Satellite Nominees are an Embarrassment of Snubs

The International Press Academy announced their nominees for the 13th Annual Satellite Awards and it is a mixed bag of snubs across the board and further proof the idea of separating Drama, Comedy and Musicals is just about the dumbest idea around as they are REALLY reaching by including Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist as a comedy or a musical. I would even say Happy-Go-Lucky and Vicky Cristina Barcelona don’t fit the category. What was so funny about Poppy being attacked by her driving instructor? Where was the comedy in VCB? Gimme a break. it’s going to be even worse when the Globes nominate something like High School Musical 3 and Mamma Mia! instantly giving them some kind of credibility.

However, category distinction aside the absence of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button from all categories makes me wonder if any of these people even saw all the films. Take for example the fact Valkyrie hasn’t had a press screening yet that I know of. From what I understand my screening of it here in Seattle on Dec. 9 is going to be three-days in advance of the junket screening unless I am mistaken. This also speaks to the fact that the National Board of Review, Los Angeles Critics and New York Critics will have either announced their 2008 top tens or have voted on them before ever seeing Valkyrie. Are we to the point where we don’t even need to see all the films before we decide which ones are best?

That said, you won’t see The Dark Knight in the Best Picture field despite its six nominees and director Chris Nolan’s nom for Best Director. You won’t see Button anywhere. The other Oscar pundit fav, Doubt, misses out on a picture nomination, but manages to earn a couple of acting nods. The ignoring of Elsa Zylberstein for I’ve Love You So Long I find to be extremely insulting seeing how BeyoncÃ© Knowles and even Anjelica Huston earned noms in the supporting category.