Oscar nominations: A tale of prizes and surprises

Once the cheers die down and everyone gets a closer look atthe annual Academy Award nominations, the questions begin popping up. Thisyear’s crop of nominations, which were announced Tuesday morning, is noexception.

As expected, Annette Bening got a best actress nominationfor “The Kids Are All Right,” in which she plays a lesbian mom trying to dealwith her adolescent kids and the surrogate father (Mark Ruffalo) who hassuddenly resurfaced in their lives. But Julianne Moore, who some might arguehad the more challenging role as Bening’s conflicted partner, was overlooked inboth the best actress and supporting actress categories.

Similarly, Michelle Williams garnered a deserved bestactress nomination for “Blue Valentine” (opening Friday atCelebration!Lansing), in which she sears the screen as a woman who graduallyrealizes her marriage is beyond salvation. Unfortunately, Ryan Gosling — who isequally astonishing as her erratic husband — did not make the cut in the bestactor field.

Tilda Swinton, thought to have a strong shot at best actressfor “I Am Love,” didn’t make the final five. Andrew Garfield, who was touted asa string supporting actor candidate for “The Social Network,” was overlooked,as was Matt Damon’s colorful comic role in “True Grit.”

Although the mind-bendingdream-within-a-dream-within-a-dream thriller “Inception” landed a best picturenomination and a nod for Christopher Nolan’s screenplay, Nolan was locked outof the running as best director; so was previous winner Danny Boyle (“SlumdogMillionaire”), even though his nerve-wracking “127 Hours” — a director’s filmif ever there was one — also got a best picture nomination and a slot in theadapted screenplay category.

Aside from a few minor surprises, such as Javier Bardemgetting into the best actor category for the heavy-duty drama “Biutiful” andAustralian actress Jacki Weaver landing a supporting actress nomination for“Animal Kingdom,” the nominees were more or less what industry observers hadexpected. A few contests seem as if they’ve already been decided. Is anyonelikely to steal the supporting actor Oscar from Christian Bale after hismesmerizing performance in “The Fighter”? Would voters dare deny Colin Firththe best actor prize for “The King’s Speech” after disappointing him last yearfor his superb work in “A Single Man”?

But other races are more difficult to call, such assupporting actress, in which Weaver faces Amy Adams and Melissa Leo (bothnominated for “The Fighter”), as well as Helena Bonham Carter (as the futureQueen Mum in “The King’s Speech”) and 14-year-old firebrand Hailee Steinfield,who arguably stole the show from Bridges and Damon in “True Grit.” It will alsobe fascinating to see who goes home with the best director prize, consideringthis is one of the very rare occasions in which all five of the nominatedmovies — “Black Swan,” “The Fighter,” “The King’s Speech,” “The Social Network”and “True Grit” — are certifiable critical and commercial hits.

For the second year in a row, the Academy has honored 10best picture contenders: “Black Swan,” “The Fighter,” “Inception,” “The KidsAre All Right,” “The King’s Speech,” “127 Hours,” “The Social Network,” “ToyStory 3” (also nominated as best animated feature), “True Grit” and “Winter’sBone.” It’s a stronger selection than last year, in which the battle quicklyboiled down to “Avatar” vs. “The Hurt Locker.” While “Social” and “Speech” mayhave the most gusto as of now, support has been building for “Swan,” “Fighter”and even “Grit,” which is one of the few remakes ever to be showered with Oscarnominations.

Expect the picture to become considerably clearer by thetime the Academy Awards are presented Feb. 27.