Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Hoo-ray for Hollywood!


Some quick observations on the Oscar nominations, which were announced this morning. The Academy Awards are scheduled for March 7:

1. Whatever category "Avatar" is in, just go ahead and give it the Oscar. Ten nominations. I'd say at least nine Oscars.

2. "The Hurt Locker" picked a bad year to get released. The movie, about a squad that detonates bombs in Iraq, is intense and well-crafted. On any other year, it would be the lead dog, but it's in "Avatar's" shadow.

3. What are the odds? "Avatar" director James Cameron and "The Hurt Locker" director Katherine Bigelow were once married. Actually, it being Hollywood, probably better odds than you think.

4. Take this to the bank: Christopher Waltz will win Best Supporting Actor. He played the Jew-hunting Nazi in "Inglorious Basterds" and was terrific. He nearly stole the show.

5. Is Helen Mirren nominated for Best Actress anytime she does a movie? She's nominated for "The Last Station." Yeah, I didn't see it either.

6. For the first time since 1943, 10, not five, movies were nominated for Best Picture. Eight got no chance. But I did see five -- "Avatar," "The Blind Side," "The Hurt Locker" "Up in the Air" and "Inglorious Basterds."

7. I wouldn't mind seeing "Up", but how do you see an animated movie as adult by yourself? Looks a little creepy. Also heard some good things about "A Serious Man."

8. The snooty voters in the academy, of course, can never vote for something so lacking in virtue as a comedy. Unless one of their own, like Woody Allen, directs one. But the "Hangover" was pretty darn good.

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