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Oscar nominations: the good, the good and the good

Posted by Guy Lodge · 11:22 am · January 25th, 2011

Even when they aren’t being read out with gale-force enthusiasm by Mo’Nique, the Oscar nominations tend to attack you with breathless speed that you need at least half an hour to decide how you feel about them at all. As usual, this morning’s announcement found me bouncing from one split-second reaction to another: Yay! No! What? That? Why? Who’s missing? What did she say? That? No! Did I call that? Yay!

As Kate Winslet would say in such situations: “Gather.” And now that I’ve stepped back, gathered and taken into account that no Oscar nomination slate in history has been without its disappointments, I can honestly say that I’m more happy than not with the list in front of me.

Some of the day’s biggest surprises didn’t elicit much of an emotional reaction from me. My eyebrows rose as high as anyone’s over Christopher Nolan’s latest failure to secure a Best Director nomination — is he the first man in Oscar history to fall three times at this hurdle after being DGA-nominated? — though I always said he couldn’t be regarded as a sure thing.

A miss for “Inception” in Best Film Editing was even more stunning, but given my own reservations about the film’s storytelling, it’d be disingenuous for me to chide the Academy on either count. (I’d rather see Nolan’s film in either category than the drastically over-nominated “The King’s Speech,” mind, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.)

Prediction-wise, I scored better than I expected, calling 80 out of 107 nominees, and 39 out of 45 in the top categories. Most pleasingly of all, a number of my fifth-spot hunches in the acting categories paid off, as Javier Bardem, Michelle Williams and John Hawkes all found their way to against-the-odds nominations. (Shame my inkling about Hailee Steinfeld showing up in lead didn’t pay off — for the Academy’s sake as well as mine.)

When the smoke cleared, however, these were the seven chief reasons I was left smiling:

“The Illusionist” pulls it off: I never veered from my instinct that Sylvain Chomet’s hand-drawn jewel (and my own favourite film of 2010) would land the third spot in the Best Animated Feature category, even as a curious precursor surge for “Despicable Me” gave me cause for concern. Ultimately, however, the Academy’s animation branch proved that technique is their top priority.

“Dogtooth” bares its fangs: In retrospect, it was utterly insane to predict that a deranged, sexually explicit Greek fable featuring incest, cat butchery and assorted other forms of family fun would somehow lay claim to the title “Academy Award nominee” — but sometimes, if you want things badly enough, they happen. I do wish my long-predicted nomination for South Africa’s “Life, Above All” had come to pass, but by fearlessly picking “Dogtooth,” this branch has atoned for several years of milquetoast sins.

“Winter’s Bone” scores one (or four) for the indies: Another on-the-fringes contender that repaid my loyalty this morning, Debra Granik’s shoestring Ozark thriller scraped into the ten-strong Best Picture lineup, holding the flag aloft for authentic independent cinema with no big names to bolster its place in the race — and surprised a few pundits by carrying hardworking character actor John Hawkes to a deserved supporting nod too. With little guild support in its arsenal, it looks like critical veneration still counts for something in this racket.

Best Actress kills: By commendably standing up for Nicole Kidman and Michelle Williams’s little-seen vehicles, the acting branch unveiled a true rarity: an acting category with no coasters, no fat and no filler. Just five gifted women at different stages of their careers, but all on peak form:  Natalie Portman will still cruise to an easy win, but a category this strong deserves to be more competitive.

The writers have Leigh’s back: As with “Happy-Go-Lucky” two years ago, Mike Leigh’s “Another Year” nearly slipped through the cracks with Oscar — as category confusion cost the wonderful Lesley Manville what should have been an easy get of a Best Actress nomination. Thank God, then, for the indie-friendly writers’ branch, who once again boldly piped up for Leigh where no one else would (and at the expense of a Best Picture nominee, no less). This marks the still-Oscarless Leigh’s seventh career nomination; alas, that number is unlikely to prove lucky this year.   

BANKSY!: Okay, I’m stealing Kris’s war-cry here, and I doubt I can match his intensity in shouting it. (How neat that both our #1 films of the year found recognition in the ghetto categories.) Still, what a joy to see “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” the year’s most inventive, entertaining, shape-shifting documentary nominated — ahead of the much-favored but infinitely less engaging “Waiting for Superman” to boot. Proof (at last) that this branch has a sense of humor.

The costume designers are love: I anticipated a contemporary presence in the usually period-obsessed Best Costume Design category, but I never expected to it to come in the svelte shape of Italian arthouse darling “I Am Love,” whose simple but boldly hued and immaculately tailored couture beat far flashier Guild nominees “Burlesque” and “Black Swan” to the punch. Nice to have some evidence that voters are paying attention to at least a few movies off the beaten awards track — and that my own dream ballot wasn’t entirely in vain.

The bad? Frankly, I’m in too good a mood to dwell on my disappointments. Yes, as thrilled as I am for Williams, I don’t think her nomination sits right without an accompanying bid for Ryan Gosling. Yes, I wish there was a little less “The King’s Speech” (and a little more “Black Swan”) in the technical categories. Yes, I wish the acting branch had taken it upon themselves to correct Hailee Steinfeld’s plainly fraudulent categorization. Yes, I’m as baffled as anyone that more voters thrilled to the VFX work in “Iron Man 2″ than “TRON: Legacy.” And yes, I do mourn the missed opportunity to have Cher belting it out on Oscar night in the name of “Burlesque” – not least when the music branch managed to cobble together the most indifferent slate of Best Song nominees in memory.

But weighed against the “hell yes” moments listed above — not to mention other high points like Jacki Weaver’s underdog-made-good nomination and an unusually stellar Best Supporting Actor lineup — I’m willing to chalk such qualms up to the nature of the season. There’s plenty of drama to come on the Oscar trail. Now’s not the day to start it.




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58 responses so far

  • 1 1-25-2011 at 11:29 am

    Joey said...

    I am glad that I Am Love is in for costumes. At least there is something new in a category. This whole year feels like True Grit vs. The Social Network vs. The King’s Speech. The nominees seem incredibly bland with some nice touches here and there.

  • 2 1-25-2011 at 11:30 am

    Dylan said...

    The most annoying nomination for me is TKS for cinematography.

    My favorite surprise is the I Am Love for costumes.

  • 3 1-25-2011 at 11:31 am

    Sertan said...

    Guy,
    I really like your very “positive” take on nominations! Very strong best actress and very strong best actors nominations. I believe if mroe people had seen Biuiful, they would be happier for Javier Bardem’s well-deserved nomination for his great performance! No Sandra-Bullock case this year!

    Lets try to be happy for what we got, instead of being sad for what we didnt get!

  • 4 1-25-2011 at 11:40 am

    kel said...

    I’m most disappointed about Andrew Garfield’s snub

  • 5 1-25-2011 at 11:41 am

    timr said...

    Agree with almost everything you say (throwing in a bit of sadness for Garfield and Moore). But the effects in TRON: Legacy are so uneven (some ace work alongside Jeffbot fail) that I can’t see it as a baffling snub. OK, it’s a factory-line sequel and a rather dull nomination, but Iron Man 2‘s are certainly more consistent…

  • 6 1-25-2011 at 11:53 am

    Phil said...

    What is interesting to me is how much the experts, the gurus if you will, Anne and Kris included, missed in their predictions. It seems as if any movie fan paying attention could have done just as well.

  • 7 1-25-2011 at 11:54 am

    Tye-Grr said...

    @Kel- Me too. :(

  • 8 1-25-2011 at 11:58 am

    JJ1 said...

    Guy, what do you think of the Andrew Garfield snub?

    I thought BFCA, Globes, BAFTA were enough to get him in. Like Williams & Gosling, I feel that Eisenberg & Garfield were linked in their film.

    And though I’m very happy for Hawkes & Ruffalo getting 1st time noms, I have to say, I thought Garfield was better than either of them, and Renner, for that matter; however slightly.

  • 9 1-25-2011 at 11:58 am

    Robert Hamer said...

    Fanboys all over the internet are raging over the Nolan snub, which I’m honestly indifferent about, though I do feel for the guy. A third DGA failing to translate to an Oscar nom has got to sting.

    THRILLED about David O. Russell, John Hawkes and Jacki Weaver. So happy that I don’t even really care about the obscene amount of attention paid to The King’s Speech or Hailee Steinfeld as “supporting.”

  • 10 1-25-2011 at 11:59 am

    Amy said...

    Love seeing Nicole Kidman on that list :). I was a little nervous because she is not usually their cup of tea so thank you AMPAS. I hope this boosts RH at the box office!

  • 11 1-25-2011 at 12:00 pm

    Will said...

    Jacki Weaver’s inclusion is all I need. No matter what happens now, I’m content.

  • 12 1-25-2011 at 12:06 pm

    Chris138 said...

    I couldn’t believe when I saw Joel and Ethan Coen nominated for directing True Grit and not Nolan. What does the man have to do in order to get nominated in that category?

    I was also pretty stunned when I saw that Inception didn’t get a film editing nomination. However, I predicted that if there were to be any real surprises, it would be Javier Bardem for Biutiful. I felt like he had a chance after all the public support from Oscar winners such as Julia Roberts and Sean Penn.

  • 13 1-25-2011 at 12:07 pm

    Fitz said...

    Hereafter instead of Tron: Legacy is – and nothing else could describe it – hilarious. The effects were the worst aspect of Hereafter and Iron Man 2′s were even more noticeable.

    Still smarting for a lack of a nod for Mr. Nolan and any mention of Shutter Island whatsoever.

  • 14 1-25-2011 at 12:11 pm

    /3rtfu11 said...

    I’m pleased with perceived snubs for Inception. Outside of shameful joy seeing Annette Bening the only Oscar nominee from 20 years ago still here – Thank God Streep wasn’t able to mockup the race. Kidman being welcomed after the cruelty she faced after winning a much deserved statuette. Michelle Williams one of the more gifted actresses of her generation – I’m hoping she becomes the American equivalent to Kate Winslet – The Academy being open to nominating her whenever in doubt.

  • 15 1-25-2011 at 12:21 pm

    Maxim said...

    Coens deserve to be in for directing. I really believe that their work is being severly undervalued here. They showed a very deep understanding of the genre and I dare say, their directing was better than their strong adapted screenplay.

    Honestly, they are not the weakest link here, despite being snubbed by the DGA.

  • 16 1-25-2011 at 12:34 pm

    Guy Lodge said...

    JJ1: I’m not surprised by Garfield’s snub — I didn’t predict him, after all. That SAG snub was telling, plus he hasn’t been a very dynamic force on the publicity trail. It pains me to say it, but these things count.

    I really like his performance, and if I was rearranging the ballot to suit my purposes, I’d swap him in for Rush. But that category is so stellar — not an idle performance in the bunch — that I’m not inclined to complain.

  • 17 1-25-2011 at 12:45 pm

    G. said...

    Reactions:
    1. What did Chris Nolan ever do to piss off the academy?
    2. The Doc Branch showed up this year (makes up for screwing Joan Rivers over again, Hollywood).
    3. Jeff Bridges, really? You just won last year. This is where the Academy should recognize that he isn’t going to win, so why not show some love to Gosgling?
    4. I was hoping for Mila Kunis, because, well, I just love her…
    5. H. Steinfeld is great, and the nomination is deserved. But the win? This is where I have a problem. Sometimes the Oscar is a Career Award (looking at you Bullock), and sometimes it is based on pure performance with no politics (like Cotillard). This is her FIRST acting role on screen, and she could possibly be a winner. We do not need another Jennifer Hudosn on her hands where they reward the role rather than the actor…

    I know it depends on the situation, but the oscar has become a crowning jewel in many ways.

  • 18 1-25-2011 at 12:51 pm

    G. said...

    6. Still kind of pulling for a Tilda Swinton out of nowhere nomination. She in that movie…on another level. At least that movie got some love.
    7. Best Supporting Actor: Most Stacked Category of this year. (The fact that Andrew Garfield could be left off and I am still all right with it, that’s saying something).
    8. Guess I have to see Biutiful now, even thought just the mere name of that movie puts people in a downspiral of depression.
    9. Kings Speech over Social Network? Is that even possible at this point after all the Critics Awards? Is the academy essentially telling critics to go to hell…?
    10. Why wouldn’t the academy put Cher’s song in there? Did they just not want the show to go down that road?

    After tracking the oscars on this site, is it possible to see anything as non-political now???

    Highly Doubtful.

  • 19 1-25-2011 at 12:54 pm

    Anita said...

    I was watching the nominations (secretly) at work and I still whooped when The Illusionist was announced! So glad the predictions for Tangled and Despicable Me did not pan out.

    And Another Year! Pleased to see it was not completely shut outm, unlike The Ghost Writer, which was very disappointing.

    Pulling for a major, major upset for Best Picture. Anything but TKS. Please. Anyone.

  • 20 1-25-2011 at 12:56 pm

    Kevin said...

    I’m with Fitz on Tron deserving a spot, but not at the expense of Hereafter, which I thought was pretty fantastic (that opening sequence is amazing imho). Instead, I thought Potter or Iron Man 2 should have been bumped in order to include Tron. In fact, bumping both for Tron as well as Scott Pilgrim would have really made me smile.

  • 21 1-25-2011 at 1:07 pm

    bunbun said...

    “but a category this strong deserves to be more competitive”

    This statement couldn’t be more true. As much as I loved Portman’s performance, all were amazing and I couldn’t have been more pleased to hear Michelle Williams’ name called.

  • 22 1-25-2011 at 1:10 pm

    ABC said...

    Thrilled for Williams, but at the same time, it seems so unsettling to Gosling left out.

  • 23 1-25-2011 at 1:20 pm

    Rob said...

    In answer to one of Guy’s questions: Rob Reiner is also a three-time DGA nominee (Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally…, A Few Good Men) who has never gotten a Best Director nomination.

  • 24 1-25-2011 at 1:28 pm

    Mike said...

    I mourn the snub for Tangled. My second favourite movie of the year. Also the snub of Dianne Warren, and Rabbit Hole in picture and screenplay(though it was never going to happen).

    I’m mad about the 4 noms for Winter’s Bone. Julianne Moore, Andrew Garfield, Rabbit Hole, and Rabbit Hole should take their places.

    I’m thrilled for Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem (the streak of either Penelope or Javier being nominated and representing Spain at the Oscars continues. It started in 2006), Jacki Weaver, and NICOLE KIDMAN!! Love Amy Adams too.

  • 25 1-25-2011 at 1:29 pm

    Guy Lodge said...

    Thanks, Rob.

  • 26 1-25-2011 at 1:32 pm

    maurier said...

    I’m so happy Dogtooth is nominated for Oscar – it’s the happiest moment of this season for me!!! And the list of five docs is astounding (including my personal best Waste Land). On the other hand, only 5 noms for Black Swan and 12 (??) for TKS, including sound mixing, really? Actually, I hoped there would be more surprises (especially in supporting actress category), but well, we can’t have everything we want.

  • 27 1-25-2011 at 1:35 pm

    Maxim said...

    I keep laughing about the whole TKS/Sound Mixing thing. The movie’s called the King’s Speach for a reason and I think voters are hearing it loud and clear (too loud!).

    I also think that the best song is probably going to go to A. R. Rahman. Or Menken. I just don’t see Toy Story 3 winning that.

  • 28 1-25-2011 at 2:34 pm

    Nick said...

    Inception not getting nominated for editing is a crime against humanity. Psyched about Dogtooth tho

  • 29 1-25-2011 at 3:02 pm

    JJ1 said...

    Thanks, Guy for your very thorough answer. I figured no nom for SAG was a strong indicator. I was just hoping he’d make it in somehow.

  • 30 1-25-2011 at 4:01 pm

    ninja said...

    I want to make a YouTube reaction vid to Nolan snub where I`m going to scream and face palm and get all kinds of fits like Nutty Madam does for Twilight trailer reaction vids. It`s the crime against humanity, cinema and all other kinds of stuff that they snubbed him again in 2 categories where he should`ve been in. What is he supposed to do in order to get as nom, make a Holcaust movie?

  • 31 1-25-2011 at 4:03 pm

    med said...

    /3rtful—
    Enjoy no Streep this year because she will be back with some heavy weight performances in 2011, 2012, 2013 (The Iron Lady, August Osage County, Great Hope Springs). Plan on seeing her name for the next three years and an Oscar win for August Osage County. Your celebration will be short-lived.

  • 32 1-25-2011 at 4:19 pm

    matsunaga said...

    I’m with the I Am Love Costume design nomination too… Though it would have been sweeter if they included Secretariat’s for it’s lone nomination…. Nice to see The Illusionist as well…

  • 33 1-25-2011 at 5:28 pm

    James D. said...

    Coincidentally, Dogtooth came out on Netflix today. Jesus Christ, what a film. I am really surprised they took a chance on it.

    In total, my ten favorite films of the year got two total nominations. I guess the nominees are better than they could have been, but they are still bland overall.

  • 34 1-25-2011 at 5:48 pm

    PaulH said...

    The more I look at the Oscar shortlist, the more I’m convinced these nominations are actually from the ‘Fringe’ alternative universe and are not the genuine article. When the REAL Oscar noms come out later this week, things will be….

    Jesus Christ, who the frak am I kidding?

    Deplorable, asinine, disrespectful. Snubbing Nolan again only exposes the BAFTAMPAS (you may as well call it that) for the Coens-loving, butt-munchers that they are. The Coens cost Nolan the nomination; the Coens are the most overrated directors in North America and have been protected by the Academy for YEARS. No matter what shit they pump out (*coughASimpleMancough*) they get rubber-stamped at the expense of better people.

    And don’t even get me started on Russell. That head case, who went postal on the I Heart Huckabees set and assaulted Clooney while they were filming Three Kings….He should get down on his frakkin’ knees and thank whatever deity he worships that the voters looked past his psycho behavior and nominated him as one of the final five. Hack, he is, as a director and a human being.

    A disgraceful day, and one more reason the Academy continues its slide into irrelevance. I respectfully challenge anyone to take issue with what I’ve said. Nolan is going to wind up like Alfred Hitchcock. Unappreciated by his peers. I mean Stephen fucking Daldry has 3 Oscar Best Director nominations to Nolan’s zilch. Stephen Daldry!!!! Inception not only directed itself, but also EDITED ITSELF AS WELL, apparently. The Oscars did not cover themselves in glory, rather, horse poop today.

  • 35 1-25-2011 at 6:08 pm

    Guy Lodge said...

    and thank whatever deity he worships that the voters looked past his psycho behavior and nominated him as one of the final five

    [Gasp] You mean they ignored his irrelevant personal history and only took their feelings for his work into account? Jesus, that’s appalling.

  • 36 1-25-2011 at 6:14 pm

    PaulH said...

    Is David Russell a loon of mythic proportion or not, Guy? Did he not rip Lily Tomlin multiple new ones a la Lee Elia Cubs 1983, and worse, actually attacked George Clooney because of a disagreement on the Three Kings set? Heaven help the guy who wins Best Director next month at the Oscars; he just may be in line for a clock-cleaning.

  • 37 1-25-2011 at 6:31 pm

    James D. said...

    PaulH, why does that matter? If anything, we should be happy they did not take that into account.

  • 38 1-25-2011 at 6:56 pm

    Guy Lodge said...

    I don’t know David O. Russell. I’ve never been on one of his sets. I don’t give a flying fuck what he’s like to work with.

    The only relationship I have with Russell is via his films. And I think he’s one hell of a filmmaker. You’re welcome to disagree on that basis — clearly you do — but dragging externals into it just makes your rant look pettier and more ill-considered than it already is.

    PS. I know it interferes with your clever BAFTAMPAS dig, but you’re aware that BAFTA actually nominated Christopher Nolan, right?

  • 39 1-25-2011 at 7:15 pm

    Jesse said...

    David O. Russell is a rapist. Mark my words, some bad shit is going to come out about this guy soon.

  • 40 1-25-2011 at 8:09 pm

    /3rtfu11 said...

    David O Russell held Chris Nolan in a headlock at an industry house party: just wanted to remind the Nolan-mourners.
    Med,
    I’m aware of inevitable Streep’s return and I fully support her earning a 3rd statuette.

  • 41 1-25-2011 at 8:26 pm

    PaulPhilly said...

    The BAFTAMPAS thing was for the overpraising of King’s Speech today. Not for anything about Nolan. At least they gave him a director nod. IN that respect, BAFTA>AMPAS.

  • 42 1-25-2011 at 8:55 pm

    PaulH said...

    *looks at the Wikipedia entry for Dogtooth*

    *gags*

    Seriously, Oscars?

  • 43 1-25-2011 at 9:46 pm

    Fallon said...

    PaulH, I don’t know if you know David O. Russell or not. I do, having worked with him before, and all I can say is that you’re absolutely right. And anyone who says his vile behavior doesn’t matter because his films are good has a wonderful ability to compartmentalize that I just don’t have and hope I never do. I am shocked at the stuff that DOESN’T count out about this guy.

  • 44 1-25-2011 at 10:17 pm

    Fitz said...

    Nolan’ll get nominated for ‘Dark Knight Rises’, I’m sure of it!

  • 45 1-25-2011 at 10:53 pm

    PaulH said...

    To clear things up, I don’t know Russell at all, just was curious about him, so looked at Wikipedia which detailed his dustups.

  • 46 1-25-2011 at 10:55 pm

    PaulH said...

    Fitz: Nolan’ll get nominated for ‘Dark Knight Rises’, I’m sure of it!

    Yes, and Michelle Bachmann will look into the proper camera next time she delivers the TeaBagger response to the SOTU :D :D :D

    Otherwise, no.

  • 47 1-25-2011 at 11:36 pm

    James D. said...

    Fallon, your logic is what allows for smear campaigns, not just in Oscars but in all type of merit-based events. The question is whether David O. Russell turned in one of the top five achievements in directing. It is not about how he treats people, how truthful he is on his taxes, or how often he plays with his kids. Whether it is a politician, an athlete, a musician, or a filmmaker, when you are being judged on your skill in a profession, a personal life is irrelevant.

    Getting into digging up of their personal lives is what makes such awards shows so unappealing. Are people going to give Christian Bale shit because of the Terminator set incident? Where does it end? It leads to silliness like the supposed exploitation of the Slumdog kids by the crew or the supposed stealing of the phrase “hurt locker” last year. Do you really judge The Fighter, I Heart Huckabees, and Three Kings based on his tirades? What about Roman Polanski or Mel Gibson? Where does it end?

  • 48 1-26-2011 at 3:45 am

    Guy Lodge said...

    *looks at the Wikipedia entry for Dogtooth*
    *gags*
    Seriously, Oscars?

    You’re clearly not a reasonable man, PaulH, so I don’t know why I’m even bothering with this — but how about watching a film before passing judgement on its nomination?

    You do realise that the source of many of the Academy’s errors is the fact that a lot of voters are just as lazy and presumptuous as you are?

  • 49 1-26-2011 at 6:52 am

    karol said...

    hi there,
    i’m really interested in hearing your opinion of the snub’s reasons.
    Nolan in Director.
    Inception in Editing.
    Black Swan in Original Screenplay & both Sound categories.
    Waiting for Superman in Documentary & Song.
    Alice in Wonderland in Makeup.
    Burlesque in Song.
    Tron Legacy in Visual Fx.

    for example, some are saying that while watching Inception, they got lost, and didn’t know what was happening (sic!). could it be the reason of the snub in editing?

  • 50 1-26-2011 at 7:11 am

    Guy Lodge said...

    I doubt the editors got lost watching Inception. Don’t look too hard for reasons — sometimes a film just doesn’t have the depth of support one might think.

  • 51 1-26-2011 at 7:32 am

    karol said...

    hmm, i assume there is always a reason for snub. remember when Marie Antoinette wasn’t nommed for Art Direction, Cold Mountain for Costumes or Springsteen’s song was out in Song category, and people were screaming about the outrageous snub. but they forgot that the sets in MA were real Versaille, costumes in CM were ‘too clean & beautiful’ , and that the song played during end credits and didn’t add anything to the story. those reasons are understandable for me…
    if The Dark Knight or Matrix could’ve been nominated, why not Inception? i think those movies are comparable…
    if Children of Men or Cinderella Man or City of God or Memento could’ve been nominated, why not Inception? Inception had definetely more buzz & passion as guilds indicated…

  • 52 1-26-2011 at 7:41 am

    bluemoon02 said...

    I agree about your statement on the Best Actress category. It is the strongest line-up since…..maybe 2007?(excluding Cate Blanchett)or 2004? Or maybe as far back as 1995. Just curious, which past nominees do u regard as “coasters,fat or fillers”?????

    And the Best Supporting Actor category is 100x stronger than last yr’s pathetic bunch(Only Harrelson and Christophz made an impact).

  • 53 1-26-2011 at 8:18 am

    Maxim said...

    PaulH, you are a hysterical moron. Quite yourself down and get your brains in order.

    “mean Stephen f*cking Daldry has 3 Oscar Best Director nominations to Nolan’s zilch. Stephen Daldry!!!! ”

    Why are you saying this as if the guy is some worthless hack? I may agree the Reader all kinds objectionable but they guy has some serious dramatic chops. I have always believed that.

    Also, last I checked Nolan also has three nominations, including picture and writing. That’s not zilch.

    “!!!! Inception not only directed itself, but also EDITED ITSELF AS WELL, apparently”

    Guess what dumbass, they don’t think that. They just happened to not think it was Academy Award wothy, for whatever reason. They have nominated the film 8 other times and I think there’s plenty to like.

    Lastly, your Coen bashing exposes you for the hypersensative goon that you are.
    First of all, theirs was a legitimately top 3 directing job in the year. Second, they didn’t cost Nolan anything, as there’s no knowing how far down Nolan even was. Boyle, Cholodenko, etc may have been ahead of him just as Coens were likely closer to the top.

    And this is only the third time, they have been nominated for Directing (second for Ethan).. That, to me is a travesty because they are From Blood Simple, Through Men Who Wasn’t There, on very some of the most versatily and superb filmmakers the world had ever seen.

    It is also worth noting, not that they an idiot like youself would understand – Coens waited over a decade to even get their first nominations. Longer than Nolan. They stuck at it and are finally enjoying the recognition. If your Nolan is as good as you think he is (and I don’t doubt that he is), he will no trouble doing the same.

  • 54 1-26-2011 at 8:34 am

    Maxim said...

    Now, a calmer response:

    True Grit is a very well liked film in AMPAS and deservingly so. It’s #2 in terms of overall nominations and would have clearly made the 5 or even 4 or 3 in directing.

    I think this is my favorite horse in this year’s race. Not only is it unique because it’s western, it’s unique and valuable because it’s unique and unuausal for a western, the directing and presentation being the primary reasons why. It deserves to be here over most other contenders, in my opinion.

  • 55 1-26-2011 at 10:06 am

    Collin said...

    James D., let’s be realistic. Hollywood and these awards shows are popularity contests. People’s personas are entirely up for mass consumption and what makes people want to see a Mel Gibson film a lot of the time is the stardom of Mel Gibson. It’s naive to pretend otherwise. People are entitled to their opinions and quite often those opinions about a person’s art are swayed by what they know. Am I comfortable going to a Victor Salva film, knowing he’s a convicted pedophile who raped and filmed a 12-year-old boy, particularly when his films often feature long, lingering close-ups of naked male torsos? It’s just not for me. So if someone has issues with Roman Polanski or Woody Allen or David O. Russell, I don’t have to like it, but it’s their right.

  • 56 1-26-2011 at 6:39 pm

    PaulH said...

    Don’t shoot the messenger, Maxim:

    Reuters Canada: http://tinyurl.com/4pnjuxb
    ABC News: http://tinyurl.com/637f3b3
    MSNBC: http://tinyurl.com/4rr2785

    All 3 suggest the Coens were nominated at Nolan’s expense. The Globes – and the DGA – got it right with the brothers. No rubber-stamp for you.

  • 57 1-27-2011 at 12:50 am

    karol said...

    http://perezhilton.com/2011-01-26-look-effects-work-on-the-black-swan

    as a point in my theory of snubs, here is the hidden reason why Black Swan wasn’t shortlisted for Makeup by the Academy…