Screen time

Opining about movies I haven't seen

I know there are people who are quite worried about the fate of this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. I will be a little sad if there’s no opportunity to critique the fashions, but I think I’ll get over it pretty quickly.

Anyway, here are my predictions:

Performance by an actor in a leading role

  • George Clooney in “Michael Clayton”
  • Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood”
  • Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
  • Tommy Lee Jones in “In the Valley of Elah”
  • Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises”
    The only movie I’ve seen in this category is “Eastern Promises.” I think Viggo Mortensen was good in his role, but I can’t really remember. The image of his … ahem … well, the … you know … that nude scene. It’s burned into my memory, and I’d rather it not be. Very disconcerting. So my pick for Best Actor is Daniel Day-Lewis, because he looks even creepier than Demon Barber Depp.

    Performance by an actor in a supporting role

  • Casey Affleck in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”
  • Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men”
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Charlie Wilson’s War”
  • Hal Holbrook in “Into the Wild”
  • Tom Wilkinson in “Michael Clayton”
    I’ve only seen one in this category, too: “No Country for Old Men.” Javier Bardem definitely deserved the nomination, and I think he’ll win the Oscar.

    Performance by an actress in a leading role

  • Cate Blanchett in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (Universal)
  • Julie Christie in “Away from Her” (Lionsgate)
  • Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose” (Picturehouse)
  • Laura Linney in “The Savages” (Fox Searchlight)
  • Ellen Page in “Juno” (Fox Searchlight)
    Guess how many of these I’ve seen? That’s right! One! Ellen Page was really good in “Juno,” but the Academy very infrequently gives anything to funny movies. So my pick for Supporting Actress is Marion Cotillard, because I like her name.

    Performance by an actress in a supporting role

  • Cate Blanchett in “I’m Not There”
  • Ruby Dee in “American Gangster”
  • Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement”
  • Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone”
  • Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton”
    I haven’t seen any of these movies. I won’t back Amy Ryan, though, because The Affleck directed “Gone Baby Gone.” I’m going with Cate Blanchett, because I love her.

    Best motion picture of the year

  • “Atonement”
  • “Juno”
  • “Michael Clayton”
  • “No Country for Old Men”
  • “There Will Be Blood”
    There was a time when Rockford and I made an effort to see all of the movies nominated for Best Picture before the Oscars, so we could make an informed decision. Do we put that much effort into researching presidential candidates? No we do not. But that’s not the point. The point is, we don’t do that any more. But I have actually seen two of them this year! And the winner is “No Country for Old Men.”

    Adapted screenplay

  • “Atonement”
  • “Away from Her”
  • “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
  • “No Country for Old Men”
  • “There Will Be Blood”
    I’m torn here. “No Country for Old Men” was fantastic, but “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is a great title. So it wins.

    Original screenplay

  • “Juno”
  • “Lars and the Real Girl”
  • “Michael Clayton”
  • “Ratatouille”
  • “The Savages”
    I don’t get the “Ratatouille.” I didn’t like it. I did very much like “Juno,” but I think it’s going to be shut out. I’m giving this one to “Michael Clayton,” because Justin said it was good.