This year's nominations had nearly everyone saying to me: I haven't seen any of those movies! Yet, everyone I know has seen at least SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (the frontrunner) and most have seen BENJAMIN BUTTON, which got the most nominations. What gives? I think I know-- the DARK KNIGHT slight. The simple switch of putting in the DARK KNIGHT (which everyone saw) in Best Picture/Director over surprise nominee THE READER (which no one saw) would have made all the difference (even with the number of little-seen acting nominees). Not a lot of surprises this year in terms of what was nominated, but a few in what wasn't.
Here's my reactions to the nominations:
TOP TEN BIGGEST SHOCKS (NOMINEES)— Not necessarily because I did or didn't like them, just surprising
1. Stephen Daldry- Best Director- THE READER
2. Michael Shannon- Best Supporting Actor- REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
3. THE READER- Best Picture
4. Courtney Hunt- Best Original Screenplay- FROZEN RIVER
5. Richard Jenkins-- Best Actor- THE VISITOR
6. Robert Downey, Jr.- Best Supporting Actor- TROPIC THUNDER
7. WANTED- Best Sound Mixing [just that WANTED is an Oscar-nominated film now]
8. AUSTRALIA- Best Costume Design [same thing AUSTRALIA is an Oscar-nominee]
9. Melissa Leo- Best Actress- FROZEN RIVER
10. Kate Winslet- Best Actress- THE READER (the surprise here is that she was in lead [which it SHOULD be, but after that Golden Globe win in supporting...]
TOP TEN BIGGEST SHOCKS (SHUT-OUTS)— Again, not necessarily because I like or dislike them, just surprising
1. Christopher Nolan- Best Director- THE DARK KNIGHT
2. Sally Hawkins- Best Actress- HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
3. THE DARK KNIGHT- Best Picture
4. Clint Eastwood- Best Actor- GRAN TORINO
5. Clint Eastwood- Best Song- Gran Torino
6. Woody Allen- Best Original Screenplay- VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
7. Bruce Springsteen- Best Song- THE WRESTLER
8. Clint Eastwood- Best Score- CHANGELING
9. Joel & Ethan Coen- Best Original Screenplay- BURN AFTER READING
10. Dev Patel- Best Supporting Actor- SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
TOP TEN MOST EXCITING NOMINATIONS (SOOO HAPPY THESE MADE IT)
1. Martin McDonagh- Best Original Screenplay- IN BRUGES
2. Penelope Cruz- Best Supporting Actress- VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
3. Frank Langella- Best Actor- FROST/NIXON
4. FROST/NIXON- Best Picture
5. A. R. Rahman- Best Score- SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
6. Ron Howard- Best Director- FROST/NIXON
7. THE DARK KNIGHT- Best Make-Up
8. Amy Adams- Best Supporting Actress- DOUBT
9. FROST/NIXON- Best Editing
10. Kate Winslet- Best Actress- THE READER (not because of the performance, because they put it in lead-- and, after ALL her career noms, she deserves a win for Lead)
TOP TEN BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS— WISH THEY HAD MADE IT (HAD A DEFINITE CHANCE AT A NOMINATION)
1. Woody Allen- Best Original Screenplay- VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
2. Charlie Kaufman- Best Original Screenplay - SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK
3. Rosemarie DeWitt- Best Supporting Actress- RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
4. Brendan Gleeson- Best Actor- IN BRUGES
5. Colin Farrell- Best Actor- IN BRUGES
6. Ralph Fiennes- Best Supporting Actor- IN BRUGES
7. Sally Hawkins- Best Actress- HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
8. Michael Sheen- Best Actor- FROST/NIXON
9. CLOVERFIELD- Best Visual Effects
10. SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK- Best Art Direction/Set Decoration
TOP TEN BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS— WISH THEY HAD MADE IT (PERFECT WORLD NOMINATIONS)
1. SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK- Best Picture
2. Charlie Kaufman- Best Director- SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK
3. IN BRUGES- Best Picture
4. Mathieu Amalric- Best Supporting Actor- A CHRISTMAS TALE
5. Jean-Claude Van Damme- Best Actor- JCVD
6. Debra Winger- Best Supporting Actress- RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
7. James Cromwell- Best Supporting Actor- W.
8. Ann Savage- Best Supporting Actress- MY WINNIPEG
9. Bill Maher- Best Screenplay- RELIGULOUS
10. Kristen Bell- Best Actress- FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
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!: I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG- Best Foreign Language Film
Referring back to my "ballot" (link to blog entry), here's my scorecard in terms of what I wished for (a poor showing!):
Best Picture (1/5):
Best Director (1/5)
Best Actor (2/5):
Best Actress (1/5)[two 1/2s- Jolie and Winslet up for other movies]:
Best Supporting Actor (1/5):
Best Supporting Actress (2/5):
Best Original Screenplay (1/5):
Best Adapted Screenplay (3/5):
Other categories:
FROST/NIXON (Best Editing)
THE DARK KNIGHT (Best Visual Effects, Best Make-Up)
IRON MAN (Best Visual Effects)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Best Score, Best Cinematography)
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Best Visual Effects)
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