2008 Oscar nominations are out

The Oscar nominations came out on Thursday. There were a lot of surprises and some nominations that were as expected. Click here for the complete list of nominations.

The most shocking thing to me that happened while I was watching the nominees being announced was the exclusion of Kate Winslet (my favourite British Actress of all time) wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Reader.

Now I didn't really hear the nominations as I was in the middle of listening to Microsoft's second fiscal quarter 2009 webcast for work when they were being announced but when Best Actress came up I was unpleasantly shocked that Melissa Leo snagged a nom for Frozen River. I haven't seen the film and I've heard that she is great in it but I was hoping to see Kristen Scott Thomas for I've Loved You So Long. Thomas was amazing in that film but alas she got snubbed. Also snubbed was Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky. I've seen this film and while most critics praised her optimistic and sunny character, I found her annoying and her sunny disposition grating. So I was not too disappointed that she didn't get nominated. Now seeing Kate Winslet nominated as Best Actress was no surprise but because I wasn't listening to the nominations but seeing it, I assumed she was nominated for Revolutionary Road (which she won the Golden Globe for) so when later I found out it was for The Reader, I was truly shocked. As Revolutionary Road being pretty much shut out for major categories was surprising.

Another surprise came in Best Actor with Richard Jenkins getting nominated for The Visitor. I've seen this movie and did think he did a great job and am happy that he was nominated but I know he won't win.

Now I know there are other snubs but I didn't watch that many Oscar-bait movies to say they were snubbed and they were only considered snubs because critics were saying they were.

But I was surprised that Rachel Getting Married only earned a Best Actress nod for Anne Hathaway, which was expected but didn't get one for Jenny Lumet's original screenplay.

Seeing Slumdog Millionaire getting 10 noms and hearing other people that I know that has seen it praising the film really makes me want to see it.

A few years ago, I vowed to myself that I would try and see every Best Picture nominees before the Oscar telecast, alas the only year I did that was when Million Dollar Baby one. Since then, I have either only seen one or none beforehand. Though usually, I end up seeing the Best Picture winner afterwards but I haven't seen all of No Country for Old Men. I saw like an hour of it on a plane but haven't seen the rest since and I don't know if I want to. If I don't, it breaks my streak of seeing every single Best Picture winner since The English Patient.

Out of the five Best Picture nominees this year, I've seen only The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and I've no desire to see Milk but I do sorta want to see Frost/Nixon and most likely will see The Reader since I am a big fan of Kate Winslet.

There are two categories that I can call right now and that is Heath Ledger for Best Supporting Actor and WALL-E for Best Animated film. Those two are sure things that me saying it here is not giving too much of my predictions away. I am not going to post my predictions before February 22 just in case my brother, whom we have an annual bet, should read my thoughts. I have the DVD of Twilight riding on this if I win. If I lose, I apparently can't argue about us trying to eat healthy for the next three months. My dad said I will win this year's bet because I know more about movies than my brother so I am hoping he is right.

Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Pitt and Blanchett shines in Button

By Vanessa Ho

Clocking in at almost three hours long, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button didn't feel like you were clocking watching but rather soaking in the story of a man, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) who ages in reverse and the ensuing love story.

Button is born shortly after the end of World War I. His mother dies giving birth to him and his father (Jason Flemyng), after seeing his son, abandons him on the steps of a nursing home, where he is found by Queenie (Tarajil P. Henson) who becomes Benjamin's surrogate mother. What is unusual about Benjamin is that when he is born he looks like a man well into his 80s will all the ailments of a senior citizen.

As he starts to grow younger, he meets Daisy (first played by Elle Fanning as a child, then Cate Blanchett as an adult). As they grow up together, they fall in love and finally meet in the middle in their 40s where their love really blossoms.

The love story is the heart of the film and where it truly flourishes. Pitt and Blanchett had undeniable chemistry and every scene they are in together is powerful and emotional.

Button is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and screenwriter Eric Roth really did an excellent job in shaping the story and giving it more heart and emotion.

Part of that heart goes to the performances, especially Henson as the no-nonsense Queenie. She truly seems to have formed a nice mother-son bond with Pitt. And Pitt is a true revelation here, giving great depth to Button in his various ages and proves that he is an actor with more than a pretty face. Blanchett of course is always amazing, in particular towards the end of the film, when she encounters a younger Benjamin; a truly heart wrenching reunion.

But there were times that I wished there was more of Daisy and Button. Too much of the movie is spent focusing on Button's adventure after he turns 17 and leaves for adventures at sea and during World War II. The romantic in me just wanted more scenes with Pitt and Blanchett. Their love story is one for the ages. Their story was of the most interest to the film.

Be prepared to cry as you the inevitable conclusion of a love story where one lover moves into old age and the other goes towards infancy.