Academy Award nominations

So, what do you think of the nominations? Here is the list of acting noms:


Performance by an actor in a leading role:
Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:
Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Performance by an actress in a leading role:
Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role:
Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

The big surprises have got to be Melissa Leo for Frozen River and Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road. Both of these actors have been around for some time, but have never
gotten this kind of attention. I applaud and congratulate all the nominees, but I always like
to root for an underdog. I haven't yet seen all of the performances, but I did think that Sean Penn was amazing as Harvey Milk. I would have rather seen James Franco get the nod for his supporting role in Milk, as opposed to Josh Brolin, who I thought was fine. Also, pleased for Richard Jenkins - who most people know from his work as the dead father in "6 Feet Under". I also loved Penelope Cruz in "Vicky Christina Barcelona".

I will post my picks after I've seen all the performances - I will now spend the next few weeks making sure that I see them all before the Academy Awards on February 22nd.

Here's an update on the casting for the Lifetime Mini-series "Maneater": we've hired Judy Greer and Noureen Dewulf to join Sarah Chalke in the cast. Judy is best known for starring in the series "Misguided" and also for her great turns in movies like The Village, The Wedding Planner and Adaptation. Noureen is a very funny fresh face, who has been very busy doing lots of tv and film roles and who was named one of Maxim's Hot 100 in 2007.