The Official 2009 Oscar Buzz Thread
 

Now, I know there are a lot of people that think the Oscars are a waste of time; a big ol' marketing ploy and excuse for Hollywood to pat themselves on the back. You're probably right - but, IMO, that fact doesn't make it any less fun to follow proceedings.

Currently, we're getting right into the heat of Oscar season. Critics awards + nominations are being announced left and right, and most of the most anticipated movies of the year are starting to hit theatres. I'm not sure about you guys, but I always find myself spending as much time as possible at the cinemas this time of year, trying to make sure that I catch all of the movies that are likely to be up for the industry's biggest awards.

So, I'm going to post my list of flicks to keep an eye on. I haven't had a chance to check out many of them yet, so these are mostly just based on buzz, critics awards, early reviews and Academy history. I'll probably be changing my tune entirely in the next month or two...but oh well. Some wont have a full 5 nominations because I'm not overly familiar with a few categories. Anyway, here goes:


Best Picture

The Dark Knight
WALL-E
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Honorable Mention: Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt, The Wrestler.

Personally, I'm gunning for Dark Knight at this point. This is truly the epitome of modern cinema: it's dark, gritty, exciting, socially important, and filled with breathtaking performances, not to mention it completely reinvented a genre and shattered box office records. It's far from a typical choice for the Academy, but hey - so was No Country for Old Men.

I don't think Slumdog Millionaire looks that great...but it's been getting foolish buzz, and lately they've been going gaga for quirky little indie flicks like that. As much as I'd rather see TDK take the prize, I'm putting my money on this one walking way with the little bald guy.


Best Actor

Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Sean Penn - Milk
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon

Honorable Mentions: Hugh Jackman (Australia), Leonardo DeCaprio (Revolutionary Road), Ralph Fiennes (The Reader / The Duchess), Benicio Del Toro (Ché)

I haven't seen The Wrestler yet, but I really want to see Rourke take this one. He's way overdue for some critical recognition - and based on what we've seen so far, I think this is his chance. I'm more excited to see this one than just about anything else coming up this season.


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I'll post more as the days go on - just a teaser for now. Thoughts so far?

You forgot Eastwood's Changeling. I ll be gunning for TDK too, but I know em good enough to see a lower budget flick take Best Pic.

Rourke is all set to take this one, unless Del Toro wins over the critics.

my buddy just returned from NYC press junket for this and got me a copy of the press release signed by Mickey .... how fucking awsome is that.

would have loved to have met him person but it wasnt to be.
still - i'm abolutely freaking thrilled he got this for me - what a cool thing to do.

Heath Ledger's no-holds-barred performance as the Joker in last summer's Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight has earned the late actor a posthumous Golden Globe nomination, announced Thursday morning.



Pretty sure he will get an Oscar nomination

Your lists look pretty good there, but I've got to believe that Frost/Nixon is going to be up for Best Picture, possibly knocking WALL-E out.

TDK, best picture, easily. Not sure why this is even being discussed.

And how many of the other possible candidates have you seen?

All of them. But I forgot you're the whole "substance over fun" guy.:cool:

the oscars are horseshit anyway ...

the only thing they mean is someone getting a bigger paycheck on their next film.

i'm not saying that to be negative-cool .. i just find them to be insufferable political garbage.

Hey, fun doesn't always have to wear a cape and make explosions...

:)

It just has to be an old movie, black and white, or indie, right? :D

i think it just has to have monkeys. . .


i'll make a bold prediction but i almost guarantee it - no best picture nomination for The Dark Knight.

maybe supporting actor but not best picture

monkey-guaranteed!

I agree with you Zero- it's the Academy after all.

If that happens then I call biggest rip off in cinema history. How's that for bold.

The Dark Knight didn't get a nod for the Globes other then Ledger so I don't see it getting a Picture nod for the Oscars at this point.

They also nominated Tom Cruise for Best Supporting Actor in Tropic Thunder...

Meh. The critics were pretty lukewarm about it...the buzz on that one died the day it hit the screens.

Jolie might grab a nod, and it should get a nomination in the Supporting Actor category (I really dont care who...the whole supporting cast was brilliant), but Best Picture? Not a chance.

Ok...so, kind of a piss off that Dark Knight didn't get a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture.

Anyway, I'm going to continue my picks. Enjoy.

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Best Actor in a Supporting Role


Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire
Josh Brolin - Milk
Jeffrey Donovan - Changeling

Honorable Mentions: Liev Schreiber (Defiance), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), John Malkovich (Changeling)

Ok, lets face it - if anyone but Ledger takes this one, I'm personally going to kick the Academy's collective asses.

Still, this is shaping up to be another good year for this category. Even though the #1 is head-and-shoulders above the rest, it looks like he might have some half decent competition. Hoffman is a lock for a nomination, and I think just about anyone in Changeling has a good shot here. Donovan really blew me away - great performance, especially considering how horrendous he was in Blair Witch 2.



Best Actress

Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Keira Knightley - The Duchess

Honorable Mentions: Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long), Kate Winslet (either The Reader or Revolutionary Road)

This category is packed this year...honestly, I dont think we have a clear front runner yet at all. I think Hawkins has a better shot at this point, most because there was buzz for her performance before anyone had even heard of the movie. Still - I'm not going to chance a guess here until I can see more of 'em for myself.

The best way to figure out who's going to win this years is to try and figure out who should have won last year... they usually win. It's the Academies way of saying "Ooops".

...
....
.....
......huh?

My thoughts exactly.

I was trying to come up with a smartass reply, but I realized I had no sweet clue what he was trying to say.

he was trying to say that if someone who didnt win the previous year who probably should have - they will most likely win the next year.

it was just worded badly


unless i'm totally mistaken.

hmmm..I thought he was saying that the academy sometimes apple in bright staircase folded wing and guacamole "Ooops".

Hahahahaha.

That is what I was trying to say... ineptly as it turns out... proof reading who needs it! Well outside me apparently. I went on and changed the post so it makes a little more sense now.