Oscar Talk: I saw ``The Wrestler'' with Mickey Rourke on Saturday, along with ``The Reader'' with Kate Winslet.
I didn't buy the relationships between Rourke's character with the ``stripper with a heart of gold'' (portrayed by Marisa Tomei) and his daughter (portrayed by Evan Rachel Wood).
But all of the actual wrestling scenes were incredible.
``The Reader'' was a bit better than I anticipated and Winslet, as always, was marvelous.
So, without further adieu . . .
Winslet will bag Best Actress (for her roles in The Reader and the un-nominated Revolutionary Road) and Sean Penn will win his second Best Actor hardware (for Milk, but just barely over Frank Langella's mesmerizing turn as Richard Nixon in Frost-Nixon).
The late Heath Ledger will get the Best Supporting Actor nod (for the otherwise mildly overrated Dark Knight) over Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), while Doubt's Viola Davis (Wow! She was devastatingly effective) should get the Best Supporting Actress kudos.
Danny Boyle should be a busy lad Sunday night accepting Best Director honors and being part of the crew that is called to the stage when Slumdog Millionaire gets the Best Picture Oscar.
I disagree with your pick for Best Actor, by far without a doubt the Oscar goes to Frank Langella's superb performance as Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon.
Glad to hear you liked the Reader - I really enjoyed that film. Agree with all your picks (haven't seen Doubt), esp. Sean Penn for Best Actor. Saw Frost/Nixon, Milk and the Wrestler this weekend. Penn outshines the other two.
As for Best Picture, I'm ok if Slumdog, Reader or Milk wins. All were exceptional.