There are lots of things that puzzle me about the Academy Awards – the announcement of the nominations at 5.38 in the morning, for instance – but the actual nominations themselves hold few shocks. Especially in a year when you’ve seen the most successful film ever fill up our theatre screens for week after week. But there is always much to talk about. Avatar may not be able to equal Titanic’s 11 gold statues, but with its nine nominations, it goes someway towards dominating the awards. Except for one factor. Indecision about the relative merit of Avatar and another film means that The Hurt Locker has also received nine nods. In a case of you couldn’t make this up, one film is directed by an ex-husband and the other by his ex-wife. Something for the family to talk about. So while they take up 18 of the nominations on offer, what about the others?
A Helen Mirren nomination has become something of an annual tradition; she’s as regular as Trooping the Colour. And while it’ll be a surprise to me if there is a year when Helen Mirren doesn’t get nominated (they’ll probably give her something honorary even if there’s no film out), it was a pleasant surprise to see Maggie Gyllenhaal in the Supporting Actress category. After so much attention lavished on Jeff Bridges, I was worried that Maggie wouldn’t get a look in. But she did, although she will compete against Oscar favourite Penelope Cruz and Oscar likely winner Mo’Nique.
One suspects that in the Best Actress category, noone will be able to decide between Helen Mirren and Oscar regular Meryl Streep, which could mean that the main battle will be fought between Sandra Bullock and that British gem Carey Mulligan.
Speaking from my own personal prejudice, I’m not going to want Sandra Bullock, or almost anyone, to win for a sport biopic. And speaking from my own personal bias, I’m always going to want Carey Mulligan to win because a) I saw her filming it in Oxford, b) I attended the British premiere at the London Film Festival and c) it’s a fine film. It’s beautifully written, it’s superbly acted, its recreation of 60s’ London is spot on. It also has Peter Sarsgaard in it (that would be d on the list). Carey Mulligan is more than a one film wonder. Her brief appearance in Brothers as war widow Cassie was extraordinary. Carey was completely transformed into a character a world away from An Education’s Jenny. Carey is one of the young stars to grace the cover of the March issue of Vanity Fair, introducing a new decade of Hollywood ladies.
Watching the filming of An Education - Carey Mulligan and Rosamund Pike pose for pictures
The final product
No Peter Sarsgaard nomination… I’ll get over it, I’m sure.
In the Best Actor category, there can be little doubt that Jeff Bridges will win a decorative piece for Crazy Heart. Nevertheless, it is good to see Colin Firth up there alongside Bridges, George Clooney, Morgan Freeman and the less familiar Jeremy Renner. A Single Man has only just enjoyed its premiere in London and surely this nod will work its magic in persuading audiences to take a chance and not go and see Avatar for the third time, marvellous as it is, and see A Single Man instead.
As for the Best Movie list having been extended to ten movies from the usual five, Hollywood is divided. Is it diluting the kudos of being among the very elite or is it embracing the wide variety of genres that make up the best of films? While I would argue that the main reason for expanding the list was so that Star Trek would get a nomination (which it didn’t), it is good to see a mix of animation, sciFi, CGI, drama and the more traditional. The list: Avatar; District 9; An Education; The Hurt Locker; Inglourious Basterds; Precious; A Serious Man; Up in the Air; The Blind Side; Up.
District 9 is a very pleasant surprise. And yet its presence in this list emphasises that its star, Sharlto Copley, is missing from the Best Actor list. Likewise, iff Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal were so wonderful in Crazy Heart, why is that film not in the list?
Arguably, Oscar nomination day is better than Oscar winning day. Oscar Day is usually spent lamenting the final choices and complaining about the number of advert breaks. Oscar nomination day, on the other hand, makes you want to see the films you’ve missed and, fortunately, many theatres allow you to do just that, with Oscar seasons in the weeks running up to the big day. For now the celebration feels inclusive – just for a few weeks.
Peter and I on the set of An Education in Oxford
But no Peter Sarsgaard… talking of whom, here is Peter and myself when I ran into him during the filming of An Education in my hometown of Oxford. I was rather taken aback when he spoke to me in a completely unexpected English accent. Definitely worth a nod.
Congratulations to all the nominees!
That’s a great nomination list! A couple of my absolute favourites, especially Maggie – as you know.
She’s made great movies the last couple of years, and this nomination is well deserved!! What a great week!!
Hi Anna! It’s a great list. And I’m so pleased for Maggie, Carey and Colin in particular
Helen Mirren’s probably wondering how she can make room for another one…
You make a great point about Sharlto not being on the list. I thought for sure he’d be there, bu I’m happy to see District 9 get into the Best Picture category.
Hi there Zillow
People talk about Avatar being innovative but I’d say that so was District 9. Not just for the CGI but for the way that it made the alien identifiable. Sharlto’s transformation was made believable. I felt like I was horrified abd in awe all at the same time. Avatar felt much easier on the senses but District 9 gave them a kick! I’m glad it was nominated too. It kept me awake for a few nights! Thanks for commenting 
I’ve just been clicking around this site for a bit and it really makes me angry that I can’t spend as much time here, or on other blogs I know I would enjoy, as I would like to. I’ve always kinda separated my life into two parts – before having a kid (and husband and dog and family business and all the other stuff that is great yet sucks hours from my day) and after. If it were ‘before’ I know I’d spend a lot of time here!! Going to movies…now that’s something I use to do A LOT too (now I mostly go from lacrosse field to baseball field to wrestling meet to the middle school, etc) – LOL! But…movie days will come to me again in short time I know (and for now it’s mostly DVDs at home on a Saturday night). *heavy sigh*
Anyway, didn’t mean to be a downer…I’ll take sip of pinot grigio and continue. That’s better. WDW, you are such a movie nut and I always learn so much from you! I don’t get to see all the movies I would like so hearing about them from you is always appreciated (especially when I’m planning my DVD rentals for a few months from now – LOL)! This was a nice recap of the Oscar noms…of course I’ve heard a lot about all the categories but it’s so nice to have it all in one place so thank you for this!
Oh…before I sign off…I’ve always loved that picture of you and Peter and was happy to see it again here. Today I watched Peter in The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. It was such an interesting movie…I really enjoyed it. I find myself not being able to get Peter’s character, Cleveland, off my mind. What an interesting and complicated character he played – and he did it so well. I think Peter’s Cleveland will stick with me for a long time.
Okay, I guess I’ve gone on enough (and my wine glass needs filling) so I’ll say goodnight!
Your friend from the other side of the pond
Well talk about a comment to put a smile on my face… thank you so much my friend. And you saw Mysteries of Pittsburgh?! These films can be so hard to see over here and I’ve not managed that one. Orphan I tried to see but I was hiding too much and had to give in. I’m a big Peter sarsgaard fan but I’m clearly a timid one!
You have a full on life, round down to that happy dog of yours, so I’m just glad to see when you can pop by. I love movies but, like you, I seem to spend an awful amount of time regretting my lack of free time. But doing this site is giving me a much-needed push.
Good to see you!