I honestly cannot believe that Slumdog Millionaire won Best Sound over WALL-E, what were they thinking!? If The Dark Knight had beat it I could understand, but what's so brilliant about the sound in Slumdog Millionaire compared to WALL-E?



I still can't shake the feeling that Heath Ledger's win was a sympathy vote. It seems odd that The Dark Knight wasn't nominated in any of the other major categories, only the technical ones (which yes, it would have won anyway I'm sure). Surely that shows that it's the kind of film that would usually be ignored by the Oscars were it not for Ledger's death.

bit of a blunder by Michael Douglas during the syrupy introductions for best actor award as he extolled the virtues of Frank Langella's portrayal of Nixon, saying it was the best he'd ever seen and no previous attempts could compare etc. All the while, 'Sir' Anthony Hopkins who also famously played the part is standing right there presumably sucking it up. Embarrassing!

Oh, and on 'The Reader'. I have to say that I do agree with Mr Kermode that it is in fact only a slight version of the film it aspires to be. In short it lacks some meat on it's bones, for me it failed to offer any real insight or explanation as to why so many people turned there back on each other and allowed such profoundly saddening atrocities to prevail during that period.

I DID enjoy the film nevertheless! One of the main things which carried me along with it was the music, the score was extremely well pitched for the story of Ralph Fiennes' character. It was haunting and melancholic in a way which perfectly mirrored Fiennes' internalised brooding presence. It was the saving grace for me and I feel a partial explanation for the film's popularity despite it being merely slightly above average fare. I wonder does anyone else share these feelings.

Interesting that Mark refers to 'Man on Wire' and 'Slumdog Millionaire' as British films. One is about a Frenchman and largely takes place in France and the US, the other is set in India with Indian actors.

If these films had both approached the Arts Council for funding they would have been refused because they do not qualify on the grounds that something like 10% of the film needs to be filmed in the UK.



Oh, and noticeably they didnt say 'Sir' Anthony Hopkins although they did give that appellation to Ben Kingsley when they were boh on stage together. Was it because Hopkins is now a US citizen?

Mickey Rourke really should have won best actor. I was really looking forward to seeing him up there, accepting the award. I can't help but think that the Hollywood big-shots haven't fully forgiven him for his earlier well publicised exploits. But then again maybe that's not a bad thing for him anyway. I really hope this is just the beginning for him now, and we can look forward to more great performances.



I was also miffed that In Bruges didn't win Best Screenplay. It should have walked away with that award easily. No contest!

Being a teenager, this year's ceremony was the first I watched from beginning to end. It was an alright show, my biggest highlight being the very entertaining performance of the Best Song nominees. Seeing the Bollywood atmosphere invade the Kodak theatre for that moment made me really feel good about Slumdog's snowballing success (there's a mouthful), even though I had merely liked and appreciated the film rather than loved it madly as several others did.



Seeing Danny Boyle channeling the spirit of Tigger had the same effect.



I can't help but agree with wintera (comment #5) though, in being disappointed over In Bruges' near-absence from the proceedings. It was, after all, my favourite film that I saw at the cinema in 2008.

Now hang on, it didn't even rate a mention at the Kermodes either! Bah. Can't win 'em all, I guess.

*slight spoilers for those who haven't seen Slumdog. Oh, and Bambi*



I know how futile it is (not to mention unbecoming) to bewail the popularity of a film I feel nothing for, so please don't take this as an oppositionist rant. Slumdog IS a feelgood film. Yes, it's grim in parts, with some particularly strong (in every sense of the word) sequences, but the vague, arbitrary romance is utterly lifeless, and it is to the film's detriment that this becomes the central focus of the finale. All prior hardship is forgotten, as the story suddenly becomes a romantic fairytale, a Sid Sheinberg-esque decree that 'Love Conquers All'. And what more feelgood fop can there be than letting the main character win the money, somewhat fudging the moral clarity of the story?

There are other niggles and gripes I can make, all entirely in the wrong spirit, assuredly. But my biggest problem with the film is simple: there has to be something wrong with a film where the main character's mother is trampled to death before his very eyes, and I don't feel a thing.

Consider Bambi, one of the most moving family films ever made. Granted, the narrative allowed for more room to develop the mother-son relationship than does Slumdog, but just remember how you feel watching the deer run from the hunters, hearing the shot, sharing in Bambi's slow realisation that his life (and the film) has changed irrevocably. I'm tingling just thinking about it. That sensation that starts in your neck, works its way down to your toes. I don't want to sound like a sophomoric pseud, but it's moments like this that provide films with a magic that only they can deliver. In Slumdog, the mother is dead, but that doesn't matter, coz here's another dynamic chase sequence. The death isn't affecting, it's a plot-point to orphan the two brothers.

From what I hear of the project's egregious inception, that Slumdog is as enjoyable as it is, is testament to a supremely talented director, perfectly-matched cast and an ingenious adaptation. I suppose what I am redundantly objecting to is not the film's success. I just don't like the hyperbole regarding the film's meaning and emotional impact, when I feel so strongly that it hasn't earned it.

In Bruges couldn't win Best Screenplay at the Kermodes, because it was nominated in the same category at The Oscars. The Oscar nom was its undoing! : ) I agree with other posts regarding In Bruges. It was also my favourite film of 2008. But then again its not really an Oscar friendly film!

Yet again the members of the Academy prove that they are incompentent of picking the deserving winner for the main categories. Though Slumdog Millionaire is probably the best of the Best Picture nominations (I'm yet to see Frost/Nixon), it isn't worthy of the 8 Oscars it won. Best Director yes, but there were several films which I thought were more deserving of Best Picture. The Academy seem more interested in making sure they are viewed in a positive light and being politically correct by the public than making the right decision. For example, the Best Original Song award should have gone to Sir Bruce Springsteen yet he wasn't even nominated. Instead they gave an extra nod to Slumdog Millionaire, most likely for political correctness.



In my opinion, Sean Penn only won (undeservedly, though it was a very good performance) to make up for their terrible mistake of not awarding Brokeback Mountain Best Picture for the 2005 Oscars.



Only a handful of times since the 70's has the right choice been made for the Best Motion Picture of the Year - Unforgiven, Schindler's List, Return of the King and possibly Rain Man (though being a teenager I don't know how well some of the films which I feel should have won were received at the time). Personally I would like to see an overhaul/revamp of the Oscars so that the most deserving winners should be rewarded, rather than have voters who seemingly do not have enough interest in films to decide.

Am I the only one who knows absolutely nothing about the film The Visitor? Richard Jenkins was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in this film but I cannot ever recall hearing anything about it. Has it been released in the UK? Or is it some hidden gem that has completely passed me by? Maybe someone on here can enlighten me!

wintera, I haven't seen The Visitor myself, but the cynical side of me thinks that the nomination was given to him to elevate the success of the film.

The Visitor has had a lot of buzz in America but never really got a look in over here. I haven't seen it but Richard Jenkins performance is said to be very good. We are showing it as part of our next season at Diss Film Society so I'm looking forward to that!



Just how didn't Wall-E win best sound???

The first half hour of the story is told with just sound!

I completely agreed with you and had to laugh when you said it was a tight rope between saying 'god look, anthony hopkins, ben kingsley, de niro' and then going, oh god not more people who won in a bygone era being carted out. I thought Hugh Jackman was surprisingly funny, but I prefer a fully fledged comedian. of course with the panel thing of bringing out past winners to present the award, it's been done in the past. This may appear sexist, but a new phenomena (well relatively new) is for each female who gets the oscar to cry like hell and thank everyone under the sun, where as teh men are still quite 'blokey' and better with their understatedness, and say some nice things in a sort of 'pat on yoru back' way.

I was so thrilled when Danny Boyle got oscars for slumdog... and when ledger won best supporting actor, as the performance of the joker was phenomenal, to take on the mantle of jacknicholsons portrayal which is hard to equal. But I threw the remote at the TV when Rourke didnt win!