Benjamin Button is the BEST
or at least it’s on the road to being the best. On Thursday morning, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released its Oscar nominations from the 2008 pool and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leads the pack with 13 nods! Up for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, and a slew of technical awards, it is clearly a favorite with Oscar voters. I saw it recently. It made me cry like a balling baby. I promise to post my review very soon.
Right behind Button with 11 nominations in the bag – Slumdog Millionaire, the movie with the title that fits the subject matter. Imagine being a poverty-stricken teen growing up in India, competing in a version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’, winning, and then being accused of cheating. Makes for some truly great storytelling on so many levels. And yes, it’s a movie I definitely want to see before Oscar is handed out.
Other notable (and not suprising) nominees -
Mickey Rourke for his critically acclaimed performance in The Wrestler. Rourke competes with Button’s Brad Pitt and Milk’s Sean Penn for Lead Actor.
Heath Ledger for his outstanding performance as The Joker in Batman: The Dark Knight. Equally as notable, Knight, didn’t receive a nomination for Director as was anticipated by many. However, it too is up for a slew of technical awards. Again, not a surprise.
Kate Winslet for her portayal as a nazi war criminal defendant with a secret past in The Reader. Interesting that she wasn’t nominated for her work in the Sam Mendes film, Revolutionary Road of which she starred opposite her Titanic co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio who, interestingly enough, was snubbed for an Oscar nod this go-around.
Which brings me to the other Oscar snub - Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, a role he was heavily favored to have received a nomination for. Eastwood has previously received Oscar awards for his Directing but never for Lead Actor.
I have to admit, there are some fantastic films nominated for the coveted prize this year. I have a goal to see most of them before the awards are handed out on February 22nd at 8pm (on your local ABC station).
What did you think of the nominations this year? I’d be interested to hear your take.
Until next time, see YOU at the movies!
Lisa 
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