What's That Under My Radar?

So there are some serious contenders out there, and then there are those contenders who are on the fringe. They may have gotten a few citations here and there, but no one thinks too highly of their Oscar chances.

Out of these lot, who stands the best chance?

"What Doesn't Kill You" trailer

Ahhh so this is the Mark Ruffalo pic that the Satellite Awards went gaga over. Interesting. It seems that indeed Mr. Ruffalo is very good in this, perhaps Oscar good, but that is still not going to get him a nomination. Sometimes, when an actor makes it look to easy (ala Toni Collette) awards bodies do not notice.

"The Boat That Rocked" Trailer

Looks completely silly, but you know the soundtrack is going to be great, although a bunch of white people dancing to 'Dancing in the Street' is a little worrying.

She Still Stuns Me

The NBR Want a Celebrity Filled Dinner!

Well I did terribly with my predictions as thought. What do these awards tell us? Well they tell us a lot really. Firstly a nomination for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is a given.
Also everyone awarded in the top 6 (Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Supporting) is on their way to an Oscar nod.
True their track record with Supporting Actress is not the best (in the past 10 years they have chosen Catherine O’Hara, Gong Li, Cate Banchett – The Man Who Cried/LOTR, Lupe Ontiveros, Julianne Moore – Magnolia/Map of the World, and Christina Ricci) but none of those had the huge buzz like Penelope does going into this race.

Their track record with Best Actor is not 100%, but when they have gotten it wrong it is either rewarding a body of work (Billy Bob Thornton – Monsters Ball/The Man Who Wasn’t There) or a truly deserving underdog (Campbell Scott – Roger Dodger)
I mean lets face it, Clint is now well and truly in.

Who this really helps though is Viola Davis (Breakthrough Female – they must have missed her Other devastating small role a few years ago…that is when she broke through) and Dev Patel (Breakthrough Male). Also, curiously, they have this Spotlight award (what the hell does that mean) which they awarded to Melissa Leo and Richard Jenkins. It seems everyone is invited, aside from ‘Australia’, ‘Revolutionary Road’, and ‘The Reader’.

So basically by rewarding everything the NBR ensure they have the who of Hollywood coming to the party, aside from Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet.

As so the Clint love begins. Is it me or does Clint look a little like angry Gollum in the poster?

And what do we make of the snug for Heath Ledger? Are his chances slimming? Unlikely. No point in rewarding someone who (sadly) can't show up.

What do you think of these awards?

National board of Review Winners

Comments later

• Best Film: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
• Best Director: DAVID FINCHER, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Best Actor: CLINT EASTWOOD, Gran Torino
• Best Actress: ANNE HATHAWAY, Rachel Getting Married
• Best Supporting Actor: JOSH BROLIN, Milk
• Best Supporting Actress: PENELOPE CRUZ, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Best Foreign Language Film: MONGOL
• Best Documentary: MAN ON WIRE
• Best Animated Feature: WALL-E
• Best Ensemble Cast: DOUBT

• Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: DEV PATEL, Slumdog Millionaire
• Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: VIOLA DAVIS, Doubt
• Best Directorial Debut: COURTNEY HUNT, Frozen River
• Best Original Screenplay: NICK SCHENK, Gran Torino
• Best Adapted Screenplay: SIMON BEAUFOY, Slumdog Millionaire and
ERIC ROTH, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Spotlight Award: MELISSA LEO, Frozen River and
RICHARD JENKINS, The Visitor
• The BVLGARI Award for NBR Freedom of Expression: TRUMBO

• Top Ten Films:
(In alphabetical order)
BURN AFTER READING
CHANGELING
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
DEFIANCE
FROST/NIXON
GRAN TORINO
MILK
WALL-E
THE WRESTLER

• Top Five Foreign Language Films:
(In alphabetical order)
EDGE OF HEAVEN
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
ROMAN DE GUERRE
A SECRET
WALTZ WITH BASHIR

• Top Five Documentary Films
(In alphabetical order)
AMERICAN TEEN
THE BETRAYAL (NERAKHOON)
DEAR ZACHARY
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD
ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED

Don't forget to Vote!

'Little Ashes' Trailer

Kind of really looking forward to this one. I hope it goes over well. Just a shame about the trailers voice over though. I fully expect a lot of man parts on dsiplay.

Golden Globe Predictions

Tried to throw some no guts no glory predictions in there (Anna Faris, Michelle Williams, Australia, 'WALL-E' for comedy) They could happen, they could not.

I also have 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' (typing that out is getting old quickly), and 'Milk' tied with 5 nominations a piece, but hey, I am hopeful.
I had 'WALL-E' in the Comedy Picture mix, but have now removed it as it seems it is not eligible - Replaced it with 'Mamma Mia' - The HFPA loves a musical.

We will find out a week from now!

Best Picture Drama

‘Australia’
‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
‘The Dark Knight’
‘Milk’
‘Slumdog Millionaire’
‘The Wrestler’

Best Actress Drama

Angelina Jolie – ‘Changeling’
Anne Hathaway – ‘Rachel Getting Married’
Melissa Leo – Frozen River’
Meryl Streep – ‘Doubt’
Michelle Williams – ‘Wendy and Lucy’
Kate Winslet – ‘Revolutionary Road’

Best Actor Drama

Brad Pitt – ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
Clint Eastwood – ‘Gran Torino’
Frank Langella – ‘Frost/Nixon’
Sean Penn – ‘Milk’
Mickey Rourke – ‘The Wrestler’

Best Picture Comedy

‘In Bruges’
‘Happy Go Lucky’
‘Last Chance Harvey’
'Mama Mia
‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’


Best Actress Comedy

Anna Faris – ‘The House Bunny’
Sally Hawkins – ‘Happy Go Lucky’
Sarah Jessica Parker – ‘Sex and the City: The Movie’
Meryl Streep – ‘Mamma Mia’
Emma Thompson – ‘Last Chance Harvey’

Best Actor Comedy

Javier Bardem – ‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’
Jim Carrey – ‘Yes Man’
George Clooney – ‘Burn After Reading’
Ricky Gervais – ‘Ghost Town’
Dustin Hoffman – ‘Last Chance Harvey’

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz – ‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’
Viola Davis – ‘Doubt’
Rosemarie Dewitt – ‘Rachel Getting Married’
Taraji P. Henson – ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
Kate Winslet – ‘The Reader’

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Downey, Jr. – ‘Tropic Thunder’
James Franco – ‘Milk’
Heath Ledger – ‘The Dark Knight’
Philip Seymour Hoffman – ‘Doubt’
Michael Shannon – ‘Revolutionary Road’

Best Director

Woody Allen – ‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’
Danny Boyle – ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
David Fincher – ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
Christopher Nolan – ‘The Dark Knight’
Gus Van Sant – ‘Milk’

Best Screenplay

‘Happy Go Lucky’
‘Milk’
‘Slumdog Millionaire’
‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’
‘WALL – E’

Original Score

‘Australia’
‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
‘The Dark Knight’
‘Revolutionary Road’
‘WALL-E’

Original Song

‘Australia’
‘Quantum of Solace’
‘Sex and the City: The Movie’
‘WALL – E’
‘The Wrestler’

Animated Feature

‘Horton Hears a Who!’
‘Kung Fu Panda’
‘WALL-E’

Foreign Language Film

‘The Class’
‘Gomorrah’
‘Let the Right One In’
‘Reprise’
‘Waltz with Bashir’

So what do you think? Am I totally out there with these?

The Dark Campaign

From The Dark Campaign. Brilliant.

Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

Best Feature

“Ballast”
“Frozen River”
“Rachel Getting Married”
“Wendy and Lucy”
“The Wrestler”

Best Director

Ramin Bahrani, “Chop Shop”
Jonathan Demme, “Rachel Getting Married”
Lance Hammer, “Ballast”
Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”
Thomas McCarthy, “The Visitor”

Best First Feature

“Afterschool”
“Medicine for Melancholy”
“Sangre de Mi Sangre”
“Sleep Dealer”
“Synecdoche, New York”

John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)

“In Search of a Midnight Kiss”
“Prince of Broadway”
“The Signal”
“Take Out”
“Turn the River”

Best First Screenplay

Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”
Lance Hammer, “Ballast”
Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”
Jonathan Levine, “The Wackness”
Jenny Lumet, “Rachel Getting Married”

Best Screenplay

Woody Allen, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Anna Fleck and Ryan Boden, “Sugar”
Charlie Kaufman, “Synecdoche, New York”
Howard A. Rodman, “Savage Grace”
Christopher Zalla, “Sangre de Mi Sangre”

Best Female Lead

Summer Bishil, “Towelhead”
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Tarra Riggs, “Ballast”
Michelle Williams, “Wendy and Lucy”

Best Male Lead

Javier Bardem, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”

Best Supporting Female

Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Rosemarie DeWitt, “Rachel Getting Married”
Rosie Perez, “The Take”
Misty Upham, “Frozen River”
Debra Winger, “Rachel Getting Married”

Best Supporting Male

James Franco, “Milk”
Anthony Mackie, “The Hurt Locker”
Charlie McDermott, “Frozen River”
JimMyron Ross, “Ballast”
Haaz Sleiman, “The Visitor”

Best Cinematography

Maryse Alberti, “The Wrestler”
Lol Crowley, “Ballast”
James Laxton, “Medicine for Melancholy”
Harris Savides, “Milk”
Michael Simmonds, “Chop Shop”

Best Documentary

“The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“Man on Wire”
“The Order of Myths”
“Up the Yangtze”

Best Foreign Film

“The Class” (France)
“Gomorrah” (Italy)
“Hunger” (UK/Ireland)
“Secret of the Grain” (France)
“Silent Light” (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)

With all the nominations for "Frozen River" this seriously will put Melissa Leo is a near lock position for the Oscar nom. Also the love for "Rachel Getting Married" will be helpful for that film in other categories. This also helps "Ballast" in getting a screenplay Oscar nod. Other people this helps is Misty Upman, Richard Jenkins, James Franco and especially Michelle Williams - with an Actress and Picture nod.

A Sneaky Feeling

I really think this awards season we are going to be seeing the name Melissa Leo called for numerous Best Actress prizes.

I did my NBR predictions and now think I am way way off. I think Melissa Leo could well take the Best Actress prize, as the NBR do like to award women in indies. So you can take this post as me changing my prediction (they haven't been announced yet, so it is fair!)

I actually think I need to rethink my Oscar predicts too. I am thinking we are going to be looking at a Leo, Streep, Winslet situation with Hawkins, Blanchett, Jolie, Hathaway and Scott - Thomas duking it out for 4th and 5th.

Am I way off do you think?

'Williams Blood'

Yes, Grace Jones has a new album out and it is bloody fantastic. This is the song that the critics are going gaga for. 'Williams Blood'.

Hear the studio version here.



The song is about how Grace was bought up with two sides of her family. The religious strict side of her father, the 'Jones', and the musical free spirited side of her mother, the 'Williams'. This is one of the most personal songs She has ever recorded.

And for some more Grace doing a classic, I thought I had to include this!

National board of Review Predictions

For what it is worth...(pressure made me change it up last minute)

Best Picture - 'The Reader'

Top Ten:

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
'The Dark Knight'
'Doubt'
'Frost/Nixon'
'Milk'
'Rachel Getting Married
'Slumdog Millionaire'
'The Visitor'
'The Wrestler'

Best Director - Chris Nolan - 'The Dark Knight' (alt: David Fincher - 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Actor - Mickey Rourke - 'The Wrestler' (alt: Frank Langella - 'Frost/Nixon')

Best Actress - Kristen Scott Thomas - 'I've Loved You So Long' (alt: Kate Winslet - 'The Reader' and 'Revolutionary Road)

Best Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger - 'The Dark Knight' (alt: Josh Brolin - 'Milk')

Best Supporting Actress - Rosemary DeWitt - 'Rachel Getting Married (alt: Viola Davis - 'Doubt')

I would do the rest, but I am exhausted. I have no idea about these awards really, so this is a total shot in the dark! The NBR are never ones to be predictable.

Does Mark join the race?

Just curious about this one, but with the Golden Satellite nom for 'What Doesn't Kill You' does gifted actor Mark Ruffalo join the Best Actor race?

Here is a man who should have had him first nomination years ago. He is getting some career best reviews for his role. The film premiered at Toronto to goo reviews, but raves for him, so where is the campaign? Why have we not heard anything aside from the Satellite nom, but I mean, check out these reviews!

Peter Burnette for The Hollywood Reporter:

"With Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke registering personal bests in the performance category as well as playing magnificently and ultraconvincingly off each other, "What Doesn't Kill You," a true story that is powerful and completely riveting from beginning to end, clearly is one of the best films at Toronto this year."

And another big gun.

Robert Koehler for Variety:

A fine example of traditional American storytelling lined with full-bodied performances, pic is especially notable for giving Mark Ruffalo the kind of complete role this subtle, instinctive actor has long deserved yet too seldom gets. Ruffalo gets to dominate a movie that has serious notions on its mind and is blessed with a powerful sense of place."

What do you think? Is this wishful thinking, or could it be a major surprise in the final act?

Golden Satellites chime in

Take these nominees with a pinch of salt. The main thing these are note worthy for is seeing the films that are actually getting a lot of noms. These include 'Milk', 'The Dark Knight' and 'Australia'.

I wouldn't worry too much about the omission of Penelope Cruz and Viola Davis right now, although it is surprising to think Beyonce Knowles beat them (someone needs some star appeal at the ceremony!).

This is the awards kick off (not a really good indication though) and it never ever fails to get me slightly excited. I have a nice big grin and am excited to get back to blogging after my self imposed exile.

'Dead Set'

So the bf put this on last night. I had not even heard of the show, but my word was it well done. If you have not seen it I highly recommend it, although it is one of the goriest things I have ever witnessed, but very realistically done. It is also a critical eye at the cost of celebrity, and our celebrity obsessed culture when any ignorant twat can become famous by being a performing monkey on a reality show.

One of the most entertaining and horrific zombie stories I have seen since '28 Days Later'.

You so know Davina McCall had a ball doing this.

Dead Set - TV Trailer
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