Oscar Predictions

The Oscars: you either love ’em or you hate ’em. Some may find the ceremony clich’eacute; and believe that the golden statuettes only go to the films made for the sole purpose of prize-winning while others gawk at the celebrities, the glamour, the dresses and the brilliant movies being inducted into the ‘best picture club.’ However you may feel about it, February 22nd is right around the corner and The MUSE thought you’d appreciate a little insight on this year’s Academy Awards.

BEST ACTOR

Should win: Beyond the fact that he looks remarkably like the real Harvey Milk, Sean Penn manages to capture his laugh, his mannerisms, and most importantly, his passion in ‘Milk,’ the true story of the first openly gay man to hold a prominent political office. Embodying a real person is arguably much more difficult than creating a new character based on a script alone. Just watch a few minutes of the documentary ‘The Times of Harvey Milk’ and you’ll see why Penn deserves the Oscar ‘-‘- his portrayal is uncanny.

Will win: For whatever reason, the Academy Awards tend to mimic the Golden Globes, and in January, Mickey Rourke took home the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama. While I was hardly impressed with his role as the washed-up professional wrestler, some credit is due to the guy for turning his life around after a steroid addiction.’ Perhaps it’s the older generation who still revere Rourke’s role in the 80s film ‘Body Heat’ who want to applaud his successful transition back into Hollywood with ‘The Wrestler.’

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Should win: At this point, it’s basically blasphemy to say that anyone but Heath Ledger should win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor after his ground-breaking role as The Joker in last summer’s ‘The Dark Knight.” Not knocking Ledger at all ‘-‘- I thought he was haunting and magnificent. However, the little-seen ‘Revolutionary Road’ featured Michael Shannon as the painfully truthful ex-mental patient who brutally vocalizes what Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio’s characters are feeling. Shannon has his character teetering between madness and utter sanity with a nuance so rarely seen. It’s a toss-up, both are deserving of the award.

Will win: Heath Ledger.’ No question.

BEST ACTRESS

Should win: I’m still stunned that she wasn’t nominated for her turn as the depressed, frustrated housewife in ‘Revolutionary Road,’ but I believe it is finally time for Kate Winslet to receive the Oscar that she so deserves. Nominated for the sixth time with no wins, this incredibly talented actress merits the Academy’s recognition of her role as the passionate ex-prison guard of a Nazi concentration camp in ‘The Reader.’

Will win: Narrowly losing out Oscars for her brilliant roles in ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ and ‘Little Children,’ Winslet also took home two Golden Globes last month. Voters will realize their mistake in leaving out Winslet in recent years and will finally come to their senses.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Should win: While I despised the movie for its pretension, over-written storyline and posing celebrity stars, Taraji P. Henson was remarkable in ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.’ As Brad Pitt’s adoptive mother, Henson (seven years Pitt’s junior) plays every age with grace, power, and beauty.’

Will win: This is a fairly weak category this year, but I believe the Academy will vote for Penelope Cruz for ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ simply because critics liked the film and this is the only category in which the movie is nominated.’ It took home the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture ‘-‘- Musical or Comedy, and I think by giving Cruz the award, voters will be making up for the lack of nominations in other categories.

BEST’ PICTURE

Should win: ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ ‘-‘- the little movie that could.’ Driven by a dynamic screenplay, sincere, unknown actors and the guiding directorial hand of Danny Boyle, ‘Slumdog’ is one of my favorite movies of the year. A story of love conquering all obstacles, this movie brings the slums of India to us without beating us over the heads with it. It explores the path a person takes to learn about himself, and how our experiences shape what we know and how we love. Stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto inject an innocence and powerful love into the film that only un-jaded actors could. Such honesty and beauty captured in just two hours deserves the prestigious award.

Will win: ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ took home the Golden Globe, but this is the one category that doesn’t often translate between the two award shows (the last film to win both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Best Picture was in 2003 for ‘The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King’). Here’s hoping that the masterpiece that is ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ will take home what it rightly deserves this Sunday night.