Post-Racial Stripper Office Gossip

Can you smell it? It’s Oscar season. And, although I don't carry an Academy card, I do have an opinion. So, here are my slightly gossipy and very uninformed picks:

Actor in Leading Role

The nominees are…
Richard Jenkins – The Visitor (my pick)
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

This one's a no brainer. Richard Jenkins was the patriarch of my favorite TV family. Most of you have heard me sing my Six Feet Under love song. Brilliant (the show, not my song). Have I seen The Visitor? Nope, but I warned you of my uninformed-ness ahead of time.

Actor in a Supporting Role

The nominees are…
Josh Brolin – Milk
Robert Downey Jr – Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt (my pick)
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road

Welcome to post-racial America! Robert Downey Jr. is nominated for being a white American actor playing a white Australian actor playing an African-American character. Too bad he’s fighting the impossible posthumous award battle. But, despite all that nonsense, Philip Seymour Hoffman is my pick. I’m still not over his Capote performance.

Actress in a Leading Role

The nominees are…
Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Melissa Leo – Frozen River
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kate Winslet – The Reader

Kate Winslet would have been my pick. I have an affinity for dark, depressing period dramas and this one totally fit the bill. In real life, her kids are enrolled at this fancy private school that I pass every day on the way to work. Coincidentally, one of the fancy pants executives that sits near me also has a daughter at that school. Last week, she was bragging about PTO meetings with Kate Winslet, blah blah. The story ended with her telling me that Kate doesn’t allow any of the African American nannies in her apartment. What?! So, I’m changing my pick to Sally Hawkins. Yes, I know she’s not nominated. But, I'm planning a write-in campaign.

Actress in a Supporting Role

The nominees are…
Amy Adams – Doubt
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (my pick)
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Marisa Tomei plays a stripper in The Wrestler. Nobody wants to win an Oscar for their portrayal of a stripper. She’s already won once for playing an abrasive ditz and a second win would set a poor precedent. Taraji is my pick –- mostly because she has a great name, but also because she was really good in TCCBB. This movie I have seen, so I can vote on something a bit more substantial than office gossip.

Directing

The nominees are…
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button(my pick)
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Clint Eastwood (a ten-time nominee) and Woody Allen (a 21-time nominee!) were shut out, despite a ridiculously pandering “Last chance—he might retire!” campaign for Clint, and the fact that Woody made a movie that people actually went to see (not me). While TCCBB was not my favorite movie of the year, I appreciate that it had incredible directing. Finch – you’re my pick.

Score

The nominees are…
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire (my pick)
Wall-E

The Academy finally recognized Bollywood film culture! Well, sort of. Slumdog was made mostly by Brits and the music was not all Indian. But, can we talk about how much I love the song Paper Planes?!

Best Picture

The nominees are…
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire (my pick)

Perhaps Slumdog is not Mumbai’s pick, but it’s definitely mine.