The Oscars: 2007

by James Evans

ACTOR – LEADING
George Clooney – Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis – There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp – Sweeney Todd
Tommy Lee Jones – In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen – Eastern Promises

I do believe this will go to Daniel Day-Lewis, although I wouldn’t mind an upset if George Clooney won. Tommy Lee Jones was great, but the movie didn’t do well and the ending was too much. Johnny Depp shouldn’t even be on the list and Emile Hirsch should be up there for Into the Wild instead.

Winner: Daniel Day Lewis

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ACTOR – SUPPORTING
Casey Affleck – Jesse James
Javier Bardem – No Country for Old Men
Hal Holbrook – Into the Wild
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson’s War
Tom Wilkinson – Michael Clayton

My personal pick would be Hal Holbrook and not just because he’s old. His performance was so good and he has never been recognized for his work. Javier is certainly worthy, and I will have no problem when he wins. Missing from the list is Josh Brolin also for No Country for Old Men.

Winner: Javier Bardem

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ACTRESS – LEADING
Cate Blanchett – Elizabeth
Julie Christie – Away From Her
Marion Cotillard – La Vie en Rose
Laura Linney – The Savages
Ellen Page - Juno

I didn’t see La Vie en Rose and I wasn’t that impressed with Away From Her. Nobody thought Cate would get nominated for the sequel that tanked. Laura Linney is always so good, but I want Ellen Page to win. Missing from the list would be Amy Adams for Enchanted. Might seem like a strange choice, but she did such a good job of playing a Disney Princess and I dare anyone to try it.

Winner: Marion Cotillard

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ACTRESS – SUPPORTING
Cate Blanchett – I’m Not There
Ruby Dee – American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan – Atonement
Amy Ryan – Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton – Michael Clayton

Tough category. My favorite would be Amy Ryan. Tilda and Saoirse are both worthy. Not that she was bad, but Ruby Dee was nominated for her age. Cate should take this one home and deservedly so. Except that the woman who really should win was not even nominated. Catherine Keener in Into the Wild was the best performance all year.

Winner: Tilda Swinton

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ANIMATED FEATURE
Persepolis
Ratatouille
Surfs Up

Surfs Up? Really? At least Shrek 47 didn’t get a nomination. You really should see Persepolis which should have been nominated for Best Foreign Film. The animation here is amazing, but Ratatouille will probably win, which is fine. It’s a great movie.

Winner: Ratatouille

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DIRECTING
Julian Schnabel – Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Jason Reitman – Juno
Tony Gilroy – Michael Clayton
Joel and Ethan Coen – No Country
P.T. Anderson – There Will Be Blood

Joel and Ethan should win. P.T. and Tony both deserve the nomination. I have not seen Diving Bell, although I plan to now. Juno was great, but Jason should be out and Sean Penn should be in for Into the Wild. I would have liked it if Todd Haynes had been recognized for I’m Not There.

Winner: Joel and Ethan Coen

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SCREENPLAY – ADAPTED
Atonement
Away From Her
Diving Bell
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

The Coens should take this one home as well. Again, missing would be Into the Wild.

Winner: No Country for Old Men

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SCREENPLAY – ORIGINAL
Juno
Lars and the Real Girl
Michael Clayton
Ratatouille
The Savages

Diablo Cody has all the hype behind her and I loved Juno. I was happy to see Ratatouille get nominated since animated films are usually overlooked. I think a missing movie here would have to be Superbad, which was funny and had a heart and how could you not recognize how original the screenplay was for I’m Not There even though it was inspired by Bob Dylan.

Winner: Juno

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BEST PICTURE
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

It should be all love for the Coens and No Country for Old Men. Michael Clayton was a close second for my favorite film of the year, and Juno and There Will Be Blood I am good with being on the list. Atonement was a bad made-for-TV movie, and I can’t believe it is up here. In its place should be Into the Wild. It’s strange because I didn’t even put this in my top 10, but now I am reconsidering that decision. The more I think about it, the more I realize how much I liked it. I was blinded by how stupid the main character is, but that shouldn’t stop me from appreciating the movie. Another one missing is I’m Not There which was the most interesting and unique film of the year.

Winner: No Country for Old Men