The Road Less Travelled

While we wait for LA to announce their awards, earlier today The Critics Choice Nominees were announced. There was lots of love for Harvey Milk, Batman, and Benjamin Button, but no love for Frank and April Wheeler (Leo and Kate) of Revolutionary Road. I find this very confusing because I really did think that Rev Road would be a major factor in this race and so far it's been M.I.A. from this list and National Board of Review. It needs some serious help. Here's the list:

BEST PICTURE
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
The Wrestler

Reactions: No Revolutionary Road. Happy to see Gran Torino missing as well.

MORE

BEST ACTOR
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Reactions: No major surprises, but did expect Leo to be a factor.

BEST ACTRESS

Kate Beckinsale - Nothing But the Truth
Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt

Reactions: So sad to see Sally Hawkins not included. And where is Kristin Scott Thomas? And was the inclusion of Angelina "Give Me My Son/Oscar" Jolie necessary?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
James Franco - Milk

Reactions: This is turning out to be a pretty weak category this year. I suspect Michael Shannon to ultimately factor in this category. Perhaps Dev Patel as well. But put a fork in this category, because it's done.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Vera Farmiga - Nothing But the Truth
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader

Reactions: Sad to see the lack of Rosemarie DeWitt and Debra Winger. I still expect one of them to get in and to bump out Tomei, while Farmiga will not factor. Please vote Kate over Penny!

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Milk
Rachel Getting Married

Reactions: Great choices.

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk

Reactions: I am not feeling Ron Howard, but otherwise thumbs up.