The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Casey Affleck got the Best Supporting Actor nod as the titular Coward in this underrated western derided for its slow pace. I'd have given Sam Rockwell that particular shout-out, but I'm just glad it got some attention outside of the San Francisco Film Critics naming it their best picture..
Elizabeth: The Golden Age: Cate Blanchett has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for this role in a movie widely panned by just about everyone who's seen it. This makes me think that not many Academy members actually saw the thing, they just assumed that the first one got an Oscar nod, this should, too. Still, it's Cate Blanchett. It's hard to argue with giving her awards.
The Brave One: Jodie Foster had gotten some Best Actress consideration for her role as a wronged woman out to do more wrongs to make it right, but she was boxed out by Blanchett.
Across the Universe: Likely destined to become a Broadway musical, Julie Taymor has crafted a musical about the 60s out of Beatles songs. I missed it, but my mother is a big Beatles fan, and she thought it was fantastic. So there you go.
Feast of Love: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, and Jane Alexander all star in this much-praised "meditation on love" surrounding a group of folks in Oregon.
