I'd Like to Thank the Academy for This Thread

David Weigel | January 22, 2008

The 80th Academy Awards already seem like the least relevant in history: Even if the fate of the bloated, overwritten telecast wasn't dependent on the resolution of the strike, the individualization of pop culture and rise of home (and on-the-go) entertainment got even starker this year.

Still, eh, that's a whiny and old story. Here's the list of nominees. I see that the moody-but-pointless corporations-will-kill-your-family potboiler Michael Clayton (with a "powerful" final scene that plays like a weak homage to the final scene of The Long Good Friday) is recognized in multiple categories but I'd be surprised if it won any of them: Javier Bardem (Supporting Actor) and Cate Blanchett (Supporting Actress) have to be the favorites for their awards, and I wouldn't call George Clooney the favorite over Viggo Mortensen or Johnny Depp. I'm surprised "Falling Slowly" from Once got nominated: Great song, but it appeared back in 2006 on another album by the movie's stars, and I expect Disney to drop some bodies if it wins. Michael Moore's Sicko is now an Oscar-nominated film, as is Norbit, but The Simpsons Movie is, sadly, not.

Praise? Gripes? Predictions? Thread 'em out.