I voted for Milk, though on another day I might have picked Benjamin Button. The latter wins points for its visual wow (I think the cinematography prize easily belongs right here) as well as for its ambition, but overreaches a bit. The former is a little more limited in terms of narrative and visual imagination, but I think it's ultimately more successful in terms of accomplishing its aims, so it gets my vote. Plus, I think it's thematically the richest of the nominees, and has the best cast too.
Slumdog Millionaire is an entertaining movie. I really have no problem with it winning. It's not tremendous and I certainly think it's been overpraised...but the backlash is about equally out of control, I think. Just because it makes you feel great doesn't mean it's high art...but I wouldn't want to dismiss a movie just for being feel-great either.
Frost/Nixon is enjoyable -- well written and very well acted. It shouldn't be Best Picture material, but on its limited terms, it's good, and I can't understand anyone getting too offended by it. (On the other hand, I can't understand anyone getting too excited by it either...)
The more I think about The Reader, the less I like it, (and, aside from Winslet, I didn't much like it to begin with.) A completely dull, wholly miscalculated effort. The worst Best Picture surprise since Chocolat.
It's strange -- this is certainly the weakest Best Picture lineup in a while and yet I support 100% the nominations of three of these films. Still, I think I'd support WALL-E over and above all.
The Reader disqualified from equation for reasons of being directed by Stephen Daldry. I'm rather astonished that Frost/Nixon has fewer fans than The Reader. It would be my runner up choice.
Why Slumdog Millionaire will win after its seven-Bafta triumph.
Here are 10 reasons why Danny Boyle's crowdpleaser is unsurpassable in the race for the little gold men.
1 It is good enough to win – and it helps that it has poor competition this year.
2 Like its hero, it is the dark-horse, outsider candidate that has come out of nowhere with no stars.
3 In the crucial voting period, it is the film that continues to do great business wherever it plays.
4 The people who like this film adore it – there is no other film in contention that has such an enthusiastic following.
5 For years now, the Indian film industry has been a much discussed but marginalised phenomenon. Now the western audience begins to see what "Bollywood" is like and is reminded of old Hollywood.
6 The fable-like structure of the film has the strength and simplicity of a fairytale.
7 The film is full of delightful newcomers.
8 It is all about money at a moment when no topic concerns us more.
9 The profound hatred or mistrust of corrupt wealth and the consequent adoration of lucky poverty could not have a better dramatic demonstration.
10 The new air of magical realism is about to crush photographic realism in the movies.
Slumdog was my clear favorite among the nominees, with Button, Milk and Frost/Nixon just a notch below. I didn't care for The Reader. I just didn't buy into it. And just as I preferred James Stewart in The Shop Around the Corner over his make-up Award for The Philadelphia Story, I wish Winslet was up for Revolutionary Road.
Slumdog Millionaire. Wouldn't mind Milk, if only because I want Focus Features to get a best picture oscar before Fox Searchlight (that's right, you heard me).
