The Haeger Awards

No Oscar Predictions Here:
Only the "Haeger Awards"...because my own opinion is all I got.
Some awards are Oscar Equivalents with a few of my own made up awards in the mix.

Best Actor:
Daniel Day Lewis (There Will Be Blood): No Question about it. This performance has to be seen to be believed

Best Supporting Actor:
Javier Bardem (No Country): This was one of the most unsettling acting jobs I have seen in a long time. 100% believable. And if his creepiness wasn't enough, I was blown away by my growing empathy for him, by the time of his last monologue.

Best Actress and Supporting Actress:
Still working on these...
But, Ellen Page's performance was very good, and enjoyable.

Best Original Screenplay:
Michael Clayton
The way that this story unfolded in it's own delicate and deliberate pace was...well, I just wouldn't want it any other way.
Not to mention, the film made some super-insightful comments on integrity and how it impacts individuals and their families.


Best Atmosphere created in a film:
Sweeney Todd
Good ol Tim Burton knows how to transport people into another world just about as good as anybody.

Best multiple minute monologue:
Obvious Choices: Final scenes in "There Will be Blood" and "No Country"
My personal favorite: The final restaurant review read by Peter O'Toole
in Ratatouille

Best Animated Film:
Ratatouille: Not a dull moment in this hour and 45 minutes of pure Pixar goodness.
Pixar is preserving the great legacy of Disney storytelling like no other! I could go on for hours.

Best Song:
Falling Slowly (Once)
This scene with this song in this film is 100% engaging from beginning to end. And their performance was so raw and totally unpretentious!

Cinemetography:
Robert Elswitt: There Will Be Blood
Every moment is shot with such intentionality!


Best Picture: TIE: There Will Be Blood/No Country for Old Men

Blood: From the opening scene till "I'm finished", I was hooked.
The music was incredible and incredibly unsettling
The acting was dynamic
The natural metaphors oozed throughout this movie, giving us an incredible meditation on greed and how it can completely and horrifically consume one's life.

No Country:
This story was a powerful kick in the stomach. The final monologue left us with such an incredible question, and gives a great opportunity for viewers to discuss if they do believe in something or someone to find hope in. As a Christ follower, this was a great film that challenged me and fortified my faith.

In addition to this we had one of the creepiest villains in years in film.

And to top it all off, we still were able to enjoy those wonderful "Coenized" moments. (i.e. The Josh Brolin scene with the mariachi band!!)

---I do kinda have a weak stomach for blood...so I did have to shield the eyes several times...but, it's all good.

Other Cool Mentionables:
Juno: Great performance from Ellen Page, and a non-stop "fest" of witty snide remarks.
The Assassination of Jesse James: Very unique, and some great acting
Zodiac: Very engaging (but I did have to shield my eyes from thi sone a little bit also)

And one more worth taking a look at some time.
Enchanted: The innocent and cynical can enjoy this movie. The "innocents" will like the homage to the fairy tale. The cynics will like the satire of the fairy tale. And, there's no doubt that Amy Adams has some great acting chops.
It's one of three movies this year (Ratatouille and Bridge to Terabithia) that Lindsey and I will definitely share with our kids someday.