For many of us, this year’s Oscar Ceremony Award will seem different. For the very first time ever, up to 10 films will struggle for getting the award of Best Motion Picture.
Also, for the first time in almost 20 years (last time was in 1987 with Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn and Paul Hogan, what an odd trio…) there will be 2 different host s running the ceremony, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin (again).
However, and despite all above, this year ain’t that different. Even more, still falling into same mistakes over and over (American society gets used to do more than frequently…)
Besides the 10 movies will be in contest, just after the first look you take to the nominees is enough to realize that something stinks in Denmark.
Best Film
Could seem reckless saying this, but just 3 out of these 10 films are worthy deeming as proper nominees with the quality supposed for. Avatar, Hurt Locker and Up are my favourites. A Serious Man and Inglorious Barters can follow them, by far, in the Olympus of the chosen.
All the other movies remaining don’t get the standards necessaries for being considered as a proper nominee.
As already highlighted in a previous post focused on Golden Globes Ceremony few weeks ago, this year will not be remembered as the finest year on film industry. Probably will be so as the year in which 3D won the battle against conventional cinema, a battle lost previously by other raids years ago with such unsuccessful attempts as Final Fantasy, Polar Express or Beowulf, which baton now has been taken by the best 2 movies this year (ruling out European cinema); Avatar and Up.
And this is a sign, a proof that the only way to battle back was unsuccessfully accomplished within the film industry warfare.
Imagination lost against visual impact.
Script lost against empowered animation.
Summing up, we all lost.
Leading Actor
For this year Leading Actor category there is a wide range of really good actors in where to pick that came up with impressive performances.
Personally, and mentioning I haven’t watched yet Invictus, I’ve got a predilection that inclines my vote towards the great Morgan Freeman. He is a fully deserved Oscar winner (besides the Oscar in a Supporting Role he already holds for Million Dollar Baby) for all memorable performances carried out ever since he shown up in the wide screen long time ago.
However, Jeff Bridges is another solid candidate for his role in Crazy Heart.
After countless nominations (up to 5 including this year for taking part of films such The Contender or Starman), The Big Lebowsky’s starring male has fitted more than perfectly into the shoes of a old rocker in this Scott Cooper’s film.
On the other hand, and I reckon far from the leading head, are Colin Firth (for his performance in designer Tom Ford’s very first movie A Single Man) and Jeremy Renner, unknown for the regular public but who has made his place among great actors this year after jumping from the independent scene passing through supporting roles in blockbusters (SWAT or 28 Weeks Later).
Is better if I don’t even name George Clooney and the fact that somehow the Jury didn’t bear in mind the superb and breathtaking performance Viggo Mortensen fulfilled in the biggest forgotten on this year’s nominations, The Road.
Leading Actress
Regarding women, I’ve got to say that in all categories is more of the same.
No surprises at all. Old names stand out from the crowd.
Meryl Steep (replacing this year the “old hand” role instead of Jack “the Great” Nicholson) is the glorious Queen of the ceremony with the permission of Helen Mirren, of course.
However, there is indeed a fact that should be pointed out.
Sandra Bullock (yes, you did read correctly) is nominated and considered favourite for her performance in The Blind Side.
For those that haven’t jumped through the window yet, is worthy mentioned she’s been nominated for Razzie’s Worst Actress Award for her performance in All About Steve, some doesn’t go off the schedules and would make her becoming the first actor/actress winning both awards the same year.
Best Foreign Film
Would be unfair just typecasting the Ceremony for those mistakes.
Good movies are in contest tough.
European cinema landed this year stronger than ever with 2 master pieces and other (i.e. Baaria) left out as diplomacy urged Jury to also rule in movies from all over the world.
French film A Prophet has shown that USA doesn’t have the franchise in such genres as thriller and mobster with a film shot in a way that barely reaches the perfection and that dives successfully into a genre that blossomed lately in the old continent as already proven by Gomorra, Romanzo Criminale or Mesrine.
Although the favourite (as proved winning the Golden Globe) is the German film The White Ribbon which continues with the legacy built up by former German productions (Goodbye Lenin, The life of Other, Der Undertgang) as probably the most prolific film industry in Europe for its quality being acknowledge by both public and critics.
Supporting Actor
The other category blessed this year is Supporting Actor.
The entire list of candidates has a fully right in order to place the golden statue over the fireplace of their house. Well-known and acknowledged actors included into this section that brought fully enjoyable actings.
A poker of Kings made up by Stanley Tucci, Matt Damon, Woody Harrelson, Christoph Waltz and Christopher Plummer.
No clear favourite for the most challenging section despite I decline my vote towards Waltz.
Supporting Actress
Another disappointing section in which Mo’nique stands out from all the other contestants. The comedian has overwhelmed critics and public with her role of a tough and heartless mother in Precious.
Director
Seems a direct and closed fight between the ex couple Bigelow-Cameron as well as I bet it will happen within Best Movie contest if nothing goes off the schedule.
The self-claimed “King of the World” Cameron came up with a futuristic piece after a long time missing behind the cameras meanwhile Bigelow fulfilled with a movie which copes with such a controversial topic as Iraq war without falling into overused hackneyed.
Bigelow’s nomination, whose work so far can be summarized as simply a fucking crap, is based in a script (my favourite as Original screenplay). The direction isn’t that superb. At least to be award-worthy.
There we have the eternal discussion. Whether a filmmaker is good thanks to a script that ended up handling or because is able to drive that script in the way to not to screw it?
|
Nominees | Cinema-Reader Favourites |
Best Picture | AVATAR | *********** |
| THE BLIND SIDE |
|
| DISTRICT 9 |
|
| AN EDUCATION |
|
| THE HURT LOCKER |
|
| INGLORIOUS BASTERDS |
|
| PRECIOUS |
|
| A SERIOUS MAN |
|
| UP |
|
| UP IN THE AIR |
|
|
|
|
Actor in Leading Role | JEFF BRIDGES (Crazy Heart) |
|
| GEORGE CLOONEY (Up in the Air) |
|
| COLIN FIRTH (A Single Man) |
|
| MORGAN FREEMAN (Invictus) | *********** |
| JEREMY RENNER (The Hurt Locker) |
|
|
|
|
Actor in a Supporting Role | MATT DAMON (Invictus) |
|
| WOODY HARRELSON (The Messenger) |
|
| CRHISTOPHER PLUMMER (The Last Station) |
|
| CHRISTOPH WALTZ (Inglorious Basterds) | *********** |
| STANLEY TUCCI (The Lovely Bones) |
|
|
|
|
Actress in a Leading Role | SANDRA BULLOCK (The Blind Side) |
|
| HELEN MIRREN (The Last Station) |
|
| CAREY MULLIGAN (An Education) |
|
| GABOUREY SIDIBE (Precious) | *********** |
| MERYL STREEP (Julie & Julia) |
|
|
|
|
Actress in a Supporting Role | PENELOPE CRUZ (Nine) |
|
| VERA FARMIGA (Up in the Air) |
|
| MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL (Crazy Heart) |
|
| ANNA KENDRICK (Up in the Air) |
|
| MO’NIQUE (Precious) | *********** |
|
|
|
Animated Feature Film | CORALINE |
|
| FANTASTIC MR. FOX |
|
| THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG |
|
| THE SECRET F KELLS |
|
| UP | *********** |
|
|
|
Directing | JAMES CAMERON (Avatar) | *********** |
| KATHRYN BIGELOW (The Hurt Locker) |
|
| QUENTIN TARANTINO (Inglorious Basterds) |
|
| LEE DANIELS (Precious) |
|
| JASON REITMAN (Up in the Air) |
|
|
|
|
Foreign Language Film | AJAMI (Israel) |
|
| EL SECRETO DE SUS OJOS (Argentina) |
|
| THE MILK OF SORROW (Peru) |
|
| UN PROPHETE (France) | *********** |
| THE WHITE RIBBON (Germany) |
|
|
|
|
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) | DISTRICT 9 (Neill Blomkamp) |
|
| AN EDUCATION (Nick Hornby) |
|
| IN THE LOOP (Jesse Armstrong) |
|
| PRECIOUS (Geoff Fletcher) |
|
| UP IN THE AIR (Jason Reitman) | *********** |
|
|
|
Writing (Original Screenplay) | THE HURT LOCKER (Mark Boal) | *********** |
| INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (Quentin Tarantino) |
|
| THE MESSENGER (Alessandro Camon) |
|
| A SERIOUS MAN ( Coen Brothers) |
|
| UP (Bob Peterson) |
|
|
|
|
Director: Joe Johnston
