Al Yellon
Editor
Bud Selig: Athletics Could Get Approval To Move ... Out Of Bay Area - May 17
Grant Brisbee
Editor
Worst Call Of The Year? - May 18
Jeff Sullivan
Editor
The Bobby Valentine .Gif Of The Year - May 19
Rob Neyer
National Baseball Editor
Grading on the Curve - May 20
Dan Moore
Contributor
Joey Votto And The Twilight Of The Giant First Basemen - Apr 14
Jason Brannon
Hot Corner Scribe
MLB: My Favorite Illegal Cartel - May 20
Jim Baker
Contributor
eBay Item Of The Day - May 20
Marc Normandin
Contributor
Josh Reddick, And Having Patience With Prospects - May 18
Wendy Thurm
Contributor
Baseball On Par With Other Professional Sports In Dealing With Bad Umpires - May 20
Tuesday morning, the 2012 Academy Award nominations were announced, and "Moneyball" is one of nine Best Picture nominees, with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill garnering nods for their acting.
Jan 24, 2012 - The 2012 Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday morning, and a little film called Moneyball racked up four big nods nods.
Most notably, Moneyball is one of nine films nominated for Best Picture. The complete list:
War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
With the exception of Incredibly Loud & Extremely Close and arguably War Horse, none of those nominees constitute surprises. The favorites in this category are The Artist -- a mostly silent film set in Hollywood in the 1920s, and co-starring a really bright Jack Russell Terrier -- and The Descendants, starring George Clooney.*
* I've seen seven of the nine nominated films, the exceptions being Awfully Close & Terribly Loud; and The Help -- and enjoyed all seven. Forced to rank them, I would go The Artist, The Descendants, The Tree of Life, Moneyball, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, War Horse. In my opinion, the first three of those films have the virtue of being essentially flawless, though The Tree of Life certainly isn't for everyone. For me, the two missing movies are Contagion -- directed by Stephen Soderbergh, who was supposed to direct Moneyball but didn't -- and Martha Marcy May Marlene, which I found similar in tone and quality to Winter's Bone, which did receive a nomination a year ago.
Okay, raise your hand if, five years ago, you thought Jonah Hill would get nominated for Academy Award before he turned 30...
No one?
Yeah, me neither. But his performance in Moneyball is one of the best things in the movie, both funny and nuanced. I thought he was actually better as the title character in 2010's Cyrus, but nobody asked me. Anyway, he's exceptionally unlikely to win, as 82-year-old Christopher Plummer looks like the big favorite for his performance in Beginners.
And then there's Brad Pitt, whose portrayal of Billy Beane garnered a Best Actor nomination. Moneyball, for all its other charms, rises and falls on Beane's character and Pitt absolutely nailed it.
Pitt's competition in this category? George Clooney, Jean Dujardin (who doesn't actually speak in The Artist), Gary Oldman in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; and Demián Bichir, who I'd never heard of until this morning. I'm sure he was good, but Clooney and Pitt are the favorites here in what The Hollywood Reporter calls "The Year of the Hunk".
It's no surprise that Moneyball director Bennett Miller wasn't nominated; the competition's awfully stiff in that category. But it's at least mildly surprising that screenwriters Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin didn't get a nod for their screenplay ... somebody had to write all those wonderful words that Jonah and Brad say.
Correction! Zaillian, Sorkin, and Stan Cherrin were nominated for screenplay; the original list mentioned only Chervin, and frankly I had no idea that he was one of the co-writers. Sorry, Stan!
28 comments
12
Feb 27
Rob Neyer:
'Moneyball' Picks Up Four Major Oscar Nominations
28
Jan 24
39
Jan 18
12
Jan 11
5
Dec 16
35
Sep 26
2
Sep 26
3
Sep 26
10
Sep 23
21
Sep 23
Mark Ellis Injury: Dodgers 2B Has Emergency Leg Surgery
Adam Lind Placed On Outright Waivers, According To Report
Orlando Hudson Signing With White Sox, Says Robin Ventura
Brandon McCarthy Lands On 15-Day DL With Strained Right Shoulder
Emilio Bonifacio To DL With Sprained Thumb
Lance Berkman Leaves Game With Knee Injury
Chipper Jones Likely To Miss Weekend With Leg Contusion
Danny Duffy Indeed Having Tommy John Surgery
Diamondbacks' Chris Young Comes Off Disabled List
Allen Craig, Kyle McClellan Hit DL
More News »
Comments
Jonah Hill
The Oscars aren’t about selling jeans.
by averyslave on Jan 24, 2012 10:03 AM EST reply actions
Jeremy Brown joke?
"It's a pass so cunning you put a hat on it and call it a weasel" - #englishfootballjournalism
by Hot Cup Joe on Jan 24, 2012 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
Blah
I’ve only seen Tree of Life and Moneyball of this group, and I’m only willing to see a few others (The Descendants, The Help, maybe Hugo and Midnight in Paris). I wish a couple other good, more mainstream movies like Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Harry Potter snuck in there this year.
by dmalato2 on Jan 24, 2012 12:09 PM EST reply actions
Didn't care much for Descendants
Clooney was fine, but the story arc was problematic. There was no real third act, and I was ultimately left unfulfilled.
Don’t see how you can call “Incredibly Loud” a surprise nom — the whole film seems tailored for the Oscars. Also, it was lousy.
Top 2 for me would be Tree of Life with The Artist a distant second. Caveat still haven’t seen Hugo.
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
@productiveouts | Productive Outs
by delorean on Jan 24, 2012 12:09 PM EST reply actions
E.L.I.C.
FWIW “Super Loud” is sitting at 48% on the critics Tomatometer, 67% for audience.
What I’ve seen, I’d go Paris > Moneyball > Help. I thought for the latter two, the movie was less than the sum of its parts. Both were very deserving for their acting noms.
Excited for the netflix arrivals of Artist, Decendents and Tree of Life. Waiting till my son is older to read Hugo, then the movie.
by bdjeff42 on Jan 24, 2012 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
Conpletly agree
I’m a Huge fan of Alexander Payne. But this by far is his weakest effort. Sideways>Election>About Schmidt>Citizen Ruth>The Descendants
by Sndvl99 on Jan 24, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve only seen Moneyball from this group, although we had intended to see Wondrously Loud and Magnificently Close. It’s supposed to be quite good.
As far as Moneyball’s nominations, I can’t really see an Oscar for Hill. His performance was more Jack Morris than Greg Maddux. Pitt, though, nailed it, and deserves (having not seen any of the competition) the
Cy YoungAcademy award.by Phrozen on Jan 24, 2012 12:22 PM EST reply actions
Winner?
So, which instinct will take over for Oscar voters: giving their golden boy (Clooney) his first Lead Actor statue, after having won already in the Supporting category, or giving their slightly-less-golden-but-still-quite-golden boy (Pitt) his first ever statue?
And, you’re right, Rob – how in the world has it been 30 years since Meryl Streep last won an Oscar?
==
Writer for Baseball Prospectus. Also, check out Wezen-Ball.com
by lar on Jan 24, 2012 12:29 PM EST reply actions
Actors.
I really wish the Academy had split the difference; could have nominated Pitt for Best Supporting Actor for “The Tree of Life” — in which he was brilliant, friends — and then he and Clooney could both win something.
by Rob Neyer on Jan 24, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
Need to see Moneyball again
I was one of those baseball geeks that couldn’t get over the factual inaccuracies while watching the movie the first time. I expect I’ll enjoy it much more on second viewing.
I voted Descendants. Thought it was Clooney’s best performance. He’s better as a vulnerable older guy than as a stud. Surprisingly so.
As delorean (above) and I have discussed, I was very down on Midnight. Owen Wilson as the Woody character didn’t work and his marriage seemed like a sham from the beginning. Tree of Life? I get the objective; just didn’t do much for me.
Artist is next on my list and very much looking forward to it.
Contributor, Baseball Nation & FanGraphs
Twitter: @hangingsliders
by Wendy Thurm on Jan 24, 2012 12:37 PM EST reply actions
Midnight.
It’s a good movie. But frankly, it’s something of a trifle. Did come in as my 11th-favorite (non-documentary) film of the year, but I suspect that upon second viewing it might drop a few spots. I think Woody got extra points for making a comedy that was actually sorta funny. In spots, anyway. I also think Owen Wilson did a good job, in that he didn’t overplay as “the Woody character” (like Will Ferrell did in Melinda Melinda).
by Rob Neyer on Jan 24, 2012 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
Agree for the most part, except for Wilson
Perhaps I just don’t like Owen Wilson, but I found him unbearable in the film. Come to think of it, I can’t say that I’ve every really liked his performance in any film all that much.
Contributor, Baseball Nation & FanGraphs
Twitter: @hangingsliders
by Wendy Thurm on Jan 24, 2012 12:49 PM EST up reply actions
"The Artist" might struggle
…if we are penalizing trifles. No?
Full Disclosure: haven’t seen it yet, but watched probably 1/3 of scenes on YouTube.
by bdjeff42 on Jan 24, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
I really don't get the Moneyball love
Also:
- Michael Fassbender (Shame) and Michael Shannon (Take Shelter) were robbed of Best Actor noms
- The Academy really loves Clooney.
@CajoleJuiceEsq
by CajoleJuice on Jan 24, 2012 12:37 PM EST reply actions
They wuz robbed!
I haven’t seen “Shame”, but Shannon absolutely should have been nominated. Should maybe even get the big trophy.
I love Clooney in “The Descendants”. He makes everything look so easy.
by Rob Neyer on Jan 24, 2012 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, that's probably my issue with Clooney
You know, other than the money and looks and women. Damn him.
And I know you really liked Moneyball, but while I didn’t hate it or anything, I thought it was just kinda…there.
@CajoleJuiceEsq
by CajoleJuice on Jan 24, 2012 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
Rob, did you see 50/50? That was the best film I saw in 2011
I felt it should have gotten at least one nomination for something.
by Erik Hahmann on Jan 24, 2012 1:00 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I really loved 50/50, too
@CajoleJuiceEsq
by CajoleJuice on Jan 24, 2012 1:09 PM EST up reply actions
No, I didn't see 50/50
and I feel dumb about it. Will definitely catch on DVD or HBO.
by Rob Neyer on Jan 24, 2012 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
It should have at least gotten a screen play nomination
by Erik Hahmann on Jan 24, 2012 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
Surprised "The Trip" Wasn't Nominated for Best Cinematography
That movie was absolutely gorgeous. Yes, the setting helped, but I thought it was one of the most beautiful films I’d seen in years. And that was pretty much all I liked about it.
Contributor, Baseball Nation & FanGraphs
Twitter: @hangingsliders
by Wendy Thurm on Jan 24, 2012 1:14 PM EST reply actions
Hmmmm.
As you know, I loved everything about “The Trip” … saw it twice!
As you also know, it was actually a TV series, spliced to become a feature film. I didn’t expect it to get any love from the Academy. Even for its striking scenery.
by Rob Neyer on Jan 24, 2012 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
I didn't know it was spliced from a TV series
That makes sense.
Just another thing we’ll agree to disagree on.
Contributor, Baseball Nation & FanGraphs
Twitter: @hangingsliders
by Wendy Thurm on Jan 24, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
Let's be honest
Did anyone walk out of Moneyball and really think that Pitt and HIll gave Oscar worthy performances? I think the noms for Moneyball is more of a reflection of what a lousy year overall it was for movies. The most underrated performance that should of been nominated was John C. Reily’s performance in Cedar Rapids.
by Sndvl99 on Jan 24, 2012 1:39 PM EST reply actions
Just hoping for clarification...
Clearly, a LOT of people really think Pitt and Hill gave Oscar-worthy performances. Or at least nomination-worthy performances.
Now, I do think Hill’s performance, good as it was, probably wasn’t one of the five best in his category. I mean, there’s a LOT of competition there.
But Brad Pitt? Hell yes. He picks up that movie and carries it on his back for two hours. And trust me, he’s not just playing Brad Pitt. He worked his ass off.
by Rob Neyer on Jan 24, 2012 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
I just didn't see it
A lot of people thought The English Patient was better than Fargo. Doesn’t mean they are right. I agree all of this is opinion. I just was not blown away by Hill and Pitt to the extent that I thought that they should of been nominated for an Oscar. But like I said, I believe their nominations are mainly due to the fact that this was another down year for the film industry.
by Sndvl99 on Jan 24, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Oscar Baiting?
Founder of the 'Foundation for the Advancement of Clefoing' a 501C3
by Clefo on Jan 24, 2012 2:09 PM EST reply actions
Hey Rob, you're a movie buff...
Why aren’t you at Sundance? I’ve seen a bunch of movies you’ve enjoyed at the festival (Buck, Cyrus, Winter’s Bone recently) and I bet I’ve seen a bunch more that you’d love that never made it to a wider release. You should come out some year.
by LorenM on Jan 24, 2012 2:35 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed