George Clooney: The Hillary Clinton Of The Oscars?

February 21, 2008

Tags:Oscars, George Clooney, Movies, No Country For Old Men, Award Season

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Warner Brothers
George Clooney in 'Michael Clayton'
Time Magazine
George Clooney graces the cover of the March 3, 2008 issue of Time
AP
George Clooney at the Critics Choice Awards, January 2008

Warner Brothers
George Clooney in 'Michael Clayton'
Time Magazine
George Clooney graces the cover of the March 3, 2008 issue of Time
AP
George Clooney at the Critics Choice Awards, January 2008

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: February 21, 2008 18:45 PM

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

For anyone getting ready to fill out their Oscar predictions, George Clooney has one piece of advice – don’t bet on “Michael Clayton.”

Clooney (who swears he has never lost an Oscar pool) offered up his picks for this year’s Academy Awards, during a new interview with Time magazine’s Joel Stein. And while the actor offered praise for his own film, he didn’t think “Michael Clayton” stood much of a chance in most of the categories.

“Our film is the best it can be in that genre. But there’s a ceiling on that genre,” Clooney said.

And while Clooney may not like the film’s chances in the Best Picture category, up against the likes of “Juno,” “Atonement,” “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood,” how does he think he will fair in the race for Best Actor?

“There is no way Daniel Day-Lewis won’t win,” Clooney insists. “For me, it’s like being Hillary Clinton. If it weren’t for Barack Obama, it would have been a very good year.”

Of course, it should be noted that Clooney has been a very vocal supporter of Obama in his run for The White House.

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When it comes to the race for Best Actress, Clooney puts his money on “Away From Her” star Julie Christie – even though a different actress drew rave reviews from the “Michael Clayton” star.

“I thought Daniel Day-Lewis had the best performance of the year. Then I saw ‘La Vie En Rose.’ Marion Cotillard does an old person trying to be young, instead of what everyone does — a young person trying to be old. It's a stunning performance,” Clooney noted.

For Gentleman George, if his film is going to win any of the major categories, he thinks it’s his co-star who has the best chance of taking home an Oscar.

“If [Michael Clayton] has a shot at anything, its best supporting actress with Tilda Swinton,” he said.

Although Swinton may be “Clayton’s” best hope, Clooney gave the nod to “Gone Baby Gone” breakout star Amy Ryan in his Oscar picks for Best Supporting Actress.

And as far as Time magazine’s Joel Stein is concerned, Clooney’s picks are the way to go.

“He says he has never lost an Oscar pool in his entire life,” Stein told Access Hollywood. “I don’t know much about the Oscars. I took his word for it. I am not putting money on Clooney.”

George Clooney’s Oscar Picks:

Best Actor – Daniel Day-Lewis (“There Will Be Blood”)
Best Supporting Actor – Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”)
Best Actress – Julie Christie (“Away From Her”)
Best Supporting Actress – Amy Ryan (“Gone Baby Gone”)
Best Original Screenplay – “Juno”
Best Adapted Screenplay – “No Country for Old Men”
Best Cinematography – “There Will Be Blood”
Best Director – Joel and Ethan Coen (“No Country for Old Men”)
Best Picture – “No Country for Old Men”