First - where is my 10 best list? Where are reviews of the year-end prestige picks? Why am I slacking on my blog again? It's not like summer: This time, I have quality product to view.
Answer: I had a race in Florida, and I'm working weekends. This curtails both my movie-watching time and review-writing opportunities. (I write on bus and train rides to and from Boston.) I haven't see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road or Frozen River (or, for that matter, Gran Torino or Wendy and Lucy), so I don't want to make a Best of 2008 list until I catch at least some of those. (Right now, though, Frost/Nixon is tops.) I'm pledging that I'll have reviews of all five Best Picture nominees by Oscar night, one month from today. I already published one for The Reader, and I've been working on a combined Milk and Frost/Nixon critique for a couple of weeks.
Now to the nominees ... I thought the five Best Picture pics were supposed to be a slamdunk, so I'm shocked that The Reader somehow beat out The Dark Knight ... or Wall-E ... or even Doubt ... to make it to the top 5. During the week between Christmas and New Year's, I read Top 10 movie lists from around the country, an average of 100 or so. Wall-E appeared on 81 of those lists, The Dark Knight on 63, Slumdog Millionaire on 58, Milk on 56, Frost/Nixon on 40.
The Reader was on five.
This may be the most ridiculous Best Picture nominee since Chocolat - which, come to think of it, is also a Harvey Weinstein marketing production. Groan.
Actor: This is a tough, tough category. The Richard Jenkins nomination made me squeal with delight, but I also thought Frank Langella, Sean Penn, and Mickey Rourke were masterful. They're all winners so far, with a slight edge to Penn, although I THINK it's Rourke's to lose.
Actress: Keep in mind I haven't Melissa Leo in Frozen River. I'm very disappointed, although not surprised, Kristin Scott Thomas was ignored for I've Loved You So Long (buzz peaked too early). Given that I actively loathed Angelina Jolie in Changeling and disliked the Meryl and Kate Oscar Grab, for me Anne Hathaway wins by default. Fortunately, I also liked her in Rachel Getting Married. That said, I suspect this will be the Meryl/Kate race. Ugh. At least Winslet's Reader role is in the right category.
Supporting Actor: I actually prefer Emile Hirsch from Milk over Josh Brolin or the non-nominated James Franco. Since the Oscar is supposed to be for a particular performance and not a body of work (Al Pacino, Renee Zellweger, cough, cough), I'll join the Heath Ledger/Dark Knight masses. But can't we just give Robert Downey Jr. a statue for Performer of the Year?
Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz. Unless Taraji P. Henson blows me away in Benjamin Button, this category isn't up for discussion.
Original Screenplay: Um, Rachel Getting Married? Vicky Cristina Barcelona? Gran Torino? Where are they??? I can't even remember what's nominated. ... (checking) ... Oh, gosh, I don't care, and that's sad for an editor. All of these fell apart for me at one point or another. I guess In Bruges?
Adapted Screenplay: Because I don't know the source material in most cases, I find this category tough to judge. This time, I DO know source material in two cases. Go, Frost/Nixon!
Other categories: Why do we have only three Best Song options, and where's the one from Bruce Springsteen and The Wrestler? I've seen only one Best Documentary nominee, way off from the four I watched last year pre-Oscar night. Waltz with Bashir should have been nominated for Best Animated Flick. Persepolis was last year, so it's not as if the Academy can't be bold.
That's enough babbling from me. Your turn!
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7 comments:
I'm disappointed Cate Blanchett didn't get a nod for "Benjamin." She was just as good as Brad. ... I need to see a lot of movies between now and February. Of course, I haven't seen Million Dollar Baby, and that was how long ago? I love that Robert Downey got a nod for that role. AWESOME! Though, I think many people would be disappointed if the Oscar didn't go to Heath.
I'm going to be quick now, because I have to go to work.
I've said numerous times that I'm with Heath Ledger. However, I really wish someone would recognize Kevin Bacon's performance in "Frost/Nixon."
While I have had no desire to see "The Wrestler," I may have to do so just to see what Mickey Rourke is all about. Right now my vote would go to Sean Penn.
Lisa & I have complete opposite views of Angeline Jolie's performance. I'm not a fan of hers, but I thought she was great in this film.
At the moment my pick for best film is "Frost/Nixon," but I haven't seen "Benjamin Button." Actually, I've been avoiding that, but I guess I'll have to rethink my position.
Right - I should have noted that it's a shame Kevin Bacon was ignored for "Frost/Nixon." Same with Michael Sheen.
Marilyn -- Benjamin is long, sad, and good. Be prepared with tissues. I suggest a double-feature with something light & funny afterward.
Yay! Lisa's Oscar Musings!
I, too, am exceedingly frustrated with the best song choices. I loved, loved, loved the music for "Slumdog" - it could win best song and best score and I'd be fine with that - but surely in all of 2008 cinema we can, at the very least, find two more songs to round out the category.
And, while I thought Rourke was very good and will probably win, which I'm fine with, Sean Penn's my fave. If Rourke plays Shakespeare, I give it to him. And, Lisa, the Jersey backdrop to "Wrestler" made me just a tad homesick. Awwww... I Jersey Dollar - how cute!
Miss you!
amp
Lisa -- Curious about your thoughts on the SAG awards (which I did not watch).
Sandra...I finally saw "Benjamin Button" and liked it much more than I ever expected - and yes, I did cry. That being said, my Best Picture is still "Frost/Nixon."
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