Surprises & Snubs: 92nd Annual Oscar Nominations

 I found two pleasant surprises and three unpleasant snubs in the Oscar nominations list this morning. Below is my poem of explanation.

There are nine Best Pictures on the list

but Gerwig as Director missed.

It’s five men’s names all we can see.

So how did this snub come to be?

But KLAUS gets recognized at last

for animation. It’s a blast!

And Johansson earns two nods here.

That’s a reason for fans to cheer.

Why is Lupita without one?

In US her work was so well done.

And THE FAREWELL must say goodbye

No Oscar nod. They sure did try.

Just another awards event.

2020 – it came and went.

For statuettes we must await.

February Ninth -- don’t be late.

Here’s the IMDb link with all the nominations:  https://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/

Going for the Gold

Congratulations to all the Oscar nominees announced this morning! Although, as usual, some worthy candidates failed to make the list, the Best Picture race looks very interesting. In fact, it motivated me to write the poem below.  

Roma and The Favourite clash

for Oscar gold and future cash.

Which one will win the statuette?

We are not sure, at least not yet.

Other movies could win the prize.

Like Black Panther or even Vice.

Bohemian Rhapsody might

put up a most terrific fight.

But A Star Is Born and Green Book

should not be films to overlook.

And BlackKkKlansman might be the one

to win Best Film when all is done. 

Sounding Off about Oscar Noms

Congratulations to all of the 84th Academy Award nominees announced this morning! Some wonderful films appear on the 2011 Best Picture list – with two of my favorites right on top. Hugo earned eleven nominations, and The Artist racked up ten.

But it’s interesting to note that without nods in two sound categories, The Artist – a silent movie -- would lead the pack with ten nominations to Hugo’s nine. Of course, a movie with very little sound has no chance of competing in “sound mixing” and “sound editing.” Still, both movies are recognized in the most of the key categories – and each of them made it to my Top Ten list.

However, would it hurt the prestige of the Academy to add a comedy or two on its Best Picture list? I couldn’t help hoping that Bridesmaids or The Muppets would sneak onto that group of nine distinguished movies to liven it up.

Regarding the acting nominations, I can’t understand how Tilda Swinton and Ryan Gosling were left out. Swinton gave the best female performance of the year in We Need To Talk About Kevin, and Gosling was simply spellbinding in Drive.

Listen to more rants and raves about the Oscar nominations by clicking on the link below.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/movieaddictheadquarters/2012/01/24/oscar-nominationsrants-raves

Lighten Up, Oscar®!

Once again, members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have demonstrated their preference for drama over comedy and musicals. Even though the number of Best Picture nominees has been increased to ten instead of the usual five this year, the list announced yesterday does not include such high quality lighter fare as THE PROPOSAL, (500 DAYS OF SUMMER), It’S COMPLICATED and FANTASTIC MR. FOX or entertaining musicals like the terrific FAME remake, the impressive EVERY LITTLE STEP documentary and NINE, Rob Marshall’s stylistic adaptation of the award-winning Broadway show.

I, for one, am not amused.

For the complete list of Oscar® nominees, please go to www.oscar.com.

Reacting to the Oscar® Nominations

Like any faithful movie addict, I got up early this morning to watch the televised announcements of the 81st Annual Academy Award nominations. And, as usual, I’m happy about some of the nods as well as surprised by others and disappointed concerning worthy candidates who didn’t make the final lists.

In the Best Picture category, I’m delighted to see Slumdog Millionaire among the five competing films. The four other movies are downers, but Slumdog focuses on the triumph of an underdog while offering viewers adventure, suspense and romance. I hope it wins the Oscar! And I feel the same way about WALL-E being nominated as Best Animated Picture. It should definitely end up as the winner of this category.

Nominations for Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) and for Angelina Jolie (Changeling) in the Best Lead acting categories also pleased me. Jenkins delivered a deeply felt, low-key performance that deserves recognition, and Jolie simply transformed herself into a single mother who is frantic when her young son goes missing. Robert Downey Jr. receiving a nod for his very funny work in Tropic Thunder makes me smile, but he has no chance of a win against Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight.

The biggest surprise to me came when 13 nominations were handed out for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a gloomy film I found extremely difficult to watch. More surprises? Sally Hawkins (Happy-G0-Lucky) missing in the Best Actress list and Clint Eastwood snubbed as Best Actor for Gran Torino. I thought they were shoo-ins to be nominated.

I am very sad that so many of my favorites failed to earn nominations this year. Why no love for Michelle Williams in Wendy and Lucy? Or for Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading? Or for Brad Pitt also in Burn After Reading? Although included in the Best Actor noms for Benjamin Button, Pitt gave a much better performance as the goofy gym guy in that hilarious dark comedy from the Coen Brothers. But my biggest disappointment of all came as I realized my favorite 2008 movie, Mamma Mia, had been shut out completely.

Despite these disappointments, I look forward to viewing the televised 81st Annual Academy Awards Ceremony scheduled for Sunday, February 22.

Reflections on the Oscar Nominations

While still reeling with mixed feelings about the 80th Academy Award nominations announced yesterday, I feel compelled to document my reactions. After all, what do you expect from a confirmed movie addict like me?

Yes, I’m excited about three of my top ten films of 2007 (“Michael Clayton,” “Juno,” “There Will Be Blood”) earning nominations as Best Picture, and I’m very happy Alan Menken received three – count ‘em three – nods for his delightful “Enchanted” songs. But I can’t believe the Academy voters snubbed Angelina Jolie’s terrific lead performance in “A Mighty Heart.” What were they thinking? Although four of the nominees in that category (Cate Blanchett, Julie Christie, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard), deserve Oscar recognition, I think Jolie should have Laura Linney’s spot. Linney is always reliable and sometimes even brilliant, but her excellent work in “The Savages” can’t compare with Jolie’s superb acting as the widow of a murdered journalist.

Other nominations that both pleased and surprised me include: the legendary Ruby Dee for her supporting role in “American Gangster,” Tommy Lee Jones as Best Actor for “In the Valley of Elah,” “Ratatouille,” an animated movie, for original screenplay.

As the world’s most avid movie musical fan, I’m disappointed, of course, because “Hairspray” received no nominations. However, I wasn’t predicting any. (I still think it’s the best and most entertaining movie of 2007.) And, speaking of predictions, it looks like a close race between “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood” in the Best Picture category. These films tied with the most nominations – 8 each. My only predictions right now? Daniel Day-Lewis will win Best Actor for his complete transformation into a ruthless oil tycoon in the latter film and Javier Bardem will walk away with the Best Supporting Actor statuette for portraying the most menacing villain of the year in the former movie.

And now a word about my favorite actor, Johnny Depp. It’s wonderful to see his name in the Best Actor category, but I would prefer it to be for something other than “Sweeney Todd.” Don’t worry, Johnny, I still love you.

We’ll find out who wins in all categories on February 24.