First there's my Best Actor ballot. As you already know this is where I placed Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight though I think either lead or supporting categorization is fine for him depending on your personal point of view.
'Mickey, we could start a revolution (of great acting) right here!'
You'll also see supposed Oscar combatants Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Sean Penn (Milk) who completely deserved their accolades this past calendar year. For the remaining two spots I'm operating outside the expected Oscar competitors.
I've also published my nominations for best director, makeup, animated film and visual effects. Tomorrow: Best Actress plus a new podcast.
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42 comments:
I'm delighted to see Farrell there! He's on my ballot too!
LOL. MY ballot would look exactly the same if I decided to put Robert Downey Jr in supporting. Kingsley is my no. 6.
They are all terrific performances.
I love this ballot! Especially the Colin love, I wish he had more traction. I really need to see Elegy!
could farrell surprise come oscar time.
Farrell is a brilliant choice. I really need to see Elegy.
"CGI may be overused in movies but at least it's getting much better".
The above may be true, but is the new Hulk really the best proof of that? Honestly, I thought the CGI giants look both uglier in themselves and less consistent with the real footage than in Lee's version five years ago.
Otherwise good lineups. I was hoping Jenkins would make it to the final five, but seeing as you weren't that impressed by the movie, sixth place ain't bad.
I thought Jenkins would be in there too, but can't argue with who you've got instead. A good category this year.
I’m lovin these acting lineups. Can’t wait to see your Goddesses!
As for the Visual Effects category, um, no DARK KNIGHT? Not even a finalist!?!
Surely the restraint (if that makes sense) as well as innovative work with CGI and IMAX technology warrants it a higher spot. No?
My temporary ballot follows, but to stress how much of a work-in-progress this is, keep in mind that I have seen neither Milk nor Wrestler yet, among others. :(
Ben Burtt - WALL-E
Colin Farrell -In Bruges
Brendan Gleeson - In Bruges
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Kad Merad - Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis
Totally agree with Farrell in In Bruges. Wonderful comic timing. Never knew he had it in him.
I really need to see In Bruges and Reprise. Of course, I probably won't be able to find the latter anywhere.
IMO, if the Academy were more sensible, they might nominate Jenkins and DiCaprio over Eastwood and Pitt. But, they won't. *sigh*
just an fyi to anyone who wants to see reprise. it is available to watch online at netflix.
I'm very happy about the Hulk presence on Visual Effects. I think that, even though they weren't "real", they offered me a splendid time in the theater, and it was an enjoyable summer movie. Top 3 visual fx for me, too, this year.
I hope this means you're saving Michael Fassbender for your 09 awards.
Ugh I get so pissed when I remember how BAFTA nominated Dev Patel and Brad "CGI" Pitt over him.
Thrilled about Colin Farrell. I'm starting to think In Bruges should move to my top five.
Bummed about Bolt though. Such a hard call. I liked it a little more than WALL-E and Kung Fu Panda. Haven't seen Waltz yet.
I haven't seen the wrestler, but I really really loved Sean Penn in Milk. He was fantastic. And I want Emilie Hirsch to get a supporting actor soo bad, but it's just not gonna happen
My own:
- Colin Farrell - In Bruges
- James Franco - Pineapple Express
- Sean Penn - Milk
- Ryan Phillippe - Stop-Loss
- Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Which seems like a young group. Ah, well.
My money is on Penn, and he blew me away, but I was delighted and awed by Farrell, and thrilled to see him get the accolades at the Golden Globes.
I think Heath takes Supporting.
Kingsley was a great choice. Such an underappreciated performance he gives in ELEGY. Same goes for Farrell. Never believed he could turn in a great performance until I saw IN BRUGES.
I cannot wait for Best Actress. Curious to see if there are any surprises.
Interesting ballot, Nate. Heath will not, of course, end up as a nominee for Best Actor, although the case could be made.
I loved what you said about Penn's pickup scene, which I also mentioned in my review. I was floored by it ... it's the most charming that Penn has ever been onscreen.
However, it's Rourke's statue to lose. Hopefully he keeps his mouth shut for the next few weeks.
I thought you'd have the guy from The Class here
You've outdone yourself with that picture.
Nice choices - but I have to say that I don't find it unexpected that Ben Kingsley 'radiates carnality,' as I think he does that all the time.
Congrats! I really like your best actor ballot! It's great to see Ben Kingsley getting a slot. His performance in Elegy grabbed me. I still don't understand why he didn't get any awards traction, but one can always hope for a Tommy Lee Jones kind of a shockeroo come Oscar nominations morning, though - I don't think it's going to happen. About the In Bruges guys - I enjoyed Farrell's performance, but to me Gleason delivered the most honest and unflashy powerful performance in the film. Anyway, great line-up! And having Heath in leading makes sense to me! I really can't wait for best actress.
Congrats! I really like your best actor ballot! It's great to see Ben Kingsley getting a slot. His performance in Elegy grabbed me. I still don't understand why he didn't get any awards traction, but one can always hope for a Tommy Lee Jones kind of a shockeroo come Oscar nominations morning, though - I don't think it's going to happen. About the In Bruges guys - I enjoyed Farrell's performance, but to me Gleason delivered the most honest and unflashy powerful performance in the film. Anyway, great line-up! And having Heath in leading makes sense to me! I really can't wait for best actress.
I cant wait for Best Actress, I expect to see Ms. Hathaway on top of that list :)
my ballot
1 - mickey rurke
2 - sean penn
3 - richard jenkins
4 - frank langella
5 - leonardo dicaprio
When are you going to post the Best Actress ballot, Nat?
I'll be sad if you snub Meryl and Anne.
I hope some surprises like Penélope Cruz in 'Elegy' or Kristin Scott-Thomas in 'Il y a longtemps que je t'aime'.
And I hope you don't nominate the girl of 'Girl cut in two' because she was pathetic and Benoit Magimel was the only good thing about that movie.
Farrell is currently my top male lead performance of the year... but, then again, I haven't seen Penn, Rourke, DiCaprio, Eastwood, Langella, Sheen, etc... so I really have no basis of saying that he's my favourite of the year.
Just saw your supporting line-up - you liked Ralph Fienne's performance in the Duchess? I dont get what people see as so great about it. Have you reviewed the film already? i must have missed it.
"I hope this means you're saving Michael Fassbender for your 09 awards.
Ugh I get so pissed when I remember how BAFTA nominated Dev Patel and Brad "CGI" Pitt over him."
Jose, great minds think alike. BAFTA did Michael wrong.
Very nice. "Elegy" is among my top ten must-sees of '08 (ya know, the ones I missed).
My predix for your leading lady "goddesses":
- Anne Hathaway, "RGM"
- Sally Hawkins, "H-G-L"
- Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
- Famke Janssen, "Turn the River"
- Julianne Moore, "Savage Grace"
Jose, Hunger wasn't released in New York in 2008, so yeah Nathaniel's saving it for 09. He broke his rule last year and felt weird about it.
Liz --with Fiennes I really liked that there was such deadened entitlement... and how eventually he's forced to see how unelightened he is but even that redemption is very vaguely acknowledged... like he knows better now and that knowledge is still annoyance.
anyway... I think Fiennes is just an incredible actor in general. I wish he'd get meaty lead roles again. I miss him.
If you nominate Julianne Moore for 'Savage Grace', I will BE SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!
Meryl must take the Film Bitch Award, and also the BAFTA, the SAG and Oscar.
She's the best actress of 2008, even if Anne plays drug-addict and Winslet plays suburbian unhappiness.
Hey you are doing great, carry on, I like your blog. I will come back again its.
Thanks
http://hollywood2asia.blogspot.com/
have to see Rourke's yet, but Penn is in my ballot but I think - still - he doesn't deserve a second Oscar for what, in essence, is an easy performance. I'm still eager, too, to see anyone vindicate Emile Hirsch for the same movie, who certainly will be in my ballot for Supporting Actor (and had not Ledger been around...). Back to Penn, I was way more impressed by Jean-Claude van Damme's performance in JCVD, he moved me more in 6 minutes than Penn in 2 hours. Have you seen that one, Nat?
Rourke will win the Gold Medal.
Sorry, Heathers.
When's the podcast coming ? I'd quite like to download it so I can listen to it on the way to work tomorrow!
rob -- i'm finishing it right now. probably late tonight.
Love that you remembered Colin Farrell like that. It really is the best thing he's been in sincce "Tigerland." Heath in lead is still problematic, but if that's your thing, that's your thing. I was hoping for more for Richard Jenkins. I missed "Elegy", so I have no idea what Ben Kingsley was like in that film. Sean Penn for the win then, or a surprise victory for ole' Mickey?
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