Countdown to the Oscars: Best Picture

the nominees for best picture are:

atonement
-juno
-michael clayton
-no country for old men
-there will be blood

2008 may be one of those odd years when the best picture of the year actually wins best picture.

going into the oscars i really see this as a two category race: there will be blood and no country for old men.

juno is a great film.... one of the best of the year. but the academy rarely ever gives best picture to a comedy. you could count shakespeare in love or even forrest gump as comedies... but the last true comedy to win in the vein of juno would be annie hall in 1977. it simply doesn't happen.

atonement really shouldn't even be nominated in this category... in my humble opinion. it's a good film.... but a bit overrated. i'd rather have seen the diving bell and the butterfly nominated. or once.

the same with michael clayton.... i would have replaced either of the other two films for this one... not that it's not a good film. it's just not best picture material. and i don't see it winning tonight. the only thing this film really has going for it is it's the one true hollywood film. so if hollywood wants to reward hollywood.....

but no...best picture will come down to no country for old men and there will be blood.

there will be blood is the type of epic the academy loves... sweeping, absorbing. gut-wrenching to watch.

but no country for old men... as i've said before... is a perfect film. the coen brothers have created such a masterpiece with this film.... and if they go on to win best director... there's rarely a split.

in fact....for years the best picture category could be predicted thus: so and so won the director's guild... the director's guild winner goes on to win the academy award for best director... whoever wins best director...their picture always follows with the win for best picture.

this is how it used to work... now there have been more and more best picture/director splits lately... but not this year. not only did the coen brothers win the DGA, but the film also won the WGA and the PGA.

no country for old men should and will win best picture tomorrow night... and the world will be set right again.

now if we could only elect hillary president in november.

will win: no country for old men
should win: no country for old men

e.