I don't know about you, but *I* was watching yesterday while the Oscar nominations were announced. I always do. Because even though there's always buzz about who will and who won't be nominated, especially after both the SAG awards and the Golden Globes are over with, there are always surprises.
Also, I'm not sure how I feel about 10 movies being nominated for best picture. When there are five, it's BIG competition...when there are ten, it's just lumping some good movies together, yanno? It's hard for me to explain, but I feel like it lessens the value of the movie. Because, I don't know, while I heard that The Blind Side was fabulous and I was not at all surprised to see Sandy Bullock with a best actress nod, it just doesn't seem Best Picture Oscar worthy. And UP? Really?
Can we take a moment to discuss Jeremy Renner? Please? This guy is officially my favorite .
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Do you see his face? When he sees that he was nominated for Best Actor? WOW. It's just pure glee and joy and it's just lovely. I am so glad that someone mistakenly left the cameras rolling.And Colin Firth? FANTASTIC. Even though he has been in both Oscar-winning movies, Shakespeare in Love AND The English Patient, he has never been up for Best Actor before.
And Maggie Gyllenhaal? WOW. I was totally surprised to see her get a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in Crazy Heart. I mean, sure, the Oscar is definitely going to Mo'nique, but still. AWESOME for Maggie.
I was a little surprised to see Invictus and its director Clint Eastwood get snubbed, but that's Oscar for you...a fickle, fickle beast.
I am also a little surprised to see Nine and Daniel Day Lewis not get noticed at all.
Here is a list of the major awards, and you can see the full list on the official Oscar website here.
Best Picture: Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A serious Man, Up, Up In the Air
Best Director: James Cameron (Avatar), Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), Quentin Tarantino (Basterds), Lee Daniels (Precious) and Jason Reitman (Up In the Air)
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, Meryl Streep
Best Actor: George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman and Jeremy Renner
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick and Mo'Nique
Best Supporting Actor: Matt Damon, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Plummer, Stanley Tucci and Christoph Waltz.
10 is too many. I agree. Plus, UP, Up in the Air, and the Blind Side were all great films but, in my opinion, not Best Picture calibre.