Awards Season 2008

[tavernier]

As awful as these noms are, at least there's no Clint or Bruce to gum up the works even more.

[LQ]

Hugh Jackman's hosting, isn't he?

Or as barmy so aptly described him, the "oak tree that goes to Crunch a lot" is indeed hosting.

[arsonfilms]

Well, I'm sure that Criterion's first venture into the first-run theatrical business getting a nomination was nice...

(I'm just trying to think of something nice to say about this whole disaster)

[Dylan]

Bruce

Am I out of the loop or are you guys talking about Bruce Campbell?

[LQ]

If only!
Springsteen. As souvenir said, Springsteen was pretty much a lock to win Best Song for The Wrestler, and he wasn't even nominated.

[swo17]

My gut reaction is to say that, rather than feel like they have to pick five whole films from each year to nominate as best picture, they should wait until there are five good films, even if this takes several years, and then hold a ceremony. I mean, it's ridiculous that we're running through all the hoops just like normal for junk as tepid as Slumdog and Ben Button. That being said, I'm guessing there are a different five films (or even just three or four) from this year that they could have picked that wouldn't have us all up in arms over them.

I'm especially disappointed with the Sally Hawkins snub. But I would also like to have seen Michelle Williams on there for Wendy & Lucy. Normally the best actress category feels perfunctory to me--we have to nominate as many women as men, even though we don't give them any juicy roles. But between Hawkins, Williams, Melissa Leo, and the girl in that vampire movie, this seemed like a really strong year to me for female performances, which is of course barely reflected at all in the actual nominations. Sigh...

[Barmy]

As one of the few people who (sorta) liked Slumdog and Button, thought Dark Knight was meh, and won't see Rev Road cuz it looks 'tarded, I'm not unhappy. Yes, overall it's a load of shite. I wanted Marisa to get a nom and that's really all I cared about.

And if Chocolat can get noms, why can't Reader?

[John Cope]

To echo LQ. the absurd snubbing Revolutionary Road received, with its mostly window dressing nominations, is unconscionable but it may also speak to the Academy's unwillingness or inability to view this picture in any other way than superficially--to take it seriously in other words. The nom for Shannon is nice but as one of the few who thinks his role (not his performance) may be one of the weaker links, given its declarative intentionality, it fits with the rest.

[lacritfan]

Ah hell, here goes, come on Academy, give us some (pleasant) surprises this year :

Fine Academy, be that way.
About the only good thing that can come out of The Reader being nominated is they will hopefully include Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack as two of the nominees to be determined as a nice last gesture.

[foliagecop]

I was actually pleasantly surprised by RR's lack of noms. I haven't read the novel, but I thought the film itself tried too hard to be worthy. It looked fantastic, but the performances - with the exception of Michael Shannon - were a huge let-down for me. Far, far too theatrical for my tastes. In fact, I'd love to see a stage version of it. At least there its artifice would be at home.

And having watched 'Wendy And Lucy' for the first time last night, can I just add my voice to the chorus of those appalled by Michelle Williams' best actress omission. Added to Hawkins, it's yet another Oscar blip (putting it mildly).

[Forrest Taft]

Haven´t seen any of the BP nominees yet, but this is still a shite list of nominees. Hooray for Herzog and Marisa Tomei though.

In other news, Redacted is the best film of the year, according to Cahiers.

[exte]

What a dismal list of nominees. Also, the fanboy whining about The Dark Knight is going to be intolerable. I may have to stay off the internet for a while.

Unbelievable. Weren't you the forum's official liaison for all their viral marketing? For a while you practically owned that thread!
(And yes, it should've been fucking nominated!)

Well, I'm sure that Criterion's first venture into the first-run theatrical business getting a nomination was nice...

(I'm just trying to think of something nice to say about this whole disaster)

Criterion's first theatrical venture?? What am I missing? Which film is this?

[lacritfan]

Haven´t seen any of the BP nominees yet, but this is still a shite list of nominees. Hooray for Herzog and Marisa Tomei though.

In other news, Redacted is the best film of the year, according to Cahiers.

3. Cloverfield de Mat Reeves???

[arsonfilms]

Well, I'm sure that Criterion's first venture into the first-run theatrical business getting a nomination was nice...

(I'm just trying to think of something nice to say about this whole disaster)

Criterion's first theatrical venture?? What am I missing? Which film is this?

Revanche, directed by Gotz Spielmann. It was nominated in the foreign language category, but will surely lose to Waltz with Bashir.

[Grand Illusion]

Initial thoughts:

DiCaprio is a major snub. He's excellent in Revolutionary Road and is the whole reason the film works.

I haven't seen Frost/Nixon or Benjamin Button yet, so I won't judge.

On the other hand, I will judge Happy-Go-Lucky by its trailer. I could never understand the buzz for this one. I found Sally Hawkins so obnoxious in just the trailer that there was no way I could've sat through the whole film.

I don't get the hate on The Reader. As far as "playing it safe," the film is way more interesting than Milk. But don't worry, it can't win. It wasn't nominated for Editing.

I'm still ABS (Anything But Slumdog).

Hoping for Pfister in cinematography. The Dark Knight, for its flaws, looked real good.

[Barmy]

No one thought DiCaprio was getting anything. The actor list is actually somewhat strong, at least for Oscar. The RR thing is a debacle. It has grossed virtually nothing to date and now has no basis to expand. Yippee. (Although I'm sure we will see blurbs for it saying NOMINATED FOR THREE ACADEMY AWARDS!!!) :^o

[colinr0380]

The list of nominees for the prestigious Razzie Awards:

WORST PICTURE
"Disaster Movie" and "Meet The Spartans"
"The Happening"
"The Hottie and The Nottie"
"In The Name of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale"
"The Love Guru"

WORST ACTOR
Larry the Cable Guy, "Witless Protection"
Eddie Murphy, "Meet Dave"
Mike Myers, "The Love Guru"
Al Pacino, "88 Minutes" and "Righteous Kill"
Mark Wahlberg, "The Happening" and "Max Payne"

WORST ACTRESS
Jessica Alba, "The Eye" and "The Love Guru"
Cameron Diaz, "What Happens in Vegas"
Paris Hilton, "The Hottie and the Nottie"
Kate Hudson, "Fool's Gold" and "My Best Friend's Girl"
The entire cast of "The Women" (Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith and Meg Ryan)

WORST DIRECTOR
Uwe Boll, "1968 Tunnel Rats", "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale" and "Postal"
Jason Friedberg, "Aaron Seltzer for Disaster Movie and "Meet the Spartans"
Tom Putnam, "The Hottie and the Nottie"
Marco Schnabel, "The Love Guru"
M. Night Shyamalan, "The Happening"

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Uwe Boll (as himself), "Postal"
Pierce Brosnan, "Mamma Mia!"
Ben Kingsley, "The Love Guru," "War, Inc." and "The Wackness"
Burt Reynolds, "Deal" and "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale"
Verne Troyer, "The Love Guru" and "Postal"

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Carmen Electra, "Disaster Movie" and "Meet the Spartans"
Paris Hilton, "Repo! The Genetic Opera"
Kim Kardashian, "Disaster Movie"
Jenny McCarthy, "Witless Protection"
Leelee Sobieski, "88 Minutes" and "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale"

WORST SCREENPLAY
"Disaster Movie" and "Meet the Spartans" (jointly) - written by Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer
"The Happening" - written by M. Night Shyamalan
"The Hottie and the Nottie" - written by Heidi Ferrer
"In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale" - screenplay by Doug Taylor
"The Love Guru"- written by Mike Myers & Graham Gordy

WORST SCREEN COUPLE
Uwe Boll & any actor, camera or screenplay, "1968 Tunnel Rats, "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale" and "Postal"
Cameron Diaz & Ashton Kutcher, "What Happens in Vegas"
Paris Hilton & either Christine Lakin or Joel David Moore, "The Hottie and the Nottie"
Larry the Cable Guy & Jenny McCarthy, "Witless Protection"
Eddie Murphy & Eddie Murphy, "Meet Dave"

WORST RIP-OFF, PREQUEL OR REMAKE
"The Day the Earth Stood Still"
"Disaster Movie" and "Meet The Spartans" (jointly)
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
"Speed Racer"
"Star Wars: The Clone Wars"

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT

Uwe Boll

Were Revolver/RocknRolla not eligible?

[Dylan]

If only!
Springsteen. As souvenir said, Springsteen was pretty much a lock to win Best Song for The Wrestler, and he wasn't even nominated.

Ah yes, I've heard a lot about that as well. Does anybody know why there are only three song nominees, when there are usually five? Jon Brion's "Little Person" from Synecdoche, NY is a lovely, melodic song that I would've liked to have seen nominated.

Meanwhile, Bruce Campbell should host the Oscars.

[Murdoch]

Meanwhile, Bruce Campbell should host the Oscars.

I would watch the Oscars for the first time in my life if this happened.

[tavernier]

Meanwhile, Bruce Campbell should host the Oscars.

I would watch the Oscars for the first time in my life if this happened.

And they'd get lower ratings than the Tonys if he hosted (although this year's ratings will be pretty low in any case).

[HelenLawson]

Poor Sally Hawkins. Could this be the most egregious snub since David Thewlis for Naked? I can't think of another case where an actor has so dominated the awards season only to fall short of a nomination.

[souvenir]

You know, Stephen Daldry has now directed three feature films (Billy Elliot, The Hours and The Reader), none of which are especially dynamic, and he's been nominated as Best Director for all three. His next is an adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Has any other director ever been nominated for his first three films?

[Tom Hagen]

Does anybody know why there are only three song nominees, when there are usually five?

I don't know, but it will save time on the telecast, as anyone who suffered through the stage productions of virtually the entire soundtrack of Enchanted last year can testify to.

[domino harvey]

Whenever Three 6 Mafia won I think there was only three nominees total

[geoffcowgill]

You know, Stephen Daldry has now directed three feature films (Billy Elliot, The Hours and The Reader), none of which are especially dynamic, and he's been nominated as Best Director for all three. His next is an adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.

My lord, this is disappointing. Chabon's novel is fantastic and deserves a better chance as a film than this news suggests. In fairness I have to admit that I haven't yet seen The Reader, but Billy Elliot and, especially, The Hours were remarkably turgid affairs, strangely cold for their implied emotional intensity.