About Sweetmama Editor
Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
Best Supporting Mommy
silver spoons canada
(Feb.20.09)
February sucks for parents. First there is Groundhog's Day, which inevitably reminds us that we will not be able to leave the house for another six weeks without taking the 30 minutes to winterproof our children. Then we have Valentine's Day. After the guilt over trees killed while addressing cards for children who can't yet read, the actual day comes and reminds us that the Sex and Romance departments of our lives are in a recession too.
Then comes the Oscars. I am usually sad come Oscar time, because the old me would have seen all the movies and made educated guesses on the office Oscar pool. The mom-me is lucky if she saw all of the animated features. Except this year! Though I can't disclose the horrible way in which I've seen three of the five Best Picture noms (as well as several of the other categories), let's just say I've been to the theatre once in the past three months and that was to see The Wrestler.
I'll also suggest that if someone made a legal and easy way for those of us with young children to see these films from the comfort of our own homes, parents would pay. Big bucks. $25 for a movie that's still in the theatre is probably still cheaper for us since we'll save on babysitting and popcorn. But big movie companies, listen up -- I'd just like to be able to watch it on my own TV after the kids are asleep. M'kay?
Anyway, if there's an AMC in your town, you might want to send the kids to Grandma's (or to rent-a-grandma's) and head there. For $30 you can watch all FIVE Best Picture noms (if your butt can handle being in the seats all day) AND a free large popcorn, PLUS free refills all day. (Thanks Ashleigh for the tip!)
Here's my quick summary of the 2009 Oscar nominated flicks that I've seen (not just Best Pic category) in one sentence each.
1. Slumdog Millionaire: Forget the bandwagon, jump on the crowded Indian train because this is a really fun flick, with something for everyone. (I'm thinking it's going to sweep the Oscars because that will make everyone happy for one night in this otherwise bummer of a year.)
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Too long, and a lot like Forrest Gump -- but with hot Brad Pitt in the middle and a really touching scene with an infant.
3. Milk: Sean Penn is so convincingly gay that you wonder if that's what broke up his marriage to Robin Wright Penn -- plus he makes out with James Franco.
4. The Wrestler: A moving story that's best watched with a wrestling or RATT fan, but also without your glasses as Marisa Tomei's body will make you sad about your butt.
5. Doubt: Nobody does naive girl like Amy Adams, and few people could take a verbose stage play to the screen and make it riveting like Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
6. Tropic Thunder: (Yes, it counts!) Robert Downey Jr's hilarious performance is worth sitting through the jokes that aren't so funny.
7. The Dark Knight: You don't have to be a comic book fan to like this film (which was grossly overlooked by the Academy) -- and yes, Heath's performance is more mind-blowing than Christian Bale's scenes as hot Bruce Wayne.
PS: For more Oscar fun, don't miss our dress choices for Best Actress noms, as well as our award-worthy Oscar Party Guide.