2008 Award Nominations

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Yep, it's that time of year again. Get out your score cards!!

Spirit Award Nominations!



Best Feature
"Ballast"
Producers: Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh
"Frozen River"
Producers: Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae
"Rachel Getting Married"
Producers: Neda Armian, Jonathan Demme, Marc Platt
"Wendy and Lucy"
Producers: Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani
"The Wrestler"
Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin

Best Director
Ramin Bahrani, "Chop Shop"
Jonathan Demme, "Rachel Getting Married"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Thomas McCarthy, "The Visitor"

Best First Feature
"Afterschool"
Director: Antonio Campos
Producers: Sean Durkin, Josh Mond
"Medicine for Melancholy"
Director: Barry Jenkins
Producer: Justin Barber
"Sangre de Mi Sangre"
Director: Christopher Zalla
Producers: Per Melita, Benjamin Odell
"Sleep Dealer"
Director: Alex Rivera
Producer: Anthony Bregman
"Synechdoce, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Sidney Kimmel

John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
"In Search of a Midnight Kiss"
Writer/Director: Alex Holdridge
Producers: Seth Caplan and Scoot McNairy
"Prince of Broadway"
Director: Sean Baker
Writers: Sean Baker, Darren Dean
Producer: Darren Dean
"The Signal"
Writer/Directors: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry
Producers: Jacob Gentry and Alexander Motiagh
"Take Out"
Writer/Directors/Producers: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou
"Turn the River"
Writer/Director: Chris Eigeman
Producer: Ami Armstrong

Best First Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Lance Hammer, "Ballast"
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Jonathan Levine, "The Wackness"
Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"

Best Screenplay
Woody Allen, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, "Sugar"
Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"
Howard A. Rodman, "Savage Grace"
Christopher Zalla, "Sangre de Mi Sangre"

Best Female Lead
Summer Bishil, "Towelhead"
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Tarra Riggs, "Ballast"
Michelle Williams, "Wendy and Lucy"

Best Male Lead
Javier Bardem, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Best Supporting Female
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Rosemarie DeWitt, "Rachel Getting Married"
Rosie Perez, "The Take"
Misty Upham, "Frozen River"
Debra Winger, "Rachel Getting Married"

Best Supporting Male
James Franco, "Milk"
Anthony Mackie, "The Hurt Locker"
Charlie McDermott, "Frozen River"
JimMyron Ross, "Ballast"
Haaz Sleiman, "The Visitor"

Best Cinematography
Maryse Alberti, "The Wrestler"
Lol Crowley, "Ballast"
James Laxton, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Harris Savides, "Milk"
Michael Simmonds, "Chop Shop"

Best Documentary
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
Director: Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
"Encounters at the End of the World"
Director: Werner Herzog
"Man on Wire"
Director: James Marsh
"The Order of Myths"
Director: Margaret Brown
"Up the Yangtze"
Director: Yung Chang

Best Foreign Film
"The Class" (France)
Director: Laurent Cantet
"Gomorrah" (Italy)
Director: Matteo Garrone
"Hunger" (UK/Ireland)
Director: Steve McQueen
"Secret of the Grain" (France)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
"Silent Light" (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)
Director: Carlos Reygadas

Robert Altman Award (Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast)
"Synecdoche, New York"
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy
Ensemble Cast: Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams

Someone to Watch Award
Barry Jenkins, "Medicine for Melancholy"
Nina Paley, "Sita Sings the Blues"
Lynn Shelton, "My Effortless Brilliance"

Truer Than Fiction Award
Margaret Brown, "The Order of Myths"
Sacha Gervasi, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil"
Darius Marder, "Loot"

Producers Award
Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy, "Treeless Mountain" and "I'll Come Running"
Jason Orans, "Goodbye Solo" and "Year of the Fish"
Heather Rae, "Frozen River" and "Ibid"

[Deebs]

Yep, it's that time of year again. Get out your score cards!!

Spirit Award Nominations!


Best First Feature
"Sleep Dealer"
Director: Alex Rivera
Producer: Anthony Bregman


Alex Rivera is the son of my mother's cousin. Sleep Dealer trailer and Q&A with Alex in TREF Theatre (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?p=258562#post258562)

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards


BEST PICTURE

"Changeling"
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"The Dark Knight"
"Doubt"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"
"The Reader"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"Wall-E"
"The Wrestler"

BEST ACTOR

Clint Eastwood, "Gran Torino"
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

BEST ACTRESS

Kate Beckinsale, "Nothing But the Truth"
Cate Blanchett, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep, "Doubt"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin, "Milk"
Robert Downey, Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
James Franco, "Milk"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Vera Farmiga, "Nothing But the Truth"
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"
Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"The Dark Knight"
"Doubt"
"Milk"
"Rachel Getting Married"

BEST DIRECTOR

Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Christopher Nolan, "The Dark Knight"
Gus Van Sant, "Milk"

BEST WRITER (Original or Adapted Screenplay)

Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Peter Morgan, "Frost/Nixon"
Eric Roth, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt"

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

"Bolt"
"Kung Fu Panda"
"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa"
"Wall-E"
"Waltz With Bashir"

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS (Under 21)

Dakota Fanning, "The Secret Life of Bees"
David Kross, "The Reader"
Dev Patel, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Brandon Walters, "Australia"

BEST ACTION MOVIE

"The Dark Knight"
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
"Iron Man"
"Quantum of Solace"
"Wanted"

BEST COMEDY MOVIE

"Burn After Reading"
"Forgetting Sarah Marshall"
"Role Models"
"Tropic Thunder"
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

"John Adams"
"Recount"
"Coco Chanel"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

"A Christmas Tale"
"Gomorrah"
"I've Loved You So Long"
"Let the Right One In"
"Mongol"
"Waltz With Bashir"

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

"I.O.U.S.A."
"Man On Wire"
"Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired"
"Standard Operating Procedure"
"Young At Heart"

BEST SONG

"Another Way to Die" (performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, written by Jack White), "Quantum of Solace"
"Down to Earth" (performed by Peter Gabriel, written by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman), "Wall-E"
"I Thought I Lost You" (performed Miley Cyrus and John Travolta, written by Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele), "Bolt"
"Jaiho" (performed by Sukhwinder Singh, written by A.R. Rahman and Gulzar), "Slumdog Millionaire"
"The Wrestler" (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen), "The Wrestler"

BEST COMPOSER

Alexandre Desplat, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Clint Eastwood, "Changeling"
Danny Elfman, "Milk"
Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard, "The Dark Knight"
A.R. Rahman, "Slumdog Millionaire"

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

L.A. Film Critics


PICTURE: }WALLe"
Runner up: "The Dark Knight"

DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Runner-up: Christopher Nolan, "The Dark Knight”

ACTRESS: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Runner-up: Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”

ACTOR: Sean Penn, “Milk”
Runner-up: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”

SCREENPLAY: Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Elegy"
Runner-up: Viola Davis, "Doubt"

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Runner-up: Eddie Marsan, "Happy-Go-Lucky"

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: "Still Life“ directed by Jia Zhangke
Runner-up: "The Class" directed by Laurent Cantet

DOCUMENTARY/NON-FICTION FILM: "Man on Wire" directed by James Marsh
Runner-up: "Waltz with Bashir" directed by Ari Folman

PRODUCTION DESIGN: Mark Friedberg, "Synecdoche, New York"
Runner-up: Nathan Crowley, "The Dark Knight"

ANIMATION: “Waltz with Bashir"

MUSIC/SCORE: A.R. Rahman, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Runner-up: Alexandre Desplat, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Yu Lik Wai, "Still Life"
Runner-up: Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

NEW GENERATION: Steve McQueen, “Hunger”

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT: John Calley (previously announced)

DOUGLAS E. EDWARDS INDEPENDENT/EXPERIMENTAL FILM/VIDEO: James Benning, “RR”
and “Casting a Glance”

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

New York Film Critics Circle


Best Picture - Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/)
Best Director - Mike Leigh (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005139/) (Happy-Go-Lucky (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045670/))
Best Actor - Sean Penn (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000576/) (Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/))
Best Actress - Sally Hawkins (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1020089/) (Happy-Go-Lucky (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045670/))
Best Supporting Actor - Josh Brolin (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000982/) (Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/))
Best Supporting Actress - Penelope Cruz (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004851/) (Vicky Cristina Barcelona (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497465/))
Best Screenplay - Jenny Lumet (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0525886/) (Rachel Getting Married (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1084950/))
Best Cinematographer - Anthony Dod Mantle (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0230045/) (Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/))
Best Foreign Film - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032846/)
Best Animated Film - WALL-E (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/)
Best First Film - Courtney Hunt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2581581/) (Frozen River (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0978759/))
Best Documentary - Man on Wire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155592/)

[Snowflake]

Jeez, another year where all my good intentions resulted in my seeing far fewer films than I'd wanted to. :rolleyes:

Netflix is my friend!

[Gemini Cricket]

Golden Globe Noms:

FILM
BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog MillionaireBEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY

Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
En Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina BarcelonaACTOR, DRAMA

Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The WrestlerACTRESS, DRAMA

Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary RoadACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance HarveyACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson, Last Chance HarveySUPPORTING ACTOR

Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark KnightSUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams, Doubt
Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The ReaderDIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary RoadSCREENPLAY

Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare, The Reader
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, DoubtFOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden)
Gomorrah (Italy)
I've Loved You So Long (France)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-EORIGINAL SCORE
Alexandre Desplat, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Clint Eastwood, Changeling
James Newton Howard, Defiance
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Hans Zimmer, Frost/NixonORIGINAL SONG
"Down to Earth," WALL-E; Music by: Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman; Lyrics by: Peter Gabriel
"Gran Torino," Gran Torino; Music by: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens; Lyrics by: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
"I Thought I Lost You," Bolt; Music & Lyrics by: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele
"Once In A Lifetime," Cadillac Records; Music & Lyrics by: Beyonce Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street
"The Wrestler," The Wrestler; Music & Lyrics by: Bruce SpringsteenTELEVISION
TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Dexter
House
In Treatment
Mad Men
True BloodPERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
January Jones, Mad Men
Anna Paquin, True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick, The CloserPERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The TudorsTELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

30 Rock
Californication
Entourage
The Office
WeedsPERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Debra Messing, The Starter Wife
Mary-Louise Parker, WeedsPERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Kevin Connolly, Entourage
David Duchovny, Californication
Tony Shalhoub, MonkMINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

A Raisin in the Sun
Bernard and Doris
Cranford
John Adams
RecountPERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MIN-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Judi Dench, Cranford
Catherine Keener, An American Crime
Laura Linney, John Adams
Shirley MacLaine, Coco Chanel
Susan Sarandon, Bernard and DorisPERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Ralph Fiennes, Bernard and Doris
Paul Giamatti, John Adams
Kevin Spacey, Recount
Kiefer Sutherland, 24: Redemption
Tom Wilkinson, RecountPERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Eileen Atkins, Cranford
Laura Dern, Recount
Melissa George, In Treatment
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Dianne Wiest, In TreatmentPERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Denis Leary, Recount
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Blair Underwood, In Treatment
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams

[Stan4dSteph]

Interesting - the only non-cable TV drama nominee is House.

[Gemini Cricket]

I need to finish watching Cranford. I watched the first part. It was pretty good.

[CoasterMatt]

WTF? Slumdog Millionaire got nominated, but not Milk?

Slumdog Millionaire is soooo overhyped.

[Gemini Cricket]

Hugh Jackman is hosting the 2008 Oscars. Huh? Interesting choice.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

WTF? Slumdog Millionaire got nominated, but not Milk?

Slumdog Millionaire is soooo overhyped.

You didn't like it? I thought it was good; it's not perfect, but it's not bad.

[CoasterMatt]

Slumdog Millionaire was good, but it wasn't best picture good.

[Alex]

I saw Slumdog Millionaire today. I'm not saying it is bad (it isn't) but it didn't do anything for me personally. Standard "love story against the backdrop of disaster" story where the disaster is epic poverty. The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire gimmick also didn't click (though an American remake I'd go see if they got Regis to play the host character).

So, I'll not be supporting it for any of the awards I've seen it up for so far.

[Stan4dSteph]

I liked Man on Wire. Glad to see it is getting recognition.

[wendybeth]

I hope Hugh Laurie wins- we love House. In the middle of watching a mini-marathon right now.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

AFI Top 10 of 2008



The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Frozen River
Gran Torino
Iron Man
Milk
WALL-E
Wendy and Lucy
The Wrestler

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

SAG Nominations


Theatrical Motion Pictures
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
RICHARD JENKINS (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420955/) / Walter Vale - “THE VISITOR (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857191/)” (Overture Films)
FRANK LANGELLA (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001449/) / Richard Nixon - “FROST/NIXON (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/)” (Universal Pictures (http://www.imdb.com/company/co0005073/))
SEAN PENN (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000576/) / Harvey Milk - “MILK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/)” (Focus Features (http://www.imdb.com/company/co0042399/))
BRAD PITT (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/) / Benjamin Button - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/)” (Paramount Pictures)
MICKEY ROURKE (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000620/) / Randy - “THE WRESTLER (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125849/)” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNE HATHAWAY (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004266/) / Kym - “RACHEL GETTING MARRIED (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1084950/)” (Sony Pictures Classics)
ANGELINA JOLIE (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001401/) / Christine Collins - “CHANGELING (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824747/)” (Universal Pictures)
MELISSA LEO (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502425/) / Ray Eddy - “FROZEN RIVER (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0978759/)” (Sony Pictures Classics)
MERYL STREEP (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000658/) / Sister Aloysius Beauvier - “DOUBT (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/)” (Miramax Films)
KATE WINSLET (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000701/) / April Wheeler - “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0959337/)” (Paramount Vantage)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JOSH BROLIN (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000982/) / Dan White - “MILK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/)” (Focus Features)
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000375/) / Kirk Lazarus - “TROPIC THUNDER (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942385/)” (Paramount Pictures)
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000450/) / Father Brendan Flynn - “DOUBT (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/)” (Miramax Films)
HEATH LEDGER (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005132/) / Joker - “THE DARK KNIGHT (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/)” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DEV PATEL (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2353862/) / Older Jamal - “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/)” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010736/) / Sister James - “DOUBT (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/)” (Miramax Flms)
PENELOPE CRUZ (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004851/) / Maria Elena - “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497465/)” (The Weinstein Company)
VIOLA DAVIS (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205626/) / Mrs. Miller - “DOUBT (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/)” (Miramax Films)
TARAJI P. HENSON (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378245/) / Queenie - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/)” (Paramount Pictures)
KATE WINSLET (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000701/) / Hanna Schmitz - “THE READER (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051/)” (The Weinstein Company)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
DOUBT (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/) (Miramax)
FROST/NIXON (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/) (Universal Pictures)
MILK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) (Focus Features)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (Paramount Pictures)

[Alex]

I'm not sure how Frank Langella is a lead in Frost/Nixon if Heath Ledger is merely a supporting role (I know, it is frequently politics on how a studio promotes them).

Saw Frost/Nixon today. Brilliant performance by Langella without trying to do a spot on impression. All the standard caveats about being less impressed by role playing well recorded real people.

The movie itself wasn't all that interesting, though, with a fantastic last 15 minutes.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Yeah, I loved the last 15, too. And I agree that it's Sheen, not Langella, who is the lead. It seems to me that they go more by buzz/quality of performance than actual lead sometimes. (Though, Sheen's performance was equally brilliant, in my opinion - but Frost is simply not as iconic as Nixon.) Why is Sheen always overlooked? I loved, loved, loved him in The Queen. Can't wait for his next outing as Blair.

[Alex]

Don't know about Sheen. He was fine in The Queen (though some may recall I wasn't enamored of that film) but watching Frost/Nixon I will admit to thinking "hey, this is just Tony Blair again in 70s clothes."

I'll have to go and look now at how much of what is presented is fiction.

[Alex]

Apparently it wasn't in this thread but I don't want to go looking for it. But somewhere after the Golden Globe nominees were announced I said that the exclusion of Milk as best picture didn't necessarily bother me since I didn't think it was a great film and could easily imagine that there were five better ones. At the time I hadn't seen any of the nominees.

Well, I've now seen four out of the five, and while it is certainly possible there were five better movies than Milk last year, none of those four are among them.

Slumdog Millioniare is just overhyped "dignity of the poor" pablum. Frost/Nixon is quality product telling an uninteresting story that only gains in interest when it stretches the truth it is based on. There's nothing particularly wrong with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but it just isn't exceptional beyond the CGI. Revolutionary Road is another entry in the artists' condescention that people living in the suburbs must be either self-loathing or self-delusional. Good movies have been made on this, even if it is vaguely insulting, but while well acted, Revolutionary Road adds nothing new and feels like Sam Mendes just returning to the trough of his greatest success. Interestingly the same could be said of Benjamin Button screenwriter, Eric Roth, who also wrote the very similarly structure Forrest Gump.

Anyway, so Milk should be up there based on waht I've seen so far, though the Wall-E and Man on Wire both probably deserve it even more (and will get nothing at the Academy Awards since they are ghetto consigned.

[Alex]

Interestingly the same could be said of Benjamin Button screenwriter, Eric Roth, who also wrote the very similarly structure Forrest Gump.

I wasn't the first to make Forrest Gump comparisons for Benjamin Button but this (http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/1d76506803/the-curious-case-of-forrest-gump-from-fgump44) is the best illustration I've found so far.

"...except no AIDS."

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Oscar Nom's

Best Motion Picture of the Year
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): Ceán Chaffin (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0149556/), Kathleen Kennedy (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005086/), Frank Marshall (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550881/)

Frost/Nixon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/) (2008): Brian Grazer (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004976/), Ron Howard (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000165/), Eric Fellner (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0271479/)
Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) (2008): Bruce Cohen (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0169260/), Dan Jinks (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0423134/)
The Reader (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051/) (2008): Nominees to be determined
Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008): Christian Colson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1384503/)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Richard Jenkins (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420955/) for The Visitor (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857191/) (2007/I)
Frank Langella (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001449/) for Frost/Nixon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/) (2008)
Sean Penn (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000576/) for Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) (2008)
Brad Pitt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/) for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008)
Mickey Rourke (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000620/) for The Wrestler (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125849/) (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Anne Hathaway (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004266/) for Rachel Getting Married (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1084950/) (2008)
Angelina Jolie (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001401/) for Changeling (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824747/) (2008)
Melissa Leo (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502425/) for Frozen River (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0978759/) (2008)
Meryl Streep (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000658/) for Doubt (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/) (2008/I)
Kate Winslet (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000701/) for The Reader (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051/) (2008)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Josh Brolin (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000982/) for Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) (2008)
Robert Downey Jr. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000375/) for Tropic Thunder (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942385/) (2008)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000450/) for Doubt (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/) (2008/I)
Heath Ledger (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005132/) for The Dark Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/) (2008)
Michael Shannon (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0788335/) for Revolutionary Road (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0959337/) (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010736/) for Doubt (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/) (2008/I)
Penélope Cruz (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004851/) for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497465/) (2008)
Viola Davis (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205626/) for Doubt (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/) (2008/I)
Taraji P. Henson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378245/) for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008)
Marisa Tomei (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000673/) for The Wrestler (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125849/) (2008)

Best Achievement in Directing
Danny Boyle (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000965/) for Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008)
Stephen Daldry (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0197636/) for The Reader (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051/) (2008)
David Fincher (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000399/) for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008)
Ron Howard (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000165/) for Frost/Nixon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/) (2008)
Gus Van Sant (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001814/) for Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) (2008)

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Frozen River (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0978759/) (2008): Courtney Hunt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2581581/)
Happy-Go-Lucky (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045670/) (2008): Mike Leigh (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005139/)
In Bruges (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/) (2008): Martin McDonagh (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1732981/)
Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) (2008): Dustin Lance Black (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0085257/)
WALL·E (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/) (2008): Andrew Stanton (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004056/), Pete Docter (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0230032/), Jim Reardon (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0714114/)

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): Eric Roth (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0744839/), Robin Swicord (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842523/)
Doubt (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/) (2008/I): John Patrick Shanley (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0788234/)
Frost/Nixon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/) (2008): Peter Morgan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0604948/)
The Reader (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051/) (2008): David Hare (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002376/)
Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008): Simon Beaufoy (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0064479/)
(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0293770/)

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Best Achievement in Cinematography
Changeling (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824747/) (2008): Tom Stern (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827869/)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): Claudio Miranda (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592073/)
The Dark Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/) (2008): Wally Pfister (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002892/)
The Reader (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051/) (2008): Roger Deakins (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005683/), Chris Menges (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0579580/)
Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008): Anthony Dod Mantle (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0230045/)

Best Achievement in Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): Angus Wall (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0908370/), Kirk Baxter (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0062775/)
The Dark Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/) (2008): Lee Smith (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809059/)
Frost/Nixon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/) (2008): Daniel P. Hanley (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0360067/), Mike Hill (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0384528/)
Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) (2008): Elliot Graham (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0971680/)
Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008): Chris Dickens (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0225323/)

Best Achievement in Art Direction
Changeling (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824747/) (2008): James J. Murakami (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0613468/), Gary Fettis (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0275361/)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): Donald Graham Burt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0123426/), Victor J. Zolfo (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0957672/)
The Dark Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/) (2008): Nathan Crowley (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0189769/), Peter Lando (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0484885/)
The Duchess (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0864761/) (2008): Michael Carlin (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0137528/), Rebecca Alleway (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0021284/)
Revolutionary Road (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0959337/) (2008): Kristi Zea (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0954034/), Debra Schutt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0776897/)

Best Achievement in Costume Design
Australia (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455824/) (2008): Catherine Martin (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552039/)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): Jacqueline West (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922113/)
The Duchess (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0864761/) (2008): Michael O'Connor (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640445/)
Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) (2008): Danny Glicker (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322786/)
Revolutionary Road (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0959337/) (2008): Albert Wolsky (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0938717/)

Best Achievement in Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): Greg Cannom (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134148/)
The Dark Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/) (2008): John Caglione Jr. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0128550/), Conor O'Sullivan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0642745/)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411477/) (2008): Mike Elizalde (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0253761/), Thomas Floutz (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283134/)

[Alex]

For the first time ever I saw the award announcement live, I didn't even realize they were due out today. It was a thrill (that's sarcasm).

An extremely boring and predictable set of nominations. I've said elsewhere but The Reader better be a great movie because none of the other four are. That isn't to say they're bad, just that if those truly are the best it was a lackluster year.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): Alexandre Desplat (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006035/)
Defiance (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034303/) (2008): James Newton Howard (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006133/)
Milk (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) (2008): Danny Elfman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000384/)
Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008): A.R. Rahman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006246/)
WALL·E (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/) (2008): Thomas Newman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002353/)

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008): A.R. Rahman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006246/), Gulzar (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1398005/)("Jai Ho")
Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008): A.R. Rahman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006246/), Maya Arulpragasam (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2029072/)("O Saya")
WALL·E (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/) (2008): Peter Gabriel (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0300272/), Thomas Newman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002353/)("Down to Earth")

Best Achievement in Sound
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): David Parker (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662188/), Michael Semanick (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0783713/), Ren Klyce (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0460274/), Mark Weingarten (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0918319/)
The Dark Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/) (2008): Ed Novick (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0637085/), Lora Hirschberg (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0386567/), Gary Rizzo (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0729886/)
Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008): Ian Tapp (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850059/), Richard Pryke (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0699358/), Resul Pookutty (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1017076/)
WALL·E (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/) (2008): Tom Myers (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0616878/), Michael Semanick (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0783713/), Ben Burtt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0123785/)
Wanted (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493464/) (2008): Chris Jenkins (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420804/), Frank A. Montaño (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0599057/), Petr Forejt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0286014/)

Best Achievement in Sound Editing
The Dark Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/) (2008): Richard King (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0455185/)
Iron Man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/) (2008): Frank E. Eulner (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262361/), Christopher Boyes (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0102110/)
Slumdog Millionaire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) (2008): Tom Sayers (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0768482/)
WALL·E (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/) (2008): Ben Burtt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0123785/), Matthew Wood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003214/)
Wanted (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493464/) (2008): Wylie Stateman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0823758/)

Best Achievement in Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/) (2008): Eric Barba (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0053146/), Steve Preeg (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1762344/), Burt Dalton (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0198245/), Craig Barron (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0057652/)
The Dark Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/) (2008): Nick Davis (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002428/), Chris Corbould (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0179269/), Timothy Webber (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0916449/), Paul J. Franklin (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291518/)
Iron Man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/) (2008): John Nelson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0625471/), Ben Snow (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0811240/), Daniel Sudick (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0837203/), Shane Mahan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0536752/)

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Bolt (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397892/) (2008): Chris Williams (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0930261/), Byron Howard (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397174/)
Kung Fu Panda (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441773/) (2008): John Stevenson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0828970/), Mark Osborne (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0651706/)
WALL·E (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/) (2008): Andrew Stanton (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004056/)

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765432/) (2008)(Germany)
Entre les murs (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068646/) (2008)(France)
Revanche (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1173745/) (2008)(Austria)
Okuribito (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1069238/) (2008)(Japan)
Vals Im Bashir (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185616/) (2008)(Israel)

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Best Documentary, Features
The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157685/) (2008): Ellen Kuras (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0475578/), Thavisouk Phrasavath (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0681115/)
Encounters at the End of the World (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1093824/) (2007): Werner Herzog (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001348/), Henry Kaiser (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1793471/)
The Garden (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1252486/) (2008/I): Scott Hamilton Kennedy (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1251618/)
Man on Wire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155592/) (2008): James Marsh (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1016428/), Simon Chinn (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1187711/)
Trouble the Water (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1149405/) (2008): Tia Lessin (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0504357/), Carl Deal (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1179906/)

Best Documentary, Short Subjects
The Conscience of Nhem En: Steven Okazaki (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0645574/)
The Final Inch: Irene Taylor Brodsky (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2480339/), Tom Grant
Smile Pinki: Megan Mylan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0616959/)
The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306: Adam Pertofsky (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675700/), Margaret Hyde

Best Short Film, Animated
La Maison en Petits Cubes: Kunio Kato
Ubornaya istoriya - lyubovnaya istoriya (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0983242/) (2007): Konstantin Bronzit (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0111588/)
Oktapodi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323941/) (2007): Emud Mokhberi (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3196343/), Thierry Marchand (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3194174/)
Presto (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245104/) (2008): Doug Sweetland (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842339/)
This Way Up (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1279499/) (2008): Alan Smith (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1931787/), Adam Foulkes (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3193411/)

Best Short Film, Live Action
Auf der Strecke (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219675/) (2007): Reto Caffi (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1802053/)
Manon sur le bitume (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186020/) (2007): Elizabeth Marre (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550094/), Olivier Pont (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1991764/)
New Boy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1095191/) (2007): Steph Green (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1576181/), Tamara Anghie (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1536213/)
Grisen (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1333640/) (2008): Tivi Magnusson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0536410/), Dorthe Warnø Høgh (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1227825/)
Spielzeugland (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1280548/) (2007): Jochen Alexander Freydank (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0293770/)

[innerSpaceman]

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the most overrated movie of our time. Best Picture and 12 other nominations?! What a crock.

Unless I'm missing something. Can someone point to an element of the film that commented on the unique experience of living life backwards?

I saw only a pretty neat love story and the character arc of any adventurous man whose instincts could have been engendered by any number of life experiences. It seems to me living backwards would have produced some very unique curiousities ... but I saw none.

Bah.


And if that's what the child of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett would turn out like, I'm sorely disappointed.

[Alex]

No, it was pleasant but not great.

The thing I wondered was

If has born baby sized but old why didn't he die adult sized but an infant? I know, it's a fantasy, but it just wasn't particularly compelling fantasy.

[Alex]

And to repeat a service provided in past years, if you are interested in cramming in all the nominees here are you're viewing options for all the nominated films. Additionally, there will be screenings of all the Animated and Live Action shorts on February 8. Check local theaters.

Australia - 1 nomination (Costume Design)
Still in theaters. Limited availability (200+ theaters). Released to DVD on March 3, after the Academy Awards.
The Baader Meinhof Complex - 1 nomination (Foreign Language Picture - Germany)
Has not been released in the United States. Has not been released on DVD even in Germany.
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) - 1 nomination (Documentary Feature)
In 1 theater. Not available on DVD.
Bolt - 1 nominated (Animated Feature)
Still in theaters. Limited availability (300+ theaters).
Changeling - 3 nominations (Actress, Cinematography, Art Direction)
No longer in theaters. Releases on DVD February 17.
The Class (Entre les Murs) - 1 nomination (Foreign Language Picture - France)
Has not yet played in theaters in the United States. Has not yet been scheduled for DVD release in the United States. French DVD release is March 24 after the Academy Awards.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 13 nominations (Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Art Design, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects, Sound, Original Score)
Still in theaters. Wide availability (2,000+ theaters).
The Dark Knight - 8 nominations (Supporting Actor, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects, Sound, Sound Editing)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming.Defiance - 1 nomination (Original Score)
Still in theaters. Wide availability (1,700+ theaters)
Departures (Okuribito) - 1 nomination (Foreign Language Picture - Japan)
No information. Has not played in the United States.
Doubt - 5 nominations (Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress twice, Adapted Screenplay)
Still in theaters. Moderate availability (700+ theaters).The Duchess - 2 nominations (Art Direction, Costume Design)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming.Encounters at the End of the World - 1 nomination (Documentary Feature)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming.
Frost/Nixon - 5 nominations (Picture, Director, Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Editing)
Still in theaters. Limited availability (100+ theaters).
Frozen River - 2 nominations (Actress, Original Screenplay)
No longer in theaters (barely ever was). Releases on DVD February 10.
The Garden - 1 nomination (Documentary Feature)
No theatrical release. Not available on DVD.
Happy-Go-Lucky - 1 nomination (Original Screenplay)
Still in theaters. Very limited availability (>50 theaters). Release on DVD March 10, after the Academy Awards.Hellboy II: The Golden Army - 1 nomination (Makeup)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming. In Bruges - 1 nomination (Original Screenplay)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming. Iron Man - 2 nominations (Visual Effects, Sound Editing)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming. Kung Fu Panda - 1 nomination (Animated Feature)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming. Man on Wire - 1 nomination (Documentary Feature)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Available from Netflix streaming.
Milk - 8 nominations (Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay, Editing, Costume Design, Original Score)
Still in theaters. Limited availability (200+ theaters).
Rachel Getting Married - 1 nomination (Actress)
Still in theaters. Very limited availability (>100 theaters). Release on DVD March 17, after the Academy Awards.
The Reader - 5 nominations (Picture, Director, Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography)
Still in theaters. Moderate availability (400+ theaters).
Revanche- 1 nomination (Foreign Language Picture - Austria)
Has not played in the United States.
Revolutionary Road - 3 nominations (Supporting Actor, Art Direction, Costume Design)
Still in theaters. Limited availability (100+ theaters).Slumdog Millionaire - 10 nominations (Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Editing, Original Score, Original Song twice)
Still in theaters. Moderate availability (600+ theaters).
Tropic Thunder - 1 nomination (Supporting Actor)
Still in theaters. Very limited availability (>100 theaters). longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming.Trouble the Water - 1 nomination (Documentary Feature)
No longer in theaters. Not available on DVD.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona - 1 nomination (Supporting Actress)
Still in theaters. Very limited availability (>100 theaters). Release on DVD January 27.
The Visitor - 1 nomination (Actor)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming.
Wall-E - 6 nominations (Original Screenplay, Sound, Sound Editing, Original Score, Original Song, Animated Feature)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming.
Waltz with Bashir - 1 nomination (Foreign Language Picture - Israel)
Still in theaters. Very limited availability (>10 theaters). Has been released to DVD in Israel.Wanted - 2 nominations (Sound, Sound Editing)
No longer in theaters. Available on DVD. Not available from Netflix streaming.
The Wrestler - 2 nominations (Actor, Supporting Actress)
Still in theaters. Limited availability (100+ theaters).

[Gemini Cricket]

Interesting list of nominees.
Nice to see Milk getting so many noms, but I feel it will win none. Just a feeling. I think Best Pic might just go to Slumdog. We'll see.
With each year that passes, I have less enthusiasm for the Oscars. I don't see myself running to see all the movies that are up for major awards.
Ever since Crash won Best Pic, I have lost all my faith in the Academy.

[innerSpaceman]

The thing I wondered was
If has born baby sized but old why didn't he die adult sized but an infant? I know, it's a fantasy, but it just wasn't particularly compelling fantasy.
Yep, that totally bugged me. It broke the fantasy rules set up by the film, and totally took me out of the story ... albeit, happening at the very end of the story.

I enjoyed the film while watching it, and have hated it more and more ever since I left the theater.



The worst thing about this awards season, though ... is I got absolute NO screeners! Bah.

[Not Afraid]

I wonder if Shahrukh Kahn will appear at the Oscars like he did at the Golden Globes?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

By Alex's list I am due to see 22 films. But I rarely get to most of the foreign or the docs (usually 1 from each category.) And I'm not interested in Revolutionary Road. The only real biggies I have left include The Reader, The Wrestler, Frozen River, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Happy-Go-Lucky, and In Bruges. Which, I guess, is pretty good considering I haven't been able to get to a movie theater during convalescence.

I don't think he's posted it here, but Tom called Slumdog as winner of BP about 2 months ago, based on academy taste and elimination of their less-preferred elements. Will be interesting to see if his long-term call is so prescient!

I generally think that the academy doesn't necessarily reward the best films, but they also seem to go out of their way, 19 times out of 20, to withhold rewards from popular favorites. I quite liked The Dark Knight but suspected it wouldn't get love beyond the techs and the Ledger nom. It seems the Oscar-Watching fandom is in a complete tizzy about it, but I wasn't at all surprised. I do think Ledger is a lock for that category, though.

Who's in for the short film screenings this year? I'll post info as soon as I know where they'll be shown. If our theory is correct (one year of compelling films, one year of duds) this should be a "good" year.

[Alex]

He called it, but does he agree with its inclusion (let alone winning)?

I enjoyed it, but I just didn't think it was good in any particularly special way. But it does have those elements that people seem to like.

[Kevy Baby]

How is it that Bruce Springsteen's The Wrestler can win the Golden Globe, but not even get NOMINATED for the Best Original Song Oscar?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Would he call it his favorite film of the year? No. Nor would I. Just that the Academy will call it that. ETA - I think we separated what we would choose and what the Academy would choose so long ago that it doesn't really register to us in our Oscar-watching. (We might say something like, "I'm really pulling for ____" if one of our favorite performances or choices actually align with their choices. But that isn't too often.) Though if they go with something that we hate from the bottom of our hearts (read: Crash) we'll bitch. Bug if Slumdog wins, to me it'll just be another nice-but-flawed film on which the Academy lavishes attention. It won't bother me too much.

And Kevy, the Springsteen song is over the credits, and the Academy has ruled recently that songs must be judged on their use within in the context of the film. (That didn't stop them from nominating the Wall-E song, but it is for that reason that I expect Jai Ho from Slumdog to win.)

[Tom]

He called it, but does he agree with its inclusion (let alone winning)?

I don't have any issue with it's nomination. In a normal year, I think it might be a slightly weak BP nominee, but 2008 was such a bad year for film that it actually could end up in my top 5 films of the year if or when I ever got around to making such a list. As to whether it should win... the academy's done much worse, and will again. If the best picture winner is a film that I regard as noticeably better than middling, then I call it a good night and go home.

[Alex]

Sounds good. My problem with it getting so many nominations is that I found it to be just slightly better than middling and condescendingly bad in several ways.

But I do agree that it was a weak year. I think this would have been a good year to see some more mainstream films (Wall-E or Dark Knight) in there or to let a couple movies (like Man on Wire or something foreign or Wall-E) break out of the ghettos of the Documentary, Foreign Language (though this has the lowest walls of all the ghettos), and Animation.

But with such a dull list of nominees, I don't expect I'll be going out of my way to watch.

[Gemini Cricket]

Why are people surprised that The Dark Knight didn't get a best pic nom? It's rare that an action flick, much less a superhero flick would get a nom for bp.