Best Picture
No Country for Old Men or Atonement. Both films are Oscar worthy, in my opinion. Admittedly, I have not seen No Country for Old Men but it has taken home every precursor award for best film. The BAFTA Awards tomorrow may change that. Will Oscar voters go for the British romantic epic or Ethan and Joel Coen’s crime thriller?
NOCFOM: Producers Guild Award, Critics’ Choice Award, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Circle, Boston Society of Film Critics, Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association
TWBB: National Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Online
My pick: No Country for Old Men
Best Director
It’s a close race between Ethan and Joel Coen for No Country for Old Men and Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood. When the Coen brothers won the Directors Guild Award last month, it nearly secured their Oscar lock.
E&JC: BAFTA, Directors Guild Award, Critics’ Choice Award, New York Film Critics Circle, Washington, D.C., Area Film Critics Association, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association
PTA: National Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Online
My pick: Ethan and Joel Coen
Actor in a Leading Role
The closest competition for Daniel Day-Lewis is Johnny Depp but it isn’t enough for Depp to steal the award from Day-Lewis who became an early critic favorite and won nearly every precursor award.
DDL: BAFTA, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics’ Choice Award, National Society of Film Critics, New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Online
JD: Golden Globe
My pick: Daniel Day-Lewis
Actress in a Leading Role
This category, for me, is always hard to predict. Julie Christie seems to be Oscar’s darling this year and she’ll likely head home with her second Academy Award for Away From Her. Don’t count out Marion Cotillard, however, who may end up winning the award for her award-winning portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose.
JC: Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics’ Choice Award, National Society of Film Critics, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online, Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association
MC: BAFTA, Golden Globe, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics
My pick: Julie Christie
Actor in a Supporting Role
Javier Bardem, hands down who is getting the most praise. Bardem’s closest competitors are Casey Affleck (who won the support of the National Board of Review) and Tom Wilkinson but, like Daniel Day-Lewis, Bardem is a lock.
JB: BAFTA, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics’ Choice Award, New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online, Boston Society of Film Critics, Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association
TW: Only the Academy Award nomination
My pick: Javier Bardem
Actress in a Supporting Role
When Ruby Dee won a surprise win over favorite Cate Blanchett at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, she became an instant frontrunner. However, Dee has few accolades for a performance that not many remembered. The SAG is traditionally sentimental in this category, awarding to veteran actors in the past. This year, it is between Blanchett in her uncanny and realistic portrayal of Bob Dylan and Amy Ryan in her chilling turn in Gone Baby Gone. While Ryan garnered the blessings of critics, Blanchett is more known among voters who are more likely to award a meatier performance.
CB: Golden Globe, Spirit Award nomination, National Society of Film Critics, New York Film Critics Online
AR: Critics’ Choice Award, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics, Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association
My pick: Cate Blanchett
