Feb 18 2009
A Look At The Oscars 2009
Best Picture, Best Actor, & Best Actress
Yes, it is that time of year again. The Oscars are upon us.
As we look back at the films of the past year, some great, some not, but there is no denying that we all love a good Oscar winning picture. But who will it be this year? I feel the nominees are all good, but however, I do not feel that they are truly great.
Well, let’s take a look at the Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress categories.
In the Best Picture category we have the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, and Slumdog Millionaire. This is a hard year for the Best Picture, well and all of the Oscars, as I feel none of them really stand-out over the others. They are all quite good, but nothing strikes me as absolutely amazing. Although, if I must pick one, Slumdog Millionaire comes very close ;).
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is probably my least favorite. I feel it could have been great, but never really achieved that. I may be alone on this one, but I also feel it’s a tad overrated. Cate Blanchett gave an amazing performance though. Just was kind of so-so for me though as a film overall.
Frost/Nixon is one of my top films of the year. I thought it was smart, brilliantly acted, and just an overall great picture. The scenes with Frost giving Nixon the interviews are amazingly brilliant to watch. Both actors are superb to watch, and overall really loved this film.
Milk was good, but again I do not feel it was great. An outstanding cast though greatly helped this great story. It is very worth seeing, but again, I don’t know if it would count as a Best Picture. I really loved it once, but I don’t know if it would be as good on a second viewing.
The Reader is outstanding. And the thoughts and feelings this film leaves the viewer long after they have seen this are amazing. It is a thought provoking film, with a great cast. Very worthy of this nomination.
Slumdog Millionaire is definitely my pick for Best Picture. Even back when I saw it in October, I knew that this was something special. Danny Boyle created an amazing picture, and I hope it gets the proper recognition.
In the Best Actor category we have Richard Jenkins for the Visitor, Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon, Sean Penn for Milk, Brad Pitt for Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler.
Richard Jenkins is supposed to be phenomenal in the Visitor, but at the time of this writing, I have not yet watched my screener for it, so I will speak on him at a later time. He looks good in the trailer I saw though =).
Frank Langella is marvelous as Richard Nixon. He really is this role. I loved every minute of this performance and think he is very worthy of taking the Oscar home. His late night phone call scene alone is enough to earn him an Oscar… yeah, I really liked this film a lot! can you tell? 
Sean Penn for Milk is another very worthy performance. He becomes this character entirely, and very much enjoyed his performance. He will make you laugh, smile, and break your heart. I really always enjoy Sean Penn.
Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is kind of a wonder to me. I really don’t understand how he got nominated for this, but not for last years’ Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s good in Benjamin Button, but I just don’t think it’s his best work. Am I the only one who didn’t really care for this film???
Mickey Rourke for The Wrester is my choice for Best Actor of the year. He is brilliant in this role. And the scene with him working in a grocery store deli is both comical and truly heartbreaking. I loved him in this, and really hope he gets the Oscar.
The Best Actress category includes Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married, Angelina Jolie for Changeling, Melissa Leo for Frozen River, Meryl Streep for Doubt, and Kate Winslet for the Reader.
Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married gives an extremely well done, raw performance. She really transforms herself into this role. And while I thought she was brilliant, I don’t think she will take home the Oscar. But then again, maybe she will. I think my reason for this thought, is that I just felt the movie wasn’t my favorite. It’s good, but some of the dialogue scenes just carry on for way too long.
Angelina Jolie for Changeling gave another very well done performance. I actually really liked this film, and think she really added to its greatness. I do not think she will earn the Oscar though either, she’s good as always, but not amazing. She cried a lot in this one…I can’t remember, does crying a lot=Oscar??
Melissa Leo for Frozen River is a good choice. This film was brilliant. I loved her in this.
Meryl Streep for Doubt is tied as being one of my choices for Best Actress. I always adore her, and feel she did an amazing superb job in this. She brings it all, and we love every minute of it.
Kate Winslet for The Reader is my other choice for Best Actress. She, like Meryl, is amazing in everything that she does. I truly loved her in this role, and thought she played it perfectly. But I do kind of wonder where her Revolutionary Road Oscar Nom is????? Hmmm….
well, there you have it, my brief look at the Best Picture, Best Actoe, and Best Actress categories.
Happy viewing everyone! =)
