The DH3 Awards 2008 (Part One)

Since I don't run the Academy, I'd figured I'd dole out my own awards...Feel free to comment on my choices, or hand out your own.

Best Picture: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
If you read my review here, you know why this movie moved me as much as it did. Not much else need be said
Runner Up: The Dark Knight. I am a nerd for Batman, and it's very true that I saw this movie more times than any rational man should have in theaters, but it truly is a great film, and it will be hard to beat in terms of Comic Book films in the future.

Best Actor: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
A tour-de-force performance by an actor I've always liked. He returns to the promise he had back in the 90's in one fell swoop as the screw-up wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson
Runner Up: Brad Pitt in Benjamin Button. It isn't the best preformance of his career, but Brad Pitt brings something special to the man who's live is in perpetual Rewind.

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Cate Blanchett has always been one of the best actresses around. From her indie films, to her big budget stuff, she is always stellar. She even gave an entertaining performance in the disappointing fourth Indiana Jones, but here, she gives a brilliant turn as Daisy, the lover of the title character. She plays the character from the young age of 20 (or so, I wasn't really sure) Until the very end, and each scene with her is a wonder to watch, with her grace and beauty.
Runner Up: Um, Not Sure. I'll get back to you

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
As the Joker, Heath undoubtedly left his mark on the world. The film would not have been nearly as good or successful without his performance as the Chaos loving clown. It really is a shame to see such a good actor gone, way to early, as this movie would have launched him into the stratosphere (and he was already pretty famous)
Runner Up: Don't Snicker, but it's totally Aaron Eckhart in the Dark Knight. Sadly because of Ledger's role, he is vastly overshadowed, but is fantastic as Harvey Dent.

Best Supporting Actress: Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
as Queenie, the surrogate mother for Benjamin, Taraji exudes the warmth and friendliness that we all want in a mother. She was also not a caricature of the typical African American "Mammy" which could have happened very easily.
Runner Up: Evan Rachel Wood in The Wrestler. I was expecting nothing really strong from Ms. Wood, but she turned in a wonderful performance as Randy's distant daughter.

Best Director: David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Two years in a row, Mr. Fincher has given me my favorite movie of the year, and I think he did a marvelous job taking the bulky script by Eric Roth and turning it into a beautiful film, with wonderful characters, and wonderful vision. I'd say this might be a pity award for him after getting completely ignored for Zodiac, but...Benjamin Button was just that good.
Runner Up: TIE! Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight and Darren Aronofsky for the Wrestler. Nolan turned what could have been a normal superhero sequel into a morality tale that was gritty and dark, and felt very much like a brilliant crime thriller...with a dude in a Bat Suit to boot. Darren really turned in a Class A film with the Wrestler, a film that tells an honest story, with honest emotions.

Best Screenplay (Original): Wall-E
Now I know that most of the movie is beeps and boops, but, there was a great STORY behind those noises, and when they get to the ship and Humans get involved, it gets even better.
Runner Up: The Wrestler. What a weird thing that this movie came from an writer for The Onion. Wacky. Anyway, it's a great script that, as I mentioned in the RU-Director blurb, tells a very honest and well thought out story.

Best Screenplay (Adapted): The Dark Knight
Jonathan Nolan and Chris Nolan really outdid themselves, along with David Goyer, in telling a brilliant Batman story, tied up in a deep and exciting Crime Thriller. The Joker is a new take on the character, but feels familiar in all the right ways, and all the familiar faces from before got better lines in this film. (I'm lookin at you, Gary Oldman, you awesome man, you)
Runner Up: Part of me really wants to say Benjamin Button, but looking at the film, it's clear that it wasn't a well EDITED script...and it really wasn't a faithful adaptation of the story, so I don't really know.

Best Cinematography: The Dark Knight
Holy Hell, this film looks beautiful, especially on IMAX and in HD, but either way you slice it, the somber blue tone to the film adds a nice touch, and they even learned how to light Batman better than before.
Runner Up: Benjamin Button. Fincher always gets the best when it comes to filming his movies, and this looks beautiful as well. In HD I bet it's damned near amazing.

That's It for Now...
More to Come!