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The Oscar goes to...

If I was in charge of the Oscars, these would be the winners of the 80th Annual Academy Awards:

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Although Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the greatest living actors, he already has an Oscar, and I found his performance slightly too big in "Blood." Johnny Depp's career lacks an Oscar, and he took on singing this time out.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
This was really tough, but
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Ellen Page's career by age 20 just does not stack up to
Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
After 3 acting nominations in the past, Laura deserves this award for her best work to date. She worked relentlessly over the past couple of years for the award. It is really a shame that Fox Searchlight was pushing Ellen over Laura. Ellen Page is wonderful, but let's see what she has in store for us in the next few decades.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)

Best animated feature film of the year
"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics): Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
Something different deserves some recognition in this category.

Achievement in art direction
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Art Direction: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

Achievement in cinematography
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
Stunning, original, and creative camera work done by a veteran DP.

Achievement in costume design
"Across the Universe" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Albert Wolsky

Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel

Best documentary feature
"No End in Sight" (Magnolia Pictures) A Representational Pictures Production: Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
Sicko was no doubt interesting, but No End in Sight was much more of a true documentary, documenting what went wrong in the reconstruction of Iraq. The filmmakers even returned to do second interviews with subjects when new information surfaced. This is responsible documenting.

Achievement in film editing
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Dylan Tichenor

Achievement in makeup
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
I didn't see it, but I am sure it deserves at least one.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
The film is garbage, but the score including typewriter sounds lends to the story more than many of the other elements including the mise en scene.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
I loved it, and it really settled into my head.

Best motion picture of the year
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production: Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers

Achievement in sound editing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg

Achievement in sound mixing
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland

Achievement in visual effects
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
This is the first film I turned down working on to be nominated for a major award. I want to give the post team credit for making my home town look like the edge of the world, despite the second installment of this series being unbearable.

Adapted screenplay
This was the toughest award for me to choose. There Will Be Blood is almost not even an adaptation of Upton Sinclair's Oil! I think P.T.A. was using his artistic freedom to add to the story. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is amazing, but I choose
"Away from Her" (Lionsgate), Written by Sarah Polley

Original screenplay
Really, enough already with the stripper wearing million dollar shoes. The award belongs to "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins

Posted on 02/24/08 by: A Nick 10:55 AM

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