Em's Oscar Picks

I'll admit it, I love watching the Academy Awards! Here's who I think should win:


Best Actor: Hands down Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood. This is the one category that I will shocked if I'm wrong. Daniel Plainview was terrifying but I also found myself liking him, which in some ways was even more chilling than the bad things this guy does. I can't imagine anyone else playing this role to the perfection that Mr. Lewis reached.

Best Supporting Actor: I would like to see Hal Holbrook win, his performance in Into the Wild was nuanced and touching, but I think it's going to go to Mr. Bardem, who definitely deserves it. Maybe I don't feel comfortable rooting for two completely misanthropic characters! I think Chigurh is slightly more horrifying than Daniel Plainview. Also: I don't understand why Casey Affleck is nominated for best supporting actor when I felt like he was the lead actor in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Best Actress: I don't know why, but this always happens, I rarely see any of the films in which any of the female performances are picked. I did see Juno and I know that I don't think Ellen Page should win, although she might. I tried watching Away From Her but it felt like a Lifetime movie to me. I like both Laura Linney and Cate Blanchett, but I didn't see Elizabeth or The Savages. I think Julie Christie will win but I have very little opinion in this category.

Best Supporting Actress: I did see Atonement and thought that Saoirse Ronan was excellent. I heard amazing things about Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There but didn't get the chance to see it. Again, I only saw one of the nominated performances so I can't make a very good guess.

Best Animated Feature:I actually saw all of three of the nominated films although I only saw Surf's Up because I work with kids (the highlight was Zooey Daschanel's voice work). Ratatouille was charming but Persepolis was so much better: beautiful animation, wonderful story, this was definitely one of the best movies I saw that was made in 2007, animated or otherwise . But I think Ratatouille will win because it's an American film.

Animated Short: I went to see all of these on Friday and they were all delightful, beautiful, and charming in their own ways. I'm going to say Peter and the Wolf because it was cute, sweet and touching (and because I'm a sucker for stop motion animation) but I also wouldn't be surprised or upset if My Love wins. All the nominated films were excellent although Even Pigeons Go to Heaven was a little too goofy in comparison to how good the other four were.

Art Direction: Atonement because it was just gorgeous.


Cinematography: This one's tough because I loved the cinematography in all five of the nominated films. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is my official pick, but there was that one continuous shot in Atonement that blew my and Jason's minds. Tough call.
Costume Design: Atonement again because I loved the green dress.


Editing: I'm pulling for Into the Wild since I thought this was a wonderfully done film and got somewhat overlooked in the nominations (although this may have been due to the fact that there were just so many good films this year!) I definitely think it should have been nominated for cinematography. I think The Diving Bell and the Butterfly should actually win, was marvelously edited. Again, a tough choice!

Screenplays: Juno will win for best original although it shouldn't. Adapted is just way too difficult to pick, especially since I haven't read any of the books that were adapted. How about No Country for Old Men?

I skipped a few categories that I didn't see any of the films in such as best documentary, short, foreign language, song, and makeup. I think Jonny Greenwood was totally robbed an Oscar for the There Will Be Blood soundtrack. I don't know enough about sound editing etc to comment.

Directing: It's a toss up between There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men but if I had to choose, I guess I would go with the Coens because I like that they directed it together : )

and finally...

Best Picture: I saw all the nominees except Michael Clayton, but I can't imagine it being any better than No Country or There Will Be Blood. Those two films were flawless in my book and I think if they had come out a year apart there would be no question that they would both win best picture. But I do think that There Will be Blood was a little bit better.

Regardless of who wins, 2007 was a fabulous year for movies!