comment #1

animatedude says ...

HUH?! why is Pineapple Express not included in the best comedy category?! that's insane.

comment #2

perceptions says ...

Jeff

Having read numerous raves for the performances of Leo and Kate in "RR" , like you, was shocked to see no lead acting nods

comment #3

Chase Kahn says ...

Jeff -- forgot 'Button' on the top 10 list, although you did mention the '8 noms' at the beginning

comment #4

actionman says ...

Awesome about Robert Downey Jr.; it's a hysterical performance. I am hoping against hope for a major surprise from the Academy. But as usual, I will probably be let down by their picks.

"Changeling's Angelina Jolie (very good work but a bit of a perplexing character -- why did she accept the replacement kid in the first place?)"

SPOILERS -- She accepted the kid because she was terrified, confused, and not thinking straight. She showed up to that train station expecting to see her son, but was hoodwinked -- in public -- and she didn't know how to react. You also have to remember the time and social scene of late 20's L.A. She was bullied by the police in front of the train, and she was made to think that she was losing her mind. It's a true story, the lady did what she did, and that's that. She was a good person, made clear by the film, and by all that's available on-line to read about her. In that one scene where she goes to the kid's room and puts her hand on his back, telling him to come clean with the truth, telling him that he's too young to fully understand the problems that he's creating -- you get all you need to know about Christine Collins as a person. It's easily Jolie's best performance. And it's an excellent film overall.

comment #5

calraigh says ...

Kristin Scott Thomas gets snubbed again. The BFCA is a joke.

comment #6

clancy says ...

"Revolutionary Road" is a terrible film. Certainly not worthy of its pedigree. It should not be there and nor should Shannon who has three scenes that are well written and almost any actor would have been praised for the performance. Jolie is hysterical in her performance. She doesn't deserve to be in. But these groups, like all groups, like glamour at their party.

comment #7

Chase Kahn says ...

I thought 'Changeling' was fine until the painful last act -- and Jolie's performance seemed based on a series of 'Oscar clip' scenes rather than a cohesive turn, I don't think it's worthy of a nomination.

comment #8

actionman says ...

And yeah, where the fuck is Pineapple?!

Forgetting Sarah Marshall was funny enough but hardly comedy gold. And Role Models was the very definition of average. Tropic and Burn, however, are spot-on choices. Have yet to see Vicky...really want too.

And while I did enjoy Indy 4 for the most part, I'd put Cloverfield over it in the best action film category. Quantum is a perfect choice, Wanted deserves a spot, and Iron Man is a safe bet. I don't consider TDK to be an "action movie." My choices for best action movie (in an overall shitty year for action flicks) would be:

Quantum
Cloverfield
Wanted
Hancock
Iron Man

comment #9

actionman says ...

Also, no nomination for Encounters at the End of the World? An effing joke if you ask me. Standard Operating Procedure was good but felt like warmed-up left-overs from Taxi to the Dark Side. Errol Morris is great but he's had better films.

comment #10

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

Curious what you thought of Quarantine, AM, or even better, the original [rec] if you have seen it. It's certainly not an "action flick," per se, but it definitely reminded me of a more enclosed, claustrophobic Cloverfield (even though the original was released before it, yadda yadda). It's a *very* visceral experience, I'm certainly not going to have a problem finding a spot for it on my year's best-of list.

comment #11

romeoisbleeding says ...

I am thrilled about Richard Jenkins and Robert Downey jr. getting some recognition!! yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this makes my day!!

comment #12

actionman says ...

Kaned -- really want to see [rec]. Quarantine is in my Netflix queue. I am not really big on horror films but I make it a point to check out the smaller, more acclaimed efforts.

comment #13

byanyother says ...

I am going to wager that they didn't get to see it in time. Scott Thomas will be in the Oscars and I believe Revolutionary Road will also.

comment #14

Chase Kahn says ...

Actionman -- I think it's odd you rule out 'The Dark Knight' as an action movie but put in 'Cloverfield' -- I just consider that more of a "disaster" movie, like 'Day After Tomorrow', which I wouldn't consider action, either.

I do agree with you on Standard Operating Procedure -- compared to Taxi to the Dark Side, it's a CBS 60 Minutes episode and doesn't even come close to the craft and approach of 'Taxi'...

comment #15

actionman says ...

Yeah, I see your point, Chase. It's just that Cloverfield, other than those first 15-20 minutes, was basically pure action for its entire run time. It's more of a "monster" movie, to me, than a "disaster" movie, but because it's basically wall-to-wall action, I put it in the action genre.

And with Standard Operating Procedure, I thought the craft was the best part of the entire production; the information was the aspect I found lacking. It was all stuff we already knew, and regardless of how stylish a director Morris is, a doc needs to present new information to be resonant with me. But yes, overall, Taxi was a much more accomplished effort. Which is why I think it's insulting to leave Encounters off the list. That film is a visual marvel and also shows/tells you stuff you either didn't know or have never seen before. A remarkable film.

comment #16

actionman says ...

And Chase, TDK is a drama that's spiked with some terrific action beats, chases, explosions, fights, etc. I just don't consider it an "action" film like I would consider Quantum or Wanted to be one.

comment #17

smarty says ...

I'm halfway through Rev Road and think its pretty great. No an easy movie to pull off. Winslet and DiCaprio are great and do things they've never done before. I guess I can see people being over suburban-neuroses but the execution on this is fantastic.
DITTP on PITT - I LOVE BB but he's not given anything to do and seems like a blank slate at times. Still, in a way its a flawed but also better than the rest this year movie.

comment #18

BurmaShave says ...

Fuck the person who wrote the blurbs that go with every nomination. So inane. And of course, though it's my fault for not being able to get to it yet, they ruined I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG for me.

comment #19

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Which begs the question, Jeff, who do you throw off the list to give Shannon his nomination?

I think the very omission of your suggestion tells us you had no easy answer and so neither did BFCA. GTFU

comment #20

scooterzz says ...

three thoughts: my #1 film of the year was 'milk' until i saw 'rev road'....that film has stuck with mr longer than anything i've seen this year....to ignore the film is just insane (imo)

while bad pitt's on-screen performance was good in bb, his vo performance was amazing...

it was my understanding that the whole reason the bfca invented this year's new 'best action movie' category was to be able to award tdk without impacting the 'best picture' category....to have it in both categories is rather ridiculous.....

comment #21

ZayTonday says ...

Fuck this.. Kate Winslet deserves to get Best Actress for Rev Road. It's the best performance of her career, which is definitely something given all of her other outstanding ones.

If she doesn't get it then Meryl Streep should for Doubt.

comment #22

ZayTonday says ...

Oh, and as awesome as Benjamin Button is, Brad Pitt shouldn't be nominated for Best Actor.. Like Wells said his character is the most passive thing in the film.

comment #23

actionman says ...

when will the LA crix be announcing their picks?

comment #24

arturobandini2 says ...

Any awards committee that fails to even nominate Kristin Scott Thomas this year should be spanked, sent to their rooms without dinner and have their movie-critic licenses revoked without chance of reinstatement. Really ... how tonedeaf can you get?

comment #25

janee says ...

Si vous etes interesses par le dossier, ou desirez en savoir plus, contactez-moi par mail, et je vous mettrai en contact.
Best regards,Jane, CEO of high availability clustering