Oscar Predictions

So the Oscars will air on February 22 at 8pm EST on ABC. This year Hugh Jackman will be the host and there are a lot of interesting choices for movies and actors. So here are my predictions and we will see if I get anything right:

Best Supporting Actress: Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best Actor: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Movie: Slumdog Millionaire

So these are my predeictions for this year. I know the Academy seems to think differently than me, so I could be way off. If Heath Ledger didn't die and have such a good performance, I would probably pick Robert Downey Jr. for his role in Tropic Thunder.

Mickey Rourke to me was hands down the best actor listed of the five. Sure Brad Pitt did a good job in Benjamin Button, but really it was more about the effects and makeup that played a bigger role. Sean Penn was ok, but honestly Rourke played his role right on the money and should win the award.

As far as director and movies go, Slumdog Millionaire and Danny Boyle should win. Boyle did an amazing job with the story and really showed the predjudice of people in different income classes in India. The acting and the story were brilliant. It too me should walk away with the award.

So let's see how the predictions go. Biggest surprise was that Clint Eastwood didn't get a nod for his role as Walt in Gran Torino.

The Dark Night - Movie Review

Dark Knight is the latest installment in the Batman Series wrtitten and directed by Christopher Nolan. Christian Bale returns as Bruce Wayne/Batman again as well as Gary Oldman as James Gordon, Michael Caine as Alfred and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox . There's a new Rachel Dawes played by Maggie Gyllenhaal taking over for Katie Holmes - not sure what kept her out of this one except that maybe that freak of a husband of hers wouldn't let her be in it. The Dark Knight also introduces to the latest incarnation of The Joker played by Heath Ledger in one of his final roles before dying. A few others to mention are the new DA, Harvey Dent played by Aaron Ekhart and Eric Roberts as Salvatore Maroni.

This was certainly a darker and more violent version than the first one. It was pretty intense from the start to the end. Heath Ledger did a great job as The Joker, probably the best one of all the incarnations to date. He was very intense and they did a great job writting his part. He certainly has some good plots to foil Batman and Gordon through out the film. I can't say that it was certainly an oscar nominating performance, but he really got into the role and made everyone a little scarred of him.

I think they did a great job with the plot and really thought out the tricky situations that needed to be played out. The interraction between Batman and The Joker was fantastic.

It was funny that they made no effort to hide that Gotham was actually Chicago, showing the Tribune Building, the River and the underground street and the skyline as well as Navy Pier. I think at one point they even used the actual Chicago street names.

Without giving anything away I can say that is really was a dark one and the outcome wasn't typical Hollywood for the most part. I will be interested in seeing where they will go from here with the loss of Heath Ledger, will they use a new Joker or will they just change up the villian. Hopefully they change up the villian to The Riddler or Catwoman. Only time will tell where they will go with the next story.

Great performance by all in this one and a great writting job by Christopher Nolan. I would highly recommend that you go out and see this one.

Rating: 5 out of 5