Sunday, February 22, 2009

2009 Oscar® Nominations

On Jan. 22, the Oscar® nominations were announced for films released in 2008, with the awards to be presented on live tv on February 22, at 8pm est. Leading the way was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with 13, the story of F. Scott Fitzgerald's, starring Brad Pitt, about a man born old who grows younger over time. Eric Roth adapted the screenplay, who also adapted Forrest Gump and won an Oscar®.

Here's the official Academy Awards® Site
2009 Oscar® Nominees

I'm disappointed that Wall-E wasn't nominated for Best Picture (but has won 35 awards already), my favorite so far. Slumdog Millionaire has won every major award up to the AA's, appears to be a lock.

My Predictions for the Major Awards (partial list, just biggies)

Picture: Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, *Slumdog Millionaire*
[Prediction: Slumdog – My Choice: Wall-E]

Directing: Benjamin Button (David Fincher), Frost/Nixon (Ron Howard), Milk, The Reader (Sam Mendes), *Slumdog Millionaire* - Danny Boyle
[Prediction: Danny Boyle – My Choice: David Fincher, long overdue]

Actor: Richard Jenkins (Visitor), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), *Sean Penn* (Milk), Brad Pitt (Benjamin Button), Mickey Rourke (Wrestler)
[Prediction: Mickey Rourke – My Choice: now Mickey after finding out his dog Loki just died, so add yet another sentimental factor; but I've always liked Richard Jenkins, who played the dead father in Six Feet Under]

Actress: Meryl Streep (Doubt), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Melissa Leo (Frozen River), *Kate Winslet* (The Reader)
[Prediction & Choice: Kate Winslet]

Supp Actor: Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr (Tropic Thunder), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), *Heath Ledger* (Dark Knight), Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Rd)
[Prediction & Choice: Heath Ledger]

Supp Actress: Amy Adams (Doubt), *Penelope Cruz* (Vicky Christina Barcelona), Viola Davis (Doubt), Taraji P. Henson (Benjamin Button), Marisa Tomei (Wrestler)
[Prediction: Taraji P. Henson – My Choice: Penelope Cruz, yum; not only was she terrific but acted in two languages]

Animated Feature: Bolt, Kung Fu Panda, *Wall-E*
[Prediction & Choice: Wall-E]

Adapted Screenplay: Benjamin Button, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, *Slumdog Millionaire*
[Prediction: Slumdog – My Choice: The Reader; cuz I loved the book]


Original Screenplay: Frozen River, Happy-Go-Lucky, In Bruges, *Milk*, Wall-E
[Prediction: In Bruges – My Choice: Wall-E]

...as always, no wagering - the Jman® ...