Not bad.
That's my intial reaction. There are a few stupid ones and a few big snubs, but overall this years Oscar nominations are pretty much in keeping with this years Golden Globe nomiations: they're pretty good, although there aren't really any surprises. Of course if the winners are anything like the Golden Globes, I may have to take a railroad spike to my frontal lobe. But I'm hoping it won't come to that.
Anyway, on that note, let's take a look at this years nominations
BEST PICTURE
THE NOMINEES
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up In The Air
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
District 9
A Serious Man
Up (not that surprised; I'm just really really happy)
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
The Blind Side (okay so I haven't seen it but it just looks bad)
THE SNUBS
(500) Days of Summer
The Cove
Watchmen (it was never going to happen)
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
The Blind Side
The Hurt Locker
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
The Hurt Locker. Even though Avatar won the Golden Globe, based on critical word of mouth The Hurt Locker deserves to win. And based on the guild awards, it probably will.
THE RUNNER UP
Avatar
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
Up in the Air, Inglourious Basterds
MY PERSONAL PICK
I'm secretly rooting for Up of course, but based on films that could actually possibly win, consider me an Inglourious Basterds supporter.
p.s. I'm so happy The Hangover didn't get nominated. Just saying.
James Cameron directs Sam Worthington in a scene from AvatarBEST DIRECTOR
THE NOMINEES
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
James Cameron - Avatar
Lee Daniels - Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
None. Not a surprise among them. The 5 we all knew would be nominated.
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
None. I have my list of snubs, but I'd be hard pressed to say who here shouldn't be. Maybe Lee Daniels?
THE SNUBS
Neill Blomkamp - District 9
Joel & Ethan Coen - A Serious Man
Jody Hill - Observe and Report
Richard Kelly - The Box (shut up, I liked it okay?)
Zack Snyder - Watchmen (most people will probably disagree with me)
Marc Webb - (500) Days of Summer
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
The Hurt Locker
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
Kathryn Bigelow; she won the directors guild award. That being said, unlike the Best Picture category, I do think Cameron is somewhat deserving of a win here.
THE RUNNER UP
James Cameron
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
Quentin Tarantino
MY PERSONAL PICK
Quentin Tarantino (keeping in mind I haven't seen The Hurt Locker)
Director Kathyrn Bigelow on the set of the Iraq War action drama The Hurt LockerBEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
THE NOMINEES
Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Colin Firth - A Single Man
Morgan Freeman - Invictus
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
Jeremy Renner (based on word of mouth, this is something of a surprise)
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
Morgan Freeman (he was good, but it's such an obvious pick)
THE SNUBS
Adrien Brody - The Brothers Bloom
Sharlto Copley - District 9
Willem Dafoe - Antichrist
Matt Damon - The Informant!
John Malkovich - Disgrace (if anyone had seen it)
Max Records - Where The Wild Things Are
Sam Rockwell - Moon
Seth Rogen - Observe and Report
Michael Stuhlberg - A Serious Man
...seriously, how many good male performances were there this year! They should have expanded this category to 10.
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
Crazy Heart
The Hurt Locker
A Single Man
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
Based on word of mouth, Jeff Bridges has this one locked
THE RUNNER UP
George Clooney
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
Colin Firth
MY PERSONAL PICK
Based on the ones I've seen, George Clooney
Jeff Bridges plays a washed up country music star in Crazy HeartBEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
THE NOMINEES
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Helen Mirren - The Last Station
Carey Mulligan - An Education
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
Gabourney Sidibe (I thought they were just going to give Meryl two)
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
Haven't seen enough of them to comment
THE SNUBS
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Antichrist
Zoe Saldana - Avatar (arguably, I'm not sure I even agree, but worth mentioning)
Rachel Weisz - The Brothers Bloom
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
The Blind Side
Julie and Julia
The Last Station
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
Sandra Bullock
THE RUNNER UP
I need to see more before I can say
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
Carey Mulligan
MY PERSONAL PICK
Carey Mulligan
Sandra Bullock in the apparently inspiring football film The Blind SideBEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
THE NOMINEES
Matt Damon - Invictus
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
Woody Harrelson (although I haven't seen it, most people are pleasantly surprised by this nomination)
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
Matt Damon
THE SNUBS
Jackie Earle Haley - Watchmen
Tom Felton - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Zack Galifanakis - The Hangover
Fred Melamed - A Serious Man
Alfred Molina - An Education
Mark Rufalo - The Brothers Bloom
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
The Last Station
The Messenger
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
Christoph Waltz
THE RUNNER UP
Christoph Waltz will claim this prize as well. Okay seriously, probably Stanley Tucci
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
Haven't seen enough to say. But frankly, Christoph Waltz is guaranteed to win 100%
MY PERSONAL PICK
Christoph Waltz
Christoph Waltz as the sinister Colonel Hans Landa in Inglourious BasterdsACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
THE NOMINEES
Penelope Cruz - Nine
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air
Mo’Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
None.
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
None.
THE SNUBS
Jessica Haines - Disgrace
Rinko Kikuchi - The Brothers Bloom
Melanie Laurent - Inglourious Basterds
Kristen Scott Thomas - Easy Virtue
Celia Weston - Observe and Report
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
Crazy Heart
Nine
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
Mo'Nique
THE RUNNER UP
Anna Kendrick
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
Vera Farmiga
MY PERSONAL PICK
Mo'Nique
Mo'Nique in a uncharacteritically dark role as an abusive mother in PreciousBEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
THE NOMINEES
Neill Blomkamp - District 9
Nick Hornby - An Education
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche - In the Loop
Geoffrey Fletcher - Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner - Up in the Air
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
District 9
In The Loop
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
An Education. The film was carried by it's acting; I thought the script itself was fairly unremarkable.
THE SNUBS
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Watchmen
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
None.
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
Up in the Air
THE RUNNER UP
An Education
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
Precious
MY PERSONAL PICK
Up in the Air
Jason Reitman, the writer/director of Up in the AirBEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
THE NOMINEES
Mark Boal - The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds
Oren Moverman - The Messenger
Joel and Ethan Coen - A Serious Man
Pete Docter and Bob Peterson - Up
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
A Serious Man
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
None.
THE SNUBS
(500) Days of Summer
The Brothers Bloom
Moon
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
The Hurt Locker
The Messenger
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
Inglourious Basterds
THE RUNNER UP
Up
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
A Serious Man, The Hurt Locker
MY PERSONAL PICK
A Serious Man (honestly though I'd be really happy with Up or Inglourious Basterds as well)
Quentin Tarantino, the writer/director of Inglourious BasterdsBEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE NOMINEES
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of the Kells (I've never heard of it either)
Up
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
None. Pretty standard (with one strange exception)
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
I thought both Coraline and Fantastic Mr. Fox were good, but I can think of a couple of animated films I would have take their place if I could. That being said, all the nominations seem deserving.
THE SNUBS
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Mary and Max
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
The Secret of the Kells
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
Up
THE RUNNER UP
Fantastic Mr. Fox
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
Um...maybe Coraline?
MY PERSONAL PICK
Up (did you guess?)
A scene from Disney Pixar's Up, my favourite film of 2009BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
THE NOMINEES
Ajami - Israel
El Secreto de sus Ojos - Argentina
The Milk of Sorrow - Peru
Une Prophéte - France
The White Ribbon - Germany
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
...
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
...
THE SNUBS
Samson & Delilah - Australia
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
Um...all of them
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
The White Ribbon (based on word of mouth)
THE RUNNER UP
Une Prophéte
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
I have no idea
MY PERSONAL PICK
Let me see one or two and then I'll get back to you.
...
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
...
THE SNUBS
Samson & Delilah - Australia
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
Um...all of them
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
The White Ribbon (based on word of mouth)
THE RUNNER UP
Une Prophéte
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
I have no idea
MY PERSONAL PICK
Let me see one or two and then I'll get back to you.
A scene from Michael Haneke's Palm d'Or winning The White RibbonBEST DOCUMENTARY
THE NOMINEES
Burma VJ
The Cove
Food, Inc
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Which Way Home
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
...
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
...
THE SNUBS
Anvil: The Story of Anvil (I haven't seen it but I know a lot of people thought it was great)
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
Food, Inc
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Which Way Home
Burma VJ
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
The Cove
THE RUNNER UP
Food, Inc (by virtue of it being the only other one I've heard of).
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
No clue.
MY PERSONAL PICK
The Cove
A scene from The Cove, a powerful film about dolphin slaughter in JapanBEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE NOMINEES
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The White Ribbon
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (I thought the film looked gorgeous).
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
None.
THE SNUBS
Antichrist
The Box
District 9
Moon
Samson & Delilah (it was never going to happen)
Where The Wild Things Are
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
The Hurt Locker
The White Ribbon
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
The White Ribbon
THE RUNNER UP
Avatar
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
The Hurt Locker
MY PERSONAL PICK
Based on the ones I've seen, I guess I'd have to go with Avatar
The three leads in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceBEST ORIGINAL SCORE
THE NOMINEES
James Horner - Avatar
Alexandre Desplat - Fantastic Mr. Fox
Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders - The Hurt Locker
Hans Zimmer - Sherlock Holmes
Michael Giacchino - Up
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
Sherlock Holmes
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
Avatar (it was good but not all that memorable)
THE SNUBS
Clint Mansell - Moon
Win Butler - The Box
Karen O - Where The Wild Things Are
J. Ralph - The Cove
Carter Burwell - A Serious Man
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
The Hurt Locker
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
Up
THE RUNNER UP
Avatar
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
Sherlock Holmes
MY PERSONAL PICK
Up
Acclaimed film composer Hans Zimmer wrote the score for Sherlock HolmesBEST ORIGINAL SONG
THE NOMINEES
"Almost There" - The Princess and the Frog
"Down in New Orleans" - The Princess and the Frog
"Loin de Paname" - Paris 36
"Take It All" - Nine
"The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart
THE PLEASANT SURPRISES
None. I just don't care about this category this year. Bring back Slumdog Millionaire!
THE ONES THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE
I haven't seen Nine but I've heard from a lot of people that most of the music was pretty disappointing.
THE SNUBS
"Petey's Song" - Fantastic Mr. Fox (because it made me LOL)
THE ONES I STILL NEED TO SEE
Crazy Heart
Nine
Paris 36
THE INEVITABLE WINNER
A bit hard for me to say. I'm thinking it'll probably be "The Weary Kind."
THE RUNNER UP
No idea.
THE OUTSIDE CHANCES
No idea.
MY PERSONAL PICK
I barely remember the songs from The Princess and the Frog, but I seem to recall humming along to "Almost There".
A scene from Disney's latest animated musical, The Princess and the FrogAnd I've decided not to bother going in depth with the really minor awards because, well...I'm lazy. But for those of you who are REALLY interested:
BEST ART DIRECTION
THE NOMINEES
Avatar
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Nine
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria
COSTUME DESIGN
THE NOMINEES
Bright Star
Coco avant Chanel
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Nine
The Young Victoria
BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)
THE NOMINEES
China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province
The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant
Music by Prudence
Rabbit à la Berlin
BEST FILM EDITING
THE NOMINEES
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Precious
BEST MAKEUP
THE NOMINEES
Il Divo
Star Trek
The Young Victoria
BEST SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
THE NOMINEES
French Roast
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty
The Lady and the Reaper
Logorama
A Matter of Loaf and Death
BEST SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
THE NOMINEES
The Door
Instead of Abracadabra
Kavi
Miracle Fish
The New Tenants
SOUND EDITING
THE NOMINEES
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Up
SOUND MIXING
THE NOMINEES
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
VISUAL EFFECTS
THE NOMINEES
Avatar
District 9
Star Trek
Like I said though, not a bad list of nominations. Avatar and The Hurt Locker lead the race with 9 nominations each, Inglourious Basterds gets 8, Precious gets 6 and Up gets 5. The biggest snubs in my mind are Moon and (500) Days of Summer, as well as Where The Wild Things Are (a film I didn't actually like that much, but still had a lot of good things going for it). Neither of Australia's great hopes got nominated (Mary and Max, Samson and Delilah), although I'm hardly surprised at this.
There are still a lot of films I need to see before the ceremony; chief among them The Hurt Locker, The Blind Side, Crazy Heart, A Single Man, The Messenger, The Last Station, The White Ribbon as well as all the other foreign and documentary nominees. I'm also now dying to see The Secret of the Kells, the Irish/Belgian/French animated film that was the fifth nomination for Best Animated Feature. Most of these films have Australian release dates in February...some my never reach our shores.
Today also kicks of the LAMBs Devour the Oscar's event over at the Large Association of Movie Blogs, where each day up until the winners are announced on March 7th, a different LAMB member well be discussing a different category and/or best picture nomination in detail. I myself will be dissecting the Best Animated Feature nominees, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.
So what do YOU think of this years Oscar nominations? How about that James Cameron ey?
