bix02138

the oscar nominations popped out this morning, and there were some head-scratching surprises (where's clint?) and some delightful surprises (marisa tomei and kate winslet were both appropriately nominated, and for the right roles, and michael shannon's completely deserved nomination (which may, alas, be overlooked in the hagiographic excess attached to heath ledger)). i have indicated the films i have seen in green, and bulleted those nominations which are my favorites.

best picture
the curious case of benjamin button
frost/nixon
milk
the reader
slumdog millionaire

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
robert downey jr., tropic thunder
philip seymour hoffman, doubt
heath ledger, the dark knight
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 director
david fincher, the curious case of benjamin button
ron howard, frost/nixon
gus van sant, milk
stephen daldry, the reader
danny boyle, slumdog millionaire

best foreign film
the baader meinhof complex, germany
the class, france
departures, japan
revanche, austria
waltz with bashir, israel.

best animated feature film
bolt
kung fu panda
wall-e