I'm rehashing this from last month. Last month nobody cared, but the Oscars happen at the end of this week. So in case anybody's wondering.
I should have learned my lesson years ago. The Oscars are exhausting, futile, boring, banal, infuriating and not worth my typing this. But I can't help it. I drank the Kool-Aid when I was a child, and I have been damaged ever since.
The NY Times has a fun ballot you can fill out. Mine is filled with the people I'm rooting for, not with the disgusting potential winners.
So once again, let me vent:
Best Actor
• Go Richard Jenkins! (The Visitor) -- major underdog and he won't get it but we root for him cause he is the greatest character actor working today. This man can do everything and anything. Loved him in Burn After Reading, as a man hopelessly, heartbreakingly in love with Frances McDormand and adored him in Step Brothers, because he was hilarious.
• Go Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) -- a heartbreaking, touching, gorgeous performance.
• Go Sean Penn (Milk) -- beautiful, beautiful, beautiful work, but he is disliked, so he may not get it. Or he may, because of Prop 8.
• Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) - On stage, unbelievable. On screen, very, very good, but I root for the others.
• Brad Pitt (Ben Button) -- here is an instance of a nomination bestowed to someone for enduring hours of make up and motion capture. Because I didn't see Pitt do anything during the three interminable hours of this bombastic, useless film.
I would have picked Josh Brolin for W. He was incredible as 43.
Best Supporting Actor
• Josh Brolin (Milk) -- Excellent.
• Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder) -- Beyond. He should win. It's important that someone doing comedy should win. J'adore Robert Downey Jr.
• Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt) -- He's very good in this film but nothing earthshaking, but I would have gone James Franco for Milk and James Franco for Pineapple Express. But life ain't fair.
• Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) -- there can't be Oscar night without cringe inducing bullshit like giving prizes to dead people. I fucking hate that.
• Michael Shannon - (Revolutionary Road) -- I thought he was a major hambone.
I would go for his colleague David Harbour in the same film, who plays a man utterly in love with Kate Winslet. He was very impressive.
My bet would have been Eddie Marsan in Happy Go Lucky. And Emile Hirsch in Milk was great too.
Actress
I am pissed for the snub of Sally Hawkins for Happy Go Lucky. At least she got her Golden Globe.
• Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married) -- she's getting it and good for her, but nah.
• Meryl Streep (Doubt) -- they should just give her an Oscar every year for existing. She rocks, la cabrona.
• Angelina Jolie (Changeling) -- this has got to be the most calculated ploy to have the two most photographed celebs nominated so people watch the Oscars, cause no one but Katya, Andy and I really gives a shit.
• Go Melissa Leo! She's the Richard Jenkins of this category and a fine, fine actress.
• Kate Winslet (The Reader) -- Didn't see it so don't know. I have not heard anything good about that movie from anyone. We all know she can act. And I'm glad she didn't get it for RR, where I thought she was a bit over the top (although she totally rocked in a few scenes). But I get a feeling this is a Harvey Weinstein party.
Supporting Actress
• Amy Adams (Doubt) -- I love this girl. She makes innocence real and true.
• Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) -- funny, furious and fabulous. Totally deserved. Rooting for her.
• Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) -- She's getting it for displaying gynormous balls and good for her.
• Viola Davis (Doubt) -- I must be the only person in the universe that feels that she was a bit hammy. The snot coming of her nose distracted me to no end.
• Taraji P. Henson (Ben Button) -- apparently we are not tired yet of angelical, saintly Black women.
Direction
If I were Darren Aronofsky, I'd be pissed. Because there are people here that deserve this prize much less than him. The Wrestler, which is not a perfect movie, but has more life and pain and grit than anything we've seen in a long time.
• David Fincher (Ben Button) -- I fail to see the hype. This movie is a giant missed opportunity.
• Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon) -- Perfectly decent work. Efficient, clean, and better than expected.
• Gus Van Sant (Milk) -- Nice job. But for some reason, I am underwhelmed. However, given the slim pickings, this is my favorite.
• Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) -- I detest this movie. But there is something to be said for Danny Boyle's energy. It will be him.
• Stephen Daldry (The Reader) -- Another Harvey Weinstein party. Haven't seen it, so can't judge.
But the directing category this year is horribly poor.
The absence of Mike Leigh is unforgiveable.
Documentary
I am so happy to see that both Werner Herzog (Encounters at the End of the World) and Man on Wire made it to the list. I love them both. Trouble the Water, the film about Katrina is also astounding.
Foreign Film
Two of the very best films this year are here: The Class and Waltz with Bashir. They are better than anything that is in the local running. I'm torn between the two, but I think The Class is more rounded.
I'm betting it will be Waltz with Bashir, though, if the alteh cackers who vote can sit through serious animation.
Gomorrah, The Headless Woman and Hunger should be here, but that would be too much to expect.
Best Movie
This year reeks.
Ben Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Very underwhelming all around, but I'm rooting, pointlessly, for Milk. And after Milk, Frost/Nixon.
Happy Go Lucky and The Wrestler should be here.
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