OSCARS - Week 3

After a surprisingly quick and easy Oscar push this season, the countdown is reeling and just about over, meaning the stage is set for the biggest night in Hollywood. And whether you are an avid follower or not, the 81st Annual Academy Awards are shaping up to be one to remember, because no matter what film wins the big prize, for the first time in a very long time, we have five viable contenders worthy of being the best of 2008. All award season, from the People’s Choice Awards all the way up through last week’s BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards, the one theme that comes to my mind is consistency. Quality is what I see across all the nominees this year and it’s been that way all season, making me believe that no matter who wins or loses, we all can enjoy the fruit of what Hollywood has done this past year. And for those that may not know, all this doesn’t begin Sunday at 5PT/8ET like you might have thought, as there are hours of pre-show festivities, starting at noon EST on Sunday for what I have dubbed the “Super Bowl Sunday for movies.” So, get comfortable, get set and get ready for the final award show of the season representing the year 2008. And to close this year’s journey to the Oscars, I leave with the final two categories (Best Director and Best Picture), which are arguably the two most important of the evening next to Best Actor and Actress for a night and day that is really all about movies and for that; I love this show like no other.

Unlike last year where the range of winners to losers was all over the map, this year there is one film that seems to be stealing all the glory away. That’s right, one film that on paper wouldn’t seem to be that great, but when put behind the right music and direction, becomes something that everyone can’t stop talking about. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE on the surface might look like this year’s overnight wonder, much like JUNO and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE were respectively the past couple years. But, evidently it’s much more than that and for the first time in a long time, we have a serious contender for Best Picture that is not your normal pick. Anytime you see a story based around a country that isn’t often talked about, unless a natural disaster has hit it, you should watch it because the fact of the matter is, we all should learn more about the world we live in. And that’s beauty of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, as it’s not so much about India, but in some underlying way still shows you the country in all its glory. And whenever I see a film like this that puts a lot of people in Hollywood to work, I take notice, because these films usually come home as the big winner on Oscar night, despite the other nominees that may or may not be better overall. The story itself was almost too organized given the constant back and forth between the past and present, but I have to give some credit to screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, who took Vikas Swarup’s book Q & A and turned it into a wonderful adaptation. Director Danny Boyle not only respected the original book, but took his screenwriter’s own words and brought them to life in one unimaginable way. The end result was just a wonder to watch and although this story could be broken down quite easily, and sure, some might say it’s even too perfect by films end, I liked it that way and was glad to finally see a film with no apologies for being a great story. Now, having said all that, I actually walked away from this film, not thinking it was a lock for anything, much less Best Picture. Sure, it was incredible and full of more life than several of the Best Picture nominees from a year ago, but I guess when I think of Best Picture, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE does not come to mind. It just doesn’t and despite everything it has achieved, I do not think it’s a guaranteed winner come Sunday for any of the major categories for which it’s nominated for. Does it have a better shot than most, though? I think it does, just based on what it’s already won for this season, but I just have this weird feeling the Academy might reward a different film. As I said, all five are quality and very fit to walk home as the best from a year ago, so why couldn’t we see a shocker where a film not as popular wins? I realize history is not on my side with that question, but it is possible, so keep that in mind as you fill out your ballot this year.

In true Oscar fashion, all five directors picked as best from a year ago also see their films nominated for Best Picture, and at last 75% of the time, the best directing and producing Oscars go to the same film. Now, that’s a stat worth noting, but again, with all the quality directors to choose from here, I could see the winner coming from a non-Best Picture winner. It’s only been since 2005 we have seen this, when Ang Lee won for his camera work with BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, while CRASH won for Best Picture, a win I still have not gotten over. Three years before that, Roman Polanski won for directing THE PIANIST, but not for Best Picture, which went to CHICAGO. It has been three years, so we could be in for an upset if the trend started in 2002 continues. Having said that, though, only one guy seems to be winning this art each and every ceremony I have seen this year. That would be Mr. Danny Boyle, the genius behind the camera of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. And honestly, he probably should win as I can’t seem to put any of the director’s in front of him at this point in time. That may change at the last minute when I fill in my one of my 3 ballots this Sunday for good, but at least right now, no one is better. And joining Boyle this year as a first-time nominee is David Fincher, director of THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. For Fincher, this marks his first nomination and really first time anyone has ever heard of him, which is a shame considering his resume. And not because it’s so well-rounded or stocked full of acclaimed projects; instead his resume contains two films that were the first of their kind in many ways. Films that, in my mind, paved the way for stories we see today on the big screen. Those films were SE7EN and FIGHT CLUB, two films that in some ways could have been nominated for this very category, if the Academy happened to open their eyes those years. I bet now they wish they did, considering the masterpiece that THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON has become.

And for Fincher, I’m sure just being nominated is enough, given what a life-long dream it was to do this film. He worked with George Lucas’ own ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) company back in the 80’s, director David Fincher learned early about the need for detail and how technology would eventually control most of what we see today from major motion pictures. So, for him to see his film rewarded has got to be something and hopefully if he walks home a winner, a big night to remember. The only previous winner of the bunch is Ron Howard, who’s FROST/NIXON didn’t get much play, but obviously did enough to garner this nomination and several other’s including Best Picture. Stories like FROST/NIXON don’t come around that often and I agree without great acting, there’s really no chance for success as so much depends on it, but writing and directing still play their part respectively and Howard deserves some kudos for what he did, bringing to life a moment in our history that many probably do not know. But, given his previous win for A BEAUTIFUL MIND, this nomination will be the closest Howard gets to winning, as I just don’t see him grabbing this Oscar away from the other contenders. And oddly enough, the final two nominees are guys that have also been here before, with Stephen Daldry’s now 3rd nomination leading the pack. For Daldry, this marks the first nomination since THE HOURS, roughly six years ago and a film that was as unique as his current nominated film, THE READER. But, if I had to choose between the two, the current selection should be the winner, not because of its historic premise, because it showed just how far a woman would go to not be embarrassed or ridiculed. And as much as this nomination is because of Kate Winslet, who will undoubtedly go home a first-time winner this year, Daldry was able to bring in a lot of emotion throughout the film, not glorifying any one thing. But, I think the one dark horse to this list that might surprise some is Gus Van Zant, the director for MILK. Here’s a guy that many may think they know, but when looking at his list of films, outside of GOOD WILL HUNTING, will not since he typically will not choose the mainstream story or film to direct. That’s just how Van Zant rolls and I like it, as more than once I have said this guy knows how to get it done with as little as possible. With MILK, he allowed Sean Penn to do his thing and the result was nothing short of spectacular, as the film was quality form start to finish. Taking on a story like the one of Harvey Milk is no easy task, but Van Zant and company respected the history and from there, it all fell into place for what could be a show-stopper if the Academy truly feels like throwing a curve ball. But, only one of these fine director’s will walk home a winner, as my pick below suggests:

Best Director

- David Fincher, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
- Ron Howard, FROST/NIXON (Universal)
- Gus Van Zant, MILK (Focus Features)
- Stephen Daldry, THE READER (The Weinstein Company)
- Danny Boyle, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight)

Well, it’s almost upsetting that we’ve come all this way to the last and most prestigious award, which is of course the “grand-daddy of them all,” Best Picture. And if this year is anything like last year, we’re in for yet another surprise, but I tend to think it’s not, as I see only two more than favorable nominees to win. This year is tough, only because all the picked films deserve to be there, unlike previous years where a few could have been eliminated from contention, if a better option would have been chosen instead. Nevertheless, to be here is a big achievement for producers and directors, which is why just to be nominated is almost a win in itself. And this trend of the unknown when it comes to category should stop soon, right? One would think, especially this year where only one of these nominees has gathered up all the awards for producing thus far, but knowing that tells me two things. For one, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE will be second, at the least, if they had such a reward for not winning. That would mean, the “other” choice, THE CURIOUS CASE FOR BENJAMIN BUTTON, would be first, surprising everyone given it has won next to nothing this year, despite my own feelings of it being the best of this decade. But, as I ponder what could be, it’s hard not to see SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE at the end of the night accepting the award for Best Picture, the second and only other way I see this category going. A two-film race that will have no loser, as both proved to be among the best we have seen in a long time. But, before getting into who will win, let me tell you who won’t. And the least likely of those three films is THE READER, which undoubtedly was the fifth and final option to get into this category, having to beat out the likes of WALL-E, THE DARK KNIGHT and REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. Here’s a film that is nominated for a couple reasons, but mostly because of one amazing act of brilliance by Kate Winslet. And since she will win for Best Actress, go ahead and cross this one off the list for directing, even though we all should pay tribute to two of the producers that we lost last year, Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack. Right behind THE READER is perhaps FROST/NIXON, a great film, but one I can’t see winning this year; not because its non-deserving, because it just didn’t have “it” that you want from a Best Picture winner. Maybe if it was different year, but it’s not and there are just three films ahead of it in my mind, one of which being MILK. I know I say it’s a two-film race, but if there was ever a sleeper, MILK would be it. Given the fight in California right now over Proposition 8, I could see this film emerging a winner come Sunday, as it contains everything you want from a winner of this category. But, if BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN couldn’t win this category, MILK won’t as that would be the ultimate slap in the face for Ang Lee and company. That being said, this is truly a race between SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. That might be stretch to some, just to include BUTTON in this rhetoric, but to me, there was no film better in 2008.

And every so often a film will come along that will cover so much ground, that you might feel as if you missed something, but given its long running-time, won’t lead you back in the direction of seeing it again, even though you probably should. That’s a shame, because these types of stories just don’t come around as much as they should, given the path Hollywood has taken the past decade or so. And at least by my math, the last film with these qualities was 1994’s FORREST GUMP, the Best Picture winner for that year and film many critics consider one of the greatest of all time. Now, I’m sure an argument can be made for several other outstanding motion pictures between then and now, but I can’t name any that have the unique ability to take you on that kind of “life” journey in the way FORREST GUMP did, until now. Twelve years and over 7,700 films later, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON has entered that scene and despite only a couple wins this award season, is the best film of 2008, no matter how it all shakes out. And for it to be based loosely off a 1920’s short story written by F.Scott Fitzgerald is ludicrous, given just how every minute reveals a lifetime of wonder and charm, all tied up into one wonderful message and story that will stay with you long after the credits roll. My winner for sure, but could become a distant memory to the odds on sentimental favorite, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. And ironically, the last sentimental favorite to win, like Danny Boyle’s film was FORREST GUMP, a film closely resembled by THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, so to say these movies never work off each other would be a gigantic injustice. That being said, I think there’s simply not enough steam for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON to catch up to huge gag SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE has created out front this season, as my pick below divulges. So, be sure to tune in to ABC this Sunday for my favorite night of the year to see all the winners from what I dub the best year in film this decade has seen.

Best Picture

- THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
- FROST/NIXON (Universal), Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
- MILK (Focus Features), Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
- THE READER (The Weinstein Company), Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Donna Gigliotti and Redmond Morris, Producers
- SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), Christian Colson, Producer