New York Giants - 2008 NFC Champions

Congratulations Eli Manning and the Giants - 2008 NFC Champions and possible Superbowl contenders (But lets try to keep calm about it).

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! (Okay, I'm done).

Its been a long, long time since any sporting team I've supported with such passion has actually gone onto win big. The fact they face Tom Brady and the cold, ruthless New England Patriot killing machine two weeks from now in a superbowl showdown bears no relevance. Nobody expected the Giants make it this far. Nobody. The folks over at Fox Sports routinely picked opposition teams over the Giants & criticized Eli Manning at every given opportunity, especially when early into the season the Giants got off to a horrendous start by losing to Dallas and Green Bay. But how well have they come back from that start and almost in a karmic sense finish off their playoff games by beating both Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay (under sub-zero conditions).

Credit to Eli Manning who displayed increasing level of maturity under fire, offensive coach, Kevin Gilbride, who showed aggressive intent and confidence in calling plays involving young guns including rookie wide receiver, Steve Smith and the diminutive yet dangerous Ahmad Bradshaw who established a solid running game for the Giants on key plays. It was crucial for such players, being unknown quantities, to come off the bench and show their mettle, given that lead play-maker Plaxico Burress was fighting a strained ankle almost the entire season, and the absence of veteran tight-end and emotional core of the New York Giants, Jeremy Shockey, due to a season ending injury.

But it was defensive coach,Steve Spagnoulo, and the incredible NY Giants defense which stepped up, and by more than a few notches (beginning that 3rd Quarter vs. Redskins) . The team never looked back. Time and time again, the NY Giants defense broke out tremendous plays and stopped opposition offense cold in their tracks which helped Eli & the boys get back on the field. Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, Antonio Pierce and Cornerback comback-kid Corey Webster, just to name a few among the many who played strong and hard and gave this fighting team a chance at every opportunity. Good show. God Bless.

Go Giants!

watch Buress highlights from NFC Championships - http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d806219dd

Manning highlights from NFC Championships - http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80621d11

Game day highlights - http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d806235fe

Post game press conference highlights - http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80622efa

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Oscar Predictions 2008

Every year I go through this ritual of picking my oscars predictions and more often than not these predictions stand up pretty well when compared the actual oscar nominations.

But, this year it has been particularly difficult to predict which way the academy would go. There have been so many movies and strong performances which have been of the highest order, resulting in stiff competition in almost every major category, and the Academy would find itself in an un-enviable position of having to decide which of those top-notch productions/performances would have to be left out. For instance, Philip Seymour Hoffman had an amazing year showcasing his acting abilities in three very diverse roles- Before the devil knows you are dead, The Savages & Charlie Wilson's War. In any other year he would've been nominated for best actor in a lead role for any of those performances, but this year he may well have to settle for best supporting role in Charlie Wilson's War.

So having said that, here are my predictions -

Best Motion Picture
1) Atonement
2) No country for old men
3) Juno
4) Eastern Promises
5) There will be Blood

A tricky category. The key nomination here is Atonement. People and critics have either loved it or panned it. It'll be interesting to see if the Academy gets carried away with the buzz generated by Atonement in the current awards season. I personally liked the movie, and in the past, the academy have been rather kind to such emotional dramas (especially british productions). So I'm going with my gut feeling that Atonement would be a key nomination in most categories. That'll leave no place for 'Into the wild' (excellent directorial debut of oscar winner sean penn--which I havent seen, but the book was an un-inspiring read) , 'Michael Clayton' and over-hyped 'American Gangster' (which I felt was a stale and dreadfully predictable piece of film-making).

My task was made much easier given that three of best movies of the year would get slotted into the Best Foreign Motion picture category - 'The Kite Runner'(wonderful adaptation of the Khaled Hossseini's heart-wrenching novel of the same name) , 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' and Ang Lee's provocative 'Lust, Caution'.

Best Actor in a lead role-

1) Daniel Day Lewis - There will be Blood
2) Johnny Depp - Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
3) James McAvoy - Atonement
4) George Clooney - Michael Clayton
5) Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises

Daniel Day-Lewis has stormed into contention with his dynamic potrayal of multi-layered, complex Daniel Plainview. George Clooney has been a shoo-in since the the release of Michael Clayton. However, the same can't be said of Denzel Washington who riveted audiences with his performance in American Gangster, but since then the buzz has slowly faded and would surely die down by the time oscars nominations are announced. Instead I feel the academy would go with Johnny Depp's earnest effort in 'Sweeny Todd:The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'. Depp once again impresses and shows his versatile range and depth to his acting skills. He is the probably the only actor who seamlessly transitions into varied roles. Unlucky to miss out - Emile Hirsche's brilliant performance in 'Into the Wild'.

Best Actress in a lead role -

1) Julie Christie - Away from Her
2) Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth II- The Golden Age
3) Marion Cotillard - La Mome'
4) Ellen Page - Juno
5) Kiera Knightley - Atonement

Kiera Knightley for atonement? Hmm, it was between Kiera Knightley, Angelina Jolie (for 'A mighty Heart') and Jodie Foster ('The Brave One'). Unlucky to miss out - Laura Linney who provides a credible performance in the Savages


Best Actor in a Supporting Role

1) Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
2) Casey Affleck - Asssassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
3) Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson's War
4) Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton
5) Hal Holbrook - Into the Wild

Probably the only category where every actor was a lock as soon as the movies hit the big screens. I'd be very surprised if these were not the final nominees. Unlucky to miss out - Tommy Lee Jones for 'No Country for Old Men'


Best actress in a supporting Role
1) Cate Blanchett - I'm not there
2) Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
3) Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
4) Catherine Keener - Into the Wild
5) Saoirse ronan - Atonement

Difficult category, although i'm certain the top three are sure picks. Catherine Keener sizzles in her performance in Into the Wild. Unlucky to miss out - Ruby Dee, the veteran actress for her role in American Gangster.

Best director
1) Joe wright - Atonement
2) Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
3) Ethan & Joel Cohen - No Country for Old Men
4) Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
5) Paul Thomas Anderson - There will be Blood

Is it possible to pick a director but not his/her creation? I mean how could they competing for the best when their product or work of art is not equally competing in their respective categories either? Case in point - Julian Schnabel. Interesting question for which I have no definite answer.

Best Original Screenplay -

1) Juno -
2) Michael Clayton
3) The Savages
4) Ratoutille
5) Lars and the Real Girl

Best Adapted Screenplay
1) Atonement
2) No Country for Old Men
3) There will be Blood
4) The Kite Runner
5) Charlie Wilson's War

Unlucky to lose out - Into the Wild, but boy what a category this would turn out to be.

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