The Oscars

Every year the Academy pisses me off and I swear that I won't watch the show because they don't know what the hell they are doing, but inevitably I get too excited not to care. After all, I love watching movies, so let's look at this years crop of best picture candidates and I'll do my best to handicap them starting with the least likely to win.

Juno: I liked this movie very much but I get the sense that it's completely out of its league in this category. The director, Jason Reitman is also nominated, which is appalling, since Joe Wright, David Cronenberg and so many other deserve the honor more. There just seems to be a pattern developing every year where at least one heart-warming sentimental comedy in going to be nominated and they just can't stand up to the brilliance of the other films.

Michael Clayton: The remaining four films are all very good. I just watched Michael Clayton last night and I thought it was really great. The pacing was relentless towards an extremely satisfying climax. Surely George Clooney was at his best but I wonder if he has any range as an actor. Tom Wilkinson is amazing as well, but I think this movie will fall short in most all of the categories it's nominated.

Atonement: I was not prepared to like this movie as much as I did. I absolutely loved it. Yes, the ending was a little anticlimactic, but certainly not bad enough to spoil the whole film. None of the cast were brilliant, but they were all very good and the cinematography and directing were the true stand out for me. The curse for this film is that, this year, there are unfortunately 2 films that come far closer to perfection.

No Country for Old Men: It feels like forever since I've seen this. I will also say that I think the Academy will choose this as the years best film although There Will Be Blood is a better picture. The Coen's deserve the Oscars for best directing and best adapted screenplay but ultimately, the overall experience laid out in There Will Be Blood should be recognized.

There Will Be Blood: I know I started this post saying how I would handicap the Oscar's and here I am just choosing my favorite. I can't remember ever liking two films in the same year as much as I like these films. Daniel Day Lewis' acting is transcendental, and watching him feels like I am staring at the most beautiful painting ever created. This along with the brilliant filmmaking, amazing sound, hell, even the silence is beautiful in this movie, make it my favorite of the year. I hope the Academy feels the same way.