Predictions

The Awards season is almost coming to an end. Soon I will return to the cinema and search hopelessly through the brochure to see that the Oscar contenders, which I have been lucky to see so many of, are all gone. In their stead we will be graced with bad romantic comedies, dumb action comic book movies and probably Eddie Murphy.

Either way it's been good while it's lasted, an elegiac sentiment abundantly espoused in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. David Fincher's epic has either been derided or adored by the press but has emerged as a darling of the academy either way. I trudged through the snow to see the first showing on Friday afternoon and was astounded. It is the singularly beautiful piece of cinema I have ever seen, visually stunning with restrained performances at it's very core. There are certain narrative flaws but the enjoyment of Benjamin comes not from it's authenticity but from the careful, poignant way the story it's told- again proving that long films are only prosaic and languorous if a director can't direct and an audience doesn't have the needed attention span. I spent the whole film on the verge of tears and perhaps that brilliance of the film lies in the fact that I'm not even sure why. It was simply affecting and resonant throughout and I loved it.

Doubt was a very different film altogether. Set in New York shortly after the death of JFK it deals with problems in the clergy, the changing face of the church and ultimatley the problems of faith. At it's heart are the performances of Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour-Hoffman who could both easily have a case made for them being the greatest actors on the planet. They are brilliant in Doubt and slug it out in an ominous fashion ,thunder and lightning almost always crackling over head, giving this stage to screen adaptation the definate feel of a horror film. Also a mention is deserved for Viola Davis as the mother of the boy at the centre of the molestation suspicions. Although she has just the one scene she is absolutley incredible and should win the oscar. It is a terse, dark, difficult affair which raises as many questions as it answers and there is little redemption to stave off the menance of Streep's demonic potrayal of a nun. Even so it's dialogue is beautiful and it's an engaging watch throughout.

Both are heavily nominated at the Oscars although I think they may lose out to British counterparts especially after the momentum gathered by 7 tim BAFTA winner Smugdog Millionaire. Benjamin Button may also fall foul of the "top nominations" jinx as predecessor Atonement did last year getting none of the major awards despite being heavily fancied. Some awards are easier to predict and here are mine for this years ceremony. Get your accumulators on now:

1. Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire
2. Actor in a Leading Role - Micky Rourke (The Wrestler)
3. Actor in a Supporting Role- Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
4. Actress in a Leading Role- Angelina Jolie (Changeling)
5. Actress in a Supporting Role- Viola Davis (Doubt)
6. Best Director- David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)