It is probably a good idea to have some individual threads, as we campaign for our favorite movies to take the big prize. I am confident that Million Dollar Baby has sewn it up, and here is why. Oscar fever heated up with the Golden Globe awards, and at the time, it certainly looked like it was finally Marty's year. A funny thing happened on the way to Marty's year, as the legendary Clint Eastwood, hot off an awards filled year last year with the excellent Mystic River, took home the coveted Best Director award, and his leading lady, Hilary Swank, proved to be a powerhouse, as she walked away with a Best Actress award, and even though Best Picture went to The Aviator, and made this a very interesting race, this dynamic duo showed that they meant business.
The Golden Globes proved to only be the beginning, as the movie went into wide release, and floored audiences and critics alike, with the emotional punch of a heavyweight contender. Momemtum quickly picked up, as the DGA awards were coming up, and as we all know, the DGA's Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally served as a near-perfect barometer for the Academy Award for Best Director. Only six times since the DGA Award's inception in 1949 has the winner not gone on to receive the Academy Award for Best Director.
The result:
The Best Director Oscar was now Eastwood's to lose, as the guild showed him their support for his latest masterpiece. The
following week, another big test would quickly be upon our heroes, as the SAG awards would prove to be a giant step toward Oscar glory.
As expected, the screen actors showed their unquestioned support for Hilary Swank for Best Actress.
Hilary offered these comments upon recieving the honor from her colleagues.
HILARY SWANK: I am amazed, lucky, thankful, speechless and quite frankly stunned to be a working actor. I thank my fellow SAG members for this incredible honor, this award means so much to me. And I also want to acknowledge my fellow nominees who inspire me to be a better actor.
You know, I also can't believe I'm a working actor, working with the legendary Clint Eastwood, and the always amazing Morgan Freeman. I think one of the rarest qualities, and most important qualities is the - being able to believe in someone else. And Clint, your unwavering belief in me, I am just so thankful for that. I am thankful to you for reminding me to trust my instincts, and allowing me to trust my instincts.
And I am in such awe - it's hard enough to be an actor, and how you directed this picture, while giving the performance of a lifetime, producing and composing, I bow down to you, you are a talent beyond compare. And if I'm half the person you are, and half the talent you are, when I'm 74, I will know I have accomplished something great. [applause]
I want to thank Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi for sending me this beautiful script, Al Ruddy, and let's see - the wrapping up sign is coming, but you don't understand, we work so hard, please give me a moment to talk... Let's see, Phyllis Huffman, our casting director, oh let's see, my trainers, Grant Roberts and Hector Rocca, and Tonya Makomis [sp] - Clint's telling me to wrap it up. [laughter] And my mom. You know what? My mom for believing in me from the very beginning. So anyway, [applause] I thank you for this great honor and I want to also thank my husband for just putting up with me. Thank you. [applause]
Another member of this powerhouse team emerged in a big way, as veteran actor Morgan Freeman walked away with the award for Best Supporting Actor.
Freeman offered these comments during his acceptance speech.
MORGAN FREEMAN: [singing] "Who was the long tall stranger there, Maverick is his name. Ridin' the trail to who knows where, luck is his companion, gambling is his game." [applause]
I want to thank anybody who I ever met. [laughter] I want to thank Clint Eastwood and his entire family. I want to thank Hillary Swank, Al Ruddy coming to us with this wonderful script. And I want to thank you all so much. [applause]
That Morgan Freeman's a class act, all the way.
The powerhouse trio is primed to dominate the Oscars, as they are , without question , the movie to beat. They are favored to win the Best Picture award, the Best Director award, the Best Actress award, and the Best Supporting Actor award, and have moved into the position of Oscar darlings in very convincing fashion. After Eastwood directed two great award winning actors last year, while coming up just shy of Best Director and Best Picture for Mystic River, his vindication is well at hand. It will taste sweet, I'm sure.
Little did the children know that their teacher was such a violent and emotional person, inclined to throw stuff over awards given to the filthy rich...
