Initial Reaction to the Oscar Nominees

Best Picture this year introduced its new "rubber band" nominees. All of the nominees were a given but the inclusion of EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE just stunk the category up. The Academy seemingly ate up the 9/11 exploitation. After this is all over, that film with be put right next to Stephen Daldry's other horrible film THE READER as one of the worst nominated films.


Best Actor. Wow, just wow. I have no ill will towards Demian Bichir for his purely black horse entry and especially not for Gary Oldman. I get, though not happy, with the no love for Andy Serkis and Ryan Gosling. But the exclusion of Michael Fassbender is just down right wrong. He had a breakout year and now the Academy is going to have to give him a pity Oscar in the years to come.


I predicted it last year and I could have gotten a big payday for it. Rooney Mara gets a well deserved nomination in Best Actress. The rest were the usual expected, though I rather have Williams or Viola Davis win instead of giving it to the two desperate older actresses. I love Streep and Close but their passion projects don't really deserve any special recognition and they can do better.


Best Supporting Male I really have no qualms. I do like Jonah Hill getting a nom though. Nothing for Albert Brooks.


Best Supporting Female finally gives the just desserts to Melissa McCarthy for BRIDESMAIDS. She and Spencer will be the heavy favorites but I expect a Marcia Gay Harden upset, especially with Bejo there.


Best Director is fitted with the old guard. It is either going to Hazanavicius or Malick.


I don't like THE DESCENDANTS being in the script races at all but I do like that Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo are included. Also, props to J.C. Chandor for MARGIN CALL and including A SEPARATION.


Best Animated Film. Again, wow. This category is tougher than ever, with the surprises of A CAT IN PARIS and CHICO & RITA. They have two lame Dreamworks films in but no TINTIN? Really?


Best Foreign Language Film hopefully will be given to A SEPARATION but the Oscars always have lost touch with quality in this often-mishandled category.


Except for some technical awards, HUGO has absolutely no chance. A probable total shut out. Should be given a special award for its film preservation PSA though.


MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, where are you?


How many did DRIVE, my favorite and best film of last year get? Only one in Sound Editing.


For those who loathed TRANSFORMERS 3: It has three.


Best Original Song sadly only has two nominees. If RIO wins over THE MUPPETS, so help me.


BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK is apparently too happy of a film to be included in Best Documentary, which is just filled with depressing material and pure melancholy.