Sean the Movie Guy's Oscar Picks

Written by Sean McBride

Thursday, 21 February 2008

I viewer recently emailed me, asking for help with her Oscar picks. She surmised that since four of my top five films from 2007 were nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award, I must have some inside knowledge that could help her on Sunday night. So in the spirit of fairness, I am forced to admit the ugly truth: Hollywood doesn’t always listen to Sean the Movie Guy. I know, it’s shocking, but true. Take the following with a grain of salt. If these picks help you with your Oscar pool, you’re welcome. If not, don’t say that you weren’t warned. We’ll start at the top. I think that the Best Picture statue will go to my number one film of 2007, “No Country For Old Men.” Joel and Ethan Coen will ride the wave of good will and gather the Best Director and Adapted Screenplay prizes. Javier Bardem is a lock in the Supporting Actor race, and editing prize will make five wins for “No Country.” The tally should be six, but “No Country’s” Roger Deakins is nominated twice for cinematography. He’ll split up his votes so “There Will be Blood” takes the camera prize along with the Best Actor nod for Daniel Day Lewis—two high-profile wins should make for a bittersweet consolation prize for “Blood.”  More consolation prizes as Hollywood looks to spread the love, and I’m betting that “Atonement” takes the Best Original Score and Costume trophies while “It-Girl” of the moment, Diablo Cody gets the Original Screenplay win for “Juno.” Poor “Michael Clayton” gets shut out, although the film could certainly pull off upset wins for Picture, Actor, Screenplay and especially Supporting Actress, for Tilda Swinton. She was great in “Clayton,” but I’m picking Amy Ryan to win the supporting nod for “Gone Baby Gone.” The leading ladies have a real dogfight going on between Julie Christi in “Away from Her” and Marion Cotillard’s “La Vie en Rose.” These are two great performances in two great films that sadly, very few people have seen. Ultimately, I think that youth gives way to experience and Christi takes the Oscar 42 years after her last win. Over in animation, “Ratatouille” will continue Pixar’s winning streak, but the streak is up for Michael Moore, whose acceptance speech rant for “Fahrenheit 911” still galls the Academy. “No End in Sight” gets the documentary prize instead (It’s a better film anyway). In the lesser-profile awards, “Transformers” should win in the Sound categories by virtue of being the loudest film nominated (although they should watch out because “The Bourne Ultimatum” is only a few decibels softer). “Transformers” will probably take the Visual Effects award as well, although my heart is with “The Golden Compass.” My heart is also with “Falling Slowly” from “Once” taking the Best Song Prize, but watch out for Academy members who have been “Enchanted” by “That’s How You Know.” The foreign films are a real mystery this year, so I’ll simply tell you that the buzz is on “The Counterfeiters” from Austria. “Sweeney Todd” should buzz around the Art trophy, and most shocking of all, “Norbit,” one of the worst films from last year will be golden thanks to Rick Baker’s fabulous makeup. “Norbit” as an Oscar-winner? Now you can see what I meant when I said take these picks with a grain of salt. Movie reviews by Sean, “The Movie Guy,” are published Wednesdays and Fridays in “The Port Arthur News.” He can be found weekly on KAVU-TV, KFDM-TV, and KVIC Radio. Additional reviews can be found at www.rottentomatoes.com, www.panews.com or at www.myvictoriaonline.com. Sean welcomes your comments via email at smcbride@kavutv.com.