Thoughts On The Academy Awards Nominees

The Academy Awards -- aka, the gay Superbowl -- announced their nominees. Some thoughts:

From Crackle: Robert Downey Jr talks about Tropic Thunder

-- It was the surprise of the morning. Courageous nomination of Robert Downey, Jr. for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as an African-American in Tropic Thunder. Normally, the Academy doesn't recognize comedy as on par with Drama, or even commercial success. Downey deserves the nod for his role. But he doesn't stand a chance. Still, this may set a precedent for comedies in the nominations going forward.

-- Bravo to the awesome Melissa Leo for her Best Actress nod for indi fave "Frozen River." She doesn't stand a chance against the talent in that room -- Anne Hathaway(Rachel Getting Married), Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Meryl Streep (Doubt) and Kate Winslet (The Reader) -- but she deserves the chance to glam up at the affair and soak up the press attention.

-- Chris Nolan snubbed for Best Director nod in The Dark Knight? Why can't the Academy reward a commercially successful film? They did it with Gladiator. Hoo boy, the comic book fanboys and avid girls are going to run amok in the blogosphere.



-- Clint Eastwood doesn't get respect in the Best Director category for Gran Torino. Has the American icon lost his fastball or has "Oscar" lost his fancy for Eastwood's gritty protrayal.

-- Bruce Springsteen's "The Wrestler" doesn't get a Best Original Score nod? That is a tragedy.

-- Both Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie -- the quarterback and head cheerleader of Hollywood High -- were nominated for, respectively, Best Actor and Best Actress. Does thie mean that Team Brangelina gets the counterpoint for having lost the box office battle against "Marley & Me" at the beginning of the year?

-- At what point did the Best Supporting Actress category become the "Super Hott Chick" category? It seems, year after year, that the best performances by an actress in a supporting role is metamorphing into the best looking actress in a supporting halter top! Amy Adams (Hot!). Penélope Cruz (Smoking, in a sexy European role to boot). Viola Davis (Yummy). Taraji P. Henson (My love). Marisa Tomei (Stripper girlfriend, hello?)