Clint Eastwood's Invictus was expected to land a Best Picture Oscar nod and was a possibility for Best Director. The sentimental political drama's only two Oscar 2010 nominations were for best actor Morgan Freeman (above) and best supporting actor Matt Damon. "We didn't get a best picture nomination? Well that's a big letdown. Well there you go. That's my problem, I thought we should get a best picture nomination," Freeman remarked upon learning that he was in, but his movie was out.
Michael Hoffman's The Last Station was at one point touted as a possible Best Picture contender. It received two nominations: best actress for Helen Mirren and best supporting actor Christopher Plummer. As expected, James McAvoy was once again ignored. He'd been previously bypassed for both The Last King of Scotland and Atonement, which earned nominations for, respectively, Forest Whitaker and Saoirse Ronan.
Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones got only one nomination: for best supporting actor Stanley Tucci. The Weinstein Co's Nine earned four nods: best supporting actress Penelope Cruz, best art direction, best costume design, and for the song "Take It All." Before opening to mixed (or downright negative) reviews, both were supposed to have been major Oscar 2010 front-runners. Even Harvey Weinstein's Oscar muscle couldn't get more mentions for Nine, an expensive flop.
Fantastic Mr. Fox received two nods: best animated feature and best original score. It didn't, however, get a nomination for Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach's screenplay, which has been widely praised by critics.
Despite the success of Avatar and District 9 among Academy members, another sci-fi adventure fared less well: J.J. Abrams' Star Trek garnered four nods, two of which for sound, plus best makeup and visual effects. Some had predicted it would be one of the 10 best picture nominees.
Jane Campion's period romance Bright Star was well received at Cannes, but earned only one Oscar nod for best costume design. Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or and European Film Award winner The White Ribbon was deemed good enough for the best foreign language film category and for its cinematography. Obviously, feel-good Best Picture nominee The Blind Side had more ardent fans.
Photo: Invictus (Keith Bernstein / Warner Bros.)
Morgan Freeman quote: Associated Press
Not a fan of Invictus.
"As expected, James McAvoy was once again ignored."
It was expected, but it saddens me so much. When will this extraordinary actor be recognized? I guess it is because he doesn't follow the rules of Hollywood's fame game. McAvoy is much more worried in being an actor than a star.
Meanwhile, we have George Clooney, playing once again the role of George Clooney, and of course, nominated.
I am appalled that The Blind Side was nominated for best picture instead of 500 Days of Summer. 500 Days received no recognition and that's a shame.
Morgan Freeman should be happy HE got a nomination. His movie wasn't very good.