2009 OSCARS: And The Nominees Are...- Page 4

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 12:58pm

Which mediocre performance do you mean?

The inherently charming, but ultimately lacking, Dev Patel.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 2:26pm

Oh, I TOTALLY agree. yawn.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 1:47am

Matt, I was speaking generally. There isn't much of a showing of women in this industry, and every year it's the same thing--a couple of women might get nominated in certain categories, but rarely outside of those categories.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 4:02am

I really really liked Benjamin Button. I'm glad that got recognized.

But aside from that, none of the Oscar bait really stood out.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 5:26am

When you think about it- Elizabeth Taylor won for Buttefield 8,
a truly wretched "womens picture" of the time because she was deathly ill and it was the Academy's way of paying tribute to her while she was still alive. Then she fooled 'em all and lived!
So they can be sentimental but giving an award to dead person profits no one. Not the agent who can ask more for the next picture, not the studio who can use it for marketing, not other actors who want to work w an Academy Award winner. Peter Finch won for an excellent performance but had they known he'd be deceased just after the voting, I'd rather doubt he'd have received the award. Did Heath Ledger give a performance worthy of an award. Yes. Will his performance win one? Not so sure.
A tie is the only thing that would make everyone happy. The (live) winner could give all sorts of kudos to his co-winner and the profit structure conts.
But I'm a bitter and cynical ole lady.

[Icehouse Life]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 5:43am

...And, assuming if just Heath Ledger only wins the Best Supporting Actor award, who will act as presenter for Best Supporting Actress the following year since traditionally the previous winner presents the Best Supporting Actor/Actress category like last year's Best Actor/Actress winners present the reverse categories?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 12:53pm

Is that really going to factor into someone's vote? That Ledger would be unavailable to present the next year?

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 1:47pm

This might be because I'm a kid, but I actually DO wish that at least one song from "High School Musical 3" was nominated for Best Song. I wouldn't want one to win, but I would've liked a nomination. They're mindless cheesy pop, but some of the songs are kind of catchy. I really liked "Scream" in particular, even though it's not at all the style of music I usually like.

[Broadwaywest2]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 1:47pm

Well, I would love to see Robert Downey Jr. win the oscar for tropic thunder. He took an insanley challenging part and really made it his own and was f****** in it. Even though I did enjoy Heath in Dark Knight, I just though Robert Downey was better. Actually I think Heath gave a better performance in Brokeback Mountain.

I was surprised that Wall*E which was on every critics top ten list was not nominated for best films If foreign films can be nominnated for best picture why not animated?

I was disappointed in the nominations of Brad Pitt and Amy Adams. I've never been a big fan of Brad Pitt, but he just was not that interesting in benjamin buttons, especially with such a great supporting cast around him. Amy Adams, who should have been nominated for enchanted and won for Junebug, I just didn't understand her nomination. It's not really her fault, the part is just not that very interesting, I felt she was more the observer, kind of a representation of the audience.

And lastly once again my grievence with the oscars year after year where are the comedies???!!!!

So many actors and directors have said that comedy is much harder to do then drama, so why is it not recognized as much?
Ususally if there is a comedy nominated it mostly has an element of drama in the film. Why can't a a great movie just be a fun one?

I would have loved to have seen James Franco for his fantastic performance in Pineapple Express or Tom Cruise, in one of the best performances of his career in Tropic Thunder.

[Icehouse Life]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 1:56pm

Just a thought on that, BobbyBubby.

You know, I like sabrelady's thought of possibly having a tie in that category to alleviate that situation, which was why I wrote my piece.

Next week, I'll get into my thoughts on Osky more.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 2:17pm

See? I thought Amy Adams was truly impressive in DOUBT. She took a part that could be plain or boring, and fleshed out all the complexities within Sister James. Meryl Streep said this and I agree, in many ways DOUBT is about Sister James and the way her world and her beliefs are shaken up by this situation between her two superiors. Adams portrayed this to perfection by carefully showing the transformation that Sister James goes through, at the end of the day, she is the one who has the biggest arc as a character. I thought it was a very understated performance quite deserving of the nod.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 3:26pm

I too was unimpressed by Amy Adams' performance. In fact, I was unimpressed by the entire cast of DOUBT, save for Viola Davis. I'm a huge Meryl Streep fan, but I don't think she deserved to be nominated for (what I think was) a mediocre performance, let alone win.

Re Ledger: I read on IMDb that they had conducted a poll to see who should accept his Oscar should he win next month. Leading the pack are Michelle Williams and their daughter Matilda, followed closely by his parents, then director Christopher Nolan a distance behind, and, lastly, co-star Christian Bale.

Interesting question. I'd go with his parents since Ledger and Williams were broken up by then.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 5:16pm

I haven't seen "The Wrestler," but I heard yesterday that Springsteen's song only plays over the credits. If that is true, and it isn't played anywhere else in the actual film, his song was ineligible for Oscar consideration in the Best Original Song category.

The Golden Globe Awards don't have that rule. But the Academy started doing that a few years ago.

Has anyone seen it? Anybody know?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 9:35pm

Besty, "The Wrestler" was indeed eligible.

http://www.altfg.com/blog/awards/oscar-2009-best-song-longlist/

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 9:40pm

And is the "credits only" rule new? Chicago got a nod for their credit only tune.

[jasonf]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 9:46pm

Why is this best song thing so hard? If a song premieres in a movie, it should be eligible. Period.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 11:45pm

Thanks, BobbyBubby.

As far as when the "credits only" ineligibility rule went into effect, I'm not sure. But it was obviously after "Chicago" in 2002.

[justagirl2]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 11:59pm

I'm having a really, really tough time understanding this Best Song thing. What on Earth is their reasoning?

[Kad]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 12:11am

Doesn't Wall-E's song only play over the credits? The only non-orchestral music in the film itself are the highlights from Hello, Dolly!

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 12:47pm

I love the Wall-E song and I hope it wins! And also, I thought Viola Davis was good, but not great until her last 2-3 minutes.

I'm also rooting for Benjamin Button to win Best Picture. Way better than Slumdog.

[Jon]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:21pm

I saw Revolutionary Road yesterday, and I cannont believe that Leo DiCaprio was not nominated. It's the best performance of his career.

Certainly more impressive than Brad Pitt - who owes much of his performance to the make-up crew.

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/27/09 at 12:45am

Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*
The Fall
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
The Wrestler

Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler
Jonathan Demme, Rachel Getting Married
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight
Tarsem Singh, The Fall*

Best Actor
Michael Fassbender, Hunger
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Ben Kingsley, Elegy
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler*

Finalists: Sam Rockwell (Snow Angels), Josh Brolin (W.), Leonardo DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road), Colin Farrell (In Bruges), Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon), James Franco (Pineapple Express), Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino)

Semi-finalists: Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Dustin Hoffman (Last Chance Harvey), Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges), Anton Yelchin (Charlie Bartlett)

Best Actress
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky*
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road/The Reader

Finalists: Julianne Moore (Savage Grace), Emily Mortimer (Transsiberian), Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Famke Janssen (Turn the River), Catinca Untaru (The Fall), Kristen Scott Thomas (I’ve Loved You So Long)

Semi-finalists: Cate Blanchett (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Emma Thompson (Last Chance Harvey)

Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight*
Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky
Brad Pitt, Burn After Reading
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

Finalists: Bill Irwin (Rachel Getting Married), Ralph Fiennes (The Duchess/In Bruges), John Malkovich (Burn After Reading), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), James Franco (Milk)

Semi-finalists: Stephen Dillane (Savage Grace), Emile Hirsch (Milk), Michael Pitt (Funny Games)

Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married*
Samantha Morton, Synecdoche New York
Tilda Swinton, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Finalists: Debra Winger (Rachel Getting Married), Vera Farmiga (Nothing But the Truth), Patricia Clarkson (Elegy), Lena Olin (The Reader)

Semi-finalists: Anjelica Huston (Choke), Beyonce Knowles (Cadillac Records), Shirley Henderson (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day), Amy Adams (Doubt)

Best Original Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Burn After Reading
Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
Jenny Lumet, Rachel Getting Married
Martin McDonaugh, In Bruges*

Best Adapted Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
David Gordon Green, Snow Angels
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt

Best Ensemble Cast
Burn After Reading
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Milk
Rachel Getting Married*
Snow Angels

Finalists: Revolutionary Road, Funny Games, The Dark Knight

Best Young Actor
Michael Angarano, Snow Angels
Asa Butterfield, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
David Kross, The Reader
Charlie McDermott, Frozen River
Brandon Walters, Australia
Anton Yelchin, Charlie Bartlett*

Best Young Actress
Summer Bashil, Towelhead
Kat Dennings, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Dakota Fanning, The Secret Lives of Bees
Lina Leandersson, Let the Right One In
Ashley Tisdale, High School Musical 3
Catinca Untaru, The Fall*

Best Animated Film
Bolt
Horton Hears a Who!
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E*
Waltz with Bashir

Best Foreign Film
A Christmas Tale
The Class
The Flight of the Red Balloon
Let the Right One In
Reprise*
Timecrimes

Best Documentary
American Teen
Dear Zachary
Encounters at the End of the World
I.O.U.S.A.
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

Best Original Score (Drama)
Alexandre Desplat, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*
Clint Eastwood, Changeling
Nico Muhly, The Reader
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard, The Dark Knight

Best Original Score (Musical/Comedy)
Jean-Michel Bernard, Be Kind Rewind
Carter Burwell, Burn After Reading*
Paul Englishby, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Thomas Newman, WALL-E
Gary Yershon, Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Cinematography
Claudio Miranda, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Tim Orr, Snow Angels
Wally Pfister, The Dark Knight
Mandy Walker, Australia
Colin Watkinson, The Fall*

Best Art Direction
Donald Graham Burt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ged Clarke, The Fall*
Ralph Eggleston, WALL-E
Mark Friedberg, Synecdoche, New York
Catherine Martin, Australia

Best Costume Design (Period)
Danny Glicker, Milk
Eiko Ishioka, The Fall
Catherine Martin, Australia
Michael O’Connor, The Duchess
Gabriella Salaverri, Savage Grace

Best Costume Design (Contemporary)
Jacqueline Durran, Happy-Go-Lucky
Leesa Evans, Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Patricia Field, Sex and the City*
Lindy Hemming, The Dark Knight
Mary Zophres, Burn After Reading

Best Editing
Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Chris Dickens, Slumdog Millionaire
Daniel P. Hill & Mike Hill, Frost/Nixon*
Roderick Jaynes, Burn After Reading
Tim Squyres, Rachel Getting Married

Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Iron Man
Speed Racer
Wanted

Best Make-Up
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight*
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Synecdoche, New York
The Wrestler

Best Sound
Cloverfield*
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
WALL-E
Wanted

Best Sound Editing
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Quantum of Solace
WALL-E*
Wanted

Best Original Song
“Another Way to Die” – Quantum of Solace
“The Call” – The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
“Down to Earth” – WALL-E
“Dracula’s Lament” – Forgetting Sarah Marshall
“Gran Torino” – Gran Torino
“I Thought I Lost You” – Bolt
“Rock Me Sexy Jesus” – Hamlet 2
"The Wrestler” – The Wrestler* Updated On: 2/4/09 at 12:45 AM