Instant Oscars Review

I was so close this year, y'all. Within one movie of meeting my goal of seeing all the Oscar level movies I was gunning for before nominations came out. Damn you, The Reader! The Nazis always ruin everything.

So now, as always, I'll have to do initial impressions on the nominations without my hoped for level of movie seeing. Be prepared for some ultra crazy strong opinions of things I haven't come close to understanding.

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We'll start with the lesser categories, picking and choosing the ones that I have any opinion on, and then move on to the fancy acting ones where I will wail and gnash my teeth endlessly.

Original Screenplay
Frozen River, Written by Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky, Written by Mike Leigh
In Bruges, Written by Martin McDonagh
Milk, Written by Dustin Lance Black
WALL-E, Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

Only seeing 2 of the 5, I can't have a real opinion on this, but I think I would like to see WALL-E win out, although I have heard good things about In Bruges. But seriously, even though I love Milk with all my heart, the screenplay was straight up the worst thing about that movie.

Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Screenplay by Eric Roth, Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
Doubt, Written by John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon, Screenplay by Peter Morgan
The Reader, Screenplay by David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire, Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

See, if I had seen The Reader already, I could give a very convincing statement about this category (since I basically refuse to go see that Benjamin Button movie), but instead I'll just have to wing it. I thought that Slumdog Millionaire, while amazing, did not have the best writing; it was really the story that pushed it along. And while I love the dialogue in Frost/Nixon, the screenplay was waaay to stage-adapted for my tastes. Whereas I thought Doubt brilliantly handled the conversion to the screen, while keeping the strong dialogue intact.

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

Don't even play with me. WALL-E should be a best picture nominee, if there was any justice in the world. I do kinda want to see Bolt, though. Just a little.

Achievement in Directing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, David Fincher
Frost/Nixon, Ron Howard
Milk, Gus Van Sant
The Reader, Stephen Daldry
Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle

This one I'm probably least objective about, but I would absolutely love it if Danny Boyle won. Not only because his movie is brilliantly shot, but he also made Sunshine and 28 Days Later, two of my absolute favorite movies ever.

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams in Doubt
Penélope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis in Doubt
Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler

Now this right here is a perfectly fine category. I don't have a single objection to list, although I would have killed to get Rosemary Dewitt in there for Rachel Getting Married. Or Debra Winger. God, I really loved that movie. Anyways, I'm super jazzed about both of those Doubt noms, and I think Viola Davis will take it in a walk. Maybe last year will start a trend in this category: the best performance of the year will actually win.

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Josh Brolin in Milk
Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road

And here we pause and take a quiet moment to grieve over my one great hope for the Oscars - no Emile Hirsch for Milk. I know it was hopeless, but still, I'm a little sad. Otherwise, though, it's a good category. Obviously Ledger will win, and everyone will be happy (and sad). But take note y'all. Every year, without fail, when I've seen 4 of the 5 nominations in this category and liked them all, the 5th one that I hadn't seen has won. On 3 separate occasions this has happened. What I'm saying is, watch out for Michael Shannon here.

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie in Changeling
Melissa Leo in Frozen River
Meryl Streep in Doubt
Kate Winslet in The Reader

Winslet is the one to beat here, I think. Which is awesome, since I irrationally love her and only want good things to happen to her. And I'm still bitter 3 or 4 years later that she didn't win for Eternal Sunshine. But I'm really pulling for Anne Hathaway in a way that almost shocks me. Such a good performance, I want her to win so bad. Did you see her give that toast? I almost melted. The rest of them, though, eh. Streep was good, but of all 4 acting noms for Doubt, I liked hers the least. I have no desire to ever see The Changling. And I've heard off-the-wall amazing praise for Melissa Leo, but I doubt there will ever even be the opportunity for me to see that movie.

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Richard Jenkins in The Visitor
Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn in Milk
Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler

Another one where I don't really have a horse in the race. Obviously I've come to terms with it, and really want Sean Penn to win, but otherwise I'm not going to care too much. I guess I am going to have to see The Wrestler, even though I know it's only going to end badly and make me want to cry (I've learned my lesson: Darren Aronofsky lives only to make movies that depress the crap out of me).

Best Motion Picture of the Year
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Weirdly, I thought this would be a lot closer in my mind, but it's Milk all the way. Slumdog Millionaire is the dark horse, and was great, but I've only got eyes for the one (although I still need to see The Reader). I mentioned it earlier, but I really and truly have no desire or inclination to see that Benjamin Button movie. It looks long, and unappealing, and ever since one of my friends told me that the plot basically mirrors Forrest Gump, I've actively tried to not see it. Which has sort of put a damper on my Oscar fever this year, since it's nominated in basically every category.

Ah well.

Better luck next year.