that is stopping it is that it may be overshadowed by its own category.
Alt: Bright Star or An Education

Best Director
-Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker
If the Academy likes the film, maybe they'll honor its director with a nomination.
-James Cameron for Avatar
Evem if the film doesn't crack the top 10 (for whatever reason) James Caomeron is a solid director, and should be able to work his way here.
-Lee Daniels for Precious
If he shows that he's made a great film, he may recieve a nomination.
-Peter Jackson for The Lovely Bones
Well, why not? He's Peter Jackson. He adapted one of the greatest literary pieces of all time to the silver screen. An accomplishment deemed impossible by many. He remade King Kong into a better film. I say that he was snubbed for this category in '06. If he can do the same thing here, he's a shoe-in. In fact, his nomination is probably the safest bet.
-Martin Scorsese for Shutter Island
He probably has the least likely chance of being nominated here, but if the film is success, then he may get in here.
Alt: Terry Gillian for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus or Rob Marshall for Nine

Best Actor in a Leading Role
-Johnny Depp for Public Enemies
-Leonardo DiCaprio for Shutter Island
-Morgan Freeman for Invictus
-Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker
-Mark Whalberg for The Lovely Bones
Alt: Daniel Day-Lewis for Nine or Viggo Mortensen for The Road

Best Actress in a Leading Role
-Penelope Cruz for Broken Embraces
-Carey Mulligan for An Educaton
-Michelle Phifer for Cheri
-Soarise Ronan for The Lovely Bones
-Hillary Swank for Amelia
Alt: Gabourey Sidibe for Precious or Amy Adams for Julie and Julia

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
-Matt Damon for Invictus
-Anthony Mackie for The Hurt Locker
-Mark Ruffalo for Shutter Island
-Stanley Tucci for The Lovely Bones
-Christoph Waltz for Inglorious B******s
Alt: Billy Crudup for Public Enemies or Richard Kind for A Serious Man

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
-Mo'Nique for Precious
-Penelope Cruz for Nine
-Judi Dench for Nine
-Rachel Weisz for The Lovely Bones
-Michelle Williams for Shutter Island
Alt: Marion Cotilard for Nne or Public Enemies

Best Writing (Original)
-(500) Days of Summer by Scott Neustadterm, and Michael H. Weber
-Away We Go by Dave Eggers, and Vendela Vida
-Funny People by Judd Apatow
-The Hurt Locker by Mark Boal
-Up by Bob Peterson
Alt: Whatever Works by Woody Allen or Bright Star by Jane Campion

Best Writing (Adapted)
-An Education by Nick Hornby
-Invictus by Anthony Peckham
-The Lovely Bones by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boynes
-Precious by Darrien Paul
-Shutter Island by Laeta Kalogridis
Alt: Nine by Anthony Minghella, and Michael Tolkin or Star Trek by Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman

Best Animated Feature Film
-A Christmas Carol dir: Robert Zemeckis
-Coraline dir. Henry Selick
-Up dir. Peter Docter
(-The Princess and the Frog dir. Rom Clements)
(-Ponyo dir. Hayao Mizayaki)
Alt: The Fantastic Mr. Fox dir. Wes Anderson or 9 dir. Shane Acker

Best Film Editing
-Avatar
-Green Zone
-Nine
-Public Enemies
-Shutter Island
Alt: Invictus or The Lovely Bones

Best Cinematography
-Amelia
-The Hurt Locker
-Nine
-Public Enemies
-Shutter Island
Alt: Invictus or The Informant

Best Art Direction
-Amelia
-Avatar
-The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
-Invictus
-Nine
Alt: The Lovely Bones or The Wolf Man

Best Costume Design
-Amelia
-Cheri
-Nine
-Sherlock Holmes
-The Young Victoria
Alt: Publc Enemies or Invictus

Best Original Music (Score)
-Amelia
-Avatar
-Public Enemies
-Star Trek
-Up
Alt: The Princess and the Frog or Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Best Original Music (Song)
-Fame
-The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
(-Nine)
(-Precious)
(-The Princess and the Frog)
Alt: Nine or Coraline

Best Sound (Mixing)
-Avatar
-Green Zone
-Star Trek
-Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
-Up
Alt: Public Enemies or Nine

Best Sound (Editing)
-Amelia
-Avatar
-Public Enemies
-Terminator Salvation
-Up
Alt: Star Trek or Nine

Best Make Up
-The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
-Star Trek
-The Wolf Man
Alt: Avatar or The Lovely Bones

Best Visual Effects
-Avatar
-Star Trek
-Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Alt: Where the Wild Things Are or Terminator Salvation

-(500) Days of Summer 1 nomination
-A Christmas Carol 1 nomination
-Amelia 7 nominations
-An Education 2 nominations
-Avatar 8 nominations
-Away We Go 1 nomination
-Broken Embraces 1 nomination
-Cheri 2 nominations
-Coraline 1 nomination
-Fame 1 nomination
-Funny People 1 nomination
-Green Zone 2 nominations
-The Hurt Locker 5 nominations
-The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus 3 nominations
-Inglorious Basterds 1 nomination
-Invictus 5 nominations
-The Lovely Bones 7 nominations
-Nine 8 nominations
-Ponyo 1 nomination
-Precious 5 nominations
-The Princess and the Frog 2 nominations
-Public Enemies 6 nominations
-Sherlock Holmes 1 nomination
-Shutter Island 8 nominations
-Star Trek 4 nominations
-Terminator Salvation 1 nomination
-Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 2 nominations
-Up 6 nominations
-The Wolf Man 1 nomination
-The Young Victoria 1 nomination

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

2009 Oscar Predictions.

So I finally got around to making my half year in advance. So here they are. Let it be noted that these are mostly the people I would like to see nominated.

Best Picture
-Invictus
-Nine
-Precious
-Public Enemies
-Shutter Island/Ashecliffe
Alt. Taking Woodstock or Up

Best Director
-James Cameron for Avatar
-Lee Daniels for Precious
-Peter Jackson for The Lovely Bones
-Ang Lee for Taking Woodstock
-Martin Scorsese for Shutter Island/Ashecliffe
Alt. Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker or Rob Marshall for Up

Best Actor in a Leading Role
-Matt Damon for The Informant
-Johnny Depp for Public Enemies
-Leonardo DiCaprio for Shutter Island/Ashecliffe
-Morgan Freeman for Invictus
-Ben Whishaw for Bright Star
Alt. Demetri Martin for Taking Woodstock or Daniel Day-Lewis for Nine

Best Actress in a Leading Role
-Abbie Cornish for Bright Star
-Penelope Cruz for Broken Embraces
-Zooey Desatchel for (500) Days of Summer
-Carey Mulligan for An Education
-Michelle Pheiffer for Cheri
Alt. Soarise Ronan for The Lovely Bones or Hillary Swank for Amelia

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
-Billy Crudup for Public Enemies
-Matt Damon for Invictus
-Kodi Smit McPhee for The Road
-Mark Ruffalo for Shutter Island/Ashecliffe
-Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds
Alt. Liev Schrieber or Emile Hirsch for Taking Woodstock

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
-Marion Cotilard for Public Enemies
-Penelope Cruz for Nine
-Judi Dench for Nine
-Mo'Nique for Precious
-Michelle Williams for Shutter Island/Ashecliffe
Alt. Imelda Staurton for Taking Woodstock or Marion Cotilard for Nine

Best Writing (Original)
-(500) Days of Summer
-Away We Go
-Bright Star
-Up
-Whatever Works
Alt. The Hurt Locker or Funny People

Best Writing (Adapted)
-Invictus
-The Lovely Bones
-Precious
-Public Enemies
-Shutter Island/Ashecliffe
Alt. The Road or Star Trek

Best Animated Feature Film
-A Christmas Carol
-Coraline
-The Princess and the Frog
-Ponyo
-Up
Alt. 9 or Monsters vs. Aliens

-Best Art Direction
-Cheri
-Nine
-Public Enemies
-The Road
-Taking Woodstock
Alt. Avatar or Bright Star

Best Costume Design
-Bright Star
-Cheri
-Nine
-Public Enemies
-Taking Woodstock
Alt. Amelia

Best Film Editing
-Avatar
-Nine
-Public Enemies
-The Road
-Shutter Island/Ashecliffe
Alt. Star Trek or Terminator Salvation

Best Cinematography
-Avatar
-Bright Star
-Nine
-Public Enemies
-The Road
Alt. The Hurt Locker or Amelia

Best Original Music (Score)
-Bright Star
-Invictus
-The Lovely Bones
-Public Enemies
-Up
Alt. The Princess and the Frog or The Road

Best Original Music (Song)
-Fame
-The Lovely Bones
-Nine
-The Princess and the Frog
-Up
Alt. Nine

Best Sound (Mixing)
-Avatar
-Nine
-Public Enemies
-Star Trek
-Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Alt. Up or Amelia

Best Sound (Editing)
-Avatar
-Public Enemies
-Star Trek
-Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
-Up
Alt. Terminator Salvation or Amelia

Best Visual Effects
-Avatar
-Star Trek
-Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Alt. Terminator Salvation or Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Best Make Up
-Avatar
-Star Trek
-The Wolf Man
Alt. Terminator Salvation or The Lovely Bones

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Nedloh Film Award Winners

It's taken a little bit of time, but I've chosen the winners. Now (drum roll) here are the best of 2008!

Best Film (Tie)
Winner: The Dark Knight & Slumdog Millionaire
Honorable Mention: WALL-E

Best Director
Winner: Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight
Honorable Mention: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Lead Actor
Winner: Michael Cera for Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Honorable Mention: Richard Jenkins for The Visitor

Best Lead Actress
Winner: Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married
Honorable Mention: Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight
Honorable Mention: Dev Patel for Slumdog Millionaire & Emile Hirsch for Milk

Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Ari Graynor for Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Honorable Mention: Hiam Abbass for The Visitor

Best Screenplay (two winners)
Winners: The Dark Knight & Slumdog Millionaire
Honorable Mentions: The Visitor

Best Ensemble Cast
Winner: Milk
Honorable Mention: The Dark Knight

Best Animated Feature Film
Winner: WALL-E
Honorable Mention: Kung Fu Panda

Best Documentary Feature
Winner: Man On Wire
Honorable Mention: American Teen

Best Film Editing
Winner: Slumdog Millionaire
Honorable Mention: The Dark Knight

Best Cinematography
Winner: The Dark Knight
Honorable Mention: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Art Direction
Winner: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Honorable Mention: The Dark Knight

Best Costume Design
Winner: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Honorable Mention: The Duchess

Best Original Score
Winner: Slumdog Millionaire
Honorable Mention: The Dark Knight

Best Original Song
Winner: "Jai Ho" Slumdog Millionaire
Honorable Mention: "Little Person" Synedoche, New York

Best Musical or Comedy
Winner: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Honorable Mention: WALL-E

Best Visual Effects
Winner: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Honorable Mention: Iron Man

Best Make Up
Winner: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Honorable Mention: The Dark Knight

Best Sound Mixing
Winner: The Dark Knight
Honorable Mention: WALL-E

Best Sound Editing
Winner: The Dark Knight
Honorable Mention: Slumdog Millionaire

7 Wins - The Dark Knight
5 Wins - Slumdog Millionaire
4 Wins - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3 Wins - Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
1 Win - Man On Wire, Rachel Getting Married, WALL-E, Milk

5 HMs - The Dark Knight
4 HMs - Slumdog Millionaire
3 HMs - WALL-E, The Visitor

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The Nedloh Film Nominees

They're finally here! I spent a lot of extra time analyze films and my opinions of them. So here are the nominees. I'll choose the winners in a little bit.

Best Picture
-Be Kind Rewind
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Frost.Nixon
-Gran Torino
-Milk
-Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
-Slumdog Millionaire
-The Visitor
-WALL-E

Best Direction
-Darren Aronofsky for The Wrestler
-Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
-Clint Eastwood for Gran Torino
-David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Thomas McCarthy for The Visitor
-Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight

Best Actor in a Leading Role
-Jack Black for Be Kind Rewind
-Michael Cera for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
-Clint Eastwood for Gran Torino
-Richard Jenkins for The Visitor
-Sean Penn for Milk
-Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler

Best Actress in a Leading Role
-Cate Blanchett for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married
-Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky
-Melissa Leo for Frozen River
-Meryl Streep for Doubt
-Kate Winslett for Revolutionary Road

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
-Mos Def for Be Kind Rewind
-Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder
-Emile Hirsch for Milk
-Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight
-Dev Patel for Slumdog Millionaire
-Michael Sheen for Frost/Nixon

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
-Hiam Abbass for The Visitor
-Amy Adams for Doubt
-Penelope Cruz for Vicky Christina Barcelona
-Viola Davis for Doubt
-Ari Graynor for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
-Marissa Tomei for The Wrestler

Best Screenplay
-Be Kind Rewind
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Doubt
-Frost/Nixon
-Gran Torino
-Milk
-Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
-Slumdog Millionaire
-The Visitor

Best Ensemble Cast
-The Dark Knight
-Doubt
-Frost/Nixon
-Milk
-Slumdog Millionaire
-The Visitor

Best Animated Feature Film
-Bolt
-Horton Hears a Hoo
-Kung Fu Panda
-WALL-E
-Waltz With Bashir

Best Documentary Feature
-American Teen
-At the Death House Door
-I.O.U.S.A.
-Man On Wire
-Standard Operating System
-Trouble With Water

Best Foreign Language Film
-The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
-The Class (France)
-Gomorrah (Italy)
-Let the Right One In (Sweden)
-Revanche (Austria)
-Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

Best Film Editing
-The Curious Case of Benjamin
-The Dark Knight
-Frost/Nixon
-Gran Torino
-Milk
-Slumdog Millionaire

Best Cinematography
-Australia
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Paranoid Park
-Revolutionary Road
-Slumdog Millionaire

Best Art Direction
-Australia
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-The Duchess
-Revolutionary Road
-Synecdoche, New York

Best Costume Design
-Australia
-Changeling
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Duchess
-The Other Boleyn Girl
-Revolutionary Road

Best Original Score
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Milk
-Paranoid Park
-Slumdog Millionaire
-WALL-E

Best Original Song
-"Another Way to Die" Quantum of Solace
-"Down to Earth" WALL-E
-"Gran Torino" Gran Torino
-"I Thought I Lost You" Bolt
-"Jai Ho" Slumdog Millionaire
-"Little Person" Synecdoche, New York
-"The Wrestler" The Wrestler

Best Make Up
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Hellboy II: The Golden Army
-Synecdoche, New York
-The Wrestler

Best Visual Effects
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Hellboy II: The Golden Army
-Iron Man
-WALL-E

Best Sound Mixing
-Australia
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Iron Man
-Quantum of Solace
-WALL-E

Best Sound Editing
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Defiance
-Iron Man
-Quantum of Solace
-WALL-E

Best Musical or Comedy
-Be Kind Rewind
-Iron Man
-Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
-Synecdoche, New York
-Tropic Thunder
-WALL-E

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

My top Ten Favorite Films of 2008 (Movies I Saw in 2008, or that came out in said year.)

10. Valkyrie
Though not a terribly great film, I still felt it was decent. Good supporting cast, with performances from Bill Nighy, and Tom Wilkinson. Interesting Cinematography, and good sound. I felt that the end was surprisingly not too overdone in any department. The only thing that spoils the film are its various plot holes, and the Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise isn't a bad actor, but really overdoes it in this film. Other than that, A good picture.
9. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The final installment of the Indiana Jones saga goes out with a bang in the fourth movie. It has good performances, a lot of cool action sequences, and of course, a snake joke. This film might have garnered some more acclaim, but it has a lot of flaws. The story is kind of a disgrace. They brought back Indie's girlfriend from Raiders, which was dumb. Rather than have a more religious centered plot , it was aliens. That's simply not Indiana Jones. I didn't really like how he survived in a fridge, at the beginning. I certainly did not like the inclusion of Area 51. But the film has great art direction, Harrison Ford, and a great score.
8, Bolt
It's been awhile since a truly long time since a great animated Disney film. At least one that didn't have to to be Pixar. Though the actual plot is relatively unoriginal and dull, the concept is the real seller. A famous dog doesn't know he's famous. Plus there's a cool hamster in a plastic ball. Not a bad film.
7. Kung Fu Panda
Now this film really is something. A panda who aspires to become a kung fu master in ancient China. The film is funny, and charming. But what's not to love about a Martial Arts Panda? The film has funny dialogue, and great voice performances by Dustin Hoffman, Jack Black, and a great cast.
6. Paranoid Park
Really an underrated film that would've been more recognized, had it not been for its March release. It's a film that did not have remarkable acting, or a super amazing story, but it's a really pretty film. It has the greatest Cinematography. It's mesmerizing to watch, and quite relaxing. It has relatively great direction by Gus Van Sant, and good editing. Great film.
5. Iron Man
The first truly great film of the year, Iron Man is actually a cooler Batman, with a better origin story. He's rich, the owner of weapons manufacturing company, and has a friend who works for the military. Robert Downey Jr. does a great job portraying such an intriguing protagonist. It really was the year of RDJ. The visual effects are nothing short of fantastic. The first really good edited film of the year. Good story, and a nice cast.
4. The Visitor

Richard
Jenkins gives an Oscar-worthy performance in Todd McCarthy's indie wonder. Not a technical maverick, it's screenplay translates well to the screen, and has a great supporting cast. It really is one of the best of 2008.
3. WALL-E
Pizar strikes again with a sci fi comedy worthy of a Best Picture nomination. It's the third best Pixar film, behind Toy Story, and Ratatouille. It's an animated film that tells a really original story, but one as old as time (reference to Beauty and the Beast is intentional.) it hs good cinematography, if an animated film could have good camerawork. It's well edited, and well directed. It's enjoyable, and fun to watch. The first Best Picture worthy film of 2008.
1. (Tie) The Dark Knight & Slumdog Millionaire
I couldn't decide which film I liked best. They're both so different, but very similar. They're similar in that they both havve great adapted stories, great music, fantastic editing and cinematography, both have standout supporting actors, and are both simply awesome. They have different themes, comcepts and ideas, and different stories. The Dark Knight is the ultimate battle between good and evil, whereas Slumdog is a fight for the human spirit. The protagonists differ largely. One is a genius socipath, the other is the vastness of India. They're both great, but for different reasons, and are my favorite films of 2008.

BAFTA Winners

Here are the British Oscar winners.

Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Woo Hoo! Slumdog wins again.

Director: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
See Picture

Actor: Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler
So Penn doesn't get the BAFTA. Too bad.

Actress: Kate Winslet for The Reader
I think she'll win the Oscar now.

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight
The Oscar is all his. He deserves it.

Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Woody Allen usually gets Oscars for people in the Supporting categories.

Original: In Bruges
The Brits do love to reward their own.

Adapted: Slumdog Millionaire
The love for this film is infinite.

Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
It was either this or The Dark Knight, so I guess they chose this one.

Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Not really a surprise.

Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Well deserved.

Costumes: The Duchess
Nothing to say. Not a surprise.

Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Well deserved.

Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Really a visual film.

Sound: Slumdog Millionaire
The film wasn't that good.

Score: Slumdog Millionaire
Well it did have a nice score.

Animated: Wall-E
Duh.

Foreign Film: I've Loved You So Long
Doesn't matter tremendously, because it wasn't nominated at the Oscars, due to ineligibility.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

More on The Nedloh Film Awards

If there are any films you feel are deserving recognition that I neglected to post, feel free to leave a comment of the film, actor, or actress you would like to see part of this list. Thanks.