Oscar Predictions 2009 from Falcon and Dove

Hello, Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for all those emails about your office pools, online ballots, and contests that you are entering concerning the Oscars this weekend, February 22. Falcon and Dove have been working hard to try to see as many of the nominees as we could before this week's deadlines...and now we have our picks.

We don't agree in every category...so where there is a difference, the choice marked in bold also has Falcon or Dove listed next to the prediction.

We hope you enjoy the Oscars, and to everyone nominated: great job! You are all fantastic! This was a golden year, and you should all be proud.

OSCAR PREDICTIONS-FALCON AND DOVE 2009

Best Picture

The Curious case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire-Falcon and Dove’s Choice

Best Actor

Richard Jenkins for “The Visitor”
Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn for “Milk”-Falcon and Dove pick
Brad Pitt for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler”

Best Actress

Anne Hathaway for “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie for “The Chanegling”
Melissa Leo for “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep for “Doubt”
Kate Winslet for “The Reader”

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin for Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. for Tropic Thunder
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road
Health Ledger The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams for Doubt
Penelope Cruz for Vicky Christina Barcelona
Viola Davis for Doubt
Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler

Best Director

David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Stephen Daldry, The Reader”
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Foreign Film
The Baader Meinhof Complex-Germany-almost Falcon’s choice
The Class-France-Dove
Departunes-Japan
Revanche-Austria
Waltz with Bashir-Israel-Falcon


Adapted Screenplay

Eric Roth and Robin Swicord-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley-Doubt
Peter Morgan-Frost/Nixon
David Hare-The Reader
Simon Beaufoy-Slumdog Millionaire

Original Screenplay

Courtney Hunt-Frozen River
Mike Leigh-Hapy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonagh-In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black-Milk
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter-WALL-E

Animated Feature

Bolt-(Falcon)
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E (Dove)

Art Direction

Changeling
The Curious case of Benjamin Button (Dove)
The Dark Knight (Falcon)
The Dutchess
Revolutionary Road

Cinematograhy

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

(extremely tough category)

Sound Mixing

The Curious case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight (Dove)
Slumdog Millionaire (Falcon)
WALL-E
Wanted

Sound Editing

The Dark Knight
Iron Man (Falcon)
Slumdog Millionaire (Dove)
WALL-E
Wanted

Original Score

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Alexandre Desplat
Defiance, James Newton Howard
Milk, Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire A.R. Rahman
WALL-E, Thomas Newman


Original Song

Down to Earth-WALL-E, Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
Jai Ho-Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman and Gulzar
O Saya-Slumdog Millionaire A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Costuming
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Dove)
The Dutchess (Falcon)
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Documentary Feature

The Betrayal (Nerakhoom)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water
Documentary Short
The Conscience of Nhem En (Dove)
The Final Inch (Falcon)
Smile Pink!
The Witness-From the Balcony of Room 306

Film Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Falcon)
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire (Dove)

Makeup

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Dove)
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Falcon)

(extremely hard category)

Animated Short

La Maison en Petits Cubes
Lavatory-Love story
Okatapodi
Presto
This Way Up

Live Action Short

Auf der Strecke (On the Line) DOVE
Manon on the Asphalt (FALCON)
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)

Visual Effects

The Curious case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight (DOVE)
Iron Man (FALCON)

Golden Globe Predictions-Film

Hello Family,
Falcon and Dove hope that you are having a wonderful New Year! Well, the Golden Globes are tomorrow, and if you listened to our podcast, you have an idea of how we are going to vote for our favorites, and how we think the Hollywood Foreign Press did. We didn't cover everything there, though, so without further ado...

Falcon and Dove Golden Globe Predictions 2009

Best Motion Picture-Drama
This is a tough category, but we are going to stick to our favorite here and go with Slumdog Millionaire. The others, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (a high contender and this one may walk away with it), Frost/Nixon, The Reader, and Revolutionary Road are all excellent films with some of our favorite actors in them, but we think Danny Boyle outdid himself this year, and should be rewarded for it. Kate Winslet did a superb job in the last two mentioned, and should be an Oscar nom, no problem.

Best Motion Picture-Comedy
This was a challenging category because the performances in all of these films were so out-of-the-box. It was a tie for us between In Bruges and Burn After Reading. Happy Go-Lucky, Vicki Christina Barcelona and Mamma Mia all had endearing qualities and plenty of laughs...and VCB may actually take this category, but the ensemble casts of our two choices were just too cool, and we think one of them will walk away with the top prize.

Best Actor-Drama
This was an impossible category, but our two choices are Brad Pitt and Sean Penn for Benjamin Button and Milk, respectively. Falcon cannot adequately explain in words how strong all of these men were in their roles this year. Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road was outstanding. Frank Langella brought out the balance in the historically complex character that is Richard M. Nixon, (Frost/Nixon) and Mickey Rourke was unbelievably good in The Wrestler. This may be one of the best 5 performances in nomination for the Golden Globes in this category, ever.

Best Actress-Drama
In another extremely competitive category...a tough decision, but we are going with Kristin Scott Thomas in I've Loved You So Long (English title). This was a dynamic, complex character to bring to life on the screen, and Falcon and Dove both hope we see more roles like this for actresses in the future. We think that Anne Hathaway is about to break out and get all the attention she so deserves, and Meryl Streep did a strong, dynamic job in Doubt. We think Angelina is diversifying her resume well with Changeling, and as previously mentioned, Kate Winslet is going to get an Oscar nom this year, we hope. We went with what we thought was the best performance overall, but believe me, it was tough.

Actor-Comedy or Musical
All of these great actors are rarely known for their comedy (except maybe Brendan Gleeson), so this was a tough call, especially since some were in the same films...but we are going for handsome Irishman Colin Farrel in In Bruges. James Franco could easily get this one, but more because of what he did in Milk, than in Pineapple Express. A Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Academy should be coming. Javier Bardem can do anything and nearly does in Vicky Christina Barcelona. I love Dustin Hoffman, and this is a great role for him. He is fearless. IF you can, see all of these films.

Actress-Comedy or Musical
We are going with a probable long shot, but she did such a great job, and does in nearly every film she is in...home-town girl Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading gets our nod. We know that Sally Hawkins or Rebecca Hall are probably going to get this one...but part of Falcon really wishes Emma Thompson would in Last Chance Harvey because I cannot recall a time or a film I have not enjoyed with her presence.

Best Supporting Actor
Okay, we admit it. When we heard the nominations for this category we burst out laughing. We did. All these actors rock, but pitting Robert Downey, Jr. against Ralph Fiennes in the same category didn't seem quite right somehow. So here it is: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight, hands down. We have one for Ralph Fiennes later in teh Television categories. Philip Seymour Hoffman would have won this if Heath had not delivered his last acting performance this year. PSH: Your Oscar is coming, my friend. Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder? Come on, he was better in Legend.

Best Supporting Actress
This is a tough category, but we are going with Kate Winslet in The Reader.
She plays an extremely emotionally wrenching character and she pulls it off well. Amy Adams and Viola Davis are both in Doubt and do very good jobs. Penelope Cruz rocks in Vicky Christina Barcelona, and Marisa Tomei, is an actress I love, and she is in her element in The Wrestler.

Best Director
This is such a tough category every year, and this year is no exception. I love all of these guys (I wish there were some women) but, in the end...we can choose only one. Falcon and Dove go with Scottish director Danny Boyle for a mind-blowing nearly speechless outstanding job on Slumdog Millionaire. Every human being who can et to a movie theatre should see this film. Falcon doesn't say this lightly. In my adult life, I have only given a couple of films perfect grade "A". That is, films that I thought in every way were flawless from beginning to end. David Fincher did an excellent job on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This is a strong contender. Ron Howard is always an Oscar favorite, I just don't know if he will win it here at the Golden Globes. Sam Mendes has done a truly strong period piece in "Revolutionary Road", and I hope he gets one Oscar noms as well.

Best Screenplay
Eric Roth gets high props for Benjamin Button. Adapting this F. Scott Fitzgerald story for a three hours film was tremendous. He is our choice for Best Screenplay, but of course, Slumdog Millionaire's Simon Beaufoy is another possibility. Peter Morgan did a fantastic job on Frost/Nixon. John Patrick Shanley took the play of Doubt and put in on the screen well.

Best Foreign Language Film
I've Loved You So Long is our choice for the winner. Waltz With Bashir is also a strong film from Israel. Gomorrah from Italy is impressive. Everlasting Moments from Sweden is incredible. Check this one out. The Baader Meinhof Comlex from Germany we have not seen, but has received excellent reviews.

Best Animated Feature
We are picking Bolt, over Kung-Fu Panda and WALL-E.. All of these were well done, but Bolt has the best spirit and organic angles of the three.

Original Score
This is a tough category. We are going with Alexandre Desplat, for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, , but seriously, all of these noms are excellent contenders. James Newton Howard for Defiance, in particular.

Original Song
Falcon is picking a song from a film that isn't nominated elsewhere, but is really cool: Once in a Lifetime from the film, Cadillac Records. For music lovers, this film rocks, and has some history you may have missed. See it if you can.

We will post the Television division shortly.
Peace,
Falcon and Dove

TFATD: Thanksgiving Show - Part 2 - Equus, Films, and Middle-earth

Part Two of The Falcon and the Dove's Thanksgiving podcast! This part is for more mature audiences than the first part (no swearing, however). Parents are advised to use discretion.

- We saw Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths in the Peter Shaffer Broadway revival play of Equus! We give our detailed (but spoiler-free) review of the play and the actors' performances as well as compare it to the original 1973 production (which Falcon also saw). Preview: it's more than worth the price of admission! Tickets are still available! The play's run continues up to February 5th, 2009.

- We review more adult films, including Doubt (with Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman), The Betrayal (a 23-year long documentary), The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (the Holocaust from a child's perspective), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (a comedy that is bound to be hysterical), and more!

- Parents may want to listen to our recommendations and cautions before seeing these films with your tweens, 13 and under. There is more than meets the eye for some of these titles.

- Emerald Took, author of the Lord of the Rings cookbook, 'Regional Cooking From Middle-earth: Recipes of the Third Age', will bring her Middle-earth treats to the East Side Borders bookstore in Pittsburgh, PA, on December 3rd from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. There will be samplings the adults can appreciate like bison stew (with a wee bit o' Guinness), hot chocolate that would defeat the Ringwraiths, and a veggie delightful paella that Barliman would certainly serve in Bree at the Prancing Pony, among other treats.

- There will also be a discussion of how to fix a Middle-earth feast for your guests, cookbook signing by the author herself, and winter gardening tips. Bring an appetite and pick up this special gift for the Elven chef on your list!

- Emerald Took will also be announcing her next book, a must-have for any parent with a college-age son or daughter!

- There will be another book signing by Emerald Took on December 17th at the East Side Borders in Pittsburgh from 6:30pm to 8:30pm!

- You can also order 'Regional Cooking From Middle-earth: Recipes of the Third Age' via Amazon here!

Download Part 2 of our Thanksgiving Show! (Right-click and Save Target As) (Length: 49 minutes; Size: 91 MB)

Oscar Week: Falcon and Dove's Honorable Mentions of 2007

Hi Everyone!
Well, the emails are beginning to pour in; it seems some of you are waiting for our Oscar predictions for this year. Well, we have almost finished our predictions. In the meantime, we thought we would give you our Honorable Mentions...films we think you should see, even if they didn't get an Oscar nomination. Enjoy these 2007 films that have earned a special place in our memories. These 25 films are in no particular order; we love them all. Most of the films on the list are fine for most audiences; pay close attention to the ratings if you are planning on viewing some of these with young children. Some are unrated; all are excellent.

We Are Marshall: Story of the Marshall University Football team plane crash in 1971 I remember it vividly. The personal stories of the individuals who moved forward from the tragedy. Really well acted and authentic film, not really about football, but about the spirit of a team and a town to move forward after tragedy. There is a lot to be learned, and may help others as they struggle through tragedies… it is a very moving film.

God Grew Tired of Us: tremendous tale of genocide and the journey of a refugee. I know, not a spirit lifter, but a must-see for those who really want to understand how war and internal warfare displace and hurt cultures.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: If you have read Harry Potter, you know the story, If you haven’t, this is one of the films in the franchise that is extremely enjoyable, even for the un-informed. Well organized compression of the over 800 page book, great effects and strong performances by the kids and adults alike. If you can see this in IMAX, do it; the last 20 minutes will blow your mind. I don’t know why this film was completely ignored everywhere except the BAFTAs, but it deserved more. My gosh, Norbit got an Oscar nom for ‘Best Make-Up”, over this film! I am astonished! A film that sweeps the Razzies that probably killed Eddie Murphy’s Oscar chances for all time should be buried, not acknowledged. HP:OOTP made it to the short list in this category, and should have made the final 3.

The Great Debaters: Excellent period film starring Denzel Washington. I was on the Debate team in high school, and this film warmed my heart, and brought back memories. Can we only get acknowledgement for African-Americans in film where it’s about gangs, drugs, and sports? Wait…sometimes, not even sports, especially if it’s not an ‘accepted’ sport among the chronically xenophobic (see ‘Glory Road’ or “Pride” listed below). How about a film about striving Black intellectuals?


Pride: As mentioned above, great film, no attention about a black coach who inspires young men on a black swim team in 1970’s Philadelphia. Check this one out, really.

Amazing Grace: This is probably the Best Ignored Film of 2007. It has an impressive cast, telling the tale of the British movement toward abolishing slavery, and the real story behind the lyrics to “Amazing Grace”. I think every living human being should see this film, and there are a few deceased ones I wish could have seen it.

300: Okay, it’s historically inaccurate. It was 300 Spartans and 1200 actors, hookers, and out-of work artists. It was shot in a studio in Toronto, and almost nothing in the landscape was real, and it was a little too heavy on the sepia-tone, but it was fun, wasn’t it…considering the Spartan lifestyle, war, death…yeah, lots of fun.


The Namesake: Tremendous tale about generations, culture, ethnicity, and heart. Everyone can relate to this film, they just don’t know it yet.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley: This was the Palm D’Or of Cannes two years ago, and is kind of between movie years here, but was worthy of mention. Two brothers, one on each side of the Irish fight for sovereignty in turn of the 20th century Ireland. Cillian Murphy has two films on my Honorable Mention wall, and this one is well deserved. An extremely excellent film.

Disturbia: ‘Rear Window” with Shia LeBoeuf…nothing wrong with that.

Snow Cake: Delightfully thoughtful film starring Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. She is high functioning autistic and he is working through his attractions and some confusion. It’s great to see these strong actors in non-traditional roles for them.

The Last Winter: This stars Ron Pearlman (Hellboy) and is an environmental horror movie. ‘Nuff said.

Paris” Je t’aime (Various Directors): A Collection of vignettes by various directors (including ‘Children of Men’s Alfonzo Cuaron) about the city of Paris, and why it is so endearing. Very well shot throughout.

1408: John Cusack is not normally your first choice for scary movies, but he’ great in this one, and Samuel L. Jackson is his usual creepy wonderful self. See the unrated version, it rocks.

A Mighty Heart: A hear-breaking tale, well acted and has one of my favorite actors, Dan Futterman playing Daniel Pearl. Angelina Jolie does an admirable job.

Labyrinth (re-release): This is the 1980’s film starring David Bowie. It was re-released in theatres at the beginning of summer. Looks great on screen, good for older children and fantasy fans alike.

Blade Runner: Final Cut (anniversary release): Well, I love David Lynch and Harrison Ford is pretty cool, and Rutger Hauer is excellently vicious. It’s a great DVD collection, too. Holds up well despite the years of special effects advances. Vangelis soundtrack is a dark, brooding compliment to the futuristic urban, yet emotionally hollow environment.

Sunshine: This is the second film on the Honorable Mention list with Cillian Murphy, one of the most versatile actors alive today. Sci-fi between “2001” and” Battlestar Gallactica” in a slick way.

This is England: This is a boy’s coming-of-age skinhead film set in 1980’s England. He is a significantly younger boy that his posse and that makes this nakedly honest film much more dynamic. Director Shane Meadows wrote and directed this film about his life growing up. Dynamic, powerful, and highly honored at the BAFTAs.

Becoming Jane : McAvoy did more than “Atonement” this year. This film is a treat, along with the wonderfully talented Anne Hathaway . Jane Austen’s letters help compose this film, and if you like romance, this is the one film you want to see this year…and maybe Gerald Butler’s dance in “P.S. I Love You.”

December Boys: This film takes place in Australia, and revolves around a vacation for orphan boys, who treat each other as family, but what happens when that family is threatened by separation? Harry Potter star Dan Radcliffe plays the eldest boy in the group who is coming of age and realizes that after the holiday, things may never be the same. Beautiful cinematography, and a nice little film.

Things We Lost in the Fire: Hallie Barry and Benicio del Toro are fantastic in this superbly-cast and richly acted film about a woman who looses her husband, and the flawed best friend who comes to her rescue. The children are great, the screenplay was well written. I love this movie. Genuinely emotional, fine portrayals.

Black Irish : This film stars Brendan Gleeson, and a great cast of actors. Boston, baseball, Irish…kid tries to stay out of trouble and stop a legacy of trouble. Great film.

Joe Strummer (doc of Clash member) The Future is Unwritten: Wonderfully free delightful romp retrospect about the Clash music and the now departed member of The Clash. Great doc.

Love in the Time of Cholera: A beautiful film shot in South America, based on the Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel. A man waits six decades for the women he loves. Mike Newell directs this touching period tale. Benjamin Bratt still looks great and pulls off the difficult role of the first husband, and Javier Bardem, who is a strong favorite for an Oscar for his twisted portrayal in “No Country for Old Men” is great in this film as well.

We hope you enjoyed the list. Our Oscar predictions are coming...
Enjoy your week!
Peace,
Falcon and Dove