AMPAS announces nominees, 'Blood' and 'No Country' lead the pack
Film awards enthusiasts got a lot of answers to a lot of tough questions this morning. A lot of answers.The shot heard round the Oscar world not 30 minutes ago was "Atonement," the first film out of Kathy Bates' mouth as she stood by Sid Ganis at the podium of the Academy headquarters to announce the year's Best Picture nominees. Of course, right?
You could watch the announcement on E! or online, but wherever you were, it became apparent from the outset that the group did not respond to "Into the Wild" -- at all. No nominations came for Sean Penn, for writing or directing. No nominations for the film's acting outside of Hal Holbrook's supporting actor mention. Nothing. Well, one other nomination -- for Best Film Editing.
That's right, poor Eddie Vedder had to sit back and watch three nods for "Enchantment" come down the pike, while his album full of brilliant tracks was left twisting in the wind.
The only other major surprises of the morning were Jason Reitman's directorial bid for "Juno" (also a Best Picture nominee) and Tommy Lee Jones' left-field bid as Best Actor for "In the Valley of Elah."
The writing was on the wall for "Wild" throughout the week, really. Some of us refused to believe it. Nevertheless, this has become the first year that only one SAG ensemble nominee went on to a Best Picture berth. Very strange.
Yesterday's news that the original score for "There Will Be Blood" would be deemed ineligible wasn't enough to deter the film. It racked up 8 nominations, tying fellow Best Picture nominee "No Country for Old Men" for the most nominations of the day. Scott Rudin must be proud. But still, if that silly DQ hadn't landed for composer Jonny Greenwood, "Blood" would be at the top of the mountain.
Best Picture nominees "Atonement" and "Michael Clayton" each managed 7 nominations, while straggler "Juno" landed 4. The real surprise of the awards tally, and stealthily so, is "Ratatouille," which came up with 5 total mentions.
Conceivably, the films now duking it out for Best Picture are those very two efforts, as it isn't typical for films not nominated for Best Director or Best Film Editing to take the win. "Atonement" missed on both peripheral nods, while "Juno" and "Michael Clayton" didn't find room from the editors.
Glancing over the full list of nominees, other travesties become apparent. Already mentioned was the snub of Eddie Vedder in the original song arena (he should be considered no stranger to the cademy's cold shoulder as he missed back in 2003 for the accaimed track "Man of the Hour" from the "Big Fish" soundtrack).
"Norbit" is an Oscar nominee, ladies and gentlemen, finding room in the makeup field. This isn't entirely shocking. A soon as I saw it on the bake-off list, I had a feeling.
The documentary branch completely and utterly failed us all, snubbing the brilliant "Lake of Fire" in favor of run-of-the-mill work like "Operation Homecoming" and the unimpressive "Sicko." It's hard to argue with "No End in Sight" and "Taxi to the Dark Side," however. "War/Dance" -- well -- I fell asleep, so no comment.
Final surprises of note include "Away from Her" turning up in the Best Adapted Screenplay category and "Acorss the Universe" finding some love from the costume designers. Angelina Jolie also found herself snubbed in the Best Actress category, making way for Laura Linney in "The Savages," while Matt Groening and company were ignored by the animation branch for "The Simpson's Movie." "Surf's Up" joined "Persepolis" and "Ratatouille" in the year's cartoon competition.
The story of the season is that the guilds have failed us. The DGA foresaw only three of the eventual Best Picture nominees, the group's worst job of prognosticating in six years. The PGA landed four, continuing down it typical path. But "Atonement" only managed nominations from the Art Directors Guild, the American Society of Cinematographers and the Costume Designers Guild. The only template for such an effort making it through to the finish line without major guild commendations is "Elizabeth" in 1998, and believe me, that has been running through my mind all week.
(And no, "Letters from Iwo Jima" isn't applicable, as the guilds simply didn't see the film in time for voting last season.)
The fall of "Into the Wild" is an absolute shock. Sure, there were ripples in the water. Maybe the Academy didn't love it so much, maybe other films came along to trump it in the end, etc. But two nominations. TWO. After the industry had celebrated it considerably throughout the guild circuit. It's actually embarassing because, speaking as no lover of the film, it is a work of passion that didn't deserve this turn of events.
We now turn our eyes to the Oscar ceremony -- still to be held on February 24. Will there be a show? Will the strike be over? Will today's list of nominees anxiously await as winners are revealed in some awkward song and dance akin to this year's Golden Globes?
Some questions, it seems, remain unanswered.
Red Carpet District is Variety contributor Kristopher Tapley's attempt at making sense of the ever-expanding glut of film awards coverage. He's been on the beat for six years. Email 
I usually get annoyed with one film or actor considered a lock for a win, as if no one else deserves the win. I felt that way about DDL, because the way people are talking now, anyone else winning Best Actor would be a sacrilege. I find that silly. I'm not sure if DDL was the best actor this year...but he did create a character that hasn't left my mind. I still hear and see him. I recall having a similar experience with Denzel in Training Day. That has to be good for something.
Posted by: Silencio | 1/25/2008 3:14:01 PM
"We should have predicted the Into the Wild snub. Come on. Snubbed completely by the Globes and the BAFTA''s, it clearly wasnt a film that was loved universally, as the guilds seemed to indicate. Atonement on the other hand, was embraced universally, so it was far more accessible." Liz, no offence but I suggest you get your facts straight before you start predicting or analyzing. P.S. Janusz Kaminski! Roger Deakins! Across the Universe! Viggo Mortensen!
Posted by: Proman | 1/22/2008 8:49:48 AM
Jason Reitman over Sidney Lumet?! Really? hmm... Sad not seeing Frank Langella up there. I'm sure he'll get in for Frost/Nixon, though. Here's hoping TWBB takes the top honor! NCFOM can take directing, and I'd be happy.
Posted by: mag | 1/22/2008 8:32:01 AM
I live to please, Lynn. :)
Posted by: Kristopher Tapley | 1/22/2008 8:04:17 AM
Nice to see Sarah Polley get some attention -- Away from Her was a great film -- would have liked to see Jesse James get some love but alas, it is destined to be remembered as a work of art in the years ahead --
Posted by: JOHN FOOTE | 1/22/2008 8:03:54 AM
I'd just like to say that I am SO happy that you were SO wrong about Johnny Depp. Johnny and Tommy Lee Jones in the Best Actor line-up make me a happy camper.
Posted by: Lynn | 1/22/2008 7:53:11 AM
No Dreamgirls?!?
Posted by: MeThreepio | 1/22/2008 7:45:29 AM
Excuses for Atonement: 1. No DGA, No PGA, No WGA.. so it will no be nominated. It got nominated and the brand new excuse... 2. No Director, No Editing... so it will not win. Guilds sucked! and screw the rules! I love this year!
Posted by: Mario | 1/22/2008 7:44:08 AM
We should have predicted the Into the Wild snub. Come on. Snubbed completely by the Globes and the BAFTA's, it clearly wasnt a film that was loved universally, as the guilds seemed to indicate. Atonement on the other hand, was embraced universally, so it was far more accessible. Wright's director is not surprising at all. Think of Ang Lee with Sense and Sensibilty. It had a very strong showing, but still he was snubbed. The BP race will interesting. Conventional wisdom suggests its a two-way race between NCFOM and TWBB. I dont trust the stats this year. I think its completely wide open.
Posted by: Liz | 1/22/2008 7:41:08 AM
"The rest of us." Har. I haven't been beating the drum in favor of anything, my friend. Just paying attention to the guilds which, for the first time ever, have failed CONSIDERABLY in telling the story.
Posted by: Kristophe Tapley | 1/22/2008 7:39:06 AM
That Alan Menken! He's at it again!
Posted by: N8 | 1/22/2008 7:34:32 AM
You've been beating the drum for "Into the Wild" but its lack of support doesn't come as a big surprise to the rest of us...
Posted by: CrewCut | 1/22/2008 7:25:13 AM
Yej, of course I'm thrilled for my boy TLJ. Now if he had just gotten in over Viggo instead of Emile. Not seeing what all the Viggo fuss is about. Glad Elah has something to show for it. Too bad TLJ is a dead duck with DDL the closest thing to a lock.
Posted by: MiraJeffAICN | 1/22/2008 7:19:23 AM
Glenn, "shot heard round the world" doesn't equal "shock." It's an indication of something, a definitive bellwether, etc. If you want my thoughts on "Atonement" probably getting in, go back and read what I wrote at In Contention yesterday. There's no real "shock" to be had in that arena, but I'm not going to get into that argument with you. And no, it isn't rude to call foul on something I think stinks. Sorry. But what does it matter, the best film of the year only got two nods as well ("Jesse James").
Posted by: Kristopher Tapley | 1/22/2008 7:00:04 AM
Just for the record - how awkward is the next Reitman family gathering going to be? The son, on only his second film, gets nominated before his famous father who hasn't had a hit in years.
Posted by: Glenn | 1/22/2008 6:59:43 AM
Wow. Paragraphs would be nice.
Posted by: Glenn | 1/22/2008 6:51:33 AM
But you yourself was shocked by the Atonement nomination so it's not like everyone just KNEW it was going to be nominated. The shot heard about the world! Into the Wild may not have deserved only two nominations (although some would say it didn't deserve those - I'm fine with it's two noms, despite not particularly liking it) but something like Atonement deserved to be nominated just as much as Into the Wild (and I know you liked Atonement, too, so it's nothing to do with that). So, ItW only got two nominations, but what would you argue - outside of the original song category - deserved to be kicked out in it's place? You could say Reitman, but then there are other directors who deserve a spot there just as much as Penn. Again, this is nothing about you or your opinion of the film, I just think it's a bit rude to the other films and nominees to say that because Sean Penn was obsessed with this character that it was somehow more deserving. Blah. Why do I care so much? I'm just happy it got snubbed!!
Posted by: Glenn | 1/22/2008 6:50:31 AM
MiraJeff, you have to thrilled about Tommy Lee Jones' nom.
Posted by: yej | 1/22/2008 6:44:08 AM
Yay for Laura Linney and Surf's Up!!
Posted by: MiraJeffAICN | 1/22/2008 6:42:13 AM
2 nominations for Into the Wild isn't absurd... a mediocre film got a mediocre response, and it cleared the way for much more deserving nominations. Like Sarah Polley for Adapted Screenplay. SO COOL!!!
Posted by: yej | 1/22/2008 6:38:40 AM
The "Atonement" backlash you speak of was a media thing, rolling with the here and now rather than seeing the big picture, Glenn. Clearly, it did just fine, so there's nothing to argue. Two nominations for "Into the Wild" is absurd.
Posted by: Kristopher Tapley | 1/22/2008 6:30:33 AM
yej, i'm not that against Into the Wild but I'm super happy it got knocked out in favour of Atonement/Juno/Away from Her (however the votes stacked). "It's actually embarassing because, speaking as no lover of the film, it is a work of passion that didn't deserve this turn of events." I'd argue that. Something like Atonement didn't deserve the backlash it received purely because it's a prestige drama and got given the "frontrunner" status.
Posted by: Glenn | 1/22/2008 6:23:50 AM
The fall of Into the Wild is quite possibly the greatest thing the Oscars have ever done! I'm so happy!!!
Posted by: yej | 1/22/2008 6:05:58 AM
Don't forget Away From Her's screenplay nomination. Surely that was a surprise.
Posted by: Chad | 1/22/2008 6:05:42 AM
Hairspray got nothing. Enchanted got THREE noms for song.
Posted by: matt | 1/22/2008 6:02:26 AM
"Into the Wild" scored an editing nom.
Posted by: Natasha | 1/22/2008 5:54:29 AM
No love for Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Sad.
Posted by: BradR | 1/22/2008 5:49:28 AM
ATONEMENT!!!
Posted by: dan | 1/22/2008 5:48:38 AM
Not too many big surprises here, it was a little bit of a shock to see Ruby Dee and Tommy Lee Jones squeak through and I'm so glad Hal Holbrook made the cut.
Posted by: PhilC | 1/22/2008 5:48:24 AM
Well someone hates "Into the Wild"! Whoa! Jason Reitman!
Posted by: Brian Kinsley | 1/22/2008 5:47:50 AM