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® ...
The Visitor (2008) - terrific indie film, beautiful story, Richard Jenkins' best role to date
Frost/Nixon (2008) - Ron Howard's docudrama of the Frost interviews w Nixon after his resignation, Langella's best yet
The Earrings of Madame De.. (1953) - Max Ophuls classic romance, drenched in opulence, Boyer and Darrieux are superb, costume Oscar®
Control Room (2004) - engrossing documentary on newsmedia coverage of the Iraqi war
Drugstore Cowboy (1989) - Van Sant's masterpiece of drug addiction
Viridiana (1961) Italy, bw - Bunuel's easy to follow story of a nun who moves into her rich uncle's estate
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - gentle fantasy of Brad Pitt born old and growing younger daily
Some Like It Hot (1959) - Wilder's classic gender-bending comedy
Sunrise (1927), bw-silent
- F.W. Murnau's classic of expressionist silent cinema, looks like romantic paintings in motion, cinematography Oscar®
