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Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Golden Razzie noms are in - PHBBBT!
As is their tradition, the Golden Razzie nominations have issued their seals of disapproval the day before the Oscars reveal theirs. Their picks, along with my selective commentary:
WORST PICTURE
Disaster Movie
The Happening
The Hottie and the Nottie
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
The Love Guru
Meet the Spartans
I didn’t think The Happening was THAT horrible; it’s certainly not as laughably self-important as Shymalan’s last opus, Lady in the Water. No problem with the other picks, particularly for the stooges that made Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans.
WORST ACTOR
Larry the Cable Guy, Witless Protection
Eddie Murphy, Meet Dave
Mike Myers, The Love Guru
Al Pacino, 88 Minutes and Righteous Kill
Mark Wahlberg, The Happening and Max Payne
Al Pacino really should just stay away from Jon Avent, who directed both of his nominees.
WORST ACTRESS
Jessica Alba, The Eye and The Love Guru
The cast of The Women (Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Meg Ryan)
Cameron Diaz, What Happens in Vegas
Paris Hilton, The Hottie and the Nottie
Kate Hudson,Fools' Gold and My Best Friend's Girl
OUCH on the cast of The Women.
WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Uwe Boll (as himself), Uwe Boll's Postal
Pierce Brosnan, Mamma Mia!
Ben Kingsley, The Love Guru and The Wackness
Burt Reynolds, Deal and In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Verne Troyer, The Love Guru and Uwe Boll's Postal
I bet Brosnan would have missed this shot if only he’d decided not to “sing.” Kind of sad to see Burt Reynolds on the level of Verne Troyer, i.e. a guy who hasn’t got anything better to do.
WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Carmen Electra, Disaster Movie</em> and Meet the Spartans
Paris Hilton, Repo: The Genetic Opera
Kim Kardashian, Disaster Movie
Jenny McCarthy, Witless Protection
Leelee Sobieski, 88 Minutes and In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
You know, it really seemed for awhile that Sobieski had a promising career in the late 90s. After all, she worked for both Stanley Kubrick (Eyes Wide Shut and Merchant/Ivory (A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries). She needs a new agent but good.
WORST SCREEN COUPLE
Uwe Boll and Any Actor, Camera or Screenplay
Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher, What Happens in Vegas
Paris Hilton and either Christin Lakin or Joel David Moore, The Hottie and the Nottie
Larry the Cable Guy and Jenny McCarthy, Witless Protection<
Eddie Murphy and Eddie Murphy, Meet Dave
Boll ought to win this in a walk. One has not truly lived (or perhaps died) unless they have seen a Boll movie. His incompetence is nothing less than staggering.
WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF OR SEQUEL
The Day the Earth Blowed Up Real Good (undoubtedly a shot at the lousy Day The Earth Stood Still remake)
Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Speed Racer
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
I cry foul on Indiana Jones and Speed Racer. I know many were disappointed by Indy, but if you truly believe it belongs in “worst-of” company, you are a churlish soul indeed. I didn’t recommend Speed Racer, but that film at least had a vision behind it, unlike most of the films in this category.
WORST DIRECTOR
Uwe Boll, 1968: Tunnel Rats, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale and Uwe Boll's Postal
Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans<br>
Tom Putnam, The Hottie and the Nottie
Marco Schnabel, The Love Guru
M. Night Shyamalan, The Happenin
I don’t know what the heck 1968: Tunnel Rats is, but I’m almost curious. Almost.
WORST SCREENPLAY
Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans
The Happening
The Hottie and the Nottie
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
The Love Guru
Again, I cry foul on Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans. Clearly those movies do not have screenplays - merely laundry lists of references thrown together at random.
WORST CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
Uwe Boll
Who else?
Your thoughts? Did you see anything Razzie-worthy last year?
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Best Picture/Director Oscar nominations will be …
OK folks, we’ve gone through the techs and the actors, now for the BIG prizes: Picture and Director.
BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Alternates: Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon; Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky, Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
The shoo ins are Boyle, whose Slumdog is simply unstoppable, and Fincher, who got his ticket to the dance by bringing his unique style to the kind of Oscar bait in which he does not normally traffic. Van Sant’s film is very well liked (too well liked, if you ask me) and he’s a former nominee for Good Will Hunting, so he’ most likely in. Nolan is that rare director able to walk the line between populism and artistic vision, and he did so brilliantly with The Dark Knight. He’ll finally get his due.
Then there’s that fifth slot. The DGA nominated Ron Howard, who turned in some of his best work with Frost/Nixon, but the guild has always been kinder to TV-bred directors like him, while the Academy’s directors have always favored auteurs. Yes, I know Howard won an Oscar for A Beautiful Mind, but that film had more momentum than Frost/Nixon, and remember - directors nominate directors, but everybody votes on who wins. I think it was the actors who helped propel Howard to the win that year. All that being the case, I’m predicting a slight upset in that Howard will be passed over in favor of the edgier Aronofsky, whose movie has gained traction.
BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Alternates: Doubt, WALL-E
These are the five films that have dominated the precursors, and I can’t think of a good reason to go against any of them. I suppose there’s a chance Doubt, very well liked as an acting showcase, could topple Frost/Nixon, but I’m guessing the more recent history of the latter will help it stick in the memory more. I hold out hope against hope that my beloved WALL-E will overcome the “it’s animated” hurdle, but with the animation category firmly entrenched, I just don’t see it happening.
You’ll see the remainder of my picks after the jump, so you can see either what a seer or what a fool I am. Remember, my predictions come with no guarantees, though I will gladly bask in any glory you find because of them.
I will react to the nominations Thursday morning. The announcement will start at 8:30. In the meantime, how do you see the big races shaping up?
BEST ACTOR
Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Alternates: Richard Jenkins, The Visitor; Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Write Langella, Penn and Rourke down in ink. Their buildup in insurmountable. That leaves two open slots. Benjamin Button has enough momentum that I think Pitt is in, even though some say it’s a passive performance. Still, it’s “gimmicky” enough for the actors to take notice.
The last slot is a three-way battle. DiCaprio is well-liked enough to have an outside shot, but the tepid response to his movie hurts him. He’s not seen as “due” so much as his costar is. Finally, there are Eastwood and Jenkins. The Screen Actors Guild went for Jenkins, but they tend to be a more clubbish group that roots for steady, reliable, less recognized players like him. The Academy usually goes for loud and brash over quiet and understated - so I just don’t feel safe betting against Eastwood, who is beloved. And the people who are fans of his film tend to support it very strongly.
BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Your locks are Hathaway, Streep and Winslet. Kristin Scott Thomas has been talked up for her work in I Loved You So Long, but her buzz has recently died down. And for whatever reason, buzz never really built for Cate Blanchett in Benjamin Button either. The Academy tends to like actors in Mike Leigh movies (see Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake. Brenda Blethyn in Secrets and Lies), and I think many voters will find Hawkins’ character irresistible. Melissa Leo garnered much acclaim for her role in Frozen River, but this is a mirror of the Best Actor race. Leo is more of an indie darling, Jolie is louder and brasher - and she’s a former winner (for Girl Interrupted), so she gets the nod.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr, Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire
Alternates: James Franco, Milk; Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road; Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon
Ledger is a sure thing, as is Hoffman, and I’m quite confident about Downey, who had a banner year. Voters will pat him on the back for that and for his fearless comedic performance. I think Brolin trumps Franco for two reasons: One, Brolin has had heavier career momentum, and again, he has the flashier part than Franco. For the fifth slot, the love for Slumdog should carry Patel into the race, never mind that he’s actually a lead. For that matter, so is Hoffman.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Alternates: Amy Adams, Doubt; Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married
Cruz, Davis and Winslet are the front-runners. I feel a little less secure about Henson, but her performance as Ben Button’s “mother” is the heartwarming type, which helps. Marisa Tomei is a former winner (for My Cousin Vinny), she copped one other nomination (for Into the Bedroom) and her film is gaining ground, so she seems like a secure choice.. DeWitt might get in on Hathaway’s coattails, but I rather doubt it. And speaking of Doubt, It would make me very happy to see Adams in the five, but I think her performance is too understated for many voters to place her very high on the ballot. However, I predicted she would be nominated last year for Enchanted, and she was robbed, so maybe if I don’t predict her this year, she’ll get in - reverse psychology!
Best Animated Film
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E
Waltz with Bashir
Alternate: Bolt
Easy calls. Almost too easy.
Best Original Screenplay
Happy Go Lucky
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
Vicky Christina Barcelona
WALL-E
Alternates: Burn After Reading, Gran Torino, The Visitor, The Wrestler
The Writers Guild passed over Rachel, but enough people will see the film to nominate Anne Hathaway, and writer Jenny Lumet is the daughter of well-regarded director Sidney, and Oscar likes that kind of progeny. Pixar has better luck with the Oscars than they do the guilds, and Mike Leigh, the writer-director behind Happy Go Lucky, tends to cop nods for writing even though his films are largely improvised by the actors.
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire
Alternates: The Reader, Revolutionary Road
Right down the line with the guilds here. These feel like very secure picks.
Best Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Alternates: Defiance, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Milk
A tough category to predict this year. Count on Ben Button and Slumdog. I’m nervous about Dark Knight since it was previously disqualified, but I think the film has enough momentum to swing in. Revolutionary Road has lost momentum overall, but I think Thomas Newman’s name is strong enough to get him nominated for both that and WALL-E. I’m taking a risk not nominating John Williams, but I thought his score for Indy IV was just decent - and I defend that film!
Best Song
“Down to Earth,” WALL-E
“Gran Torino”, Gran Torino
“I Thought I Lost You, ” Bolt
“Jaiho, ” Slumdog Millionaire
“The Wrestler,” The Wrestler
Count on WALL-E’s song and Springsteen’s tune for The Wrestler. The “Slumdog” tune will get in on the film’s momentum. And I mainly picked the other two because I couldn’t think of better alternatives.
Best Art Direction
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Revolutionary Road
Alternates: Australia, The Duchess, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire
Count on a raft of period work, and a near technical sweep by The Dark Knight. This is one rare category I expect Slumdog to miss, because that was more location work than sets. And as much as people disliked Indiana Jones, is anyone seriously going to argue the sets in that aren’t first rate? If so, you’re a fool.
Best Cinematography
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Alternates: Defiance, Milk
I took the same five the American Society of Cinematographers took, it seemed the safest way to go.
Best Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Safest bet is to match the likely picture nominees, and I feel very comfortable with that, even to the point of not naming alternates.
Best Costume Design
Changeling (period)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (periods, technical sweep)
The Duchess (opulence)
Revolutionary Road (period)
Slumdog Millionaire (love for the film)
Alternates: The Dark Knight, The Other Boleyn Girl
Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (old age)
The Reader (old age)
Tropic Thunder (Blood and blackface)
Alternate: Synecdoche, NY
Best Sound Mixing - for overall sound design
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fincher’s movies always sound great)
The Dark Knight (technical sweep)
Iron Man (Big summer blockbuster)
Slumdog Millionaire (sweep)
WALL-E (Pixar, genius)
Best Sound Editing - more for effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fincher)
The Dark Knight (Sweep)
Indiana Jones (All the other films were)
Iron Man (Big Summer blockbuster)
WALL-E (Pixar, genius)
Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
The technical category I feel safest predicting. These are the obvious three, although Hellboy II could topple the less obviously effect-y Dark Knight.
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