Oscar nominations
Surprises? Snubs? Talk about the Academy Award nominations
Martin Scorsese's 3D movie-history lesson "Hugo" leads all films with 11 nominations. The black-and-white silent comedy "The Artist" scored 10.joewilliamsJan 24, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Welcome to our inaugural online movie chat. Today's topic: The Oscar nominations.
- Welcome to our inaugural online movie chat. Today's topic: The Oscar nominations.
- Martin Scorsese's 3D movie-history lesson "Hugo" leads all films with 11 nominations. The black-and-white silent comedy "The Artist" scored 10.
- Hey, Joe! Are you going to the Oscars again this year? If so, who/what will you be wearing?
- I was surprised by 'Tree of Life' getting nominated. As a photographer, I thought it was visually stunning. But whatever bar Malick was trying to reach, it was set too high in my opinion. I know you disagree but there are a lot of head scratchers out there like me.
Watch the trailer for "Tree of Life."
- This will be my 11th or 12th Oscar ceremony. By Academy policy, the press in the bleachers and the backstage interview room have to wear formal attire. I wear a cool, shawl-collar tux by--yes!--Oscar de la Renta.
- I'm disappointed that Alan Rickman didn't get a nomination for "Harry Potter." Who do you think was overlooked in the nominations?
- Rickman would have been a nice choice, especially since the billion-dollar "Harry Potter" franchise has come to an end.
Joe is ready to take your questions
- Conspicuous snubees include comedians Albert Brooks for "Drive" and Patton Oswalt in "Young Adult"; Shailene Woodley for "The Descendants"; Michael; Fassbender for "Shame" and Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin." Movies that got overlooked include "The Ides of March" and "Margin Call," and the animated "The Adventures of Tintin."
- One of the nominations I was happiest about was for Jonah Hill in "Moneyball." It's a movie I liked a lot, and I thought he was great in it.
- Jonah Hill was very good, but I think his selection eliminated my boy Albert Brooks.
- Why do you think Michael Fassbender was snubbed? It seems like he was getting a lot of praise for this role. Are Oscar voters afraid of his kind of movie?
- "Shame" is a polarizing film, but I thought it was great. Fassbender and Ryan Gosling both had good years and got overlooked by the Academy. Let's see if Channing tatum suffers the same fate next year. (That's a joke, by the way. Tatum is a lock for best actor for his stripper role in the upcoming "Magic Mike.")
- I'm a little surprised that Martha Marcy May Marlene didn't get any acting nominations. John Hawkes is always scary good.
- There was no love for "MMMM" or for former nominee Hawkes ("Winter's Bone). Ditto for Michael Shannon of "Take Shelter," whom the Acadmy shortlisted for "Revolutionary Road."
- The movie industry is in love with George Clooney He's good, but everything he does gets nominated, and he seems to play almost every role the same self-satisfied-i'm the-smartest-guy-in-the-room way.
- It helps to have frends who are Academy voters.
- But the thing about George Clooney's performance in "The Descendants" that I think makes it so acclaimed is that he looks middle-aged and tired and not Clooney-esque. I wasn't all that impressed.
- Isn't playing against type an achievement?
- Don't you think The Artist is overrated? I thought it was boring.
Watch the trailer for "The Artist."
- Honestly, yes, I think "The Artist" is overrated. It's a great, funny, stylish movie--but it's more of an exercise in craft than a deeply felt work. The director's previous two movies-with Jean Dujardin--were James Bond spoofs. "The Artist" is not a big step upward from that.
- Loved "Tree of Life" as well. Any chance Malick ever gets any Oscar love?
- "The Tree of Life" is a work of art that will win best cinematography, but the picture is too confounding for most Academy voters (let alone most civilians).
- Why should people really care about an event thrown by the same people it is honoring? It seems to be a look at how wonderful we are party. Are we the public too involved with celebrity worship?
- Yes, we worship celebrities. But the 6,000 Oscar voters know quality when they see it. The Golden Globes, on the other hand, are a publicity stunt, organized by a small group of celebrity suck-ups. (There are less than 100 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn..)
- Joe, thanks for hosting the chat. It's making for a good lunch break.
- I loved "Beginners." You think Christopher Plummer has a shot at taking the Supporting Actor award?
Watch the movie trailer for "Beginners."
- Plummer will win. Best Supporting Actor is almost always a lifetime achievement award. (Jack Palance, Alan Arkin.) Plummer is due, and fellow oldster Max von Sydow's movie stank.
- Joe, what's the chance "The Artist" could inspire other "artsy" films by mainstream studios?
- "The Artist" is French. They have different standards there.
- What do you think of Billy Crystal returning as host?
- Tired choice. Billy's good, but his audience skews old, and with little-seen nominees like "The Artist," the Academy needs all the ratings help it can get. After Eddie Murphy shot himself in the foot in defense of his idiot friend Brett Ratner, the Academy should have, um, pushed the envelope.
- "War Horse" could have been a classic. But executing 14-year-olds? That's no Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Why do they have to be so dark, and do you think it deserved a nomination?
- "War Horse" is not a top ten film in my book, but it's got "prestige" written all over it. In gold.
Watch the trailer for "War Horse."
- There are plenty of documentaries that should have been nominated but were left off the list. I was very excited to see Paradise Lost 3 though. What would you have added and have you followed The West Memphis 3 at all?
- It's not a strong documentary field. No "Project Nim," no "Tabloid," no "Interrupters." I saw the first "Memphis 3" movie but have not followed the case.
- Here is a complete list of nominations in case you missed them.
- Animal documentaries were where it was at. "The Elephant In The Living Room", "Buck", and "Project Nim" all filled me with a wave of emotions. As for your favorite doc,"Senna", I'm amazed that it was not recognized by The Academy.
- Yes, "Senna" is the best sports movie I've ever seen, period.
- I've barely heard of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.” Is it really that good?
- It's chiily, befitting the Cold War theme, English setting and autumnal actors. Oldman is good, but in a subtle way that didn't grab me.
Watch an interview with Oldman.
- I feel bad for "Shailene Woodley," a nice kid whom I interviewed for "The Descendants." With all the Oscar buzz, she must have thought she was Cinderella; but then the clock struck midnight (or, more accurately, 5:30 am Pacific Time)
"Senna," Joe's pick for documentary of the year--and best sports movie ever.
Woodley is on the right.
- Has anyone noticed that Meryl hasn't actually won an Oscar in 28 years? She's the favorite, but I'd cast my vote for Michelle Williams. (And no, Rooney Mara doesn't get credit for shaving her eyebrows.)
- "Dragon Tattoo" got five noms but no best picture. "Extremely Loud" got two--including the biggie. I didn't like either film, but that doesn't make sense..
- Don't you think it's ridiculous if Meryl Streep doesn't win? Doesn't she deserve an Oscar?
- If you measure by the quality of her accents and physical transformation, Meryl is the best actress in the world. But this might turn out to be Viola Davis' year.
- That's a wrap, folks. I'll be reporting from the Red Carpet on Feb. 26.
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