Scattered Oscar Thoughts

Overall Feeling: Pissed off

So the nominations are out and as I looked them over the minute I got near a computer in school, I found much to my dismay. It's not a number of things that irritated me about the nominations, but an overall mood that had me disgusted.

On the subject of The Dark Knight's ridiculous snub: Wow. I saw The Reader on the ballot and immediately I figured Frost/Nixon had been bounced (which would have been great). The Dark Knight, to me at that point, had been a solid bet to get in. Of course it didn't and the golden oldies of the Academy thought it would be a great idea to step out of the box and nominate a holacaust film that has gotten very little attention in 2008 American cinema. So, of course, "the superhero movie" (wait, you mean crime drama?) gets booted.

It all boils down to the fact of what an Academy Award Film is. The Dark Knight doesn't totally fit the bill of what a cliche Oscar-nominee usually is. It's not about the holocaust. It's not a biopic (thank goodness). It's not involving Clint Eastwood in anyway, shape or form. It's simply a mega-smash hit that has made a huge impact on movies in the 21st century. It will be lauded for years and years. Critics loved it. There were very good to great performances all around. It was an artistic achievement.

But it simply isn't an Important Academy Film, which pisses me off. What film, this year, has made a larger impact? It's no question. What film is more loved? The Dark Knight, still, no question. The Dark Knight will go down in history as a great acheivement. The Reader (and Frost/Nixon, too) are simply good to very good movies (I haven't seen either, but I'm going by the concensus opinion.) The Dark Knight has changed things...forever. Sort of insane.

Maybe I need to just go by the Awards Daily saying, "The trick is not minding." The Dark Knight doesn't need Oscars to prove that it's one hell of an achievement. Yet I just can't help but be a great deal perturbed.

Okay, onto other happenings please?

Benjamin Button was the Academy king, and I agree with all the techs. And maybe, Pitt. Whatever. Clearly, everyone thinks this film is pretty special and maybe it is. Another heavyweight was Slumdog Millionaire, which I love. Double-digit noms for the Little Film is really awesome.

Since I'm struggling to articulate clear-cut thoughts, let me just cop out...

Happy:
Richard Jenkins (one of the best performances of the year)
Amy Adams nomination
Slumdog domination
Marisa Tomei nomination
Wally Pfister nomination
Benjamin Button art direction nom (no surprise, but it was still the best of the year)
"Jai Ho" nomination

Sad:
Dark Knight snubs galore
Taraji P. Henson nomination
WALL-E original screenplay nomination
Benjamin Button adapted screenplay nomination
Um, where the hell is Springsteen, goddammit?!

I guess the good outweighs the bad? Ugh, no.

Anyway, as for how I did on predicting yesterday. I did pretty badly. I really thought I might do well, but, hell, you can't predict this insanity. I got 63 slots correct of the 94 I predicted. That's roughly 65 percent. Ouch. I went 5/5 on editing, and that was it. I totally shit the bed in Original Screenplay, getting 40%.

So, it was a crazy, maddening, fun, exciting day. It always is. There's good and bad as you accept the disappointment and bask in the pleasant surprises. And you know what I can't wait for? The day the Academy pulls their heads out of their asses.