The Academy of Arts and Sciences released its nominations for the 2009 Oscars this morning promptly at 5 a.m. Similar to the Golden Globe nominations and winners, there weren’t many upsets. The biggest letdown of all was the Academy snubbing ‘Revolutionary Road,’ leaving it with no nominations for Picture, Director, Actor or Actress, all of which it was nominated for at the Globes and even won for Actress. Most nominations: ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ (13 nominations in all)Best Picture’The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”Milk”Frost/Nixon”The Reader”Slumdog Millionaire’

While some critics were shocked to see that Sam Mendes’ ‘Revolutionary Road’ or Clint Eastwood’s ‘Gran Torino’ didn’t make the cut, the top picks of the year filled the slots for Best Picture without much competition. If the pattern continues from the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Golden Globes, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ will walk away with the most nods and the prize for Best Picture.

Directing:’The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”Milk”Frost/Nixon”The Reader”Slumdog Millionaire’

If you look at the nominees for Best Picture, then read the nominees for Directing, you’ll notice that they’re exactly the same. The Academy will most likely give the nod for Directing to the same film they bestow Best Picture upon, so it will be a decent prediction when watching the awards to guess who will take home the final prize. There’s an all-star set of directors nominated here, though, and they should all be credited for their work.

Actor in a Leading Role

Richard Jenkins – ‘The Visitor’Brad Pitt – ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’Sean Penn – ‘Milk’Frank Langella – ‘Frost/Nixon’Mickey Rourke – ‘The Wrestler’

What a mix-up. No Leonardo DiCaprio for ‘Revolutionary Road?’ Yet we have Richard Jenkins on the ballot? No doubt, someone slipped up. Rourke took home Best Actor at the Golden Globes just last week, and Penn took it at the Critic’s Choice Awards the week before that, so there’s no clear winner out of the bunch. Maybe they’ll throw a curveball and give it to Pitt.

Actress in a Leading Role

Anne Hathaway – ‘Rachel Getting Married’Angelina Jolie – ‘Changeling’Melissa Leo – ‘Frozen River’Meryl Streep – ‘Doubt’Kate Winslet – ‘The Reader’

So far, this has been Winslet’s year to shine. She took home both the Golden Globes last week for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. But don’t doubt, Streep is no stranger to the Academy, and they won’t hesitate to give her another golden man for her performance.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Josh Brolin – ‘Milk’Robert Downey Jr. – ‘Tropic Thunder’Phillip Seymour Hoffman – ‘Doubt’Heath Ledger – ‘The Dark Knight’Michael Shannon – ‘Revolutionary Road’

The only question here is whether or not the Academy will cave and give Ledger the award like the folks at the Critic’s Choice and Golden Globe Awards did. In one of the most anticipated, sought out and epic performances in the history of film, the Academy could cave to the pressure or give it to Hoffman or Downey Jr.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams – ‘Doubt’Penelope Cruz – ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’Viola Davis – ‘Doubt’Taraji P. Henson – ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’Marisa Tomei – ‘The Wrestler’

Most of these performances pale in comparison to their male counterparts and, with the exception of Tomei, don’t seem worthy of the Oscar. Davis’ role was entirely too small to warrant an Oscar, Cruz played a delusional stalker (in a comedy), Henson was solid, but fell short when caked with makeup, and Adams’ career is young and blossoming, but perhaps too young to give a nod to. While the Academy might throw us off with an odd win, Tomei should take home this one.

Writing (original screenplay):

‘Frozen River”Happy Go-Lucky”In Bruges”Milk”WALL-E’

The Academy could go one of two ways with this one: Award the thought behind the script, or award the execution. Sure, ‘WALL-E’ made statements about humanity, but the writing was minimal. ‘Frozen River’ flaunted its melodramatic tones, while ‘Happy-Go-Lucky’ did just the opposite. ‘In Bruges’ could be the underdog winner, a sarcastic comedy about exile and friendship, but most likely, ‘Milk’ will take this one home.

Writing (adapted screenplay):

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”Doubt”Frost/Nixon”The Reader”Slumdog Millionaire’

Talk about competition. Last year, the Academy made a big mistake by giving Diablo Cody the win for ‘Juno,’ but this year there isn’t much room to foul up. All are heart-wrenching tales written by acclaimed authors. From F. Scot Fitzgerald’s short story of a man who ages backwards (adapted into a wonderful tale of wisdom and life), to the Nazi love story taken from ‘The Reader,’ it’s sure to be given to someone who deserves it.

Music (score)

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”Defiance”Milk”Slumdog Millionaire”WALL-E’

The buzz surrounding the soundtrack to ‘Defiance’ started long before the film was even completed. In an unexpected (and poorly chosen) win, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ took home the Globe for Best Score. The highlight of the film’s soundtrack was M.I.A.’s ‘Paper Planes,’ a 2007 release that bannered ‘Pineapple Express’ earlier in the year. If they win again, it will be for use of music, not originality.

Animated Feature Film’Bolt”Kung Fu Panda”WALL-E’

If the producers of ‘Bolt’ and ‘Kung Fu Panda’ think they have a shot in hell of getting this award, then they’ve been spending too much time with Cruz. If the Academy gives it to anyone other than ‘WALL-E,’ it will be one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history.

Visual Effects

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”The Dark Knight”Iron Man’

It baffles me how ‘Button’ stands next to two of the year’s best action films for visual effects. Sure, they had a great submarine sequence, but nothing compared to the two below it. ‘The Dark Knight’ achieved action glory as the first film to use IMAX cameras in live action scenes. At the same time, ‘Iron Man’ was a spectacular show. Both used cutting-edge technology, lots of explosives and clean effects. All in all, it’s a close call, but ‘The Dark Knight’ should walk away with this one.

Costume Design

‘Australia”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”The Duchess”Milk”Revolutionary Road’

All of the nominees did the same thing: They beautifully painted the image of an era with costumes. ‘Australia’ told a story of land far, far away in the 1930’s, ‘Button’ followed New Orleans from the 1920’s through Hurricane Katrina, ‘The Duchess’ captured the style and grace of nobility in the 18th century, ‘Milk’ dazzled through the 60’s and 70’s, and ‘Revolutionary Road’ enchanted and disturbed audiences with a daunting image of the 1950’s. The most complicated wardrobe was hands down ‘The Duchess,’ but what the others accomplished makes it a tough call.

Makeup

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”The Dark Knight”Hellboy II: The Golden Army’

While I’m rooting for ‘The Dark Knight’ in every category it’s nominated for and ‘Hellboy’ is only successful because of makeup, ‘Button’ deserves and probably will win the award for achievement in makeup.

Foreign Language Film

‘The Baader Meinhof Complex’ (Germany)’The Class’ (France)’Departures’ (Japan)’Revanche’ (Austria)’Waltz with Bashir’ (Israel)

Only two of the above mentioned nominees were nominated at the Globes, making it hard to say which one will take home the nod. ‘Waltz with Bashir’ took home the Globe, but only time will tell which country will win the equivalent of best international film.

For the complete list of nominations, including Best Short Film (animated and live action), best music (song), best documentary (short and long), film editing and more, check out www.oscar.com/nominations/.

Published on January 22, 2009 at 12:00 pm