Oscar Nominations 2009

It's that time again and whatever you have to say about the Oscars, it's always exciting to see who has been nominated and to debate over who might win.

I'll be using my trusty Cineworld voucher to see all nominations in the six main categories and make my predictions before the Oscars take place in February.

Firstly, here are the nominations in those six categories and my initial comments:

Performance by an actor in a leading role
• Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
• Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
• Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
• Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
• Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

I haven't seen any of these movies but can say straight off the bat, based on predictions and rumours buzzing around, this looks like a close call. Couldn't pick it at this early stage, although a lot of people have been talking about Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

The obvious noteworthy nomination is for Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight and I think he will win it, solely based on his performance, but the real surprise here is the inclusion of Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder, the only other movie I have seen out of this lot. Tropic Thunder was a piss take movie with Ben Stiller, but its great to see pure comedy roles getting a mention, because Robert Downey Jnr's depiction of a method actor going to extreme measures to play the role of an African American soldier was an amazing performance. Robert Downey Jnr is a fine actor, as was Heath Ledger.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Haven't see any of these so it's hard to pick at this stage. Might have to pay to see Changeling as it is no longer screening at Cineworld. Kate Winslet got a Golden Globe for her performance in The Reader and Meryl Streep's movie, Doubt, looks the goods.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Again, I haven't seen any of these performances and haven't got much to comment on except the inclusion of Marisa Tomei, who has come out of nowhere to pick up an Oscar nom.

Achievement in directing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard
“Milk” (Focus Features), Gus Van Sant
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Stephen Daldry
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Ooh another tough one and another five I haven't seen. Word has it Slumdog Millionaire is the favourite, but I love David Fincher's work and would be very happy if he picked it up for his most intriguing movie yet.

Best motion picture of the year
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), A Kennedy/Marshall Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
“Milk” (Focus Features), A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production, Nominees to be determined
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Same five as directing, and same comments.

Other nominations of note: Wall E should be a shoe in for Best Animated Picture and could take the Best Original Screenplay too, The Baader Meinhof Complex (review still pending) for Best Foreign Language Film and only Milk was dropped from the big five movies for Best Adapted Screenplay, replaced by Doubt. Also, there is a very notable absence in the form of Che - haven't seen the movie but good things have been spoken about Benico Del Toro's performance and it's stunning to see that the isn't listed in any category.

So, not long to go, Oscars are on February 22, so I better get cracking. Excited about seeing most of those nominations above.

For a full list of the nominations, go here.

17: STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

Why I chose it?

You're either Star Trek or you're Star Wars. I've always been Star Wars and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see another entry into the legend on the big screen. Almost missed out too - last session at Cineworld!

Where?

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. I'm that far behind in my posts.

Comments?

It was the last ever session at Cineworld for the first computer animated movie entry into the Lucas legend that is Star Wars. It was out in the cinemas for a long time but I hadn't got around to seeing it. The last ever session, screening at 11am on a Sunday morning in Wandsworth - I was expecting a vacant cinema. In fact, I was the only adult there; the only adult without a kid. Yes, it was me, 100 parents and 150 kids. Mayhem.

That said, this movie was perfect for them - amazing graphics, albeit bordering on too cartoony, and loads of action. And Yoda. The little tackers lapped it up - reminded me of the first time I saw a Star Wars movie many dual moons ago.

For me the movie was entertaining, although it almost didn't feel like a Star Wars movie. I hadn't seen the TV series so hadn't been warmed up to the new visuals and the notable absence of the Twentieth Century Fox fanfare did throw me a bit. But the story is pure Star Wars and the action never lets up. I'll concede the storyline was a little weak (Jabba The Hutt's son is kidnapped?? Sounds like a plot better suited to the "Droids" cartoon) but it was good enough to keep me interested.

All the familiar characters are here too - Obi Wan, Anakin, Yoda - and a few new faces too, but most of the voices are different, except for Samuel L Jackson (who must be a true fan), Anthony Daniels and Christopher Lee. The old characters stay true to their live action counterparts and the new bods fit well into the Star Wars universe.

Overall, an entertaining Sunday morning spent with a bunch of kids experiencing a new Star Wars movie - brought back the memories! And I must say, it did fuel my excitement for the new cartoon series.

Would I pay to see it?

It's Star Wars: unless the words "Ewok Adventure" are included in the title, I'd pay to see it without question.

Rating?

7 out of 10

Post Movie Quote:

"May The Force Be With You" to every parent with a screaming child.