Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen has seemed like a surefire lock for Midnight in Paris, while Alexander Payne and his team seemed to be fighting off Moneyball and Hugo. But it looks like, after the Writer's Awards, we have our two Screenplay winners.
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
It got nominated for a high profile category (Screenplay) and won the Golden Globe. With The Skin I Live In not nominated, this seems to be the heavy favorite in this category.
Best Documentary Feature: Pina
There were certainly better documentaries this year, but given the death of subject Pina Bausch mid-filming, it seems only appropriate to dedicate this win for her legacy.
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
She's been sweeping up through the major award ceremonies. It would take a miracle to beat her.
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, The Help
See above.
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
I will be wavering about this one for the next week or so. Streep somehow pulled off the BAFTA win, even though Viola Davis had a lot of momentum from her win at the SAGs. But if the British Academy can award Streep's controversial portrayal of former P.M. Margaret Thatcher, maybe the Academy can as well. The BAFTAs are also a better predictor for the Oscars given the overlap between voters in the British Academy and the Academy.
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
This is long from a foregone conclusion. But it seemed that George Clooney had this award all wrapped up. But after winning the SAG and the BAFTA, Dujardin is the clear favorite. Coupled with the tremendous momentum of The Artist along with the steady decline of The Descendants and Clooney's previous win for Syriana, it appears that Dujardin will be awarded the Oscar.
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
He won the Directors Guild Award. He won the BAFTA. The Artist is the most-awarded and talked about movie right now. Chalk up another win for The Artist.
Best Picture: The Artist
After taking home the BAFTA and gaining awards for its youthful director and charming lead actor along the way, The Artist looks like the silent movie that could. The Help, Hugo, and The Descendants still can upset The Artist, but it looks like silence is, well, golden.
Showing posts with label oscars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oscars. Show all posts
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Oscar Predictions Updated
With the announcement of the SAGs, the Oscars face some new competition. The Help has elevated its chances with a Best Cast win, and one of its stars, Viola Davis, took the SAG award for Best Actress along with Octavia Spencer, winning a SAG for Best Supporting Actress. The biggest surprise was Jean Dujardin, getting noticed for his work in The Artist. Here are the updated predictions.
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
Bridesmaids and The Artist deserve to get some serious cred, but I think that these two are locked in for now. Moneyball, and Aaron Sorkin, could spoil the Adapted Screenplay race.
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
With the SAG award, Spencer is the one to beat. She will hear her name come Oscar night.
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
As is the usual, Best Supporting Actor and Actress are determined well before the Oscar ceremony. Plummer gets a deserving win for a long and illustrious career.
Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Despite losing the Golden Globe, Davis bounced back with a SAG win. Meryl Streep always deserves to be recognized, but it's Davis' time right now.
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Clooney seems to be unstoppable, but I learned that you should never go against the guild. The SAGs will go 4 for 4 at the Oscar ceremony.
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Remember how David Fincher should have won last year? He lost to DGA winner Tom Hooper. Expect Hazanavicius to follow suit.
Best Picture: The Artist
They may have lost the SAG, but the SAG has never been the best decider of the Best Picture. With wins for Dujardin and Hazanavicius, The Artist caps a winning night with the top prize.
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
Bridesmaids and The Artist deserve to get some serious cred, but I think that these two are locked in for now. Moneyball, and Aaron Sorkin, could spoil the Adapted Screenplay race.
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
With the SAG award, Spencer is the one to beat. She will hear her name come Oscar night.
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
As is the usual, Best Supporting Actor and Actress are determined well before the Oscar ceremony. Plummer gets a deserving win for a long and illustrious career.
Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Despite losing the Golden Globe, Davis bounced back with a SAG win. Meryl Streep always deserves to be recognized, but it's Davis' time right now.
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Clooney seems to be unstoppable, but I learned that you should never go against the guild. The SAGs will go 4 for 4 at the Oscar ceremony.
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Remember how David Fincher should have won last year? He lost to DGA winner Tom Hooper. Expect Hazanavicius to follow suit.
Best Picture: The Artist
They may have lost the SAG, but the SAG has never been the best decider of the Best Picture. With wins for Dujardin and Hazanavicius, The Artist caps a winning night with the top prize.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Oscar Predictions 2012
There were many surprises and snubs in this year's Oscar nominees. Michael Fassbender snubbed for Shame, but his snub led to a surprise (first-time) nomination for Gary Oldman. Albert Brooks, who was Drive's most likely nomination, was snubbed as well. But it is not a matter of snubs and surprises, though those were the three that most shocked me. Here are my predictions for the Oscars.
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
The Descendants strengthens its Oscars push by taking the Adapted Screenplay, and Woody Allen makes a triumphant return to the Oscars with his highest grossing film yet.
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
While co-star Jessica Chastain could take this award as the "It"-girl of the year, Spencer will ride all of the momentum from the Globes, SAG, and BAFTA wins to an Academy Award.
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
With Albert Brooks out of the race (though he was becoming more of an afterthought), the award certainly goes to Plummer. Anything else would be shocking to say the least.
Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep may be a revelation as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, but she will be weighed down by a under-performing movie on the whole. Davis rides The Help's relative success in awards season to here first Academy Award, making Streep 2-16 at the Oscars.
Best Actor: Brad Pitt, Moneyball
George Clooney and Pitt are neck and neck right now. Clooney has his award, and with Pitt "retiring" in 3 years, I highly doubt the very political Oscars will shun Pitt any further. He takes his first Academy Award.
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Despite making his best movies 25-40 years ago, Scorsese takes his second Best Director win for his cleanest film to date.
Best Picture: The Artist
Despite missing out on most of the big-time categories, The Artist, despite losing the SAG to The Help and facing a strong push from The Descendants, ride a BAFTA win to Oscar glory. Cue the dog.
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
The Descendants strengthens its Oscars push by taking the Adapted Screenplay, and Woody Allen makes a triumphant return to the Oscars with his highest grossing film yet.
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
While co-star Jessica Chastain could take this award as the "It"-girl of the year, Spencer will ride all of the momentum from the Globes, SAG, and BAFTA wins to an Academy Award.
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
With Albert Brooks out of the race (though he was becoming more of an afterthought), the award certainly goes to Plummer. Anything else would be shocking to say the least.
Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep may be a revelation as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, but she will be weighed down by a under-performing movie on the whole. Davis rides The Help's relative success in awards season to here first Academy Award, making Streep 2-16 at the Oscars.
Best Actor: Brad Pitt, Moneyball
George Clooney and Pitt are neck and neck right now. Clooney has his award, and with Pitt "retiring" in 3 years, I highly doubt the very political Oscars will shun Pitt any further. He takes his first Academy Award.
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Despite making his best movies 25-40 years ago, Scorsese takes his second Best Director win for his cleanest film to date.
Best Picture: The Artist
Despite missing out on most of the big-time categories, The Artist, despite losing the SAG to The Help and facing a strong push from The Descendants, ride a BAFTA win to Oscar glory. Cue the dog.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thoughts On The Oscars
So the Oscars were last night! So here are my thoughts.
About the Hosts...
Am I the only one who thought that James Franco and Anne Hathaway, though very entertaining in their own right, were not that great as hosts? I know Franco has past experience on Saturday Night Live so he is fit to do live television. But he looked stoned the entire time, which led to great entertainment at his expense. Anne Hathaway was ever cheery and overly enthusiastic, but it didn't seem like any of their bits landed (except for that Charlie Sheen dig, classic cross-dressing Franco).
Montages Galore
I have a lot of questions about the montages. I think that some of them were good. The opening montage was respectable, but it definitely will not go down as one of the best in Oscar history. The Auto-Tune was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time ("He Doesn't Even Own A Shirt"). But the biggest one was the Best Picture montage. I know that The King's Speech is a great film (and eventual Oscar Winner), but seriously Academy? You actually scored the entirety of that montage to Colin Firth's speech. There was little doubt beforehand that The King's Speech would win, but that was the cherry on top.
Best Presenter Goes To...
I think that Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. had some good banter, and Downey always is a great presenter (just think back to the Golden Globes). But I have to give this award to Kirk Douglas. His presentation was awkward at first, endearing next, and then just straight up comical. Some great tidbits include: James Franco (you look a lot better out of that cave), Anne Hathaway (Where were actresses like you when I was in films?), Australians (Why do Australians think I'm funny?), and Colin Firth (Look Colin Firth isn't laughing. Because he's British). You know, he was one of the best parts of the Oscars, although he did leave the envelope backstage.
Speaking About Old People
Forget Betty White. We have new old people to love. The best parts of this entire ceremony were the old people. First was James Franco's grandmother, who seemed to jump out of her chair for Marky Mark (no Nana, he's a serious actor now. It's Mark Wahlberg). Then of course you had the hilarious (intentionally?) Kirk Douglas. Then there was David Seidler, who was a self-professed late bloomer. And of course you had Randy Newman, who rocked the singing, and then rocked his speech. Next year, we should just have Kirk Douglas host the Oscars. It would be the longest affair ever, but I just can't get enough Kirk Douglas right now.
Speaking About Mothers
The best Oscars acceptance speech has to go to Luke Matheny, for God Of Love. He had a good reference to his mom, he was excited, and he seemed genuinely happy to be there. I joked that he must have been on ecstasy after winning, but it was a really good acceptance speech. The next has to go to Tom Hooper, who had another reference to his mother, the inspiration of the The King's Speech.
So About That Speech...
The most buzz-worthy moment has to be the f-bomb that Melissa Leo dropped. First off, as the expected winner, I didn't expect so much spontaneity. I expected something rehearsed, but obviously she decided to step it up a notch. To be honest, I didn't know she dropped the f-bomb until Christian Bale enlightened us (by the way, Christian Bale had a very good acceptance speech also). As expected as it was, I still can't believe the spectacle she created after winning. I honestly hope she does not win again.
Surprise!!
There were only two minor surprises this year. One was that Inception beat out True Grit for Best Cinematography, which is less surprising because Inception won the American Cinematographer's Award or whatnot. And the other was Tom Hooper beating out David Fincher for Best Director. Tom Hooper did win the Director's Guild Award, but Fincher had been riding on so much momentum. Fincher was essentially a lock going into the night, so it was surprising to see Hooper come out on top.
The Winners
Best Picture: The King's Speech
Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Best Director: Tom Hooper, The King's Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Best Original Screenplay: David Seidler, The King's Speech
For all of the other winners, just go to the Oscars website.
About the Hosts...
Am I the only one who thought that James Franco and Anne Hathaway, though very entertaining in their own right, were not that great as hosts? I know Franco has past experience on Saturday Night Live so he is fit to do live television. But he looked stoned the entire time, which led to great entertainment at his expense. Anne Hathaway was ever cheery and overly enthusiastic, but it didn't seem like any of their bits landed (except for that Charlie Sheen dig, classic cross-dressing Franco).
Montages Galore
I have a lot of questions about the montages. I think that some of them were good. The opening montage was respectable, but it definitely will not go down as one of the best in Oscar history. The Auto-Tune was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time ("He Doesn't Even Own A Shirt"). But the biggest one was the Best Picture montage. I know that The King's Speech is a great film (and eventual Oscar Winner), but seriously Academy? You actually scored the entirety of that montage to Colin Firth's speech. There was little doubt beforehand that The King's Speech would win, but that was the cherry on top.
Best Presenter Goes To...
I think that Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. had some good banter, and Downey always is a great presenter (just think back to the Golden Globes). But I have to give this award to Kirk Douglas. His presentation was awkward at first, endearing next, and then just straight up comical. Some great tidbits include: James Franco (you look a lot better out of that cave), Anne Hathaway (Where were actresses like you when I was in films?), Australians (Why do Australians think I'm funny?), and Colin Firth (Look Colin Firth isn't laughing. Because he's British). You know, he was one of the best parts of the Oscars, although he did leave the envelope backstage.
Speaking About Old People
Forget Betty White. We have new old people to love. The best parts of this entire ceremony were the old people. First was James Franco's grandmother, who seemed to jump out of her chair for Marky Mark (no Nana, he's a serious actor now. It's Mark Wahlberg). Then of course you had the hilarious (intentionally?) Kirk Douglas. Then there was David Seidler, who was a self-professed late bloomer. And of course you had Randy Newman, who rocked the singing, and then rocked his speech. Next year, we should just have Kirk Douglas host the Oscars. It would be the longest affair ever, but I just can't get enough Kirk Douglas right now.
Speaking About Mothers
The best Oscars acceptance speech has to go to Luke Matheny, for God Of Love. He had a good reference to his mom, he was excited, and he seemed genuinely happy to be there. I joked that he must have been on ecstasy after winning, but it was a really good acceptance speech. The next has to go to Tom Hooper, who had another reference to his mother, the inspiration of the The King's Speech.
So About That Speech...
The most buzz-worthy moment has to be the f-bomb that Melissa Leo dropped. First off, as the expected winner, I didn't expect so much spontaneity. I expected something rehearsed, but obviously she decided to step it up a notch. To be honest, I didn't know she dropped the f-bomb until Christian Bale enlightened us (by the way, Christian Bale had a very good acceptance speech also). As expected as it was, I still can't believe the spectacle she created after winning. I honestly hope she does not win again.
Surprise!!
There were only two minor surprises this year. One was that Inception beat out True Grit for Best Cinematography, which is less surprising because Inception won the American Cinematographer's Award or whatnot. And the other was Tom Hooper beating out David Fincher for Best Director. Tom Hooper did win the Director's Guild Award, but Fincher had been riding on so much momentum. Fincher was essentially a lock going into the night, so it was surprising to see Hooper come out on top.
The Winners
Best Picture: The King's Speech
Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Best Director: Tom Hooper, The King's Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Best Original Screenplay: David Seidler, The King's Speech
For all of the other winners, just go to the Oscars website.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Key Oscar Updates!!
So this weekend was very big for the Oscar race because of the Guild awards (Producers, Directors, and Screen Actors). Here are the big stories.
Inside Job: Best Documentary?
Inside Job took the win in the Directors Guild Award, and because Waiting for Superman (which was inexplicably snubbed by the Oscars) took home the Producers Guild Award, Inside Job is the only film on the ballot with a Guild award. That does not necessarily make it the favorite (either Restrepo or Exit Through the Gift Shop could upset), but Inside Job has (dare I say it?) the inside track for the Oscar.
Is the Acting Race set?
Not exactly. Though the Acting races for the men have been fairly set (Colin Firth and Christian Bale are essentially locks), the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress are less set in stone. Natalie Portman is clearly the favorite, but don't count out Annette Bening, who campaigned more than Portman. But Jennifer Lawrence is essentially out of the Race. Best Supporting Actress is looking a lot clearer with Melissa Leo on top. But Helena Bonham Carter, Amy Adams, or even Hailee Steinfeld could take over that spot.
Is David Fincher going to lose?
Probably not. He didn't win the Directors Guild award, but he took a lot of the critics' awards. Still he would probably have to look out for Tom Hooper, whose movie The King's Speech has more nominations in the Oscars and who took home the Directors Guild award.
The Social Network vs. The King's Speech
The Social Network looked like the surefire weekend before the nominations were announced. Then The King's Speech seemed to be closing the gap, but now, after this weekend, it's a lot harder to choose. Unlike recent years, there seems to be a tight race for Best Picture.
Updated Winners
Best Documentary: Inside Job
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Foreign Film: In A Better World
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Best Original Screenplay: The King's Speech
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network
Best Picture: The King's Speech
Inside Job: Best Documentary?
Inside Job took the win in the Directors Guild Award, and because Waiting for Superman (which was inexplicably snubbed by the Oscars) took home the Producers Guild Award, Inside Job is the only film on the ballot with a Guild award. That does not necessarily make it the favorite (either Restrepo or Exit Through the Gift Shop could upset), but Inside Job has (dare I say it?) the inside track for the Oscar.
Is the Acting Race set?
Not exactly. Though the Acting races for the men have been fairly set (Colin Firth and Christian Bale are essentially locks), the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress are less set in stone. Natalie Portman is clearly the favorite, but don't count out Annette Bening, who campaigned more than Portman. But Jennifer Lawrence is essentially out of the Race. Best Supporting Actress is looking a lot clearer with Melissa Leo on top. But Helena Bonham Carter, Amy Adams, or even Hailee Steinfeld could take over that spot.
Is David Fincher going to lose?
Probably not. He didn't win the Directors Guild award, but he took a lot of the critics' awards. Still he would probably have to look out for Tom Hooper, whose movie The King's Speech has more nominations in the Oscars and who took home the Directors Guild award.
The Social Network vs. The King's Speech
The Social Network looked like the surefire weekend before the nominations were announced. Then The King's Speech seemed to be closing the gap, but now, after this weekend, it's a lot harder to choose. Unlike recent years, there seems to be a tight race for Best Picture.
Updated Winners
Best Documentary: Inside Job
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Foreign Film: In A Better World
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Best Original Screenplay: The King's Speech
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network
Best Picture: The King's Speech
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Thoughts on the Oscar Nominations
Oscar nominations were announced earlier this morning, and most of it went as expected. But there are a couple of decisions that I think the Academy should not have made. But some were really good too, I suppose. So here are the important story-lines regarding the Oscars (aka no crap about animated shorts or nominations like that).
The King's Speech leads the nominations
No surprises here. The shocker was by how many it topped its competition, primarily The Social Network. The Social Network got important nominations, but it got fewer nominations in the technical categories. Though typically the movie nominated for the most accolades is not necessarily the winner of Best Picture, it does show that The King's Speech was at the front of the voters' minds. The Social Network went from nearly surefire winner to probable winner. It should win, based on what the critics have said, but if it loses to The King's Speech, don't call it an upset.
Javier Bardem for Biutiful over Robert Duvall in Get Low
The last spot of the Best Actor race was clearly up for grabs with Colin Firth, James Franco, Jesse Eisenberg, and Jeff Bridges essentially locked in. A lot of people expected Robert Duvall to sneak in with Get Low, but everyone should have been shocked when Javier Bardem heard his name called. It was a breathtaking performance by Bardem, but it also was a little-seen foreign language film. But his addition seems more of an appreciation/massive campaigning by one Julia Roberts (who actually may be the most overrated actress of all time) than anything. There seems to be no way Colin Firth (The King's Speech) gets upset for the Best Actor trophy.
Illusionist is in; Tangled, Despicable Me are out
So the Animated Feature race is always one of the least entertaining. The winner is typically Pixar's most recent film (5-2 since this award was given; winner of last 3 years), and that trend doesn't seem like it will change with Toy Story 3's Best Picture nomination. But a lot of people would have expected another kid friendly movie to join Toy Story 3 and How To Train Your Dragon, but lo and behold, the more mature Illusionist sneaks in to grab the last spot.
True Grit goes from zero to hero
True Grit goes from shut-out at the Golden Globes to second most nominations in the Oscars. Sure, I'm not typically the biggest fan of the Golden Globes, but that is a massive change. It probably won't win many of their nominations (or any at all from the looks of it), but it's still pretty amazing (kudos on Hailee Steinfeld, who at 14, is one of the youngest nominees of all time).
127 Hours and Winter's Bone in for Best Picture; no love for The Town
In what is less of a surprise, the Best Picture race is shaken up a little with the dismissal of The Town and the addition of 127 Hours. Winter's Bone and 127 Hours are probably the two weakest nominees (which means they are really strong movies in general), so it doesn't affect the race itself, but the lack of love for The Town (only one nominations for Jeremy Renner) is surprising. I think the Academy is still pretty pissed at Gigli and Daredevil.
Michelle Williams gets in with Blue Valentine
This isn't actually as big of a surprise as you would expect. The expected five were Natalie Portman, Annette Bening, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicole Kidman, and Hailee Steinfeld. So when Hailee Steinfeld was (not actually that) surprisingly put into the Supporting Actress category, it opened a spot for the next deserving nominee, which in this case was Michelle Williams. A deserving nominee for an underappreciated movie overall (with only one nomination)
The Biggest Snub of All Time (Kinda, Sorta, Not Really)
Okay, so maybe I'm a little overly dramatic on this topic, but this is the biggest snub of this year. Despite all of the love for his movie Inception, Christopher Nolan gets shut out of the Best Director category, and he is replaced by the Coen brothers (who already had 2 nominations and 1 win). This isn't the first time people have cried foul against Nolan, who was shafted for Memento and The Dark Knight (2 of his 3 Director's Guild nominations). He deserved to be nominated for one of the best movies of the year, but he wasn't. He'll be fine with his writing nomination for now, but I personally expected him to be the only person who could beat David Fincher (who probably would've won regardless). I guess I was pretty wrong with that guess.
So with those stories, here are my predictions for the Oscars.
Best Original Screenplay: David Seidler, The King's Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Documentary Feature: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Best Foreign Language Film: In A Better World (Denmark)
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, The Fighter
Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Best Actress: Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network
Best Picture: The Social Network
Oscars are in about a month (February 27, 2011), and from the looks of it, we won't have another Razzie and Oscar winner in the same year (congrats to Sandra Bullock for being the first!). Have fun, and see y'all later!
P.S. Good luck to Rob with his Fantasy Oscar game or what not!
The King's Speech leads the nominations
No surprises here. The shocker was by how many it topped its competition, primarily The Social Network. The Social Network got important nominations, but it got fewer nominations in the technical categories. Though typically the movie nominated for the most accolades is not necessarily the winner of Best Picture, it does show that The King's Speech was at the front of the voters' minds. The Social Network went from nearly surefire winner to probable winner. It should win, based on what the critics have said, but if it loses to The King's Speech, don't call it an upset.
Javier Bardem for Biutiful over Robert Duvall in Get Low
The last spot of the Best Actor race was clearly up for grabs with Colin Firth, James Franco, Jesse Eisenberg, and Jeff Bridges essentially locked in. A lot of people expected Robert Duvall to sneak in with Get Low, but everyone should have been shocked when Javier Bardem heard his name called. It was a breathtaking performance by Bardem, but it also was a little-seen foreign language film. But his addition seems more of an appreciation/massive campaigning by one Julia Roberts (who actually may be the most overrated actress of all time) than anything. There seems to be no way Colin Firth (The King's Speech) gets upset for the Best Actor trophy.
Illusionist is in; Tangled, Despicable Me are out
So the Animated Feature race is always one of the least entertaining. The winner is typically Pixar's most recent film (5-2 since this award was given; winner of last 3 years), and that trend doesn't seem like it will change with Toy Story 3's Best Picture nomination. But a lot of people would have expected another kid friendly movie to join Toy Story 3 and How To Train Your Dragon, but lo and behold, the more mature Illusionist sneaks in to grab the last spot.
True Grit goes from zero to hero
True Grit goes from shut-out at the Golden Globes to second most nominations in the Oscars. Sure, I'm not typically the biggest fan of the Golden Globes, but that is a massive change. It probably won't win many of their nominations (or any at all from the looks of it), but it's still pretty amazing (kudos on Hailee Steinfeld, who at 14, is one of the youngest nominees of all time).
127 Hours and Winter's Bone in for Best Picture; no love for The Town
In what is less of a surprise, the Best Picture race is shaken up a little with the dismissal of The Town and the addition of 127 Hours. Winter's Bone and 127 Hours are probably the two weakest nominees (which means they are really strong movies in general), so it doesn't affect the race itself, but the lack of love for The Town (only one nominations for Jeremy Renner) is surprising. I think the Academy is still pretty pissed at Gigli and Daredevil.
Michelle Williams gets in with Blue Valentine
This isn't actually as big of a surprise as you would expect. The expected five were Natalie Portman, Annette Bening, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicole Kidman, and Hailee Steinfeld. So when Hailee Steinfeld was (not actually that) surprisingly put into the Supporting Actress category, it opened a spot for the next deserving nominee, which in this case was Michelle Williams. A deserving nominee for an underappreciated movie overall (with only one nomination)
The Biggest Snub of All Time (Kinda, Sorta, Not Really)
Okay, so maybe I'm a little overly dramatic on this topic, but this is the biggest snub of this year. Despite all of the love for his movie Inception, Christopher Nolan gets shut out of the Best Director category, and he is replaced by the Coen brothers (who already had 2 nominations and 1 win). This isn't the first time people have cried foul against Nolan, who was shafted for Memento and The Dark Knight (2 of his 3 Director's Guild nominations). He deserved to be nominated for one of the best movies of the year, but he wasn't. He'll be fine with his writing nomination for now, but I personally expected him to be the only person who could beat David Fincher (who probably would've won regardless). I guess I was pretty wrong with that guess.
So with those stories, here are my predictions for the Oscars.
Best Original Screenplay: David Seidler, The King's Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Documentary Feature: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Best Foreign Language Film: In A Better World (Denmark)
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, The Fighter
Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Best Actress: Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network
Best Picture: The Social Network
Oscars are in about a month (February 27, 2011), and from the looks of it, we won't have another Razzie and Oscar winner in the same year (congrats to Sandra Bullock for being the first!). Have fun, and see y'all later!
P.S. Good luck to Rob with his Fantasy Oscar game or what not!
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