A YEAR OF GREAT PERFORMANCES

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS (LEADING OR SUPPORTING)
Juliette Binoche, "Flight of the Red Balloon"
Do-yeon Jeon, "Secret Sunshine"
Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Anamaria Marinca, "4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days" (in green shirt)
Michelle Williams, "Wendy and Lucy"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR (LEADING OR SUPPORTING)
Michael Fassbender, "Hunger" (2008)(left)
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor" (2007)
Eddie Marsan, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Yun-seok Kim, "The Chaser" (2008)

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD IN "DOUBT," "SLUMDOG," "MILK"

Proving that this year's U.S. awards season is all about well heralded roles and Oscar front runners, the Screen Actors Guild has unveiled its performances-centered nominations for the 2009 awards.

The list is predictable though: ensemble films "Doubt" (5 nominations including its 4main thespians), "Milk" (3 nods), and "Frost/Nixon" (2 nods) were cited along with the unexpected high profile showing of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2 nods inc. Brad Pitt as Best Male Actor-Lead and Ensemble Cast Performance). And another proof that the Brits might rule the Kodak Theater come March 2009: Danny Boyle's critically praised "Slumdog Millionaire" hit the slam dunk with its Ensemble Cast nod (as well as Best Male Actor-Supporting nominee Dev Patel, which narratively speaking is a lead role, just like another actress with category fraud issues: Kate Winslet - pictured above, right). The latter was nommed for Best Female Lead and Supporting nods for Ensemble Cast snubbee "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader" respectively. And proving that the SAGs are into glamour parties just like the Globes, the husband and wife team of "Brangelina" will be there as lead actor and actress nominees (Jolie for her role in Best Male Actor snubbee Clint Eastwood's "Changeling" and Pitt).

Here is the complete list of film category nominees:

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
RICHARD JENKINS / Walter Vale - “THE VISITOR” (Overture Films)
FRANK LANGELLA / Richard Nixon - “FROST/NIXON” (Universal Pictures)
SEAN PENN / Harvey Milk - “MILK” (Focus Features)
BRAD PITT / Benjamin Button - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
MICKEY ROURKE / Randy - “THE WRESTLER” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

SNUBBED: Clint Eastwood, "Gran Torino" (he's well loved by the Academy, so I expect that he will receive retribution come nominations day on January 29); Leonardo diCaprio, "Revolutionary Road"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNE HATHAWAY / Kym - “RACHEL GETTING MARRIED” (Sony Pictures Classics)
ANGELINA JOLIE / Christine Collins - “CHANGELING” (Universal Pictures)
MELISSA LEO / Ray Eddy - “FROZEN RIVER” (Sony Pictures Classics) (Her nod is expected given the more actors and actresses-friendly SAG.)
MERYL STREEP / Sister Aloysius Beauvier - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films) (Pictured above, left)
KATE WINSLET / April Wheeler - “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD” (Paramount Vantage)

SNUBBED: Critics' fave Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky" (Her Oscar chances are safe though, as Academy-fave Mike Leigh's previously nommed lead actresses Brenda Blethyn and Imelda Staunton show, though both were shortlisted by the SAG during their runs.); Kristin Scott-Thomas, "I've Loved You So Long"; Cate Blanchett, "The Curious Case..."

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JOSH BROLIN / Dan White - “MILK” (Focus Features) (Retribution for being snubbed by the Guild last year for "No Country...")
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. / Kirk Lazarus - “TROPIC THUNDER” (Paramount Pictures) (I'm not sure with the Academy though, given the divisive reception to the film and his role.)
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN / Father Brendan Flynn - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
HEATH LEDGER / Joker - “THE DARK KNIGHT” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DEV PATEL / Older Jamal - “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

SNUBBED: James Franco, "Milk"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS / Sister James - “DOUBT” (Miramax Flms)
PENÉLOPE CRUZ / Maria Elena - “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” (The Weinstein Company)
VIOLA DAVIS / Mrs. Miller - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
TARAJI P. HENSON / Queenie - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
KATE WINSLET / Hanna Schmitz - “THE READER” (The Weinstein Company)

SNUBBED: Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler" (two consecutive Oscar nods with no SAG citation though, so her future is similar to Academy fave Clint Eastwood); Rosemarie de Witt, "Rachel Getting Married" (goodbye Oscar!); Debra Winger, "Rachel..."

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)
DOUBT (Miramax)
FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures)
MILK (Focus Features)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

SNUBBED: "The Dark Knight" (Its Oscar Best Pic chances are getting dimmer lately, given its Golden Globe and SAG Best Pic and Ensemble Cast nod absence.); "Revolutionary Road" (The high profile cast didn't help matters clearly, esp. with Kate Winslet being the only actress from the movie to be cited by most guilds and critics' groups. Its Oscar Best Film hopes are a foregone conclusion for sure, though Winslet's two nods are expected to happen also come Oscar nominations day.); "Rachel Getting Married" (Divisive critical and box-office reception for the film resulted to a single nod for lead actress Anne Hathaway, now a formidable Oscar contender.); "WALL-E" (Goodbye Oscar Best Pic hopes? I don't think so. "Dark Knight"? Hmmm...)

'OSCAR'-WATCH: November 2008

Now that various film critics' groups in the US have announced their annual 'Best Films' lists, awards momentum continues. With last week's Golden Globe Awards nominees revealed (plus the Screen Actors Guild nominations show on Thursday), here is my prediction list for November.

(FORMULA: awards/recognitions/critical approbation + audience appeal/recall and box-office reception + awards tradition and film conventions= Oscar potential

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E (yes! the LAFCC's Best Film of 2008 award is a major traction)

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
David Fincher, The Curious Case...
Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Andrew Stanton, WALL-E

BEST ACTOR-LEAD
Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino (this is his third shot at an acting nod, and early critical reception is strong)
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS-LEAD
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt (pictured, above with P. S. Hoffman)
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road (could be her sixth nod, and her first win...wishful thinking)

BEST ACTOR-SUPPORTING
Josh Brolin, Milk (despite the nature of his role)
Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder (see Brolin)
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt (see Downey Jr.)
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight (say no more, period)
Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire (despite the category fraud - it's a lead role)

BEST ACTRESS-SUPPORTING
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Debra Winger, Rachel Getting Married

BEST SCREENPLAY (ADAPTATION) (Very competitive category this year, with two acclaimed novels and award winning plays in the mix)
The Curious Case..., Eric Roth (winner in this category for Forrest Gump)and Robin Swicord (director of Memoirs of a Geisha and The Jane Austen Book Club, both middling film adaptation of well-loved books)
Doubt, John Patrick Shanley (1987 Oscar winner for Best Orig. Screenplay, Moonstruck)
The Reader, David Hare (Oscar nominee, The Hours)
Revolutionary Road, Justin Haythe (first time nominee if ever)
Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy (Oscar nominee, The Full Monty)

BEST SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL)
Gran Torino, Nick Schenk
Milk, Dustin Lance Black
Rachel Getting Married, Jenny (the daughter of director Sidney) Lumet
Vicky Christina Barcelona, Woody Allen (his 15th career nod)
WALL-E, Andrew Stanton, etc. (token animated film nomination every time a Pixar movie is in Oscar contention)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (unchanged since October)
Revanche, Austria
Gommorah, Italy
The Mermaid, Russia
The Blind Sunflowers, Spain
Maria Larsson's Everlasting Moment, Sweden

'BUTTON,' 'DOUBT, 'NIXON' TOP GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES

Winners to be announced on Sunday, January 11th.

Best Motion Picture - Drama
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) (pictured, left)
Frost/Nixon (2008)
The Reader (2008)
Revolutionary Road (2008)
* Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Burn After Reading (2008)
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
In Bruges (2008)
Mamma Mia! (2008)
* Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio for Revolutionary Road (2008)
Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon (2008)
Sean Penn for Milk (2008)
Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
* Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Angelina Jolie for Changeling (2008)
Meryl Streep for Doubt (2008)
* Kristin Scott Thomas for Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (2008)
Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road (2008)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Javier Bardem for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
* Colin Farrell for In Bruges (2008)
James Franco for Pineapple Express (2008)
Brendan Gleeson for In Bruges (2008)
Dustin Hoffman for Last Chance Harvey (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Rebecca Hall for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
* Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
Frances McDormand for Burn After Reading (2008)
Meryl Streep for Mamma Mia! (2008)
Emma Thompson for Last Chance Harvey (2008)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder (2008)
* Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder (2008)
Ralph Fiennes for The Duchess (2008)
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt (2008)
Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams for Doubt (2008)
* Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Viola Davis for Doubt (2008)
Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler (2008)
Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)

Best Director - Motion Picture
Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Stephen Daldry for The Reader (2008)
* David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon (2008)
Sam Mendes for Revolutionary Road (2008)

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
Doubt (2008): John Patrick Shanley
* Frost/Nixon (2008): Peter Morgan
The Reader (2008): David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Simon Beaufoy

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Bolt (2008)("I Thought I Lost You")
Cadillac Records (2008)("Once in a Lifetime")
Gran Torino (2008)("Gran Torino")
* WALL•E (2008)("Down to Earth")
The Wrestler (2008)("The Wrestler")

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Changeling (2008): Clint Eastwood
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Alexandre Desplat
Defiance (2008): James Newton Howard
Frost/Nixon (2008): Hans Zimmer
* Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman

Best Animated Film
Bolt (2008)
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
* WALL•E (2008)

Best Foreign Language Film
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (The Baader Meinhof Complex)(2008)
Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick (Maria Larsson's Everlasting Moments)(2008)
* Gomorra (2008)
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (I've Loved You So Long) (2008)
Waltz with Bashir (2008)

(* - my bets)

AWARDS WATCH 2008: "WALL-E" "MILK" TOP L.A., NEW YORK CRITICS

Disney Pixar's critical and box office hit "WALL-E" (pictured, left)becomes the first animated feature to win Best Picture from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Gus Van Sant's biopic of America's first openly gay mayor, Harvey Milk was cited as Best Film of 2008 by the New York Film Critics Circle. Oscar winner Sean Penn was honored by both L.A. and New York critics for his acclaimed portrayal of the ill-fated politician, while "Happy Go Lucky's" Sally Hawkins and "Vicky Christina Barcelona" star Penelope Cruz were singled out as Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

NYFCC WINNERS
Best Picture - Milk
Best Director - Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Actor - Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Actress - Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actor - Josh Brolin (Milk)
Best Supporting Actress - Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Best Screenplay - Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married)
Best Cinematographer - Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Foreign Film - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Best Animated Film - WALL-E
Best First Film - Courtney Hunt (Frozen River)
Best Documentary - Man on Wire

LAFCC WINNERS
Picture: “Wall-E”
Runner-up: “The Dark Knight”
Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Runner-up: Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight”
Actor: Sean Penn, “Milk”
Runner-up: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Actress: Sally Hawkins, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Runner-up: Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Supporting actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Runner-up: Eddie Marsan, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Supporting actress: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Elegy”
Runner-up: Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Screenplay: Mike Leigh, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, “Synecdoche, New York”
Foreign-language film: “Still Life”
Runner-up: “The Class”
Documentary: “Man on Wire”
Runner-up: “Waltz With Bashir”
Animation: “Waltz With Bashir”
Cinematography: Yu Lik Wai, “Still Life”
Runner-up: Anthony Dod Mantle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Production design: Mark Friedberg, “Synecdoche, New York”
Runner-up: Nathan Crowley, “The Dark Knight”
Music/score: A.R. Rahman, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Runner-up: Alexandre Desplat, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
New Generation: Steve McQueen, “Hunger”
Douglas E. Edwards independent/experimental film/video: James Benning, “RR” and “Casting a Glance”

10 on 10: REEL REVIEWS BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST

Here is the shortlist of 20 films from which Reel Reviews will choose its 10 Best Films of 2008:

4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, Cristian Mongiu
After This, Our Exile, Patrick Yam
Beauty in Trouble, Jan Hrebjik
The Chaser, Hong-jin Na
Flight of the Red Balloon, Hou Hsiao Hsien
Frost/Nixon, Ron Howard (pictured above)
Gomorrah, Matteo Garrone
Happy-Go-Lucky, Mike Leigh
It’s A Free World…, Ken Loach
Let the Right One In, Tomas Alfredson
Milk, Gus Van Sant
Mongol, Sergei Bodrov
Mouchette, Robert Bresson
Paranoid Park, Gus Van Sant
Secret Sunshine, Chang-dong Lee
Shanghai Dreams, Wang Xiaoshuai
Silent Light, Carlos Reygadas
United Red Army, Koji Wakamatsu
WALL-E, Andrew Stanton
Wendy and Lucy, Kelly Reichardt

"SLUMDOG," EASTWOOD TOP NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW AWARDS

British director Danny Boyle's ("Trainspotting," "The Beach," "28 Days") critical and box-office champ, the Mumbai-set "Slumdog Millionaire" (pictured, left) top the first awards ceremony of the season, winning Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (for "The Full Monty" scribe Simon Beaufoy), and Best Male Newcomer for Dev Patel. The British-American co-production must have impressed the members of National Board of Review in its 100th year, leaving its American counterparts as bridemaids.

Hometown favorite David Fincher ("Seven"; "Panic Room"; "The Game") scored Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay (tied with "Slumdog") honors for his much-buzzed fantasy drama "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and last year's Oscar Best Supporting Actress winner Tilda Swinton ("Michael Clayton"). Hollywood legend and four-time Oscar winning actor-director Clint Eastwood and recent tabloid fodder Anne Hathaway received Best Actor and Best Actress awards for their performance in "Gran Torino" (whose original screenplay was also singled out) and "Rachel Getting Married," respectively.

Other winners include

JOSH BROLIN, Best Sup. Actor for "Milk"
PENELOPE CRUZ, Best Sup. Actress for "Vicky Christina Barcelona"
VIOLA DAVIS, Best Female Newcomer, "Doubt."
Character actor RICHARD JENKINS ("The Visitor") and indie film actress MELISSA LEO ("Frozen River"), Spotlight Award recipients
The cast of "DOUBT," Best Ensemble Performance
"WALL-E," Best Animated Film
80th Academy Awards Best Foreign Film nominee "MONGOL," Best Foreign Language Film
"MAN ON WIRE," Best Documentary Feature

"GOMORRAH" FEVER AT the 21st EFA

Matteo Garrone's controversial film about the Naples' Mafia, "Gomorrah" dominated the 21st European Film Awards at Copenhagen on December 6. Kristin Scott-Thomas won her first Best Actress award of the season for her lauded work in "I've Loved You So Long," while Steve McQueen was honored with the European Discovery Award for his critically acclaimed film "Hunger".

BEST EUROPEAN FILM - "Gomorrah"
BEST DIRECTOR - Matteo Garrone, "Gomorrah"
BEST ACTOR - Toni Servillo, "Gomorrah" and "Il Divo"
BEST ACTRESS - Kristin Scott-Thomas, "I've Loved You So Long"
BEST SCREENPLAY - Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso & Roberto Saviano for “Gomorra”
CARLO DI PALMA BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER AWARD - Marco Onorato, "Gomorrah"
BEST EUROPEAN COMPOSER - Max Richter, "Waltz with Bashir"
EUROPEAN DISCOVERY AWARD - writer-director Steve McQueen, "Hunger"
PRIX D'EXCELLENCE - Magdalena Biedrzycka for costume design, “Katyn"

Based on its overwhelming critics' reviews and impressive awards credentials, it looks like Garrone and company should save some money for a trip to the Kodak Theater come March next year. It's a sure bet and retribution for novellist Saviano, now that he's being threatened by the people whom he depicted in the book.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER...

Am busy at work for a month now, not to mention the pile-up of movie backlogs I have to see soon.

For now, I have to wake-up and keep the awards fever on track as I post updated news on critics' honors and pre-Oscars awards. Here's a sneak peek on this month's schedules:

DEC. 9 - Broadcast Film Critics Association nominations to be announced
DEC. 9 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association winners to be announced
DEC. 17 - Hollywood Foreign Press' 62nd Golden Globe Awards nominees to be announced
late December - New York Film Critics Circle citations to be announced