First Oscar Predictions of the Year: Best Supporting Actor

Not my strong category to be honest. So here's my suggestion, if you want to make predictions for this category, do the opposite of mine. Last year I couldn't even guess Ledger or Hoffman, early contenders. I never thought the Academy would dig The Joker, and I thought Hoffman would be placed in lead and miss.

 Either way, I do have a good feeling about this batch, so I hope come January, all of them were at least possible nominees.

In order:

-Richard Kind (in the movie)

-Stanley Tucci (yes, first pic of him in his role)

-Matt Damon (in the movie, that looks nothing like him! :O)

-Christoph Waltz

-Alfred Molina (in the movie)

-Mark Ruffalo

and the nominees are...

Matt Damon as Francois Pineaar in Invictus

Last time Mr. Damon was invited to the ceremony as a nominee was over a decade ago. This year, he has 3 interesting projects coming out. Given his recent outcomes (*cough*The Good Sheperd*cough*), and even though he has been in some Oscar winning films, he misses on a nod. There's even word Mr. Damon has enough buzz to get a double nom, I doubt it, he's not THAT acclaimed. If he's getting in, it's for this ultra baity project with Oscar favorite Clint Eastwood, in a biopic role (it can't get any baitier). So no, I'm not that confident on him getting awards, but he's always a good actor to look out for so I'm eagerly waiting for his three projects.

Richard Kind as Uncle Arthur in A Serious Man

The Coens always deliver great casts, if the film is Coen-good-level then expect someone to get attention. Early word says he is the standout of the cast and the one with the interesting character. 

Alfred Molina as Jack in An Education

Probably missed the cut by a smidge back in 02. Always keeping a low profile, Molina is back with this film that I think will be a big player come awards season. He has internal competition, but apparently he plays a hilarious dad that steals the show. He's been a good actor all this time, maybe it's time to reward him.  

Mark Ruffalo as Chuck Aule in Shutter Island

Honestly? I think it'll be average Scorsese good (not great) and given his recent win, an ignored film come awards season, even though I'm a Scorsese fan anxious to see it. However, Mr. Scorsese always gets lucky by getting in at least one of his cast members. I haven't read the novel, and have no idea what's it about, but rumour has it he's got an extremely baity role. Maybe Ruffalo can finally get  noticed. *sigh*

Stanley Tucci as George Harvey in The Lovely Bones

Now this, this is going to be my strong card all year long. Whether Jackson's adaption is a hit or not, I believe Tucci can finally get his long due recognition. He's got a show stealing role that combines all sorts of emotion, if Tucci delivers, he may even be a threat for the win. The only problem: he's the very unlikeable villian (he kills a kid! -don't worry, not a spoiler), I'm not sure if the Academy will embrace it. Ether way, this is one of my most anticipated performances to see.

just in case, my 6th close option was...Christoph Waltz as Colonel Hans Landa  in Inglorious Basterds

He just won at Cannes. His role is supporting, but he won as best male performance. That Cannes win is probably going to get him attention, and it even works as early buzz. Some would say he may be the safest bet now, but I really doubt it: he's in a Tarantino film, they're not exactly big on acting awards (Thurman in 03, people?). We still have to see how the film is received in other countries, especially USA. And...though I don't believe in curses, statistics don't support Waltz, the last time the male Cannes winner went on to receive an Oscar nom was Gerard Depardieu in 1990. So yeah...Waltz has the buzz, but he still has a very long way to wo. 

My most expected right now are Tucci and seeing what exactly all the fuzz is about Ruffalo's role. Besides, I love the guy and it's time people noticed him. I'm sort of thinking An Education will be an acting showcase, which are always something I love to see, but despite all the buzz, I'm more excited about Peter Sarsgaard than Molina. Inglorious Basterds seems ok, if I have time I'll see it, if I don't, then later on DVD. And I'm always anticipating a new Coen movie, but lately, excluding No Country, most of their projects have been really disappointing.   

New Header!

Finally, a personalized header made by me, specially for my blog. It took me about 5 hours, but it was worth it.

I'll try to keep updating them, making each one different. In case you want to know, these are the movies you can't see because of the sign:

*2001: A Space Odyssey

*Psycho

*No Country For Old Men

*Toy Story

*Modern Times

*The Silence of the Lambs

*Chicago

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT! :D

First Oscar predictions of the year: Best Supporting Actress

Waaaaaayyyy to early? Probably, but it's fun, and even though I know they're going to be wrong (hey! I did guess 7 1/2 acting nominees for 08 in April: Jenkins, Streep, Davis, Adams, Henson, Pitt, Penn and Winslet but for the wrong movie) they're fun, and they're still somewhat an indication of what we're all highly anticipating for the year. After all, most great movies won't start cmoing out until August. 

I'll do my predictions for the big 8 categories + Animated Film. Who the hell knows what is going to be nominated for Best Costume Design this time of the year?

So, here you go, the first batch: supporting actress (with a beautiful collage made in Photoshop made by me).

and the nominees are...

Kathy Bates as Madame Peloux in Cheri

Based solely on the trailer: I was expecting a roccking Pfeiffer performance hoping that it'd be good enough to get her awards attention, but to my surprise, I felt intrigued by another performance, this one. Bates is more than experienced when it comes to the type of over the top women, and in the trailer she was just that. Witty, imponent, loud, risky, etc. It went right to the top of my head, "I think Pfeiffer won't be the one getting accolades for this movie". A 4th nom in the way for Mrs. Bates?

Judi Dench as Liliane La Fleur in Nine

Well, she's La Dench, so that helps, she's got one of the flashiest roles of the musical (and one of the flashiest she's gotten in some time). Chita Rivera got raving reviews for her portrayal in the revival a couple of years ago. If Dench delivers, I'll say she could even be a threat for the win. Plus...she's funny and she sings.

Stacey "Fergie" Ferguson as Saraghina in Nine

Risky choice, I'm one of the few who actually has her as a possibility. No, it's not because I'm a die hard fan of Fergie and want desperately to see her get a nod, but the trailer confirmed what I thought, Marshall may have exploded to the limit her potential, which, for all we know is big. He did make Queen Latifah deliver a great performance back in 02, didn't he? Besides, she plays a porstitute (Academy loves them) and she has one of the best songs in the whole play, which may be enough for her nod.  

Mo'Nique as Mary in Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire

Well, sincerely, I'm not that excited for the movie or her performance, but if early word is true, she probably was our earliest contender with actual buzz from people who've seen it. I'm not sure how the Academy will embrace her, but for now, she's my second safest bet, after Dench.

Meryl Streep as Julia Child in Julie & Julia

First of all, she's Streep, she's ALWAYS a contender. But this one's very risky, only because apparently, she can go supporting or leading. Based on the trailer, the role, the director and the genre, I'll say she's probably taking the supporting route. Besides, I think Streep is only getting in if she goes this way, something tells me if she decides to go lead she'll be ignored.

just in case, my 6th close option was...Penelope Cruz as Carla Albanese in Nine

I wanted to include her so much, after all, it's also an extremely juicy role that normally gets acclaim (a couple of years ago, it won Jane Krakowski a Tony). Why is she out? Basically, because as much as I'd like to, I doubt THREE Nine ladies will make the cut. It's not impossible, but it's not easy either. Besides, having an Almodovar project (though she's lead in there) may split the vote a little. And finally, being a recent winner may be enough for some to want to spread the wealth. 

If you ask me, I'm super thrilled about the all the Nine ladies, and though I don't think she'll get a nod, I'm dying to see Sophia Loren back in action (who isn't?). Like I said, I included Bates because I'm also excited to see her (now, even more than Pfeiifer -or anyone in the movie actually-). As a devoted Streep fan, of course I want to see the movie and her performance, even as a summer flick. 

I was also going to include Patricia Clarkson or Evan Rachel Wood for the new Woody Allen, Whatever Works. Allen is a strong contributor to the supporting actress nominees and winners always. I just wasn't sure which one to pick, both are next on my list. Also, an Allen girl just won, so I'm not sure if they'll be so anxious to award another one of her chicks just yet. (Sorvino and Weist won back to back in 94 and 95 though). I'll have to think it through. Thoughts? Your own predictions, or even performances you're excited to see?

Nine...ta-da!

What's Nine? No it's not the new Tim Burton animated little film, it's a "coming soon" movie from Chicago's Rob Marshall with a rocking cast and based on a rocking musical with rocking music. Yes, though Marshall left down his fans with Memoirs of a Geisha, he definitely showed he knows how to add flavor to a musical and hopefully can repeat his formula. 

The movie is based on the 80s play based on Federico Fellini's 8 1/2, which in some way portrays this director's "life". In the movie, Guido Contini has his midlife crisis and we get to see the relationships with the women that fill his life: his wife, his mistresss (ohhh), his muse, a prostitue, her mother, etc. I'll be honest, this is from what I've read so far, but I'm trying to keep everything in the dark so when I finally see the movie, hopefully I aren't prepared to whay comes my way.

The cast? Well none other thatn the razzling dazzling Daniel Day-Lewis as Guido, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Fergie, Kate Hudson (don't worry, Mr. Marshall did get a great performance from Queen Latifah didn't he?) and the return to screen of Sophia Loren. I'll definitely be checking it out the moment it releases.