' ' Cinema Romantico: Oscar Nomination Reaction

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Oscar Nomination Reaction

Yes, the day has arrived. The long awaited nominations were announced this morning. I have to say, usually I'm pretty amped up for these but with the writer's strike and the whole possibility of the Academy Awards not even happening has toned down my enthusiasm a bit. Of course, it's "just an honor to be nominated". Right? Isn't it? And so we'll take stock of the nominations and advise you where they went right, where they went wrong, and who should or should not win. (This is a full list of nominees.)

Best Picture: "Atonement" and "No Country For Old Men" both garnered nods and so we can hope one of those two win and if one of them does then I can sleep well knowing they didn't mess it up. "Michael Clayton" surprised people, I think, and I have no problem with that one as it is a really good movie. "Juno" snuck in as well which marks the second year that a favorite of Sundance has earned a nomination. So take a close look at the films showing at Sundance as we speak, people, and place your bets on which one gets a nod 365 days from now.

Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis will be the winner for "There Will Be Blood" (though I've already heard "talk" that George Clooney could push him for "Michael Clayton"). I'm personally disappointed James McEvoy didn't get a nod for "Atonement" but then I didn't think he would. The real pleasant surprise nomination-wise, however, is Tommy Lee Jones for "In the Valley of Elah". He was the rock of that one. Without him, it would have sunk under the weight of its own wannabe' grandiosity.

Best Actress: Julie Christie nominated for "Away From Her" is, of course, correct and she'll also win. And she should win. That's fine with me. What, are you going to disagree? She's Julie f---in' Christie. Ellen Page got a nod for "Juno", and good for her, and same goes for Laura Linney for "The Savages" which is a bit of a stunner, I think. But Cate Blanchett for "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"? Over Keira Knightley for "Atonement"? Is Cate becoming the new Meryl Streep (i.e. we'll nominate her for anything)?

Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem for "No Country For Old Men". What, there were other nominees in this category? (Okay, that's not fair. My friend Rory the Movie Idiot said he really wanted Hal Holbrook to get nominated for "Into the Wild" - which I haven't seen yet and hope I can before the awards - and he did.)

Best Supporting Actress: Okay, we're going to make this crystal clear right now for the Academy voters. Amy Ryan - for "Gone Baby Gone" - wins. Understand? I'll repeat it for good measure - Amy Ryan wins. That's it. No questions nor arguments. She wins. That's that. If you have a different opinion, I'm sorry because it's just wrong. So please fill our your voting forms accordingly. Thank you.

(Okay, let's look at the other nominees. Or: the ones who won't be winning. I'm happy Saoirse Ronan got a nod for "Atonement". It's well deserved. And Tilda Swinton was awesome in "Michael Clayton". I haven't seen Cate Blanchett yet in "I'm Not There" but, come on, she's already got an Oscar. She doesn't need another one. And Ruby Dee for the static, yawn-inducing "American Gangster"? Are you kidding me?)

Best Director: This may very well be the Brothers Coen year for "No Country For Old Men". Paul Thomas Anderson was nominated for "There Will Be Blood" and, you know, even though I didn't really like it you've gotta' give the guy some credit because few filmmakers alive could create something as monumentally polarizing as what he did. The biggest disappointment of all the nominations, however, is found right here - no Joe Wright for "Atonement". What the hell is that about? Is his name too ordinary?

Original Screenplay: First off, Tony Gilroy's script for "Michael Clayton" is pretty brilliant and probably the best of the bunch. But Diablo Cody will win for "Juno" (she's the best story, after all) and I'm fine with that. It is a fantastic script, despite the naysayers that have recently come out of the woodwork (and I'll be making a post in relation to that in the next day or two).

Adapted Screenplay: Christopher Hampton for "Atonement". Could he win, please? Except he won't. It will be either the Brothers Coen or Paul Thomas Anderson - whoever doesn't win Best Director will win this one. That's the way these things work. (Sarah Polley was also nominated for "Away From Her". Good for her.)

Original Song: "Falling Slowly" wins from "Once" or there is no God.

1 comment:

Wretched Genius said...

Someday you're going to have to realize that Atonement is nowhere near as good as you think it is.

But seriously: Ruby Dee? Which is funny to me, because as I watched American Gangster I specifically thought "Wow, Ruby Dee isn't even trying anymore."