So, the big day is finally here. Well, the big day that begins the lead-up to the big day. Because, love it or hate it, Oscar still rules the highbrow portion of the American move industry in a lot of ways. Today’s Oscar nomination announcements were of particular interest because this marks the first time in decades that the Academy (in what is basically a desperate grab for failing television ratings) has doubled the Best Picture field from 5 to 10.
I am basically of two minds about this decision. On the one hand, it was obvious that it would lead to nominations that should not even remotely be considered serious contenders for the top industry film award. On the other hand, I can’t deny that it makes things interesting. There may not be 10 worthy nominees for Best Picture, but there are definitely more than 5. (Actually, I should qualify that a bit. Of course there are 10 worthy nominees for Best Picture of 2009. However, many of them are nowhere near the Academy’s radar.) In any case, for me, nearly all of this morning’s surprises came from the Best Picture category, so I’ll move straight on to that.
Avatar – This is no great surprise, particularly after Avatar’s big night at the Golden Globes. I’m sure fans of The Dark Knight are feeling a twinge of bitterness this morning, and I wonder just how much the backlash for the Academy’s failure to nominate that film last year had to do with what is obviously a populist choice this year. Then again, aside from the fact that this film is still raining giant buckets of money over a month after its release, Avatar does satisfy many of the tropes that Oscar loves in its films. The film has “only” 9 nominations: Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects. Virtually all of those are technical awards, which is to be expected, and which (I hope) does not speak highly of its chances for the Big Award.
The Blind Side – I wish I could say I was more surprised by this choice, but I can say that I am far from pleased. I will confess right now that this is one of two Best Picture nominees that I have not yet seen, but this is definitely a pick that rings totally false in this category. Sports movies as a genre are as tired and formulaic as romantic comedies, and sports films dealing with racial issues have been absolutely done to death. I am not pleased at feeling obligated to see The Blind Side, with its mere 2 nominations. The other is, of course, for Sandra Bullock as Best Actress. Is it safe to say that the bigger nomination is the sole result of that performance? I don’t know, but I am sure there were other films more deserving of this spot. Where are the foreign films?
District 9 – This prompted my first real gasp of surprise. I enjoyed District 9 immensely. In fact, it was the only summer action-blockbuster that I did enjoy last year. But Best Picture? Really? On a practical level, Avatar has made far more money and its technical achievements have received far more attention, virtually guaranteeing this film also-ran status. However, it felt so fresh and original, that I can’t say I’m not happy to see it here. What a year for science fiction fans! District 9 has 4 nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Visual Effects. I am pretty confident it will strike out in every category, but it should be proud to have made the list.
An Education – This film, which I managed to catch in November, was pretty much a lock. I expect it to be huge at the BAFTAs (or “British Oscars”). It’s a quiet, beautiful little film with a stand-out performance by Carey Mulligan, but (unlike The Blind Side) that isn’t the only thing going for it. There are 3 nominations for this film, with recognition for Mulligan’s performance (Best Actress) and a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay.
The Hurt Locker – This was my first pick for best film of the year when I saw it back in July. I immediately knew that it was one of the top films that I would see all year, and I have watched with pleasure as recognition and acclaim have continued to build. This is genuinely a fantastic movie, and I would be very happy to see it win. Matching Avatar, it has 9 nominations: Best Actor (Jeremy Renner), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Sound Editing.
Inglourious Basterds – I have to say that I am also pleased to see this film nominated. Never count Quentin Tarantino out. I didn’t go to see this movie when it first ran in theaters, but on the strength of the response it got, I went once it made it to the dollar theater. And then I promptly saw it a second time. There are some really interesting things going on beneath the surface of this movie, and of course it carries the inimitable flair of Tarantino’s style. I don’t believe that this film will win the big award, but I wouldn’t be upset if it did. Inglourious Basterds is nominated for 8 awards: Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Sound Editing.
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire – This is the other major nominee that I have not yet seen. Now, of course, I wish that I had. I missed a few opportunities to do so because I was never sure I was really in the mood for it, and now I have very little to say about it, except that it has a very respectable 6 nominations: Best Director, Best Actress (Gabourey Sidibe), Best Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing.
A Serious Man – I am beyond thrilled to see this movie nominated. Its nomination is the best argument I can think of for having 10 nominees. It was the best film I saw this year, and perhaps even in the last few years. I cannot imagine that it will win, but I love that it is getting this kind of recognition and exposure. Of all the nominees this year, this is the one that I will be watching again and again and again. It only has 2 nominations, with one for Best Original Screenplay.
Up – 10 nominees or not, you could have knocked me over with a feather when this title appeared on the list. After the Academy’s unforgivable treatment of WALL-E last year, it seemed that the animation ghetto truly was impermeable. Up joins Beauty and the Beast as the only two animated films ever nominated for Best Picture (unless you count Avatar, of course), and it is the first animated film to be so recognized since the creation of a special animation category. I couldn’t be happier about that. Up received a total of 5 nominations: Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, and Best Animated Film.
Up in the Air – This may end up being the most polarizing choice among the nominees. Its spot on the list has been a virtual lock for months, and (were it not for The Hurt Locker) I would say its chances for victory are excellent. Its fans are outspoken in their praise, but its detractors are equally vehement. I saw the film twice, and enjoyed it very much both times. I feel that it does deserve to be on the list, and I would not be appalled if it won, but there are no less than 4 superior films among the other nominees. Up in the Air has a healthy 6 nominations (although 2 are overlapping): Best Director, Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga), Best Supporting Actress (Anna Kendrick), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
And now for a brief look at the other nominees, beginning with those which I have already seen:



The 39th Annual Academy Awards were hosted by Bob Hope. A Man for All Seasons was nominated for 8 Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Paul Scofield), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor (Robert Shaw), Best Supporting Actress (Wendy Hiller), and Best Costume Design. It was not a very notable year in English-language cinema (although it saw the release of foreign masterpieces like The Battle of Algiers and Au hasard Balthazar). Quite the opposite, in some ways, as Cary Grant appeared in his final film, the amusing but trite Walk, Don’t Run.


