Sorry, Clint...

So, I know I haven't seen all of this year's Oscar nominated movies, but after watching Gran Torino this past weekend, I am appalled that it isn't even nominated.  Not for Eastwood's compelling performance, nor for his directing, and not Best Picture for the film as a whole.  Honestly, I am very disappointed in the Academy.  

Gran Torino is a truly great movie.  It is Clint Eastwood at his best.  Even as the sun sets on his acting career, he still has that same badass, gritty nature that lets you know not to mess with him.  It says something when an almost-80-year-old can still kick your ass.  But it wasn't just the hardness and grit of his performance, it was also the raw emotion, the comical political incorrectness and racism used to represent his character's culture and war-hardened disregard for social norms.  Yet he hasn't completely given up hope on future generations and still wants to do what he can to make a difference and instill his traditional values and integrity on the boys and girls in his neighborhood.

Eastwood's performance is gripping, the directing is very well done, and the story incorporates both action and suspense with humor and heart-rending emotion.  

So, my question to the Academy is why not?  Why does this film not even get a nomination? Are the other movies you have nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor really more deserving than this farewell performance from Eastwood?  I haven't seen Milk, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, The Visitor, or Benjamin Button.  Frost/Nixon was really the only one of those I had significant interest in seeing.  I did see Slumdog Millionaire and The Wrestler, both with Oscar nods.  I think Rourke does deserve a nomination for his performance, but if it were between him and Eastwood in Gran Torino... Clint might win in a very close vote in my book.  Slumdog was fun and moving and a good story that was well-done.  But I would take Gran Torino for Best Picture over it any day. 

As far as the rest of the nominees, I can't comment cause I haven't seen them, but the curious case of Eric Roth, writer for both Benjamin Button and Forrest Gump, leads me to believe I have seen this one before.  See below for a quick synopsis. 

The Curious Case of Forrest Gump - watch more funny videos

Whether or not you like Forrest Gump 2 or Slumdog or Milk or whatever, I think Gran Torino and Clint Eastwood deserve to be in the discussion and I am disappointed that they are left on the outside looking in.