Academy Award Nominations make me giddy and cranky
So here’s the poop. I love the Oscars. The rest of the awards shows, whatever, but the Oscars are king. Each year I watch for the nominations, try and see as many of the movies as I can (unless I don’t want to – yes I am looking at you, Avatar) and watch the broadcast in my flannel PJs. I make fun of the crazy dresses, eat a lot of candy (fine, I use it as an excuse to eat candy) and even tear up sometimes during a speech or at a win announcement. Even though I’m not super-crazy about this year’s batch of nominees, that dims my enthusiasm only slightly.
Bumping up the traditional 5 Best Picture nominees to 10 leaves me a little weary and jaded. I understand the idea – get more films in there, give films usually snubbed a chance, blah, blah, blah. But to me it feels a little like making it a no-cut sport and in the process reducing the caché of the nomination. What it really amounts to is a shameless ploy to increase TV broadcast ratings, allowing more box office hits to be nominated regardless of quality. I will be sincerely sad one day when we have 3 great movies and 7 Fast and Furious sequels up for Best Picture.
But it is cool to see Up nominated for a Best Picture. Only the second time for an animated film. Pixar has done itself proud so often that it’s nice to see this cutie get the big nod. I do not, however, think it should be eligible for both Best Picture and Best Animated Film. Pick one, Pixar!
I personally don’t think either Up In the Air or A Serious Man have a prayer of winning (nor should they – Air is too lightweight and Serious is just boring), then again nothing but Avatar and The Hurt Locker have a prayer of winning. I suppose The Academy could have paired it down to two films this year instead of bumping up to 10. I would enjoy seeing Katherine Bigelow put the hurt (locker) on James Cameron at the Big Show just like she did at the Director’s Guild and the Producer’s Guild.
I suspect that Avatar will win out in the end as Best Box Office…..I mean Best Picture, but I would love, love love to see Bigelow take home Best Director. Not only because it would make her the first woman to receive the award, but also to see the smug mug of Cameron crack a little when they bring in a nice close-up of him as he loses. Am I mean? Yes, very. Do I still want it? Yes, very much.
I’m thrilled at the prospect of The Dude winning Best Actor and think Sandra Bullock has a real shot at Best Actress. I do think that both Meryl Streep and Gabourey Sibide have legitimate chances, making Best Actress one of the most competitive categories this year. Julie & Julia isn’t a great movie, but Streep is fantastic in it and Sibide just may sneek past both veteran actresses on emotional pull and first film fabulousness. And sorry Sandra, I’m still not going to see Blind Side until it’s free on cable.
I am, however, going to bust my butt to see Hurt Locker, Crazy Heart (the Dude abides), Precious, The Lovely Bones and A Single Man. I don’t care about some of the Best Picture nominees, but I really want to see some of these nominated performances. Stanley Tucci is a fantastic actor, I loved him as Paul Child and believe he can be the creepiest bad guy since David Morse in, well, any bad guy role. It seems like Crazy Heart was made to fit Jeff Bridges like a glove giving him a lock on the win and I want to see if Colin Firth can give him a run for his money in A Single Man.
I don’t see a lot of surprises this year, except perhaps for A Single Man and Invictus being passed over for Best Picture. But having District 9 and Up in there to boost TV ratings and Inglourious Basterds and A Serious Man to placate Tarantino and Coen brothers fanatics left no more room. On that jaded and bitchy note, I shall leave you to ponder and speculate and tell me what you think about the nominations. I have movies to see!
Sue reads a lot, writes a lot, edits a lot, and loves a good craft. She was deemed “too picky” to proofread her children’s school papers and wears this as a badge of honor. She is also proud of her aggressively average knitting skills She is the Editorial Director at Silver Beacon Marketing and an aspiring Crazy Cat Lady.
Comments
suemillinocket
So you're saying next year then? Yay! Time to start letting my delusions pick out a dress! Someone stop me if I start thinking about going with Bob Mackie. I can't compete with Cher.
George Bounacos
We don't get a vote until we grow traffic and revenue big enough to produce an indie movie. I just checked the budget and forecasts and don't see that in there for FY10, so probably not yet.
suemillinocket
Yep, exes they are. It's a good story to begin with - first woman with a real shot at the director statue - and that just adds some zing, especially when the other ex is a dink like Cameron. […] Read MoreYep, exes they are. It's a good story to begin with - first woman with a real shot at the director statue - and that just adds some zing, especially when the other ex is a dink like Cameron. Movie Rewind absolutely does get a vote. In my mind. That's where I get to stroll the red carpet in a designer gown as well. I like to keep my delusions grand, you see. Read Less
suemillinocket
I agree that Julia Roberts probably overshadowed Bullock - depending on which actress you are that's very bad timing or very good timing. But I think Bullock is a little more grounded - she has spread out into producing […] Read MoreI agree that Julia Roberts probably overshadowed Bullock - depending on which actress you are that's very bad timing or very good timing. But I think Bullock is a little more grounded - she has spread out into producing and isn't afraid to play a really goofy role (check out her character on the George Lopez show sometime - a show she also produced). Julia Roberts became too "big" to be any semblance of normal and I think that hurts her in the long run as an actress. I'm glad for Bullock, good timing this go round!Amy Adams is not one of my favorites - that perky thing has gotten too much play. But Sunshine Cleaning and Doubt helped me along in my road to seeing her as more than a one note actress. I love Blanchett, and Kate Winslet (though could do without seeing her boobs in every movie - I may be a minority of one on that). Blanchett has better presence on film than anyone I can think of - she's regal in all the time, including off screen. Read Less
driftless
I think the Bigelow-Cameron match up is going to be the best story. I didn't know that they're exes. Their movies couldn't be more different. I hope the voters will realize that Cameron's already received more […] Read MoreI think the Bigelow-Cameron match up is going to be the best story. I didn't know that they're exes. Their movies couldn't be more different. I hope the voters will realize that Cameron's already received more Oscar gold than he deserves for this lifetime.Does MovieRewind get a vote? Read Less
George Bounacos
Really nice writeup. Lots to ponder here. I like the Sandra Bullock story of making it for the first time. I think Julia Roberts overshadowed her early and Bullock ended up in quirky roles. I'm not […] Read MoreReally nice writeup. Lots to ponder here. I like the Sandra Bullock story of making it for the first time. I think Julia Roberts overshadowed her early and Bullock ended up in quirky roles. I'm not convinced Roberts is a better actress. Then again she hasn't been nominated in a decade.In their 35-45 year old age group, Bullock's work is as solid as anyone's. I do like Amy Adams and Cate Blanchett too, and Blanchett is probably the actress who becomes a role more than anyone.I'm glad Sandy Bullock got the nod. Seems time, and it was the right role. Read Less