Earlier today, this year's Oscar nominations were announced in Los Angeles. Was Peter Travers satisfied with the nods? Not exactly.
Does Brad Pitt give a Best Actor-worthy performance in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button — the film that received the most nods, with 13? What happened to The Dark Knight's Best Picture nomination? Could it be that Ricky Gervais' advice to Kate Winslet was accurate (do a Holocaust movie, nab an Oscar nomination)?
So what were the Academy's biggest mistakes? Nominating Winslet for The Reader rather than Revolutionary Road. Denying Bruce Springsteen a nomination for his end-credits song from The Wrestler.
Why's Travers so worked up? Keep reading to check out the nominations for the major categories, and click above to watch his breakdown of the biggest films and the most crushing disappointments of nomination day:
Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actress
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Best Actor
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Viola Davis, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Best Director
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Song
Peter Gabriel, "Down To Earth," WALL-E
A.R. Rahman, "Jai Ho," Slumdog Millionaire
M.I.A. and A.R. Rahman, "O… Saya," Slumdog Millionaire
Best Score
Alexandre Desplat , The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
James Newton Howard, Defiance
Danny Elfman, Milk
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Thomas Newman, WALL-E
Related Stories:
• Oscars Snub Springsteen, Celebrate “Slumdog” As Nominations Are Announced
• Milk, Dark Knight and 2008's Best Films
• Are the Golden Globe Awards the Stupidest Movie Prizes Ever?
• All Movie Reviews by Peter Travers
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swathi sridhar | January 26, 2009 12:00 PM
it was shocking for everyone when the curious case of Benjamin Button got 13 nominations.. but slumdog truly deserves all the nominations it has got! rahman needs his due for the soundtrack and most importantly Danny Boyle !!
Kate Winslet for "the reader" ??? what about that incredible performance in revolutionary road ... Gran torino ?? and clearly the jury has forgotten about "the dark knight "
Mark | January 26, 2009 3:04 AM
I would love to see Meryl Streep receiving another award..
Dave Logan | January 26, 2009 1:52 AM
An Academy that showered the 'Lord of the Rings- the Return of the King' in Oscar gold is afraid to say that 'the Dark Knight' is best movie of the last year. Not only is it a great film, that blends multiple genres together, it is stunnigly directed and photographed.
Kate Winslet is the only thing about the Reader which deserves an Oscar. Personally I thought Michael Sheenwas better in Frost/Nixon than Frank Langella, but it is a good film and its' other nominations are well deserved.
It isn't listed above but if 'Waltz with Bashir' doesn't get best foreign film then I will have lost what little faith I still have with the Academy. This film deserves to be in the list for best picture but it doesn't work that way does it.
My hopes for the above listed nominations lie with:
Slumdog Millionaire
Kate Winslet
Mickey Rourke
Amy Adams
Heath Ledger
Danny Boyle
A.R. Rahman
G.H. Weekes | January 25, 2009 5:55 PM
While I agree that Springsteen's Oscar snub was a genuine shock, I realize that no one seems particularly fazed by the fact that NONE of the ELEVEN songs in contention from High School Musical 3 were shortlisted. That has to be some kind of unfortunate record, both for the composers and the Academy.
dingo | January 25, 2009 1:56 PM
i agree with travers that The Dark Knight should have been nominated for Best Picture the use of Cinematography in the film is absolutely superb and Ledger should definitely win for his role as the Joker , the Dark Knight deserved more than 1 nomination , it should have gotten 2 at the least.
Sami | January 24, 2009 5:27 PM
Well I loved Button and I thought Pitt did a great job. No one expects that he will win but he needed to be recognised too, especially considering he was snubbed last year for Jesse James.
But I do agree that between Burn and Button, his better performance was in Burn.
To use the academies choices as a battering ram to beat him with as talentless is not only untrue it's dishonest.
Hate him for looking good or for divorcing a manipulative shrew, but he his talent is unquestionable. How often does he have to prove himself Mr Travers. Heck even you asked a similar question recently.
Leo's snub is not a surprise because what he did in RR he did in Blood Diamond. Don't get me wrong, he's an incredible talent, but we have seen this performance before.
mllerref88 | January 24, 2009 1:32 AM
Benjamin Button was a good movie, but it is NOT best picture. Period. Personally I thought Brad Pitt should have got a best supporting nod for Burn After Reading, instead of Button, but I can't say I'm surprised.
Frost/Nixon is in the same boat as Button. Good, but not Oscar material. Frank Langella's performance was steller though.
Also, did anyone notice that all the Best Picture nominations are for movies released at the end of the year? I don't think a single one on that list came out before November. It really makes you wonder if the academy acctually did any serious analysis of the year's best films, or simply selected the ones they'd seen most recently.
Anton Chirugh | January 23, 2009 10:48 PM
Call it Friendo, Penn or Rourke? Slumdog or Benjamin? Winslet or Meryl?
Ryne Nelson | January 23, 2009 10:22 PM
While I liked Slumdog and rushed out to find a theater that was showing it as soon as Peter said something about it, I can't agree with Willis. It should not win the best picture. I'm no expert (yet...but I hope to be one after watching the movies Peter suggests), but this isn't the type of movie that wins it all. The performances just aren't there! Slumdog is the perfect movie to rent. Period. I say the award should have gone to Dark Knight, but should now go to Milk. But that's just one opinion. Thanks for the great work (as always), Peter!
Cathena | January 23, 2009 9:49 PM
I agree with Peter, "no clint? no leo? no boss? whatthefuck?" and add to that no dark... hello!!!
G | January 23, 2009 3:30 PM
You should have thrown the Academy into the scum bucket.
Scott3843 | January 23, 2009 12:00 PM
I'm glad MILK got its due. I was a little disappointed in no Art Direction nomination, but as long as Mr. Penn and Mr. Brolin were singled out, I'm OK.
Sean Penn for Best Actor!
eastwood | January 23, 2009 10:21 AM
GRAN TORINO
the funniest
the most dramatic and relatable
movie of the year
Anonymous | January 23, 2009 9:31 AM
I couldn't believe Sally Hawkins did not get nominated. That was one of this year's most egregious slips on the part of the Academy. Also, Winslet for "Reader" rather than "Revolutionary Road," no Bruce Springsteen, no "Changeling" score, no "Gran Torino" at all, no DiCaprio and no Eddie Marsan. Jeez. Oh, and the fact that "Wanted" was nominated for anything at all.
Willis Hughes | January 23, 2009 1:37 AM
Slumdog Millionaire is one of the best movies I have seen in a while. I agree with the fact that it should win Best Picture, but I'm curious as to why you're not celebrating the greatest achievement of the academy this year? They actually nominated Richard Jenkins!!!! You praised this movie as one that should be nominated for every category when it first came out and for once, the academy actually listened. Jenkins gives an amazing performance and one that brutally destroys the craptastic juggernaut that is Brad Pitt in Benjamin Button. Hollywood does not give enough credence to quality any longer, but the nomination of Jenkins is a step in the right direction!