I logged on to one of my favorite sites first thing yesterday to check on the 80th Academy Award nominations. But the first post made me forgot about the usual glee and excitement upon reading the nominees. Heath Ledger died. NYTimes reported yesterday it could be suicide or overdose of prescription medication. This morning the former would likely to be ruled out.
The next posts were semi-tributes to Heath citing his promising performance as Joker in the upcoming Batman sequel, and, as one of the actors (alongside Gere, Blanchett and Bale) playing Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There. Without a doubt, his Joker would resonate for years to come but his broken Dylan was quite a heartbreaking and memorable portrayal as well.
While most would definitely remember him as that rough guy singing “I love you baby” in the stadium to Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You, it was his Ennis del Mar that etched him as one of the most gifted thespians of his generation. His transformation and immersion as a forlorn gay cowboy in the conservative era in Brokeback Mountain will resonate forever as one of cinema’s tragic characters.
While awards-season backlash still looms with the ongoing writers’ strike, it will be as well difficult to applaud this year’s cinematic triumphs without being saddened by the loss of a true talent.
So there.
As I said the noms for the 80th Oscar were out yesterday. I started predicting last year. This time, I got all of the 5 BP nominees. You'd probably scoff at it, but something as remotely mathematical like predicting nominees has largely been influenced by statistics and probability. So aside from usual gut instinct, I have to rely on stats. If you'll look at the guilds and award-giving bodies, you'd basically come up with a statistically-based roster, but believe me, it pays to actually see them.
I saw all BP nominees except There Will be Blood, but the chances of hacking it off from the list, even though I haven't seen it yet, would be similar to trivializing the raves for No Country for Old Men, which is its co-contender as far as nominations are concerned. This year, I think, is tough to call. Juno, Michael Clayton and Atonement -- were also great.
As for directing, I think it is important to note that they're all first-time nominees, if you consider that the Coens are being nominated as a team. Jason Reitman, who helmed Thank You for Smoking in 2006, was a surprise nod for Juno. I hope to see too The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, the vehicle which snagged director Julian Schnabel the Globe win.
I got 4 correct names each for acting nods, from lead to supporting. The challenge does not really lie on the number of correct names you predict, which will most likely come out strongly, but that one tricky surprise you won't know its coming.
This year’s rich in strong performances, the kind that wallops you and won’t let go. There’s Julie Christie as a wife drifting away with Alzheimers in Away From Her, Marion Cotillard’s deeply immersed Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, and the splash of ice-cold water that is Ellen Page in Juno.
And I’d say hats off to Mr. George Clooney as a messed-up fixer in Michael Clayton. How did he ever get this good. Forget Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman as an acerbic smart-ass sweeps off everybody, hell, even Julia Roberts, in Charlie Wilson’s War. But the king/queen of them all I’d say is the iconic Cate Blanchett, no, not for playing Queen Elizabeth but Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes' I'm Not There. Yes, Bob Dylan, and she nailed it. So creepily that it makes your skin crawl at how amazing this actress truly is.
Though from my standpoint, there have been some misses, still it was a tough year to call. And for chrissakes, this is the Oscars, you can’t really take it that seriously. So get back to work, you freaking slob.
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