Usual Suspects Get Oscars Nods

(CBS)  Many of the films that received the most Oscar buzz got the nods that were expected, but The Early Show entertainment contributor and People magazine's assistant managing editor Jess Cagle said that Hollywood will be shocked about one film that failed to get nominated for best picture: "Dreamgirls."

"The big shocker is 'Dreamgirls' not nominated for best picture," he told The Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen. "It was considered not only a sure nominee but also a frontrunner to win. That's a big surprise."

Nevertheless, "Dreamgirls" was nominated in eight other categories and received more nominations than any of film this year, something that Cagle said doesn't really add up.

"It's really strange — also strange that ("Dreamgirls" director) Bill Condon not nominated for best picture. If it's not nominated, they'll at least throw a bone to the picture. I think Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson will take the prize for that movie."
Hudson and Murphy both received nominations for best supporting actor and actress respectively.

"I think they stand a good chance of ultimately taking home the gold," he said. "It really a shocker. That's what everybody will be talking about in Hollywood this morning."

Cagle said the "Dreamgirls" spot in the best picture nominations went to "Letters from Iwo Jima," because the other nominees — "Babel," "The Departed," "Little Miss Sunshine," and "The Queen" — are not surprises.

He said he thought "Clint Eastwood would be nominated for best director but not best picture."

Cagle said there were no earth-shattering surprises in the best actor category except Leonardo DiCaprio, who was nominated for "The Blood Diamond" rather than for "The Departed," as many predicted.

Some of the most powerful actresses in Hollywood such as Judi Dench and Meryl Streep were nominated for best actress, but Cagle predicts that the prize will go to Helen Mirren for "The Queen."

"The favorite right now is Helen Mirren because she's won so many critics' awards," he said. "It's amazing that many actresses over 40 are nominated."

[rmlaw402]

What a surprise. A black musical doesn't receive
the nomination it so richly deserves. We are still in the United States, aren't we?

[glc518]

streep is always the best. its amazing she has only won twice. I never miss her movies. shes a true camillian.

[godseyesore-2009]

Oscar stuff has little to do with merit and like most of things these days is all about politics. Besides, it is just vanity, so don't get yer panties in wads.

[jimbo miller]

hi
i suppose its that time again and a chance to show the world how false an image the film industry portrays the us of a. It is codswallop from start to finish...how..You dont really think that john wayne could act do you? clint eastwood and his million dollar baby was woeful, and sylvester has turned to rocky to save a career that has been littered with some of the worst ever mainstream produced movies...why doesn't gun-smoke em out bush, turn to clint, stallone and that bastion of american culture charlton heston to solve all the problems in iraq.
i cant wait not to watch this dollar driven ,gruesome,and glitter laden gumph {scots venacular} My tips for the oscars, well the usa is at war, so any movies, which include waving the american flag will do well.
Governer Arnie, will get an oscar for finally learning how to do joined up handwriting.

On a more serious note i pray that there are no war films,depicting any of those abovementioned powder puffs, winning wars single handed,when your young brave military men and woman are in harms way. mactoop

[justfacts2]

I agree with you on that one pkmr. The ONLY actress in this younger generation that is even remotely good is Reese Witherspoon. I am surprised that "Little Miss Sunshine" got a nod for best picture instead of "Dreamgirls" which is, quite honestly, the better of the two. What is that stupid movie "Little Miss Sunshine" about anyway? I suppose it is about some spoiled brat kid that is smart-mouthed and spews obscenities while the parents stand back and think she is cute. Just another B-movie encouraging kids to misbehave. Why don't these movies ever show what it is like in the real world with real parents - when a kid misbehaves he gets punished for it? I guess because the younger generation of parents don't believe in discipline?

[pkmr-2009]

Why does Mr. Cagle find it so "amazing" that so many actresess over 40 are nominated? Could it be that they actually have talent? When will the world realize that women who are 40-something actually have experience and wisdom way beyond that of the 20-somethings that are all silicone and silliness? What a dumb thing to say.