Best Picture Nominees for 2008

This year has an odd grocery list of Best Picture nominees. It includes the life of a gay politician, a second politician (non-gay), a rags to riches story set against horrible living conditions, an illicit love affair with a much older woman, and a childish old dude who grows up to become an infant with dementia. The only common thread amongst the lot is that they were all theatrically released in 2008 and are nominated for this year's Oscar for Best Picture.

Nominees

1. The Reader - With this movie, I should have read the story first. It would have saved me the two hours and four minutes to sit through this yawner. Kate Winslet was awesome in her performance. But golly-gee, get an interesting story line. Brooding and sulking and gazing into the abyss of missed opportunities can only take one so far.

2. Slumdog Millionaire - It will probably win the Best Picture award, even though it does not deserve it. Go rent/buy a copy of Steve Martin in The Jerk instead. It is much funnier and you will have an extra 26 minutes to savor life. And besides, it should be in the Best Foreign film category since it has an Indian (not Native American) cast, was shot in India, and was directed by a British director.

3. Milk - Sean Penn gives a stellar performance as Harvey Milk. Set in San Francisco during the 1970s, we are transported back into time when civil rights were being questioned. Milk does an incredible job of accurately depicting this time and era of American history.

4. Frost/Nixon - Here is another film based on events in a politician's life. However, this one focuses on some interviews which shine a bright light on his Presidency and how the ill thinking got him and America into deep political trouble. This film should not win Best Picture because just as Nixon was boring in life so was this picture.

5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Suspicion has it that Benjamin Button will win this category. Not because it was the "Best Picture", but rather because of its long running time (166 minutes) and expansiveness of time and subject matter.

What does all this mean? Simply put, this is a weak class of films to be considered the best of the year. I could be wrong as some might suggest. But, this is my opinion. For whatever it's worth... So, my pick for Best Picture 2008 is Milk. I think it has all the makings of a good story: a man up against the norms of society, trials and tribulations, love, hate, sexuality, uncertainty of what's to come, and most importantly a tragic ending. In addition to these elements, the cinematography captures the essence of the time period. Therefore, I feel that Milk is the best of the lot.