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I’ve already highlighted my favorite aspects of this morning’s Oscar nominations. Still, before we move into Phase Two, I’d like to give one final respectful nod to the could-have-beens — the names that we sadly won’t be talking about anymore in the next five weeks of speculation.
I listed my true favorites in my dream ballot over the last few days, though many of those were never in the realm of possibility. What follows are 10 contenders who were very much in the mix, and had every reason to be disappointed this morning.
From my perspective, the race is poorer without the following:
• Marvin Hamlisch (Best Original Score), “The Informant!”: As a previously honored veteran of the branch, I thought his foot was comfortably in the door. Was his playful score too tongue-in-cheek for the voters? I’d say the movie wasn’t well-liked enough, but these are the guys who nominated “The Village.” (Less surprising but still disappointing: the omission of “A Single Man” composer Abel Korzeniowski.)
• Samantha Morton (Best Supporting Actress), “The Messenger”: That surprise screenplay nod indicates there was keen support for the film in the Academy, so it’s a shame that didn’t extend to its most resonant performance — in a category, moreover, that was obviously in considerable flux.
• Anthony Mackie (Best Supporting Actor), “The Hurt Locker”: Best Supporting Actor, on the other hand, remained rigidly unchanged from Globes to SAG to BAFTA, despite seeming softer than any other race. A showing for the frontrunner’s secret weapon would’ve been a nice shake-up.
• Stanley Tucci (Best Supporting Actor), “Julie & Julia”: They fluffed this category so badly I feel obliged to give it two mentions. Sure, Tucci himself wasn’t snubbed, but I have yet to speak to anyone who prefers his mannered psycho in “The Lovely Bones” to his wry rock of support in Nora Ephron’s comedy.
• “Mary and Max” (Best Animated Feature): Okay, so this never seemed that likely to begin with. But after the Academy stunned pretty much everyone with a nod for little-known Irish pic “The Secret of Kells,” can the year’s best animated film have been far behind?
• Greig Fraser (Best Cinematography), “Bright Star”: Okay, so this is stretching my “realm of possibility” definition a little. But there was a fifth slot on that ballot that could have gone anywhere, and did: to the good-looking sixth installment of a fantasy franchise. Fraser would’ve been a more daring surprise.
• David Wasco (Best Art Direction), “Inglourious Basterds”: It’s unfair but unsurprising that Wasco’s contemporary designs for “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “Kill Bill” went unnominated. But this was lavish period work on a rock-solid Best Picture nominee — what does he have to do to catch a break?
• “District 9″ (Best Makeup): I thought the sci-fi actioner had the showiest and most story-serving makeup effects of the year, but BAFTA didn’t see what I saw, and neither did the Academy. What am I — or they — missing? (Semi-related side note: where did it go in the sound categories?)
• “The Beaches of Agnes” and “Mugabe and the White African” (Best Documentary): I admit I haven’t seen all the competition. But these shortlisted titles were also the two docs that stuck with me most all year — and it would have been sweet to see 81 year-old master Agnes Varda finally go to the ball.
Amazingly enough, there are no near-misses for Best Picture that I’m really crushed about. (Plenty of long shots, but that’s another story.) Maybe, within its extreme limitations, The Ten did its job after all. Who are you missing in this year’s nominee list?
82 responses so far
1 2-02-2010 at 5:44 pm
James D. said...
If we are talking about realistic possibilities that did not work out, I would have liked to see a Best Picture nomination for The Messenger, only so it would open in my town.
Christian McKay deserved a nomination, but that was always a longshot.
2 2-02-2010 at 5:46 pm
Chad Hartigan said...
After landing 12 nominations among multiple films, I can’t help but think Sony Classics might have gotten Sugar some love in screenplay if they really tried.
3 2-02-2010 at 5:47 pm
Mr. Harminica said...
ABEL KORZENIOWSKI
4 2-02-2010 at 5:48 pm
Morgan said...
I just don’t understand the District 9 makeup thing either. Did the voters think it was not subtle enough? (this is how I’m trying to make sense of the nom for The Young Victoria) Did they think it was CG? Did they just not like “the flipper”?
5 2-02-2010 at 5:48 pm
Brian said...
I think The Village score is amazing.
6 2-02-2010 at 5:50 pm
Danny King said...
I’d have to go with A Single Man’s score as well;
a breathtaking piece of music. I thought Cornish was going to take Mirren’s spot, and I’m disapponted that she didn’t.
7 2-02-2010 at 5:52 pm
Al said...
I’m with you on most of these, especially the Wasco and Hamlisch snubs.
8 2-02-2010 at 5:53 pm
Guy Lodge said...
Yeah, “The Village” has a terrific score — I’m not denying that. I’m just using it as an example of how that branch is kinder than most to largely dismissed films. (Hell, “The Good German” got in.)
9 2-02-2010 at 5:53 pm
Derek said...
I also haven’t seen much of the documentary competition, but I caught a screening of Which Way Home a few weeks ago and it just blew me away. I predicted it solely on the assumption that they would vote for it if they saw it.
I haven’t had the opportunity to see either of your picks for Doc snubs, but I’m curious if you’ve seen Which Way Home, and how you feel about it being nominated?
10 2-02-2010 at 5:55 pm
Guy Lodge said...
Haven’t seen it. Look forward to doing so.
11 2-02-2010 at 5:58 pm
Danny King said...
I did get a chance to see Which Way Home a while back, and it was very well done. I hadn’t heard a word about it all year though. I’m still stunned it got in.
12 2-02-2010 at 5:59 pm
Daniel said...
I really thought James Newton Howard’s score for the “The Village” was amazing and with the accompaniment of world-renowned violinist Hilary Hahn, it was even more outstanding. I am hearing lots of good reviews of Abel K’s score for ASM (which I haven’t seen) so I’ll have to check that out.
I definitely have my own personal issues with the acting noms, but my biggest problem, strangely, lies with the Best Song nominees — There were so many outstanding choices that could have had a real shot at winning. I hate when more than one song from a film gets nominated — it’s like Enchantedgate all over again.
13 2-02-2010 at 6:01 pm
Yogsam said...
The problem with the SCORE category, is that now is full of “young” composers and a new generation of musicians, that simply don’t listen to the scores to vote in a ballot, thye just go out and take wath the critics said to give a film a nom for score
That whySLUMDOG won last year, not only because of that, because is a popular film in the academy that got the nom, the same goes for HURT LOCKER nom for “score”
14 2-02-2010 at 6:02 pm
Jake said...
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.
I know, I know, it hasn’t been in the conversation for months. But I’m heartbroken more people weren’t stumping for it. That last slot, at least, was clearly anyone’s game.
Also, I wouldn’t have minded The Messenger clinching it — especially since my predictions would have been 10/10 — you can imagine how excited I was by the Screenplay nod, then how disappointed I was when The Blind Side fell out of Hathaway’s mouth. Urgh.
15 2-02-2010 at 6:06 pm
tintin said...
Ronan!!! Mirren :(
16 2-02-2010 at 6:07 pm
Eunice said...
I started rooting for ‘Mary and Max’ after I’ve seen it, such a great animated film. I would’ve wanted to see it up there with Up and Fantastic Mr. Fox.
And yeah, Tucci’s lack of a nomination for Julie & Julia stings. Guy, you are right about calling him a “wry rock of support,” and what an absolutely solid rock he was throughout the movie.
17 2-02-2010 at 6:08 pm
MattyD said...
Disappointed with Cinematography all around, and I felt as though A Single Man and Bright Star were the most worthy contenders. I mean..AVATAR?! Really?!
18 2-02-2010 at 6:08 pm
Bryan C. said...
I was kind of hoping that Melanie Laurent would snag a nomination.
19 2-02-2010 at 6:09 pm
Daniel said...
Oh yes, about Marco Beltrami’s score for “The Hurt Locker” — can’t really say that it deserved a nomination. It’s not the type of music you’d (wait, I’d) want to listen to beyond the film. It is music that requires a visual element to make sense, and without the suspense and action that the film offered, it all sounds like organized noise.
I would have liked to see the “Star Trek” (Michael Giacchino) and “Julie & Julia” (Alexandre Desplat) scores get nods — but I guess the two composers got their nods for two very different works.
20 2-02-2010 at 6:09 pm
Nigel said...
I thought Paranormal Activity should have gotten some attention in the sound categories.
21 2-02-2010 at 6:12 pm
V said...
I’m with Jake. Where the Wild Things Are is one of the few movies that I really responded to this year, and it’s nowhere.
22 2-02-2010 at 6:12 pm
Guy Lodge said...
I just want to emphasise that I’m absolutely in favor of Beltrami’s nomination. Actually, he might be my favorite of the nominees.
Also, I’m obviously hugely in the “Where the Wild Things Are” camp — it leads my personal ballot with 13 mentions — but I resigned myself to its fate a long time ago.
Nigel: I totally agree. But that was never going to happen.
23 2-02-2010 at 6:22 pm
Paul Outlaw said...
Viggo…
24 2-02-2010 at 6:36 pm
Morgan said...
Yogsam: Marco Beltrami (Hurt Locker) has been around for quite a while… if anything’s true of the music nominations (which come from the music branch) it’s that they tend to honor the greybeards and the hot-stuff younger A-listers and they don’t go for the talented newcomers. (which is why Korzienowski got left out; they just don’t know him.)
It’s when the general Academy is voting on the musical scores that the trouble starts and they either use it to reward the film (not caring about the work) – or they use it to reward John Williams, who thankfully is in semi-retirement now.
Beltrami actually had a reputation for scoring B-movies for many years and the Hurt Locker represents a big step up for him.
25 2-02-2010 at 6:38 pm
Markku said...
Christian McKay and Saoirse Ronan. I would also add Tilda Swinton, but she was never in the running.
BTW, I prefer Tucci in “Bones”. Great, intense work. He was OK in J&J, too, though.
26 2-02-2010 at 6:38 pm
aspect ratio said...
It doesn’t shock me too much that The Informant missed out for its sublime score. In hindsight, as I did predict it, it was probably just too out there and wacky. Not the music itself, but within the context of the film.
Where the Wild Things Are certainly got the big shaft, but that was more or less fully expected it wasn’t exactly traumatic that it got zip.
I wish A Serious Man had gotten more notices. It’s just such an expertly crafted and polished film, perhaps the most robust of any films this past year in that regard. Cinematography, Art Direction, certainly deserved nominations. I am glad it got in for Original Screenplay and Best Picture though.
Other than that, I agree about Inglourious Basterds for Art Direction, and Samantha Morton deserved better as well.
27 2-02-2010 at 6:38 pm
Kevin said...
Has to be Abel Korzeniowski’s beautiful, lyrical compositions for “A Single Man”. I guess my stumping for his work to be recognised was just false optimism.
Although, to be fair, I’ve only seen The Hurt Locker and Harry Potter #6 of this year’s crop so I don’t think I fared too badly in my predictions: 39/45 in the main categories and 78/106 overall. Sometimes it helps NOT to have seen the films in contention.
28 2-02-2010 at 6:40 pm
Jim said...
“I just want to emphasise that I’m absolutely in favor of Beltrami’s nomination. Actually, he might be my favorite of the nominees.”
…Really? That…THAT… piece of music is one of the greatest achievements of film score composition of 2009?
Best Original Score is my favourite category so I was incredibly disappointed to see this nominated.
29 2-02-2010 at 6:44 pm
aspect ratio said...
The Hurt Locker is a big step up for Beltrami? For my money, I’d say that already happened when he scored (and was Oscar-nominated for) 3:10 To Yuma, and maybe that even begun earlier when he scored The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, though I don’t remember that one.
30 2-02-2010 at 6:48 pm
Guy Lodge said...
Jim: Well, for my money, they didn’t nominate the “greatest achievements of film score composition of 2009,” so I’m making do.
31 2-02-2010 at 6:49 pm
aspect ratio said...
I honestly didn’t remember that The Hurt Locker even had a score after I first saw it. I’m definitely going to have to pay attention to that the next time I see it.. Listening to clips of it on iTunes though it does sound like the kind of mood music score that works well within the film but isn’t perhaps so listenable or memorable on its own.
32 2-02-2010 at 6:53 pm
RichardA said...
ouch for the scores for the informant and a single man.
33 2-02-2010 at 6:55 pm
Morgan said...
Oh wow, I didn’t know he was nominated for 3:10 to Yuma. Thanks for the info.
34 2-02-2010 at 6:57 pm
Patryk said...
Cinematography: “Nine”
Actor: Ben Foster
Actress: Tilda Swinton (I won’t bring this up again)
Art Direction: “The Road”
Across the board: “Bright Star”
35 2-02-2010 at 7:09 pm
John said...
The two best movies of the year, STAR TREK and THE HANGOVER, got stiffed!
36 2-02-2010 at 7:22 pm
Andy said...
C’mon, the one snub that really hurt was (500) days of Summer for screenplay. I’ll never shut up about it. I loved the movie, and it seemed like it was getting the nod.
37 2-02-2010 at 7:22 pm
Faith said...
Would have loved for Anthony Mackie to have made it to the dance.
38 2-02-2010 at 7:34 pm
cineJAB said...
imagine if District 9 had gotten makeup and the sound categories, that would have been 7 nominations, more than Up In the Air. Which might be why it didn’t get those three?
39 2-02-2010 at 7:52 pm
lovespike said...
Anthony Mackie-supporting actor
Diane Kruger -supporting actress
The Messenger- best pic
The Road-cinematography,Viggo Mortensen
40 2-02-2010 at 7:58 pm
Jonny said...
I’m sure I’m in the minority, but I was still holding out for a supporting nom for Marion Cotillard for Nine. I thought they’d fix the category fraud and put her where she belongs (and deserves to be. She and Cruz were the only things that made the movie worth watching, and she was much better than Penelope.)
Damn you Harvey Weinstein and your greedy campaigning!
41 2-02-2010 at 8:06 pm
Luke Gorham said...
Bright Star – Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Cinematography (none of these seemed like longshots 4 months ago).
A Single Man – Best Original Score
Where the Wild Things Are – Best Art Direction
42 2-02-2010 at 8:14 pm
Cinebrooding said...
I have to admit – I prefer Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones to Stanley Tucci in Julie & Julia. He really freaked me out in Bones. He was terrific in Julie & Julia, it just doesn’t stand out as much to me.
But I too would have liked to see a nomination for Mary and Max.
43 2-02-2010 at 8:40 pm
John said...
They nominated the wrong maestro of mayhem’s movie for Sound. Although Mr. Bay’s films are usually sonic rollercoasters, this one seemed more like sonic overkill (although admittedly, I had the same reaction to ARMAGEDDON when I saw it in the theatre; after seeing it on my appropriately decibelled TV, I could hear the sonic tour de force that it was). I would have no problem with Transformers 2 being nominated for Sound FX, since they had to come up with all those crazy noises, but the mix lacked the art his films’ sound mixes usually have. (Perhaps because Mr. O’Connell wasn’t behind this one…)
His partner is critical drubbery/audience appeal, Herr Roland Emmerich did a similarly all-out mayhem blockbuster this year with 2012, and while it was the most ridiculous thing put onscreen since Plan 9, his sound mixers were faced with the same level of complexity, yet they made a sonic spectacle, not an aural cacophony.
2012 was robbed for Sound!!!!
44 2-02-2010 at 9:28 pm
Tom C said...
I can definitely emphasize with the Art Direction snub for Inglorious Basterds, but I’m surprised to not see more people mention the costume snub for Anna Shepperd, as well. Incredible period work, especially for the women’s wardrobe. Melanie Laurent’s costumes were gorgeous. Maybe it’s impossible for them to recognize a war film, even with as much originality in the threads as here.
Anyway, aside from that, I’m disappointed in them missing:
In the box:
Up in the Air for Editing (some of the year’s best if you ask me)
Abbie Cornish for Best Actress
Michael Stuhlberg for Best Actor
(500) Days of Summer for Best Original Screenplay
District 9 for Make-Up
Moon for Best Original Score
Out of the Box:
Peter Capaldi for Best Supporting Actor (should have won on my ballot)
The Road for Best Art Direction
Fantastic Mr. Fox for Best Art Direction (people I guess don’t realize that those sets were actually crafted)
“You’ve Got Me Wrapped Around You’re Little Finger” from An Education for Best Song
Sam Rockwell for Best Actor
45 2-02-2010 at 9:37 pm
Pablo (Col) said...
I dont get all the love dor Mackie. The performances is THL are very plain and have no strong points. I would have prefer Molina to get in.
District 9 for Make Up and David Wasco for Basterds, now those are big snubs.
46 2-02-2010 at 9:43 pm
clydefontaine said...
I thought Tucci was miles better in Bones than J&J where he was basically background scenery. Both movies were average at best, but his performance in TLB stood out to me and actually made Ronin’s disappear.
47 2-02-2010 at 10:01 pm
RB said...
Where is Julianne Moore for “A Single Man”????!?!!?
You really think Penelope Cruz deserved it over her?
48 2-02-2010 at 10:05 pm
Jonathan Spuij said...
A SINGLE MAN
A SINGLE MAN
A SINGLE MAN
A SINGLE MAN
A SINGLE MAN
A SINGLE MAN.
Need I say more?
49 2-02-2010 at 10:15 pm
Nigel Bridgeman said...
The only ommissions that stung for me:
* No love whatsoever for (500) Days of Summer
* No nominations for any of the girls from Inglourious Basterds
* No nomination for Sam Rockwell (wasn’t going to happen, but I do dream of a day when the Academy members must watch every eligible film)
I haven’t seen the majority of the nominees yet so I can’t comment on whether or not they all deserve to be there. I know Up doesn’t deserve a Best Picture nomination though.
50 2-02-2010 at 11:12 pm
Andrew2 said...
As with several here, the Bright Star omissions (especially Actress and Cinematography) stung the most, but were not unexpected.
Julianne Moore and score for Single Man was disappointing. THL is a great film but Score is really stretching the love too far. Blind Side for BP is embarrassing but not that out of left field
51 2-02-2010 at 11:17 pm
David said...
(500) Days of Summer for Original Screenplay.
52 2-02-2010 at 11:18 pm
Andrew2 said...
Luke and other bright star lovers, according to an insider on the Envelope forum, Apparition simply did not campaign for the film, because of the feedback they got from their research that it wasnt a goer. I dont believe it. They managed to get Young Victoria three nods, and I cant imagine this had any better buzz than Bright Star
53 2-03-2010 at 12:29 am
Henry said...
Just saw The Lovely Bones. Everything else aside, I thought the cinematography was pretty special. Andrew Lesnie’s work isn’t subtle, but there are so many images that stand out in my mind. You can’t help but stare at that movie. Am I in the minority in feeling that Lesnie got thoroughly snubbed for being associated with an unpopular film?
54 2-03-2010 at 12:48 am
timr said...
I thought Hamlisch’s Informant! score was a film-wrecking tonal disaster area, so I’m personally at peace with its omission.
More to the point, though, what’s up with that editing nod for Precious?! I mean, skilful editing? Precious?? These are virtually alien concepts.
55 2-03-2010 at 1:31 am
Jeff said...
This’ll sound silly, but the most disappointing omission to me was “You’ve Got Me Wrapped Around Your Little Finger” not making it into the Best Song category. Sure, there were things I would’ve liked to have seen that were never going to happen (Michael Stuhlbarg, Tilda Swinton, to name a few), but I honestly thought this song from An Education was going to make the cut.
When you read about the music branch watching the song in the context of the film, I feel like it’s a product of the 60s, not an original piece. While I do enjoy both “Almost There” from Princess and the Frog and “The Weary Kind” (which seemed to be a given in this category), I thought for sure “YGMWAYLF” was gonna make the grade.
I also wholeheartedly agree with The Informant score being snubbed. I didn’t care for the film much at all, but I left the theater and immediately bought the score from iTunes…something I don’t do often.
56 2-03-2010 at 1:56 am
Theoriginal.andrew said...
I think the hype surrounding Mackie was more because he’s a nice guy and not because of his performance. Most interviewers I know kept saying that he was fantastic and very down-to-earth, but… that wasn’t enough, obviously.
I think 500 Days of Summer should have been nominated for Original Screenplay. I guess the rom-com genre is not a priority for the Academy. And I also think Star Trek should have been nominated instead of The Bland Side. UGH!
57 2-03-2010 at 2:01 am
ferdi said...
You didn’t mention Julianne Moore for A Single Man! The movie is amazing and got only one nod… And also the score is wonderful. No words.
58 2-03-2010 at 3:18 am
Jonathan Spuij said...
I just figured they probably had issues with the score being co-written by Umebayashi. Which was trange because at the Globes they just nominated Korzeniowski.
59 2-03-2010 at 3:42 am
Theoriginal.andrew said...
I thought An Education was going to get more noms but it didn’t. Not that I liked the film, but most people were expecting at least 6 noms.
60 2-03-2010 at 4:29 am
Guy Lodge said...
I’ve been saying the same thing about Julianne Moore since September: she’s fine in “A Single Man,” but well below her best. Frankly, I think she did well to get the Globe nod.
61 2-03-2010 at 4:58 am
Joe said...
For the record: seeing “The Hurt Locker” the second time, I did notice the score. And I wasn’t impressed. But I hardly remember any scores after watching a movie anyway, so I won’t complain.
The biggest snub to me was Michael Stuhlbarg. He gave the performance of the year (I do believe that, and I did see “Crazy Heart”). And I think he qualifies as a snub because that darn Golden Globe nod got my hopes up! But, oh well, it’s a pretty good Best Actor lineup anyway.
62 2-03-2010 at 5:45 am
Mike M. said...
No Julianne Moore for A Single Man! I thought the performance was haunting, beautiful, and complex. I hope she gets her long deserved Oscar one day.
I echo the sentiment that A Single Man was horribly snubbed for its score…I have it on my Ipod and listen to it regularly. (Yeah, I really enjoyed it).
63 2-03-2010 at 6:30 am
h.h. said...
Where’s “Where the wild things are”?? Ok, maybe not room for the “last spots” in BP, but not a single nomination?!? C’mon! cinematography and art direction should have been in!! Even more: adapted screenplay!
I’m also sad because they passed Melanie Laurent over Cruz or Gyllenhall (I like them both, but these perfomances were just O.K. in O.K. movies)
64 2-03-2010 at 6:39 am
Morgan said...
I like the idea of holding an annual “Forgotscars” consolation award… here are the nominees…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-chattman/the-forgotscars-honoring_b_445657.html
65 2-03-2010 at 6:58 am
stylewriter said...
I’m most disappointed about Star Trek missing BP and Christian McKay not being noticed for Supporting Actor. I’d heard there was a backlash blasting his performance as a “party trick” and him being a one-trick pony. Kind of like that one guy who can do one impression brilliantly but can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. That’s a shame because performance wise it was certainly right up there with Christoph Waltz.
66 2-03-2010 at 7:23 am
Yogsam said...
Yeah, i think Beltrami already made his best contribution to cinema with “3:10 to Yuma”, i mean, i have no problem with him being nominated, but if he wins the award,well, that will be dissapointing (for me, at least) i hope “Fantastic Mr. Fox” gets the award for Score, but UP is a beast in that category
67 2-03-2010 at 7:56 am
Will said...
i was sad to see no Star Trek in for best picture or director
68 2-03-2010 at 8:30 am
Pete said...
The omission of Alfred Molina, An Education, took me by surprise. I would have thought that the UK voters would have put him across the line. He certainly outshone the rather grotesque, cliched performance of Tucci in the horrid The Lovely Bones.
69 2-03-2010 at 8:37 am
movieguy1 said...
The notion that “(500) Days of Summer” was snubbed for Best Original Screenplay rests on questionable definitions of “best”, “original”, and “snub”. Original? Really? The two best friends who have nothing to do in their lives but ask the protagonist about the status of his relationship, thus yielding valuable exposition? The grab bag confection of film school thesis cliches (the morning-after dance number, the occasional black and white envisioning of a life as a lovelorn art house fixture)? The hodgepodge fractured chronology in shameless mimicry of “Annie Hall”? The “can’t-take-it-anymore” scene we’ve now witnessed countless times where the main character eviscerates his co-workers and stomps out of a big meeting? The omniscent narrator intoning lines beginning with “This is a story of…” Really? This qualifies as one of the year’s “best” “original” screenplays, and thus was unduly “snubbed”?
70 2-03-2010 at 8:46 am
Meli said...
Hell yeah, Paul Outlaw. Viggo was heartbreaking and awesome, as always. Also, Abbie Cornish.
71 2-03-2010 at 9:25 am
Dave said...
I think it a joke that they put a bunch of popcorn movies for best picture but do not put even one foreign language film for best picture. The White Ribbon was the best movie of 2009 and probably the best of the whole decade but instead the best picture category is full of fluff like Avatar, Up, Distric 9 etc.. What a joke.
72 2-03-2010 at 10:00 am
Megan said...
Dave,
I totally get what you’re saying.
However, I’m guessing one big reason they did this 10-slot thing is so popcorn films WOULD get nominations. When movie folks pull themselves out of their esoteric world, they realize most people don’t take movies as seriously as they do. Therefore, they don’t take film awards as seriously.
It all comes down to ratings-casual movie-goers will be more likely to watch if some of the popcorn-flicks they saw are getting some recognition along with the stuffy business that no one else saw.
Because let’s face it: hard as they try, film award shows are fucking BORING. I barely made it throught he Globes without swallowing my own tongue.
As for my most agonizing snub, I wish the category discrepancies with Melanie Laurent got resolved. She gave such a nuanced and fantastic performance (far better than Kruger’s), and I wish some recognition would’ve come her way.
73 2-03-2010 at 10:07 am
joel said...
My three biggest snubs:
1) Marvin Hamlisch’s BRILLIANT scoring for “The Informant!,” which really captured the mood and feel of the film.
2) Morgan Freeman’s nomination over Matt Damon for “The Informant!,” Sharlto Copley for “District 9,” and Robert Downey Jr. for “Sherlock Holmes.”
3) The screenplay misses for “(500) Days of Summer” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” two of the finest-written films of the year.
74 2-03-2010 at 10:19 am
movieman said...
I’m in agreement with Megan and Dave here. I think it’s a shame that overrated, audience-favorite tripe like “Avatar” and “The Blind Side” got nominated here, while effective family dramas like “Lifelines” get sidelined.
75 2-03-2010 at 11:04 am
tony rock said...
@movieguy1…screenplay nominations are usually related to how good the dialogue is. Yes, 500 Days doesn’t have the most original story, but the dialogue is absolutely top notch. And being a twenty-somethin like its two main characters, the film displayed some very revealing truths about modern-day young romance. It was surreal how accurate it was. Besides, Annie Hall doesn’t own fractured chronology. The upcoming Blue Valentine is using it as well.
76 2-03-2010 at 11:16 am
M.Harris said...
Viggo! For his a powerful and nuanced performance. In “The Road.”
77 2-03-2010 at 11:23 am
Sean Stangland said...
I was under the impression that the overwhelming bulk of the alien effects in “District 9″ were completely computer-generated characters. Aside from Copley’s alien prosthetics, the makeup effects in the film are minimal, are they not?
78 2-03-2010 at 11:54 am
Morgan said...
Sean: Well, by that narrow standard, the makeup effects in “The Fly” (with Goldblum) were “minimal” too…
79 2-03-2010 at 11:54 am
Mao said...
I couldn’t agree with you more about “Mary And Max.”
80 2-03-2010 at 11:55 am
Mao said...
And no love for “The Road”? What’s up with that?
81 2-03-2010 at 12:38 pm
Gustavo H.R. said...
The score of THE VILLAGE was beautiful. That nod was surprising and, above all, well deserved. Maybe you were just sayin’ that it was a disliked film and even so it got a nod…