Most Anticipate Films of the Year

My top two most anticipated films of the year!! Both of which are, coincidentally, filmed in French.

1) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (dir. Julian Schnabel) - December 25 @ The Angelika Dallas

2) Persepolis (dir. Marjane Satrapi) - When is it coming to a theater near me?

I said after I watched Ratatouille that nothing could possibly beat it for Best Animated Film at the Academy Awards. I think I may be wrong. If there is any one movie that would upset, it would be this, Persepolis. Let's see the scoreboard (major festival awards, film critic awards, various other factors...):

Ratatouille
National Board of Review
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association
8th Highest Grossing Movie of 2007 (thus far) and was #1 at the Box Office
96 Rating on Metacritic
97% on Rotten Tomatoes (100% Cream of the Crop)

Persepolis
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
New York Film Critics Online
New York Film Critics Circle
Prize of the Jury - Cannes Film Festival
100% on Rotten Tomatoes (100% Cream of the Crop)

(Persepolis also garnered a couple other Foreign Film awards that I'm not including because it's not in contention with Ratatouille in that category. I would compare Diving Bell with Persepolis, but Diving Bell isn't eligible for Foreign Film at the Oscars... and if it was, France already submitted Persepolis anyways)

After I watch it, I'll let you know what I think.

Concerning the Critic Awards

1. No Country for Old Men seems to be the favorite so far for Best Picture. That is one lock for best Picture.
2. Where is Atonement in all of this?
3. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (which I'm extremely excited to see) has been picked as Best Foreign Film by several critic circles. And it even got a Best Pic by the NY Film Critics Online. Although it isn't eligible for Foreign Film at the Oscars, does this raise its chances for Best Pic? Eh... because it is in a different language, it is majorly handicapped.
4. There Will Be Blood is showing up here and there, with some Best Pictures, Best Actors, and Best Directors. This is starting to make up for the shutout by the National Board of Reviews and it is becoming a strong contender in the aforementioned categories.
5. Julie Christie and Marion Cotillard are currently duking it out and they seem to be the only 2 being considered right now.
6. Despite not recieving the Actress award and instead many Breakthrough Performance, Ellen Page is definitely in contention with Christie and Cotillard. Question is - Who are the other 2? Linney? Knightley? Adams? It's a weak year for Actresses this year.
7. Like his character in No Country for Old Men, there is no stopping Javier Bardem. He is a definite lock in the Best Supporting Actor Category.
8. Amy Ryan surprises and seems to be the critical favorite for Best Supporting Actress. Cate Blanchett has only recieved one and Ryan all the rest... does this make Amy Ryan the one to beat now? Maybe... although she is a relatively new face and Blanchett is an Academy favorite.
9. If it's not Persepolis, it's Ratatouille. It seems as if it's a rat race at this point although Ratatouille still has an advantage over Persepolis in that it is in the English language, it was a huge box office success, and has garnered phenomenal reviews over the last half of the year.
10. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS!
11. I am dying, dying, dying to see The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. When I watch it, I will review it. Right now, it seems to me like it has a chance at: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay, and Cinematography. It's strongest shot at a nomination though is Cinematography. Here's to hoping it builds up a lot of momentum over the next couple of months.

Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA)

Best Film
No Country fo Old Men

Best Director
Joel and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men

Best Actor
George Clooney - Michael Clayton

Best Actress
Julie Christie - Away from Her

Best Ensemble
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone

Best Breakthrough Performance
Ellen Page - Juno

Best Adapted Screenplay
Aaron Sorkin - Charlie Wilson's War

Best Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody - Juno

Best Animated Picture
Ratatouille

Best Foreign Language Film
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Documentary
Sicko

Best Art Direction
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO)

Best Picture
There Will Be Blood and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood

Best Actress
Julie Christie - Away from Her

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There

Breakthrough Performer
Ellen Page - Juno

Debut Director
Sarah Polley - Away from Her

Ensemble Cast
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Best Screenplay
Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola - The Darjeeling Limited

Documentary
Sicko

Foreign Language
The Lives of Others and Persepolis

Animated
Persepolis

Cinematography
Robert Elswit - There Will Be Blood

Film Music
Jonny Greenwood - There Will Be Blood

Los Angeles Film Critics

Best Picture
There Will Be Blood

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

Best Actress
Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood

Best Screenplay
Tamara Jenkins - The Savages

Best Animated Film
Ratatouille and Persepolis (tie)

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Best Supporting Actor
Vlad Ivanov - 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days

Best Documentary
No End in Sight

Best Production Design
Jack Fisk - There Will Be Blood

Best Music
Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova - Once

Best Cinematography
Janusz Kaminski - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Boston Society of Film Critics

Best Picture
No Country for Old Men

Best Foreign Film
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Documentary
Crazy Love

Best Director
Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Ensemble
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Best Actor
Frank Langella - Starting Out in the Evening

Best Actress
Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone

Best Screenplay
Brad Bird - Ratatouille

Best Cinematography
Janusz Kaminski - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best New Filmmaker
Ben Affleck - Gone Baby Gone