81st Academy Awards

[Ilythia]

I was gonna put this post in Lists of '08 but since it's music related.. I'll make my life easier.

I've seen almost 40 movies last year. Some where beyond words and others I seriously wanted to kill myself for watching 'em. So I'll just list the ones that made it worthwhile.
Rambo
Just me being an action movie fanatic.
The Bank Job
Hilarious. Why in the world would anyone put compromising objects in a vault that supposedly can never be broken to? I’m curious.
WALL-E
You adorable little you. Why the hell haven’t I bought the DVD yet?
The Dark Knight
Give him the goddamn posthumous Oscar nomination. I will love you.
Lakeview Terrace
Movie is all about how it happens.
The Duchess
If every little girl were to see this movie, I wonder if their hopes of becoming a princess would be crushed. Brilliant. That duke is one scary bastard.
Changeling
My heart went out to her.
Australia
I’m not a huge fan of western films and I’ve had my share fair of them. Surprisingly enough, I found myself liking this movie. Yay.
Frost/Nixon
These two men really pull you to them. I love these guys.
Gran Torino
Clint Eastwood being a real asshole. <3
Valkyrie
Can't quite come up with a comment. No idea why.

Revolutionary Road
Sensational! Reminds me how I grew to love them in the first place.

Academy Award nominations are going to be held tomorrow at 5:30 am PST. I can't wait to see if any of the ones I saw made it into the list!

Doubt
Che
The Reader
Let the Right One In
Synecdoche, New York
Curious Case of Benjamin Button
^I've yet to see them, but I've heard plenty of good stuff. Can anyone give me their opinions?

[Ilythia]

Apparentely I'm the only one that is interested in these awards. =< I'm quite late listing them up, but better late than never.

Major Nominations:
Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Director
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant – Milk

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
Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Best Original Screenplay
WALL-E - Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter
Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh
Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
In Bruges - Martin McDonagh
Milk - Dustin Lance Black

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan
The Reader - David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy
Doubt - John Patrick Shanley

Best Animated Feature
Bolt – Chris Williams and Byron Howard
Kung Fu Panda – Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
WALL-E – Andrew Stanton

Best Foreign Language Film
Revanche (Austria) in German - Götz Spielmann
The Class (France) in French - Laurent Cantet
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany) in German - Uli Edel
Departures (Japan) in Japanese - Yojiro Takita
Waltz with Bashir (Israel) in Hebrew - Ari Folman

Minor Nominations
Best Animated Short
La Maison En Petits Cubes - Kunio Kato
Lavatory - Lovestory - Konstantin Bronzit
Oktapodi - Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
Presto - Doug Sweetland
This Way Up - Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

Best Art Direction
Changeling – James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo
The Dark Knight – Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando
The Duchess – Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway
Revolutionary Road – Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt

Best Cinematography
Changeling – Tom Stern
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Claudio Miranda
The Dark Knight – Wally Pfister
The Reader – Chris Menges, Roger Deakins
Slumdog Millionaire – Anthony Dod Mantle

Best Costume Design
Australia – Catherine Martin
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Jacqueline West
The Duchess – Michael O'Connor
Milk – Danny Glicker
Revolutionary Road – Albert Wolsky

Best Documentary Feature
Nerakhoon (The Betrayal)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

Best Documentary Short
The Conscience of Nhem En – Steven Okazaki
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

Best Film Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall
The Dark Knight – Lee Smith
Frost/Nixon – Mike Hill, Daniel P. Hanley
Milk – Elliot Graham
Slumdog Millionaire – Chris Dickens

Best Live Action Short
On the Line (Auf der Strecke)
Manon On the Asphalt
New Boy (Ireland)
The Pig (Grisen)
Toyland (Spielzeugland)

Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Greg Cannom
The Dark Knight – John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan
Hellboy II: The Golden Army – Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Best Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Alexandre Desplat
Defiance – James Newton Howard
Milk – Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman
WALL-E – Thomas Newman

Best Original Song
"Down to Earth" from WALL-E – Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman (music), Peter Gabriel (lyrics)
"Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman (music), Gulzar (lyrics)
"O Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman and M.I.A.

Best Sound Editing
The Dark Knight – Richard King
Iron Man – Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
Slumdog Millionaire – Tom Sayers
WALL-E – Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
Wanted – Wylie Stateman

Best Sound Mixing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten
The Dark Knight – Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick
Slumdog Millionaire – Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty
WALL-E – Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt
Wanted – Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt

Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
The Dark Knight – Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber, Paul Franklin
Iron Man – John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick, Shane Mahan

One heck of a list. I don't want to put my predictions as to who might win in as I'm missing a movie or two in each of the major categories (Milk, The Reader, The Visitor, Rachel Getting Married, Frozen River, Tropic Thunder, Happy-Go-Lucky, In Bruges, and The Wrestler-sorry kids, no a fan of the sport). Quite the pain, but I'm quite excited to know if my favorites are gonna win.

I'm debating whether to give sort of a "live report" for tommorow night. Eh, I might as well. That means I'm gonna do a lot of editing.

[Trust Me I'm A Stomach]

I suppose I'm just that into the film industry. I don't really go to the cinema that much for new releases either.

That said, I hope Slumdog Millionaire does well. I really rather enjoyed that film. Danny Boyle is a fine director.

[Ilythia]

Major Nominations


Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Director
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor
Sean Penn – Milk

Best Actress
Kate Winslet – The Reader

Best Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress
Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Original Screenplay
Milk

Best Adapted Screenplay
Slumdog Millionare

Best Animated Feature
WALL-E

Best Foreign Language Film
Departures (Japan) in Japanese - Yojiro Takita

Minor Nominations

Best Animated Short
La Maison en Petits Cubes

Best Art Direction
The Curious Case of Bejamin Button

Best Cinematography
Slumdog Millionaire – Anthony Dod Mantle

Best Costume Design
The Duchess – Michael O'Connor

Best Documentary Feature
Man on Wire

Best Documentary Short
Smile Pinki

Best Film Editing
Slumdog Millionaire – Chris Dickens

Best Live Action Short
Toyland (Spielzeugland)

Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Original Score
Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman

Best Original Song
"Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman (music), Gulzar (lyrics)

Best Sound Editing
The Dark Knight – Richard King

Best Sound Mixing
Slumdog Millionaire – Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty

Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron

Duchess deserved winning as well as WALL-E

YYES
THANK YOU
YES
LEDGER

winsleeet

[Ilythia]

That said, I hope Slumdog Millionaire does well. I really rather enjoyed that film. Danny Boyle is a fine director.
Slumdog Millionare winning 8 oscars, you know I had to get myself into a decent theater to appreciate the movie, specially with all the fuss I've been hearing about.

That said (I'm still not used with the usher deal), I headed to Arclight Theaters as soon as I got out of school, bought my tickets and waited for the movie to begin. I loved the chaotic environment. There were so many exquisite sounds that I wished I had seen the movie before to properly enjoy them. Not only that but I also liked how the story unfolded and how it went back and forth between what was actually happening, the show, and the events that led up to the answers. Brilliant!

I forever hate that guy. Don't recall his name. The supposed "saint." http://i44.tinypic.com/3536rkk.gif

That damned usher (he was nice) saw it four times.. I'm going to see it again. But at a theater were they don't charge $17 for parking.

[Agony]

I do think Slumdog Millionaire deserved to win big, I was very impressed with it. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't expecting big things from it, but when my friends dragged me out to see it, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely consider seeing it again. The Dark Knight was another obvious winner, and Heath Ledger definitely deserved that, as his performance was one of the greatest I've seen, certainly in recent years. All in all it's been a good year for cinema and it's renewed my faith somewhat after a run of poor years and getting dragged out to see terrible or at best mediocre films.

[Conspera]

Kanji must be ecstatic on Sean Penn's win. Gotta watch Milk sometime in the near future. Looks great~

To my surprise, I haven't heard of Slumdog until it was nominated. With its status as best picture, I really ought to see it. And hell yeah, Heath Ledger got what he deserved with his win as best supporting actor (though in my mind, I'd classify him as best actor in a leading role or something along those lines; it really felt like he took center stage in the film). Pity win or not, this proves that the Oscars can do things right at times.

A shame Alexander Desplat didn't get the win for best original score, but they hit it straight on the mark with the best makeup going to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. You'll know what I mean if you've seen the film.

[naikou]

I feel somewhat ashamed for watching all of 2 movies that were nominated this year. Wall-E and The Dark Knight. (-_-)

[Ilythia]

All in all it's been a good year for cinema and it's renewed my faith somewhat after a run of poor years and getting dragged out to see terrible or at best mediocre films.
You should get around to seeing Gran Torino. I had high expectations for Clint Eastwood to be nominated as Best Actor, but was dissapointed that he wasn't. If you really like the guy, then you might want to check out Changeling as well.

Kanji must be ecstatic on Sean Penn's win. Gotta watch Milk sometime in the near future. Looks great~
A shame Alexander Desplat didn't get the win for best original score, but they hit it straight on the mark with the best makeup going to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. You'll know what I mean if you've seen the film.
Those two movies I'm tracking down though my main priority is Milk. I must see it.

I feel somewhat ashamed for watching all of 2 movies that were nominated this year. Wall-E and The Dark Knight. (-_-)
You still have time to watch 'em if they're still being screened at the theatre you work at. Specially since you don't pay.. of course it depends theatre to theatre. lol

And according to IMDb, I'll be able to get my hands on Okuribito (Departures) sometime next month.

[Kanji]

It's nice, if a bit awkward, to see A.R. Rahman get some mainstream recognition for once. I've more or less grown up with his music, living in an Indian household with Bollywood-obsessed parents. Haven't really ever truly appreciated his stuff though, just took it for granted because I hear it so often.

Good on Sean Penn for grabbing the Oscar, too. I was bedazzled by his command of emotions in The Interpreter, and a few other flicks like Mystic River set him up as my favorite actor. When he really gets into his roles (i.e. always), it's like he emanates a raw theatrical power that I don't feel from anyone else, really. That said, he's kind of a douchebag in reality and I'd never want to hang around him, but whatevs.

So yeah, Milk and Slumdog Millionaire are at the top of my to-see list at the moment.

edit: Oh, I almost forgot: a nod to Heath Ledger and WALL-E. Pretty much the mainstreamish 'everyone-knew-this-would-happen' picks of the year, but they're well-deserved.

And speaking of movies in general, Watchmen comin' up FUCK YEAH

[naikou]

You still have time to watch 'em if they're still being screened at the theatre you work at. Specially since you don't pay.. of course it depends theatre to theatre. lol
I quit working there a few months ago, but it's not much of an excuse, considering I could still go there and they'd let me in for free...

Just watched La Maison en Petits Cubes, which was really good. I think the acceptance speech that went with it was even more epic, though.

"Sank you... my... stuff. Sank you... pencil. Domo arigato Mista Roboto."