I have a hard time calling this post a predictions post because I don't claim to know what will happen on February 27th. Nor will I feel it necessary to say "I TOLD YOU SO" if I turn out right. The way I look at the Oscars is more like watching the NBA finals, than anything else. I know who I hope will win, who I want to win, and I desperately cheer for those teams each year regardless of what the experts say. So what I will do in this post is hit the biggest categories, and talk about how I feel about the nominees!
This year has been unique for me, personally. I have never actually seen all of the best picture nominees before, or even come close. Not even when it used to be just 5 nominees. But this year, by next Sunday, I would have seen 9 of the 10! And not only that, I LIKED most all of the ones I've seen! That never happens either! So needless to say, I am pretty invested. I cannot wait for the ceremony!
BEST ACTOR
Out of the 5 nominated in this category, I have seen 3 of their performances (sorry James Franco, and Javier Bardem). True Grit was so much fun, and I really enjoyed it, and one of the main reasons was Jeff Bridges. His Rooster was one of my favorite characters of the year. Then there is Jesse Eisenberg, who played Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. I've been watching him for a while (my favorite role of his being Zombieland until recently, haha!) and have always liked him. His performance this year made me love him! Very excited to see more of him in the future! Lastly, there is Colin Firth, who played King Henry VI in The King's Speech. I wanted him to win before I saw the movie just because I adore this man. But then I saw this movie and I knew not only did I want him to win, he deserves to win. There is no doubt in my mind that he will take home the trophy next week, and I am excited for that to happen for him.
BEST ACTRESS
Out of these 5 performances, sadly I have only seen three. I REALLY wanted to see Nicole in The Rabbit Hole, but that movie came and left The Angelika so fast I didn't get a chance to! By the end of this week I will have seen The Kids Are Alright, but from what I've been told by my friends, Benning will still not be my front runner. Now I didn't really connect with Winter's Bone overall, so Jennifer Lawrence isn't really on my personal radar, but I thought Michelle Williams was great in Blue Valentine. However, the OBVIOUS winner HAS to be Natalie Portman. I saw Black Swan twice and both times I just sat in awe of her performance. It was really something special.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
I've seen 4 of the 5 nominees in this category. As for Amy Adams and Melissa Leo, honestly, it didn't even occur to me that they could be nominated, let alone that they would be. Let alone that Melissa Leo would be the one winning over and over again... their performances just didn't hit me. I just saw The Fighter again today, and they stood out a little more this time around, but still. I don't feel like either of them deserve the Oscar, although Leo will probably get it. My favorite of this list is Hailee Steinfield from True Grit. Watching this young girl act with likes of Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon and hold her own, even steal focus in some shots... it was just great! Something you don't see often, especially from a 14 year old. If she doesn't win, I'd love to see Helena Bonham Carter get it for The King's Speech.
Did ya see what I did thur? I saved this acting category for last because it's my FAVORITE performance of the year! I've seen 4 of the 5, and by the end of this week I will have seen all 5 of these performances (and I am sure that I will still feel that Andrew Garfield should have been nominated instead of Mark Ruffalo), but I don't even really need to talk about them. Because no matter WHAT, I want Christian Bale to win! Not only does he deserve it, he's been completely under appreciated his entire career. His performance in The Fighter has FINALLY gotten him recognized. Seeing him at all these awards shows this year has surprised me in how gratifying it feels. I feel vindicated, for some reason, after all these years of loving him, knowing he's FINALLY getting the recognition he deserves. And there is NO OTHER performance all year that deserves this award more than his. If he doesn't win it, you guys can bet that I will be off in the world somewhere, trying to keep myself from setting the Academy on fire.
BEST PICTURE
Everyone is saying that at this point The King's Speech is definitely going to win Best Picture, which is so interesting because earlier in the race, The Social Network was the show to beat. I feel like even Black Swan was the front runner for like a week sometime back in December or something. This season has seen lots of twists and turns, and despite predictions and patterns, I doubt the ceremony will be as predictable as it usually is. The only two movies of the 10 I have not seen are 127 Hours and The Kids Are Alright (I'll watch this one this week), so omitting those, here is the list of nominees in order of what I want most to win!
- 8. Toy Story 3 - Wasn't a fan. It was just over hyped too much. I honestly think they should not have nominated this one and given a nom to a better film like Blue Valentine or The Rabbit Hole.
- 7. Winter's Bone - Good. I didn't connect with it, I really just saw this out of obligation, but I didn't hate it.
- 6. True Grit - Loved this one, will buy it on DVD, but I don't think it deserves best pictures. Some are saying it could be an upset because it has second most noms this year, at 10, but I don't want that to happen. I've seen better.
- 5. Inception - Adored this movie. LOVE the director. I am surprised that this is only number 5 on my list.... but that just goes to show how great this year in movies has been!
- 4. The Fighter - After seeing this for a 2nd time today, I have to say I love it much more than I did before. I think that it's powerful and I wouldn't mind if it got BP! Even though I don't think there is any way it will.
- 3. The King's Speech - This is the juggernaut 12-nom film that will more than likely take this honor. I loved this movie so much, and I won't be upset if it wins, even if it's not my #1. It was a truly wonderful film in every way.
- 2. Black Swan - Mesmerizing and haunting and upsetting and AWESOME. Absolutely LOVED this film. Dark horse??? Well, I still want it to win.
- 1. The Social Network - I went into this film wanting to hate it, expecting to hate it, and now here I sit with it being my #1 pick to win BP. I've watched it around 6 times, and every time I like it more and more. I want it to UPSET The King's Speech and surprise everyone!
Now the only thing left to do is to just sit and see what happens! I know what I want to happen, but either way, it will be a fun ride! Awards season is always my favorite time of the year.
Well I was about to say how I didn't want Social Network to win, but I'm thankful it's your number one because then I at least get to look at a picture of Andy Garfy :)
ReplyDeleteThough I haven't seen Toy Story 3, I'm kind of surprised it got a nom. Not to say sequels/threequels can't be good, but at that point I think most love for the film comes from the fact that you've grown with the characters for years, y'know?
Anyhow, the day is almost here and I'm exciteeeeed!
I agree with you on just about everything. I wish they would have put Hailee Steinfield in the Best Actress category. She deserved it with her excellent performance.
ReplyDeleteThe reason they put her in best supporting is because she would never have made it in the list with the best actresses. Now she actually has a shot.
ReplyDeleteYeah I'm still not sure about The King's Speech winning Best Picture. It might (and that would be awesome), but the same thing happened with Benjamin Button in '08. It was nominated for the most awards, but didn't take BP. I hope not though! But if it doesn't win, I'd agree with you and say either The Social Network or Black Swan should take it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on almost all points, but our Best Picture opinions are quite different. This should be a fun year! <3
ReplyDeleteCan't wait!! I work the morning of, so as soon as I get off work I will race to your apartment! I'm going to cook stuff the night before so I can bring things. And I'm going to do my best to see The King's Speech this week. I think this will be one of the more fun ceremonies in the last several years.
ReplyDeleteThe kids are all right is a great movie and Annette bening will impress you. More than portman? No. But bening is great in it.
ReplyDeleteYou've pretty much got it right on the acting categories except that I'm going out on a limb and predicting Helena Bonham Carter to win Best Supporting Actress. If anyone is going to ride the TKS love-fest, it's her, and for historical reasons. Some will say Rush would be the person to win because of it, but Bale hasn't missed a step yet in the precursors. Carter won the BAFTA and has been absolutely charming beyond measure with the press, showing off her humor (at the nominee luncheon saying she'll be a disaster on the red carpet) and her humility (often speaking about how surprised she is to even be nominated). She's been nominated once before, 13 years ago, and has had a very long, unrewarded career. In a wonderful, understated performance in the big Best Picture frontrunner, I could easily see her riding her current momentum, despite only winning one major precursor. Call it a hunch, but I'mm feeling it right now for her. As of now the Best Supporting Actress race is wide open, but I'm calling it in her favor unless something earth-shattering happens between now and Sunday. Side note, she stars in a huge total of 4 films nominated for an oscar this year (The King's Speech, Harry Potter 7.1, Alice in Wonderland, & The Gruffalo)
ReplyDeleteIf I were to rank the Best Picture nominees, it would be
1. (tie) Inception and The Social Network.
Literally can't be forced to chose. Ultimately I'd probably give The Social Network Best Picture, and Best Director to Nolan
3. Black Swan
Of the nominated directors (since Nolan was once again shunned), Aronofsky would probably get my vote. This film is just pure filmmaking and becomes a M.O.V.I.E in every way. Stunning work.
4. True Grit
Love westerns, love the Coens, love this film. It's fantastic.
5. Winter's Bone
A mini-masterpiece of sorts. Steinbeck meets noir in the backwoods south. Love it. Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes are phenomenal.
6. The King's Speech
Definitely the movie that brings people to their feet cheering. But unlike 99% of "Oscar bait", this one actually turned out to live up to the hype and the result is brilliant.
7. Toy Story 3
A fantastic conclusion to one of the definining franchises in modern cinema. Thrilling, heartbreaking, and wonderful. Love it.
8. 127 Hours
I've cooled a bit on this one since seeing it in October, and it's a film with decidedly small scale, but it's a very cool experimental film that turns something that would seem very un-cinematic into a moving piece of performance art headlined by James Franco.
9. The Fighter
Treading on familiar ground, but a very very well made film that's entertaining, funny, charming, engaging, and features the best acting ensemble of the Best Picture nominees.
10. The Kids Are All Right
The only Best Picture nominee I didn't like. And I didn't like anything about it, apart from Mark Ruffalo. There's nothing about this film that is cinematic, interesting, funny, engaging, emotional, or well done. For my money, easily the most overrated film of the year.
Bonus Round! Personal top ten of the year!
1. The Social Network
2. Shutter Island
3. Inception
4. Black Swan
5. Carlos
6. True Grit
7. How To Train Your Dragon
8. Winter's Bone
9. The King's Speech
10. Blue Valentine
Runner ups would be Restrepo, Exit Through The Gift Shop, Enter the Void, The Town, The Fighter, Let Me In, The American, & Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
Christian didn't win the BAFTA .... which made me VERY upset. He better get the Oscar or I may show a side of myself that I don't even really know what to expect from.
ReplyDeleteThe Fighter simply wasn't a hit in the UK. They didn't dig it, same reason TKAAR wasn't a big presence at the BAFTAS. Both films are distinctly American in their sensibilities I think. Which isn't a criticism at all. More of a fact. In ay case, The Fighter was a huge hit with the Academy, so I'm not worried. I actually think Best Picture is between The King's Speech and The Fighter, not TKS and The Social Network.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be SO FUN to see WTF is going to happen.
ReplyDelete