
Here are my immediate reactions to the Oscar nominations. What are yours?
* Wow! Maggie Gyllenhaal! Was anybody expecting that? Biggest surprise of the acting categories, though certainly not a disastrous choice. And now Jake isn’t the only one in the family with a nomination, which will make the holidays a lot more comfortable.
* Lee Daniels is the second African-American director nominated (after John Singleton for Boyz n the Hood), and I’m really glad he got tapped. His work on Precious was great. Kathryn Bigelow is the fourth-ever woman nominated. The directing category is a rainbow coalition, y’all!
* Have we finally reached the point where acting nominees of color are no longer unusual? Ever since the Denzel/Halle year, it seems like there are always multiple non-Caucasian nominees, and this year, we’ve got Morgan Freeman, Gabourey Sidibe, Penelope Cruz, and Mo’nique.
* An animated film nomination for… The Secret of Kells? What in the hell is that? A best song nod for… Paris 36? Has anyone heard of that one?
* They used the expanded Best Picture category to embrace both big, popular films and films from perennial Academy favorites. I doubt that A Serious Man would have made the list of five, but Oscar loves the Coens. And lord knows that THE BLIND SIDE wouldn’t have made it, which… blech. That’s the Scent of a Woman nomination. But on the other hand, hooray for Up! And I’m happily intrigued by the District 9 nomination. Oh, and no Best Picture or Best Director nod for Invictus. Holla!
* I’ve seen 19 of the nominated performances, which means I’m… a geek? Yeah, kind of. Of all the ones I’ve seen, I’d say Penelope Cruz for Nine is the only one I’m super-sketchy on, though it’s only my general affection for Sandra Bullock and not my deep commitment to her work in The Blind Side that keeps me from protesting that one. I don’t have any desire to see The Lovely Bones, but Stanley Tucci is one of those actors who’s been in so many movies that this was probably his “long-timer” nomination. Too bad it couldn’t be for Julie and Julia.
* Overall, this is a cool slate of nominees. Diverse, worthy of argument, and generally representative of quality films. And I’ll admit… it is kind of cool that a few super-popular movie made the cut. It makes the conversation feel more rounded. Now begins my earnest rooting for Inglourious Basterds.