BFCA Noms are In!

Ah, the Broadcast Film Critics have announced their nominees for the 2008 Season. Before we begin, let us make note of one thing missing from this list that is supposed to be a main contender at the Oscars.



And I'm talking ZERO love. Winslet, DiCaprio, Mendes, Picture: zip. Zero. Zilch. I'll not let this deter me from seeing it, of course. I loved the novel, and I love this creative team. Still, it does raise an eyebrow.

What did get nominated, you ask? Here we go, now.

BEST PICTURE
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
The Wrestler
REACTION: Holy...WALL-E and The Dark Knight?! Way to rebel, BFCA. Good work. Both also happen to be only one of three films listed here that I've seen, the other being Changeling. All worthy contenders. Milk opens in Tallahassee Friday, The Wrestler opens next week. Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, The Reader are all Christmas releases or thereabouts. I just want to watch movies, studios. Please? Anyway, I predict a win here for Milk, possibly Slumdog Millionaire.

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk
REACTION: Hey, I saw The Dark Knight! Whoo-hoo! Meanwhile, I've always been a fan of Boyle and Fincher, and I loved both Van Sant films that I've seen. Howard...well, we'll see about that, won't we? I expect Danny Boyle to win, possibly Nolan.

BEST ACTOR
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
REACTION: It's so curious when there are six nominees in a category. It makes Oscar predictions that much more difficult. And, congratulations, I've seen NONE of these movies. Well, I have seen 3/4 of The Visitor. I really must finish that movie, it was very sweet. Sean Penn FTW, unless it goes to Clint Eastwood.

BEST ACTRESS
Kate Beckinsale - Nothing But the Truth
Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
REACTION: Oh, please, Movie Gods, let Anne and Angie be nominated at the Oscars! Unless other actresses deserve it more! Another six nominees here, and still no Revolutionary Road. Incredible. With Kate gone, it's Meryl's to win here, with Melissa Leo a runner-up.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
James Franco - Milk
REACTION: Hey, five! I like to Franco's nom is as much for his terrif performance in Pineapple Express as it is for Milk. Which I need to see Friday, BTW. I suspect Franco will be replaced by Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) come Oscar noms. But this is the BFCA, so Heath is going to win, with a possible upset by Hoffman. Oh, and by the way: RDJ for Tropic Thunder is the greatest nomination ever.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Vera Farmiga - Nothing But the Truth
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader
REACTION: Ah, there Winslet be. Only seen Cruz's performance, and it is GREAT. But, I fully expect to see Viola Davis get it, with a possible upset by Taraji P. Henson.

BEST SCREENPLAY
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
REACTION: Oh, I am a horrible person. I have the screenplays to Milk, Frost/Nixon, and Doubt, but have yet to read them! I must get to them immediately, so I can judge properly. I say it goes to Eric Roth, unless it goes to Simon Beaufoy.

BEST ENSEMBLE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
REACTION: Rachel is honored only twice? For shame! Where's the Screenplay nom? Where's Rosemarie DeWitt in Supporting? *Sigh* Doubt will win, no question. Gasp-inducer: The Dark Knight.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Another Way to Die" - Quantum of Solace
"Down to Earth" - Wall-E
"I Thought I Lost You" - Bolt
"Jaiho" - Slumdog Millionaire
"The Wrestler" - The Wrestler
REACTION: Yuck on the Bond song. Such love was not granted to the far superior "You Know My Name" from Casino Royale. "Down to Earth" wins, seconded only by "The Wrestler".

BEST SCORE
Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Clint Eastwood - Changeling
Danny Elfman - Milk
Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard - The Dark Knight
A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire
REACTION: Desplat wins, unless the Zimmer/Howard team does. I decree it now.