“It’s hard to wrap my head around,” says Ellen Page of her recent Best Actress Oscar nomination for “Juno.”

Hard to wrap her head around, indeed, but not so hard for those of us who have seen the film. I’d give Page the award in a heartbeat, plus, it’s so refreshing for me to see someone who is not either a) over the age of 60 or b) oozing blonde hair and tan lotion up for the honor.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that she’s 20 years old? While the rest of us 20-year-olds are cramming for exams and floundering on our cramped dorm beds, Ellen Page is searching for a gown to wear to the Oscars, where she just might become the youngest recipient ever of the Best Actress award.

Marlee Matlin, with a win at the age of 21, currently holds that honor for her 1986 win in “Children of a Lesser God.” And Keisha Castle-Hughes is the youngest-ever nominee, at the age of 13 for “Whale Rider” in 2003.

With a February 21st birthday, Page will be three days into the age of 21 (her golden birthday!) on Oscar night. Though she says she isn’t a big drinker, I guess we’ll find out how true that is if she bags the award.

Listening to her interviews, Page sounds excited about the nomination, but not psyched. I’m wagering she doesn’t think she’ll win–and given the miserly attitude of the nomination committee, she’s probably right.

But what do CC readers think?

Could she really take the little golden statue home?

With the writer’s strike still going strong, the WGA has denied invitations to prepare material for the Golden Globes on January 13 and the Oscars in February. If both events didn’t seem crappy enough last time, they should be craptacular this time around.

(See what happens when you don’t get pros to make jokes for you?)

This situation raises a red flag for the Oscars in particular. With Jon Stewart returning as host it’s assumed that he will have to “wing it” without any writer’s assistance. Sure, Stewart can handle a fair share of improvisation - but an entire show? That’s a tall order. Read More »