Academy Award Nominations

[Mistwell]

So the Academy Award nominations are in, and in general I am pleased.

I've seen three of the five "Best Picture" nominations (and all three were fine films), and we already had plans to see the other two (the other two being "Atonement" and "There Will Be Blood"). I really liked "Juno", and was happy to see it in there (and for best director), beating out films like "American Gangster" and "Into the Wild" and "The Great Debaters".

I was even happier to see Persepolis get nominated for Best Animated Film (though not best foreign film, which was odd). No "Simpsons" or "Bee Movie" in that category (though I enjoyed both of those missing movies well enough, I agree Persepolis was far better).

I was happy to see Johnny Depp for "Sweeney Todd" in the best actor category, Cate Blanchett for "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" in the best actress category, and Philip Seymour Hoffman in best supporting actor for "Charlie Wilson's War".

On the disappointing side, no Documentary nomination for "King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters". That sucks. It was a truly fine film, and deserved the recognition. "In the Shadow of the Moon" also deserved a nomination in that category and didn't get it.

I was also sad to see nothing for "Once", "Waitress", or "The Darjeeling Limited". Those are three great movies, and they got no recognition at all. I strongly suspect if "Once" and "Waitress" had been released at the end of the year instead of beginning, they both would have had nominations.

Finally, I was a bit surprised to see nothing for "300". But then, perhaps the box office was enough of recognition for that film, and like "The Empire Strikes Back" it may even gain in the long run without the Academy acknowledgment.

Anyway, here is the complete list of 80th annual Academy Award nominations announced Tuesday:

1. Best Picture: "Atonement," "Juno," "Michael Clayton," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

2. Actor: George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"; Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"; Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"; Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"; Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises."

3. Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"; Julie Christie, "Away From Her"; Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"; Laura Linney, "The Savages"; Ellen Page, "Juno."

4. Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"; Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"; Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"; Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton."

5. Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"; Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"; Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"; Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"; Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."

6. Director: Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Jason Reitman, "Juno"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."

7. Foreign Film: "Beaufort," Israel; "The Counterfeiters," Austria; "Katyn," Poland; "Mongol," Kazakhstan; "12," Russia.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"; Sarah Polley, "Away from Her"; Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."

9. Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, "Juno"; Nancy Oliver, "Lars and the Real Girl"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco, "Ratatouille"; Tamara Jenkins, "The Savages."

10. Animated Feature Film: "Persepolis"; "Ratatouille"; "Surf's Up."

11. Art Direction: "American Gangster," "Atonement," "The Golden Compass," "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street," "There Will Be Blood."

12. Cinematography: "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "Atonement," "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

13. Sound Mixing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "No Country for Old Men," "Ratatouille," "3:10 to Yuma," "Transformers."

14. Sound Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "No Country for Old Men," "Ratatouille," "There Will Be Blood," "Transformers."

15. Original Score: "Atonement," Dario Marianelli; "The Kite Runner," Alberto Iglesias; "Michael Clayton," James Newton Howard; "Ratatouille," Michael Giacchino; "3:10 to Yuma," Marco Beltrami.

16. Original Song: "Falling Slowly" from "Once," Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova; "Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; "Raise It Up" from "August Rush," Nominees to be determined; "So Close" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; "That's How You Know" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.

17. Costume: "Across the Universe," "Atonement," "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "La Vie en Rose," "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

18. Documentary Feature: "No End in Sight," "Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience," "Sicko," "Taxi to the Dark Side," "War/Dance."

19. Documentary (short subject): "Freeheld," "La Corona (The Crown)," "Salim Baba," "Sari's Mother."

20. Film Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "Into the Wild," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

21. Makeup: "La Vie en Rose," "Norbit," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."

22. Animated Short Film: "I Met the Walrus," "Madame Tutli-Putli," "Meme Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)," "My Love (Moya Lyubov)," "Peter & the Wolf."

23. Live Action Short Film: "At Night," "Il Supplente (The Substitute)," "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)," "Tanghi Argentini," "The Tonto Woman."

24. Visual Effects: "The Golden Compass," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "Transformers."

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

I really thought "Waitress" would snag an Original Screenplay nomination, especially given the circumstances of Adrienne Shelley's death.

But even apart from that, I just really enjoyed it--a lot more than I thought I would. Andy Griffith was great.

Sadly, we will now be able to say, until the end of time, "the Academy Award-nominated 'Norbit.'"

 

[Brown Jenkin]

I am upset my favorite film of the year, Stardust, got left out. It wouldn't be so bad except that Norbit got a nod.

On the bright side Norbit is also up for 8 Razzies.

 

[Mistwell]

I am upset my favorite film of the year, Stardust, got left out. It wouldn't be so bad except that Norbit got a nod.

On the bright side Norbit is also up for 8 Razzies.

I agree that Stardust was quite good, and I wanted to see it up for something. I wasn't sure WHAT something, but up for something would have been nice.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Where the frell is The 300!

 

[Sarigar]

Back when I worked in video stores I could keep up with the Oscars. These days, sadly, I am so far out of the loop that seeing the results after the fact impacts me as much as watching the pomp and self-adoration of the ceremony. There are several films I will take the time to watch, on video even though I would love to have the chance to see them in the theater, however it will be a race to see what comes out in time for me to watch them by Oscar night. If not, I have plenty of TV time to fill through May, and then Summer to finish them off.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

[rant]
Every year that passes I find myself less and less interested in much less appreciative of the Oscars. It isn't just the fact that each year I seem to have seen fewer and fewer of the nominations. It isn't just that otherwise fine and enjoyable films, performances, and personages are ignored or passed over for recognition. It isn't just that their rules make it difficult to be appreciative of movies that nobody has even had decent opportunity to see before they hand out awards for it. It isn't that certain genres are stiffed in what stinks to me of elitist snobbery. It isn't just that they are losing ground in a glut of other awards.

Hey, I appreciate that it's the Academy's award. They can handle it all however they like for whatever reasons they like. I guess what gets to me is the idea that it's hyped and inaccurately perceived as more than what it is - merely a mark of prestige. I don't think it's a comprehensive award and in fact is fairly insular. How else could exclusive little movies that nobody wants to see get disporportionate recognition - and yet pass by so many other small and wonderful films? It wants to bill itself as the be-all/end-all but each year that proves less and less true.

And the show itself has been too long by HOURS for decades now.
[/rant]

 

[Starman]

I think some of the actors in 3:10 to Yuma deserved a nod. Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, and Ben Foster turned in outstanding performances.

 

[Mistwell]

[rant]
Every year that passes I find myself less and less interested in much less appreciative of the Oscars. It isn't just the fact that each year I seem to have seen fewer and fewer of the nominations. It isn't just that otherwise fine and enjoyable films, performances, and personages are ignored or passed over for recognition. It isn't just that their rules make it difficult to be appreciative of movies that nobody has even had decent opportunity to see before they hand out awards for it. It isn't that certain genres are stiffed in what stinks to me of elitist snobbery. It isn't just that they are losing ground in a glut of other awards.

Hey, I appreciate that it's the Academy's award. They can handle it all however they like for whatever reasons they like. I guess what gets to me is the idea that it's hyped and inaccurately perceived as more than what it is - merely a mark of prestige. I don't think it's a comprehensive award and in fact is fairly insular. How else could exclusive little movies that nobody wants to see get disporportionate recognition - and yet pass by so many other small and wonderful films? It wants to bill itself as the be-all/end-all but each year that proves less and less true.

And the show itself has been too long by HOURS for decades now.
[/rant]

What movies do you think were exclusive little movies that nobody wants to see getting disproportionate recognition? I found this years batch pretty approachable and widely available. Heck, I've seen most of what was nominated (except in foreign films), and that is rare at this point.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

And the show itself has been too long by HOURS for decades now.

Well unless the writers work things out the show could be about 3 hours shorter this year. There is still the possibility of another 40 Minute press conference ala the Golden Globes.