After years of predicting the winners of the Academy Awards, the Daily Bruin staff has only faltered when it came to the true surprises of the evening. The win by “Crash” two years ago for Best Picture over “Brokeback Mountain” and Eddie Murphy of “Dreamgirls” losing to Alan Arkin of “Little Miss Sunshine” still irritates us for wrecking our perfect score.
While the surprises keep viewers tuning in to the three-hour-plus awards show year after year, we in the Arts and Entertainment section are hoping for very few this year. Because this year, we feel we know the pulse of the film world like the back of our hands.
Best Picture
Will Win: “No Country For Old Men”
Should Win: “There Will Be Blood”
This category is a real toss-up since these two films are nearly equal in their awe-inspiring power to move the audience, their electric acting and that certain captivating quality that makes them American masterpieces. Both films are bleak yet richly satisfying, thrilling in their plots yet depressing in their commentary on the human condition. While “Blood” edges out “No Country,” the Academy previously hasn’t shown “Blood” director Paul Thomas Anderson much love for his stunning films “Magnolia” and “Boogie Nights,” which makes us think that the Oscar will go to “No Country.” No harm done though, both of these films will remain enthralling classics, award or no.
Best Director
Will Win: Ethan and Joel Coen, “No Country for Old Men”
Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson, “There Will Be Blood”
Nominated for the first time as a duo, the Coen brothers seem destined to win this award. The last time either was nominated for Best Director was Joel in 1997 for “Fargo,” and the Academy may not want to miss another chance to reward them for their originality of vision. The movie itself is lean and mean, with as much symbolism as you want it to have ““ all of which points to good direction. However, Anderson’s sprawling vision of American ambition and all-encompassing capitalism is a staggering statement. The Coens’ movie hangs together better, but Anderson really shot for the moon with this one.
Best Actor
Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”
Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”
It’s safe to say Lewis is the Dame Helen Mirren of the 2008 ceremony. Everyone expects the actor to take home his second Oscar for portraying oilman Daniel Plainview, and rightly so. Taking on the role of the ambitious and ruthless tycoon, Lewis once again demonstrates the extraordinary talent that has made him a force in the industry for years. Whether in his scenes against Eli, the persistent local preacher, or dealing with the tragic aftermath of his son’s life-changing accident, Lewis leaves little room to consider fellow nominees and previous Academy favorites Johnny Depp as the musical yet deadly barber Sweeney Todd or previous Supporting Actor-winner George Clooney as the powerful yet understated legal fixer-upper Michael Clayton.
Best Actress
Will Win: Julie Christie, “Away From Her”
Should Win: Julie Christie, “Away from Her”
Julie Christie’s subtle rendering of a woman afflicted with Alzheimer’s in “Away From Her” is unequivocally one of the year’s best performances. Her carefully restrained performance stops short of melodrama and sentimentality. It is immensely affecting and surprisingly intelligent. Rarely can an actress exert such self-discipline and refrain from the tendency to appear histrionic. Marion Cotillard’s portrayal of the famous French singer Edith Piaf is a strong runner-up. Although makeup does much to transform the beautiful Cotillard into the feeble Piaf, it is her ability to translate Piaf’s inner turmoil onto the screen that makes this performance truly remarkable.
Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”
Should Win: Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”
The versatile Spanish-born Javier Bardem is a lock for this year’s Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the Coen Brothers’ adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel. Bardem’s chilling portrayal of a contract killer is the year’s most arresting performance. Sporting a Prince Charming/’70s Disco fusion haircut and toting a captive bolt stunner (used for killing cattle) to eliminate his targets, Bardem’s harrowing interpretation of the malevolent Anton Chigurh inspires profound fear. In another year, Casey Affleck’s brilliantly understated depiction of the pusillanimous and pathetic assassin Robert Ford would garner more attention.
Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Cate Blanchett, “I’m Not There”
Should Win: Cate Blanchett, “I’m Not There”
Portraying America’s most dynamic musician would be challenging enough, but when that musician is a male and the actress is a female, multiply that difficulty by about a thousand. Luckily, Blanchett does more than just pull off her portrayal of a 1965 post-electric Bob Dylan ““ she nails it. It’s easy to forget she is the one behind the cloud of cigarette smoke, the scraggly mop of hair and opaque Ray-Bans. Her (or would it be his?) mannerisms and aura are hypnotizing in their uncanny resemblance. While Amy Ryan has scored some major critical points for her role in “Gone Baby Gone,” Blanchett’s performance as a man deserves another man: a golden man named Oscar.
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Will Win: “Juno”
Should Win: “The Savages”
Writer Diablo Cody has already picked up several awards for “Juno,” including a nod from the Writers Guild of America, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when this critics’ darling picks up the Oscar. Cody manages to make her script both heartfelt and sincere, but escapes cheesiness thanks to sarcastic, deadpan dialogue. “The Savages” also deals with family dysfunction. Its script, from writer/director Tamara Jenkins, is an honest, bittersweet depiction of child-parent relationships. However, despite its insight, the film doesn’t have the high profile “Juno” enjoys, so Jenkins will unfortunately not make a trip to the podium this year.
Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: “No Country for Old Men”
Should Win: “There Will Be Blood”
As with Best Picture, this category revolves around “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood.” Both scripts feature a sublime balance between excellent dialogue and visual storytelling. This should come as no surprise, seeing as both films were written by their respective directors.
The WGA, in awarding the Coen Brothers earlier this month, has tipped the balance in favor of “No Country.” Nevertheless, Anderson, with “Blood,” has crafted the better screenplay. Using his source material more as inspiration than a strict guideline, he has chosen to veer off into his own intimate narrative tangents.
Compiled by Jake Ayres, Patrick Mallon, Devon McReynolds, Elizabeth Packer, Guido Pellegrini and Kate Stanhope, A&E senior staff.