The new Hayes Code: Straight-acting 

So I watched the Tonys, which weren't bad if you ignored some of the actual winners. It just seemed like the absence of the critics—who no longer get to participate in voting—was deeply felt considering the fact that most of the winners were movie stars, and most of the honored shows were crowd-pleasers. (That said, I've heard Scarlett Johansson's performance was amazing and Denzel Washington seemed a shoo-in either way.)

I mean...Memphis? I doubt it.

Sean Hayes makes a big deal out of it 

I thought Sean Hayes did a pretty good job hosting, though I could have done without the two unveilings of his package and was rolling my eyes at his kiss with Kristin Chenoweth just because it was so expected that he'd do something to answer to Newsweek.

Don't like Miley's dress and Penelope Cruz looks (gasp!) plain.

I was not aware that Lisa Rinna had, apparently, died.

Phoebe Cates is fucking ageless. Looks like she climbed out of that pool and onto the red carpet. Forty-five!

Everyone is buzzing about Mickey Rourke. After seeing The Wrestler, I had a hard time seeing how he'd lose, but Sean seemed to regain momentum, culminating with that SAG Award. But...I don't know. The Oscars have been doing rebound award a lot lately.

Speaking of him: How the heck did Mickey Rourke keep a dog alive for 18 years? He's barely kept himself alive.

I'm scared to see how Madonna is going to look and how her debut with Jesus Luz will go over.

As my buddy Jason said of the Slumdog kids, "Please return your tux before you go back to living in filth."

Brangelina are too far up their own asses at these events. Angelina, you are a mortal woman.

Zac's so cute, but he shouldn't refer to Dev Patel as a "kid." He did say Milk was his favorite movie (but buddy Lucas Grabeel appeared in it, so that might've swung his vote).

Viola Davis looks like she's wearing a Marilyn Monroe gown. I like.

Sophia Loren has more filler than an eighth-grade English essay, but still looks pretty hot. I'm dying to see Nine.

Ben. Lyons. Is. An. Idiot.

Frank Langella loves Nixon after playing him? FUCK THAT.

I totally knew Hugh would lead with an Australia joke.

I LOVE THE STAGE. I LOVE THE FORMER WINNERS PRESENTING. I WAS ABOUT HALF AND HALF ON THE KITSCHY SONG-AND-DANCE, BUT POINTS FOR EFFORT.

The Reader means Stepen Daldry's gotten nom'd for all 3 films he's made.

The full list of Oscar nominations is here, with expert opinion on them here. Talking points to make you look smart here.

My impressions:

OVERALL

I'm shocked that The Reader did so well! It raked in major nominations, including for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, and yet it stands at a mere 60% on RottenTomatoes.com with 150 reviews counted. Could it be the least positively reviewed film to get a Best Picture nod since...Ghost?

I would hazard a guess that its Nazi theme helped it with the Hollywood crowd. Anything about the Nazis—presuming it's good in the first place—gets an extra boost. Remember Adrien Brody's out-of-nowhere win for Best Actor? Not casting aspersions (I've been dying to see the movie), it's just an interesting trend to me. Hollywood also smiles upon movies with liberal social agendas, such as The Cider House Rules or Crash (realllly smiled upon it) or this year's Milk. It's not that they aren't good, it's that they're probably extra-favored for content as well as form.

I'm a bit miffed that Revolutionary Road was overlooked. I loved it! But it's also quite interesting considering the film was directed for Oscar winner Sam Mendes and stars two beloved Hollywood actors. Maybe the Academy felt giving nods to Brangelina was enough red-carpet consideration.

The eight nominations for Milk show a genuine affection and respect for the film, even if I think it will only win for Best Original Screenplay. ("Only" he says—that would be an amazing award.)

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button gets 13 nods, but I would guess it will lose most of those. It's such a BIG movie with so many potential nominees, but none jump out as sure-bet winners.

Shadow of Doubt.

In 1964, young Donald Miller (Joseph Foster II) is the first African-American student at St. Nicholas Catholic school in the Bronx, where Principal Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) literally puts the fear of God into her pupils. Nothing escapes her notice, most especially dissidence—the institution's newest priest,  Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) has rubbed her the wrong way with a sermon in praise of doubt (which binds us all as surely as does faith) and with his irreverential attitude. Thanks to some gossip supplied by Sister James (Amy Adams), who's noticed that Father Flynn seems to have singled out Donald Miller with a one-on-one meeting in the rectory, she has all the proof she needs to know the priest is molesting the boy, and all the ammunition she requires to attempt to oust him from his position.

During the course of the campaign, Sister James's conviction will fluctuate, and Sister Aloysius will have a most unexpected encounter with Donald's practical mother (Viola Davis). Most entertainingly for the audience, she will also engage in a cold-hearted game of cat-and-mouse with Father Flynn intended to force the father confessor to confess.

I didn't see what you may or may not have done.

But is there anything to confess?

Black by popular demand.

I missed the SAG nominations, which are listed at Film Experience Blog. Nathaniel is not such a big Slumdog Millionaire fan, so was not impressed with its Best Ensemble nod. I will agree that while I found the acting to be above any critcism, the parts were not as demanding as in some other films of late. But...I loved the movie, so I'm happy.

Best Actor looks like what Oscar's list will probably look like, with Jenkins (The Visitor) the only one who could feasibly be displaced, probably by Dev Patel, who is considered Supporting by SAG.

Best Actress is similarly on the money.

Supporting Actor again ignores James Franco and Emile Hirsch in favor of Robert Downey Jr.'s goofy Tropic Thunder turn—could he actually win? Or will it go to the late Heath Ledger?

Supporting Actress tosses in Amy Adams and also Kate Winslet (in the wrong category, I'd say), but I think Viola Davis will snag this one.

Entertainment Weekly (December 26, 2008—January 2, 2009) also chimes in with its films of the year, via dueling Top 10s by Lisa Schwarzbaum (with whom I often disagree—she is very mainstream) and Owen Gleiberman (which whom I often disagree—he is so unpredictable)..after the jump...