And the nominees are…

banner

I’m still trying to process all the information that was just thrown at me by Seth MacFarlane and Emma Stone (who did a great job hosting the announcement, I must say). If you want to find out about who’s nominated for the 85th Academy Awards, go here.

Now for random thoughts about the selections:

  • I thought there were a couple of sure things. Some panned out (Daniel Day-Lewis, Anne Hathaway). Some, very surprisingly, didn’t (no Intouchables for ‘Foreign Language Film’; no Kathryn Bigelow or Ben Affleck for ‘Best Director’)
  • A couple records have been set, both in the ‘Best Actress’ race: we have our youngest nominee ever, 9 year-old Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild), and our oldest, Emanuelle Riva (Amour). She’s 85.
  • A disappointment came in that same category. After her ridiculous death scene in The Dark Knight Rises, Marion Cotillard redeemed herself with one of the year’s finest performances in De Rouille et D’Os. Sadly, no Oscar love this time.
  • The year’s biggest foreign film got a lot of “Amour” from the Academy in many categories. Refreshing.
  • As Emma Stone pointed out, all the nominees for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ are previous Oscar winners.
  • New people enter the prestigious ‘Oscar Nominee’ club and I’m happy they do: Bradley Cooper, Adele and Hugh Jackman
  • It was a mixed bag, but it’s surprising not to see Cloud Atlas in the ‘Makeup’ category
  • Seth MacFarlane not only hosting but up for an award for ‘Best Original Song’? Seriously? I mean, the tune is good but certainly not Oscar-worthy. Still, worse songs have actually won.
  • Happy second nomination, Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain!
  • Leonardo DiCaprio keeps getting snubbed. Is it personal?
  • John Hawkes and his performance in The Sessions got edged out of the ‘Best Actor’ race.
  • In “his place” is Joaquin Phoenix, who managed to get another nod, even after he said the Oscars were “bullshit”. A testament to the power of his work in the PTA-directed film.
  • Amy Adams deservedly gets her 4th nomination in 7 years. All have been in the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ category.
  • Nice comeback, Helen Hunt!
  • The minimum was 5 and maximum was 10, but this year the contenders for ‘Best Picture’ are 9.
  • Two of the most visually striking films of the year, Skyfall and Life of Pi, are up for ‘Best Cinematography’ (and rightfully so)
  • Both of this year’s Snow White movies, Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman are nominated for ‘Costume Design’. Haven’t seen the former, but the latter was complete trash, except for visuals and yes, the very cool costumes by Colleen Atwood.
  • With his first feature, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin nabs a ‘Best Director’ nomination and beats Kathryn Bigelow, Ben Affleck, Quentin Tarantino and Tom Hooper who, surprisingly, did not get into that race
  • Latin America gets a nomination in the ‘Foreign Language Film’ category for the Chilean No, starring Mexican thespian Gael García Bernal
  • Life of Pi and Prometheus for ‘Best Visual Effects’. Yay.
  • The Academy sometimes gives out its “edgier” nominations in the ‘Writing’ categories. Sadly, no Perks of Being a Wallflower or Looper.
  • Moonrise Kingdom only got one nomination: ‘Best Original Screenplay’. No nod for ‘Cinematography’? WTF?

So, what surprised you the most? Which snub, which inclusion? Which choice by the Academy makes you happiest? Please share your thoughts on the most recent crop of nominees in the comments section!

Category : Awards Stuff
Tags : , , , , , , , ,