Here they are, folks… the “big category” Oscar nominations for 2009. There’s a few surprises, but for the most part everything seems to have come together as predicted. Here’s the list of nominated actors and films, and my predictions:
Best Picture
The Curious Case of BB
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
I think Slumdog is a shoe-in, especially considering its competition. Second favourite, for me, is Milk, followed by Frost/Nixon, The Reader, and the old man baby movie.
Best Animated Picture
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall E
Wall-E will win, unless hell freezes over.
Best Foreign Language Picture
The Class
Departures
Revenge
Waltz with Bashir
I think Waltz with Bashir will win. I’m a bit peeved that Let the Right One In wasn’t nominated. Or The Band’s Visit. Both amazing.
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of BB
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
I think it’s a race between Slumdog and Doubt. I’m frankly surprised that The Reader was nominated for Best Picture, and not Doubt.
Best Original Screenplay
Frozen River
Happy Go Lucky
In Bruges
Milk
Wall-E
IN BRUGES! YES! Such a fun, smart, sad, moving film. I hope it wins… but I’m thinking Milk or Happy Go Lucky might take it.
Best Director
David Fincher
Ron Howard
Gus Van Sant
Steven Daltry
Danny Boyle
It’s Danny Boyle’s year… finally getting the recognition he deserves after being snubbed for so long.
Best Actor
Richard Jenkins
Frank Langella
Sean Penn
Brad Pitt
Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke, hands down. Hollywood loves a comeback. Sean Penn is my second pick.
Best Actress
Anne Hathaway
Angelina Jolie
Melissa Leo
Meryl Streep
Kate Winslet
Everyone thinks that Kate Winslet (won the Golden Globe–but for the best SUPPORTING actress award [this is for The Reader not American Beauty II: The 1950s Were Serious]) is due for a win, here, but I’m not so sure. Anne Hathaway or Meryl Streep (tied for the award at the Critics Choice Awards) might actually take this. Be prepared for some glaring from Angelina Jolie, who overacted her way through Changling.
Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin
Robert Downey Jr
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Heath Ledger (Today marks the one-year anniversary of Ledger’s death.)
Michael Shannon
SO many great actors here. If Heath Ledger doesn’t win, I think it would be some sort of weird taboo. Josh Brolin was fantastic in Milk, and deserves the nod. This is RDJ’s second nomination, and although I don’t think he will win, I’m happy he was recognized.
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams
Penelope Cruz
Viola Davis
Taraji P Henson
Marissa Tomei
I really have no clue here… of all of these ladies, I think Viola Davis actually gave the most heartfelt performance (Doubt). But, who knows… maybe Amy Adams?
So there you go… now, we’ll just have to wait and see the technical nominations. If you disagree with me, tell me! I haven’t seen all of these movies, so some of my predictions are just calculated guesses. Was anyone snubbed that you think should have been nominated? There’s a lot of people who think The Dark Knight should have been nominated for Best Picture and that Christopher Nolan should have gotten a Best Director nomination… other notable films missing Gran Torino and The Wrestler (deserved a Best Picture nod, I think)… what do you think?
The other awards have made it online, and you can read them here. There are two categories I am pretty happy about:
Best Documentary Feature
“The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“The Garden”
“Man on Wire”
“Trouble the Water”
THAT’S RIGHT, W. HERZOG! You rule! Although I LOVED Encounters, I think Man on Wire will take it, as it should… sheer awesomeness.
Best Original Song
“Slumdog Millionaire,” “Jai Ho,” A.R. Rahman
“Slumdog Millionaire,” “O Saya,” A.R. Rahman & M.I.A.
“Wall-E,” “Down To Earth,” Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman
EAT IT, HANNAH MONTANA. I cannot believe that M.I.A. is nominated for an Oscar! Too amazing! I wonder if she’ll perform, as she is pretty preggers at the moment. Kind of sad that The Boss didn’t score a nod for the Wrestler, nor Clint Eastwood for Gran Torino. Ah well… too stoked for M.I.A.!
