This year’s Oscar nominees have been announced, and it is easily the year in which I’ve seen the least of them, so I’ll hold off on my usual rant.

Nothing completely preposterous or thrilling in the nominations, which seems to suggest that this year’s festivities may be even duller than last year’s. All the better, I’m not even planning on being in town. Just a few things I’m smiling about: Clive Owen’s nomination for Supporting Actor in Closer, and the Original Screenplay nomination for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Oh, and of course, Johnny Depp. For anything.

Well, if you’re looking for me, I guess I’ll be at the movies…

Stayed home extra late this morning to catch the revealing of the Oscar nominees live.

I was happy to see Les Invasions Barbares not only get the obligatory nomination for Best Foreign Picture, but also Best Original Screenplay. Of course, in the latter category it’s up against the incredibly fashionable (and that’s all I can say about it) Lost in Translation, so fat chance. However, for Foreign Film, it lost the Golden Globe to an Afghan film which isn’t nominated for the Oscar, so there is hope.

I was happy to see Return of the King get an Adapted Screenplay nod, which means the only one of the trilogy that didn’t get that nomination is The Two Towers, which is exactly as it should be (we still love ya, Faramir!).

I would, however, have liked to see one nomination for LOTR in acting, and if I had to give such a prize, it would have gone to Sean Astin (Sam). But with ROTK getting 11 nominations, I can’t really complain.

I’m going to have to do a lot of catching up to see the movies that did get acting nominations. I haven’t seen any of the nominees for actresses, supporting or leading.

The nominees for male actor in a leading role are
Johnny Depp (a pleasant surprise)
Ben Kingsley
Jude Law
Bill Murray
Sean Penn

A lot of people expected something for Tom here, but I think the Academy got it right. If Tom should have ever gotten an Oscar, it’s either for his role in Jerry Maguire or in Magnolia (in which he was fantastic). Those are the ones where he really let go of the Tom persona. In every other role, including The Last Samurai, he was Tom.

So, on my to-watch-before-the-oscars list, I have Mystic River (lots of nominees including Picture), Girl with a Pearl Earring (just cause I want to), Seabiscuit (do I have to?), 21 Grams and Cold Mountain (ugh ugh).

Will LOTR finally grab the brass ring this year? I would have thought so, but the fact that it is going up against Lost in Translation makes me nervous. As most of you know, my opinion of Lost was “stylish but dull”. Yes, I know I’m alone in this world not to have liked it. Yes, I know it’s so uncool to say anything against Sofia. Mais je m’assume.

Wishes and predictions forthcoming.