Roger Ebert Makes His Oscar Predictions
Among the venerable movie critic's predictions involving Searchlight films:
His Prediction for the Dark Horse Winner for Best Picture
"JUNO, because the academy may go for an upbeat audience pleaser. Besides, according to me, it really is the best film of the year."
His Prediction for Best Actress
"Ellen Page for JUNO. OK, here's where my heart takes over. My brain says Julie Christie will win, both for her career achievement and for the quality of her work. But my heart says Ellen Page made me want to hug Juno in a performance that was much more difficult than it might have appeared. To deliver Diablo Cody's high-voltage dialogue with such breezy authority and to make the character loveable and three-dimensional was a genuine achievement."
His Prediction for Best Original Screenplay
"Diablo Cody for JUNO. She looks like a sure thing. The film benefits so mightily from its screenplay, which is so unconventional in its dialogue that we hardly notice how sure it is in its construction. Here again, I don't see a dark horse."
His Prediction for Best Original Song
"'Falling Slowly' from ONCE, not just for the song but for the manner of its presentation. The three nominees from "Enchanted" will cancel one another out."
JUNO In the News
Conde Nast's Portfolio ran an article on "The New Masters of Hollywood" saying, "These executives are redrawing the lines and, in the process, redirecting box-office receipts." The first profile is of JUNO producer Lianne Halfon.
An illustration of Ellen Page's character Juno made the cover of The New York Observer this week. (Pictured)
Indiewiere.com reported on some recent JUNO dollar figures and how it fits into the big (cinematic) picture:
"Of all the specialty Best Picture contenders, Director Jason Reitman's teenage pregnancy comedy JUNO began Oscars Week with the strongest box office momentum. The comedy, with four Oscar nominations, earned $4,612,741 in holiday weekend box office, good enough for the seventh spot in the overall box office and moving past 2000 Best Picture nominee TRAFFIC. Only specialty Best Picture contenders CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, GOOD WILL HUNTING and CHICAGO have out-earned JUNO, which has reached $124 million in cume-to-date..."
Read more here.
Lastly, Box Office Prophets unveiled the winners of their own awards this week -- "The Calvins" -- and JUNO's Ellen Page won "Best Breakthrough Performance." JUNO also made #2 in the "Best Cast" category, and Searchlight films ONCE and WAITRESS placed among theit top ten lists as well. Check out all the winners here.
