I Predict: The Oscars

With the Oscars just a few days away I figured I'd pipe in with my opinions and logical choices in the big four categories: Best Picture, Best Performance by an Actor and Actress in a Leading Role, and Best Director for the 80th Annual Academy Awards. (Note: All odds and picks are my opinion)

Best Picture

Atonement- Odds of Winning: 20%

Juno- Odds of Winning: 15%

Michael Clayton- Odds of Winning: 5%

There Will Be Blood- Odds of Winning: 25%

No Country for Old Men- Odds of Winning: 35%

My Pick: Atonement
Probable Winner: No Country for Old Men
Reasoning:
'Atonement' is driven by a powerful story and is one of the more rounded movies of the award season. 'There Will Be Blood' could very well win, but may be hurt by its lack of an obvious plot (it's a character driven story.) 'No Country' is the likely winner through the power-house direction and strong performances. One of the biggest snubs of the season is Tommy Lee Jones not receiving a nomination for Supporting Actor alongside Javier Bardem. This year is one of the tightest races in modern Oscar history, don't be shocked to see any of the three front-runners win, or even a surprise win for 'Juno' by virtue of the hype machine.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

George Clooney: Michael Clayton- Odds of Winning: 4%

Johnny Depp: Sweeney Todd- The Demon Barber of Fleet Street- Odds of Winning: 2%

Daniel Day-Lewis: There Will Be Blood- Odds of Winning: 90%

Tommy Lee Jones: In The Valley of Ellah- Odds of Winning: 2%

Viggo Mortensen: Easter Promises- Odds of Winning: 4%

My Pick: Daniel Day-Lewis
Probable Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis
Reasoning:
Daniel Day-Lewis... 'Nuff said.


Best Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett: Elizabeth: The Golden Age- Odds of Winning: 5%

Julie Christie: Away From Her- Odds of Winning: 40%

Ellen Page: Juno- Odds of Winning: 40%

Laura Linney: The Savages- Odds of Winning: 10%

Marion Cotillard: La Vie En Rose- Odds of Winning: 5%

My Pick: Ellen Page
Probable Winner: Ellen Page
Reasoning:
In what looks like a two-woman race between Ellen Page and Julie Christie; Page could very well win thanks to the large amount of hype that 'Juno' has been receiving. Which is well-earned through her young age (21) and versatility she showed in her performance


Director(s)

Jason Reitman: Juno- Odds of Winning: 25%

Tony Gilroy: Michael Clayton- Odds of Winning: 15%

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen: No Country for Old Men- Odds of Winning: 30%

Paul Thomas Anderson: There Will Be Blood- Odds of Winning: 25%

Julian Schnabel: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly- Odds of Winning: 5%

My Pick: Paul Thomas Anderson
Probable Winner: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Reasoning
Both nominations are well earned. If only all three could walk away with an award for the achievement in directing. Again do not be surprised if one or the other wins.

See ya Feb. 24 at 7 PM central

Atonement Review

Grade: A-

A tale of reality vs. perception—“Atonement” tells the story of two lovers Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) and Cecelia Tallis (Keira Knightley) -- torn apart by perception.

On a beautiful day in 1935, writing prodigy, Briony Tallis composes a play to perform with her cousins to welcome home her brother. While Briony and her cast are taking a break from the rehearsal Briony stares out of the bedroom window to find that Robbie is threatening Cecelia to strip and jump into the surprisingly deep backyard fountain. Through a technique used throughout the movie we are brought back to earlier in the day and the audience is following Cecelia around leading up to her jumping into the fountain to fetch a piece of a vase accidentally broken by Robbie.

Later that evening Robbie has been invited to join the Tallis family for dinner. Robbie is soon escorted away by policemen investigating the rape of a young girl. The key eye-witness to the assault: Briony Tallis.

At the breakout of World War II Robbie is given the choice between serving out the rest of his prison sentence or joining with Royal Army and being released upon his tour being completed or the end of the war. As a way to see Robbie Cecelia, having renounced her family, becomes a nurse and has up-to-the-minute ideas of where Robbie is and if he is still alive.

Based upon the acclaimed novel of the same name by Ian McEwan; “Atonement” is one of the most unique movies to be produced in the new millennium; with outstanding lighting, amazing story-telling, a musical score that can bring you to the edge of your seat as easily as it could lull you to sleep and an ending that could melt the coldest of hearts. The performances within the picture, however, are very pedestrian. Although this does not hurt the movie by any means, it could keep the Academy from recognizing “Atonement” as the Best Picture winner for the upcoming Academy Awards.

Complimenting the outstanding score by Dario Marianelli the lighting and symbolism throughout the picture bring life to the characters true feelings and intentions. This is displayed throughout the movie, in the beginning of the picture when Briony is always shown with a bright light on her and her white dress. Then as the film progresses and Briony realizes the mistake she has made she is shown more in shadows, reflecting her guilt.

Along with the best picture nomination “Atonement” has merited 6 other nominations including: Best supporting actress – Saoirse Ronan, Achievement in Art Direction, Cinematography, Achievement in Costume Design, Best Original Score, and Adapted Screen Play. All of which are well deserved and could win.

Meet the Spartans Review

Grade: F

The “2 of the 6 writers of the ‘Scary Movie’ franchise” need to be stopped. In their third straight year of producing a spoof “comedy” movie they somewhat take on the movie ‘300’ with ‘Meet the Spartans’ a homo-erotic twist on the 2007 hit. The writers don’t appear to have even tried with things like how the Spartans greet each other: high-fives to the women and open mouth kisses for the men when greeting each other.

The only laughs to be had within the movie are when the Spartans literally skip to the Hot Gates and during the only fight scene to protect their land from the invading Persians. All other fight scenes make fun of other movies such as ‘Step Up’ and ‘Bring It On’ in which the Spartans and the Persian “soldiers” have dance-offs and “Yo-Momma” fights.

Unlike its predecessors ‘Meet the Spartans’ has absolutely no originality within the story. With the tag line “no movie is safe” they attempt to make fun of other movies like ‘Spider-man,’ ‘Shrek,’ the infamous (and completely unnecessary) “leave Britney alone” YouTube video and ‘Transformers.’ Whereas in previous movies the writers stuck to specific movie genres where, they take pop-culture parodies to new almost unbearable lows within the torment of this movie.

In what should be an abomination to the movie industry ‘Meet the Spartans’ debuted at number one in the box-office for the weekend of Jan. 25. For a movie that runs 94 minutes-- too long-- there is little to take away from this movie other than a lighter wallet/purse. Recommendation: use the $20 you would spend to see this movie on something more productive like filling your gas tank; you’ll get more laughs out of that experience than you will with ‘Meet the Spartans.’