Oscar Noms: They Wuz Robbed!

Who was robbed in Thursday's Oscar nominations?

Sally Hawkins: Winner of the Golden Globe and the New York Film Critics Circle awards for Happy-Go-Lucky, Hawkins gives the year's best performance - brave, funny, touching. Working with Mike Leigh, she carved the role out of her own feisty, life-filled spirit. It's an amazing creation, delivered by the tiny, towering Hawkins - the portrayal of a lifetime. But she's not nominated - and Angelina Jolie is? For the overwrought, overheated, overacted Changeling? Obviously, tears count for more than smiles at the Academy. And apparently the subtlety, the complexity and the sheer imagination of Hawkins' work was overlooked in favor of Jolie's shamelessly tear-stained performance. Or maybe they just were overwhelmed by her skill on roller-skates. It's telling that Happy-Go-Lucky was also overlooked in all major categories except original screenplay.

The Wrestler: Yes, Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei received acting nominations. But the movie itself - one of the fiercest, most moving, most resourceful independent entries of the year - was shut out in the major categories. No nomination for best picture, none for Darren Aronofsky as director or for Robert Siegel's script - not even a nod to Bruce Springsteen for his song. No love for the Boss? And two best-song nominations for Slumdog Millionaire?

Revolutionary Road: Yes, I know, I'm one of the few critics who sees this film for the gripping, sorrowful masterpiece of Eisenhower-era malaise that it is. Still, it deserved better than it got, which was the single major nomination for Michael Shannon (who has no shot in the supporting actor category, because the Oscar will serve as the final step in the canonization of Heath Ledger). But nothing - not even adapted screenplay.

Cate Blanchett and Kristin Scott Thomas: Both could easily have been best-actress nominees, for Benjamin Button and I've Loved You So Long, respectively. Unlike Hawkins, who I believe was overlooked because voters didn't "get" the Mike Leigh film, Blanchett and Scott Thomas fell victim to that rare occurrence: an abundance of strong female performances.

WALL-E: Someday, the Academy will recognize that an animated film can also be the best picture - and not just the best animated picture. But hey - The Simpsons has been on TV for 20+ years and it's never been Emmy-nominated for best comedy. Short-sighted.

PLEASANT SURPRISES:

Richard Jenkins and Melissa Leo: These marvelous character actors, hard-working and underappreciated for years, are absolutely underdogs for best actor/actress - but the fact that they were nominated at all is a delight - and so well-deserved it seems positively miraculous.

In Bruges: I was glad to see playwright Martin McDonagh's hilariously grisly gangster movie nominated for original screenplay (and to see Colin Farrell win a Golden Globe). This was an underrated gem that will absolutely become a cult item on home video.

For reviews, interviews and commentary, visit www.hollywoodandfine.com.

Comments

[crutnacker]

If utter crap like Titanic and Forrest Gump can be nominated and win, I'm puzzled how The Dark Knight can be left out. I saw the movie after weeks of people telling me how good it was and was amazed to find out.... it was that good.

[KarenDuncan]

The film industry, along with Wall Street, television, entertainment and sports, epitomizes the greed of this Nation. As I tuned in and out of the Golden Globe awards I was struck, as I always am, by how little substance this group exhibits and the self-centeredness that runs rampant in their value system. Just this year's incomes of the individuals seated on the main floor alone could be building and funding healthcare clinics for communities throughout the the U.S.; they could fund college tuition for students in California and in other states, as just two ideas. Americans need to step back from idolizing this group of people and the media needs to stop devoting so much time to their industry. Even the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire" has not changed the lives of the children who appeared in the movie--they are still living in the slums of India. As a child I enjoyed the movies, but as an adult "I put away my childish things" and that includes the childlike idolizing of people who gain so much from the people of this nation and who give so little in return! Brad Pitt could rebuild the 9th Ward in New Orleans with his most recent movie profits. How many houses do people like Oprah Winfrey need when so many go homeles?

[JonGee]

If you want a terrific preview of the Oscars, watch the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday. The only awards are for acting- both film and television- so you don't have to wait hours before the interesting awards are announced.
http://awardsandhonors.com/news.html?id=93

[Iamadog]

I agree with those who think "In Bruge" was slighted. But, it's worth mentioning that Richard Jenkins nomination was for a movie that should also have been nominated--and every actor in it. "The Visitor" was the best movie I've seen in more years than this one.

I hope it gets some more buzz because of the nomination and the rentals soar. The more it is seen, the more movies like it get made.

[antaeus]

" . . . gripping, sorrowful masterpiece of Eisenhower-era malaise . . ."

Did you read Yates' novel? I'm not sure the actual book behind the movie supports the facile let's-bash-the-1950s impulse that you endorse. The characters are much more flawed than socially victimized. In fact, from 2008's perspective, the book looks more like squandered opportunity than oppressive culture. Maybe the Academy got it right this time.

[gretchenart]

I doubt if they were overlooked, the movies probably came in 6th or 7th in ranking is all. Subject matter is important to the appeal of a movie. No matter how well one might act out or even glorify wrestling, to many, including myself, it is pure gratuitous violence. All the stuff about purposely cutting oneself, slamming one another with tables and doors, etc. I do not appreciate the glorification of violence, no matter how well acted. I found both movies quite tortuous and would have voted the movies nominated ahead of either Revolutionary Road or the Wrestler.
Additionally, there is also some backlash against the Globes and other award shows stealing the thunder of the Oscars. The Oscars want to maintain some modicum of control and prestige. If they simply mimicked everything the Globes already did, why not just eliminate one of the shows!?

[rzan1]

The Oscars are indeed a joke. Nominating Brad Pitt, an extremely limited actor, is ridiculous. I don't watch the show any longer.

[gretchenart]

Oscars should separate into comedy/musical and drama categories, and then the tendency to only reward dramas would be squelched.

[Photographer]

Well I am surprised that the great Irish/ English Independent film "In Bruge," has been virtually ignored and unseen. A brilliant screenplay, funny and profound, great cast including Raiph Fiennes, Colin Farrell and my all time favorite Irishman, Brendan Gleeson, this was my pick for 2008.

[rzan1]

I just saw it, and I agree. Colin Farrell was phenomenol.

[swkidder]

And it might help to remember that there are a finite number of slots ... and someone ALWAYS gets left out. I do agree that Sally Hawkins is a notable omission, but in general Mike Leigh's work may be a little too subtle for the Academy - they have an easier time with the big and the bold.
And, for what it's worth, I LOVED Slumdog Millionaire. I came out that film feeling satisfied on all levels, and yes, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. There was something about the last 8 years that made any happy ending something to cherish. But the films in which a director pushes the generally agreed upon conceits of the genre ... and bends how s/he chooses to tell a story in ways that feel fresh and utterly true to that story - that's how you win "Best Film" fair and square.

[likeicare]

Ohhh, puh-leeeze, Mr. Fine! When has a film industry award EVER been given to a deserving recipient? Awards for excellence(?) usually go to the most over-hyped and promoted nominees -- is it a secret, or something?

And only guy-flicks are ever considered "weighty" enuf for praise -- chick-flicks (read: few if any car crashes/explosions/fist-fights) and comedies are rejected out-of-hand b/c . . . ?

In an industry based on make-believe, it seems the participants have taken their fascination with themselves to a whole nother level.

[RepugsOut08]

While I agree with you that some animated films, like WALL-E, are as worthy as their clunky out of date human-acted competition, I still want my best oscar winners, for anything but animation, to go to clunky out of date human-acted movies.
HAL will be in the driver's seat far too soon for me. If I'm still around, I will have to stiffle the urge to join David Bowman in his quest to "STOP HAL" from enacting any revenge for HAL's 1968 Oscar snub. :)

[CynAnne]

I agree with you about "In Bruges", Marshall..I finally got a chance to see it from beginning to end, and loved poor, twitchy "Ray" and "Ken" (Brendan Gleeson is just about perfect in every role he plays), and up until the ending, was enjoying myself immensely. The way the film closes is a metaphor for life itself, I think..who knows what waits ahead? ;) ...

[TomSJ]

You have got to be kidding me. Mickey Rourke? Who the hell is he? Not only was the movie a snore, but I have no idea why this has-been was even nominated. Yeah, I saw it. The movie was awful. He was awful. It was a waste of money. I've been sending emails to my friends advising them to stay away. "Milk" is a movie, but it's not going to bring home anything, I think, because this country is so homophobic that no one will vote for it. We'll nominate it to be PC, but I'll be surprised if it garners a single award.

[gretchenart]

I agree the movie was a "snore" but also think that subject matter comes into play here. I do think Rourke did a good job, but no matter how good the acting, if the movie is a bomb, I don't see the point in nominating it just because the acting was good. Also the Oscars want to differentiate themselves from the Globes and not mimic everything. Otherwise why have two shows?

[QueenCeleste]

I am not a great fan of most modern films, but am heartily rooting for Mickey Rourke. Wasn't it sweet how he thanked his dogs when he won the Golden Globe?