The nominations are out, and yet another year in which I have not seen one of the nominees for Best Picture:
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
* “Milk” (Focus Features)
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight)
As I haven’t seen any of them, I am in no position to judge the picks,but the Benjamin Button pick surprises me, as it just seems like such a gimmicky concept. We get it- he is aging in reverse. Not sure how it sustains itself after the first 20 minutes, but apparently a lot of people loved it. I have seen all the Frost/Nixon previews 100 times, and still am not motivated to see that in the theatre. Never even heard of the Reader (am I so on top of pop culture), but I do want to see Milk and Slumdog Millionaire. I am a little surprised that Doubt was not up there, considering all the buzz.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman is up for Best Suporting Actor, but he is matched against Heath Ledger, who I would bet is a lock.
Your thoughts?
*** Update ***
This is great:
*** Update ***
A fun game. As always, I go with noted film critic and author Jonah Goldberg.
Neue Internetprasenz
When they said that Fincher was vomiting up some Oscar-bait, they weren’t kidding.
Michael D.
Milk is the only one I’ve seen. It’s a terrific movie. Did Sean Penn get a best actor nom?
Edit: I see he did. I agree that Heath Ledger is probably a lock and for good reason. But I have to say, Robert Downey, Jr. was great in Tropic Thunder.
The Grand Panjandrum
Someone posting at Funny or Die made this little video about Benjamin Button.
I haven’t seen any of them either. These days I’m usually 6-12 months behind and only watch when the DVD is released. With two daughters in first grade the last movie I saw in a theater was Beverly Hills Chihuahua. The way things are going the next movie I see in a theater will probably be Finding Nemo, Part MIV.
TR
Frost/Nixon is terrific. Go.
Reverend Dennis
Here’s the whole list of nominations.
I haven’t seen any of the nominated films either though I plan to catch "Slumdog Millionaire" when it comes out on DVD.
TR
The same five pictures are up for Best Picture and Best Director. Odd.
Walker
@TR:
It is unfortunate that one of the most pivotal scenes in the movie is a fabrication.
jenniebee
Philip Seymour Hoffman can do no wrong – he’s uniformly brilliant – but Heath Ledger’s Joker was something really special.
I agree. Anybody doing that voting has to think that Hoffman’s time is going to come again and again and give this one to Ledger.
Iowa Housewife
Benjamin Button sucked.
Stooleo
Via Sully,
Forest Gump vs Benjamin Button
Montysano
I’m thrilled to see Richard Jenkins nominated for "The Visitor". It’s a wonderful film.
My wife and daughter coerced me into watching "Mamma Mia" last night. I really enjoyed it. Meryl Streep is amazing, and the setting, on the Greek island of Skopelos, is stunning.
As the small family-owned business where I’ve worked for 17 years moves every closer to oblivion (heckuva job, Dubya), it was just the kind of movie I needed.
TR
It’s a movie, not a documentary. I can understand the difference.
R-Jud
Ledger will get it, having already lost to Philip Seymour Hoffman before he died.
Benjamin Button and The Reader don’t surprise me, though they do make me heave a sigh– they are both "prestige" pictures, created with the sole intent of getting awards.
Hmmm, best actress: Winslet or Streep? I would think Winslet, because there’s a feeling that it’s "her turn", and Hollywood loves English people playing Nazis. Streep has won twice, though not since 1982, and Doubt was the SAG’s favorites, so maybe.
Not that it matters at all, of course.
JL
I was pleased to see that Richard Jenkins was nominated for his role in "The Visitor". "The Visitor" was written and directed by Thomas McCarthy whose previous film was "The Station Agent". Both are excellent films available on DVD, although I thought that"The Station Agent" was better.
Jon H
"But I have to say, Robert Downey, Jr. was great in Tropic Thunder"
True. I don’t know if it was their intention, but they made him look exactly like one of the old 12" GI Joes with the fuzzy hair and beard.
Evil Bender
For me, the most interesting category this year will be Lead Actor. Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke both gave performances of a lifetime. Before I saw The Wrestler, I would have said Penn was a lock. Now, I’m not even sure which of the two I would vote for.
Tom
I’m surprised Gran Torino wasn’t nominated for anything. I haven’t seen it, but everyone I know who has loved it. And Clint is a big Oscar fave.
I’ve seen Milk, Doubt and Revolutionary Road. All their nominations are deserved. It’s a shame that Michael Shannon is going up against Ledger this year. In any other year, he might take home the award.
Jason F
I haven’t seen Benjamin Button yet, but I hear good things about the guy who wrote it. I’d like to see his take on a topic like the clash between old money and new money set against the backdrop of the Jazz Age,
JL
@Montysano: If you haven’t seen "The Station Agent" you should really do so. It was always written and directed by McCarthy and released 1n 2003.
Gus
I’d recommend seeing Slumdog on the big screen. Some panoramic views that would lose something on the TV. Milk was also a fine movie, but I think it would lose less impact than Slumdog as a rental. I haven’t seen any of the others, and seeing the Funny or Die bit, I have zero interest in Benjamin Button.
John PM
The only three movies I have seen that received nominiations were The Dark Knight (on DVD), Tropic Thunder (on DVD) and Kung Fu Panda (in the theater). My wife saw WALL-E with the kids and said it was booorrrring. Therefore, my only two horses are for best supporting actor and best animated feature. I would love Robert Downey, Jr. to win for playing an Australian playing a black man in a Vietnam War film, but I think that Ledger will win. His Joker was amazing. Frankly, I would be happy with either. Hoffman won for Capote, so I do not think he will be in the running.
On another note, at least now I will not have to go see Revolutionary Road, which I always suspected was made only because of the success of Mad Men on AMC, since the movie seems to cover some of the same territory. However, I do think I will go see The Reader. Frankly, I will see anything where Kate Winslet gets naked, because its artistic!
Jon H
I haven’t seen The Reader, but from what I’ve heard it seems to implicitly be saying of Germany: "That whole Hitler era thing? Think of it as an innocent, unknowing, youthful fling with a sexy sexy woman. Who turns out to be a sexy sexy concentration camp guard."
KXB
I’m planning to catch Slumdog Millionaire this weekend. My aunt and uncle saw it over Christmas, and there were times my uncle had to convince her to not leave the theater. Not because it was bad, but it because it gives a non-glamourous look at life in urban India, where they grew up. Granted, a number of decades have passed. If it can be hard to watch for a non-Indian, it can sometimes bring up bad memories for those who grew up either in or near such conditions. But having sat through it, they both found it immensely entertaining.
canuckistani
I thought the Dark Knight would have been a thoroughly mediocre comic book movie, but Heath Ledger singlehandedly saved it from the mire. Watching him on screen was like being locked in a closet with a poisonous snake – you were scared to look away. But I have mixed feelings about giving him an Oscar for it, it feels like giving a league MVP award to Alex Rios for saving the Blue Jays from utter suckitude. Shouldn’t there be a different award for best performance in a crappy movie?
Michael D.
@Tom: Gran Torino’s release date was January 9, 2009.
tom.a
Meh, I wasn’t impressed with Ledger’s performance, to me it was just Jack Nicholson from "The Shining" doing an impression of Richard Nixon. It was a very good JN/RN impression but beyond that not much there.
Milk was awesome and Frost/Nixon was very good. Haven’t seen Slum Dog yet. Benjamin Button is a well made film but nothing noteworthy or award-deserving about it.
Kevin K.
I enjoyed Slumdog, though I thought it was slightly overrated. The Wrestler is probably my favorite film of the year. One of those films that really grows on you. Ledger is a shoo-in to win, as is WALL-E (which I thought was rather boring). Biggest surprise is that Springsteen didn’t get nominated for the title track of The Wrestler. That would have been a sure bet.
Other great films that were nominated: Man on Wire and In Bruges. Both on DVD and both highly recommended. Still need to see Milk, Doubt and Frost/Nixon. And whoever raved about Mamma Mia upthread, you’re dead to me.
Edmund Dantes
It’s a shame for Downey Jr he is going up against Ledger. His portrayal in Tropic Thunder was amazing.
It’s also nice to see the Academy recognizing (like it used to in the past) that Oscar worthy performances (and films) can come from comedies.
The Oscars have slowly devolved into the Best Actor in a serious drama. Best Picture in a serious drama just like the Heisman trophy has become the Best College Football player that is a QB (occasionally RB).
ed
The Oscars are shit. Just one big circle jerk. Who gives a fuck?
Fuck The Oscars.
Montysano (All Hail Marx & Lennon)
@Kevin K.:
I was +3 of Pinot Noir, so that may have helped. Maybe the ABBA music unleashed my secret ghey. It was a hoot; lighten up.
Iowa housewife
In Bruges is quite a film.
zmulls
Benjamin Button is only the 9th film ever to get 13 or more nominations (Titanic and All About Eve got 14). So it gets some props for that. It’s a weird concept but it’s based on a short story, so they didn’t make the basic idea up.
Sean Penn has an Oscar, Mickey Rourke doesn’t. So that’s probably that. I hear Langella is magnificent, and Jenkins was so great in THE VISITOR without being showy.
Meryl Streep has two Oscars, Kate Winslet has zero. (Though Streep hasn’t won since 1982!!!). And very, very few actors get to 6+ nominations without winning. Advantage Winslet.
Philip Seymour Hoffman has an Oscar, Heath Ledger not only has zero, this is his last nomination. Pretty much a mortal lock. We’re halfway through DARK KNIGHT on DVD, finally got it this week, and it’s not nearly as good as we expected. The screenplay is ten kinds of awful, huge plot holes and clunky exposition and murky storytelling. We’re sort of appalled at it. But Ledger’s performance is really something special. He’s not channelling other weird performances, he’s inhabiting this role in a very, very disturbing way.
Nothing significant for Synechoche, New York, it looks like. And nothing significant for Gran Torino.
It’s rarer than it should be for the directing nominations to match up with the picture nominations. Every year there’s usually one film that doesn’t get nominated for director, and everyone asks "What, did the film direct itself?"
Tom
I was thinking it might not qualify for 2008. It just seems like an "Oscar" film that would go into limited release in late December to qualify.
Fwiffo
Doubt was obviously an acting showcase with its cast, but I liked the direction too. Either Amy Adams or Viola Davis would be a great pick, but I think Davis’s role is probably too small. She stole the scene against Meryl fucking Streep, but it was just one scene. She and Adams were both just incredible. Of course, Meryl Streep brings the noise as usual. The only reason I see for her not winning is because she’s already got a closet full of statues (even if it’s a little like barring the Yankees from the world series by statute.) I think Adams’s role was more subtle and difficult though.
And as good as Hoffman always is, Ledger deserves it. The Joker was something strange and new. Hoffman as a pedophile priest? That’s like the Sun rising in the East. Sure, it’s something we’re happy to see every day, but why not reach out and surprise us a bit with something new?
Robin G.
Mostly disappointing across the board. It feels like American Idol — by the end you’re not voting for the individual, you’re voting for The Rocker Dude genre or the Country Chick genre or the Belting Soul Singer genre.
This year we’ve got the Existential Message genre, the Depressing Biography of a Gay/Minority/Disabled Person genre, two representatives of the Play Made Into a Quiet but Deep Movie genre, the Vehicle For a Too-Many Times Overlooked Actor/Actress genre, and the Little Indy Feel-Good Story genre.
Simply not excited.
Fwiffo
I agree 100% (particularly some of the plot holes), and every time I talk to somebody about it, all I can do is talk about its flaws. I mean, some of the stuff was just fucking stupid (what’s up with that sonar thing, and all the characters that we were supposed to care about and had twists but never got developed in the first place) but I still enjoyed it as much as any movie I have in years. It’s worth watching just for the bank scene at the beginning. But Ledger, forgettaboutit. If anybody calls it a "sentimental" pick when he wins, I’ll stab them in the nuts.
Robin G.
Wait, my bad — only one representative of the Play Made Into a Quiet but Deep Movie genre (for some reason I thought Doubt made it in).
Tsulagi
Have seen all the Best Picture noms other than The Reader. Slumdog should easily take it. It’s got it all: romance, bad guys, religious whackjobs, cute kids, deep shit, enhanced interrogation….
Frost/Nixon was good. Nixon came off a bit sympathetic. But then he was a far more intelligent, ethical, and deeper character than Bush. We just said goodbye to the fratboy, airhead version of Nixon. At least Nixon wasn’t a spoiled brat.
Neue Internetprasenz
Echoing the guy upthread who said ‘fuck the Oscars,’ let’s all remember Forrest Gump and Crash winning, and Martin Scorsese finally winning for something that’s in the bottom half, quality-wise, of his films. I’m not sure that latching onto a dead Heath Ledger is going to substantially improve ratings (it didn’t for the Golden Globes), nor is Wolverine doing a Peter Allen impression going to help things.
zmulls
Meryl Streep *does* have a closetful of awards, but no Oscars for more than 25 years. What’s up with that?
I remember hearing that the actress who played that one scene on Broadway against Cherry Jones, stole the scene as well. I can’t wait to see it.
(And I think Amy Adams has been amazing every time I’ve seen her. Junebug, even in Charlie Wilson’s War. She always brings it.
germ78
@KXB: Yeah, there are definitely scenes in Slumdog that will make most people squirm; most notably the blinding scene. But if you stick it through, it has an immense pay-off at the end.
That said, I haven’t seen any of the other Best Picture nominees, so I have no basis for comparison, but Slumdog was far and away the best movie I’ve seen in a long while.
Fwiffo
I’m gonna go back and watch her episode of BTVS now that I’ve seen her in so many other things.
Re: that scene in Doubt… It’s really a lynch-pin the whole story pivots around, so it’s a real sweet spot for a great performance to happen. I’m enjoying that movie more and more as I reflect on it. I’m surprised it didn’t get at least a nom for best picture.
R-Jud
@Tsulagi:
And a big dance number, don’t forget.
Tom
I actually think Davis might win. Beatrice Straight won best supporting actress for her performance in Network, which consisted of only one scene.
I don’t think the screenplay is as bad as you say it is, as it came together for me at the end. For me, that’s the best measure of whether a script is good or not. though I do agree there are some plot holes (most notably — SPOILER — what use was it for Gordon to fake his death to the point that he didn’t tell his family. It seemed like he did to set up the Joker, but I couldn’t really tell how the Joker thinking Gordon was dead was useful to the set up).
gypsy howell
If you’re thinking that CCBB is going to resemble Fitzgerald’s interesting little story in any way, shape or form other than the general premise (‘guy ages backwards’) and the title, you’ll be sadly disappointed. Mr Howell & I went with the two 20-something Howells to see it on Christmas Day, and unlike any other movie we’ve seen together (seeing a movie together being one of our Christmas traditions), we came out of the theatre and couldn’t think of a thing to say to one another for about 15 minutes. Yeah, it was that stupifying.
I then re-read the story, to see if my memory was playing tricks on me, and sure enough,the movie was completely and in nearly every detail different from the story. And not in a good way.
I was amazed at how young they made Brad Pitt look in his "early-20-ish stage". Other than that … meh.
Oh, and Cate Blanchett poured on her really, really annoying overacting schtick.
OTOH, I heard Slum Dog Millionaire is very good.
cleek
wow. i haven’t seen a single one of the nominations (for any category), this year.
actually going to the theatre to see a movie seems like such a colossal waste of time and money these days. Netflix + homemade popcorn + any damn time i want to = Win.
get off my lawn
estamm
I understand that Kate Winslet shows off her ample boobs in ‘The Reader’. I can’t wait to see it! I hope she gets an Oscar in order to encourage her to keep doing that.
Fwiffo
I agree with that. The payoff with the ferry thing was pretty satisfying to me. But the citizens of Gotham are dumber than a gaggle of Sarah Palins. They fell for the same trick by the Joker like 30 times. The only way anyone would have gotten on those ferries is if their face was welded to the bulkhead.
I’m physically angry about that sonar crap though. Oooh, let’s tack on a stupid political subplot about civil liberties and waste 20 minutes on a pointless special effect instead of taking care of all the sloppy stuff in the plot we left everywhere else.
jibeaux
You know, this is totally true and definitely my M.O. as well — I am watching the very last episode of HBO’s Rome series tonight and I am so bummed there aren’t more — but I will say that the last time I went to a movie with a group of friends, carefully choosing a theatre with a beer and wine license so we could have a pint first and could just laugh and talk and really turn it into a social occasion — that aspect is worth keeping, even though the movie might (and did) suck. I do worry about the costs to the psyche of bowling alone as the book says, blog-commenting alone, all that introvert stuff, and the loss of social support networks, blah blah blah.
But, yeah, 90% agreement.
Fwiffo
She hasn’t shown signs of stopping, so I don’t know that she needs encouragement. I’m sure 20 years from now we’ll be begging her to put those things away, but for now…
Laura W
@Montysano (All Hail Marx & Lennon):
Speaking of your stellar taste in music, I’m ordering Fleet Foxes later tonight. I saw you reco it in a thread and this morn I opened a journal and saw that on 1/10 (which I think pre-dates your comment) I’d heard "Your Protector" on The Loft and made a note to self to look into it. Cosmicosity too auspicious to be ignored.
I already have "Moss" on the way, courtesy of burnspesq (sp?).
BJ is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’ll find here.
(Hope it was a Russian River Valley Pinot. Personal fave CA region for "the sensualist’s grape".)
Tom
That was my favorite album last year, probably followed by Devotion by Beach House. FF released an EP as well last year that’s just as good as the album (the first song they played on SNL was off it).
Robin G.
@tom: I agree, I think The Dark Knight script really did seal the deal at the end. But then, I’m a huge sucker for Kantian vs. Utilitarianism arguments, which is what the entire movie was (with some other underlying philosophical questions considered — oh, and some explosions).
I didn’t like The Dark Knight as much the first time I watched it, but then I realized that I was so overwhelmed by Heath Ledger’s performance that I had trouble caring when he was off-screen. Rewatchings have raised the movie, in my mind, to excellence.
The Other Steve
OH NOES!
That explains why it wasn’t nominated for Best Picture.
Sheesh, one of my favorite films this last year was Wanted, all because of the music and the keyboard scene.
I wish I had that keyboard right now.
Laura W
@Tom: Great. Two nods to FF. I taped SNL (yeah, VCR dinosaur here) specifically to see FF but then I taped over it on Tuesday, of course, without watching. I’ll look into Beach House before amazon check out.
I dunno about your tastes but I suspect Montysano might enjoy a little EBTG now and then. I listened to Amplified Heart this morn. Don’t think I will ever tire of that compilation. Not a song on it I don’t love. Been a fan since I first heard them playing over the system in an art gallery, decades ago. One of those instant moments of resonance.
Montysano (All Hail Marx & Lennon)
@Laura W:
Nah… it was Black Box Pinot, but I’m fine with that. Once I open the box, I’m like "I need to drink that before it goes bad!"
Re: Fleet Foxes. If you can find the import Special Edition, you’ll get both "Fleet Foxes" and the "Sun Giant" EP (which contains the gorgeous "Mykonos").
Zuzu's Petals
I was glad to see Richard Jenkins nominated for "The Visitor." It was a real hidden gem, and he was amazing.
Montysano (All Hail Marx & Lennon)
@Zuzu’s Petals:
Don’t tell my wife, but I now have quite a thing for Hiam Abbas.
Tom
We have a winner?
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/01/22/gran-torino-dark-knight-shut-out-at-the-oscars/
Mike in NC
No nominations again for Adam Sandler? Hollywood elitists! Maybe he’ll star in a future Dubya bio-pic. Josh Brolin did a fine job in "W".
Zuzu's Petals
@Laura W:
Excellent taste!
Ronnie Pudding
I’ll second the poster above who said that Slumdog is a big screen flick. Something like The Visitor, on the other hand, is fine for a rental.
Zuzu's Petals
@Montysano (All Hail Marx & Lennon):
And who could blame you.
Montysano
@Laura W:
Wow, I hadn’t thought of Everything But The Girl for years. I think I’ve got "Idlewild" around somewhere, maybe on vinyl. Since I’m back into vinyl, I’ll have to go digging for it.
BTW: For anyone who spins, Fleet Foxes is available on vinyl as a double LP that includes "Sun Giant". New releases on vinyl: no one could have predicted….
Damned at Random
Only one I’ve seen is Milk – took my 18 year old niece and it got us talking about the early gay rights movement and the emergance of AIDS. Since I’m the "fun" aunt and live 3000 miles away, it was the first time we really had an in depth adult conversation. I love that film, but maybe for the talk with my lovely niece and bittersweet memories of gay friends from long ago. That move will be special to me for reasons that have nothing to do with technical merit – I expect the same would be true for anyone who remembers that era.
Plan to see Slumdog tomorrow. Highly excited
Screamin' Demon
Too bad most people didn’t feel that way about J.F.K. Most people still view that movie as objective truth.
Frank Langella’s Nixon is completely unbelievable. He practically foams at the mouth while howling in high dudgeon "When the president does it, that means that it is NOT illegal!"
Whereas in the actual interview, Nixon says it in a calm, matter-of-fact way. Not at all as portrayed in the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejvyDn1TPr8
Screamin' Demon
My comment can’t be edited because it is marked as spam.
What a fucked up blog.
Gus
And lets not forget fucking Titanic and Ordinary People over Raging Bull.
Turgidson
Benjamin Button was pushing 3 hours long. 3 hours I’d really like to have back. It’s a lame rewrite of the lame Forrest Gump. Not as corny, but just as silly, and Brad Pitt is harder to stomach for that length of time than Hanks (yes, even when he’s playing Gump). Frost/Nixon was OK, but if it’s up for Best Picture, this was a really, REALLY bad year for mainstream movies in my estimation. Not the first time an abomination will get the Oscar, though.
Still need to see Milk and Slumdog. Those are probably the ones I have the highest hopes for.
Mouse Tolliver
The joke behind Kate Winslet’s guest appearance on the Ricky Gervais series Extras was that she was making a holocaust movie just so she could win an Oscar. I think it would be funny if she actually won an Oscar for playing a Nazi.
BethanyAnne
For what it’s worth, I *loved* WALL-E. Just adored it. The "animatedness?" of those two characters just fascinated me.
timb
Wall-E was excellent. I can’t believe someone who saw didn’t like it…it takes all sorts
The Tim Channel
Looking forward to Milk. Thumbs up on Slumdog Millionaire and Frost-Nixon. Haven’t watched Ben Button yet…..lots of differing opinions on that one. See Gran Torino. Excellent movie.
As for Frost-Nixon not being exactly historical….it is close enough IMHO. Man on Wire was much better than I thought it would be. There’s an offbeat animated movie….Free Jimmy…about a heroin addicted circus elephant….not for kids. I also enjoyed Zack and Miri make a Porno.
Enjoy.
pattonbt
Ive seen three of the five (CCBB, SM and F/N) and I have to say, CCBB really shouldnt be up there. It just all kinds of meh. It really was nothing but meh. So many problems and so little depth. So many unnecessary narrative devices and metaphors. And, while I think she is the best actress going, Blanchett was awful. Pitt was fine, but best actor? Umm, not. By far this is not the best work of any of the great people involved (Fincher, Blanchett, Pitt, etc.). Oh well, worse pictures have won in the past.
I am very, very happy to see Richard Jenkins get nominated. Its good to see a strong performance in a small movie which wasnt made in a purely oscar bait grab get nominated.
And wouldnt it be great for there to be a repeat of the urban legend Marisa Tomei ‘accidental’ win?
JC
Saw Slumdog Millionaire and Benjamin Button of the nominees.
Slumdog was by far the better film – one of my favorite movies last year.
Jon H
"Benjamin Button was pushing 3 hours long. 3 hours I’d really like to have back. It’s a lame rewrite of the lame Forrest Gump."
And even worse because it’s the same writer. That’s just lazy.
2th&nayle
@Laura W: My 30-sumin’ daughter, gave her 50-sumin’ dad, "Fleet Foxes" for Christmas. I had never heard of them, but she assured me I’d enjoy them. She said, " The first time I heard them I thought; Dad would love this!" She, of course, was right. I just love when that happens!
DFH no.6
John (if you’re still checking this old thread) do see Milk and Slumdog. Both are good and Slumdog, particularly, should be seen on the big screen.
As a bonus, the music in Slumdog is also quite good and fits well with the action onscreen. Got the soundtrack on the IPod and I play it often (it’s got a modern Western pop mixed with sensual Indian sound that I find fun to listen to).
Benjamin Button sucked — should have listened to the reviewers.
Can’t watch anything anymore to do with the Holocaust, and especially not one with a sexy camp guard. That just seems way wrong.
And I’m with John on Frost/Nixon. Saw the original when it aired on theTV back in ’77, not motivated in the slightest to see the fictionalized version (similar to the way I felt about Stone’s W).
Hands down best movie was Synecdoche. It was the only shouldn’t-be-missed movie of the year, IMHO. Philip Seymour Hoffman at his best. Not surprising it did so poorly at the box office, though. It was difficult and surreal, to say the least. I think it would be right up your alley, John.