“Slumdog Millionaire” takes the Best Picture, Eastwood takes Best Actor and Fincher scored Best Director. Will this inform the Oscars at all? In a weak year like this, very possibly. Not because Oscar will be looking at what the NBR is saying/voting, but with no strong frontrunner this year aside from “Milk,” we’re inclined to think that scattered awards will go to multiple films without any one film really sweeping up. Danny Boyle’s film topped the awards with three prizes, including a Breakthrough nod for Dev Patel and Best Adapted Screenplay (which also tied with ‘Benjamin Button’). List below.
We didn’t think Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” was that amazing of a performance, nor did we think “Frost/Nixon” was that incredible (both are fine, good), but again, a weak Oscar year and you get films nominated that don’t really knock your socks off.
Best Film: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Director: David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Actor: Clint Eastwood, “Gran Torino”
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Best Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Best Foreign Film: “Mongol”
Best Documentary: “Man on Wire”
Best Animated Feature: “WALL-E”
Best Ensemble Cast: “Doubt”
Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: Dev Patel, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Best Directorial Debut: Courtney Hunt, “Frozer River”
Best Original Screenplay: Nick Schenk, “Gran Torino”
Best Adapted Screenplay (tie): Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire” and Eric Roth, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” The top ten (in alphabetical order):
“Burn After Reading”
“Changeling”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Defiance”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Gran Torino”
“Milk”
“WALL-E”
“The Wrestler” Top five foreign films (in alphabetical order):
“Edge of Heaven”
“Let the Right One In”
“Roman de Gare”
“A Secret”
“Waltz with Bashir” Top five documentary films (in alphabetical order):
“American Teen”
“The Betrayal”
“Dear Zachary”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” Top Ten Independent Films
“Frozen River”
“In Bruges”
“In Search of a Midnight Kiss”
“Mr. Foe”
“Rachel Getting Married”
“Snow Angels”
“Son of Rambow”
“Wendy and Lucy”
“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
“The Visitor”
You know we’re actually starting to think that if “The Dark Knight” got nominated for an Oscar, the race actually could get really interesting.
Look at that: Fincher wins Best Director and Benjamin Buttons wins Best Adapted Screenplay.
Who would have thunk it…
So they list their top ten films, and Slumdog isn’t on there. So is it actually 11 best films since Slumdog is their best? Kinda weird…I’ve never noticed that before.
So what does this mean? Well you can bet this means Slumdog will get a Best Pic nod cause the NBRs best pic has been nominated for the Oscar best pic the past 8 years. But, odds also mean Slumdog won’t win because of those 8 years, on last year with No Country did the NBR and Oscar best pics match.
Also, the NBRs top ten has usually proven to have an average of 4 of the 5 Oscar Best pics on it. Which is why I’m so surprised to see critically divided films like Defiance, The Changeling, and Burn After Reading on there. Does this mean things aren’t looking good for Revolutionary Road? It was completely shut out.
And did you hear? The Dark Knight will be re-released in theatres and IMAX on Jan 23. to A.) make at least 4 million bucks and go over 1 billion worldwide (only 3 other films have done it) B.) try to make 77 million bucks and beat Titanic’s record and C.) garner some more attention and remind everyone to vote for it for all the Oscars, every single one except for score that is (the noms come out the day before on Jan. 22)
At this point, I think its a beast that can’t be stopped. Like the tagline to No Country for Old Men…”you can’t stop what’s coming.”
Very possible, but it hasn’t garnered any major critical awards yet, but that season is still early. then again Juno grabbed no pre-Oscar critical awards. I still don’t think it’s a sure thing, but if you wanted me to bet money against it, I’m not sure I’d take that wager.
I don’t think it’s happening at all. I think Heath may get a sympathy nod, but he won’t win.
It may get a couple of tech nods, but those won’t win either.
Nothing for Nolan. No Best Picture, etc.
I just don’t see it happening.