I told you it would be predictable, and it was. So much so that I predicted every major category correctly a month ago. For a complete list of the winners of last night’s Academy Awards, click here.
The two categories that hung me up were Best Sound Mixing (which went to “Slumdog Millionaire,” even though “The Dark Knight” won Best Sound Editing! wtf?) and Best Foreign Language Film. At least one of these could have been picked better had I read this interesting post over at Tom O’Neil’s Gold Derby.
About the royally-screwed up Foreign Film category, Tom writes: “There are only a few hundred Oscars voters in this category, which is not listed on the main ballot. Only academy members who attend screenings of the five nominated films may pick the winner. For some bizarre reason, it’s not OK to vote in this category based upon viewing DVD screeners. But that’s fine in all other feature-film races.” He knew “Waltz with Bashir” wouldn’t win, and even knew “The Class” wouldn’t upset it! Nice going, Tom!
We’d like to thank the thousands who entered our 2009 Oscar Pick ‘Em challenge this year, and I wanted to let you know that we are hard at work tabulating all the scores. We will announce very soon who the winner of the 6-mo. Netflix subscription is.
Well, there was a lot of singing and dancing (though none of it by Peter Gabriel or Bruce Springsteen) during the telecast last night, and I have to say the set designs were pretty damned amazing. What did you think of either the winners or the telecast? Here’s your chance to sound off right here.
Tags: 2009 Academy Awards, 2009 oscars, 81st annual academy awards, Slumdog Millionaire, What did you think of the
The National Board of Review today named “Slumdog Millionaire” the 2008 Best Film of the Year, which is pretty crazy because they are usually pretty mainstream. Notice that while “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” didn’t win the big prize, it did win director. Clint Eastwood for Best Actor is a huge upset over Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke. Josh Brolin over Heath Ledger is crazy, and “Revolutionary Road” was shut out completely! I love the choice of Best Documentary, but outside of that, something tells me “Slumdog” and Anne Hathaway are the only other ones on this list that are possibly Oscar-bound.
National Board of Review full list:
Best Film: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Best Director: DAVID FINCHER, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Actor: CLINT EASTWOOD, Gran Torino
Best Actress: ANNE HATHAWAY, Rachel Getting Married
Best Supporting Actor: JOSH BROLIN, Milk
Best Supporting Actress: PENELOPE CRUZ, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Foreign Language Film: MONGOL
Best Documentary: MAN ON WIRE
Best Animated Feature: WALL-E
Best Ensemble Cast: DOUBT
Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: DEV PATEL, Slumdog Millionaire
Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: VIOLA DAVIS, Doubt
Best Directorial Debut: COURTNEY HUNT, Frozen River
Best Original Screenplay: NICK SCHENK, Gran Torino
Best Adapted Screenplay: SIMON BEAUFOY, Slumdog Millionaire and ERIC ROTH, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Spotlight Award: MELISSA LEO, Frozen River and RICHARD JENKINS, The Visitor
Top Ten Films:
(In alphabetical order)
BURN AFTER READING
CHANGELING
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
DEFIANCE
FROST/NIXON
GRAN TORINO
MILK
WALL-E
THE WRESTLER
Tags: 2008, 2008 Best Film of the Year, 2009, best, best picture, film, movie, named, National Board of Review, Slumdog Millionaire, the, today
The Men Who Stare at Goats
Grant Heslov’s adaptation of the nonfiction book has a loopy enough tone, but it’s all over the place and feels more like a series of gags than a cohesive movie.
The Fourth Kind
This alien abduction suspense movie shouldn’t have included “documentary” footage that feels forced and fake if it wanted to feel real, says Phil.
Disney's A Christmas Carol
Phil says that Robert Zemeckis should have focused his attention more on a little Christmas spirit and less on bombastic chase sequences in this Charles Dickens adaptation.
A Serious Man
Alan says the Coen brothers’ latest is a well-made an intriguing intellectual exercise that Coen fans shouldn’t miss out on.
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Alan says this lighthearted vampire movie with John C. Reilly doesn’t make any sense, but is a helluva lot of fun.
Amelia
Hilary Swank plays Ameila Earhart in this beautifully shot but emotionally inert biopic, says Phil.
Where the Wild Things Are
Spike Jonze’s latest is a beautiful movie about the conflicting need in children for both rebellion and community. It rewards on multiple viewings and is one of the best films of the year.
Paranormal Activity
This low-budget reality-style horror pic has a lot of hype and some really good ideas, but your enjoyment may depend on your suspension of disbelief.
The Invention of Lying
Ricky Gervais’ latest is full of biting social commentary and has some of the most hilarious moments onscreen this year, even if it trips up with its rom-com ending.
Zombieland
It’s not as clever as “Shaun of the Dead,” but this zombie-killing romp has a surprising amount of comedy, an Apatow-style romance, and one of the best cameos ever.
