Academy Award Nomination Musings

Best Picture Nominees: No surprises here. I thought Sweeney Todd would have a chance, especially after the Golden Globes win, but Michael Clayton garnering a nomination is not shocking. No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood are the clear frontrunners right now. I do not think the comparisons between Juno and Little Miss Sunshine have ever really been deserved (Because I think Juno is a lot better), but at least Little Miss Sunshine had an outside chance to actually win the category.

Best Actor Nominees: Every major entertainment news outlet (Entertainment Weekly, Rotten Tomatoes, etc.) lauded Tommy Lee Jones, but figured him for dead. Jones getting a nomination is a bit of a surprise because of the underwhelming box office of In the Valley of Elah and the crowded field. However, I think this category is already closed because one of the nominees drinks your milkshake! He drinks it up! Excellent to see the Academy also give a nomination to Viggo Mortensen for his daring and dark performance. Here is a bold prediction for the 2010 Oscars – which will award the 2009 movies – Viggo Mortensen will actually win his Oscar then.

Best Actress Nominees: Cate Blanchett? Really? In this category? I know that critics said her performance and the costume design were the only highlights of the film, but I did not figure her for a nomination. I thought Blanchett’s Golden Globe nomination was because of the dearth of fantastic female performances, but apparently, the Academy is sold on her. I figured that Angelina Jolie had a spot clinched because of the emotional impact and hype surrounding A Mighty Heart. Finally, congratulations to the almost always underrated and undervalued Laura Linney.

Best Supporting Actor Nominees: Easy to see these nominees coming.

Best Supporting Actress Nominees: No surprises here either, as all of these women have received multiple nominations from various sources.

Best Director Nominees: Two surprises in this category. I did not have Jason Reitman picked at all. I figured Juno would receive praise for a variety of things, but never did I see a Best Director nomination coming for him. Tony Gilroy is just a tiny bit surprising because this is his first feature film. Impressive for Gilroy, but I figured that Ridley Scott would skate in for his courtesy nomination. The omission of Joe Wright is not overly shocking, but still seems odd for an incredible movie.

Best Original Screenplay Nominees: Nice to see some new blood in the category in the form of Tamara Jenkins and Nancy Oliver. Brad Bird’s inclusion is excellent to see that the Academy is willing to award outstanding animated films.

Best Adapted Screenplay Nominees: Congratulations to Sarah Polley. I thought the Academy would give their love to Aaron Sorkin, just like the folks who run the Emmys.

Overall, the only thing that kind of surprises is the lack of love for Sweeney Todd. I thought it would have an outside chance at multiple nominations, but apparently not. However, looking at other guild nominees, it should not be overly surprising.

Also, this sounds weird, but I am glad to see that Into the Wild did not get a nomination. After several guild nominations, I thought it had a chance to grab the last spot. I saw this movie and did not walk away with the sense, “Oh, this could be a Best Picture nominee.” It is a good movie, but not one of the five best of the year.