FFTSBH Presents: The 1st Annual Snubbies

Lame title, I know. It's the best I could come up with. I'm open to suggestions.

Well, the Oscar noms are out, and they cannot be changed, much as we would like to. Ordinarily, I would just do the traditional thing, that is, write up a post detailing who I think should have been nominated for something, like I did last year. But a recent article from Univarn got me thinking. It's so boring to just do a post with your own opinions, because everyone who follows you probably already knows them already. I mean, I could go on and on about how Nolan should have been nominated for Best Director, Garfield should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor, or how Let Me In should have been nominated for everything under the sun, but that's just not fun anymore! So, I thought I'd mix it up.

May I present the 1st Annual Snubbies. You heard it right, folks. This is the place where all the films snubbed by the Academy gets it just deserves! And, like the Academy, you will pick the winner. I've gone ahead and made up a list of nominees in each category that had chances (or I just really liked), but didn't make the cut, for whatever reason. Voting will remain open until February 28th, when the winners will be announced. That's right, the day after the Oscars are handed out, we're gonna swoop in and steal all their thunder with the help of the underrepresented. It's gonna be a trip!

Haha. Snub pistol. Get it?

37/45

Huh...

Well, 37 out of 45 ain't terrible. Rejoice peoples! The nominations are here! Oscar has named the films in contention for this year's Academy Awards. For the most part, they were pretty much in line with what I predicted. There were some pretty big surprises, though. But, enough banter. Let's get started.

Fie, For Shame Oscar: The Ones You Don't Appreciate

The Oscars are on Sunday! It's very exciting! The final votes were due today, I believe, which means that winner's have been chosen, and there's no changing them, whatever they may be. I've already given you my opinions on the nominees, so, what about the others? What about those other films that clearly deserved recognition, but received none? Pay attention Oscar! It's time to answer for your crimes!

First on my list of unappreciated films this season is, of course, (500) Days of Summer. I know, it's a romantic comedy. It didn't have amazing box office numbers. It's stars aren't the most bankable in the biz. But I don't care! (500) Days of Summer was my absolute favorite movie last year. Despite all the previously mentioned things working against it, there is one thing that everyone can agree on. (500) Days of Summer is good! Really good! I believe that should have gotten nods for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay. I don't think Mark Webb was ever in the running for Best Director, so I'm not at all steamed about that. I am steamed at the other ones though! I know it was a long shot to hope that it would get noticed in the Best Picture race, but, come on. Can't a guy dream? Same goes for both acting categories, even though the performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are far superior then most of the nominated ones. If there was any category that (500) Days had a legitimate shot at getting noticed in, it was Best Original Screenplay! I thought for sure it would get nominated here, but, like I said before, the Academy has a habit of disassociating themselves with the movie I deem to be the best of the year. I'm sorry if I'm not as mainstream as the average Academy voter!

The other, big, glaring omission is even more surprising to me then (500) Days of Summer. Where the Wild Things Are is based off a beloved and classic piece of literature, is directed by Spike Jonze, tells an amazing story with great acting to boot. It's a bonafide art house picture! It's simply spectacular, but, it goes unnoticed. Why? It didn't make money! It was a critical darling and one of the best reviewed films of last year, but, since the Academy is more concerned about their telecast then honoring achievements in cinema this year, it is snubbed. Not only should Where the Wild Things Are have gotten nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, but it would have been a strong contender for some technical awards. Just witness the seamless blending of puppets and CGI, and you'll see what I'm talking about. This is the type of movie the Academy always goes for, small, intimate, thought provoking, and all around excellent. Instead the went with The Blind Side. Ughhh...

There are a few other gripes I have, but won't go into too much detail about. I think Neill Blomkamp should have warranted considerable consideration for Best Director for District 9, but, it's a freshmen effort, not counting Alive in Joburg, so that was mostly vain hope. I think The Blind Side got two nominations too many! Public Enemies got no play as well, even though both Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard deserved to get noticed. Cottilard especially this year, since she, along with her wonderful work in Enemies, was the only actor to maintain any dignity in Nine.

I don't know. Maybe I'm making too big a deal out of this. I know that not winning an Oscar isn't going to make these films any less good! It's just a shame that they won't be featured during the telecast, and, as such, probably won't reach the wider audience that should experience them. It's a shame, but, hey. Maybe the retrospective video they play will highlight at least some of these.

On another, less fiery note, my write up of the Oscar minutes will be featured on The LAMB following the telecast, so... that's cool!

The Nominations for 2009

They're finally here!

Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

Well, there they are! I'm generally pretty happy with these, although I did not see The Blind Side getting nominated at all. I can't really blame them for doing so; they had to fill out all ten spaces, and Blind Side made a shit ton of money, so, why not throw it in there. I think it's great that they are recognizing movies like District 9 or Up, movies that would definitely get snubbed if it were still five nominees this year. It doesn't matter though. It is between Avatar and The Hurt Locker. This critic is betting on Avatar.

Best Director

James Cameron (Avatar)

Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)

Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)

Lee Daniels (Precious)

Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)

With the exception of Lee Daniels, I was right on the money with this one. If you just take the time to notice, you'll see that the Academy is more predictable then... something that's predictable. (Sorry. A little out of it right now.) This one has been won already as well. Kathryn Bigelow is going to win here. Even though she got snubbed at the Globes, she took home the trophy at PGAs and DGAs, virtually clearing the field for her to waltz on up to that stage. James Cameron may pull a fast one out of left field, but, if all goes according to plan, Kathryn's gonna be flipping her ex the bird on this one.

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)

George Clooney (Up in the Air)

Colin Firth (A Single Man)

Morgan Freeman (Invictus)

Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)

Again, this one has been won already. Clooney, Firth, and Freeman put up a good show, and I'm thrilled that Jeremy Renner is finally getting recognized, but Bridges has this one in the bag. He has won, literally, every single award leading up to the Oscars, or at least all the ones that matter. That, and that it's the first time he's getting recognized, even though he has consistently turned in great performances. The Dude, anyone? His under appreciated streak is officially over.

Best Actress

Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) ugggg...

Helen Mirren (The Last Station)

Carey Mulligan (An Education)

Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)

Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

Carey Mulligan should win this award, hands down. But she won't. Why? Because the world is stupid! Sandra Bullock will win for a performance, that, while better then the shit she usually turns out, doesn't even deserve to be considered for a nomination. Yes, Meryl and Gabourey are quite good in their roles, and Helen Mirren should be recognized for her glorious overacting, but Mulligan was so good, she was almost a shoe in for this award, until her PR man righteously fucked her awards campaign. Time to hire a new guy, Carey. Just putting it out there.

Best Supporting Actor

Matt Damon (Invictus)

Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)

Christopher Plummer (The Last Station)

Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)

Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

Mad props to Tucci for picking up Bones' sole nomination, and even more so to Harrelson for capping off his revival year with a nom. Matt Damon was good in Invictus, and Plummer was alright in Station. But, it doesn't matter. Waltz has far too much momentum to be slowed at this point. He is the clear winner.

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz (Nine) Huh?

Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)

Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart)

Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)

Mo'Nique (Precious)

In keeping with this years tradition of playing it safe, Mo'Nique will walk away with the statue on Oscar night. She shouldn't, but there it is. Farmiga or Kendrick should win, as they gave the best performances here, by far. Gyllenhaal was just thrown in there, but I have no problem with her nomination. I do, however have a problem with Cruz. What the hell is she doing here? If anyone should be nominated from Nine, it should be Marion Cotillard, who was actually better in Public Enemies, but we'll let that pass. Again, blame the PR guys, who pushed for Cotillard as a Best Actress contender. They had to know what they were doing. Damn, I hate the press.

Adapted Screenplay

District 9

An Education

In The Loop

Precious

Up in the Air

It's going to Up in the Air. No, there's no debate. It's going to happen.

Original Screenplay

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

The Messenger

A Serious Man

Up

I am seriously ticked off at the lack of (500) Days of Summer love, but I accepted a long time ago that the Academy would always disassociate themselves with my favorite movie of the year. It happened last year with The Dark Knight, and it happened this year. If Summer was a shoe in for anything, it was screenplay, but, what's done is done. Basterds will walk away with this one, because, quite frankly, Oscar voters have a big hard on for Tarantino, and justifiably so. I'd like to see Up win, but Basterds is the clear favorite.

So, there it is. I don't think there has ever been a year that was so easy to predict. I guess it's nice in that sense, but it takes some of the fun of watching the show away from us. Oh well. On the topic of other, not as major, awards, Up will, without a doubt, win Best Animated Feature and Best Score, Avatar will sweep the technical awards, and The White Ribbon will win Best Foreign Feature Film. Ok, that's done. Expect some more coverage as we inch closer to March 7th. See you next time.

In A Just and Right World...

Nomination ballots for the Oscars were due yesterday. This year is shaping up to be a particularly tricky one to predict the outcome of, what with the ten best picture nominees and such. I didn't vote; the Academy doesn't even know I exist (story of my life). Even so, I feel the need to list off who should get nominated if the world behaved the way I saw fit.

Locks Are In Bold (These movies will get nominated.)

Probable Winners Are Bold and Italicized (These movies will get nominated, and most likely win. These may or may not be my preferences in the matter, just what I've observed thus far!)

Best Picture:

Avatar

The Hurt Locker (It's too tricky to tell who will win, The Hurt Locker or Avatar, but, it's between those two.)

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

Up In The Air

Inglourious Basterds

Up

An Education

District 9

(500) Days of Summer

Where the Wild Things Are

Best Director

James Cameron (Avatar)

Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) (Again, it's too tricky to tell between these two!)

Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)

Jason Reitman (Up In The Air)

Neill Blomkamp (District 9)

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)

Colin Firth (A Single Man)

George Clooney (Up in the Air)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt ((500) Days of Summer)

Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)

Best Actress

Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) (Completely undeserving, but there it is.)

Meryl Streep (Julie and Julia) (May challenge Sandra, but doubtful.)

Carey Mulligan (An Education)

Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire)

Zooey Deschanel ((500) Days of Summer)

Best Supporting Actor

Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) (It's not even a contest any more.)

Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)

Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)

Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker)

Stephen Lang (Public Enemies)

Best Supporting Actress

Mo'Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire)

Vera Farmiga (Up In The Air) (The deserving winner.)

Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air)

Julianne Moore (A Single Man)

Marion Cottillard (Public Enemies or Nine, I don't care which.)

I don't know. To be honest, these awards are always a crapshoot! I guess we'll see how on the money I am in a few weeks when the noms are announced. Until then, my non-existent readers...