Oscar nomination picks: Is it Kate’s year?

Written by Mark Schumann, Father of Three
Thursday, 15 January 2009 12:14

Next Thursday, Jan. 22, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce its nominations for the 81st Oscars. For movie lovers, this begins a marvelous season of speculation and debate. Here are the Reel Dad’s picks for the Oscar nominations.

Best Picture. A few months ago it looked like The Dark Knight and Wall-E would be the only contenders for this prize — until the big, year-end movies started to open. While Wall-E will likely find its prize in the animation category, The Dark Knight should still be a serious challenger for a Best Picture nomination. Look for the inspirational Slumdog Millionaire to be nominated, along with the magical The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the thought-provoking Milk and the historically entertaining Frost/Nixon.

Best Actor. Hollywood loves a comeback and this year, in the widely praised The Wrestler, the once-a-has-been Mickey Rourke is capturing attention for his heartbreaking performance as a retired professional wrestler who can still taste victory. The amazing Sean Penn could win his second Academy Award (after Mystic River) for his riveting portrayal of California’s first openly gay elected official in Milk, Broadway actor Frank Langella creates a magical interpretation of Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon and Clint Eastwood delivers one of his strongest performances as a retired veteran in Gran Torino. The fifth spot should go to Leonardo DiCaprio as a depressed young executive in Revolutionary Road or Brad Pitt as the magical man aging in reverse in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Best Actress. For years, Kate Winslet has been turning in fabulous performances, being nominated for Oscars, and watching other people win. This may be her year to finally win her award. In Revolutionary Road, this marvelous actress shines as a Connecticut housewife in the 1950s who wants more out of life. Winslet may be challenged by Anne Hathaway who shows her depth by portraying a woman fresh out of rehab in Rachel Getting Married. Meryl Streep is in line to win her 15th Academy Award nomination for Doubt and Kristin Scott Thomas should be remembered for her mesmerizing turn as a woman released from prison in I’ve Loved You So Long. The fifth spot should go to Sally Hawkins as a cheerful schoolteacher in Happy Go Lucky or Angelina Jolie as a mother searching for her son in Changeling.

Best Supporting Actor. The late Heath Ledger is poised to become only the second actor to win an Academy Award posthumously for his fascinating portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight. (Oscar fans may remember when Peter Finch, after his death, was named Best Actor in 1976 for Network.) Josh Brolin, who also gave a strong performance in W, should be a nominee for Milk, as well as Dev Patel who plays the Indian teenager who becomes a game show contestant in Slumdog Millionnaire. The remaining slots should go to Robert Downey, Jr., for his comic turn in Tropic Thunder (aided by his work in Iron Man) and Michael Sheen for his devastating portrayal of talk show host David Frost in Frost/Nixon.

Best Supporting Actress. Penelope Cruz, a nominee for Best Actress a few years ago for Volver, should lead the pack for her work in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Kate Winslet may become one of the few actresses to be nominated in both performance categories the same year for her searing supporting performance in The Reader. Viola Davis, with only one scene, should be remembered for Doubt as should Taraji P. Henson for Benjamin Button. The fifth spot should go to Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler or the reliable Kathy Bates for Revolutionary Road