Oscar Nominations 2007: My Thoughts

It's been said for years that the movies that get the nominations are the ones that are released in the last month or so of the year, and generally I'd like to think that this ISN'T true— a really good movie or really good performance from the early part of the year will make it. However, this year I think a few films did get slighted because of just this: AMERICAN GANGSTER certainly, INTO THE WILD, maybe; and I think if A MIGHTY HEART and ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE's release dates were switched there would be a switch-up there as well (Jolie in, Blanchett out). And I wonder how ZODIAC would have fared if it were a December release? THERE WILL BE BLOOD definately benefited from a late release by getting the critical buzz necessary to launch it into serious Best Picture contention.

Here's my reactions to the nominations:

TOP TEN BIGGEST SHOCKS (NOMINEES)— Not necessarily 'cause I did or didn't like them, just surprising
1. Jason Reitman (Best Director: JUNO)
2. Tommy Lee Jones (Best Actor: IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH)
3. SURF'S UP (Best Animated Feature)
4. AWAY FROM HER (Best Adapted Screenplay)
5. ENCHANTED (Best Song: "Happy Working Song")
6. ENCHANTED (Best Song: "So Close")
7. MICHAEL CLAYTON (Best Picture)
8. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END (Best Visual Effects): thought this had run its course [no pun intended]
9. Laura Linney (Best Actress: THE SAVAGES)
10. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (Best Costume Design)

TOP TEN BIGGEST SHOCKS (SHUT-OUTS)— Again, not necessarily 'cause I like or dislike them, just surprising
1. INTO THE WILD (Best Song)
2. CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR (Best Adapted Screenplay)
3. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Best Score)
4. Tim Burton (Best Director: SWEENEY TODD)
5. Angelina Jolie (Best Actress: A MIGHTY HEART)
6. Sean Penn (Best Director: INTO THE WILD)
7. INTO THE WILD (Best Picture)
8. PERSEPOLIS (Best Foreign Language Film)
9. BEE MOVIE (Best Animated Feature)
10. Denzel Washington (Best Actor: AMERICAN GANGSTER)

TOP TEN MOST EXCITING NOMINATIONS (SOOO HAPPY THESE MADE IT)
1. AWAY FROM HER (Best Adapted Screenplay)
2. Julie Christie (Best Actress: AWAY FROM HER)
3. Marion Cotillard (Best Actress: LA VIE EN ROSE)
4. SICKO (Best Documentary)
5. RATATOUILLE (Best Original Screenplay)
6. Laura Linney (Best Actress: THE SAVAGES)
7. Daniel Day-Lewis (Best Actor: THERE WILL BE BLOOD)
8. Hal Holbrook (Best Supporting Actor: INTO THE WILD)
9. INTO THE WILD (Best Editing)
10. ONCE (Best Song)

TOP TEN BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS— WISH THEY HAD MADE IT (HAD A DEFINITE CHANCE AT A NOMINATION)
1. 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS (Best Foreign Language Film)
2. Sean Penn (Best Director: INTO THE WILD)
3. INTO THE WILD (Best Picture)
4. Jennifer Garner (Best Supporting Actress: JUNO)
5. Catherine Keener (Best Supporting Actress: INTO THE WILD)
6. Emile Hirsch (Best Actor: INTO THE WILD)
7. THE SIMPSONS MOVIE (Best Animated Feature)
8. 300 (Best Visual Effects)
9. THE DARJEELING LIMITED (Best Art Direction-Set Decoration)
10. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Best Score)

TOP TEN BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS— WISH THEY HAD MADE IT (PERFECT WORLD NOMINATIONS)
1. THE KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS (Best Picture)
2. Anamaria Marinca (Best Actress: 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS)
3. Sarah Polley (Best Director: AWAY FROM HER)
4. Michael Cera (Best Supporting Actor: JUNO)
5. Cristian Mungiu (Best Director: 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS)
6. AWAY FROM HER (Best Picture)
7. 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS (Best Original Screenplay)
8. Ethan Hawke (Best Supporting Actor: BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD)
9. Olympia Dukakis (Best Supporting Actress: AWAY FROM HER)
10. THE DARJEELING LIMITED (Best Screenplay)

WISH THEY HADN'T BEEN NOMINATED: I just can't do it— I can't begrudge anyone an Oscar nomination. (But believe me I could think of some!)

THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!: John Travolta (Best Supporting Actor: HAIRSPRAY)

Referring back to my "ballot" (link to blog entry), here's my scorecard in terms of what I wished for (a poor showing, sad to say):

Best Picture (1/5): JUNO
Best Director (0/5!)
Best Actor (3/5): George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Viggo Mortensen
Best Actress (3/5): Julie Christie, Marion Cotillard, Laura Linney
Best Supporting Actor (1/5): Hal Holbrook
Best Supporting Actress (1/5): Amy Ryan
Best Original Screenplay (2/5): JUNO, RATATOUILLE
Best Adapted Screenplay (1/5): AWAY FROM HER

Other categories: INTO THE WILD (Best Editing), NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Best Sound Editing), ONCE (Best Song), RATATOUILLE (Best Animated Film), SICKO (Best Documentary), SWEENEY TODD (Best Art Direction-Set Decoration), THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Cinematography).