81st Academy Award Nominations Released

[Auron]

OSCAR.com - 81st Annual Academy Awards - Nominees

I'm a bit disappointed (but hardly surprised) that the Dark Knight didn't get nominated for best picture. Meh, at least Heath Ledger was nominated.

[Sean P Kelly]

^ I wrote this in my blog: Pigs will fly around the world fifty times before the academy gives a best picture nomination to an action film.

Anyways, I am very happy right now since this is the first year that I have seen EVERY Best Picture nomination BEFORE the nominations were announced. That really says something about my choice in films. :)

[CaptHayfever]

For the lazy, the most-nominated films...

Benjamin Button: Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, Score, Makeup, Film Editing, Costume Design, Cinematography, Art Direction, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actress, Actor, Director, Picture

Slumdog Millionaire: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Original Song (x2), Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, Director, Picture

The Dark Knight: Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Makeup, Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Supporting Actor

Milk: Score, Film Editing, Costume Design, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actor, Actor, Director, Picture

WALL-E: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Song, Score, Animated Feature, Original Screenplay

Doubt: Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actress (x2), Supporting Actor, Actress

Frost/Nixon: Film Editing, Adapted Screenplay, Actor, Director, Picture

The Reader: Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, Actress, Director, Picture

Changeling & Revolutionary Road each got 3.
The Duchess, Frozen River, Wanted (!?), The Wrestler, & Iron Man each got 2.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Calamity Panfan]

^ I wrote this in my blog: Pigs will fly around the world fifty times before the academy gives a best picture nomination to an action film.

Jaws, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Pulp Fiction, Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator, The Lord of the Rings films to name a few.

I haven't seen some of these (Braveheart, Gladiator, Pulp Fiction) but from my understanding they have quite a bit of action. Some are action-dramas, but still have a ****ton of action (Private Ryan kept making me go "HOLY S*** THAT WAR WAS VIOLENT"). To say something like "They'll never nominate an action movie is ridiculous. Maybe never a mindless action picture that's just action for the sake of action (300), but if it can balance that action with good acting, good directing, good writing, good production, etc., it can easily be as much of a Best Picture nominee as the latest time-period drama.

I'd like to think that comedy movies are much more unlikely for Best picture nods, but you've got Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, Sideways, The Full Monty, Jerry Maguire and more.

I like to think that The Dark Knight would've been their 6th nomination if there was one. I'm sure it was considered but they just thought there were better films. And though I haven't seen the actual nominees (I can only go to movies that my family wants to see, as I can't drive.), they looked like they could easily surpass The Dark Knight in terms of quality.

And yes, The Dark Knight got a ****ton of Oscar buzz, but the only buzz beforehand was buzz about Ledger (who really does deserve best supporting actor). Most other buzz (like best picture buzz, best direction buzz, etc.) came right after they saw it. Benjamin Button was getting buzz MONTHS before it came out. For the BIG awards. Director, Actor, and Picture.

TDK could still easily be the big winner. Sure, it only has one "big category," but to say things like mixing, editing, and cinematography are "minor" is just stupid.

My biggest gripe with things Dark Knight should've been nominated for is best score, well, not just Dark Knight. Hans Zimmer didn't get any nominations for score this year, even though he's one of the most talented in the industry.

And in conclusion, on a non-TDK note: If Wall-E doesn't win animated feature, I will scream.

[ZeldaGirl]

I was happy to see Robert Downey Jr. get a nod for Tropic Thunder. He's not going to win against Ledger, but still, it marks a monumental comeback year.

Wall-E will win. Not a doubt about that.

[Bomby]

If The Dark Knight wins for Film Editing, I will choke this kitten.


The REAL reason why The Dark Knight didn't get nominated for Best Picture is...

[spoiler]... because it really isn't that great. Sorry.[/spoiler]

On a side note, If Slumdog Millionaire doesn't win for Cinematography, I will shoot this llama.

[Calamity Panfan]

But llamas are so big, it'd be much easier to go for an alpaca.

[Bomby]

Is an alpaca cuter, though? I feel sacrificing cute animals gets my point across better.

Benjamin Button was a decent film, but it only got so many nominations because it's a "life story" film. The Academy loves those.

[Calamity Panfan]

^ Alpacas are smaller and fluffier. I approve of higher cuteness factor.

[ShyGuy727]

No noms for Gran Torino or Eastwood is absolutely ridiculous.

[ZeldaGirl]

^That pictures looks like a furry seal or something.