Oscars 2008: The Nominees!
CAROLINE: Oh my God, oh my God it’s the moment we’ve been waiting for!
RYAN: The nominations for the 2008 Academy Awards are in! They were announced today with the usual pomp and flair of a Hollywood press conference at 5 in the morning.
CAROLINE: I was a little surprised that Kathy Bates was on hand to read the names. Usually they pick some saucy little minx.
RYAN: I loved Kathy and her frosty highlights. “There will be Blood” and “No Country for Old Men” lead the list with eight noms each. But there are some big surprises in the nominee list! I can’t believe Angelina got shut out of the Best Actress category.
CAROLINE: I know! Laura Linney took her spot. I love her, but I think Angelina should have gotten it. And how crazy is it that “Michael Clayton” got those noms? I didn’t see that coming.
RYAN: I think the biggest shock is the Best Actor list. I mean, Tommy Lee Jones for “In the Valley of Elah”? Even we didn’t see that movie, and we see almost everything!
CAROLINE: We better get on it. I bet they’ll do a little theatrical re-release. They’re already doing that for “Micheal Clayton” this weekend. Here is the complete list of nominees in the important categories.
“Atonement”
“Juno”
“Michael Clayton”
“No Country for Old Men”
“There Will Be Blood”
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”
Julie Christie in “Away from Her”
Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose”
Laura Linney in “The Savages”
Ellen Page in “Juno”
Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in “Michael Clayton”
Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood”
Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Tommy Lee Jones in “In the Valley of Elah”
Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises”
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”
Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men”
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Charlie Wilson’s War”
Hal Holbrook in “Into the Wild”
Tom Wilkinson in “Michael Clayton”
Achievement in directing
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”, Julian Schnabel
“Juno”, Jason Reitman
“Michael Clayton”, Tony Gilroy
“No Country for Old Men”, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
“There Will Be Blood”, Paul Thomas Anderson
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in “I’m Not There”
Ruby Dee in “American Gangster”
Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement”
Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone”
Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton”
Adapted screenplay
“Atonement”
“Away from Her”
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
“No Country for Old Men”
“There Will Be Blood”
Original screenplay
“Juno”
“Lars and the Real Girl”
“Michael Clayton”
“Ratatouille”
“The Savages”
Best animated feature film of the year
“Persepolis”
“Ratatouille”
“Surf’s Up”
Achievement in costume design
“Across the Universe”
“Atonement”
“Elizabeth: The Golden Age”
“La Vie en Rose”
“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Best documentary feature
“No End in Sight”
“Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience”
“Sicko”
“Taxi to the Dark Side”
“War/Dance”
Achievement in makeup
“La Vie en Rose”
“Norbit”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Atonement”
“The Kite Runner”
“Michael Clayton”
“Ratatouille”
“3:10 to Yuma”
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Falling Slowly” from “Once”
“Happy Working Song” from “Enchanted”
“Raise It Up” from “August Rush”
“So Close” from “Enchanted”
“That’s How You Know” from “Enchanted”
Achievement in visual effects
“The Golden Compass”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”
“Transformers”
RYAN: Go “The Golden Compass”!
CAROLINE: Seriously? You’re going there?
RYAN: Well, yes and I’m thrilled “Enchanted” got some nods for best song.
CAROLINE: I’m more excited about the bigger categories. Our two favorite films are going head to head for the top prize, my “Atonement” to your “There Will Be Blood.”
RYAN: I know. Though they might both be canceled out by that “No Country for Old Men” film. I’d be happy if any of those three take the gold, but my first choice is “There Will Be Blood.”
CAROLINE: Look at the magic that is “Ratatouille.”
RYAN: Ok. I’m a fan of animation, but it really wasn’t that good. I think “Enchanted” could and should have replaced “Ratatouille” in every category, except animation of course.
CAROLINE: I love that “Once” and “August Rush” pulled out a nomination also.
RYAN: And look at little former Disney Channel child star, Sarah Polley, pulling out a screenplay nomination for “Away From Her.”
CAROLINE: I was kind of hoping Adrienne Shelly would have received a posthumous nomination for “Waitress.”
RYAN: That would have been very deserved. I bet France is now kicking itself for not entering “La Vie En Rose” for the best foreign film category. I’m pulling for Marion Cotillard as best actress.
CAROLINE: She was amazing. And I wonder how Keira Knightley’s feeling this morning.
RYAN: Angry, to be sure. Ellen Page stole her nomination.