Going for the Gold!
Best Animated Film
At the crack of dawn this morning, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences wiped the cobwebs from their eyes and anounced that two films ( “Avatar” and “The Hurt Locker”) each won nine Oscar nominations for the 2009 slate of films in the running for a little Statuette.
Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" - another major contender in the race for the gold - was also breathing down the necks of two Directors (James Cameron & Kathryn Bigelow) with eight triumphs in worthy categories.
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Avatar, Hurt Locker, and Inglourious Basterds were all nominated for best picture in a contest that's going to be thrilling to watch come Oscar Night.
And, the super talents at the helm of each project - Quentin Tarantino, Kathryn Bigelow, and "King of the World" James Cameron - are also neck-in-neck for best directing kudos.
Other best picture nominees (in a crowded category where ten films are now nominated for best feature each year) were “District 9”, “An Education”, “A Serious Man” and “Up.”
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire" won six nominations.
Nods went to "Precious" for Drama, Lee Daniels (Director), Gabourey Sidibe (Best Actress), Mo’Nique (Best Supporting Actress), and best adapted screenplay for Geoffrey Fletcher.
“Up in the Air” (one of my fave films) garnered acclaim, too, with six nominations (best picture, best director for talented Jason Reitman, best adapted script, best actor for sexy George Clooney, and two supporting actress nominations for Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick.
Sandra Bullock, considered a dark horse, was nominated best actress for her role in the much- hailed "Blind Side " to the surprise of most industry-analysts.
“District 9" - a Sci-Fi thriller (which I found entertaining & innovataive for the most part) - edged out a tough competitor in the field (Star Trek).
“Invictus" (directed by Clint Eastwood) also rustled up nominations for Morgan Freeman (star) and always effervescent supporting actor Matt Damon.
Personally, I was impressed with the performances of all three actors, but expect Bridges - on the heels of snapping up a Golden Globe & Screen Actors Guild Award - is considered the favorite to win.
Rounding out the best actress category were Carey Mulligan (An Education); Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia); and Helen Merrin (The Last Station).
Maggie Gyllenhaal was nominated for best supporting actress for “Crazy Heart”, while Penélope Cruz nabbed her nomination in this category for her dazzling performance in “Nine.”
The supporting actor nominees also included Woody Harrelson (The Messenger); Christopher Plummer (The Last Station); and Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones).
Nominations for best original screenplay went to Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman (The Messenger); Joel & Ethan Coen for (A Serious Man); and Pete Docter, Bob Peterson and Thomas McCarthy (UP).
“Up” received a nomination for best animated film along with "Coraline", "Fantastic Mr. Fox", "The Secret of the Kells", and "The Princess and the Frog".
Best foreign language film nominees were “Ajami,” (Israel); “A Prophet,” (France); “The Secret in Their Eyes,” (Argentina); “The White Ribbon,” Germany); and “The Milk of Sorrow” (Peru).
Unfortunately, most of the features produced overseas have not been released in the U.S. (so audiences in America are not entirely sure who to root for in this category - although a white horse is defintely "The White Ribbon" (Germany) - based on word of mouth.
This year, the Oscar ceremony boasts two hosts - funnyman Steve Martin and actor Alec Baldwin - which should prove to be an intriguing twist for one of the most highly-watched broadcasts of the year.
