19 minutes ago 2009-11-30T07:57:36-08:00
Access Hollywood
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- As Forest Whitaker and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis finished announcing the nominees for the 81st Academy Awards in Los Angeles Thursday morning, many were left scratching their heads about movies and actors that were ignored, while some nominees got the surprise of their lifetime.
The most glaring nomination omission has to be "The Dark Knight" in the Best Picture and Best Director category. Though Heath Ledger received a Best Supporting Actor nod, the movie and director Christopher Nolan were left out. This comes a surprise to many as the movie has been honored by Critics' Choice Awards and the Golden Globes - along with earning spots on multiple top films of 2008 lists. Nolan has also been nominated for a DGA Award from the Director Guild of America.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 2009 Academy Award Nominees
Also missing from the Best Picture category was Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio 's "Revolutionary Road," which has been highly touted and honored this awards season. The drama earned a Golden Globe nomination and acting win for Kate's role as a tortured housewife in 1950s Connecticut suburbs. Kate and Leo also both failed to get Oscar acting nods for the Sam Mendes-directed drama.
Kate and Leo might have been left on the side of the Oscar "Road," but co-star Michael Shannon earned a nod for Best Supporting Actor, which caused audible cheers and screams of excitement from the crowd at Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: A Look Back: Oscar Best Picture Winners
Access Hollywood's Scott "Movie" Mantz weighed in on Michael Shannon's nomination.
"I was very happy to see that Revolutionary Road's Michael Shannon was nominated for Best Supporting Actor," Mantz said. "He's only on screen for 10 minutes, but he makes his mark with an impression that's unforgettable."
Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins was passed over for her amazing work in the Mike Leigh-directed "Happy-Go-Lucky."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'The Dark Knight' Scenes & Stars
Though Oscar fav Clint Eastwood did not receive the congratulatory phone call for his directing or acting work in "Gran Torino," the Hollywood legend's directing work with Angelina Jolie in "Changeling" was honored in the form of a Best Actress nod.
The Oscar good news continued at the Pitt-Jolie house, with Angelina's partner, Brad Pitt , also getting a nod for Best Actor in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Brad's romantic fantasy about a man aging in reverse was the big winner Thursday, racking up an impressive 13 nominations -- but came up one short for Brad's co-star, Cate Blanchett , who was passed over by the Academy for her role as Brad's leading lady.
Newcomer Dev Patel, who earned a SAG nomination for "Slumdog Millionaire," was also left out Thursday morning, but his movie and director Danny Boyle did earn noms.
In a small show of more diversity, two African-America actresses, Viola Davis ( "Doubt") and Taraji P. Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), were both nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category.
On the music front, Bruce Springsteen was passed over for Best Original Song for "The Wrestler," which shares the same name as the Mickey Rourke drama. Bruce won a Golden Globe for this song earlier this month.
Oscar host Hugh Jackman 's "Australia" failed to receive hardly any award season love this year, but the movie did eek out a single nomination for Best Costume.
Fans will find out if the Oscar nomination surprises continue when the 81st Academy Awards are presented live on February 22 on ABC from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: 2009 Oscar Nominations Announced
PLAY IT NOW: Ron Howard Reacts To Oscar Nomination For 'Frost/Nixon'
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Oscars - Awards Season - Movies - Batman - Kate Winslet
comments
-
Iceman77Liberty lover, are you insane ? Most Oscar winning films are small artsy movies, very few big studio films even get any Oscar buzz.report abuseposted August 18, 2009 1:43 PM PDT
-
DeeCeeAnyone who thinks The Dark Knight was a total bore did NOT watch it, obviously. Heath Ledger was fantastic and we will miss his talent in the years to come. No one seems to talk about the set decoration which was gorgeous. It didn't surprise me at all that Brad didn't win for Best Actor. He is a talented actor but he is a "heart throb" and will not win until hereport abuseposted March 5, 2009 2:47 PM PST
-
Nancy-Jo"Dark Knight" was a TOTAL BORE.....Bale didn't deserve a nomination,nor did the film. Such an overrated piece of mediocrisy. Bale is at best a D- actor, he doesn't seem to be capable of more than a grimace from constipation. The man needs acting lessons badly or a good laxative, either would help his style.report abuseposted January 24, 2009 1:52 PM PST
-
Dark AmaranthHmmm, no. I will be skipping the Oscars yet again this year. I don't care to waste my time seeing the awards going to who ever bribed, bought, sucked or screwed their way to "the top" of the heap. It seems that REAL talent is over looked in favor of the latest celeb who will whore themselves for a bauble that has lost all meaning. Its rigged, imo.report abuseposted January 23, 2009 9:53 AM PST
-
the oscars suckreport abuseposted January 23, 2009 8:13 AM PST
-
natomas residentWhat happened? Alot of the best movies have gone unnoticed,and unappreciated this time around. Clint Eastwood,and I was very suprised that The Duchess, wasnt even mentioned , even for costumes.At least the innauguration was exiting!report abuseposted January 23, 2009 8:01 AM PST
-
Hey LIberty Lover! If its all about politcs, how do you explain a low budget foreign film like Slumdog milionaire being voted for best picture?? Especially over Dark Night?? Slumdog was also nominated(and won) the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Award. Somtimes a good movie is just a good movie!report abuseposted January 23, 2009 6:44 AM PST
-
TaylorI think the oscar belongs to duhbama cause he has snowed alot of people. hahareport abuseposted January 23, 2009 4:36 AM PST
-
chelle523Dark Knight was a great movie, but it's not an Oscar Best Picture movie. It would take a miracle for an action movie, particularly one with a comic book background to be nominated for Best Picture. Oscars are notoriously snobbish with regard to that type of film. But I am really glad to see that Heath Ledger got a nomination. I wasn't sure the Academy would step outside its comfortreport abuseposted January 22, 2009 11:44 PM PST
-
Liberty LoverIt's ALL totally political - Oscar awards aren't based on talent, but schmoozing and being "Flavor of the Month". The Academy always favors huge, bloated, big budget studio films and tends to avoid giving Oscars to independent films. The reason why the MAAP rating system exists to give movies "G, PG, R and NC-17" film ratings is SOLELY to putreport abuseposted January 22, 2009 11:18 PM PST
Post A Comment
- VIDEO: All Access: John Mayer's Details Magazine Cover Shoot & Interview (Part I)
- VIDEO: Behind The Scenes: Kim Kardashian's Sexy Carl's Jr.'s Commercial
- GALLERY: On The Scene: Miley Cyrus Tour Bush Crash (Nov. 20, 2009)
- VIDEO: On The Scene: Miley Cyrus Tour Bus Crash (November 20, 2009)
- GALLERY: Big Hair! Wild Fashions! Oprah Winfrey Over The Years
RELATED ARTICLES
- Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow Spend Thanksgiving in Morocco
November 27, 2009 7:09 AM PST - Adam Lambert makes a splash, but risks losing fans
November 25, 2009 8:39 AM PST - Adam Lambert: Male Keyboardist "Didn't Mind" That I Kissed Him
November 25, 2009 8:03 AM PST - Adam Lambert on AMAs: "I Did Get Carried Away"
November 25, 2009 7:23 AM PST - Adam Lambert on Outrage: "I'm Not a Babysitter, I'm a Performer"
November 25, 2009 6:13 AM PST
RELATED PHOTOS
RELATED VIDEOS
Updates
Today
-
-
20 minutes ago 2009-11-30T07:56:38-08:00
-
21 minutes ago 2009-11-30T07:55:17-08:00
-
22 minutes ago 2009-11-30T07:54:00-08:00
-
24 minutes ago 2009-11-30T07:52:52-08:00
-
24 minutes ago 2009-11-30T07:52:47-08:00
comments