Pre-Oscar movie chit chat

[mclem10011]

I've only seen 3 of the 5 films up for Best Picture. "There Will Be Blood" and "Atonement" are the ones I've yet to see. The class of the other three films to me is "No Country For Old Men". The film is laden with suspense, the performances are incredible from top to bottom. First rate screenplay, beautiful cinematography, and amazing direction. Another masterpiece from Joel and Ethan Coen, who were IMO deserving of the award for for top film in 1996 for "Fargo". It took home awards for original screenplay, and Best Actress for wonderful work from Frances McDormand as the very pregnant police chief on the trail of 2 cop killers. However, it lost Best Picture to "The English Patient" a fine film as well, but no the classic that "Fargo" was. So, in my opinion the Coen brothers and "No Country For Old Men" deserve to recognition in several categories, and I feel that will happen. Still you never know, maybe some upsets will occur. I'd rank "Michael Clayton" next best of the films I've seen this past year.
My list in no order, just off the top of my head here are a few favorite films.
Godfather I and II(2 being the more brilliant)
Fargo
Raging Bull(Best sports film ever)
The Departed(Academy got it right last year)
Crash(And the year before, with the brillant Paul Haggis film)
Do The Right Thing (Spike Lee's most brilliant film)
Apocalypse Now
One False Move( brilliant film directed by Carl Franklin, Billy Bob Thorton is in it, and co-wrote the screenplay.
Mystic River
I could go, on and on, but I'll stop.