I’m so glad I’m not doing a minute by minute account of the Oscar nominations, because it took forever for the nominations announcement to start. Come on, people! Ugh, anyway, this morning the big Oscar nominations were announced, and while many of the biggest contenders were completely expected (Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, The King’s Speech, The Social Network), there were some surprises, mainly with who DID NOT get nominations. I’ll do the full list of nominees, and then my thoughts on the noms.
The nominations:
Best Picture: Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The King’s Speech, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit and Winter’s Bone.
Best Director: the Coen Brothers (True Grit), David O. Russell (The Fighter), Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) and David Fincher (The Social Network).
Supporting Actor: John Hawkes in Winter’s Bone, Jeremy Renner for The Town, Geoffrey Rush for The King‘s Speech, Christian Bale for The Fighter, Mark Ruffalo for The Kids Are All Right.
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo and Amy Adams for “The Fighter,” Hailee Steinfeld for “True Grit”, Helena Bonham Carter for The King’s Speech and Jackie Weaver for Animal Kingdom.
Best Actress: Natalie Portman for Black Swan, Annette Benning for The Kids Are All Right, Jennifer Lawrence for Winter’s Bone, Nicole Kidman for Rabbit Hole, and Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine.
Best Actor: Javier Bardem for Biutiful, Jeff Bridges for True Grit, Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network, Colin Firth for The King’s Speech and James Franco for 127 Hours.
Best Original Screenplay: ‘Another Year’, ‘The Fighter’, ‘Inception’, ‘The Kids Are All Right’, ‘The King’s Speech’
Best Adapted Screenplay: ‘127 Hours’, ‘The Social Network’, ‘Toy Story 3’, ‘True Grit’, ‘Winter’s Bone’
Here were some of my big surprises and general thoughts:
* No Ryan Gosling for Best Actor for Blue Valentine, but Michelle Williams got nominated.
* No Julianne Moore for The Kids Are All Right, but Mark Ruffalo and Annette Bening were nominated.
* No Andrew Garfield for The Social Network! That one really hurts, because Garfield was the best part of that film.
* Javier Bardem got nominated for an Oscar after being snubbed for nearly every other awards nomination.
* I wonder if Annette is going to campaign for an Oscar? If I was an Academy voter, I would vote for Annette over Natalie Portman.
* No nomination for director Christopher Nolan for Inception.
* Winter’s Bone was shown a lot of love with nominations in Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress and Best Picture.
* Still so much love for Joel & Ethan Coen.
*The King’s Speech ended up with 12 nominations overall, the most nominated film this year.
* One of my favorite films of the year, The Town, only got one major nomination, for Jeremy Renner for Best Supporting Actor. That’s nice, but I would have liked to see it get a Best Picture nomination. It was a stronger film than The Kids Are All Right, in my opinion.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I was bummed about Andrew Garfield. He really deserved the nod.
Best Supporting Actress?
Where is this list?
At least Nicole Kidman doesn’t stand a chance against Preggo Portman and the lovely Annette Benning. I always enjoy her attempt at a “good sport” face.
The Gosdong was robbed. I wish I could personally console him.
I wasn’t expecting Jeremy Renner’s nomination at all. I also thought Andrew G was getting one but oh well. Dear God please dont let it go to Natalie Portman! Over Annette? Please. You didn’t put supporting actress, im guessing amy adams and helena got noms since you put their pics. Did melissa leo or hailee steinfeld get nominated? Eh i’ll google it somewhere else.
MeMyself – Sorry about that! I fixed it.
Can someone tell me when the Oscars will take place? Thanks!
WTF with no nom for christopher nolan? he got it for Dark Knight, which by his own accounts was only a warm-up for inception, a tester by the studio to see if he was cut out for something the scale of inception, and it ended up getting him an oscar nomination and 8 nominations over all, and then he doesnt get one here, but that annoying butt-nugget Fincher is getting all kinds of attention for that mediocre gen-y drivel? this just makes me mad.
So glad John Hawkes got a nomination, his performance in Winter’s Bone completely blew me away . And Jennifer Lawrence is definitely one to watch.
Finally going to see The King’s Speech tomorrow, can’t wait.
Javier Bardem!!!!!!
Spanish love, baby!
Love that man.
@ Sadie,
February 27th
How could The Tourist be overlooked after all those Golden Globe nominations? 🙂
Bummed at no Andrew Garfield. Also bummed at no Mila Kunis in Best Supporting Actress and no Julianne Moore in Best Actress although that one I saw coming.
Really happy about all the nominations for The King’s Speech! I’m also a little surprised at no Christopher Nolan (Inception) nomination for Best Director.
Don’t understand Chris Nolan being overlooked. Very disappointing. Yay for Helena BC, Geoffrey Rush and Javier Bardem (also got a best foreign film nomination) and the Coen Bros love.
Natalie can thank her lucky stars that Goopy and Country Strong came out after the nomination deadline lol.
At least Inception got the nomination for best picture.
And Helena Bonham Carter – I hope she finally gets one.
I loved Rabbit Hole, and thought Kidman was excellent. I am so over the whole Natalie Portman hype. She was good, but she was not great.
Yay for all the Winter’s Bone love! Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes were fantastic in that.
Also nice to see Jeremy Renner getting some love.
No Justin Timberlake, woo hoo!!
I like all who got nominated. now it’s just a wait and see game.
@Sadie….I think it’s Feb. 27th.
Kaiser,
where are the screenplay noms?
I’d vote for Annette over Natalie as well. Yay for Jacki Weaver!
Disappointed about Chris Nolan, but pleased that David O.Russell got a director nom, despite being one of the most hated men in Hollywood – perhaps a sign that talent can trump popularity? Gutted for Julianne Moore, despite her having the trickier role in “Kids” – although I would love, Love, LOVE to see Annette take the Oscar, just because Natalie Portman’s subsequent bitchface would be epic!
–
I’m just wondering who Kaiser would swap out of the best actor noms, in order to put Ryan Gosling in?
There’s usually an upset in one of the catagories (most times in the supporting roles), and I’m kind of hoping Annette Bening wins so Natalie Portman will have her full-on bitchface for the cameras.
Really nice mix of films this year.
I was hoping for more love for Blue Valentine tho. But Michelle Williams’ nom will do. John Hawkes was fantastic in Winter’s Bone.
Really happy that Javi got nominated too.
But take David Fincher out of there and put Nolan in.
Swap Jessie Eisenberg for Ryan Gosling.
Inception was overrated folks, and I am glad Nolan wasn’t nominated. I’d rather have seen the Town get a nod in the best pic category. I am keeping my fingers crossed for Annette to win. I am so glad Winter’s Bone is getting some nods.
Boo! Andrew Garfield should have been nominated. Disappointed. 🙁
Since Valmont is one of my favorite movies, it would be super cool to see Colin Firth and Annette Bening win their first Oscars together.
@Olivia – Thanks for making me nearly spit out my delicious chai latte all over my monitor. Awesome comment!!
Bros – Screenplay noms:
Best Original Screenplay
‘Another Year’
‘The Fighter’
‘Inception’
‘The Kids Are All Right’
‘The King’s Speech’
Best Adapted Screenplay
‘127 Hours’
‘The Social Network’
‘Toy Story 3’
‘True Grit’
‘Winter’s Bone’
@Olivia….
“How could The Tourist be overlooked after all those Golden Globe nominations?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOL!
Exactly. Oh what has the world come to.
Really there was no surprises here. The only thing is I had really hoped that “The Town” could have gotten a Best Picture nomination.
I am not happy with Toy Story 3 getting one. It was the weakest of that series. And doesn’t it have its own category for cartoons?
If there are any upsets, let it be that TSN earns no Oscars. 🙂
christopher nolan has never been nominated for best director, not for dark knight. he got a screenplay nod for memento & that is it.
Hailee Steinfeld!!! 😀 She’s so talented and adorable-and I heard she had little acting experience before True Grit! How amazing for her- she deserves it and I hope she wins! 😀
Jeff Bridges! Colin Firth! Natalie Portman!<3333
But I’m sad that theres no Andrew Garfield either 🙁 but Jesse Eisenberg was great and its good he got nominated.
very disappointed for andrew garfield but i suppose he’s young and there’ll be plenty of opportunities in the future. though if jesse eisenberg got a nom i can’t understand why AG didn’t.
jc youre right. but with 8 nominations for that movie, something had to have been done right.
MLn, if inception was overrated, so too was the social network, big time.
i agree with gloaming. Jesse eisenberg? his delivery in every movie is the same stone-faced monotone. over ryan gossling, who really has range and depth.
I am just hoping Helena will win in her catagory. Can’t wait to see what she will be wearing for the night. Fantastic actress and amazing, truly unique person.
Hooray for “Winter’s Bone” noms–excellent film with outstanding performances all around. Particularly pleased that John Hawkes got a nom!
Don’t get the Portman hate. Haven’t we established the infamous bitchface was probably her dealing with first trimester pregnancy issues? If you haven’t been there, don’t judge. Do you think it’s fun to stand under hot lights and deal with camera flashes when you’re trying not to hurl?
I want to have tea & biscuits with Helena Bonham Carter
@bros TSN was not anywhere near as overated as Inception. The marketing was that the movie was so mindblowing that it was supposed to change everyone’s life and it was a storyline that had never been done before. And if you didn’t get it the first time you had to see it a second time to fully understand it’s meaning. Yeah Right. It’s a decent sci-fi movie with the standard fantasy motif that has been done to death since the Matrix and am I really the only one who noticed that it’s has the same exact plot as Shutter Island???
meh, i could care less about Portman’s bitch face, i have more a problem with everything that comes out of her mouth.
and benning should get the oscar, not portman.
my beautiful natalie is going to win <3 i am going to cry really hard when my beautiful natalie is going to win the oscar that she really deserves.
I like Natalie Portman, I just hated that movie and don’t think her performance or the movie is Oscar worthy.
Although Bette Davis did win for Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? a similar type role in my opinion. So maybe?
If it comes down to Portman or Benning – bitch face and all, I think Natalie Portman deserves to win this. There was not a minute of the film in which she was not onscreen, the entire movie hinged on her energy, facial expressions and body movements. She delivered. The fact that she gave an over the top gooey acceptance speech at the Globes does not change that.
I really really like Annette Benning, but The Kids are Alright for me was just that, alright… I don’t think it was her best performance and I actually liked Julianne Moore better.
So, Julia ‘that’s so tacky’ Roberts managed to get Javier his nomination!
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/01/05/julia-roberts-oscar-javier-bardem-biutiful/
I just noticed that Mila Kunis & Vincent Cassel didn’t get noms. Too bad.
I love Helena Bonham Carter but to be honest I really would rather Melissa Leo win for The Fighter. I love her!
The Town deserved more acadamy love in my opinion and they should swap O Russel for Nolan. The Fighter is an actors movie. Theres nothing spectacular or different about the directing.
Team Annette!!!!
I hope winter’s bone gets best adapted screenplay. I thought that movie was so original and crazy and in this vernacular most americans are not at all familiar with.
sorry MLN we wll just have to agree to disagree. I dont think inception was overblown in its marketing. i thought it was an intellectually stimulating ride, tightly directed which would be hard on a sprawling movie like that, good casting, great mood.
The social network? Im surprised someone didnt do that movie 3 years ago-completely stale, and it had justin timberlake, and stone faced eisenberg, and a billion followers ready-made. It’s like making a movie about twitter. not that it couldnt be interesting, i just dont see it as anything original. its just a movie about a really popular social phenomenon. meh.
and for the record, I was upset when the Dark knight was competing with slumdog millionaire, which I thought was far more original than the overblown comic book movie, because slumdog millionaire really got under your skin and made you think and was just so well put together. I dont want you to think im just a die hard nolan fan who loves big budget action, not at all.
@tracking….calm down.
also, does anyone else think its funny that the week the oscar nominations come out, natalie portman’s other movie about casual sex with (snork) Ashton Kutcher is coming out? talk about embarrassing.
didnt eddie murphy kind of ruin his oscar chances in the temptations by following it up with a role in a fat suit?
I wonder if that will hurt portman.
Bummed Nolan didn’t get a Best Director, I loved Inception and thought it was really visually great and well made. He got snubbed for Dark Knight and now this too? What more do they want from the guy?!? I really liked True Grit too, but if you asked me which director brought more of a unique vision to the screen, it would have to be Nolan.
Bummed for Mila Kunis and Julianne Moore.
Annette was really good, but I think Natalie deserves it, she turned in a great performance.
@bros….yeah, we should call it the “Norbit Syndrome”..lol.
To bad for Gosling, he caried the entire Blue Valentine. His time will come though, without these parades.
I loved Rabbit Hole, and thought Kidman was excellent.
*********
Wasn’t she? Her performance was really kind of small, brittle, and quiet. I loved it.
Mark Ruffalo for The Kids Are All Right, seriously?? I like him and all but that wasn’t an Oscar worthy performance. But then these days, few are. What IS the criteria anyway? Doesn’t seem to be talent. For the most part I mean… definitely think Colin Firth deserves one but most of the rest? No.
I love Javier so much and my comment is no reflection on him, but I bet somewhere in Taos, New Mexico or Malibu California, ol’ stink face Roberts is staring out at the horizon, thinking, “I knew if I spoke the Academy would listen and nominate Javie. They still can’t resist you, Honey.”
Winter’s Bone is a brilliant film, and Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes turned in outstanding performances. Jennifer’s role was every bit as challenging and complex as Portman’s, in my opinion.
As for Mila Kunis, I honestly don’t think her role in Black Swan was Oscar-worthy. She was very good, don’t get me wrong, but the role, itself, wasn’t that challenging when you compare it to the characters portrayed by the ladies who were actually nominated.
I really loved ‘The Fighter’…Christian Bale was great, as was Melissa Leo. I could have done without Amy Adams. I know there are too many other great performances, but I’ve got a deep deep love for Marky…so wish he could’ve been recognized. Love him…deeply. LOL.
I would love to see both Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld win. They were both just superb in their roles in TG.
Really happy for Javier, but The Town deserved a best picture nomination.
I’m happy for Mark Ruffalo and John Hawkes (who is ony of my really weird, secret — well, not anymore! — crushes).
I also really hope someone else (Benning, perhaps?) wins in the Best Actress category. Portman is already insufferable enough, let alone if she wins this time.
P.S.: Kinda glad Christopher Nolan was left out…I know many like him but I honestly can’t see why all the fuzz about his work. Competent? Yes. Brilhiant as some claim? Definitely not.
Mark Wahlberg’s gotta be pissed.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Benning win best actress. She lost twice to Hillary Swank, which is sort of offensive. Hillary Swank has two best actress awards. Julianne Moore, Annette Benning, Laura Linney — zero. For crying out loud, Meryl Streep only has one (her other is for supporting). Something is wrong with this picture. Look for the academy to correct it this go around.
The oscar is so political and many times not based on talent, but based on the most effective lobbyist.
If anyone has seen Jesse Eisenberg’s performance in the Social Network and that of Ryan Gosling in Blue Valentine, how is it possible that the former should be nominated before the latter?
Ryan Gosling was so brilliant in his role that I did not want the movie to end so I could continue seeing his nuanced, fragile character on the screen. I don’t even remember Eisenberg’s performance as the Social Network is more of a story driven movie rather than a character driven one as is Blue Valentine. Eisenberg did an alright job with what he was given but not of the same caliber as Gosling.
But at the end who cares, Gosling will still remain one of the baddest actors ever for those who truly appreciate the finer things in life. Ever seen him in The Believer, very few young actors can deliver such a powerful performance, but yet he received no recognition, and that was political for other reasons or perhaps for similar reasons.
Merde!
I’m missing Julianne Moore, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassell and Andrew Garfield.
I’m happy for Javi’s nomination though, and of course the voters better not consider any other male than Colin Firth!
Lolz, stop bashing eisenberg. if anything, you should bash bardem. he’s the one who suddenly slipped in.
To quote Mugatu “I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!”
I have seen all the best actress nominees’ performances and I think Benning while good, was the weakest of the group… and yet so many people feel she should win?!
Everybody loves Annette Benning but IMO her character/performance was not as nuanced or powerful as the other nominees.
Let Lawrence or Williams or even Kidman pull the upset if you are looking for that kind of excitement, but Portman shouldn’t loose to Benning. Portman delivered a better performance.
agree with girl.
I also dont think kunis is somehow being snubbed. she is a bit of a lightweight still, and her character was pretty one dimensional and she didnt have to do anything at all emotional, just act sexy and dark. just because she was in a good movie doesnt mean she automatically should get a nomination.
Awwww you poor Annette Benning fans, I love her too though. However she is gonna lose just to let you know. 🙁 LOL IDK…I don’t think you should give someone an award because they have been nominated a bunch. Who gave the better performance this year? Natalie Portman did, thats who should win. I hope she does.
I am so happy Inception got some noms. I love that it got a Original Screenplay nomination because I would have never come up with something like that. I hope it wins. I am pretty pleased with the nominations and my baby Ryan will have his chance.
Oh Also I am so happy Mila Kunis didn’t get a nomination. I love her too but again she didn’t really do anything in Black Swan, she didn’t steal any scenes, but she played her part well. I think Barbara Hersey made more of an impression than she did and I am sad she received no love this award season.
@mln. i completely agree. anyone with any knowledge of surrealist/symbolist theatre or any kind of philosophy would have been bored to tears by that movie. and yes i get that i sound really snobby by saying that but inception is not an original concept and it definitely was not all it was cracked up to be.
@Love Angelina historically speaking many Oscar winners are recognized for their body of work and not their specific role. For instance Whoopi Goldberg won for the ridiculous Ghost because she didn’t win for The Color Purple. Colin Firth is a shoe in to win not only because the King Speech is great but because he was overlooked last year for A Serious Man. If Benning was willing to campaign half as hard as Portman she would win hands down. Sadly she has too much class.
i agree that julianne was the better role/performance in TKAA…which I also agree was not that great of a movie….
why doesn’t julianne get recognized more? she’s so amazing.
i won’t see black swan,too much hype and i hate portman. bleh.
whatever-she will win most likely-which is kind of a goopy situation-she got lucky with the script, turnedin a strong performance, and capitalized on her overrated reputation in hollywood/and her connections in the industry.
Then, she won’t do much that is riveting, in the future. just like goopy.
portman is too young for this prestige. no,i dont think you need to be a certain age, i just think she is too young.
but, they all love her it seems.
what can you do?
mark ruffalo is great-and was soo good in TKAA…so i’m glad he was nominated.
I would love for Inception and Michelle Williams to get nods.
I adore Colin Firth, but not this “pudgy and depressed” stage of acting he’s currently in. Also, all this the fish-eye lens stuff in The King’s Speech — this was cutting edge in the mid-90s. In 2011, #eye roll.
It’s a sad day when Portman is considered a power-player..bland and blah, she can’t even pull off the bit*chy :/
Speaking of sadness of people who should’ve received a nom but didn’t, John Malkovich was fantastic in Secretariat and should’ve received a nom in either the supporting actor or best actor category. He gave my favorite performance of the year, including Colin Firth in The King’s Speech.
@vi thanks yeah that’s the problem I have with Inception and Black Swan neither are original concepts. The overselling of these movies turned me off eventhough neither film is actually bad.
Natalie can act..she was soooo good in the boylens? i stand corrected..yes, that english film with scarlet johannson..
@Min76- The movie was called A Single Man.
I saw Blue Valentine yesterday and I gotta tell ya, what a boooooore. The director was trying too hard and the chemistry between Ryan and Michelle was just not convincing.
All the acting in the King’s Speech was top-notch quality acting. I really like that the storyline was different.
I also loved the Black Swan and I’m rooting for Natalie!
@ devilgirl thanks 🙂
I really thought Ryan Gosling would be nominated, he was incredible in Blue Valentine (I wasnt a fan until I saw him in that)..oh well, I’d love it if Michelle Williams wins.
I too agree with those of u that are happy Mila wasnt nominated, I like her and all, but she didnt do shit for Black Swan…and Andrew Garfield, WTF! thats a damn shame.
Saw King’s Speech yesterday and one of the trailers pre movie was for Blue Valentine. The scene where he plays uke and sings. I can now say that I get the love for him. HAWT!!!
Otherwise, I’m King’s Speech all the way folks. One of the best movies in a while, from a really small insignificant (yet not really) story. Geoffrey Rush was smart to run with it.
I seriously dont understand how the black swan and inception can be labeled unoriginal. they were both original screenplays, both the product of 10 years or so of conceptualizing, both drawing on references from other movies or philosophy or surrealist theater or whatnot, but both terribly original, which is why they got so much attention.
also Vi, on this site it is never wise to assume commenters have no familiarity with or background in philosophy, have never taken a film theory class, and are in general uneducated peons apt to be drawn into plebeian pursuits and a marketing strategy. It is possible to have a familiarity or background in any of the things you mentioned and still have liked it.
I thought Ryan Gosling’s performance in Blue Valentine was amazing. Jeremy Renner? Blah!
Kaiser, I agree with you about The Town. I was also disappointed that Nolan didn’t get a nom for Best Director.
No nomination for Danny Boyle in Best director! Jeez, what’s wrong with the Academy?
Of course the overrated Fincher is there for that average and quite boring movie. What a joke…
I think Javier deserved that nomination for “Biutiful.” I saw it at the film festival and he was amazing in it! I’m rooting for Colin Firth as well because “The King’s Speech” was great as well, but I’m actually quite torn between Javier and Colin. I’m disappointed that Ryan Gosling didn’t get a nomination though 🙁
And no Christopher Nolan and Andrew Garfield? Argh, the Oscars can be so douchey.
@bros obviously they are original screenplays I am talking about how the movies were marketed and how they are being lauded during award seasons. Do I think both movies were entertaining, yes. Do I think either deserves to win Best Picture, no.
Toy Story 3 for Best Picture? Wtf??
Yes, what exactly IS the criteria for a nomination??
Love to see Michelle Williams nominated.I just love her.
Im sure Katie Holmes must be jealous that Michelle got her second nomination while her tv show The Kennedys was cancelled !!
Anyway didn’t watch the social network, yet, but with all the fuzz I truly believed Andrew Garfield would be nominated.
@hairball
You mean besides it being the most critically acclaimed and universally revered movie of last year? Blech, why would anybody nominate that?
I don’t understand all the “love” for The Kids Are Alright. Weak movie. Someone up above said it already but it bears repeating: The Town was a much stronger movie. And if someone HAD to be nominated from The Kids it should’ve been Julianne Moore. She gave a MUCH better performance than Annette Benning. Oscars politics ((sigh))
I’m sad about Ryan Gosling. I haven’t seen Blue Valentine yet, but Gosling is fantastic in everything he does. And to nominate Michelle and not him seems cruel. I also really thought Garfield deserved a nom, and I have seen Social Network. Ruffalo was good in Kids, but I feel he was the same laid back sexy guy he is in a lot of movies. I would have rather seen Garfield get the nom. I thought Kids was overrated but maybe I would have felt differently if I had seen it before the hype. I hope Benning wins. I wanted her to win years ago for American Beauty. I am happy to see Steinfeld and Bridges get nominated. Interesting about Bardem. I remember reading about Julia Roberts taking up a personal campaign to get him an Oscar nom. So is she really that powerful then?
It will be a travesty if Geoffrey Rush doesn’t win, his performance was perfection personified. Portmans speech was so nauseating at the globes I am hoping now she is a big loser on the night. Any of the other actresses are fine, they all deserve it. Love the Winters Bone nods – my movie of the year.
I can’t believe they snubbed my husband. Blue Valentine was one of the best of the year. Stupid Academy and their BS awards..
*Ryan not nominated?really???REALLY?
*Benning has to win!i mean just imagine Portman with an oscar..bitch will be unstoppable..
@olivia: Yes 😉 , and where is The Bounty Hunter award Nominations?! Oh wait…
@mln76 37: I agree and I get what you are saying. I mean Inception was enjoyable and well made etc, but it was over hyped and not as great as people were making it out to be IMO. *shrug* I haven’t seen TSN yet (if I bother to at all) but I imagine it was just as over hyped.
I think the Oscar wins will be fairly predictable this year, but I really hope that Portman misses out on winning 😀 . I can just imagine her acceptance speech now 🙄 .
Bummer that Ryan wasn’t nominated 🙁 .
I would have nominated the The Town instead of Toy Story or the The Kids are Alright. Maybe the town’s problem was the fighter was also a movie from Boston.
The Academy usually is behind on the truly “deserving” candidates:
Zellwegger deserved it for Chicago but won the next year for Cold Mountain. Kidman deserved it for Moulin Rouge but won the next year for the Hours. God knows how many times Al Pacino deserved it (Godfather I, Godfather II, Scarface, etc.), but he won for Scent of a Woman — really???
So this bs about the awards are for this year’s performance is just that, bs. Many times they award who they think is due.
I also join those who think the Town should’ve been a best picture nominee. Very very good movie. Seriously hard to overlook that one with 10 nominees.
Having not seen the Social Network, True Grit and The King’s speech I can’t give a totally informed opinion, but I’ve seen: Inception, Black Swan, The Kids are Alright, The Town, The Fighter and Animal Kingdom. From those I agree that Julianne Moore and Christopher Nolan should’ve been nominated. I think Jeremy Renner deserved his nomination for Best Supporting Actor and I’d be happy to see him or Christian Bale win that category. I was surprised Please Give didn’t get a some recognition I thought it was pretty good.
no nominations for “country strong” i see.
I’m glad Canadian film Incendies was nominated for best foreign language film. It was fantastic…Totally deserved a nom for best adapted screenplay. GO SEE IT!! 🙂
i stand corrected: just noticed “country strong” came out AFTER the deadline to be nominated. i guess there’s always next year, goop.
Mistral, don’t you think it’s strange that a Canadian film is considered “foreign” but a British one is not?
I’m a Brit living in the US, and as much as I enjoy seeing British films do well, I do think it’s strange they aren’t considered foreign films when every other country’s films are.
It’ll be all over the news tomorrow but according to the website of Spanish newspaper El Pais (which is not a tabloid, it’s a national newspaper in Spain), Penelope Cruz gave birth to her and Javier Bardem’s baby. Talk about good timing! Bardem must be over the moon–his Oscar nomination is just the cherry on the cake at this point!
I know there’s a lot of hate here for Natalie but I hope she wins it!
@bros around the #80 mark. POW. You hit the nail on the head! And, from what I can tell, we’re usually ITA. Also, love Nolan since “Memento.”
Might be the best thing long-term for Affleck’s directing career that he isn’t over-nominated now. I loved “The Town”, but it’s early days for his work.
I kind of like him (perhaps helps that I haven’t read any interviews, just seen his 2 films) and this gives his career better trajectory than another fast rise/fall.
And oof, I’d like to see Colin Firth win best actor. Oh my.
Really WHO CARES?!! Hollyweird has been a great big suckfest for a loooon gtime now and this is just to swell already too big egos. And if that’s the case a LOT of actors should give back their awards for making shitty films later not just Eddie.
@Msuffleupagus: “universally revered movie” – I doubt every human being in the universe was in agreement it is an academy award winner.
I was a bit disappointed to for The Town’s snub; however I think Affleck will still go far. I’m not an Affleck fan per see but when I saw “Gone Baby Gone”, I realized that was more his niche than perhaps acting.
Gosling was very good in “Blue Valentine.”
I was happy to see Winter’s Bone on the map, particularly Hawkes. I’ve been a fan for a long time.
I, like some others, thought Kidman’s performance was excellent in “Rabbit Hole.” I love Benning and if she wins, I’ll be happy. Althoug, I couldn’t believe Julianne wasn’t nominated.
I think Firth seems to be the lock for the win and would be shocked if went another way.
No Nolan? Why does the academy not like him? Seriously what does the man need to do to get nominated? Either kiss ass or make brain-dead movies gen y movies.
I adore Annette Bening, but I think that based on the individual performances from Black Swan and The Kids Are All Right, Natalie Portman should win. Her performance was better.
If the award was based on body of work, or class, or generally being awesome, then it should go to Annette.
The Oscars have been known to hand out awards for both- Sandra Bullock won because she’s so damn likable and everyone loves her and 2010 was HER year, not because what she did in The Blind Side was a feat of acting prowess.
Also, my smallish Pacific Northwest town is finally getting Blue Valentine this Friday! As of 3:00pm on Friday, I will be able to join all of you in your disappointment over Gosling not getting a nomination. The only nominated film/acting performance I probably won’t get to see before the Oscars is Biutiful.
Inception = Best Original Screenplay?
or perhaps….
Inception = The Matrix + Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind + Waking Life + teensy bit of AHA Take On Me Video concept?
I felt it borrowed the best bits from some really original films and tries to pretend it is this incredibly original piece when at best, it is a conglomerate of good ideas already covered…..
Did think it was well directed.. but original? Not so much..
* No nomination for director Christopher Nolan for Inception.
I agree!!!!! what the fuck is this?!?!?!?!
Oscar better give every bit of award to Inception!!! ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toy Story 3 was actually nominated for both Best Picture and Best Animated picture and has a total of five noms. And I loved it. Totally cried my eyes out and can admit it without shame.
The British movie didnt qualify for Best Foreign Language Film because, well, they kinda speak English there eh? Just sayin.
So glad Justin Timberlake didn’t get a nomination. Suck it Timberlake!
bluhare:
I think the category is about language more than country of origin. Like, I think a Spanish language film made in the US couldn’t be nominated in the Best Picture category, but could be nominated for Best Foreign Language film. Maybe?? I dunno….
Well to quote Gaugain “Art is either plagiarism or revolution” … and I don’t think anything revolutionary happens all that often (or ever) so I don’t detract from Inception or Black Swan for borrowing from other works but I still think both were original and great pieces of art. To try and say that the only way a movie can be called original can’t borrow even from philosophy well you’re asking for something bordering on impossible really …
I’m happy at the very least that this year we all had something to enjoy. It’s been a true suck fest for years and years …and than we have True Grit and Inception and King’s Speech … Butiful … ect ect …. all amazing …
@Jazz
“Yay for Jacki Weaver!”
I know!! She’s been such a constant on Aussie tv and film that I feel like I’ve known her all my life! (That implies she’s been acting for forty years, but I’m not sure about that.)
The Town is not better than The Kids Are Alright.
Town could have displaced True Grit, but the Kids Are Alright? Heck no. TKAA is in every way a superior film to The Town.
Andrew Garfield definitely should have had a nomination for best supporting actor! He was robbed. We know there really isn’t any justice in the Academy Awards process. It seems more about the actor’s entire body of work than a particular performance. Unless, of course, it is shockingly great work from an unknown or someone who has only displayed mediocre acting until that point. I would think that Andrew Garfield fits into the first category to most people in the US. So why didn’t he get a nomination? He should have gotten the nom for his accent alone in the film. I mean, a British actor playing a Brazilian who lived in the US from the age of 10. How many actors could do that accent?
Yeah, I too was surprised that The Town wasn’t nominated for best pic and best director and even best adapted screenplay.
I watched The Town the other night and thought it was terrible. First of all, I’m from Boston, and not EVERYONE in Boston has an absolutely ridiculous Boston accent. They did that with The Departed, too. It’s getting a little old. Secondly, Ben Affleck is a horrible actor who “emotes” by staring blankly with his mouth hanging open for the entire movie. Jon Hamm wasn’t even that good, he seemed like he was on the verge of busting out laughing through all his scenes. Which, I mean…I can’t blame him. Jeremy Renner was good. And I hate to say this, but Blake Lively was pretty convincing as a trashy, drunk junkie whore. There are plenty of women just like her all over this city. Maybe it was just the role she was born to play. Much like Tara Reid in The Big Lebowski. Anyway, I just needed to vent about that stupid movie, because I can’t for the life of me figure out why everyone is sweating it and complaining that it didn’t get many Oscar nominations. You know why it didn’t? Because it sucked.
Who really cares about being snubbed?
It’s not like the Oscar has ever been an award of “merit” or “ability” (two concepts which are completely Foreign to Hollywood).
Also – Inception sucked.