CINEMATADOR

Yes, more David Lynch.  There can never be too much Lynch.  This clip is from Eraserhead (1977), Mr. Lynch’s first feature length film.

It began earlier this month, December 4 to be exact, when the National Board of Review (NBR) announced its movie awards for 2008.  Of course,  I am referring to the “Movie Awards Season.”   And you thought we were done with politics and campaigning.  But these awards are about recognizing excellence in the art of filmmaking, right?  Well, not so much.  Perhaps there’s some of that still left, especially in the smaller, earlier awards.  But the season culminates with the Oscars and, as we have seen in many cases over the years, the “best” movie, actor, or director doesn’t always win.   Being labelled the “best” can increase revenues, so movie studios have been known to spend a lot of money on winning at the Oscars.   Is it even possible to determine a “best” movie or actor?  I will be returning to this question over the coming weeks.  For now, let’s look at the emerging race for the Best Picture Oscar.

First out of the starting gates is  Slumdog Millionaire, which the NBR named Best Film.  Since then the movie has continued to gain momentum.  Over at Oscar Eye,  a great website that tracks the many movie awards being handed out right now, it is the clear awards leader.  Like election campaigns, things can change from one day to the next.  Having said that, right now the frontrunners for Best Picture are: Slumdog Millionare, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, WALL-E and The Dark Knight.  I’ve seen  Milk, WALL-E and The Dark Knight and agree that they are among the year’s best.  Will these movies maintain their stamina?  Who’s campaign will stall?  Will there be a darkhorse?  Join me as I keep track of this year’s Movie Award Season.