Well, I know there are a number of poo-poo people who diss the Oscar's for its pomp and circumstance. But I like it. It is the industry voting on its own ... it has nothign to do with what is best or not ...
taken like that, I sit back and just enjoy the buzz...
Well, Heath is up for best supporting role ... likely a shoe-in...
Only other easy pics I see are Wall-E for animated and perhaps Mickey for actor....
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Frost/Nixon
* Milk
* The Reader
* Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in Directing
* David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
* Gus Van Sant, Milk
* Stephen Daldry, The Reader
* Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
* Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
* Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
* Sean Penn, Milk
* Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
* Josh Brolin, Milk
* Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
* Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
* Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
* Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
* Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
* Angelina Jolie, Changeling
* Melissa Leo, Frozen River
* Kate Winslet. The Reader
* Meryl Streep, Doubt
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
* Amy Adams, Doubt
* Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
* Viola Davis, Doubt
* Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
I have to say I'm pretty disappointed with the noms this year. I really didn't think much of Benjamin Button, and I'm pretty much not interested in much else other than Slumdog Millionaire which I did enjoy. I'd definitely see Milk though.
The Oscars are my Superbowl, but I just can't get behind any of the teams so much this year. I did want to see The Dark Knight up there for best picture, even though I don't think it deserves to win. And while I didn't think it was likely, I'm a little disappointed to not see Wall-E up there, which has my pick for best picture of this last year, surprisingly. And I'm very surprised to not see Cate Blanchett up for BB, but seeing a nom (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh run!) for Brad Pitt. Then again, I didn't think either did an outstanding job, and thought the best person in it was Tilda Swinton. Which makes the second Cate performance I was disappointed with this year (the other starring a certain archeologist).
And the music category really shrunk this year. Probably to make more time for the show, as they have to do the entire song during the broadcast. Funny that Bruce Springsteen wasn't nominated though, when he took the Golden Globe.
Life is a waste of time
Time is a waste of life
So get wasted all of the time
And you'll have the time of your life
Well, that's part of the point, it seems, for the Oscars - to get people into the theaters. And typically the film distributors throw all of their Oscar contenders at this time of the year so that they will drum up the business from Oscar noms. A lot of Oscar nominees get considerably more box office after they have been nominated than before. And they tend to rerelease in theaters those movies that came out earlier in the year (Crash is an example of this). It's just good bidnuss.
Life is a waste of time
Time is a waste of life
So get wasted all of the time
And you'll have the time of your life
True enough, I think there were movies here and there over the years that I went to see only because of Oscar buzz. But, except for maybe Wall-E, none of the others interest me in the slightest. The guys may convince me to watch Batman, but I doubt it...
Infelice wrote:My thoughts .... for what theyre worth.
Best Motion Picture of the Year
* Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in Directing
* Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
* Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
* Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
* Kate Winslet. The Reader
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
* Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Some good guessing there, Infelice: you got 4 out of 6 correct on your list!
I'm happy for Kate Winslet. I've liked her ever since I first saw her in Sense & Sensibility.
I think the most meaningful part of the show, aside from the awards, is when they remember those in the industry who died in the past year. It helps bring a sense of closure, whether it's for a big name or a person who toiled in the shadows. I think that's when the ceremony is at its most emotionally genuine.