AAN: My Thoughts on the Oscar Nominations w/ Fassy, Loki and Owen

So, I got up at 2.30am this morning to watch my first Oscar nominations being announced.
This is all I remember:
-Wondering how Max von Sydow came out of nowhere for that nomination.
-Being over the moon about Jessica Chastain's nomination, but getting more excited when I saw her picture was from The Tree of Life than her nomination actually being for The Help. Dunno why.
-Actually squealing when Rooney Mara got nominated. So loud that my puppy came in and barked at me and I woke up the whole house. Awkward.
-NO MICHAEL FASSBENDER?!
-Ummmmmmmmmmmmm...Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close? LOL wut.
-Not being able to sleep until 4.30am because I was thinking over how the hell I could write this post, all the snubs and ranting with people on Facebook about it. If I was talking to you after the nominations, I was trying to get to sleep, but I could only count so many sheep (lyrical genius).

I slaved on a post like this ALL DAY last year and no one read it, so I'm a bit hesitant to go into too much detail. But I have waited until the talk has simmered down (and I went to Palmerston North today to see War Horse so that took away most of my day), so hopefully you still might have some interest. Anyway, hopefully you remember what Happy (well, not so happy anymore) Fassy, Lowkey Loki and Overwhelmed Owen mean. If not:
Happy Fassy - I am completely content with these nominations.
Lowkey Loki - Meh. I can't decide whether I'm happy or angry about these.
Overwhelmed Owen - Get. OUT.

Here we go...

Best Motion Picture of the Year

The Artist / The Descendants / Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close / The Help / Hugo / Midnight in Paris / Moneyball / The Tree of Life / War Horse
Predictions right: 6 out of 9. Didn't put War Horse and The Tree of Life in my final prediction of six, but put them in my second tier predictions (if that makes sense). But Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close only existed in my November predictions.

There's one thing I'm happy about here: I've watched six of these movies, which is better than I usually do. Moneyball comes out in three weeks, so I'll be watching that asap. The Artist may not make it to any cinemas near me. And Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close? Guess I'll have to see that now. I remember thinking that The Help and War Horse probably wouldn't get nominated because their RT ratings were in the 70% range. But no, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, with the 48% rating, gets in. Instead of the likes of Drive, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...anything, really. I'm happy with the other eight nominees (well, not so happy about The Descendants but it was going to happen anyway), but the fact that there are only nine nominees and Extremely Loud was the one to take the ninth spot...it just makes me really peeved off. So that'd be a Lowkey Loki, thanks to that movie dragging things down (although I haven't seen it - I should stop being so mean).
But yay for The Tree of Life!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Demián Bichir for A Better Life / George Clooney for The Descendants / Jean Dujardin for The Artist / Gary Oldman for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy / Brad Pitt for Moneyball
Predictions right: 3 out of 5. No Bichir or Oldman (thought he'd miss out by a hair).

I honestly thought they'd nominate Michael Fassbender. In fact, this is much like what happened with Christopher Nolan last year. I put up a Facebook status saying that he got a DGA nod and that he'd obviously get an Oscar nomination. But no. With Fassy, I told someone that if he didn't get nominated I'd go all Magneto on the voters. I only said that half-heartedly, because I didn't expect him to get snubbed. However, it happened, and that makes me extremely sad and incredibly angry. Maybe it is because the voters are just jealous of what he has and they don't. Leonardo DiCaprio also didn't get nominated. If he did, I would have just been like 'meh', but I feel really sorry for him. He tried his little heart out in that movie (I'm guessing), but at least I don't need to make a special point of seeing it in cinemas next week. However, what about Bichir? Talk about a nomination like Javier Bardem in last year's Biutiful. And I'm glad that Gary Oldman FINALLY got a nomination. As for the other three, we knew it was going to happen. Now I just hope George Clooney doesn't win.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs / Viola Davis for The Help / Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady / Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn
Predictions right: 4 out of 5. Left Rooney out because I wasn't positive it could happen.

I was so so so so happy when Rooney got nominated! But of all people for her to take the place of, I thought it would have been Glenn Close, not Tilda Swinton. Oh well. It is a little sad that Rooney got the nomination while Noomi Rapace got next to nothing for her Lisbeth Salander, but Rooney was freaking awesome so it doesn't matter. Rooney basically makes this category for me...as for the others, well, we knew it was all going to happen. I don't know how you could possibly pick between them. Although I would have loved to have seen some Kirsten Dunst love for Melancholia.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Kenneth Branagh for My Week with Marilyn / Jonah Hill for Moneyball / Nick Nolte for Warrior / Christopher Plummer for Beginners / Max von Sydow for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Predictions right: 4 out of 5. Anyone who predicted Max von Sydow deserves a medal.

I thought it was a risky move putting Nick Nolte into my predictions for Warrior, but it paid off. Max von Sydow, however? I may have seen it back in November when I thought Extremely Loud was going to be a good movie and whatnot, but I thought that Albert Brooks had it locked down. Not to be. No Brooks, which practically shut out the very deserving Drive. I've said time and time again that there were so many great options that everyone was refusing to go with, and the Oscars went that way, too. It is pretty weird that Jonah Hill is now 'Oscar nominee Jonah Hill', but I guess the time had to come. Anyway, we all know that Christopher Plummer is going to win, and it better happen that way.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 

Bérénice Bejo for The Artist / Jessica Chastain for The Help / Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids / Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs / Octavia Spencer for The Help
Predictions right: 4 out of 5. Honestly didn't think they'd go with Melissa McCarthy.

It all started with that Emmy. And then everyone decided that it would be a great idea to campaign Melissa McCarthy for Best Supporting Actress. I kept telling myself that it wouldn't work because Oscars don't generally go for comedies, but it happened. While I should be happy that the Oscars are making a change, I just can't go along with this nomination. Especially when it came at the expense of Shailene Woodley, who was probably the only thing I really liked about The Descendants. Who also out-acted George Clooney, who is probably going to win the fucking Oscar this year. But at least we have Jessica Chastain, who just so happens to be the definition of perfect. Look at it this way: this is the day when Jessica got her first ever Oscar nomination. We can look back on this day in our old age and she'll probably be like Meryl Streep.

Everything else after the jump!


Best Achievement in Directing

Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris / Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist / Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life / Alexander Payne for The Descendants / Martin Scorsese for Hugo
Predictions right: 5 out of 5. And to think I was going to take out Terry Malick...

What really bugs me about this category is that is almost always just filled with default nominations if their films get nominated for Best Picture. Which is definitely the case with Alexander Payne. I'm sure his work is great, but unlike the others, his work doesn't really do that much. I mean, how about David Fincher's ultra creepy vibe for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - not to mention we still need to repay the debts from last year's travesty. Or Nicolas Winding Refn for bringing so much badassery to Drive? Whatever. I'm just going to be sitting in the corner by myself being bitter about everything that The Descendants get because I'm an unpopular little witch. However, even though I predicted it, I'm surprised about Terrence Malick getting a nomination, considering how he just makes movies but doesn't want anything to do with them afterwards (which is cool, if he likes his privacy). But he really does deserve it.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist / Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig for Bridesmaids / J.C. Chandor for Margin Call / Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris / Asghar Farhadi for A Separation
Predictions right: 3 out of 5. No 50/50 or Young Adult.

There is so much hope for me in this particular category. The Artist for being a silent film, but still getting a screenplay nomination. Bridesmaids because of the fact that Kristen Wiig has the same birthday as me, so that has to mean something. And also the fact that the large majority of it is improvised, so there's not a lot of screenplay work there is there? Margin Call because it is J.C. Chandor's first feature film and he has already made his way to the top (if only that could be me). Midnight in Paris because it makes all of my nostalgic fantasies come true. And A Separation because...well...it doesn't matter where the film is made, the Academy still has the heart to vote for it because it actually has a good screenplay. No, I really like this lineup. Even if I don't like Bridesmaids like everyone else - but it is nice to see some girl power up there (oh I sound so cliché)

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash for The Descendants / John Logan for Hugo / George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon for The Ides of March / Steven Zallian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin for Moneyball / Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Predictions right: 5 out of 5. Like, actually.

Just as an aside: notice how a few of these 'adaptation' nominees always have heaps of writers? Why is that? I guess it is because if you come up with your own idea, it is your idea, but if you take someone elses, you can just invite every man and his dog to adapt it because it's not like it was yours in the first place. Interesting. Anyway, I'm happy with these nominations, but kinda pissed that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo didn't make it in because I thought that Steven Zallian did a great job of making sense of the convoluted source material. Alas, he won't be missing a nomination - he has one for Moneyball. Could this be Aaron Sorkin's year again? That would be awesome. He is a screen-writing God.

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

A Cat in Paris / Chico & Rita / Kung Fu Panda 2 / Puss in Boots / Rango
Predictions right: 3 out of 5. No Tintin or Arthur Christmas.

Um, okay. Just don't nominate The Adventures of Tintin then. Because it isn't like it is awesome, or anything. Or Winnie the Pooh. I know that one was a longshot, but it was one awesome little movie. At least Cars 2 didn't get nominated just because it was made by PIXAR. It is quite awkward because I volunteered to take this category for the LAMB Devours the Oscars, since I thought that I would have seen everything, but nope. I should hopefully be able to get A Cat in Paris off Fatso before Oscar time, Chico & Rita is one I've never heard of so I'll have to look hard for that one, and I'll have to watch Kung Fu Panda before I watch Kung Fu Panda 2. Rango is one I saw six months ago, and Puss in Boots is one that I luckily caught up with on the plane (guess I gotta write a review on it now, huh?). This has made my life extremely frustrating and incredibly annoying.

And the rest...

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year 
Bullhead / Footnote / In Darkness / Monsieur Lazhar / A Separation
Predictions right: 3 out of 5. No Pina or Omar Killed Me.

Best Achievement in Cinematography
The Artist / The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / Hugo / The Tree of Life / War Horse
Predictions right: 5 out of 5. Like a boss.

Best Achievement in Editing
The Artist / The Descendants / The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / Hugo / Moneyball
Predictions right: 4 out of 5. No War Horse. But no film is edited better than Senna. So fuck you, Oscar.

Best Achievement in Art Direction
The Artist / Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 / Hugo / Midnight in Paris / War Horse
Predictions right: 4 out of 5. No The Tree of Life and the amazing architecture that has. Oh well.

Best Achievement in Costume Design
Anonymous / The Artist / Hugo / Jane Eyre / W.E.
Predictions right: 3 out of 5. No Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 or War Horse.

Best Achievement in Makeup
Albert Nobbs / Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 / The Iron Lady
Predictions right: 2 out of 3. No J. Edgar.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
The Adventures of Tintin / The Artist / Hugo / Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy / War Horse
Predictions right: 4 out of 5. No The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Wait...what?!

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
'Man or Muppet', Bret McKenzie - The Muppets / 'Real in Rio', Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown, Siedah Garrett - Rio
Predictions right: 0 out of 2. Yay for Kiwi Bret McKenzie, though!

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / Hugo / Moneyball / Transformers: Dark of the Moon / War Horse
Predictions right: 3 out of 5. No Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 or Super 8.

Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Drive / The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / Hugo / Transformers: Dark of the Moon / War Horse
Predictions right: 3 out of 5. No Rise of the Planet of the Apes or Super 8. But this is the only place where Drive gets a look in? Are you kidding me?!

Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 / Hugo / Real Steel / Rise of the Planet of the Apes / Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Predictions right: 3 out of 5. No Captain America or The Tree of Life.

Total amount of predictions that were right: 64 out of 99. We'll say that's like, 65% of them right. Woohoo, go me!

Anyway, what do you think of the nominations?