SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board / General Chat / Oscar season
Posted by: James McClung, January 19th, 2009, 3:03pm
I've always been hypocritical when it comes to the Oscars. It seems like every year, I watch my favorite movies lose to the overhyped stuff and vow never to watch again, only to have the same thing happen the next year (last year was not the case). Anyway, I figured I'd drop all that and start a thread with a more hopeful attitude toward this year's Oscar season. Personally, I think it's going to be one of the best seasons they've ever had. I'm predicting Slumdog Millionare cleans out the place, leaving the usual Oscar shoo-ins (e.g. Clint Eastwood) getting the shaft. I've also got my fingers crossed that Heath Ledger actually gets nominated (he won a Golden Globe posthumously; that's a start).
A lotta good films rumored this year. I'd still like to catch a couple more (The Wrestler, Gran Torino) before the ceremony.
Anyone care to speculate?
Posted by: The boy who could fly, January 19th, 2009, 3:11pm; Reply: 1
Heath ledger, mickey Rourke are for sure shoo-in's, Slumdog has the best chance at best picture and i'm sure kate winslet will win one, other than that im not sure, should be interesting
Posted by: Murphy (Guest), January 19th, 2009, 3:24pm; Reply: 2
I really, really, really want to see Slumdog sweep the boards. For me it is the film of the decade, for some reason I just love it. And I know we could get into the discussion about how technically it was not brilliant, the script relied a little on lots of coincidences and Danny Boyle was certainly a little manipulative in places. But for me that does not matter, this is a film that just seemed to work so well and appeal to such a large demographic that it deserves the success it has had.
But, I have a feeling in the my stomach that it might not win best picture, there is a general feeling that the Oscars tend to look after their own. The Golden Globes is an international voting panel, they were always much more likely to go for Slumdog, I just wonder if the Oscar will be different. Milk is probably the most likely after Slumdog with WALL-E being a danger if nominated. Though they might do well to keep WALL-E off the best picture nomination in favor of The Dark Knight.
Danny Boyle should be favourite for Best Director but again would not be surprised to see David Fincher win. Best Adapted Screenplay should be in the bag I would imagine though.
I love the Oscars, they are my kind of movies and I really enjoy watching all the contenders in the run-up, this past couple of months has been brilliant for great movies.
For best picture I predict:
Slumdog Millionaire The Dark Knight MILK The Curious Case of Benjamin Button The Wrestler
Posted by: JonnyBoy, January 21st, 2009, 11:49am; Reply: 3
Saw today on BBC News that WALL-E has been named Best Picture at the Online Film Critics Society in the US, well as winning best animated feature and best original screenplay.
I have this wonderful feeling that maybe, just maybe, WALL-E will sneak a Best Picture Oscar nomination tomorrow. I hope so. I personally think it deserves a nomination, even if Slumdog Millionaire seems to have the actual award in the bag. Best Animated Picture is a bit of a token award...Beauty and the Beast got a Best Picture award, and hopefully WALL-E will too.
Posted by: Aaron, January 21st, 2009, 12:20pm; Reply: 4
I'm pushing The Dark Knight for best picture, and I would love for them to give Heath best supporting actor
You can see how much I love the Dark Knight by this <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Posted by: Shelton, January 21st, 2009, 2:03pm; Reply: 5
I'd be pretty surprised if The Dark Knight is even nominated, given that it didn't get the call at Golden Globes time.
Posted by: Aaron, January 21st, 2009, 2:15pm; Reply: 6
True, because pics like Slumdog Millionaire will be nominated, in fact, I think that'll win, I hope not, but it probably will
Posted by: directoboy12, January 21st, 2009, 2:34pm; Reply: 7
Slumdog is so overrated, I think The Dark Knight will get in its got Producers Guild, Writers Guild, and Directors Guild nominations. I hope The Wrestler and Wall-E get in some how.
Posted by: Aaron, January 21st, 2009, 4:40pm; Reply: 8
Honestly IMO Wall-e was overrated too
Posted by: Xavier, January 21st, 2009, 4:42pm; Reply: 9
Slumdog wasn't even that great of a movie, I only saw part of it and that was enough, I'm surprised it won the Golden Globe, I hope it doesn't win an Oscar.
Posted by: Aaron, January 21st, 2009, 4:43pm; Reply: 10
Well, Slumdog is like this year's No Country. I REALLY hope The Dark Knight will AT LEAST get nominated, hopefully win, but a nomination, that is an honor by itself
Posted by: James McClung, January 21st, 2009, 5:42pm; Reply: 11
I'd be pretty surprised if The Dark Knight is even nominated, given that it didn't get the call at Golden Globes time.
Heath Ledger won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor so I think it's possible for him to be nominated and even win the same award for the Oscars. As for the film itself being nominated, I doubt it. I'm sure it'll sweep the more technical catagories but there's far too many more "Oscar-ish" (though not neccesarily better) films that could be nominated for Best Picture. I'd say a win for Ledger is the most fans can hope for but really, I think that would be satisfying for most.
Posted by: Shelton, January 21st, 2009, 5:44pm; Reply: 12
I'm sure Ledger will be nominated and most likely win. The only possible spoiler I could see would be Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt, but that seems unlikely.
Posted by: Xavier, January 21st, 2009, 6:02pm; Reply: 13
I agree that Ledger should win, through my eyes he was the best supporting actor of the year, he won the Golden Globe and should win an Oscar.
Hoffman in Doubt was alright I guess. To tell you the truth I don't care who wins as long as whoever it is worthy of the title.
Posted by: Murphy (Guest), January 21st, 2009, 6:18pm; Reply: 14
Slumdog wasn't even that great of a movie, I only saw part of it and that was enough, I'm surprised it won the Golden Globe, I hope it doesn't win an Oscar.
I thought the same about Angelina Jolie when everyone was raving about how beautiful she was, I thought she was really ugly. To be fair though I only saw her left ankle but that was enough for me.
Posted by: JonnyBoy, January 22nd, 2009, 9:14am; Reply: 15
And the nominations are up!
Best Picture The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Frost/Nixon Milk The Reader Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire Stephen Daldry - The Reader David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon Gus Van Sant - Milk
Best Actor Richard Jenkins - The Visitor Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon Sean Penn - Milk Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Best Actress Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married Angelina Jolie - Changeling Melissa Leo - Frozen River Meryl Streep - Doubt Kate Winslet - The Reader
Best Supporting Actress Amy Adams - Doubt Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona Viola Davis - Doubt Taraji P Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Best Supporting Actor Josh Brolin - Milk Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Best Foreign Language Film Revanche - Austria The Class - France The Baader Meinhof Complex - Germany Departures - Japan Waltz With Bashir - Israel
Best Animated Feature Film Bolt Kung Fu Panda Wall-E
Best Adapted Screenplay The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Doubt Frost/Nixon The Reader Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Screenplay Happy-Go-Lucky Milk Wall-E In Bruges Frozen River
No place for The Dark Knight or WALL-E in Best Picture...oh well.
Overall, there are 13 nominations for Benjamin Button, 10 for Slumdog Millionare, and 8 for The Dark Knight and Milk.
The Dark Knight got nominations for Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Make-up, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects, as well as Ledger's Best Supporting Actor. WALL-E got Best Score, Best Original Song, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing as well as the 2 in the above list. And the short, Presto, is up for best animated short!
Let the winner predictions begin!
Posted by: directoboy12, January 22nd, 2009, 10:27am; Reply: 16
Oh these are bad...The Reader over The Dark Knight in Picture and Director?
The Reader at Rotten Tomatoes - 60% The Reader at Metacritic - 58
The Dark Knight at Rotten Tomatoes - 94% The Dark Knight at Metacritic - 82
I don't get it.
No Rachel Getting Married in screenplay...No Sally Hawkins...Two Slumdog songs over "The Wrestler"...
Slumdog is gonna sweep
Posted by: Aaron, January 22nd, 2009, 10:28am; Reply: 17
Hey guys, I will put by predictions in CAPS
Best Picture THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (even though The Dark Knight is really it for me) Frost/Nixon Milk The Reader Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director DANNY BOYLE-SLUMDOG MILLIONARE Stephen Daldry - The Reader David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon Gus Van Sant - Milk
Best Actor Richard Jenkins - The Visitor Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon Sean Penn - Milk Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button MICKEY ROURKE-THE WRESTLER
Best Actress Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married ANGELINA JOLIE-CHANGELING Melissa Leo - Frozen River Meryl Streep - Doubt Kate Winslet - The Reader
Best Supporting Actress Amy Adams - Doubt PENELOPE CRUZ-VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA Viola Davis - Doubt Taraji P Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Best Supporting Actor Josh Brolin - Milk Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt HEATH LEDGER-THE DARK KNIGHT (Oh Yeah!!!) Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Best Foreign Language Film Revanche - Austria The Class - France The Baader Meinhof Complex - Germany NO VOTE HERE Departures - Japan Waltz With Bashir - Israel
Best Animated Feature Film Bolt KUNG FU PANDA Wall-E
Best Adapted Screenplay The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button Doubt FROST/NIXON The Reader Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Screenplay Happy-Go-Lucky Milk WALL-E In Bruges Frozen River
Posted by: dogglebe (Guest), January 22nd, 2009, 11:03am; Reply: 18
Robert Downey Jr was nominated? I didn't even think of him, though his performance was incredible.
I still don't think Ledger will win. They'll give him some special award and give the Oscar to someone else.
You really can't rate Slumdog Millionaire after seeing only a part of it. It was an incredible movie.
Phil
Posted by: Shelton, January 22nd, 2009, 11:19am; Reply: 19
Best Supporting Actress Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Best Supporting Actor Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road (I think this guy is truly underrated.)
Best Foreign Language Film Waltz With Bashir - Israel
Best Animated Feature Film Wall-E
Best Adapted Screenplay Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Screenplay In Bruges
Posted by: directoboy12, January 22nd, 2009, 11:54am; Reply: 20
They don't give out special awards just because someone is dead, I think there has been five or six other actors nominated posthumously and only Peter Finch has won for Network back in the 70s. I think Heath Ledger is winning because his acting is head and shoulders above the competition, even if he was alive I'm sure he'd still be winning.
Predicts:
Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Best Actress Kate Winslet - The Reader
Best Supporting Actress Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Supporting Actor Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Best Foreign Language Film Waltz With Bashir - Israel
Best Animated Feature Film Wall-E
Best Adapted Screenplay Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Screenplay Milk
Posted by: NiK, January 22nd, 2009, 12:41pm; Reply: 21
I did hope to see The Dark Knight nominated in other categories as well. I can forgive the Best picture nomination but c'mon at least BEST DIRECTOR/BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY.
And Phil, just a personal question do you really think any of the above nominations for Best Supporting Actor are better performance than The Joker? I hate when people try to bring up his death as a justification. It just SUCKS. If you think Robert Downey jr was better than .... the only performance other than Heath Ledger's is that of Hoffman in Doubt.
Hope it wins. My favorite movie of last year with TDK. Great script.
Posted by: sniper, January 22nd, 2009, 2:04pm; Reply: 22
Am I the only who has trouble differentiating between the awards for Best Picture and Best Director?
To me, if a movie wins Best Picture it should automatically get the nod for Best Director. I mean, a movie - the actual finished product that appear on the screen - is the director's vision. You can judge an actor's performance and the quality of a screenplay, but imo. the only thing you can judge the director on is the movie.
Everything that appear on screen only gets there because the director wants it. He suggests changes to the script, he directs the actors performances, he's involved in the editing, the music etc. so how could anyone award a movie the Best Picture but say...nah, the direction wasn't that great? I just don't get it.
Obviously the screenplay, the acting, the photography, the sets, the wardrobe, the music etc. play a huge part of a movie's success (and with that I mean "Oscar movies" not blockbusters) but all of those things only made the movie good because the director chose to surround himself with the best people and also because he or she made the right decisions.
Posted by: dogglebe (Guest), January 22nd, 2009, 4:35pm; Reply: 23
And Phil, just a personal question do you really think any of the above nominations for Best Supporting Actor are better performance than The Joker? I hate when people try to bring up his death as a justification. It just SUCKS. If you think Robert Downey jr was better than .... the only performance other than Heath Ledger's is that of Hoffman in Doubt.
I didn't see the other movies, so I can't honestly say. I wonder if the die hard Ledger fans, here, have seen all of them.
And the Joker isn't up for best supporting actor. Ledger is. I'm not pointing this out to be a PITA. It just seems to be a mistake I've before. The award isn't for best character; it's for BSA.
Phil
Posted by: Murphy (Guest), January 22nd, 2009, 4:44pm; Reply: 24
Am I the only who has trouble differentiating between the awards for Best Picture and Best Director?
To me, if a movie wins Best Picture it should automatically get the nod for Best Director. I mean, a movie - the actual finished product that appear on the screen - is the director's vision. You can judge an actor's performance and the quality of a screenplay, but imo. the only thing you can judge the director on is the movie.
Everything that appear on screen only gets there because the director wants it. He suggests changes to the script, he directs the actors performances, he's involved in the editing, the music etc. so how could anyone award a movie the Best Picture but say...nah, the direction wasn't that great? I just don't get it.
Obviously the screenplay, the acting, the photography, the sets, the wardrobe, the music etc. play a huge part of a movie's success (and with that I mean "Oscar movies" not blockbusters) but all of those things only made the movie good because the director chose to surround himself with the best people and also because he or she made the right decisions.
It is more for the producers. In the majority of movies that are released each year the Director really is not the man in charge of the creative vision. In most cases it is the producer gets the project off the ground and sometimes spends years pulling it together, they hire the director, writers, actors etc.. And quite often will have the final say on scripts, editing and even how the movie is shot. The best film nod is an opportunity for them to collect an award and share the limelight with the more famous talent who they had working for them.
Of course sometimes the director is the driving force, the lower the budget the more likely. But most of the time the producers make the movie, the director decides how we see things on the screen but the suits decide what we see.
Slumdog Millionaire was not the brainchild of Danny Boyle for instance. Film 4 films read the book and they approached Simon Beufoy to write the screenplay. Then they went looking for a director willing to join the project, Danny Boyle actually turned them down at first until he read the script. He may well win Best Director for his great work but one could argue that the producers at Film 4 were the driving force behind getting the film made and therefore would be deserving of the best picture win. It may well be that Danny Boyle does not win Best Director, maybe David Fincher wins it, but Slumdog could still be best film and I don't think the two are mutually inclusive.
There is a really great book called 'SCREEN PLAYS' by David S. Cohen, It tells the story behind 25 recent movies and details how each script got from initial conception to final draft and the influence the studio's have over every aspect. Really Interesting read, recommend it to anyone.
Posted by: James McClung, January 22nd, 2009, 5:06pm; Reply: 25
I realize I haven't seen every movie nominated just for the fun of it, my two cents...
Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon or Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler (can't decide)
Best Actress Meryl Streep - Doubt
Best Supporting Actress Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Best Supporting Actor Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight (I honestly think Ledger will and should win. Honestly, It's sort of a slap in the face of the other actors to give the award to someone who isn't even capable of accepting it but the fact is he's nominated and the fact is his performance is the best out of the nominees. I am however happy, not to mention completely blown away, that Robert Downey Jr. was nominated. I think his performance is the best of the living actors nominated).
Best Animated Feature Film Wall-E
Best Adapted Screenplay Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Screenplay In Bruges
...and all the technical stuff should probably go to the Dark Knight.
Posted by: JonnyBoy, January 22nd, 2009, 5:23pm; Reply: 26
The thing is, the Best Picture and Best Director awards don't always go to the same film. Here's the winners for the past 15 years.
1993 - Best Picture & Best Director: Schindler's List 1994 - Best Picture & Best Director: Forrest Gump 1995 - Best Picture & Best Director: Braveheart 1996 - Best Picture & Best Director: The English Patient 1997 - Best Picture & Best Director: Titanic 1998 - Best Picture: Shakespeare in Love / Best Director: Spielberg for Saving Private Ryan 1999 - Best Picture & Best Director: American Beauty 2000 - Best Picture: Gladiator / Best Director: Soderbergh for Traffic 2001 - Best Picture & Best Director: A Beautiful Mind 2002 - Best Picture: Chicago / Best Director: Polanski for The Pianist 2003 - Best Picture & Best Director: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2004 - Best Picture & Best Director: Million Dollar Baby 2005 - Best Picture: Crash / Best Director: Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain 2006 - Best Picture & Best Director: The Departed 2007 - Best Picture & Best Director: No Country for Old Men
4 times, they went to different films. I suppose, of course, this is a question about film authorship. It takes more than one person to make a film. The director isn't the only person responsible for the success. So I don't think it's right to roll the two awards into one. If you're going down that route, why not just dispense with the awards for editing, cinematography, music, and just have one award? The Academy Award for Best Directed and Overall Best Picture, and then have the acting and screenplay awards.
Actually, that might not be such a bad idea - the whole thing wouldn't drag on for hours then...
(P.S. I think Winslet is almost a dead cert for Best Actress. She won twice at the Globes, she's up twice for Best Actress at the BAFTAs, she's won other awards...plus this is her sixth nomination. I think her time has just come to win one of the bloody things!)
Of those four, this one really sticks in my throat:
"2000 - Best Picture: Gladiator / Best Director: Soderbergh for Traffic"
Scott looked gutted and I was gutted for him. There's no way that there was anything so spectacular in the directing of Traffic that it deserved to trump the Best Picture.
You can understand the thinking with something like this:
"1998 - Best Picture: Shakespeare in Love / Best Director: Spielberg for Saving Private Ryan"
Where one is directed in a spectacular fashion, but the other film is considered a more consistent, intelligent film overall.
Posted by: NiK, January 22nd, 2009, 5:46pm; Reply: 28
Quoted from dogglebe
I didn't see the other movies, so I can't honestly say. I wonder if the die hard Ledger fans, here, have seen all of them.
And the Joker isn't up for best supporting actor. Ledger is. I'm not pointing this out to be a PITA. It just seems to be a mistake I've before. The award isn't for best character; it's for BSA.
Phil
I saw the other movies, Revolutionary Road, Milk, Doubt, Tropic Thunder... and the only actor that might have a chance against Heath Ledger is Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt.
This isn't about being a Heath Ledger fan, this is about being honest with his performance. And Phil I said The Joker, because HE played the Joker if he will win the Oscar he will win because he played that character, you don't win it because you play yourself.
My advice - watch the other movies and make your decision. :)
Posted by: directoboy12, January 22nd, 2009, 6:14pm; Reply: 29
I've seen all the performances in the supporting actor category too...Philip Seymour Hoffman was good in Doubt but It was mostly just a screaming and yelling role...Josh Brolin was great in Milk(Emile Hirsh gave a better supporting role in that movie though)...Michael Shannon was...odd...but in a good way, I just wish he was in more of the film, and Robert Downey Jr. was hilarious,the best part about Tropic Thunder but Heath Ledger gave me goosebumps as the Joker, that's why he stands out to me.
Posted by: dogglebe (Guest), January 22nd, 2009, 7:26pm; Reply: 30
And Phil I said The Joker, because HE played the Joker if he will win the Oscar he will win because he played that character, you don't win it because you play yourself.
I think referring to Ledger as the Joker implies a very strong fanboy fascination from some people. That's all.
There's no point arguing about which actor or actress was the best. The choice is 100% subjective.
One of my personal favourite perfomances of the year was Brolin as Bush in W. At one point I even forgot he wasn't the real Bush, even though he doesn't really lok anything like him.
Posted by: Sandra Elstree., January 24th, 2009, 1:29am; Reply: 32
I've always been hypocritical when it comes to the Oscars. It seems like every year, I watch my favorite movies lose to the overhyped stuff and vow never to watch again, only to have the same thing happen the next year (last year was not the case). Anyway, I figured I'd drop all that and start a thread with a more hopeful attitude toward this year's Oscar season. Personally, I think it's going to be one of the best seasons they've ever had. I'm predicting Slumdog Millionare cleans out the place, leaving the usual Oscar shoo-ins (e.g. Clint Eastwood) getting the shaft. I've also got my fingers crossed that Heath Ledger actually gets nominated (he won a Golden Globe posthumously; that's a start).
A lotta good films rumored this year. I'd still like to catch a couple more (The Wrestler, Gran Torino) before the ceremony.
Anyone care to speculate?
Re: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
You know how people might take a questionnaire about their favorite color. Their favorite song? And people can't answer because "It's all good."
My husband drags me to movies. He's the movie watcher, not me. Strange, right?
But he chose this one particular movie with me in mind. He said, "I thought of you and I knew you'd like it."
Wow.
Was he ever right!!!!!!
I came out of the theater and proclaimed: "This was the best movie I've ever seen!!!!"
I didn't know about my husband's reasons for picking this particular film. I didn't know anything about it at all. I was like a blind man recovering vision and going to see my first show.
I won't mention some of the details that we experienced. That will remain private for now, but suffice it to say: this film completely swept us away.
My youngest daughter does not have the same feelings at all. She watched it at a different time and place and does not feel thrilled by it at all.
It goes to show you how we all perceive things in such a different way.
Right now I'm just very thankful that I had the opportunity to watch this movie and to know; It wasn't even my decision-- on the outside anyways.
Sandra
Posted by: JonnyBoy, February 23rd, 2009, 5:23am; Reply: 33
So that's that! The Oscar 2009 winners are...
Best picture: Slumdog Millionaire Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Frost/Nixon; Milk; The Reader
Best director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire Also nominated: Stephen Daldry - The Reader; David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon; Gus Van Sant - Milk
Best actor: Sean Penn - Milk Also nominated: Richard Jenkins - The Visitor; Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon; Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Best actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader Also nominated: Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married; Angelina Jolie - Changeling; Melissa Leo - Frozen River; Meryl Streep - Doubt
Best supporting actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight Also nominated: Josh Brolin - Milk; Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder; Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt; Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Best supporting actress: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona Also nominated: Amy Adams - Doubt; Viola Davis - Doubt; Taraji P Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Best original screenplay: Milk Also nominated: Happy-Go-Lucky; Wall-E; In Bruges; Frozen River
Best adapted screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Doubt; Frost/Nixon; The Reader
Best animated feature film: Wall-E Also nominated: Bolt; Kung Fu Panda
Best animated short film: La Maison en Petits Cubes Also nominated: Lavatory - Lovestory; Oktapodi; Presto; This Way Up
Best foreign language film: Departures - Japan Also nominated: Revanche - Austria; The Class - France; The Baader Meinhof Complex - Germany; Waltz With Bashir - Israel
Best documentary feature: Man on Wire Also nominated: The Betrayal; Encounters at the End of the World; The Garden; Trouble The Water
Best documentary short subject: Smile Pinki Also nominated: The Conscience of Nhem En; The Final Inch; The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306
Art direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Also nominated: Changeling; The Dark Knight; The Duchess; Revolutionary Road
Costume design: The Duchess Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Australia; Milk; Revolutionary Road
Make-up: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Also nominated: The Dark Knight; Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Changeling; The Dark Knight; The Reader
Best live action short film: Spielzeugland (Toyland) Also nominated: Auf der Strecke (On The Line); Manon on the Asphalt; New Boy; The Pig
Visual effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Also nominated: The Dark Knight; Iron Man
Sound editing: The Dark Knight Also nominated: Iron Man; Wanted; Slumdog Millionaire; Wall-E
Sound mixing: Slumdog Millionaire Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Wanted; Wall-E
Film editing: Slumdog Millionaire Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Frost/Nixon; Milk
Best original score: Slumdog Millionaire Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Defiance; Milk; Slumdog Millionaire; Wall-E
Best original song: Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire Also nominated: Down To Earth - Wall-E; O Saya - Slumdog Millionaire
Only one real surprise there...Mickey Rourke NOT winning for The Wrestler! Still, Sean Penn is a damn good actor. Slumdog won eight, Benjamin Button got three, and The Dark Knight got two (including Ledger's).
Posted by: sniper, February 23rd, 2009, 6:13am; Reply: 34
Only one real surprise there...Mickey Rourke NOT winning for The Wrestler!
My only surprise was that he was even nominated. I thought both his performance and the movie as a whole was good but nothing memorable - at all. His performance in Angel Heart was much better.
Posted by: Murphy (Guest), February 23rd, 2009, 7:28am; Reply: 35
You know I find myself very surprisingly pleased with Kate Winslet's award for Best Actress. Only on my wife's insistence was it that we went to watch The Reader on Saturday night, but to be honest she was fantastic, easily the best performance of the year and richly deserved. I know that the film has got a real panning from the critics, but to be I have no idea why, I thought it was actually a really decent film.
No doubt the British press will rip her to shreds for again letting her emotions get to her during her speech but that is the press for you. I thought it was brilliant
One thing though, Why did she not thank Ricky Gervais?
Posted by: Murphy (Guest), February 23rd, 2009, 7:52am; Reply: 36
It should also go without saying how pleased I am with Slumdog winning just about everything, I loved that film from the minute I saw it and I think it definitely was a much better film than anything else this year, richly deserved.
Seems that YouTube is busy deleting videos tonight (that site is becoming so 2008!), so instead of the official slumdog dance here is Mr Sad and Mrs even sadder to celebrate instead...
Posted by: Old Time Wesley, February 23rd, 2009, 8:23am; Reply: 37
Best supporting actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight Also nominated: Josh Brolin - Milk; Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder; Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt; Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Why is Robert Downey Jr even nominated? And for Tropic Thunder of all films.
I have nothing to say about the winner as I said it elsewhere and find it to be despicable and pathetic that he won given the circumstances. Alive, he isn't even nominated. End of story.
My opinion of course.
Posted by: Chris_MacGuffin, February 26th, 2009, 1:10am; Reply: 38
I stopped thinking of the Oscars as important after Crash won Best Picture. I'm not surprised Sean Penn won. It's typical.
Sean Penn makes a socially important movie and the academy gushes over him. I liked Milk as a movie, but his performance paled in comparison to Mickey Rourke's and even he knew it.