Happy Birthday Keira Knightley!

In honor of our favorite uber thin but not anorexic period drama actress, Keira Knightley, here is a list of my favorite performances from Keira.

Bend it Like Beckham

She was not even the lead in this movie yet it was her that I noticed.

The Duchess

If this movie had a better campaign I think that Knightley might and could have gotten awards recognition.

Atonement

Pulling off the green dress alone was quite a remarkable feat.

The Edge of Love

Still has not been released in the U.S., her performance in this relatively unknown film was sizzling.

Pride and Prejudice

Still her best work to date. I just love her in this film.

2008 RacsO Awards: Winners

Sorry I have been gone for a very long time I should have done this like two weeks ago.

2008 RacsO Awards Winners

Best Picture: Let the Right One In
Best Director: Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In)
Best Actor: Mario Maurer (Love of Siam)
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best Supporting Actress: Gina Pareno (Serbis)
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In)
Best Original Screenplay: Chukiat Sakveerakul (Love of Siam)
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins and Chris Menges (The Reader)
Best Film Editing: Tomas Alfredson and Daniel Jonsater (Let the Right One In)
Best Art Direction: Catherine Martin (Australia)
Best Costume: Patricia Field (Sex and the City Movie)
Best Make Up: The Dark Knight
Best Visual Effects: Cloverfield
Best Original Score: Nico Muhly (The Reader)
Best Original Song: "Together" (Love of Siam)
Best Sound Mixing: Wall-E
Best Sound Editing: Wall-E
Best Animated Feature: Wall-E

Awards Tally:

4 Wins:

• Let the Right One In

3 Wins:

• Love of Siam
  
• Wall-E
  

2 Wins:

• The Reader
• The Dark Knight
  

1 Win:

• Cloverfield
• Happy-Go-Lucky
• Serbis
• Sex and the City Movie

2008 RacsO Awards: Best Director

Tomas Alfredson
Let the Right One In

Pre "Let the Right One In", I never knew of Tomas Alfredson, but after watching the movie I have got to say that I think I will be remembering him for a very long time. Alfredson created a simple yet striking love story of a vampire and a young boy. It was a very simply made film yet you felt beguiled and drawn to every frame of it. It was mesmerizing and addicting. Alfredson's keen attention to detail worked wonders in this film. He made the balance to love and horror, something you do not see that often.

Darren Aronofsky
The Wrestler

Darren Aronofsky has done it again, and with this kind of streak I can see me nominating him movie after movie. "The Wrestler" was a very emotional piece and a highly memorable one. Chronicling the life of a wrestler would not sound fun at all but Aronofsky made a story about Randy the Ram, and it left me just gazing and very drawn into it. Aronofsky's choice to focus solely on Rourke ( and his majestic comeback) worked perfectly to set the mood and the direction of the movie.

Jonathan Demme
Rachel Getting Married

Watching "Rachel Getting Married" did not bring me to think that it was made by Jonathan Demme. He was in a whole new zone and league and he seems to have gained more passion, zest and skills as he aged and he put that all in the creation of this film. It was an ensemble piece that Robert Altman could have made. It was a small film yet it felt gargantuan in emotion and story telling. Every bit of detail well thought of.

Chukiat Sakweerakul
Love of Siam

Chukiat Sakweerakul had a difficult task in "Love of Siam" and that was to take a very simple and kinda cliche story then create a highly original one and not make it soapy. Sakweerakul's decision to keep the long running time made the movie all the more effective, but the thing with the running time was that you never felt that it was that long, and when the movie ended there was that longing left, making you want to know more about what could happen next. Kudos for bringing the best out of the very young cast, most especially the breakthrough performance by Mario Maurer.

Andrew Stanton
Wall-E

For creating one of the best animated films of all time, Andrew Stanton has done it again and this time he evoked more emotion with robots. The tricky thing about the movie was that the robots hardly spoke full sentences but you get the message and the feelings that they were trying to evoke. And to and even greater effect, the movie was a message movie but it did not feel preachy. He was able to show us the image of the world that ours is going to be soon if we do not take action. Animated films need not cater to children alone, they should appeal to any age range and "Wall-E" was nothing short of a masterpiece.

2008 RacsO Awards: Best Actor

Colin Farrell
In Bruges

As the neurotic, weird, brutal yet moral, cocaine snorting con man Ray, Colin Farrell is back in a career topping performance. He was funny, weird and touching at the same time. This was the sort of performance that you did not expect to come from Colin Farrell well because he has not given any superb performance post "Tigerland". Here's hoping he continues to top one performance after another.

David Kross
The Reader

As the young, innocent yet sensual boy who had an affair with a thirty something older woman, Michael Berg, David Kross was able to share screen greatness with Kate Winslet and he was able to act to the level a par his veteran co stars. Kross' debut was a rather difficult feat because he could have easily been overshadowed by his co stars. He looks very innocent, yet behide that facade lies a carnality, then turned out to something sincere. What boggles me is that they had resorted to a roster of old people when people as young as Kross are doing superb performances.

Coco Martin
Daybreak

Ass the gay lover who can't be the one he loves because the one he loves is married, Coco Martin's JP is playful, innocent-looking, semi desperate, and demands to be loved, loved in terms of being with him, living with him, spending his life with him. Martin continues to prove that he is indeed the independent film prince of the Philippines. He never ceases to challenge himself with difficult roles, well, not that this is that of a stretch for him. He is such a natural actor, as JP, you hardly feel that he was acting at all, it was as if you are watching a documented video of a one night vacation. This is Martin's best work to date and I know there will be more to come.

Mario Maurer
Love of Siam

As the confused teenager in love with his long time separated best friend, Mario Maurer's Tong was a revelation. Maurer was able to tap inside the character to deliver an emotionally wrenching performance. Delving away from the typical young gay character in love with another guy, Maurer's facial reactions and emotion was powerful, you can see him fighting his inner demons, confused with the choices that he has to make. He tried to keep all inside him and it was just waiting to explode and when he did, we did too. Maurer's off screen career may be so so but he sure does know how to act, this is the breakthrough of the year, this is also the year's best actor performance.

Mickey Rourke
The Wrestler

As the aging wrestler Randy the Ram, Mickey Rourke made the comeback of the year. Rourke was touching, natural and real. This was such a demanding performance both physically and emotionally. He had to really wrestle and drench himself with blood, and he looked as though he is having fun doing it and to see actor in so much passion in what he does is really remarkable. He also was emotionally tugging because Randy was trying to reconcile with his daughter. There are no false notes, everything from the ring, to his trailer then to the strip club then to the deli counter, everything well thought of, honest and sublime.

2008 RacsO Awards: Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

As the neurotic and suicidal Maria Elena, Penelope Cruz made a stunning follow up to her uber high performance in Pedro Almodovar's "Volver". In "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" Maria Elene seeks balance with her relationship with hubby Juan Antonio and they did found that in Vicky. She was manic, mad, comic and not to mention that she was drop dead gorgeous. The thing with her performance is that she did not get stuck on the sexy bombshell cliche, she was able to find something in her that made her feel more human and real despite her manic breakout scenes.

Ari Graynor
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

As the drunk best friend in "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist", Caroline, Ari Graynor tapped into her comic side to give what could be the year's funniest performance. Even though she spent most of the time passed out and sleeping, Graynor, when awake, was a slice of comic genius. She was given the funny roles and she nails them all. Many are passing through this kinds of performance, saying that they are shallow and banal, but Graynor's Caroline proved them wrong.

Gina Pareno
Serbis

As the matriarch of a dysfunctional family, Nanay Flor, Gina Pareno brought yet again another powerhouse performance that left the rest of the ensemble cast just in awe of her presence. Every time she was on screen expect that she will surely leave a mark on you and when she was not around you still feel her presence because you are longing to see her more. Gina Pareno continues to prove that she is indeed one of the greatest Filipino actresses ever. She was powerful, belittling and engrossing. Flor was in pain but it did not show, she does not let her armor crumble. She is the only pillar of this family and she needs to be strong. Bravo to Pareno for proving that Filipino actresses are to be sought out for.

Marissa Tomei
The Wrestler

As the stripper with the heart of gold who befriends and in the end loved an old wrestler friend, Cassidy, Marisa Tomei proved that her first Oscar win was no fluke. She may not have flashier roles but she does know how to make the best out of the material she was given. Rourke may be the star of this show but for me Tomei was the heart of the movie. She was sweet and loving, beautiful and engaging. Often times you just want to see more of her (not naked though). Tomei is one of the greatest actresses of our time and she delivers the goods all the time, I just wish that people would look out for her more often.

Debra Winger
Rachel Getting Married

As the evasive mother of conflicting sisters, Debra Winger's Abby was a true scene stealer. In "Rachel Getting Married", Winger made a comeback of sorts. She was given a very scant time (purposive-ly?) and that left you curious at what she was feeling, at what she was doing and what she has done. Winger as the true master kept people guessing and her brick wall was impenetrable thus making you want to see her more. It was indeed a pleasure to watch a veteran actress stealing some thunder away from young'n actresses.

2008 RacsO Awards: Best Actress

Ana Faris
The House Bunny

As the ditsy dumb blond Playboy bunny, Shelley Darlingson, Ana Faris took a role that was shallow and turned the performance into something truly wonderful and memorable. This was a hard task for Faris because on paper, the character looks shallow and one note, but Faris took the heavy load and gave out what could one of the funniest character creations ever. Faris nails this kind of role, more than nail, I would say ace. She was hilarious, silly and sexy. She never got lost in the whole dumb blond joke. She could do this in her sleep. Now let her do something different for a stretch.

Anne Hathaway
Rachel Getting Married

As the recovering self centered drugs junkie, Kym, Anne Hathaway stepped out of her comfort zone, a.k.a. beautiful and princess-y roles, to give out a performance that is something that we never knew she had it in her. Hathaway was mesmerizing and devastating at the same time. Sometimes, while watching the film, I think that she does not want the attention it's just that her presence alone grabs attention and steals lightning. Hathaway is on the right track to stardom and greatness. And with projects like this, I could see her going in the ranks of the all time greatest actors.

Sally Hawkins
Happy-Go-Lucky

As the ever so happy and perky Poppy, Sally Hawkins did not just gave out a performance of a lifetime, she was able to bare the soul of her character that was able to capture the hearts of the viewers. many could view her as annoyingly lovable, but that's her goal: to make every people in the world happy. Sally Hawkins, in a ground breaking debut brought Poppy to life and down to the history books as one of the best characters ever put to screen. Hawkins was infectious, fun, charming and it seems impossible not to fall in love with her. It seems stupid now to think that she missed that Oscar nod when she had a solid backing by the critics.

Julianne Moore
Blindness and Savage Grace

As the loving, maternal and vengeful Doctor's wife in "Blindness" and the manic, depressed, non-maternal, filthy mouthed and weird Barbara Baekeland in "Savage Grace", Julianne Moore finally broke out of her slump to deliver two stunning performances. Two very different performances and Julianne Moore sunk into both characters like a true pro, one you would love and cheer for and the other you would love to hate because of being so neurotic. Moore is indeed one of the greatest actors of our time and if these two performances is any indication of anything, that is, Julianne Moore is back!

Michelle Williams
Wendy and Lucy

As the traveling nomad Wendy, who lost her dog while shoplifting, Michelle Williams delivered yet another superb performance. It was interesting because it was such a simple character and a silent one at that, you can sometimes just hear her humming along with the films uber minimalistic score. Yet, Williams evoked more emotion was more heart wrenching that Jolie's histrionics in "Changeling". Sometimes you don't need words to deliver an emotion, and that is what Williams did.

2008 RacsO Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay

David Hare
The Reader

This is not a movie about the holocaust, it was just the setting of forbidden love and illiteracy. Based from the book by Bernhard Schlink, "The Reader" was heart tugging, emotional and uber bleak. How far would someone go to hide her deepest secrets?

John Ajvide Lindqvist
Let the Right One In

Based from the book by John Ajvide Lindqvist of the same name, "Let the Right One In" translates perfectly from book to screen. "Let the Right One In" is a love story of an immortal vampire and a frequently bullied, semi-sissy but closet killer-wannabe young boy. It brought the silent terror and romance in places we never knew could work and it did so well here, forget Twilight.

Jonathan Raymond and Kelly Reichardt
Wendy and Lucy

Based from the short story of Jonathon Raymond, this minimalistic adaptation draws more emotion without even evoking or uttering words. "Wendy and Lucy" follows Lucy in her story long pursuit of his lost dog. Short and precise, simple yet powerful, it may not break new grounds but it was a voice loud enough to be well heard.

Howard A. Rodman
Savage Grace

Based from the novel by Natalie Robins and Steven M. L. Aronson, "Savage Grace" tells the story a dysfunctional relationship between a mother and his gay son. Brutal and honest, "Savage Grace" was an overlooked gem, not only was it the comeback vehicle for Julianne Moore, it was also one of the year's most memorable films.

Lorene Scafaria
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Based from the novel of the same name by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, "Nick and Norah's infinite Playlist" is a step up from the teen flick limbo. It was a one night story of Nick and Norah got over their old relationships to found out that they belong to each other. It was formulaic teeny bopper film but it was special in a way that it was charming, fun, and it did not go the route of cheesy and expected.