REGAN’S OSCAR PICKS . . .ARE HERE!
Now; traditionally, with the opening of this blog/e-mail/presentation/whatever you want to call it, you would get a really, witty, smart diatribe on the year in movies that would make cute references too many of the films. There would be clever anecdotes about how your milkshake has yet to be drunk, or why couldn’t last year’s snakes on a plane just have eaten Alvin’s chipmunks, or maybe even a little nod to how Evan Almighty showed Mel Gibson the REAL way to make a movie about the bible (Make it PG and add a cute penguin!). No, you are not going to get something that derivative. Because I am better than that. Second thought, I’m actually not. I am not going to do it because I’m just not that into you.
Let’s make magic!
Let’s start off with my picks for the 10 WORST FILMS of 2007.
As always, let me preface by stating that with each passing year of my life, it gets harder and harder for me to find the time to watch as many movies as I did in my 20’s. You all know I’m 31, right? With that said, in 2007 I was unable to catch screenings of Because I Said So, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (they are still making these?), Kickin it Old Skool (no, I did not misspell that), Lucky You, Delta Farce, License to Wed, Who’s Your Caddy?, I Know Who Killed Me (Was it the caddy?), Bratz, Rush Hour 3, Good Luck Chuck, or even The Heartbreak Kid, etc, etc, etc. However, I still managed to waste several 90 minute intervals.
Here are the 10 biggest wastes of time of 2007:
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – Yes, please, end it.
9. Hannibal Rising – When did Lecter become the good guy???
8. Music & Lyrics – Hugh Grant is now impersonating Hugh Grant.
7. Wild Hogs – I knew this was going to make the list just from the trailer.
6. Ghost Rider – Somewhere along the line, Nicholas Cage sold his soul to the devil.
5. Next – (See Ghost Rider note)
4. Evan Almighty – You get one Steve Carell. Now don’t ever do this again.
3. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer – Wasn’t the first one bad enough?
2. Norbit – Dreamgirls? Anyone?
And the worst movie of 2007 is . .
1. Hostel 2 – I enjoy a good horror movie, but come on. Pathetic.
So, let’s move on to the Oscars, shall we? We shall begin with some of the smaller categories.
Two of the easiest categories to predict this year (and let’s be honest, most are pretty easy this time around) are the two screenplay awards. No one is going to stop No Country for Old Men from taking home the adapted trophy and even though Michael Clayton has gained momentum in the original screenplay department, don’t look for it to overtake Juno.
Best Adapted Screenplay: No Country for Old Men
Best Original Screenplay: Juno
No real “big” surprises in the technical categories either, with the exception that I don’t think Transformers will sweep all three of it’s nods. I actually like Jason Bourne and a particular Western to squeak out a few mild upsets. I am probably shooting myself in the foot here, but here are my picks.
Best Visual Effects: Transformers
Best Sound Mixing: 3:10 to Yuma
Best Sound Editing: No Country for Old Men
Best Editing: The Bourne Ultimatum
I was able to see all the animated shorts this year, but missed the live action ones. I can almost feel My Love or Peter and the Wolf taking this one, but my heart says pick my favorite of the bunch to win, which was Canada’s entry, Madame Tutli-Putli. Pickpockets has buzz for the live shorts due to the “cute kid” index. I’m going with . . .
Best Animated Short Film: Madame Tutli Putli
Best Live Action Short Film: Le Mozart des Pickpockets
Score is easy. Song . . .not so much. By using a typewriter as a musical instrument (it wasn’t as annoying as it sounds), Atonement should have original score locked up. Best original song is interesting though. Many think that since there are three songs nominated from Enchanted, that those three entries will knock each other out (much like the three songs from Dreamgirls did last year). That has many predicting the fantastic, “Falling Slowly” from Once or whatever that song is from August Rush (I didn’t see it. Robin Williams is in it). Problem is, most Academy voters are old and I guarantee did not see Once and probably don’t even know what August Rush is. Oscar LOVES Disney.
Best Original Score: Atonement
Best Original Song: That’s How You Know (Enchanted)
Pirates already got to take it’s bow for makeup last time, so put it on . . .
Best Makeup: La Vie En Rose
Even though Sicko was the most commercially successful entry, the Iraq No End should sail. The doc shorts race is between two movies, Freeheld and Sari’s Mother. Both are tragic stories that the Academy loves. I’ll flip a coin and go with . . .
Best Documentary Short Subject: Sari’s Mother
Best Documentary Feature: No End in Sight
Yes, we are all sick and tired of hearing how The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days was kept out of contention for foreign film because of stupid loophole rules. Oh, I’m the only one? I forgot I am the anal one here. Anyways, with those two MIA from this category, everyone seems to be going with . . .
Best Foreign Language Film: The Counterfeiters
Period pieces always win costume design. So which one to pick? Did ANYONE see Elizabeth: The Golden Age?
Best Costume Design: Atonement
I’ll probably lose this one as well, since the odds makers like No Country for Old Men, but let’s go with . . .
Best Art Direction: Sweeney Todd
Best Cinematography? This could also go a few ways. No Country is right up there and actually, Jesse James has an outsiders shot as well. But I’ll stick with the fav.
Best Cinematography: There Will Be Blood
And be serious . . .
Best Animated Film: Ratatouille
Now, before we move on to the big categories, let me point out a particular trend I saw in the multiplexes this year. Ummm, was it me or did just about every ending in every movie this year suck? And I’m not just talking about the controversial open-ended conclusion to No Country for Old Men or the tragic finale in There Will Be Blood. I mean, endings that just seriously bummed you out. With that said, I present to you the Top 10 Worst Ending Movies of 2007. Remember, these were not necessarily bad films. In fact, some were actually great. We are just talking depressing finales! (Warning: Spoiler Alert!)
10. No Country For Old Men – Yeah, the ending was a little rough on the brain
9. Once – Can’t the boy just get the girl dammit!
8. 1408 – Great, he goes insane. Thanks
7. Into the Wild – Yes it’s a true story and yes, we know how it ends, but still.
6. Mr Brooks – Great, there will always be a new generation of serial killers. Thank you.
5. I Am Legend – Will Smith always lives. Didn’t you see Men in Black 2?
4. Gone Baby Gone – Thanks Casey Affleck. Great choice you made there.
3. Rescue Dawn – Just like that you take out Steve Zahn??
2. Atonement – Don’t give us a happy ending and then rip it away from us!!
1. The Mist – I wanted to shoot myself.
Now, on to the big ones!
Best director is a lock. The big question is always if the drapes will match the carpet. Sorry. I mean, the best director will match the best picture. J Anyone who doesn’t go with the Coen boys, shouldn’t even be in the game.
Best Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
Say it with me now. “Javier, Javier, Javier”
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem
No one is really sure what the hell to do with supporting actress. They’ve all won awards. Except of course for that pasty little girl from Atonement, so let’s never speak of her again. Ruby is the sentimental pick. Cate is the Oscar darling nominated twice. Tilda has the momentum and Michael Clayton has to win something, right? And, Amy Ryan is the new kid on the block. Look, you do not get nominated twice in the same year and not win something.
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett
I really went back on forth on best actress and wanted to pick the fresh new face with Marion Cottilard. But dammit, I am in it to win it! Go with . . .
Best Actress: Julie Christie
Say it with me now. “Danny, Danny, Danny”
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis
So that leaves us with the best pictures of 2007.
I know for a fact, that there are several movies I haven’t seen that would most likely earn a spot on this list instead of others. I just don’t have the time dammit! I’m making commercials and raising a family. (Although I did find time to type out this run on of a statement, didn’t I?). With that said, please forgive me for not including these titles on my list. I’m sure they were very good. There Will Be Blood, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, 4 Months-3 Weeks & 2 Days, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, I’m Not There, American Gangster, and Before the Devil Know’s You’re Dead. I promise to rent them all very, very soon.
Here we go:
REGAN’S TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2007
10. Gone Baby Gone – The Affleck boys made one hell of a movie
9. No Country For Old Men – Despite one too many Tommy Lee Jones monologues
8. Superbad – There is always a comedy on my list. This one deserves to be here.
7. The Bourne Ultimatum – The best of the three. Thoroughly entertaining
6. Once – Why can’t I play the guitar???
5. Michael Clayton – This movie stuck with me a lot more than I thought it would.
4. Into the Wild – This was a movie I never thought I would love as much as I do.
3. Sicko – Put all your politics aside and this is still a truly engaging movie
2. The Savages – Pitch perfect the entire film. Not one unreal note struck
1. 3:10 to Yuma – Yep. The best western since Unforgiven, and just as good.
There ya have it. My condolences to Juno, Eastern Promises, Zodiac and Away From Her for just missing the cut. Get em next time. (Whatever that means.)
Ok gang, thanks for listening and remember to get your ballots in at www.reganburns.com before the show starts Sunday night. I wish everyone luck and we’ll see you . . . .wait for it . . .at the movies.
Mr. Burns