Snap Judgments: 84th Annual Academy Award Nominations

Earlier this morning the nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards were announced. Hugo received 11 nominations while The Artist received 10. As usual, there were snubs (sorry Albert Brooks and Tilda Swinton) and surprises (GARY OLDMAN).

Some of the nominations have left me furious and the Best Picture nomination for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has made me throw things. Gary Oldman’s nomination as well as two other nominations for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy only slightly quell my rage. I’m also crushed that we won’t get to see which Haider Ackermann pantsuit Tilda Swinton was going to wear to the Oscars. And can someone please explain to me how and why only two songs were nominated for Best Song? The voting rules for that category need to be addressed.  The complete list of nominees is here and my snap judgments are below. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

I’m excited to see the inclusion of The Tree of Life. That is an unexpected but welcomed surprise.

I see every Best Picture nominee every year. I’m willing to see War Horse but there is no way I’m seeing Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. [Read this if you want to know exactly why I refuse to see this movie.]

Best Director
Woody Allen – Midnight in Paris
Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
Alexander Payne – The Descendants
Martin Scorsese – Hugo
Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life

Happy to see the nomination for Terrence Malick.

Best Actor
Demián Bichir – A Better Life
George Clooney – The Descendants
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt – Moneyball

GARY OLDMAN. GARY OLDMAN. GARY OLDMAN.

Am I okay with Michael Fassbender being left off the list? Not really, but Gary Oldman’s nomination balances it out. I am, however, ecstatic that Leonardo DiCaprio was not included. (Sorry Leo.)

Best Actress
Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis – The Help
Rooney Mara – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn

Tilda Swinton was overlooked in favor of Rooney Mara. Sigh. Gary Oldman still got nominated so I’ll live.

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh – My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill – Moneyball
Nick Nolte – Warrior
Christopher Plummer – Beginners
Max von Sydow – Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Do you hear that sound? It is the cries of crushed Drive fanatics everywhere. I expected Albert Brooks to be overlooked; I dealt with those emotions months ago. 2011 was also a great year to be old and legendary.

Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo – The Artist
Jessica Chastain – The Help
Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer – The Help

Melissa McCarthy! Every other nomination was predicted months ago.

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy deserves the award just for having Colin Firth utter the word, “Be-linda.”

Best Original Screenplay
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Margin Call
Midnight in Paris
A Separation

Excited to see nominations for A Separation and Bridesmaids. Man, I hope A Separation wins.

Best Animated Film
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

There’s a Kung Fu Panda 2? Puss in Boots is the Antonio Banderas movie with a nomination and not The Skin I Live In? Why have I not seen Rango yet? This category perplexes me.

Best Foreign Language Film
Belgium, “Bullhead” – Michael R. Roskam, director
Canada, “Monsieur Lazhar” – Philippe Falardeau, director
Iran, “A Separation” – Asghar Farhadi, director
Israel, “Footnote” – Joseph Cedar, director
Poland, “In Darkness” – Agnieszka Holland, director

I’ve only seen A Separation so far but I am doing the biggest dance because of it’s nomination right now.