I don't know how I haven't seen either Kate Winslet movie, as she's one of my favourites. However, I've been kind of avoiding Revolutionary Road due to how depressing I know it will be regarding relationships, and in turn, marriage. But I'm still interested in seeing Sam Mendes' direction. And The Reader looked only okay - the preview did nothing to entice me. She's been racking up the awards, though, so I'll have to check them out pre-Oscar night. I think she probably deserves those awards, too, given how great she tends to be.
And so what did I think of the other contenders that I have seen? In order of best to least-best:
Wall-E (I'm really hoping the Academy recognizes its brilliance.)
Slumdog Millionaire
The Dark Knight
Milk
Iron Man (um, it has to be nominated for something, right?)
Gran Torino
Rachel Getting Married
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (I'm finding in retrospect I may not have liked it as much as I though I did...and I love Fincher.)
And I'm hoping RDJ gets nominated for Tropic Thunder, though I think it's a safe bet that Heath Ledger's name will be called. Don't even kid with me about Tom Cruise getting nominated for it (Golden Globe fail). I've always felt that the Academy awards drama too much - comedy is so much harder to get right. RDJ! RDJ! IRON MAN OR TROPIC THUNDER! RDJ! RDJ!
Guilty pleasure style: I'm totally a dork about this, but I really did love Australia. It's being termed a "bomb," but I like Baz Luhrmann's weirdness. Also, Hugh Jackman. I still abhor Nicole Kidman. I think she just needs the right director - the only works I like of hers are by like Baz and Gus Van Sant (To Die For). Feel free to mock my Australia love; I can't help myself with sweeping epics. (Also, I'm still bitter about Moulin Rouge getting nominated for Best Film and Baz Luhrmann not getting nominated for Best Director - if anything, that was a director's movie.)
Looks like I have a lot of watching to do! What are your favourites? What do you hope gets nominated or even wins? The nominations are being broadcast tomorrow morning, and I'm not envisioning any surprises - but one can hope!
PS LOST is on tonight. Remember this.
