"Unstoppable" Nominated for Sound Editing, But Dreams of Sound Mixing Nod are Squashed

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences pulled a fast one this week when "Unstoppable" nabbed a nomination for sound editing, but not sound mixing. Many critics and audiences expressed surprise that the film, which is about a really loud train, was given Oscar attention for the editing of the sound of the loud train, but not the mixing of it.

Other nominees for sound editing included Richard King ("Inception"), Tom Myers and Michael Silvers ("Toy Story 3"), Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague ("Tron"), and Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey ("True Grit").  While the race is tight, it is widely assumed that Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague are total hipsters.

In another predictable shocker, Gwyneth Paltrow edged out Cher for best original song. Cher was quite upset, and tweeted her Changry response to her fans. Gwyneth's stated reaction is not known, but it was likely something falsely humble and slightly condescending. Either way, neither one actually wrote their original songs.

Snubbed Thespian Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg

In the relatively obscure categories, Ryan Gosling, a part-reader mostly known for being replaced by Mark Wahlberg in Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones," failed to garner a nod for best part-reader.  The well regarded part-reader and topless billboard poser Mark Wahlberg himself also failed to get a nod for his boxing movie. However, the boxing movie -- interestingly named "The Fighter," received countless other nominations, and continued the Academy's post-"On the Waterfront" streak of awarding movies in which people punch each other for sport,  because these stories are interesting metaphors for the American experience.

In other news Aaron Sorkin will win an Oscar for best adapted screenplay for "The Social Network."

In an interesting twist, the ceremony co-host, James Franco, will be the first co-host to also be a nominee since Paul Hogan in 1986.  Paul Hogan lost to Woody Allen, and James Franco will continue the tradition of the gracious host by losing to Colin Firth, who seems to be unstoppable.