The oscars were announced the other day, without many real surprises, everything seemed to be represented appropriately with very few exceptions. Here are my thoughts on the nominations that I have seen.
First, the biggest award. The one on the front of every winner’s DVD. I have actually seen all of these films (besides The Fighter and True Grit, which aren’t out over here yet and they shouldn’t really be watched on some shitty screener.)
Best Picture
Black Swan – This psychological thriller was released amidst big fat hype, and Aronofsky delivered what was promised, a film about duality, between performer and performance, much as he did in The Wrestler. This has all the hallmarks of being a companion piece to that film, as well as Aronofsky himself naming them as such. However the unrelenting viciousness of mixing mental illness with the exhausting ballet routines and the depravity of every character but Portman’s puts this film in a very dark place. Perhaps out of reach of an award.
The Fighter - Not seen it.
Inception – Inception isn’t going to win for a two reasons. The first being the fact that Nolan was shunned for Director showing that Hollywood isn’t ready to treat summer blockbusters with the same amount of prestige as the deservedly great films (and who can blame them, really? Most are cack) and the second being that it flat out doesn’t deserve it. Despite presenting some fantastic ideas, ideas that have stayed with me long after seeing it, the film never ties them together very well. A good film, with moments of genius and moments of idiocy.
The Kids Are All Right – Won’t win. Doesn’t deserve, despite being, all right.
The King’s Speech – Absolutely fantastic film that could win if the other one doesn’t.
127 Hours – Boyle not being nominated for Director puts this one in the corner. Fantastically deserving as well, the first Danny Boyle film I have enjoyed with a fantastic emotional climax. Boyle takes what could ahve been a boring and cliche story from a boring and cliche script and turns it into a brilliant and cliche film. Genuinely affecting.
Toy Story 3 – The fact that it is animated means it won’t win. That is a fact. Whilst being nominated may make it seem as though the academy are accepting Pixar’s animated efforts as genuinely deserving competitors, they won’t win Best Picture until directors are nominated alongside them.
True Grit – Not seen. Coens are up for Best Director so it’s in with an outside shot.
Winter’s Bone – Terrible film. Nominated to satisfy independents and the hype machine.
And the winner will be : The Social Network, deservedly so, film of the year.
Best Director
David O. Russell – The Fighter – The fact that he is nominated, despite being somewhat of a dick to everyone over the last ten years, is good. However I can’t say that he will win without seeing the movie.
Tom Hooper – The King’s Speech – In with a shot. The film was stylish and beautiful indeed.
David Fincher – The Social Network – I think this guy will win. Fincher has made some of the best films of the last 15 years, however his fantastic handling of facebook’s origin story will make this his year.
Joel And Ethan Coen – True Grit – Already won recently, though I haven’t seen the movie so can’t comment.
Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan – It was certainly a well put together film. I don’t know. In with the same shot as Tom Hooper.
Best Actress
Natalie Portman – Black Swan – Pretty much a lock, she showed fantastic dedication, although Bening is equally as deserving.
Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right
Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone
Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine
Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole
Best Actor
Javier Bardem – Biutiful
Jeff Bridges – True Grit – Won last year, I doubt he will win this year too.
Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network – Deserving of the award as much as Firth’s more showmanny performance is.
Colin Firth – The King’s Speech – A lock I’d say. The performance in this is the polar opposite to A Single Man’s, which saw him miss out last year. He is fucking fantastic in it too.
James Franco – 127 Hours – I would love for him to win. But he won’t.
Best Supporting Actress
Melissa Leo – The Fighter – From the hype, this is the clear winner already.
Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit – I would love for her to win.
Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale – The Fighter - The winner. (That’s just from hype)
Jeremy Renner – The Town - A fantastic performance, however it doesn’t deserve best supporting.
Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech – Much more understated and controlled than Firth, however equally as fantastic.
Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right – Meh.
Best Original Screenplay
Another Year – Mike Leigh – Not seen, wanted to, desperately though.
The Fighter – Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Keith Dorrington – Not seen.
Inception – Christopher Nolan – The most undeserving nomination. The screenplay presented some good ideas, tied together the last hour and a half brilliantly and was written really, really well. However that exposition filled first hour and the entire screenplay’s abysmal dialogue (did nobody else cringe whenever that train story was told) makes me surprised that this was nominated.
The Kids Are All Right – Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg - The script for this movie was fantastic, however I would be surprised if it won, pleasantly so.
The King’s Speech – David Seidler – Probably the winner. It was fantastically written.
Best Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours - Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy – This script was boring, it was Boyle’s direction and Franco’s performance that elevated the film to greatness.
The Social Network – Aaron Sorkin - The clear winner.
Toy Story 3 – Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich – Deserving, as most Pixar films are.
True Grit – Joel Coen & Ethan Coen – Not read or seen.
Winter’s Bone – Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini - The script was the worst thing about this film. Why it was nominated is any one’s guess.
Best Animated Film
Toy Story 3 - The clear, balls out winner. It’s scary to see Pixar having this category monopolized, however next years Cars 2 may break the cycle.
The Illusionist
How To Train Your Dragon
Best Score
How to Train Your Dragon – John Powell
Inception – Hans Zimmer – If TSN doesn’t net it, this will.
The King’s Speech – Alexandre Desplat
127 Hours – A.R. Rahman
The Social Network – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – Deserving, though Hollywood’s shunning of the Trent Reznor’s rock factor may give it away.
