Sonic Cinema

Snooch to the Nooch!

Well, with the Oscars finally happening on Sunday, it’s now time for my final look at the nominees, and a look at my final predictions, and whether they’ve changed in the past month.

Before I get to the festivities, though, an update on where my Top 10 Best and Favorites for 2008 stand now.

Brian’s 10 Favorite Films of 2008
1. “Wall-E” (Andrew Stanton)
2. “Speed Racer” (Andy & Larry Wachowski)
3. “The Dark Knight” (Christopher Nolan)
4. “The Wrestler” (Darren Aronofsky)
5. “Iron Man” (Jon Favreau) & “The Incredible Hulk” (Louis Leterrier)
6. “Synecdoche, New York” (Charlie Kaufman)
7. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (David Fincher)
8. “Tropic Thunder” (Ben Stiller)
9. “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” (Peter Sollett)
10. “Zach and Miri Make a Porno” (Kevin Smith)

Brian’s 10 Best Films of 2008
1. “Wall-E” (Andrew Stanton)
2. “Slumdog Millionaire” (Danny Boyle)
3. “Milk” (Gus Van Sant)
4. “The Wrestler” (Darren Aronofsky)
5. “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” (Cristian Mungiu)
6. “Man on Wire” (James Marsh)
7. “My Winnipeg” (Guy Maddin)
8. “The Dark Knight” (Christopher Nolan)
9. “Revolutionary Road” (Sam Mendes)
10. “Stop-Loss” (Kimberley Pierce)

Viva la Resistance!

Brian Skutle
www.sonic-cinema.com
www.myspace.com/brianskutle
www.myspace.com/cinemanouveau

Best Picture
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“Milk”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Frost/Nixon”
“The Reader”

Brian’s Top Five: “Wall-E”; “Slumdog Millionaire”; “Milk”; “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”; “Man on Wire”

Brian’s Pick: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Oscar’s Pick: “Slumdog Millionaire”. There are some that’ll think “The Reader”- a surprise entry in the final five- will pull off a coup and upset, but I wouldn’t expect it. “Slumdog Millionaire’s” on a run unheard of even in the years of wins like “The English Patient,” “Titanic,” and last year’s “No Country for Old Men.” I wouldn’t expect that to change any.

Best Director
Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Gus Van Sant, “Milk”
David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”

Brian’s Top Five: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”; Gus Van Sant, “Milk”; Cristian Mungiu, “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”; Kimberly Pierce, “Stop-Loss”; Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight”

Brian’s Pick: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”

Oscar’s Pick: Danny Boyle. There are years when Best Picture and Best Director don’t match up (2005 was the last one, with “Brokeback Mountain’s” Ang Lee winning when “Crash” won Best Picture). This isn’t one of those years.

Best Actor
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”

Brian’s Top Five: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”; Sean Penn, “Milk”; Josh Brolin, “W.”; Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Synecdoche New York”; Leonardo DiCaprio, “Revolutionary Road”

Brian’s Pick: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”

Oscar’s Pick: Mickey Rourke. In one of the only genuine horse races in the major categories, Penn and Rourke are in a dead heat. While a good bet is for Penn to win his second Oscar in five years for his best-ever, and most charismatic performance, in a year that looks to favor sentimental favorites, I wouldn’t be surprised to see comeback kid Rourke take home Oscar gold.

Best Actress
Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep, “Doubt”

Brian’s Top Five: Kate Winslet, “The Reader” & “Revolutionary Road”; Anamaria Marinca, “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”; Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”; Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”; Frances McDormand, “Burn After Reading” & “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day”

Brian’s Pick: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”

Oscar’s Pick: Kate Winslet. Some people think Streep will leap frog ahead of this year’s award-magnet Winslet. And look, I’ve seen “Frozen River,” and Leo has an excellent chance at an upset. I wouldn’t bet on either- Kate’s on an awards roll this year between this performance and “Revolutionary Road.” Plus, after five previous nominations, it’s about damn time she wins.

Best Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”
Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road”
Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”

Brian’s Top Five: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”; Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “Stop-Loss”; Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”; Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road”; Josh Brolin, “Milk”

Brian’s Pick: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”

Oscar’s Pick: Heath Ledger. It’s possible that the Academy will stand up and say they’d rather stick with the living nominees who have more to gain in the future by winning (my top picks are Downey and Shannon), but I think the pressure to honor Ledger for his swan song performance- which would’ve been astonishing even if he’d lived to see it- will be too great for them to ignore. The other four will have plenty of chances in the future; sadly, Ledger won’t have another one.

Best Supporting Actress
Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”
Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Amy Adams, “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis, “Doubt”

Brian’s Top Five: Laura Vasiliu, “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”; Rosemarie DeWitt, “Rachel Getting Married”; Madeline Carroll, “Swing Vote”; Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”; Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Brian’s Pick: Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Oscar’s Pick: Penelope Cruz. Best Supporting Actress is typically a surprising category, and this year will be no different. While I don’t think the deserving Henson has a chance against the heavyweights in the category, I think the “Doubt” costars will cancel each other out, and Tomei will have to settle for the Oscar she won for “My Cousin Vinny,” my bet is that Cruz will continue the tradition of Woody Allen actors scoring Oscar gold.

Best Original Screenplay
“Wall-E” (Pete Doctor, Jim Reardon, Andrew Stanton)
“Milk” (Dustin Lance Black)
“Frozen River” (Courtney Hunt)
“In Bruges” (Martin McDonagh)
“Happy-Go-Lucky” (Mike Leigh) (Haven’t Seen Yet)

Brian’s Top Five: “Wall-E” (Pete Doctor, Jim Reardon, Andrew Stanton); “Synecdoche New York” (Charlie Kaufman); “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” (Cristian Mungiu); “Stop-Loss” (Kimberly Pierce, Mark Richard); “Milk” (Dustin Lance Black)

Brian’s Pick: “Wall-E” (Pete Doctor, Jim Reardon, Andrew Stanton)

Oscar’s Pick: “Milk”. While I think it’s about damn time Oscar expand its’ Pixar fetish beyond the “minor” categories like music and sound effects (not that I’m complaining about those), Dustin Lance Black’s insightful and entertaining look at the life of groundbreaking politician Harvey Milk for Gus Van Sant’s riveting biopic.

Best Adapted Screenplay
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Simon Beaufoy)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Eric Roth, Robin Swicord)
“Frost/Nixon” (Peter Morgan)
“Doubt” (John Patrick Shanley)
“The Reader” (David Hare)

Brian’s Top Five: “Slumdog Millionaire” (Simon Beaufoy); “The Dark Knight” (Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, David S. Goyer); “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Eric Roth, Robin Swicord); “Revolutionary Road” (Justin Haythe); “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” (Lorene Scafaria)

Brian’s Pick: “Slumdog Millionaire” (Simon Beaufoy)

Oscar’s Pick: “Slumdog Millionaire”. I suppose 13-time nominee “Benjamin Button” could sneak in there, but who am I kidding? This is Beaufoy’s category this year. “Slumdog” wins again.

Best Original Score
“Wall-E” (Thomas Newman)
“Slumdog Millionaire” (A.R. Rahman)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Alexandre Desplat)
“Defiance” (James Newton Howard)
“Milk” (Danny Elfman)

Brian’s Top Five: “Wall-E” (Thomas Newman); “The Dark Knight” (Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard); “Speed Racer” (Michael Giacchino); “Slumdog Millionaire” (A.R. Rahman); “Changeling” (Clint Eastwood)

Brian’s Pick: “Wall-E” (Thomas Newman)

Oscar’s Pick: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. Here’s another potential “Slumdog” win (Hell, every category it’s nominated in could be another win), even though I’d love to see Newman, Elfman, or Howard win their first, but I think “Button’s” Desplat- whose star has been on the rise the past couple of years- will win for his elegant and heartbreaking score.

Best Original Song
“Down to Earth” from “Wall-E” (Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman)
“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (A.R. Rahman, Gulzar)
“O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (A.R. Rahman, M.I.A)

Brian’s Top Five: “The Wrestler” from “The Wrestler” (Bruce Springsteen); “Down to Earth” from “Wall-E” (Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman); “Generic Winter Holiday” from “Happy Holidays” (James C. Ferguson, Molly Beck Ferguson, Zack Hexum); “I Thought I Lost You” from “Bolt” (Miley Cyrus); “Rock Me Sexy Jesus” from “Hamlet 2” (Ralph Sall, Pam Brady, Andrew Fleming)

Brian’s Pick: “Down to Earth” from “Wall-E” (Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman)

Oscar’s Pick: “Down to Earth”. First of all, I’m still pissed Oscar missed the boat for Springsteen’s “Wrestler” song- how did that happen?- and look, “Slumdog’s” got a chance with both possibilities. But I wouldn’t be surprised if both songs canceled themselves out, paving the way for this soulful song by Gabriel and Newman to pick up another award for Pixar. It’s too bad Gabriel won’t be singing it himself though.

Best Animated Feature
“Wall-E”
“Kung Fu Panda”
“Bolt”

Brian’s Top Three: “Wall-E”; “Kung Fu Panda”; “Bolt”

Brian’s Pick: “Wall-E”

Oscar’s Pick: “Wall-E”. Do I really need to explain this one folks? I loved “Panda” and “Bolt,” but “Wall-E’s” a peak for Pixar. End of story.

Best Foreign Language Film– Haven’t Seen Any
“The Baader Meinhof Complex” (Germany)
“The Class” (France)
“Departures” (Japan)
“Revanche” (Austria)
“Waltz with Bashir” (Israel)

Brian’s Top Three: “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”; “XXY”; “Priceless”

Oscar’s Pick: “Waltz with Bashir”. Of all the films I’ve missed out on this year, this is one of the most disappointing misses. This animated epic missed out on the Animated Feature category (probably best since “Wall-E” is nominated), but I wouldn’t expect Oscar to miss out on the chance to break ground here.

Best Documentary Feature
“Man on Wire”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“The Betrayal – Nerakhoon”– Haven’t Seen Yet
“The Garden”– Haven’t Seen Yet
“Trouble the Water”– Haven’t Seen Yet

Brian’s Top Five: “Man on Wire”; “Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson”; “Religulous”; “Young @ Heart”; “Standard Operating Procedure”

Brian’s Pick: “Man on Wire”

Oscar’s Pick: “Man on Wire”. The Katrina film “Trouble the Water” could pull an upset, but I think this fascinating look at a high-wire adventure between the now-lost Twin Towers will tower over everything else.

Best Visual Effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Iron Man”

Brian’s Top Three: “Speed Racer”; “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; “Iron Man”

Brian’s Pick: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Oscar’s Pick: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. “The Dark Knight” could sneak in here, but the astonishing way Fincher and co. make Brad Pitt age gracefully will be impossible to ignore.

Best Sound
“Wall-E”
“The Dark Knight”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Wanted”

Brian’s Top Five: “Wall-E”; “The Dark Knight”; “Iron Man”; “Tropic Thunder”; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

Brian’s Pick: “Wall-E”

Oscar’s Pick: “The Dark Knight”. As much as I love “Wall-E’s” brilliant use of sound, “The Dark Knight” does kind of deserve it for that ambush sequence alone.

Best Sound Editing
“Wall-E”
“The Dark Knight”
“Iron Man”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“Wanted”

Brian’s Top Three: “Wall-E”; “Speed Racer”; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

Brian’s Pick: “Wall-E”

Oscar’s Pick: “Wall-E”. Ben Burtt is the not-so-silent star, providing the sound that gave voice to this unforgettable love story. End of story.

Best Cinematography
“The Dark Knight”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Changeling”
“The Reader”

Brian’s Top Five: “The Dark Knight”; “Slumdog Millionaire”; “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; “Doubt”; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

Brian’s Pick: “The Dark Knight”

Oscar’s Pick: “The Dark Knight”. This is about as sure a thing as “Wall-E” in the above category. That use of IMAX is just amazing.

Best Film Editing
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“The Dark Knight”
“Frost/Nixon”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Milk”

Brian’s Top Five: “Slumdog Millionaire”; “The Dark Knight”; “Iron Man”; “Speed Racer”; “Frost/Nixon”

Brian’s Pick: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Oscar’s Pick: “Slumdog Millionaire”. “The Dark Knight” has a good chance to upset here, but “Slumdog” is as much a technical accomplishment as it is great storytelling. Another win for Danny Boyle’s powerhouse.

Best Art Direction
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Revolutionary Road”
“Changeling”
“The Duchess”

Brian’s Top Five: “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”; “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; “Slumdog Millionaire”; “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”; “Leatherheads”

Brian’s Pick: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Oscar’s Pick: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. This is gonna be between “Button” and “Dark Knight,” but look for “Button’s” trip through the decades to astonish the competition.

Best Makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
“The Dark Knight”

Brian’s Top Three: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”; “The Dark Knight”

Brian’s Pick: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Oscar’s Pick: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. Three great possibilities here, but “Button” wins again.

Best Costume Design
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Revolutionary Road”
“The Duchess”
“Milk”
“Australia”– Haven’t Seen Yet

Brian’s Top Five: “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”; “Leatherheads”; “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day”; “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”

Brian’s Pick: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Oscar’s Pick: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. Originally I chose “The Duchess,” but it’s always a good idea to go with the most-nominated films. “Button” takes the win.

Here are the three awards those most devoted to movies care about. I haven’t seen any of these, so all these are just guesses.

Best Short Film- Live Action
“Auf der Strecke (On the Line)”
“Manon on the Asphalt”
“New Boy”
“The Pig”
“Spielzeugland (Toyland)”

Oscar’s Pick: “New Boy”

Best Short Film- Animated
“La Maison de Petits Cubes”
“Lavatory – Lovestory”
“Oktapodi”
“Presto”
“This Way Up”

Oscar’s Pick: “Presto”. Come on, this Pixar short was just too funny folks.

Best Documentary Short Subject
“The Conscience of Nhem En”
“The Final Inch”
“Smile Pinki”
“The Witness – From the Balcony of Room 306”

Oscar’s Pick: “The Final Inch”