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By Josh Kirschenbaum

The Oscars are always a mixed bag. The very idea that art is subjective ensures that no one can be perfectly happy on nomination morning. Everyone has a forgotten favorite. Everyone has a film they detest making it into the top five. That said, I’m pretty happy about this year's nominations. The Academy seems to have voted for films they genuinely enjoyed, instead of voting for films that won other awards.

In the lead categories, Tommy Lee Jones (for In the Valley of Elah) and Laura Linney (for The Savages) managed to sneak in despite no support from the precursors. Jones’ film was considered a bomb and out of the race. Linney’s was expected to get a lone screenplay nomination. Both gave fantastic performances and I’m glad AMPAS decided to honor them. I’m upset that Johnny Depp was nominated for what I thought to be a mediocre performance but Depp is one of the most loved actors today and I’m certainly not surprised.

The supporting categories went more or less as expected. The only surprise seemed to be in the best supporting actress category where the great Ruby Dee managed to grab a spot with minimal screen time. Though I’m disappointed that Paul Dano and Max von Sydow were left out of the best supporting actor category, it was expected that they would be snubbed and I believe that the final five are all great performances.

I’m overjoyed that Sarah Polley was honored for Away From Her’s wonderful screenplay. The screenplay nominations went as expected otherwise.

I’m glad to see Once get in for best song. I’m surprised to see an Into the Wild snub in this category, though it was snubbed in almost every other category so it shouldn’t really come as a shock.

In the best director category, only Jason Reitman’s nomination for Juno was unexpected. I’m very happy to see him there. Without his excellent direction, Juno would be just another wacky studio comedy, albeit with a more unique edge to it.

Though I’m disappointed that Atonement made it into the top five for best picture while Into the Wild and The Diving Bell and The Butterfly were both snubbed, I’m trying not to let it bother me. There’s too much to be happy about in this year’s batch of nominees to get hung up on one upset.

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