Cinema Hype

Doesn’t it seem suitable that the Academy Awards are always on a Sunday? After all, this isn’t the Grammys, settling for any old weeknight broadcast; Oscar Sunday is like a high holy day of the cinematic year, complete with decorations, little gold statues, and special clothes. With the writers’ strike over, this year’s ceremony feels a little extra fancy, a little more exciting—not necessarily because the nominees are especially surprising or especially deserving (though maybe they are; there were some pretty good movies out in 2007), but because it’s happening at all.

Here at CHHQ, since we won’t actually be on the red carpet (clearly an oversight, but whatever; we’re forgiving) we’re just looking forward to the chance to put our feet up, eat some Cheetos, and pretend to critique the year’s best films (with righteous indignation as appropriate) while actually critiquing the clothes on our favorite celebrities. Sue us, okay? We’re only human. And it’s not like we haven’t given some thought to the nominees. This year, we’re splitting our prediction post into sections: people now; movies later. Here are the official CH bets for Sunday’s ceremony:

Best Actor in a Leading Role

George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

Who we like: Let’s go with…Mortensen, for being a bit of a dark horse and for offering an excellent performance. Naked.
Who will probably win: Day-Lewis, with that intense-eye thing he does. Whatever. We’re still in a fight after Gangs of New York.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno

Who we like: Marion Cotillard
Who will probably win: This is a tough one. Normally I’d go with Blanchett, but I think voters will save her for her other nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category. Linney and Christie don’t seem likely. Which leaves Cotillard and Page; Page might sneak in a win if the voters are feeling their indie oats, but otherwise it’s probably going to be Cotillard.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson’s War
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

Who we like: Casey Affleck, because he has potential and because we love the title of his movie.
Who will probably win: Rough crowd, man. A vote against Hoffman seems risky, but we’re going to say Bardem.

Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There.
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Who we like: Saoirse Ronan, for being the perfect caught-up, guilty, oblivious Briony Tallis.
Who will probably win: Blanchett, because she’s there.

Coming soon: Thoughts and predictions on the non-casting categories! Keep your eyes peeled. (Ew.)

Academy Awards, Oscars, Oscar nominees