The Oscars: No Dark Knight for you! [Use Spoiler Tags!]

noir_blood

Surprise there isn't a thread for this already. Oscar nominations were announced today, and like usual, there's some surprises, and some dissapointments. My picks in bold.

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
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 ACTOR
Josh Brolin, Milk
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

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 ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Frozen River , Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky, Mike Leigh
In Bruges, Martin McDonagh
Milk, Dustin Lance Black
WALL-E, Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Eric Roth
Doubt, John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon, Peter Morgan
The Reader, David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

BEST ART DIRECTION
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306

BEST EDITING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)

BEST MAKEUP
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Alexandre Desplat
Defiance, James Newton Howard
Milk, Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman
WALL-E, Thomas Newman

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
''Down to Earth,'' (WALL-E)
''Jai Ho,'' (Slumdog Millionaire)
''O Saya,'' (Slumdog Millionaire)

BEST SOUND EDITING
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

BEST SOUND MIXING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

So the big thing everyone is going to be talking about is the snubbing of the Dark Knight for Best picture(and to a lesser extent, Wall-E). I'm guessing that many of the voters just assumed The Dark Knight was a shoo in that they voted for another movie. Is the Reader really that good?

Other wtf, Waltz for Bashir isn't nominated for best animated feature..why? And why no The Wrestler for best song?


Oscars will be handed out on feb 22. Who do you want to win?
At least they got supporting actor right, as Downey is a nice surprise.

KalTorak

Mannnnnnnnnnn....

enderwiggin13

Maybe they'll finally show Slumdog Millionaire in my area now...

Medopine

Are you kidding me

That is some extreme bullshit

Both those movies deserve to be in there

KalTorak

I'd bitch more but I haven't seen any of the Best Picture picks, so honestly they might be more worthy. I wish it'd gotten the nod though; I knew it wouldn't win Best Picture but a nom would have been nice.

saggio

There is a serious lack of WALL-E going on here.

Heartlash

I've heard fantastic things about The Reader, has anyone here seen it?

Medopine

I haven't seen the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but I now hate it on principle

NailbunnyPD

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you probably liked the Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

The Wrestler on the other hand, was really good. Mickey Rourke better win for that.

Muddy Water

The Dark Knight was never in the race for Best Picture, was it?

Beren

Not having Doubt in for best picture is screwed up. The movie was spectacular.

DasUberEdward

A posthumous oscar is kind but wasteful.

I'm sorry Mr. Downey. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

KalTorak

Muddy Water wrote: »

The Dark Knight was never in the race for Best Picture, was it?

They had a campaign going for it.

Run Run Run

Really hope that Kate Winslet finally wins one.

Kyougu

Richard Jenkins getting a nomination was a really nice surprise. The Visitor was a really good movie, and his performance was good, if understated.

The Wrestler seriously got the shaft. I'm not to surprised by it not picking a best movie nom, but no best director? And Springsteen not getting a best song nomination is a crime.

geckahn

KalTorak wrote: »

Muddy Water wrote: »

The Dark Knight was never in the race for Best Picture, was it?

They had a campaign going for it.

It had never had a chance of winning. and a very long shot, obviously, for nomination.

And slumdog is going to take best picture, director, and adapted screenplay.

Willy-Bob Gracchus

Run Run Run wrote: »

Really hope that Kate Winslet finally wins one.

Given her performance in "Revolutionary Road" as well, and the two Globes, she's looking pretty good for it.

DarkCrawler

As long as Ledger gets an Oscar, I'm satisfied.

noir_blood

Beren wrote: »

Not having Doubt in for best picture is screwed up. The movie was spectacular.

I kinda disliked Doubt. It seemed like it was centerpiece for two very good actors, but that's it.

Dark Knight actually had a heavy campaign for best picture, and granted, this was at least in the internet, it was considered a pretty good shot. The running theory was that since last year's Oscar's were one of the lowest rated in history, the Oscars wouldn't ignored an insanely popular movie.

Like others have said, it didn't have a shot for the win, but a nomination would have helped change the perception that the Oscars are only for pretentious movies.

lazegamer

For the curious, you can find odds (non-Vegas) on each of the categories at intrade. I've never been much of a gambler, but I figure Heath is a sure bet at Supporting Actor. Accordingly, the only person I've seen offering odds on him had him pegged at 97% chance to take it.

Zek

Ledger's performance as Joker is the only thing that made the movie great, the rest of it is pretty ordinary.

fjafjan

noir_blood wrote: »

Beren wrote: »

Not having Doubt in for best picture is screwed up. The movie was spectacular.

I kinda disliked Doubt. It seemed like it was centerpiece for two very good actors, but that's it.

Dark Knight actually had a heavy campaign for best picture, and granted, this was at least in the internet, it was considered a pretty good shot. The running theory was that since last year's Oscar's were one of the lowest rated in history, the Oscars wouldn't ignored an insanely popular movie.

Like others have said, it didn't have a shot for the win, but a nomination would have helped change the perception that the Oscars are only for pretentious movies.

As far as action movies go Dark Knight is pretty pretentious.

Cherrn

Medopine wrote: »

I haven't seen the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but I now hate it on principle

I'm almost there as well!

Seriously, though, is BB actually good? It premieres over here this week, but I've been so ambivalent towards it. It just looks like a less interesting "fantasy" take on Forrest Gump. And it looks much, much sappier to boot.

Nimble Cat

WALL-E was my favorite movie for the year, followed by Synecdoche, New York and The Wrestler, but I'm not surprised those didn't get nominated for Best Picture.

My pick right now is Milk, but I've yet to see Slumdog Millionaire, so that may change.

Shazkar Shadowstorm

wall-e
what
where is it

Robos A Go Go

Is there any place where I can watch the nominated short films?

I always feel kind of disappointed when they get to those categories and I know absolutely nothing about the nominees.

Septus

I really thoroughly enjoyed Benjamin Button, but Wall-E should certainly be considered on par, if not better.

Nimble Cat

Cherrn wrote: »

Medopine wrote: »

I haven't seen the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but I now hate it on principle

I'm almost there as well!

Seriously, though, is BB actually good? It premieres over here this week, but I've been so ambivalent towards it. It just looks like a less interesting "fantasy" take on Forrest Gump. And it looks much, much sappier to boot.

It was an excellent movie. It deserved a nomination over Dark Knight.

Nimble Cat

Robos A Go Go wrote: »

Is there any place where I can watch the nominated short films?

I always feel kind of disappointed when they get to those categories and I know absolutely nothing about the nominees.

Sometimes local independent or art house theaters will show them in the couple of weeks running up to the Oscars. I know they do here in Arizona.

KalTorak

Don't they always do Best Supporting Actor first? They're going to reel in the massive Dark Knight audience for like the first 15 minutes, then everyone will stop caring and do somethign else once Ledger gets it.

Octoparrot

Nimble Cat wrote: »

[Benjamin Button] was an excellent movie. It deserved a nomination over Dark Knight.

Does Brad Pitt light a man on fire? Because then my interest may be piqued.

wunderbar

The problem with the awards is that they almost never even consider animation films for best picture, and I dont' think a "superhero" movie has ever been considered either.

Which is a shame. Wall*E and TDK were the two best movies I saw last year. But they never really had a hope at even a nomination. They don't fit the "style" of the Best picture candidates.

lazegamer

Octoparrot wrote: »

Nimble Cat wrote: »

[Benjamin Button] was an excellent movie. It deserved a nomination over Dark Knight.

Does Brad Pitt light a man on fire? Because then my interest may be piqued.

You have ... odd requisites for what makes a movie good. Perhaps SAW should have been nominated?

rchou

Milk for best original screenplay? That's stretching it a little, seeing how most of it was riffed from an excellent documentary.

Preacher

Eastwood got the shaft for Torino. I guess they figure he's won enough. I don't think Ledger deserves a pity oscar.

Best Picture shafted too many good movies to elevate some trash.

GoodKingJayIII

Where the hell is Gran Torino?

rchou

My picks:

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
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 ACTOR
Josh Brolin, Milk
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

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 ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Frozen River , Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky, Mike Leigh
In Bruges, Martin McDonagh
Milk, Dustin Lance Black
WALL-E, Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Eric Roth
Doubt, John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon, Peter Morgan
The Reader, David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

BEST ART DIRECTION
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306

BEST EDITING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)

BEST MAKEUP
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Alexandre Desplat
Defiance, James Newton Howard
Milk, Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman
WALL-E, Thomas Newman

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
''Down to Earth,'' (WALL-E)
''Jai Ho,'' (Slumdog Millionaire)
''O Saya,'' (Slumdog Millionaire)

BEST SOUND EDITING
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

BEST SOUND MIXING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

KalTorak

GoodKingJayIII wrote: »

Where the hell is Gran Torino?

Eastwood made a film starring himself as a racist old ass-kicker. Supposed to be pretty good.

man, too many good movies came out all at once, and it's getting damn pricey to go to the theater.

Edit: d'oh, i thought you said what the hell is Gran Torino

Preacher

GoodKingJayIII wrote: »

Where the hell is Gran Torino?

Looks like they got nothing. I figure its because the academy believes eastwood has won too much. Oh well Torino was a great emotional experience and I don't need an old committee to tell me that.

lazegamer

Preacher wrote: »

Eastwood got the shaft for Torino. I guess they figure he's won enough. I don't think Ledger deserves a pity oscar.

Best Picture shafted too many good movies to elevate some trash.

You don't think his work was good enough to get him a supporting actor Oscar, or you don't think they should give Dark Knight an Oscar just because he died?

I'd have to disagree on him not getting supporting actor, he did an amazing job. I need to catch the other performances nominated, but I'll admit right now that I doubt very seriously that they'll match up.

Bama

I haven't seen most of the movies nominated for best picture, but if they're as good as Benjamin Button then I think I'm ok with that.