The Betrayal - Nerakhoon
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water
Adam's Take.
Heart-
My heart definitely goes for Encounters, one of my favourite films of the year, that just narrowly missed out on making my top 10 list. Herzog's documentaries continue to be one of the most consistent sources of invaluable insight and profound cinematic poetry.
Head-
My head says Man on Wire. It was one of the most well recieved films of the year, and the mere fact it onvolves the Twin Towers will capture the imaginations of American Oscar voters. Plus Mr. Oscar never show no love to Herzog.
Heart-
My Heart also goes out to Herzog's latest masterpiece, but I believe it is too beautiful for most people to appreciate and therefore take home the little gold man.
Head-
Man On Wire will almost certainly win this category to mind, as it is a great movie all about the indomitability of the human spirit, which the Academy will eat up.
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
Entre Les Murs
Revanche
Okuribtio
Val Im Bashir
Adam's Take.
Heart-
My pick is Entre Les Murs, one of my top ten films of 2008, and a true human masterpiece.
Head-
My head says Val Im Bashir (or "Waltz with Bashir"), as it is an animated film which did not recieve a nom in that category, thus Oscar voters can kill two birds with one stone. And they loves them some bird killin'.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
Entre Les Murs captured the different levels of interactions that happen in school in a way that no movie before has, making it my favourite for this category.
Head-
It will recieve some tough competition, but I still think Entre Les Murs will take it in the end.
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-e
Adam's Take.
Heart-
Wall-E owns most movies of 2008, let alone other animated features.
Head-
Wall-E is an absolute shoe-in. But then again, Benjamin Button was nominated for best picture. Anything can happen.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
The little robot captured my heart like no other, so I vote Wall-E.
Head-
Wall-E. Straight up.
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Adam's Take
Heart-
Tought one. Both Button and The Dark Knight make subtle use of CGI, which is admirable. But with The Dark Knight, it's nearly undetecable. Which is, to my mind, more impressive.
Head-
Benjamin Button will likely take this one.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
My heart is cast for The Dark Knight, in part because it deserves it and in part because It got shafted for a Best Picture nom.
Head-
Undoubtedly, Benjamin Button will win this and every other category it's nominated for.
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Wanted
Adam's Take.
Heart-
Dark Knight, no question. The sound was such an intrinsical part of the film
Head.-
Toss up but I'm going to say The Dark Knight.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
Once again, voting on The Dark Knight.
Head-
I'm Going to stick with my initial reaction and say Dark Knight.
Best Achievement in Sound
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Wanted
Adam's Take.
Heart-
The Dark Knight for aformentioned reasons.
Head-
The Oscar people will love to further confuse the public with the two sound categories by splitting the winnings. Slumdog.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
My Heart goes out to Wall-E on this one.
Head-
It's a bit of a coin toss, but Wall-E will take it in the end.
Best Achivement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)
O Saya (Slumdog Millionaire)
Down to Earth (Wall-E)
Adam's Take.
Heart-
Jai Ho is more lively and ultimately more impressive but O Saya has M.I.A. So O Saya it is.
Head-
Jai Ho.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
O Saya; You can't go wrong with an M.I.A. Breakdown.
Head-
I have a sneaky suspicion that "Down to Earth" will sneak out of nowhere to assassinate the others.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Adam's Take.
Heart-
Slumdog by far. The music was so alive and it always set the tone for the film.
Head-
Slumdog. It is the best, but also the score that stands out most.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
Bright and Vibrant, Slumdog Millionaire is an all around and amazing soundtrack.
Head-
Slumdog Millionaire.
Best Achievement in Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Adam's Take.
Heart-
The Dark Knight. While Benjamin Button is more technically impressive, TDK has the brilliant reinvention of the Joker which is enough for me.
Head-
Benjamin Button will take it.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
The Dark Knight Succeeds on a smaller scale, with impressive details like make up on the Jokers hands to add additional depth to the film.
Head-
Hollywood won't miss the chance to give Benjamin Button Another oscar, even when it is at least deserving in this category.
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Adam's Take.
Heart-
Benjamin Button certainly impresses me the most out of the nominees, but I have to wonder how The Dark Knight missed out.
Head-
Benjamin Button most certainly.
Parker's take.
Heart-
More subtle than the other nominees perhaps, but Revolutionary Road captured the feeling of an era in a quiet, impressive way.
Head-
Benjamin Button or The Duchess, but an edge to Benjamin.
Best Achievement in Art Direction
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road
Adam's Take.
Heart-
The Dark Knight took Chicago and made it Gotham. No film had a more impressive mise-en-scene.
Head-
Benjamin Button will take it, and it is a deserving victor.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
The Dark Knight is most definitely deserving of this award.
Head-
Benjamin Button.
Best Achievement in Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Forst/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Adam's Take.
Heart-
The Dark Knight's editing was so unique, and made a huge overall contribution the the feel of the film.
Head-
An extremely tight race bewteen TDK, Slumdog and Button. I'm going to say Slumdog though.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
Slumdog's editing created a feeling of movement that I really enjoyed.
Head-
Slumdog Millionaire.
Best Achievement In Cinematography
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Adam's Take.
Heart-
The Dark Knight. The cinematography was masterful.
Head-
Tight, but Wally Pfister's work on The Dark Knight was clearly the best and I think the Academy will recognize that.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
The Dark Knight will take it home.
Head-
The Dark Knight, for being amazing.
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth & Robin Swicord
Doubt - John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan
The Reader - David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy
Adam's Take.
Heart-
Certainly not Eric Roth's script, which is devoid of substance. Not Slumdog, as it's the directorial aspects of that film that impress me. It's a toss up between the other 3, and I'll settle on Shanley's adaptation of his play, Doubt.
Head-
Slumdog. Happy endings, yay!
Parker's Take.
Heart-
I'll take Doubt, not because it's great, but because it's the best choice.
Head-
For giving the world something it has already seen, Eric Roth for his work on Benjamin Button.
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh
In Bruges - Martin McDonagh
Milk - Dustin Lance Black
Wall-E - Andrew Stanton & Pete Docter & Jim Reardon
Adam's Take.
Heart-
McDonagh's immensely rich masterpiece of a script for In Bruges by far.
Head-
Frozen River is too small. Happy-Go-Lucky and In Bruges are too not American. Wall-E has a shot, but I think this is how the Academy will honour Milk.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
In Bruges was my pick for best movie of the year, so I'll stick with it here.
Head-
Milk will probably have this in the end.
Best Achievement in Directing
Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry for The Reader
David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant for Milk
Adam's Take.
Heart-
With Milk, Gus Van Sant managed to find a happy medium between his more artsy work and his Hollywood outings. His use of stock footage was brilliant as well.
Head-
Danny Boyle's excellent work in Slumdog will be rewarded deservedly.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
Danny Boyle's energetic directing captured my attention from the begining to the end.
Head-
Slumdog Millionaire will take the gold.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams for Doubt
Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis for Doubt
Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler
Adam's Take.
Heart-
It's 50/50 between Adams and Tomei for me. If I have to choose, I'll say Tomei, because she contributed to a better film.
Head-
Viola Davis created an incredible scene in Doubt, and I think it earned her an Oscar.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
I have to go for Marisa Tomei for creating an amazing character.
Head-
I do believe Viola Davis has it on the strength of her one scene.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Josh Brolin for Milk
Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt
Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road
Adam's Take.
Heart-
It's great to see Shannon nominated but there is absolutely no contest here. Heath Ledger's iconic master performance
Head-
Shoe-in for the late Ledger. If any other nominee won they would be ashamed to take the stage.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
Heath Ledger in no contest.
Head-
Heath Ledger, for one of the best performances I have ever seen.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie for Changeling
Melissa Leo for Frozen River
Meryl Streep for Doubt
Kate Winslet for The Reader
Adam's Take.
Heart-
Had Kate Winslet been nominated for Revolutionary Road, it would be an easy pick. It's tight between Hathaway and Winslet, but Winslet was the overall best actress of 2008.
Head-
Kate Winslet. Nazis.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
Anne Hathaway in one of my favorite performances of the year and of the past few as well.
Head-
Unfourtunately, Hathaway will lose out to Kate Winslet. Weddings just can't compare to naked Nazis.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Richard Jenkins for The Visitor
Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn for Milk
Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler
Adam's Take.
Heart-
Mickey Rourke, no question. Penn was brilliant though.
Head-
3 way toss up between Penn/Pitt/Rourke. I'm counting on the Academy to make the right choice. Mickey Rourke.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
I'm all for Mickey Rourke. Brilliant.
Head-
Sean Penn for a deservedly amazing job.
Best Motion Picture of the Year
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Adam's Take.
Heart-
This dissapointing group of nominees is nowhere near being a representation of 2008's best films. Only one movie here was on my top ten list and thats Milk. However, there are 7 films I'd rather win.
Head-
Slumdog Millionaire. Happy ending. Classic love story. Undeniably fun. Undeserved.
Parker's Take.
Heart-
Not the years best, but I'll take Milk over the others any day,
Head-
Slumdog Millionaire. The perceived underdog will win.
Prepare yourselves for Wolverine's no holds-barred Oscar night on Feb. 22
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