Oscar Nominations are out

[RedEye]

Very happy to see Timbuktu nominated in the foreign language films category. First time ever nomination for director Sissako (one of Africa's best) and for a Mauritanian film to make the cut.

Haven't seen enough of the other entries to really comment too much.

I loved Grand Budapest Hotel and really see it as a crowning effort in Anderson's recent return to form (Moonrise Kingdom is also excellent) after a bit of time in the wilderness.

I was also really glad that Gone Girl didn't make it. I am generally a Fincher fan, but I thought this movie really fell apart in the last act -- especially when Neil Patrick Harris showed up. Friends of mine have argued that it is satire, but I think that strains credulity. And even if it is a satire, there isn't much interesting going on in it beside clichés about the disintegration of modern marriage.

I agree with 757690 that Ava DuVernay is a pretty big snub for the director category. I was also surprised to see Bradley Cooper nominated for anything. I like the movies he is in, but I never think he's that strong in them.

[RedTeamGo!]

I think you can say that you want to put The Grand Budapest Hotel on your best films of 2015 list when you want people to know you went to film school, or wished you went to film school.

Or, you know, they just really enjoyed the movie.

[Dom Heffner]

Very happy to see Timbuktu nominated in the foreign language films category. First time ever nomination for director Sissako (one of Africa's best) and for a Mauritanian film to make the cut.

Haven't seen enough of the other entries to really comment too much.

I loved Grand Budapest Hotel and really see it as a crowning effort in Anderson's recent return to form (Moonrise Kingdom is also excellent) after a bit of time in the wilderness.

I was also really glad that Gone Girl didn't make it. I am generally a Fincher fan, but I thought this movie really fell apart in the last act -- especially when Neil Patrick Harris showed up. Friends of mine have argued that it is satire, but I think that strains credulity. And even if it is a satire, there isn't much interesting going on in it beside clichés about the disintegration of modern marriage.

I agree with 757690 that Ava DuVernay is a pretty big snub for the director category. I was also surprised to see Bradley Cooper nominated for anything. I like the movies he is in, but I never think he's that strong in them.

I got up from GOne Girl and told my wife....if its purpose was to simply entertain me, it succeeded. Anything beyond that I don't know what I just watched.

[dabvu2498]

Or, you know, they just really enjoyed the movie.

That was me. And while I did take a Film Studies class, I'm not sure I actually retained anything.

Anyways, there were lines that literally made me snort. I literally howled a couple other times. Totally loved it.

And Fiennes was great, but the kid that played young Zero was out of this world. He should have been nominated.

[westofyou]

I'm a film major

In short, the award shows are like life, ain't always fair and ain't always true to art as much as art+ commerce

[Razor Shines]

On Tom Brokaw's "An American Story" radio thing he does today he talked about how happy he is for his friend Michael Keaton and hopes he wins an Oscar for "Birdland". He probably thinks it's a movie about hunting.

[Razor Shines]

Never mind, let's cancel this whole charade and give all the awards to Whiplash.

[dabvu2498]

Pulled an Imitation Game/Birdman double feature yesterday. I liked both a lot, but both also lacked just a little something. I can't quite put my finger on it. I don't get the nomination for Norton. He was good, but he's done "that character" before. Keaton was great, though.

[Bob Sheed]

I know people always want to bash the awards.

But if it wasn't for the awards, there would be nothing for those working in the industry to strive for besides money.

[dougdirt]

I know people always want to bash the awards.

But if it wasn't for the awards, there would be nothing for those working in the industry to strive for besides money.

Telling good stories?

[Dom Heffner]

Never mind, let's cancel this whole charade and give all the awards to Whiplash.

Kid went to my wife's high school.

[dougdirt]

Kid went to my wife's high school.

Your wife wasn't allowed to dance in high school?! Poor girl.

[cincinnati chili]

I'm a film major

In short, the award shows are like life, ain't always fair and ain't always true to art as much as art+ commerce

I totally see this. One thing I'll say for the Oscars - they almost never honor the best movies of the year, but they generally honor movies that I enjoyed (or would enjoy). Contrast this with the Grammys, which usually honor music that I find to be something less than good, let alone the "best."

[Bob Sheed]

Telling good stories?

Nice dream.

Some artists have no use for the "starving" part though.

[RedTeamGo!]

Nice dream.

Some artists have no use for the "starving" part though.

Boyhood was all about making a quick buck