Knee jerk reactions . . .
Well, “Little Children” is alive and well despite a curious marketing and release strategy in the US. “Bobby” for Best Drama! No Bill Condon (“Dreamgirls”) for Best Director. BSR IT girl Maggie Gyllenhaal swiped a nomination for best actress – drama. “For Your Consideration” was shut out all around as was “United 93” and “Half Nelson.” Very surprised that Ryan Gosling (“Half Nelson”) didn’t get a nomination; somewhat surprised Ken Wantanable (“Letters from Iwo Jima”) didn’t either. Djimon Housou (“Blood Diamond”) didn’t pick up a supporting nomination either, but Mark Wahlberg (“The Departed”) and Ben Affleck (“Hollywoodland”) did. Nothing for Alan Arkin or Abagail Breslin from “Little Miss Sunshine.” Emily Blunt from “The Devil Wears Prada?” Which one was she? “Borat” was a big winner. It’s hard to imagine Sacha Baron Cohen (“Borat”) not winning the Best Actor- Musical/Comedy prize. Imagine the acceptance speech.
Big losers, I’m not sure there were any particular films that had the coffin slammed shut. Maybe “United 93,” which seem to have new life after the critics awards. “For Your Consideration” was done some time ago, I thought, but Catherine O’Hara was in the thick for a Best Supporting Actress nod. She needed a nomination here to stay alive. Two nominations for Eastwood is just stupid. I’m not sure that has ever happened before, but I still think “Flags of Our Fathers” is done. “The Good German” is dead, but was it ever alive? “Little Miss Sunshine,” with only one nomination, is in some trouble for that coveted 5th BP spot (could it go to “Babel” or “Little Children”?) Not sure what to ever make of “The History Boys,” “The Children of Men,” or “The Painted Veil.”
“Letters from Iwo Jima” was placed in the Best Foreign Film category, which was due to HFPA rules, I think. So was “Apocalypto.” Still not done with that one . . . “Volver,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” and “The Lives of Others” also made that category.
The Globes muddied the Oscar water today. More later . . .