As the year slowly comes to an end, we come closer into the award season. And though the Oscars have been regarded as being too political in years past, they get most of it right…most of it. Looking now at the long list of movies that have been nominated for the Film Critics Choice Awards, it really shows how great this year truly was, and it’s not even over yet.
As far as the nominations go, they got it ok (other than a snuff on Gone Baby Gone for Best Picture). The Best Picture category holds 10 movies, 8 of which I have not seen, but in all fairness 4 of them have yet to be released in Arizona. I expect No Country For Old Men to win, although my runner ups are Atonement and There Will Be Blood (Neither of which I have seen yet).
In the Best Actor category Daniel Day Lewis stands out for his work in the There Will Be Blood trailer. As far as American Gangster is concerned, sorry Denzel, who despite such acclaim for his performance did not get nomination in the best Actor category. Overall this category in not well stacked, and is in fact the weakest of all. Just because Johnny Depp (Sweeny Todd) puts on some dark make up and cuts his hair strangely doesn't mean he’ll get a nomination.
In the Actress section, Julie Christie stands out and is getting very high praise for her job in Away From Her. Two other strong contenders are Amy Adams in Enchanted and Cate Blanchett, who will actually probably take the Supporting Actress category.
Supporting Actor holds titan Javier Bardem, who if doesn't win, will be the end of my existence and faith in critics (besides those of our publication of course). That said, I know that Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson's War) also have strong chances. However I hope for a surprise victory for Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton), as unlikely as that is. But come on, he thinks he's Shiva the God of Death!
As long as there is a God, the Coen Brothers will win Best Director, although I know that Sidney Lument (Before the Devil Knows Your Dead) is a strong critic favorite. The Writing category is totally up for grabs, and unfortunately Paul Thomas Anderson got snuffed on both writing and directing. That’s a shame, but I’m beginning to think that Daniel Day-Lewis may be that movies only saving grace.
The rest of the categories are pretty self explanatory except song, which will be strong at the Oscars. So it looks like the critics did a pretty good job, but in my opinion all awards should just go to No Country for Old Men… oh well. These awards being the foreshadowing for the Oscars, this years Academy Awards should be fun to watch.
Steve Sparks
