GOD contenders

The IF THERE WAS A GOD... box has been moved to the middle of the column, so as not to challenge the Oscar Balloon's bottom-of-the-column position. The "pure" Best Picture contenders are only different from the regular Balloon-ers for the inclusion of Once and Zodiac, which absolutely deserve the toast. Nothing to say (for now) about three I haven't seen -- Charlie Wilson's War, Sweeney Todd and There Will Be Blood.

The Best Director contenders follow, but the acting nominees aren't very different at all except for Zodiac's Robert Downey, Jr. and Before The Devil Knows You're Dead's Ethan Hawke in the Best Supporting Actor category and Stephanie Daley's Amber Tamblyn in a Best Supporting Actress slot. In part because I haven't really hunkered down with this. Things are especially lean on the Best Supporting Actress front. Ideas?

The GOD box reads as follows...

BEST PICTURE (6): American Gangster (Universal Pictures); Before The Devil Knows You're Dead (ThinkFilm); No Country for Old Men (Miramax); Once (Fox Searchlight); Things We Lost in the Fire (Dreamamount); Zodiac (Paramount). TAIL-GATING: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Warner Bros.); Atonement (Focus Features); The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal); Control (Weinstein Co.); In The Valley of Elah (Warner Independent); Ratatouile (Pixar/Disney). HAVEN'T SEEN 'EM: Charlie Wilson's War (Universal); Sweeney Todd (Dreamamount); There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage).

BEST DIRECTOR (6): Ridley Scott (American Gangster); Sidney Lumet (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead); Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men); John Carney (Once); David Fincher (Zodiac); Susanne Bier (Things We Lost in the Fire). RUNNERS-UP: Anton Corjbin (Control); Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford); Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum); Paul Haggis (In The Valley of Elah); Joe Wright (Atonement). UNSEEN, UNRANKED: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood); Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd); Mike Nichols (Charlie Wilson's War).

BEST ACTOR (9): Benicio Del Toro (Things We Lost in the Fire); Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild); Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead); Tommy Lee Jones (In The Valley of Elah); Sam Riley (Control). RUNNERS-UP: Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford); Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men); Chris Cooper (Breach); James McAvoy (Atonement); Adam Sandler (Reign Over Me); Denzel Washington (American Gangster). UNSEEN, UNRANKED: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood); Tom Hanks (Charlie Wilson's War);

BEST ACTRESS (8): Halle Berry (Things We Lost in the Fire); Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There); Julie Christie (Away from Her); Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose); Keira Knightley (Atonement); Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart); Ellen Page (Juno), Amber Tamblyn (Stephanie Daley). UNSEEN, UNRANKED: Amy Adams (Enchanted).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (5): Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones (No Country for Old Men); Ethan Hawke (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead); Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood); Robert Downey, Jr. (Zodiac). RUNNERS-UP: Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards (Zodiac). UNSEEN, UNRANKED: Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood); Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson's War); Liev Schreiber (Love in the Time of Cholera).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (4): Vanessa Redgrave (Atonement); Marisa Tomei (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead); Susan Sarandon (In The Valley of Elah); Saoirse Ronan (Atonement).

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 7, 2007 at 3:23 PM

comment #1

Bilge Author Profile Page says ...

Supporting Actress: Meryl Streep is kind of amazing in her one scene in EVENING. I doubt anyone will mount much a campaign for her, but in an ideal world she would be recognized in some way. Also, Marisa Tomei in BEFORE THE DEVIL...

Posted by Bilge Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 4:19 PM

comment #2

gruver1 Author Profile Page says ...

Wells to Ebiri: Tomei...good call.

Posted by gruver1 Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 4:27 PM

comment #3

EDouglas Author Profile Page says ...

But if there REALLY was a God, he'd rain 10 plagues down on the Kodak Theatre, killing everyone inside and ending any desire to award actors and filmmakers for doing what they're paid an exorbitant amount of money to do anyway. :)

Posted by EDouglas Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 4:30 PM

comment #4

alynch Author Profile Page says ...

I know you're not all that big on the movie, but I think Amy Ryan deserves some attention for Gone Baby Gone.

Posted by alynch Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 4:34 PM

comment #5

gruver1 Author Profile Page says ...

All right, all right...let's pull back a bit on the misanthropic tirades.

Posted by gruver1 Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 4:34 PM

comment #6

MichaelC Author Profile Page says ...

The only Supporting Actress turn that stands out in my memory is Leslie Mann in Knocked Up. She gave that film a jolt of energy every time she was on screen.

Other than that, I thought Olympia Dukakis in Away From Her and Catherine Keener in Into the Wild, though fine, were both about one memorable scene short of being in contention.

I'm surprised not to see Cate Blanchett in either of your balloons for I'm Not There when she seems to be leading the buzz in the category. Are you not on board that particular band wagon?

Posted by MichaelC Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 4:39 PM

comment #7

MichaelC Author Profile Page says ...

The only Supporting Actress turn that stands out in my memory is Leslie Mann in Knocked Up. She gave that film a jolt of energy every time she was on screen.

Other than that, I thought Olympia Dukakis in Away From Her and Catherine Keener in Into the Wild, though fine, were both about one memorable scene short of being in contention.

I'm surprised not to see Cate Blanchett in either of your balloons for I'm Not There when she seems to be leading the buzz in the category. Are you not on board that particular band wagon?

Posted by MichaelC Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 4:40 PM

comment #8

gruver1 Author Profile Page says ...

Wells to MichaelC: Blanchett's Dylan omitted? I don't know what I was thinking. Fixed.

Posted by gruver1 Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 4:46 PM

comment #9

scooterzz Author Profile Page says ...

i'd like to second the amy ryan suggestion....

Posted by scooterzz Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 5:20 PM

comment #10

EDouglas Author Profile Page says ...

Will Weinstein Co. still try to put Blanchett into the supporting category for I'm Not There? If they do, she'll win for sure, but I do think it's a leading role and should be treated as such out of fairness.

Posted by EDouglas Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 5:21 PM

comment #11

NDH Author Profile Page says ...

Supp Actress is pretty thin this year, but here are some suggestions:

Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Sigourney Weaver, The TV Set (my personal pick)
Kelly Macdonald, No Country for Old Men
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Catalina Sandino Moreno, Love in the Time of Cholera
Summer Bishil, Crossing Over or Nothing Is Private
Jennifer Garner, Juno

also, I believe Julia Roberts is being campaigned in the supporting category for Charlie Wilson's War. I would include Helena Bonham Carter as well, but apparently she's going lead for Sweeney Todd.

Posted by NDH Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 5:51 PM

comment #12

Zimmergirl Author Profile Page says ...

I appreciate what you're trying to do but it would only have true significance if the two lists were THAT different; they are not. This should just be a column, not a big bust up on the front page, imo. Why not just have a sidebar square that says "for your consideration"? The truth is that God has plenty other things on His mind, don't you think, than the Oscar race? If God did care about the Oscars I should think that alone proves that there is none.

Also, maybe it will be more significant when the actual race happens so that you can compare the two lists or you can very loudly admonish the Academy for not choosing what you think is best.

As it is, it's pointless. When I start seeing something like redacted or Lust, Caution for best pic maybe I'll have some faith in the process.

Posted by Zimmergirl Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 5:58 PM

comment #13

Jlix Author Profile Page says ...

what about I'M NOT THERE for best picture??? And Todd Haynes for best director??

Posted by Jlix Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 7:57 PM

comment #14

T. Holly Author Profile Page says ...

Darjeerling for bringing back sex on a train.

Posted by T. Holly Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 8:28 PM

comment #15

Scott Feinberg Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff, you didn't like "Juno" enough to include it for Best Picture?

Posted by Scott Feinberg Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 9:16 PM

comment #16

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

Yeah seriously, where's INTO THE WILD for Best Picture?

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 9:22 PM

comment #17

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

So "The Other Boleyn Girl" poster is up at http://www.impawards.com/2008/other_boleyn_girl.html
, courtesy of Dark Horizons.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 9:54 PM

comment #18

sandekat Author Profile Page says ...

Good gravy, Jeff. If there were a God, there would be no Academy Awards. The fine folks who think up, create, and disperse their films would revel in the realization of their dreams are realized and they would require no other validation.

Audiences would seek out films that fit their needs, both intellectual and emotional. They might note actors and directors who they particularly enjoy and give their films first look, but with free will, unsullied by hype, spoilers, and stale popcorn.

And most of all, God would dispense with critics and bubble-brained commentators who assign labels to people because they see this film rather than that film. You'd be out of a job.

Makes you think that the Big Guy is gone fishing or something.

Posted by sandekat Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 10:14 PM

comment #19

romeoisbleeding Author Profile Page says ...

Robert Downey jr. deserves an Oscar nomination for Zodiac... so why did you pull his name out of there??? I don't get it.

Posted by romeoisbleeding Author Profile Page at October 7, 2007 11:43 PM

comment #20

christian Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff, you didn't think Hal Holbrook knocked it out of the park in INTO THE WILD?

Posted by christian Author Profile Page at October 8, 2007 8:25 AM

comment #21

Zimmergirl Author Profile Page says ...

Close, Sandekat but I still contend that God has more important things on His/Her mind than movies at all. If God dispensed with critics things would really be ugly. The Devil, on the other hand, would be having a grand old time because what people see would be entirely in the hands of big business and then things would really suck. God bless the critics for keeping film alive.

Posted by Zimmergirl Author Profile Page at October 8, 2007 9:41 AM

comment #22

sandekat Author Profile Page says ...

While there have been a few elegant, insightful, appreciative film critics who've shed lights and fury upon the frail and tenuous art that is film.....they've been a pitiful and insignificant few.

I will not and cannot believe that any deity would sanction what passes for film criticism today.....and other than Ebert none seek to rejoice about the improbability of artful film triumphant over crass lucre.

Critics keeping film alive. Not anymore....they've gleefully and greedily become part of the problem.

Posted by sandekat Author Profile Page at October 8, 2007 8:01 PM

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