Oscar Nominations

Just a few quick thoughts on the Oscar Nominations…

Heading into this morning, here is my list of the Top Ten Movies of 2010 (based on what I’ve seen):

1. The Social Network
2. Inception
3. The Fighter
4. Hereafter
5. How to Train Your Dragon
6. Winter’s Bone
7. Black Swan
8. True Grit
9. Toy Story 3
10. Blue Valentine

I have not seen the following movies, but I think they have the potential of cracking the Top Ten:

Tamara Drewe
The King’s Speech
127 Hours
Never Let Me Go
Get Low
Somewhere
Biutiful
Waiting for Superman
Resterepo
Inside Job

Here are the nominees for the most well-known categories… (the movie in italics I have seen) Movies available on DVD are noted.

Best Motion Picture
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception (DVD)
The Kids Are All Right (DVD)

The King’s Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network (DVD)
Toy Story 3 (DVD)
True Grit
Winter’s Bone (DVD)

Thoughts…
I would have rather seen How to Train Your Dragon nominated. When I noted that Black Swan was the most overrated movie of 2010, it was because I had forgotten about The Kids Are All Right.

Director

Daren Aronofsky – Black Swan
The Fighter – David O. Russell

The King’s Speech – Tom Hooper
The Social Network – David Fincher (DVD)
True Grit – Joel and Ethan Coen

Thoughts…
David Fincher is one of my favorite directors, so I hope he wins. I’m a little bit disappointed Christopher Nolan isn’t nominated.

Best Actor
Javier Bardem – Biutiful
Jeff Bridges – True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network
(DVD)
Colin Firth – The King’s Speech
James Franco – 127 Hours

Thoughts…
I’ve only seen two of these performances, but Colin Firth is supposed to be a lock to win this category. I would be shocked if Jeff Bridges won for the same role that gave John Wayne his Oscar.

Supporting Actor
Christian Bale – The Fighter
John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone (DVD)
Jeremy Renner – The Town (DVD)
Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right (DVD)

Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech

Thoughts…
This is a lock for Christian Bale. He is incredible in The Fighter.

Best Actress

Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right (DVD)
Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone (DVD)
Natalie Portman – Black Swan
Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine

Thoughts…
I would really like to see Michelle Williams win, but more on that in tomorrow’s review of Blue Valentine. I think Jennifer Lawrence is also very deserving, but I’m pretty sure Natalie Portman will win. I’ll be happy if anybody but Annette Bening wins for the terribly overrated The Kids Are All Right.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams – The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech
Melissa Leo – The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit

Jacki Weaver – Animal Kingdom (DVD)

Thoughts…
I think everybody knows that Amy Adams in my 2nd favorite actress in the world, but even I think that Melissa Leo is more deserving of this Oscar. Hailee Steinfeld is also very deserving, but you will have to explain to me how somebody that is in virtually every scene in a movie is in a “supporting role”.

Best Animated Film
How to Train Your Dragon (DVD)
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3 (DVD)

Thoughts…
I have to imagine that this is a lock for Toy Story 3 considering it is also nominated for Best Picture and the other two are not. I still think How to Train Your Dragon is the superior movie though.

Original Song
Coming Home – Country Strong
I See the Light – Tangled
If I Rise – 127 Hours
We Belong Together – Toy Story 3 (DVD)

Thoughts…
Although Coming Home is the climax of Country Strong, I don’t think it is the best song in the movie. I will root against We Belong Together because I hate Randy Newman.

Adapted Screenplay

127 Hours
The Social Network (DVD)
Toy Story 3 (DVD)
True Grit
Winter’s Bone (DVD)

Thoughts…
I don’t know how Toy Story 3 could be an adapted screenplay. Is Toy Story 3 a great piece of literature I don’t know about? This category should go to The Social Network. Aaron Sorkin’s script is the best part of the year’s best movie.

Original Screenplay

Another Year
The Fighter
Inception (DVD)
The Kids Are All Right (DVD)

The King’s Speech

Thoughts…
Not sure who should win this category. I’ll have a better idea after I see The King’s Speech. Even though I love The Fighter and Inception, the screenplays are not without their flaws.

I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts when the Academy Awards come around in 33 days. At least I got a lot of pre-work in this year, so I don’t have too many movies to hunt down. When we get to Oscar Day, I’ll have thoughts on Documentaries and Cinematography and maybe even Costume Design.

One thought on “Oscar Nominations”

  1. I still have a lot of difficulty with the expanded “Best Motion Picture” pool. They’re still only choosing one winner…

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