Entertainment Oscar the slouch Snubs and predictions for the 2009 Oscars By Neil Bonner Snubs *Best Original Song:* By far the most puzzling category of the bunch, Best Original Song has only three nominees, with two songs coming from *Slumdog Millionaire*. Not that they're bad choices: A.R. Rahman's *Slumdog* work is not only excellent, but it could be responsible for the phrase "Academy Award winner M.I.A.". But why only three nominees? Last year the Academy had five nominations in this category, including three for *Enchanted*, a movie that I wasn't aware even had music. Turns out that all songs are given a numerical rating between 6 and 10, and a song has to have an average score of 8.25 to be nominated at all. The most notable snub was Bruce Springsteen's spare, affecting title track from *The Wrestler*, a song that was long expected to compete with the *Slumdog* songs for the prize. Plus, the extra spot could have gone to Jon Brion and Deanna Storey's bittersweet "Little Person" from *Synecdoche New York*, or even – and here's a long shot - "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" from *Hamlet 2*.
*Whither Clint?* No one would argue that *Gran Torino* is perfect, but audiences love it (it has so far earned 110 million dollars) and critics enjoy it more than other movies that were nominated. Coupled with the fact that Oscar has been good to Clint in the past, awarding him four trophies for his directorial work, it would seem a no-brainer that Eastwood's supposed final film would rake in the nominations. Yet on nomination day, *Gran Torino* walked away empty-handed. The worst part of all of this? The viewing public will be deprived of seeing Clint sing – yes, sing – the Golden Globe nominated title song. *Best Picture* Of the current five nominees, *Milk* and *Slumdog Millionaire* seem to be the most deserving. You could make a (curious) case for *Benjamin Button*, although many think it's a *Forrest Gump* rehash. But *Frost/Nixon* can't shake its reputation as glossy Oscar-bait, and *The Reader* is one of the most reviled Best Picture nominees in recent memory (its Metacritic score is a paltry 58 – two points above *Twilight*). Many would point out *The Dark Knight*'s snub as their Best Picture crime of choice, but the relegation of the richly deserving *WALL-E* to the Animated Feature Film category is the most disappointing of all. My advice to the Academy: create a Best Studio Prestige Picture category for the likes of *The Reader*, *Frost/Nixon* and other films that are on the ballot thanks to studio hype machines and little else. Picks *Best Picture:* *Slumdog Millionaire*. The Academy loves to provide the triumphant conclusion to a long and complicated narrative, especially when the nominee is widely loved. So look for *Slumdog*'s "British filmmaker heads to India to make a film about an underdog that becomes a beloved-yet-controversial underdog itself after after going straight to DVD" backstory to be topped off with Oscar gold. *Best Actor:* Mickey Rourke, *The Wrestler*. Technically it's Mickey's second comeback, but there was no way in hell the Academy would nominate him for *Sin City* in 2005. Plus, it's a fine performance, although Sean Penn's turn in *Milk* could surprise. *Best Actress:* Kate Winslet, *The Reader* Even people who hated *The Reader* had some praise for Kate Winslet's performance, plus she has a lot of momentum after two Golden Globe wins. Still, it would warm my heart to see Anne Hathaway or Melissa Leo win. *Best Supporting Actor:* Heath Ledger, *The Dark Knight* Any other year, I'd be rooting for Robert Downey, Jr., but Ledger's Joker was an amazing creation, and it would be iconic even if he hadn't passed away. *Best Supporting Actress:* Viola Davis, *Doubt* Each of the four main cast members in *Doubt* got a nod, but only Davis – whose brief scenes are reportedly the film's most riveting – is likely to be recognized. The potential spoiler is Penelope Cruz for her role in Woody Allen's *Vicky Cristina Barcelona*. http://www.argosy.ca/view.php?aid=41208 -- regards, Vithur
