Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

D. It is WRITTEN

Directed by: Danny Boyle
Written by: Simon Beaufoy, Vikas Swarup
Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto.

A young boy wearing a green t-shirt runs and delivers ball to a batsman. The batsman hits it high while the bowler screams,"Jamaal, catch it". Dumbfounded Jamaal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) looks up in the sky and starts running at the end of flying ball's trajectory to catch it and suddenly a plane flies too close and shocked Jamaal falls. This is when we see that this game of cricket is being held on an airstrip and two cops drive on two-wheeler mopeds with sticks in their hands to runs these slumdogs away. A.R. Rahman uses his vocals to sing an Aaalaap to a fast paced symphony that matches the steps of running boys and Danny Boyle's fast cuts filmed from unusual angle. This is nothing but a terrific start to one of the fascinating movies of 2008, 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

This is a tale of Jamaal (Dev Patel) answering questions of the popular game show to become a millionaire. But he is surprised and horrified to find questions flashing his own life. This life gave him unforgettable moments and those moments become answers on his way to a million rupees. Really unforgettable? Yes.

With a surprise of silence to the tune of Brian Eno's The Ascent in a zombie movie, 28 Days Later (2002), approaching sun's reflection on aviator sunglasses of an obsessed crew member of Icarus, Sunshine (2007), or the camode dive of a heroine addict, Trainspotting (1996), Danny Boyle always brings images and moods quite unique and extraordinary. Slumdog Millionaire is no exception. This time rather he takes his skills even farther. No doubt there is a great help from Simon Beaufoy's marvellous screenplay to Vikas Swarup's novel 'Q & A'. But Danny's vision to put viewer in first person's point of view is unparalleled and admittedly this is the reason this movie stands out. He should hope for an Academy nod.

Next credit is to actors Ayush Khedekar, Tanay Chheda (Middle Jamaal) and Dev Patel (Jamaal). These guys are fearless. They can 'jump in a dump', hang upside down from a train or sit and answer 'Millionaire' questions ferociously. Although Dev Patel has the longest screen time and will get nominated in several film festivals, Ayush and Tanay are remarkable and memorable. I wonder what Danny Boyle must have felt when he saw their expressions through the lense. So were the performances by Azharuddin Ismail, Ashutosh Gajiwala and Madhur Mittal as rightful and wrongful father figures, Salim, to Jamaal. Freida Pinto as Latika could be a very simple and shy girl but gives enough reason to Jamaal and us to her undoubted beauty. Irfan Khan, a cop, wants to know the truth. Short appearance maybe but as Jamaal spells the truth out to him he could very well give the expression of realization. Anil Kapoor as the game show host is a surprise character twist to Mr Bachchan's Kaun Banega Crorepati. There perhaps is no bad performance in this 120 min drama.

Other mentionable additions are cinematographer Anthony Mantle and editor Chris Dickens. This movie is a stunning experience in cinema watching. Though there might be a constant reminder of Mira Nair's Oscar nominee Salaam Bombay (1988) for the theme of orphans living in slums of Mumbai. But the difference is huge. Salaam Bombay creates extreme recurring pity and sympathy for the slum kids while Slumdog Millionaire, though shows dark side at times, it creates an excitement over and over again for the kids. The main requirement to every answer to the game show questions is an unforgettable moment in Jamaal's life. Not only the writers have come up with those lines but Danny has shown images which anybody in Jamaal's shoes would never forget. This is a must see.

Rating: 9.5/10

Manorama Six Feet Under (2007).

Raymond Chandler's 'Lakhot'.

Written and Directed by: Navdeep Singh.Starring: Abhay Deol, Gul Panag, Raima Sen and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.

Manorama (Sarika) in her 40's (or 30's?) walks in to Satyaveer Randhwa's (Abhay Deol) house in Lakhot, Rajasthan. Styaveer has recently debuted his first mystery novel, titled Manorama, which Manorama has read and curiously asks him to do a job for her. For a budding novelist, who doesn't keep a copy of his own novel since it reminds him of his failure, 10,000 Rs is quite a temptation. But the job turns out to be a list of scandals and illusions mysteriously unfolding into a grand finale.

Manorama Six Feet Under is THE noir cinema. Navdeep Singh, along with Devika Bhagat, has written a marvelous screenplay. Right from the need for a detective protagonist, to femme fatales, a cop who helps protagonist solve mystery, flashbacks, high contrast images, silhouettes, habitual liars, corrupt villain and secrets that are violently dark are all necessary noir elemnts seen through Hollywood film-noir and neo-noir. Although the 'sad end' is rather toned down cleverly. This movie reminds of J J Gittes and his 'Chinatown' (1974) so much that at one point the nose-cut seen featuring director Roman Planski's cameo is shown on the tv. In this Bollywood era of Hollywood copiers where plots are copied but the required environment for that plot is never even understood let alone copied. This movie stands alone for director and writer's ability to transfer exact noir elements from Raymond Chandler's Double Indemnity (1944) and The Big Sleep (1946) which of course were adapted in Chinatown as well. The muted trumpet is used aptly creating a mystery atmosphere. This is an extraordinary debut.

Abhay Deol has shown great potential as a novelist using his writing abilities to find clues in his own life. His choice of movies have been unusual, for instance Ek Chaalis ki last local (2007). Next up is Raima Sen as Sheetal. She comes quite natural here. Kulbhushan Kharbanda never fails to perform. Gul Panag as Satyaveer's disagreeable wife is rather convincing. Sarika has a short appearance. But the best performance above all was Vinay Pathak as Brij Mohan, Satyaveer's brother in law and cop. He blends in with his sentence delivery as hot as Rajasthan's desert.

Last but definitely remarkable is the cinematography. The hot sand, empty roads, dried bushes, burning sun and desert mountains are stunning and a bonus to this fast paced story that has twists after twists. Almost every event and person has a meaning and purpose. Nothing goes untouched for the second time. With an achievement like Manorama I wonder what's next for Navdeep Singh. This movie you do not want to miss.

My rating: 9.5/10.

AIDS Jago: Short films (2007).

Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, for one of their project on helping humanity, have united with 4 directors Mira Nair, Farhan Akhtar, Santosh Sivan and Vishal Bharadwaj to co-produce 4 short films on issues regarding AIDS education and awareness. These short films are taking the AIDS awareness on more personal level with some beautiful and some incredible journeys involving blood relations, lovers and strangers with urges either sexual or just plain human.

1. Migration (2007).

Directed by: Mira Nair.

Written by: Zoya Akhtar.

Starring: Shiney Ahuja, Sameera Reddy, Irfan Khan and Raima Sen.

URL: MIGRATION

Migration is a set of parallel stories between a husband and his lover, husband's wife, a mason worker his wife and infants. This short is very well directed, right from the drought death visuals to marine drive tides. The cinematography is eye catching. Thanks to Shiney Ahuja's speaking eyes and Irfan Khan's emotions for his lover, one way maybe. The core message of the story is delivered by sex education street actor Vijay Raaz with Beedi song in the background. Its the unconventional migration that is thought and written by Zoya Akhtar gives a different but convincing journey. It was exciting to see marathi stage and screen actress Sulabha Deshpande as Sameera's mother-in-law, little has she changed from Choukat Raja's (1991) mother.

2. Positive (2007).

Directed by: Farhan Akhtar.

Written by: Rajesh Devraj.

Starring: Boman Irani, Shabana Azmi and Arjun Mathur.

URL: POSITIVE

Positive is the story of AIDS awareness for a family as one of the members becomes HIV positive. The effects of it in a broad picture and a very tiny extremely personal point of view is very well written by Rajesh Devraj, whose future writings are Farhan Akhtar starrer Fakir of Venice and Shashanka Ghosh project Quick Gun Murugun. Boman Irani is fantastic with his lowering speaking abilities and at the same time with the desires of a young photographer to capture something. But it needed Farhan Akhtar's trick to bring out the moment absolutely necessary for this story. The moment when Arjun's character is positioning the rose in the window. This is perhaps the same transformation moment that occured in Dil Chahta Hai (2001) when Akash (Aamir Khan) calls up Sameer (Saif Ali Khan) only to realise subconsciously he dialed Sid's (Akshaye Khanna) number. Incredible. Shabana Azmi is short but plays the character who has already past previously mentioned transformation.

3. Prarambha (2007).

Directed by: Santosh Sivan.

Starring: Prabhu Deva and Skandhas.

URL: PRARAMBHA

A truck driver (Prabhu Deva) finds an unknown boy Kittu (Skandhas) hiding in the back of his truck. Truck driver finds it unsolvable to get rid of an unknown boy riding with him. Kittu hands him a letter written by his mother with an address. Truck driver agrees to take him there. But then out of humanity he finds himself on a quest to make the people around Kittu realise what he feels for kittu. This movie is a cry out towards those strangers who might have some humanity left in them. Prabhu Deva does a great job. His apological and optimistic smiles are the driving force for the audience and kittu as well. Skandhas as Kittu is nothing short of a applauding performance. He represents the understanding son, rejected school friend and a happy boy. Though there aren't many opportunities for Mr Sivan to use his lens he still captures the moments that do not need words.

4. Blood Brothers (2007).

Directed by: Vishal Bharadwaj.

Story idea by: Matthew Robbins and Ajit Ahuja.

Starring: Siddharth, Pavan Malhotra and Ayesha Takia.

URL: Blood Brothers

This story brings in the most courageous factor in the AIDS awareness. The point of view of the main victim, the one with the disease. This is the best short among the four. An ordinary man hears his doctor say that he is HIV positive. Devastated by the news he gives up on his life to find something that out smarts him. This is an absolutely astonishing story. This movie proves the fact that you do not need 1000 cuts in a 5 min movie to make it interesting. Though non-linearity exists in the narration it never seems a cliche by the creation of scars on Siddharth's faces. This short challenges the viewer by putting in the shoes of the protagonist and ask them what if? Kudos to Mr Bharadwaj. This one is a must see.

Overall rating: 8/10.

The Dark Knight (2008).

He is a Dark Knight!

Written by: Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan.

Directed by: Christopher Nolan.

Starring: Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and Aron Eckhart.

As Gordon (Gary Oldman) says, "He is not a superhero. He is a guard. A dark knight" and credits roll it shouldn't be hard to realise that this is the best explanation there is to this great saga called as 'The Dark Knight'. Just like the last line in The Prestige (2006), 'You just want to be fooled', or Memento (2000), 'so where am I?' this movie does say the ultimate saying and leave you thinking for your drive home.

At a private meeting of Gotham city's thugs and mafias where they talk about a common solution to the problem, which to them is money laundering, Joker (Heath Ledger) interrupts pointing to the right direction. 'Kill the Batman'. If not this eye opener for mafias to kill the batman then atleast for the audience its the 'disappearing pencil' trick that convinces at the very first communication that he is serious. Well not 'so...' serious. After his proposal falls through he begins a game that not only realises the city of Gotham of his freedom of action but also keeps them on their toes as they miserably run for their lives. Now the newly appointed commissioner Gordon, district attorney Harvey Dent (Aron Eckhart) and Gotham's guard Batman (Christian Bale) start planning to capture Joker only to find him a step ahead at every point. The plans involve not just a high octane action but also a great storyline that dives deep into the character's mind sets. Almots all of them.

It has to be Christopher Nolan to grab all of the primary awards of story telling, writing and directing. Without his screenplay and direction this picture cannot handle the facets, open and hidden, this meticulously. His character studies are extremely rare to be invented. It is the idea to emphasize very strongly on the very core, like 'Embrace your worst fear' in Batman Begins (2005), that makes Mr Nolan stand out. This movie isn't an exception to an emphasys as the screenplay and Joker insist on calling Batman a dark knight and it has to be 2 hrs 30 minutes of the story that makes that point. The applied makeup of Joker is his identity just like the Batman who wears a mask. But its the Joker that understands the human psyche best among given. Mr Nolan knew it and did it all the way. The screenplay is well written, especially for Joker. His thoughts, DA's fight and Batman's struggle to keep us are all very clear. Bravo! It is hard to get dragged, almost.

Perhaps this paragraph is written by almost everyone who liked the movie. Heath Ledger. It is said that he locked himself for a month in a room to prepare for his role. I guess it was the time best spent. His makeup hides his traumatic childhood and forms an identity for his actions. Its the pauses at uncommon places in sentences, the screamig laughs, the lower lip-lick, the unkempt hair, the ability to look straight into eyes and a strong statement to know people he has killed with knives (Thanks to Mr Nolan again for creating this hidden facet). Its Mr Ledger's ability not just to get under the skin but let himself drown in it. It had to be Heath to play this role. He had proved his potential before he chose Joker when he did not recieve the Oscar nod for Brokeback Mountain (2005). Seems like he might get only a nomination this time because as the Oscar legacy grows only once has Academy bestowed the prize posthumously (Peter Finch in Network, 1977). May he win it or not you cannoit forget the image of him leaning against the wind from a car window. In summary just like Shyamalan's Unbreakable (2000) in which its the villain who makes the hero realise his true identity, likewise does this movie. But couldn't have been without Heath Ledger.

As the cape crusader has necessary gadgets, its the Aron Eckhart's DA that stands next to Joker. The coin flips and the unwanted accidental choices which act as 'gravity, all it needs is a small push'. He is memorable as well. He might also get a nomination. Short but noteworthy are Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. Then there are absolutely unforgettable and unique battle sequences. You have to watch them to realise the second most important facet of this movie. There are some distractions to the pace, a very few, but I wouldn't blame the writer-director.

Mr Nolan's first installment made Bruce Wayne fearless and now this movie dares to drop the quotes of 'hero' for a superhero franchise and dig deeper. It is Mr Nolan's stortelling abilities that keep us glued to the seats untill the grand finale. This is a must-see.

My rating: 9.5/10.

Sex and the city: The movie (2008)

Written and directed by: Michael Patrick King.

Based on the characters by: Candace Bushnell.

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis.

Review:

CLOSURE!

My rating: 6/10.

I'm not there (2007)

"It's like yesterday, today and tomorrow all in one movie".

Directed by: Todd Haynes.
Written by : Todd Haynes (story/screenplay) Oren Moverman (screenplay).
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Marcus Carl Franklin.

The title of this review is all I can understand about the story of the iconic singer, song-writer and Pulitzer prize winning Bob Dylan's semi-autobiographical art known now as 'I'm not there'. It depicts his life starting as a kid (Marcus Carl Franklin) running away from his folks on a train with a guitar inside a box that says 'kills fascists', to a young boy (Ben Whishaw), to a young man (Christian Bale, Heath Ledger), to the grown Dylan I have seen over media (Cate Blanchett) and finally the old man (Richard Gere) who runs from his hometown in Riddle, MO on a train to find a guitar with a box that says 'kills fascists'. Well that is the exact movie chronology. Now I would let you figure out what this means.

I personally am not familiar with Bob Dylan's work so it will be difficult to write about I'm not there as opposed to Pink Floyd's The Wall (1982). But as a movie this one has a peculiar narration which is surrealistic as opposed to just surrealist images seen in many movies. The screenplay is well written for this narration and the director and the editor have done justice to it completely. In this sense this surrealy narrated movie is rather simpler to understand than a surreal movie. Though it drags at few occasions, the later half of the movie is utterly interesting. The story is particularly well summarised for the time spun (50's to late 70's). Sometimes it takes a little longer to make a point which rather suits the intensity of it. The idea of choosing different actors for different life times of the singer is not just for the looks of the character but I guess the ability of those actors to pull the behavior of the singer more easily. Because maybe it would be difficult for an actor to portray so many different phases of the singer's complicated life as we see or maybe not. But this idea of choosing different actors fits very well in the confines of the movie. Few images seemed inspired by Fellini's 8 1/2 (1963). Never thought those could be recreated. Congratulations to writer director Todd Haynes.

Now there are so many actors the question comes are they equally good. Well most of them have given extraordinary performances. Marcus Franklin as the young kid is quite remarkable. He is charismatic in his role. Maybe he did actually play the guitar. In the grown ups, Christian Bale gives another memorable performance. So does Heath Ledger. But the outstanding performance is by Cate Blanchett. The whole idea to carry a stoned and surreal but poetic singer is extraordinary. If she holds a cigarette, walks down the stairs, sings a song or just simply says 'man', she is unbelievably charming. She should have got the Academy. But I guess its the unpopularity of the movie which presumably also affected Ryan Gosling's Lars and the real girl (2007) performance. Richard Gere and Ben Whishaw give short notable appearances.

If you like Bob Dylan then perhaps you would like this movie. If you are not aware of his work but just simply like movies then give this surrealy narrated movie a try.

My rating: 9/10.

Dil, Dosti, Etc. (2007)

An "Indian Pie" with a social message.

Not always a title will blend in everything to a discussion/monologue. The title above may not be suitable to other viewers. But I think Dil Dost Etc does have a social message which is targeted on an individual basis. This film portrays college days of Apurv (Imaan Shah) and Sanjay (Shreyas Talpade). Sanjay is a student from a middle class family in Bihar who is trying to run election and also win it by all the means he can. Apurv is his fellow mate who is born with a silver spoon. These two students have a totally different background but currently they face almost same situations in the college and they have almost opposite perspective on moral/ethics background. These two students bet to each other and that initiates a series of events which connect them together in the end.

I must say that this film is a great blend of psychology and philosophy of college students who are religious towards timely pop culture and matured audience who perhaps are competitive enough to exercise any and every means towards their goal. Debutant Manish Tiwary has written a clever script that from the first minute ("River of White Water") till the end of the film initiates and propagates various thought processes and live it open to individual comprehension. With humor as a positive ingredient his protagonists speak a language which is definitely thought for. The educational institute seems to be a perfect place to place two characters with different backgrounds and mentality. Though I have seen Sanjay at other occasions but Apurv shocks me. Not only his philosophies and self-ethics bother me but when he talks he seem to have understood a much about his surroundings. He does not apologise for a failed kissing attempt to a school girl (Ishita Sharma) and he survives a great deal of endeavor in the end. "A glimpse of the goal clears away some paths" as he utters this line I wondered where is this movie going to end. Manish Tiwary has ended this film with a social message which has to be self realised and self applied.

Imaan and Shreyas both have acted well. Shreyas as usual is very natural. It was good to see him in a matured serious role. I have never seen Imaan before but I wonder about his courage. Whether I should appreciate his ability to focus on the goal or the goal itself is a mystery. Smriti Mishra as the prostitute is also a great portrayal. The direction and screenplay are running at the same pace. For a debut this is a remarkable film. This is perhaps the best college flick since Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992) though I doubt I would watch it as many times as I watched Sanjaylal Sharma and the cycle race.

My rating: 8/10.

Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

Two hearts amidst an epic setup.

Written and Directed by: Ashutosh Gowariker.

Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai.

Music: AR Rahman.

A young boy named Jalaluddin stands on a war front In 1555AD India to be crowned as the new Moghul Emperor after the death of his Father Humayun. The ministry wages the war and defeats the rival King. They bring him in front of the new emperor and ask him to behead the defeated King. Only to find that the young emperor recognizes that disgrace is worse than a death and denies following the orderes. This young boy grows up to become Jalaluddin Muhammad (Hrithik Roshan) Akbar (as honored by his country eventually). He marries a Hindu Rajput's daughter Jodhaa Bai (Aishwarya Rai). How? You will find it out.

Jodhaa-Akbar is a story of love between a husband and a wife after they get married. Given some exposure to Akbar's learning curve to understand the common man in his country with the help of his wife's thoughts and philosophy this movies tries to connect the dots between a husband and his wife and an Emperor and his people. The first winner of this movie is writer-director Ashutosh Gowariker. Making a comeback after a highly spiritual Swades (2004) Ashtosh may not have as appealing story as Swades but the love in Jodhaa Akbar cannot be denied. He brings in different shades of connections between the two like the first time Hindu vegetarian meal for Akbar, a sword fight or a confession of love in a room lit by setting sun. Gowariker handles these facets very carefully by taking his time to create an atmosphere. He is one of the young directors with his own vision that he follows.

The next one on my list is Hrithik Roshan. With a muscular physique and eyes full of emotions his portrayal as an Emperor with roots of humanity is something to look for. An emperor slowly learning about the people around him and eventually following his heart and philosophies is a very good character to be seen. His fight with his ownself to understand Jodhaa is convincing. Not to forget Aishwarya Rai as Jodhaa bai. Personally I haven't been able to appreciate her beauty in a long time since maybe Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997).

I have saved the best for last and that is Mr AR Rahman. His background score and musicals like 'Jashn-e-bahaar' and 'In lamho ke' are appreciable. But 'Khwaja' is something beyond great or extraordinary. The prayer and appeal by sufi singers to the priest are nothing short of 'magical'. You will be drawn into the prayer just like the emperor when he gets up and shows his excitement to God. Wow!!!

Independent movies are said to be daring and courageous. Jodhaa Akbar may not be an Independent creation but it is a period movie with a magnitude that perhaps was last seen in K. Asif's Mughal-E-Azam released in 1960. It took 48 years for Bollywood to make a movie like this so in that sense it is a daring and courageous effort.

My Rating: 9/10.

In the valley of Elah (2007).

Welcome back Mr. Haggis!

Written and Directed by: Paul Haggis.
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon.

'Everyday Goliath came down in the valley and challenged for anyone who wants to fight. One day a boy named David accepted it. Killed Goliath with a slingshot', as Sgt Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) tells this story to Detective Sander's (Charlize Theron) son, she later confronts him about the inaccuracy. To this Hank says, 'Course it is true'. Hank recieved a phone call few days ago about his son's absence from a military base who got back from Iraq few days ago and disappeared from the base later. Events that follow will be strongly connected either by human nature, or the absence there of.

After writing an Oscar winning screenplays 'Million Dollar Baby' and 'Crash', Paul Haggis comes back with a story that does surprise you and shock you at the same time. Based on true events Paul Haggis has superbly wrote and directed Valley of Elah. I am surprised how could Academy awards commitee could not consider this one for the best picture? I guess days of getting preached are over after you graduate high school. Agree about the preachiness. But the way Mr Haggis makes the point is extraordinary. His story telling habits are sharp. May it be Milllion Dollar Baby, Casino Royale or Crash. This time he seems to have picked up the same pen that he put down after Million Dollar Baby, which has lines like "People die as a janitor. She could say to herself atleast I tried'. I guess that itself stirrs and changes the viewer's point of view. Valley of Elah is one good example of the cinema that keeps shaking you all the time. You say to yourself its over and it is not.

Tommy Lee Jones gives an oscar worthy performance. A retired seargent with deep eyes that are giving up after witnessing horrors and are looking for traces at the same time because his heart doesn't give up. This constant war of horror against fatherly love is constantly portrayed with a lot of anguish. He is marvellous. But in the winning race unfortunately he cannot surpass the bloody eyed Daniel Plainview's (Daniel Day Lewis) hunger to become an epic Oil-man in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'There will be blood' (2007). Charlize Theron puts on a very little makeup as a newly appointed detective being bullied by fellow seniors. Susan Sarandon gives a memorable performance as Sgt Deerfield's wife. The southern accent reminds of 'Louise'.

In the end the winner is Mr. Haggis for cleverly twisting and turning the story just about right to create an environment where an aging father faces the fear of Goliath to slingshot him. But the reason for initiation of fear is far placed than the termination.

My Rating: 8/10.

Oscar Nominees/Predictions.

My predictions are in Italics. Movies that I have not seen are asterisked.

1. Performance by an Actor in a leading role:

-George Clooney in “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.) *
-Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
-Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) *
-Tommy Lee Jones in “In the Valley of Elah” (Warner Independent) *
-Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises” (Focus Features).

2. Performnace by an Actress in a leading role:

-Cate Blanchett in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (Universal)
-Julie Christie in “Away from Her” (Lionsgate) *
-Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose” (Picturehouse) *
-Laura Linney in “The Savages” (Fox Searchlight) *
-Ellen Page in “Juno” (Fox Searchlight).

3. Performance by an actor in a supporting role:

-Casey Affleck in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (Warner Bros) *

-Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
-Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Charlie Wilson’s War” (Universal)*
-Hal Holbrook in “Into the Wild” (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment) *
-Tom Wilkinson in “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.) *

4. Performance by an actress in a supporting role:

-Cate Blanchett in “I’m Not There” (The Weinstein Company) *
-Ruby Dee in “American Gangster” (Universal) *
-Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement” (Focus Features) *
-Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone” (Miramax) *
-Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.) *

5. Adapted Screenplay:

-“Atonement” (Focus Features)Screenplay by Christopher Hampton *
-“Away from Her” (Lionsgate)Written by Sarah Polley *
-“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax/Pathé Renn)Screenplay by Ronald Harwood *
-“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
-“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson.

6. Original screenplay:

-“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)Written by Diablo Cody
-“Lars and the Real Girl” (MGM) Written by Nancy Oliver
-“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)Written by Tony Gilroy *
-“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney)Screenplay by Brad BirdStory by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
-“The Savages” (Fox Searchlight) Written by Tamara Jenkins. *

7. Motion Picture of the year:

-“Atonement” (Focus Features) A Working Title Production Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers *

-“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)A Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd ProductionLianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers

-“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)A Clayton Productions, LLC ProductionSydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers *

-“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss ProductionScott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers

-“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company ProductionJoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers.

8. Best animated film:

-“Persepolis” (Sony Pictures Classics) Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud *
-“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney) Brad Bird
-“Surf's Up” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Ash Brannon and Chris Buck