Oscar picks
So, now that I recently dismembered the Academy Awards, I'll put out there my picks for who should win a few of this year's Oscars.
I admit, I haven't seen everything that is nominated (only 6/10 Best Picture nominees). But I've kept up, read, and heard a lot about each of them, so my opinion is a resulting conglomerate of what I've seen and my impressions based on those things. So, here's my first (and sometimes 2nd) choices:
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker or Inglorious Basterds
Anybody who's seen these films can understand these are the two greatest films of the year. While Inglorious Basterds is probably the slightly better film since it has more to it than what's on the surface, I'm more partial to The Hurt Locker. But these two are the most solid of the 10 picks.
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow or James Cameron
Who can argue against Kathryn Bigelow's work in The Hurt Locker? I wouldn't be too bothered about James Cameron getting the directing kudos simply because he worked his ass off creating new technology and working the camera more than he has in his career. He achieved quite a lot and should be proud of his hard work.
Best Actor: Jeremy Renner or George Clooney
Now, everyone is saying that Jeff Bridges is a lock for this award. I have not seen his performance, so I don't know how well it stacks up. But nobody I saw last year compared to Jeremy Renner's understated wild man. George Clooney is a close second with his performance in Up in the Air.
Best Actress: Carey Mulligan or Gabey Sidibe
I haven't seen any of the nominated performances. But a process of elimination and common sense leaves it to these two. Meryl Streep gave good, but unexceptional performance as an idea of Julia Child. Helen Mirren is practically a dark horse. Everybody is talking up Sandra Bullock's performance in the feel-good hit The Blind Side. But does it honestly measure above an African American illiterate and sexually-abused teen who dreams of a better life? Or a young woman who is intellectually seduced by her teacher in the 1960s? Mulligan and Sidibe are practically new to acting (Sidibe had never acted a day before stepping in front of the camera for Precious). The fact that they gave such lauded performances with such little background is impressive enough to win the award.
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz
Hands-down the obvious choice. His Hans Landa is the Sherlock Holmes of 2009... if Holmes worked for the Nazis and spoke four languages fluently. There isn't a craftier, more brilliant (if dangerous) character nominated than this one.
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique or the Up in the Air women
Mo'Nique's role as the vitriolic mother in Precious is tailor-made for Oscar - especially when played so out-of-left-field by someone like Mo'Nique. The only competition with any weight to them is Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick from Up in the Air. They both brought so much dimension to that film and its main character that it's a shame they can't both be awarded in some way.
Best Original Screenplay: Inglorious Basterds
I've seen 3 out of 5 of these films. With its prolonged scenes of brilliant dialogue, intriguing characters, and endless movie references, Inglorious Basterds is the top dog here.
Best Animated Feature: Up or Fantastic Mr. Fox
Again, I've seen 3 out of 5 of these films. Up has the Pixar pedigree - and is one of the most touching and thrilling films of 2009. Fantastic Mr. Fox is unique and hilarious - and underappreciated. Both are the better picks.
Best Visual Effects: Avatar
I usually don't pay this award much attention. But this year it goes without saying that Avatar had the best visual achievement.
So, for what it's worth, those are my thoughts on the Academy Award nominations. Oscar will very possibly prove itself to lack any credibility and give Avatar and The Blind Side top honors. But we'll see.
I admit, I haven't seen everything that is nominated (only 6/10 Best Picture nominees). But I've kept up, read, and heard a lot about each of them, so my opinion is a resulting conglomerate of what I've seen and my impressions based on those things. So, here's my first (and sometimes 2nd) choices:
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker or Inglorious Basterds
Anybody who's seen these films can understand these are the two greatest films of the year. While Inglorious Basterds is probably the slightly better film since it has more to it than what's on the surface, I'm more partial to The Hurt Locker. But these two are the most solid of the 10 picks.
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow or James Cameron
Who can argue against Kathryn Bigelow's work in The Hurt Locker? I wouldn't be too bothered about James Cameron getting the directing kudos simply because he worked his ass off creating new technology and working the camera more than he has in his career. He achieved quite a lot and should be proud of his hard work.
Best Actor: Jeremy Renner or George Clooney
Now, everyone is saying that Jeff Bridges is a lock for this award. I have not seen his performance, so I don't know how well it stacks up. But nobody I saw last year compared to Jeremy Renner's understated wild man. George Clooney is a close second with his performance in Up in the Air.
Best Actress: Carey Mulligan or Gabey Sidibe
I haven't seen any of the nominated performances. But a process of elimination and common sense leaves it to these two. Meryl Streep gave good, but unexceptional performance as an idea of Julia Child. Helen Mirren is practically a dark horse. Everybody is talking up Sandra Bullock's performance in the feel-good hit The Blind Side. But does it honestly measure above an African American illiterate and sexually-abused teen who dreams of a better life? Or a young woman who is intellectually seduced by her teacher in the 1960s? Mulligan and Sidibe are practically new to acting (Sidibe had never acted a day before stepping in front of the camera for Precious). The fact that they gave such lauded performances with such little background is impressive enough to win the award.
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz
Hands-down the obvious choice. His Hans Landa is the Sherlock Holmes of 2009... if Holmes worked for the Nazis and spoke four languages fluently. There isn't a craftier, more brilliant (if dangerous) character nominated than this one.
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique or the Up in the Air women
Mo'Nique's role as the vitriolic mother in Precious is tailor-made for Oscar - especially when played so out-of-left-field by someone like Mo'Nique. The only competition with any weight to them is Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick from Up in the Air. They both brought so much dimension to that film and its main character that it's a shame they can't both be awarded in some way.
Best Original Screenplay: Inglorious Basterds
I've seen 3 out of 5 of these films. With its prolonged scenes of brilliant dialogue, intriguing characters, and endless movie references, Inglorious Basterds is the top dog here.
Best Animated Feature: Up or Fantastic Mr. Fox
Again, I've seen 3 out of 5 of these films. Up has the Pixar pedigree - and is one of the most touching and thrilling films of 2009. Fantastic Mr. Fox is unique and hilarious - and underappreciated. Both are the better picks.
Best Visual Effects: Avatar
I usually don't pay this award much attention. But this year it goes without saying that Avatar had the best visual achievement.
So, for what it's worth, those are my thoughts on the Academy Award nominations. Oscar will very possibly prove itself to lack any credibility and give Avatar and The Blind Side top honors. But we'll see.