13 Meryl Streep Continues To Make Things Difficult For Everyone ElseLove you Meryl! Scoring her 15th acting nomination she puts further distance between herself and nearest rival Jack Nicholson who has only (ha ha) a measly 12 acting nominations (one more win than Meryl, though). Just about the only person who might be a threat to Meryl in the all-time record books is Kate Winslet, considering that Kate is only 33 years old and has 6 nominations already. Streep only had 4 nominations by that age (although she had won twice... and Kate is still waiting). [Lots more on Meryl]
12 The Guilds are a Problem
Would WALL•E have gained more Oscar Best Picture traction if all of these guilds didn't declare animated films ineligible? I believe it would have. What a shame. It's quite obvious that 50 years from now people will still love WALL•E... but will any of the actual nominees have devoted fans by then? [related posts on WALL•E]
11 Same As It Ever Was...
The 6000+ members of AMPAS weren't quite ready to shake things up, resisting genre films for the hundredth time. They said no to the beautiful and very rare fusion of equal critical/populist pull that both WALL•E & The Dark Knight had going into year end honors. Instead they retreated to their favored genres: biopics, epics and Holocaust dramas being comfort food for those 6,000.
10 An Odd Clint Eastwood Situation
The Academy loves him so the reaction to his two films is slightly eyebrow raising. Gran Torino was shut out completely (did it open too late?) but Changeling managed to win Tom Stern, Eastwood's trusted regular DP, a cinematography nomination. That's a surprise because it's his very first. AMPAS has ignored him over before even when he shot Best Picture nominated films like Million Dollar Baby and Letters From Iwo Jima. He's probably having one of his best mornings ever right about now.
09 Early Bird Get the Everyone knows the primo Oscar strategy: Open in December. Fewer studios recognize the other rule. Be First. Especially if you have a film that's primarily a low budget triumph of acting without a huge star. Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) and Melissa Leo (Frozen River) gave great performances but that's never enough (just ask Sally Hawkins). So they should thank their stalwart campaigns for understanding that December releasing isn't smart for smaller films. You have to cement your Deserving Nominee! status before the A listers all arrive, ready and practiced at walking red carpets and sucking all the oxygen out of every room.
08 The 1970s Curse Lifted
Costume Design aficionados rejoice: Milk nabbed Danny Glicker a costume design nomination. I'm not sure how the hell it happened since the 1970s are usually off limits for costume nominations but, yay! I'm quite pleased. It's also in my shortlist but I thought the work way too subtle for the Academy.
07 Penélope Cruz is the Happiest Person in Hollywood Today
With Kate Winslet out of the way in Supporting Actress (what a miracle: The Academy rejected Category Fraud that had been supported by nearly all precursor bodies) and those troubled Catholics in Doubt competing against each other she's probably seeing gold everywhere she looks.
06 The Snubbed
Years from now... Okay, TODAY (who needs to wait?) people will be mortified that the Academy rejected new classics like Bruce Springsteen's "The Wrestler" for Best Original Song or Sally Hawkins film-carrying bliss-inducing nuanced positivity in Happy-Go-Lucky for Best Actress. Those snubs sting. Those snubs suck. Those snubs make no damn sense whatsoever. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
Another note regarding snubs. No cinematography mentions for either Australia or The Wrestler means the record still stands: no female DP has ever been nominated for that particular honor. (Both made my preferred ballot)
05 Harvey Weinstein is Back. God Help Us AllIf you've been an Oscar Watcher for more than the last few years you'd know that he used to run the smartest loudest and most expensive campaigns in his time with Miramax. For whatever reason (money?) the new Weinstein Co hadn't had much Oscar luck and MGM was also almost always a no go, even failing to land Hotel Rwanda in the shortlist in 2004. Until now that is. The Reader surprised nearly everyone to nab 5 nominations, including Picture & Director.
04 It's All in the Timing (Good)
Slumdog Millionaire (November) and Frost/Nixon (December) came out at just the right time. If it had been released even a few weeks later, Slumdog's rabid fan base might not have been as legion since the film had no stars and needed the time to snowball (or avalanche as it were). Frost/Nixon fervor would have dissipated if it had been released earlier --it's entertaining but very lightweight given the competition and the fact that you could always just watch the Frost/Nixon tapes instead.
03 It's All in the Timing (Bad)
The Wrestler (December) and Rachel Getting Married (October) probably came out too late and too early respectively. The Wrestler, a small grungy picture -- in comparison to what Oscar would usually go for -- needed more time to build. Rachel should probably have come out later... it somehow got lost in the shuffle despite pockets of passionate fans. Maybe that Almodovar'ish November slotting would have helped it? It's depressing that Supporting Actress Rosemarie DeWitt who gave a complicated passionate performance, got passed over for honors... but then, the precursor voting bodies are too blame for that, continually shunting her to the side to get bigger stars [cough Amy Adams cough] in Christmas films to attend their functions. I've talked a lot about the December Glut problem but a "glut" at any time of the year can be problematic. The Best Actress glut happened in October with 4 major competitors arriving nearly simultaneously (I've Loved You So Long, Happy-Go-Lucky, Rachel Getting Married and Changeling). As you can see only the biggest stars survived that throwdown come Oscar Nomination time.
Oscar as February bride. Stephen Daldry is the lucky groom. Kate Winslet named their Best Man02 Stephen Daldry is The Man
He's made only three films and he's been nominated for Best Director every time: Billy Elliott, The Hours and The Reader. I believe that's an all time record.
01 The Dark Knight is the new Dreamgirls?
Not really... Sort of? Nobody expected a Batman film to compete in the Best Picture slot before the movie went and exploded 'round the world but everyone expected Dreamgirls to compete months and months and months before it opened. So, that's a big difference. But they do share two things: They both had fantastic Oscar showings thanks in large part to their sensational absolute locked-to-win Supporting nominee, they're tied for second place in the odd derby of films that seem like Best Picture nominees on account of how many nominations they actually did receive -- In this case, eight. Only the great Depression era miserabilist classic They Shoot Horses Don't They? beats them, still holding the record of most nominations without a corresponding Best Picture bid, nine.
Full Oscar Nomination List
Another Odd Statistic Regarding Best Actress
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131 comments:
Boy, the powers that be sure know how to edge Kate into the winner's circle. What a thrilling season it's been for that lady. From here, I don't see anyone else landing the Best Actress Oscar next month (though I'm secretly rooting for Anne), and it'll be so nice to FINALLY see "Academy Award Winner" sitting atop her name.
They did n't nominate the Slumdog actors!!! To be honest though, they never were going to.
Benjamin Button was 1 nomination short of tying the record for most nominations ever, I bet that's bugging them.
Stephen Daldry can do no wrong.
I am very happy for Elfman. I loved his work on Milk!
Nate, do you see someone else winning except Kate this year?
And I have to say, I am not sad about The Reade geting a best pic nod. I liked the film a lot. Though I haven't seen Wall-E yet.
Jim
the oscar noms were pretty predictable this year... I am sorry that:
1)Jolie got in ... Hawkins left out
2)song from The Wrestler was left out ( one of the best songs in recent Oscar years )
3)Brad got in ... Leo left out
4) Winslet got in for The Reader instead of RR
I am glad that:
1) Leo, Melissa and Jenkins got in ... Clint left out
2) Streep marches on ( and might win )
3) Michael Shannon got in
How can Slumdog win without an acting nom? Please answer me that.
you have to remember Streep was in her thirties when she started in movies ... Winslet was in her teens.
Did they leave Springsteen's song out because it wasn't featured in the movie outside of the credits? I can't remember the song playing in the movie itself. I think Brokeback had the same problem in getting a song nomination for Willie Nelson.
"They Shoot Horses" holds the record? I was searching frantically but couldn't find it. Oh well. Gig Young won Best Supporting Actor that year, so if you're going to score a lot of nominations without one for Best Picture, you've got a good chance of winning one of the Supporting categories.
The Bad and the Beautiful holds the record for most wins without a Best Picture nomination (5), with Terminator 2 and The Matrix tagging behind with four...right?
I thought that when Oscar voters choose the nominees, there is a predetermied ballot where each person is listed under their respective category. Is this true? And if so, was Winslet listed for the Reader under lead and supporting?
Everyone continues to vilify poor Kate Winslet over this "Category Fraud" issue. Do you people really think she has stayed up nights plotting how to infiltrate the Supporting Actress category ?
Yet nobody makes mention of Philip Seymour Hoffman's nomination for Doubt. If you want to see Category Fraud check out Hoffman in Doubt.
Gustavo: it happens a lot. Braveheart, Last Emperor, The Sting (IIRC), etc....
I have to say...I like Daldry's directorial style. Haven't seen The Reader yet, but I think both The Hours and Billy Elliot were miles better than they could have been in different hands. He keeps things fast-paced when they could be soporific.
I think Winslet has it, now that everyone knows where they have to vote for her...plus The Reader is obviously stronger than everyone thought, and she's the only Best Actress nominee in a Best Picture nominee...
Vinci: the Oscars do not have that. It is up to the actors branch to place nominees accordingly (see: Keisha Castle-Hughes).
On another note, is "The Reader" the most boringly-titled Best Picture nominee since 1983's "The Dresser"? Or am I missing one...
Films directed by Clint Eastwood are not nominated for cinematography because he prefers to shoot them with natural light. That is why his films are so dark and "ugly". In fact, I do not see anything special about the cinematography in Changeling.
Marcelo - Brazil.
So, I'm pretty sure Penn, Winslet, and Ledger are locks to win now. Their films have enormous support.
But Best Supporting Actress is a tough one, I think. They might want to reward Davis to acknowledge the film. Or Cruz to have good TV when she accepts from Bardem.
I still don't think it was category fraud to put Winslet in Supporting. Personally, I think the role is too weak to win in Lead. My opinion. I wasn't crazy about Streep in Doubt, Jolie is a joke here...somebody slap her, I think Leo is too old for the Academy to put on the podium...assholes...so, I am now wondering if Hathaway can win this.
I had a strong feeling it would be The Reader and not The Dark Knight. It's a better film and Daldry is much loved....for good reason.
No Springsteen? Huh?
Well, I actually preferred Winslet's Rev Road work even though her Hanna Schmitz is very good. Hanna was more of a stretch, but I think her tried-and-true repressed bohemian was the better performance. And for a LEADING role, which apparently people agree it is now, Hanna's rather short on screentime. But I've wanted all season long for the wins to be Winslet in lead, Cruz and supporting, so now I'll probably get my wish. For that I rejoice.
Glad for the rejected category fraud, sorry for the stinging snubs. But Hawkins' omission is really not surprising if you think about it. She hasn't made ANY major precursor lists outside of GG comedy, which doesn't really count (she didn't have to compete with the others). She has never once made it onto a shortlist over Angelina Jolie or Melissa Leo, nevermind Hathaway, Streep or Winslet. Not at BFCA, not at SAG, not even at BAFTA. So why would it start now?
I think it's just a case of no one outside of the critics really "getting" the performance... not baity enough, I guess. But at least Sally has a golden globe and a bucketload of critics' trophies for her trouble. And you know her career will be going places now. Meanwhile Melissa Leo also gets deserved recognition, and Brangelina don't get dissed. So whatever.
Nat, I just realized Streep in Doubt is nowhere on your list of finalists or semifinalists for best actress. Though I never expected you to nominate it, I most certainly expected to see it among your top twelve. Did you really not like it much at all? And if so, why are you so happy for her being nominated? Particularly over Sally Hawkins? Just curious. I mean, I love Meryl too, but it's a weird disconnect.
I think Winslet's chances look better now not only because she has only one nomination which everyone can back but because of the love the Academy has shown for The Reader.
Sunday night's SAG may still go to Streep but I think Kate's winning the Oscar.
Sally Belle, Melissa Leo is not too old to win. Just a couple years ago it was a battle between Helen Mirren and Judi Dench. (Judi should have won, but I liked Helen too.)
I have felt for a while that Slumdog would be nominated but not win. I think our winner is Milk.
With that premise, I say that Mickey will beat Penn, since Milk is already being honored elsewhere.
Supporting is between Davis and Cruz, and it really just depends on the campaigns by this point. (I was pleased to have correctly guessed Adams eons ago when it wasn't so clear.)
Could Daldry be your Best Director winner? The Reader isn't winning, but it has strong support. I think either Winslet wins, or Daldry wins. The Reader isn't leaving empty-handed.
I think Kate will have another double win Sunday (SAG Awards). But who knows? What is the point of her winning for Revolutionary Road now?
And can someone please explain me why did the Academy nominate a movie with German people speaking English?
Please let Meryl win! It is ridiculous she doesn't have a third (or 4th) by now! Since these things don't always have to do with the best in a given year, it seems only right that the goddamn academy honor Meryl appropriately.
Besides, I think there is something strikingly similar about Kate Winslet and Deborah Kerr.
RIGHT ON RICK! If Meryl had started in her teens, who knows how many nominations she'd have by now!!
I still say the 2nd half of WALL-E with all the fat folk in it is why the film didn't get a best picture nomination. It turned the whole look and feel of the picture into a more traditional cartoon. I think the only animated film to rival BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in artistry and consistency was FINDING NEMO.
Not nominating DARK KNIGHT does seem to place the AMPAS back in the dark ages (no pun intended), doesn't it?
It is amazing to me how the movie with all the controversy surrounded Mr. Weinstein is the movie that slips into BP! I haven't seen it, but it sure does echo the somewhat recent past when Weinstein seemed to own Oscar slots!!! If I were an actor who wanted to get nominated for an Oscar right now, I'd try to work for Stephen Daldry in a picture produced by Harvey Weinstein!
I, too, am sorry about DiCaprio. It is difficult to see Brad Pitt's work singled out over Leonardo's in RR. Such a shame. And I do agree - Sally Hawkins was a unique delight. Ah well.
It is fascinating that in three of the acting categories the academy voted to acknowledge the work of long term, consistently good yeoman actors: R. Jenkins, M. Shannon, M. Leo and 2 up-and-coming actors in the 4th -V. Davis and T.P. Hensen. This seems like a bigger percentage than usual but I could be wrong.
Go Meryl!!!!
I think Davis or Tomei will grab that Supporting Actress Oscar.
Penelope needs to play woman who is dying or is blind or weighs 300 pounds.
Gustavo... that German people speaking English thing has been around since the dawn of the talkies. Same thing going on in Valkyrie right now at the multiplex. ;)
also many films have won without acting nods.
Adam K -- it's not a disconnect. Meryl is my 4th or 5th favorite actress of all time so I'm always happy to see her. It's like if Michelle Pfeiffer got nominated for something I didn't think was one of the five best. I'd still be happy :)
But no, I don't think she deserved it over Hawkins (worst snub in the acting categories) but i don't think it's Meryl in her spot as the case may be. Meryl was always going to be here as I said before filming began having seen the play. It was always a fight for 4 spots among every one else. The thing I don't get is JOLIE since it's just not a very good performance. But I guess it is super baity so there ya go...
PP10 --i think you have a point as titles go ;)
Valkyrie wasn't nominated for best picture, though.
Hey, they gave the Best Picture Oscar to The Last Emperor, which was basically Chinese people speaking English. I'm Chinese, so this really bothered me. Even though the film was so beautifully made, I can't help but think I was watching a bad dub the entire time.
But yes...it's happened in the past.
I knew Daldry was going to happen. Now hopefully he can get "Kavalier & Clay" made and make it an Oscar movie :)
Although, now it's a pattern, watch everyone predict him next time and he won't get nominated...
Nat, I'm just surprised you didn't like Meryl's performance more, since you love her and the play so much.
I saw the play with Eileen Atkins actually, plus I haven't seen the film yet, so I kinda have a weird perspective...
100 years of Hollywood hegemony = 80000000000 films set in non-English-speaking countries with people speaking English.
Not to sound rude, but if you haven't gotten used to it by now, shouldn't you be more of a book person? ;)
Gustavo,
Remember a little movie called Schindler's List?
actually, MERYL STREEP's record is far better than winslet's.
at age 34, meryl already had 4 oscar nods and 2 wins, after about only 5 years in films since her first (julia) in 1977, plus a best actress emmy to boot.
winslet started in film when she was only 19. so she achieved her 6oscar nominations after 13 years.
i'm rooting for MERYL STREEP, but the idea that the weinsteins are suddenly "influential" again makes me think that kate will win this election after a bruising campaign.
Totally agree with FROST/NIXON. It's an excellent piece of acting, for Langella, but apart from that it's not all that compelling.
I have yet to see THE READER. It's been on my list but down low because I've not heard anything all the great about it apart from Kate's performance.
BENJAMIN BUTTON... I mean, seriously? A story that was ripe for emotion and intrigue is almost entirely flat... and Brad Pitt is so much better than that movie.
I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE that pesky animated film category. As long as it's around no animated film will ever have the chance BEAUTY AND THE BEAST did. If WALL-E couldn't transcend the category no film will every be good enough. It will forever be there as the Academy's way of patting PIXAR on the head like the bastard child wanting to garner the attention of its parents.
Meryl Streep... whatever. I love her, she's amazing, she did a fine job in DOUBT but I couldn't help but feel that performace was like sleepwalking for her.
wickedscorp -- i didn't think it was sleepwalking so much as doing too much with it. except for in the seasons where she wasn't doing anything with it ;) extremely uneven work.
i still don't get why she backed off from challenging Davis for the scene when in every other scene she seemed to go at Adams/Hoffman full throttle. I really wanted her to fight for that scene with Davis... even though Davis was still going to win ;)
I liked The Reader quite a bit but should it be in BEST picture? No. That said it's not as generic as people think and it's certainly a more challenging film than Frost/Nixon
I'm sorry, I don't want to see the amazing Kate finally win her Oscar for a merely "good" performance. If the nomination had been for "Revolutionary Road," I'd be all for it -- that was simply the best female performance of the year -- but while I'll be happy for her if she wins, I just can't support this. If I were an Academy member, I'd be casting my vote for Anne Hathaway.
i am disappointed winlsets in lead as i preferred her rev rd perf and that is totally lead,i just don't think she captured hannah at all,,the role was too old for her to play,she was solid and nothing more and i would be agreeved if she won it for something not up to her best whereas rev rd was outstanding lead work.
what happens at sag now does she win lead for a film shes is not nommed for or supp where shes in lead,i think she wins for the reader and meryl who has never won a sag wins lead.
the thing at he oscars is they kind of owe them both plus with only 1 nom it is easier i think for kate to loose!!! which now i wouldn't mind then she can pull something great out of her hat a few years from now.
No one can know if Meryl would have more nominations had she began acting earlier. She started relatively late because she wanted first to finish her drama stydies and get some practice in theatre. Maybe she wouldn't have been that great without that. Kate on the other hand hasn't finished a drama school, though her school encouraged theatre work. Not to say that Meryl isn't a natural ofcourse but these years before started playing in movies might have helped a big deal her build her abilities.
Jim
That was the death of spelling and grammar. At least they died together. :p
Jim
Boy, do I agree with you about Streep in Doubt. By extension, I didn't like many of the performances. Dull, not believable, over the top etc. But, you see if it looks like acting...it must be great acting.
Also, that scene with Davis. Yes, Davis had it all along, but it was painful for me to watch Streep the actress struggle to hold it. And the film's ending was just awful. Shanley may be a great playwright...but I don't think he's much of a director.
On the other hand Stephen Daldry!! The big problem with his three for three is it just makes it harder for him to make another film. So much pressure! I had Stephen predicted since November, and then dumped him at the last minute believing the Chris Nolan hype. Damn!
I did get The Reader though. And I think once people start seeing the film it will gain ground. Although, the prize is Slumdog's and Boyle's...done deal.
Also, Silencio.... I know Melissa Leo isn't too old to win...it just makes her odds much worse. Bringing up Helen Mirren, or Judi Dench is like bringing up Hepburn. They are iconic women, who have an almost God like presense in the acting community. I was at women in film one year and Judi Dench was only presenting..yet practically every actor who spoke, talked about the great Judi Dench before they got to business.
Leo is not a Goddess like Mirren, Dench or Hepburn. It would be quite a feat to pull off.
But, hey, nothing is impossible...right?
Brad Pitt was HORRIBLE in Benjamin Button. His narration is like a sleeping pill.
He lost me at "I'm a tugboat man."
Maybe this is what happened in the song category: the votes were counted up, and the top 5 vote-getters were the song from WALL-E, the 2 from Slumdog (#1-3 in whatever order), "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" at #4, and Springsteen's song at #5. The Academy's horror at the thought of "Sexy Jesus" on their ballot and performed at their ceremony (having had enough of "Blame Canada" and "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp") made them decide to cut off their final list at 3.
Yay yay yay for In Bruges and Jenkins!
Nate, you've missed the obvious... I so expected this to be one of your 13 points...
This is the first time since 1992 that John Williams has not been nominated for an eligible score. The spell is broken. All it took was two years Cold Turkey for the music guild. ;-)
I love Williams, but he has enough respect from his colleagues on this issue, even if he does show most of them where to go, compositionally speaking. (If not as a storyteller, where he's not always so good.)
- The Opinionated Australian
If Meryl wins SAG, she will win the Oscar.
Nope, I don't think so. Meryl hasn't yet won the SAG.
I think SAG is Meryl's, and Oscar (and supporting SAG) is Winslet's. Unless Oscar finds her role too uncomfortable.
I'm horrified by some nominations(HAWKINS!) and I regret both "WALL.E" and "The Dark Knight", but I think "The Reader" is a great choice - "Benjamin Button" (sorry, but it's simply boring), "Slumdog Millionaire" (exciting, but ages so badly) and "Frost/Nixon" (lightweight; a film about a TV interview?) aren't.
Don't you think that Weinstein has been running some kind of campaign for this film and Winslet's LEADING performance? It's so shocking that I still can't believe it.
I'm happy for Winslet (she was fantastic) but I wish she had more time in the film.
I also think The Reader is one of the strongest nominees. But the list isn't strong so there's that...
"Doubt" was clunkily adapted, and Meryl's last line clunked, too -but apart from that I thought she was quite good. That said, I really, really doubt she has any serious chance of winning. I'll be very surprised if Kate doesn't take this. It's her year (sorry Anne!).
I'm really interested in knowing a bit more about the Weinsteins because after the comments I've been reading, they begin to sound like The Sopranos. And I was thinking they got the complete wrong strategy
competing against themselves. Go figure!
Does anyone know a link to some information about these guys? It'd be very much appreciated. ;)
Meryl has a SAG for Angels in America.
Can I just say I love that on your updated Supp. Actor page you've described three of the characters as "mentally unstable"?
Dev Patel, take note.
It's so weird, Nat. I'm reading these comments and I keep expecting to see all the naysayers who shit-talked you about your prediction of a Jolie nom a month or two ago to post in here and admit they were wrong and you were right, but I just don't seem to see them. Maybe I should go and read through again.
No...the list isn't strong. I'm feeling very apathetic.
I will look forward to seeing Daldry's director's cut of The Reader. I'm sure there was some great stuff that had to hit the floor so Harvey could have his way.
Meryl Streep...should have won for so many other performances...but not this one, imo.
How...how did The Wrestler not get a song nom? It really boggles my mind.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt...speechless. Such flawed performances. I dunno. Maybe I am just a snob?
I think Angelina Jolie's snub for "A Mighty Heart" really propelled her in the race this year. Unfortunate since a) she could have edged out another lame nominee in Blanchett for "Golden Age" last year (who deserved the category's nomination for "Ben Button" this year, but not as much as Hawkins or Scott-Thomas), and b) aside from the fact that she is not great in "Changeling", voters might have avoided nominating her two years in a row. Especially in a year where Clint Eastwood's two releases were almost completely shut out of nominations, her nomination certainly doesn't seem to be a reflection of admiration for the film. So it comes off as being a fulfillment of an IOU to her by the academy (something they do a lot). *Sigh*
Can't remember the exact timing deadline for Oscar ballots, but could Sally Hawkins' Globe speech have affected her Oscar odds a little? It may have been emotional, but it was an internal emotional struggle rather than an extroverted gush. Hollywood only digs the latter.
Or were the Oscar ballots already in by that point?
Rob
Now that Weinstein is back how about Oscar love for NINE next year!!??!?
I don't think I post enough to make Joe R's radar, but I was definitely wrong about Angelina. And I'm not happy about it.
So Dev Patel wasn't a lock after all! (as talked about in a previous post in here) :-D
Well, I couldn't be happier...
ballots were already in. tehe globes speeches are usually what helps or hurts the wins/momentum.
Shocked by the vitriol being aimed at "The Reader", particularly on other sites. (Who IS this Kris Tapley?) It's definitely one of the strongest on the list (though perhaps there are stronger movies out there that didn't get nominated) and, as ebert wrote, it's not really a holocaust film. (Is there some knee jerk anti-semitism at work here? Hate to go there but...) Perhaps the subtlety of the ideas and the non-judgmental handling is too much for most people...but it's a fine boned, deeply thought and felt, small film. Aim the vitriol at Frost/Nixon or dare we say it Slumdog as the lazy choices...
I nominate "Slumdog" for Best Movie, and "Milk" for Best Film.
I can't believe that the Academy is that blind to not nominate the two best performances of the year -- Leonardo Dicarpio and Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road. I feel like the Oscars gave her less of a chance of winning now that she is up for the reader -- although she is good there too -- but she was amazing in Road and the most shocking snub to me is Leo.
I still can't let myself think that Kate Winslet has won it...as a die hard Kate fan I've been disappointed too many times.
With respect to you Ian...I don't think there was an IOU to Jolie...she's been paid in full. Girl Interrupted?
A MIghty Heart was not a great film or a great performance, so, I don't see that as a snub.
Changeling was just...ugh...I can't even find the right word. But, wasn't it Nathanial that had the dialogue changed to " I want my Oscar!". That's how it looked indeed.
"Shocked by the vitriol being aimed at "The Reader", particularly on other sites. (Who IS this Kris Tapley?)"
Yeah, "absolute tragedy" seems a bit...much. As does calling the film "pornographic." But I hear the Batman fans have a bit of a reputation on these internets, so...
I've just right clicked and saved that 'my favorite things' Oscar image. Good stuff.
Next year, there will be Up and Watchmen. Supposedly the first 40 minutes of Up somehow manage to be even better than the first 40 minutes of Wall-E (the rest of the film hasn't screened yet), and if Watchmen is even half as good as the comics, I expect it to be revolutionary. Maybe then the Academy will learn to respect genre films? It might help that Up is Pixar's 10th film, and that seems like a good number to finally acknowledge them.
Sally Hawkins
Slumdog Millionaire
Amy Adams
I do not understand the big deal. All three bore me.
okay, you people talking about the titles. first of all, the dresser and the reader are based on literature before it was made into a film. second of all, i'm assuming you haven't read or watched it, because, i don't want to include and spoilers, after watching it, you'll realize how poignant and gorgeous the tile really is. lastly, of all the best picture titles, i prefer slumdog millionaire's book title to the film title: q & a. again, makes so much sense after watching the film. that would have been a better title, but would not have been as 'memorable' as slumdog.
What annoys me is that they just nominated «The Reader» because well, there's Oscar overdue Kate Winslet, because Weinstein is in da house, Daldry is directing (I think AMPAS likes him even more than Clint...) and because Pollack and Minghella died.
If it had Kidman or if Pollack and Minghella didn't die, this ridiculous and ludicrous film whould slip unnoticed...
Meryl's 15 nominations and 2 wins also mean she's lost 13 times. Has any other nominee lost as many times as she has?.
Did anyone notice that this is the second time Daldry and Mendes are in the same race with Daldry's film being honored and Mendes film (mostly) shutout??? Wonder if Daldry gonna plan his filmschedule to Mendes hereafter, just to be on the safe side :)
Its also very positive that african-american acting-nominees is here to stay. 7th (or 8th... or 9th?) year in a row that a aa-actor/ actress is nominated, must be a record.
I totally agree: re the snubbing of Bruce and Sally Hawkins. Bruce's song has been running through my head since I saw the movie (which I loved)..and I'm actually not even that huge a Bruce fan. Mood/style a perfect match for this movie. And Sally Hawkins...god I loved Happy Go Lucky. All the more becuase I didn't expect to--I saw it because I couldn't get in to Slumdog Millionaire (which I liked infinitely less). and then there's the inexplicable benjamin button phenomenon. -elizabeth (www.bagelandamovie.blogspot.com)
How is it that coming out super early is okay (Melissa Leo, Richard Jenkins), but not-as-early isn't okay (Sally Hawkins, critics champion! I can't believe that she's not nominated, "Rachel Getting Married")? Then sort-of-late is okay ("Frost/Nixon", "Slumdog Millionaire"), but late-late isn't ("The Wrestler", "Last Chance Harvey")? That's such bizarre Oscars logic to me.
And I always knew that "Frost/Nixon" would hit big in an election year like this one. People are just in that frame of mind for a strong political story, and given to them in an easily digestable manner such as Ron Howard's, it was almsot a no-brainer.
oh, and i'm thrilled for a few other glimmers of justice--melissa leo in frozen river. so unexpected--and deserved. clint..i gotta say,his latest was not his best. and i think michael shannon is someone we should--and will--see a lot more of.
-elizabeth (www.bagelandamovie.blogspot.com)
ReX... i agree it sounds like crazy logic and I even wrote it. But i think timing is crucial to Oscar campaigns some happen too early, some too late, some just right. it's very goldilocks. a lot depends on what type of film it is. If you have a very traditional Oscar picture December tends to be best (they can love it instantly without having to think on it too hard) if you have a slightly weirder fresher more original or divisive candidate sometimes the earlier the better (you need them to get used to the idea and months of feverish talk about how great a movie is can really help people make up their minds)
why this didn't work for WALL-E and DARK KNIGHT this year i think has to come down to a matter of genre. They just don't really respect non-drama genres that much so all the planets have to align properly.
Of course maybe we all (myself included) overestimated The Dark Knight all year. It was also a sequel and sequels where the original wasn't nominated never get nominated.
Aside from the miss for The Dark Knight - I don't mind these at all.
If you get 2 acting nods one year - you always run the risk of being 'over-exposed' the next year.
It's not that upsetting Winslet only got one nod. Hopefully she'll win.
Yeah, let's hope that Kate Winslet wins for one of her worst performances. Really crossing my fingers over that one.
And whoever said Winslet was merely "good" in The Reader is perhaps confusing their feelings for the film over the performance.
It's up there with Eternal Sunshine and Holy Smoke - her best work. She always produces the goods when she's out of her comfort zone.
Yaaaaaaaa, Taraji will win supporting actress, I'm sure! She'll pull a Marcia Gay Harden!
The SAG is going to be so exciting.
I can imagine MERYL and VIOLA winning this Sunday.
Meryl is looooooong overdue being the best actress EVER! Hopefully Kate's weaker "The Reader" will give her a 3rd O!
Scott Thomas should be there instead of Angelina! Hawkins instead of Hathaway!
Ridiculous: Too much Button! Rourke (pleaaaaaaaaaase)! Pitt (bad bad bad); Slum is nice - so what???? Wall-E should be in Best Movie!
Happy for: Meryl, Jenkins, Melissa;
Did I mention Meryl already????
:)
"She always produces the goods when she's out of her comfort zone."
well said, Rob.
And whoever said Winslet was merely "good" in The Reader is perhaps confusing their feelings for the film over the performance.
It's up there with Eternal Sunshine and Holy Smoke - her best work. She always produces the goods when she's out of her comfort zone.
No it's not up there with her best work. This doesn't hold a candle to "Eternal Sunshine", "Sense & Sensibility", or "Holy Smoke." It's one of Kate Winslet's worst performances. Hanna should have been played by a German actress speaking German. Not only was Kate Winslet miscast, but she should have been nominated for her superior performance in "Revolutionary Road."
Interesting we're all so split on the Winslet issue. I'll be perfectly happy if/when Kate wins for The Reader -- much more so than I would have been for Rev Road. She's fine in both but only The Reader is testing her at all, and she has some startlingly good moments like the scene in the church. Whereas the whole of Rev Road is ridiculous and on Xanax and I want it to win nothing.
Plus I found 20/1 odds on a Daldry director win -- at that price, I'm all over it. It would take a significant Slumdog backlash of course but, just listening to the chat around here, there's clearly one in progress.
I'll just point out that if Daldry can get a nom for Billy Elliot where Jamie Bell didn't, they obviously really, really like him. That+Holocaust+prestige adaptation = serious dark horse, folks. I'd put him at more like 6/1.
good luck on that tim ;)
although maybe a Daldry win would allow them to calm down a bit on him. I mean 3 for 3? craziness.
"Meryl's 15 nominations and 2 wins also mean she's lost 13 times. Has any other nominee lost as many times as she has?"
Well, she's lost 12 times so far.
But, assuming she does lose this year, that will mean that no one has been nominated as many times as she's lost! So of course no one can lose as much...no one has even matched her losing nomination total.
Meryl losses = 13 (if she loses this year)
Highest number of nominations, aside from Streep = 12 (K. Hepburn and Nicholson)
OMG People. Get lives. FAST. Open the door and take a walk outside. Interact with live, breathing humans. WHO THE HELL CARES SO MUCH ABOUT THESE AWARDS????????????????
Hell of a breakdown, Nathaniel.
I too was stunned at the exclusion of Springsteen, a former Oscar darling (Philadelphia).
And THE WRESTLER snub is was total garbage.
OK - suppose we take the snub of DARK KNIGHT and the nomination of THE READER as indications that the AMPAS really have taken some big steps backward in their openness to "new" films, could this "conservative" approach indicate that they would be extremely uncomfortable with giving an actor like Mickey Rourke, with his background and this one stellar (typecast?) performance, a best actor oscar?? And if you really buy into the fact that Sean Penn is not an academy favorite, then are we looking at Frank Langella as taking home the Oscar??? Or, God forbid, Brad Pitt???
I have said in the past (way before even there was a talk about making the movie version) and will say it again here - that whoever plays Sister Aloysius in the movie version of Doubt will win an Oscar for it.
Remember this post on Oscar night.
think Angelina Jolie's snub for "A Mighty Heart" really propelled her in the race this year. Unfortunate since a) she could have edged out another lame nominee in Blanchett for "Golden Age" last year (who deserved the category's nomination for "Ben Button" this year, but not as much as Hawkins or Scott-Thomas), and b) aside from the fact that she is not great in "Changeling", voters might have avoided nominating her two years in a row. Especially in a year where Clint Eastwood's two releases were almost completely shut out of nominations, her nomination certainly doesn't seem to be a reflection of admiration for the film. So it comes off as being a fulfillment of an IOU to her by the academy (something they do a lot). *Sigh*
Yes, I feel the same way. Both Jolie and Blanchett could have switched places the past two years, and I would have been okay with them being nominated for the films that they were. I also believe being nominated last year for the wrong role hurt Blanchett and stopped her from gaining any traction at all, when in a normal year, she would have at least been in contention for a nomination perhaps even the win given how many nominations her film received. Likewise, if it weren't for her snub last year, I don't think Jolie would have made it this year even if it was an Eastwood film.
I also feel that Amy Adams being ignored last year for Enchanted which I felt was better work from her than her work in Doubt helped her to a degree this year. Not that it was a large factor, but I certainly think it helped.
I also feel that more voters will see performances like Michelle Williams in Wendy and Lucy or Sally Hawkins in Happy-Go-Lucky and will try to make it up to them, the next time that they're in a baity movie even if they really don't deserve it that time. Maybe not them or maybe not both of them, but certainly someone who was snubbed today will probably get an IOU nomination at the very least in the near future to make up for it. When Christopher Nolan starts Oscar begging, I'd watch out because he'll probably be a lock to win.
Further, thanks Michael about the news about John Williams being forgotten which I didn't even notice because of all the hubub of the snubs today of populist fare. That's certainly another small bright spot to think about.
Finally, I hope I'm not coming across as too eager or even smug, but I'm dying to know who the winner of the Best Actress contest was. I have a feeling that I know who did, but I just would like it confirmed. :)
We do have lives. Love of great movies is a part of them. And these awards, though their decisions are seldom great, are in the business of honouring great movies. At least on paper. And the prestige that comes with winning or being nominated can help a great actor or writer or director earn the clout they need to be able to keep making great movies. That's why we care. That, and it's fun.
Oh My God! Here we go again! Poor Meryl - she gives a unique, complicated, powerful performance different from anything she's ever done before and work that truly contributes greatly to the interest of the film and people say - she's sleepwalking!!! That's why she can't get another oscar or 2 or 3 or 4 - everyone just keeps taking her brilliance for granted. Oh by God!
And then someone writes but "it was painful for me to watch Streep the actress struggle to hold it" [referrinig to the scene with Hoffman]. Oh please - where in her career has she ever given any indication that she can't hold a scene if she wants to with any actor? The way she played that scene was a CHOICE - you may hate the choice but to even remotely imagine that Meryl Streep couldn't hold a scene with Philip Seymour Hoffman, if she (and the director) thought is was the best way to go for the scene, is ludicrous!
I totally understand people loving Kate Winslet and wanting her to get formal recognition for her brilliance. She is a wondrous actress with, hopefully, many, many more wondrous years (and roles) ahead of her.
But please, if we're gonna nominate some people because they were cheated in previous years, or because they've had a really good year (or two), and some people because they do one brilliant performance in a tailor-made role of a lifetime, or because they've been trudging away for years and also happen upon a role of a lifetime, it just seems we can take another opportunity to acknowledge someone who has delivered consistent, extremely high-level work for DECADES with another win. Meryl Streep hasn't won an Oscar in 25 years!!!! I mean, come on! For some of you I'm not sure a movie could contain a role that could ever win Meryl another oscar.
That said, I agree about the very end of DOUBT. The tearful delivery just seems so wrong. Not badly done - just badly chosen. Who's to say where the balance of responsibility for that choice lies - how much with Shanley, Streep, the editor? But Meryl's still extremely exciting and fascinating in the movie and winning an oscar for this performance would not be an embarrassment to anyone.
If we believe the idea that "Benjamin Button" has to be awarded someplace and isn't getting picture, director, screenplay, or supporting actress, could Brad Pitt really win this? It feels like his "time" and all, and it worked for Tilda Swinton.
Any helpings of crow should be sent my way re: Patel, Pitt, Jolie and Leo.
That's all.
If kate would catched her records(I don't think so,by the way)
But she is so differ from meryl.
meryl streep was in her thirties when she started in movie "Julia"
and Winslet was in her teens(16, I guess)!
Meryl was holds the record an oscar
in 2003. when she has been career only 25 years.
billybil, i agree with you wholeheartedly about meryl streep. everyone (academy members included) recognizes her enormous talent but won't accompany that recognition with an actual award.
every year she gets nominated and loses, it's gets justified because well, "it was not her best work"!!! she implicitly competes against herself and not the other nominees ---it's not how meryl streep's performance fared against the others', but against all of meryl streep's own previous performances. that's just silly.
it should be about the work under consideration.
meryl streep is the finest actress ever, and her performance in "doubt" is easily one of the most memorable and riveting, including the tearful ending.
Mike Leigh is not a first time nominee in the original screenplay.
alluhrey and billybil
you're both ABSOLUTELY right that it's hard to win and not really fair to continually compete against your own greatness... but here's something to consider that makes that easier to deal with: it's also MUCH easier to get nominated if you're expected to be great in everything you do.
when Streep & Winslet make a movie, they're in the race. even if they're not nominated they're in the fight. Simple as pie. Melissa Leo certainly can't say that. Neither can, say, Marisa Tomei.
Streep and Winslet (and any other "default" nominees) CAN phone it in and be considered for a nomination. Less respected actors can't. PLEASE NOTE: I'm not saying they phoned it in this year ;)
but the unfairness of it goes in both directions.
One other lesson we can take from this: the British have major CLOUT. The parallelisms between the BAFTA and Oscar noms (minus the Patel nom in lead) should tell us something. They got Atonement in last year while a lot of other people were beginning to write it off, and this year we have The Reader.
Is this the worse group of nominees ever? I'm kinda thinking so.
Worst group ever? Maybe. I think it's more interesting in just how much it misses summarizing this film year as a whole.
OK - agreed - Streep and Winslet are always "in" it but that's because they've earned (and continue to earn) their right to always be "in" it.
I don't know if Winslet will have the same sort of career change that Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer (God I miss her so much!!!) faced - right now I really doubt it but I felt the same way about Pfeiffer at one time - so who's to say.
And of course it's awful for gifted actresses like Melissa Leo - from the clips I've seen I'm quite sure I'm going to really respect her performance this year - who are very, very good but never quite get the juicy-enough roles.
But this further indicates why Streep, even more than the divine Winslet, deserves all kinds of accolades. Year after year after year for 25 years she's kept "in" it and not in an embarrassing way.
Hell, I almost wish we'd declare Meryl Streep the Uber-Queen of film actresses, give her 5 oscars and be done with it (like Candice Bergen did for Murphy Brown, she could then remove herself from consideration each year) so that we could adore and lavish praise on all the very deserving "lesser" goddesses!
I do understand how tired people get of Meryl this and Meryl that - and I do think this also contributes to her not getting awards - hell, the press were already talking about such a backlash way back in the 80's for God's sake - but it just seems so wrong that she's gone so long without an award.
I do care too much about this, it's true, (and I'm obviously too verbose about it, too) but how often do we get to acknowledge such long-term, consistent, superior accomplishments in any art form?
Thanks alluhrey for the amplification and Nathaniel for serious consideration and insight. I'm going to bed!
Maybe worst was a little harsh but, lacking imagination? Like come on academy, why do you even exist at this rate.
Regarding 'The Reader' I must say I was expecting it to make the list and I'm glad it did I predicted it on my blog http://encorentertainmnt.blogspot.com/
The two saddest snubs for me were
Kristin Scott Thomas and Leonardo DiCaprio and I was shocked at the snub for 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', I guess AMPAS has fallen out of love with Woody...
Kevin D, I agree exactly. It definitely lacks imagination.
When they surprise, as they do with The Reader, it's only because we expected too much (WALL.E vs The Dark Knight). When they don't surprise, it's because we know their patterns. It's getting ridiculous
I'm really quite sad that Rock Me Sexy Jesus wasn't nominated.
As for Streep, I wanted her to win for Adaptation. As for Doubt, I just wasn't crazy about her performance or the film. Even if she doesn't win an Oscar this year, she has been in two of the most popular films ever recently--The Devil Wears Prada and Mamma Mia, so it's not as if she isn't getting attention.
I'm still thinking Anne Hathaway will win this year and if she does, she'll be sorry.
Maybe worst was a little harsh but, lacking imagination? Like come on academy, why do you even exist at this rate.
Yes, I was really harsh on the Globes for some of their nominations this year especially Tom Cruise, but at least they do provide some surprises (some good some not), their award show is a lot more fun, and it's a nice reasonable length for all the people that do have to go to work early on Monday mornings.
I know critics always say that the Oscars are irreverent, but this year I'm beginning to think so too which is a scary thought considering how excited I usually am at about them especially at this time of year even when I don't agree with their nominations.
I loved The Reader. It had some slight structural issues but out of the Best Picture contenders (haven't seen Frost/Nixon yet) it's my favourite. Although I will say that I preferred The Wrestler, which most certainly should have gotten Picture and Director nominations.
I haven't seen Revolutionary Road so I can't compare Kate to Kate, but her performance in The Reader is the best performance I have ever seen from her (with the possible exception of Eternal Sunshine). And since I would say she has the most screentime of any actor in the film, I would call it Best Actress material. For those that say she doesn't quite have enough, I have two words: Anthony. Hopkins.
On that note, Rourke over Penn for Best Actor (highly possible) and Brolin over Ledger for Supporting Actor (never going to happen). Oh, and I haven't seen Doubt yet, but I would pick Henson over Cruz for Supporting Actress.
I will say that Jolie deserves her nomination, but I'd be happier if she had taken Page's place in the 2008 race. That way, both Sally Hawkins and Melissa Leo could have been given spots.
And thank God Woody Allen didn't get an Original Screenplay nomination... that shit was weak.
While no female cinematographers were nominated in the Cinematography category, Ellen Kuras got nominated for her documentary, so ya gotta be happy for that.
I agree on "yay for Woody not getting a screenplay nomination"... I found the writing overly verbose, unrealistic, and in need of an editor. I wanted to predict a snub for Woody, simply since there was so much competition from fresher new voices, but I couldn't quite do it. I do think it was just a case of them having too much to choose from... I doubt they "fell out of love" so much as that they all thought Woody would get in anyway, so they voted for other films.
But I absolutely loved Penelope Cruz. She cut right through the fat in Woody's script, and was so very memorable. I'm glad she's the film's only nom. Give her the win now, please.
Brad Pitt's ludicrous New Orleens accent had me going to the lobby for popcorn when he said, "Mama, you got cone-bred fuh brekfust?"
Am I the only one who's very happy that Taraji and Brad both got in? I'm sad about The Boss but I think its pretty cool to see M.I.A. at the Oscars singing her nominated song. I'm a little bummed that Eddie Marsan and James Franco didn't get in. No Dark Knight?? Seriously?
Yay for Melissa Leo!!!
Could Benjamin Button be stronger than we think? it did, after all, get two acting nominations when it really was locked for either of them (and since one is Pitt...)
Hmmm.
I think I'm going to go for Courtney Hunt in Original Screenplay. I know she won't win, but it would be special if she did.
Meryl Streep's feature film debut was "Julia" in 1977. She was 28 years old. Kate Winslet's was "Heavenly Creatures" in 1994. She was 19 years old. In the 15 years that Kate has been acting in movies she has received six Oscar nominations. Meryl, in the same amount of time, had received nine. Not to mention she received a Bachelor's degree(Vassar) and Master's degree (Yale), performed often on Broadway, received a Tony nomination, and won an Emmy for a TV movie BEFORE her Oscar nominations began. Kate might just be able to reach and break Meryl's record...eventually but what Meryl has been able to achieve in her life not only as an actress but as a human being is astonishing.
^LOL
...thanks?
meryl streep people -- why is everyone so defensive? I just said that Kate is her only threat to most nominations ever by citing Kate's youth.
It's very true that Meryl started late (as compared to Kate) but they're both phenomenal actors. I love them both. I'm just talking about numbers.
nat, thanks for the perspective-share earlier.
it's frustrating isn't it when numbers between the two actresses are compared?
but that's because numbers have many permutations and interpretations. geez, i'm still computing the other numbers in these two actresses charts and can't finish...
OH MY GOD, Nathaniel - I just saw that I got the Comment du jour - I feel like Kate Winslet at the Golden Globes!! Seriously, I'm really thrilled!
There's no need to be sarcastic and mean, Glenn.
I so disagree with people who think Winslet's 'Rev Road' was the best Female Lead of the year... her performance was good yes, but the film itself was junk... dialogues like "you are the best thing in the world... you are a man"??? I mean, hello!!!... is this the 1950s?? atleast "Hannah" is a far more complex and nuanced role...
truly speaking, I think Melissa Leo deserves to win (and she most certainly won't)... my next pref would be Hawkins (but wait she isn't even nominated)...
but its Winslet's yr I guess... what bugs me though is her desperation to win... I mean the category fraud was so obvious... and then she does that stupid thing on TV poking fun at Holocaust victims...I mean, give it a break Miss Winslet!!... we all know you wanna win, and probably you deserve it after 6 noms... but don't overdo it! atleast not at the cost of the millions who suffered and died... Oops, theres me going political again...
that atleast leaves Viola Davis' chances open... a brilliant actress (and not half as greedy as Winslet I might say)...and she does wonders with the few minutes she is on screen...
"I mean, hello!!!... is this the 1950s??"
The movie is set in the 1950's.
@Anonymous
which is exactly why it is outdated and junk!:)...
but yes, I get your point... nevertheless the subject matter could have been dealt with in far more innovative ways... the directing is crap... as the film does nothing but re-enforce stereotypes... I guess its much to do with Yates' novel... that was utter junk to begin with! one could hardly imagine Mendes to do any better... despite good performances by Leo and Winslet
To: billybil: I think you love Streep even more than I do ... I thought that was impossible.
I also must add one thing ,that IMO, Streep never plays the same role twice ( that was evident when she won the AFI award )... Kate seems rather a one note actress in some of her roles... Eternal... being her best performance ... aagain, IMO.
I'm surprised by the number of people lamenting the lack of acting noms for Slumdog Millionaire. Not only does the film with its unforgiveably weak and melodramatic second half not deserve the best pic nom, the performances are - across the board - ranging from mediocre to terrible (Freida Pinto I'm looking at you).
I think it's a sad sad thing that the two ballsiest American movies of 2008 - Synecdoche, New York and The Dark Knight - were so shamefully passed over.
don't forget the unexpected but well deserved: Anne Hathaway!
I think this will be a rather interesting Oscar ceremony, given its nominees. I will be looking close to the "second winners" faces when they read the names loud.
I can't wait!
Cheers
Henry
http://www.everyyachtcharter.com
Bruce Springsteen is overblown. His song "The Wrestler" is nothing special and sounds like every single damn song he has made in the last 10 years.
He's going down the Bob Dylan road: becoming lazy and mediocre, and the voice becoming more and more incoherent every time we hear it.
I didn't even like Springsteen's older "classics". I'd rather have John Cougar Mellancamp for the quintessential rocker that's as American as apple pie. Hell, I'd even settle for Bryan Adams (and he's Canadian!)
On another note, I'm also so happy the Academy didn't bestow a nomination on Miley Cyrus *shudder*
GO PETER GABRIEL!!!
Slumdog is a absolute disappointment mainly because it’s an overrated film. With a totally unrealistic and horribly predictable plot. With the exception of the child actors, the acting (in particular the main actor) is lousy and sluggish. Kite runner, Benjamin Button or Milk are far better films with more entertaining plots and superior acting prowess to deliver greater depth to the screen.
The actors are not in charge of submission for nominations but the studios or production companies.
Kate Winslet was a last minute replacement for The Reader which is quite astonishing given the complexity of the film.
Slumdog, Boyle, Penn, Winslet, Cruz and Ledger will be the winners. Anybody else will be considered an upset.
I caught The Visitor when it was in theaters, and it was one of my favorite films of the whole year! Richard Jenkins from Six Feet Under was outstanding, and I really hope he wins the Oscar for best actor! The Visitor is now on DVD, and I definitely plan on buying a copy for myself and my girlfriend. If you haven't seen the movie yet, you can find more info here:
http://www.thevisitorfilm.com/
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