In a year of big movies who will be the winner?
Artwork by Anna Becker
It’s that time of year again when the celebrity elite comes together for one night to recognize films that have touched our mortal lives. Oscar nominees endure the pre-Oscar awards such as the Golden Globes and the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) awards in hopes that by gaining victory for those they can get the golden ticket to the Academy Awards. This year’s nominees include the box office hits such as Avatar and indie favorites like The Hurt Locker. The Oscars are by no means predictable, but when there is an obvious winner it is easy to point out the diamond in a rough. These are my choices:
1. Best motion picture of the year: Avatar
Most, if not all, of planet Earth has seen this epic tale of Pocahontas with blue people. Avatar’s other nomination for visual effects is well earned, going hand in hand with the reason the film has become so popular. The movie is a visually stimulating ride, especially in 3-D and IMAX with political views on American consumerism and commentary on how we abuse our own environment thrown into the mix.
Other nominees:
Second Choice: The Hurt Locker
Third Choice: Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
District 9
Inglourious Basterds
A Serious Man
Up
The Blind Side
An Education
Up in the Air
2. Best actor in a leading role: Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
From what I observed from the Golden Globes and SAG awards Jeff Bridges was picked as the favorite. In Crazy Heart he plays Bad Blake, a 50-something year old former country music superstar who’s fallen from grace due to his alcohol abuse. Bridges co-stars with Maggie Gyllenhaal and Colin Ferrell, but a large portion of the movie’s praise and success goes to his performance.
Other nominees:
Second Choice: George Clooney in Up in the Air
Third Choice: Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker
Morgan Freeman in Invictus
Colin Firth in A Single Man
3. Best actor in a supporting role: Christoph Waltz
Christoph Waltz was also a SAG and Golden Globe favorite this year. Waltz’s portrayal of Nazi Hans Landa in Quentin Terintino’s Inglourious Basterds is a chillingly charming performance. Waltz’s character is a self-proclaimed detective motivated by the thrill of coming out on top. Landa assesses a situation and immediately knows the full outcome and we quickly learn that we have to love to hate him since he is just that good.
Other nominees:
Second Choice: Matt Damon in Invictus
Third Choice Woody Harrelson in The Messenger
Christopher Plummer in The Last Station
Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones
4. Best actress in a leading role: Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
This is Sandra Bullock’s year. Not only did she win a Golden Globe, People’s Choice, and SAG award for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy, she became the highest paid actress in Hollywood after The Proposal and The Blind Slide became big box office hits. The Blind Side is a heartwarming story about a real life white family who took in a homeless black youth, saving him from gang violence, homelessness and preventing him from becoming another statistic, and helping him achieve his football dreams which resulted in him being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.
Other nominees:
Second Choice: Gabourey Sidibe in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by
Sapphire
Third Choice: Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia
Helen Mirren in The Last Station
Carey Mulligan in An Education
5. Best actress in a supporting role: Mo’Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Mo’Nique is unique in her portrayal of Mary in Precious. Both critics and moviegoers see no other contenders for the Supporting Actress Oscar and are united in being awed over Mo’Nique’s powerful performance. Mo’Nique’s character is Mary, Precious’s harsh and unforgiving mother and as the movie progresses the layers of her hatred and hurt are peeled away to reveal a woman in a great deal of pain.
Other nominees:
Second Choice: Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air
Third Choice: Maggie Gyllenhaal in Crazy Heart
Penélope Cruz in Nine
Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air
6. Best animated feature film of the year: Up
Pixar can do no wrong. It’s not surprising Up is nominated this year. Like its predecessor, WALL-E, the film was a box office smash (grossing $723 million worldwide). The story is also unique: Up stars 78-year-old Carl (Edward Asner) whose age is quickly catching up to him. In an effort to revive his wife’s last wish, Carl decides to embark on a dangerous journey to Paradise Falls (located somewhere in South America). Unfortunately, Carl accidentally takes 8-year-old Russell along (Jordan Nagai), creating a hilarious and heart-warming adventure.
Other nominees:
Second Choice: The Princess and the Frog
Third Choice: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Coraline
The Secret of Kells
7. Best Director Oscars 2010 Nominees: James Cameron, Avatar
I refuse to see Avatar as anything more than Hollywood’s way of milking money out of the public by transforming an overused topic (oppression of a native people) into a 3-D thrill ride, but that doesn’t mean the movie won’t take home one of the most coveted prizes of the night. Without Cameron’s vision the film would lack the credibility to be in the Oscar race. Cameron deserves his nomination since he produced, co-wrote, and directed the film and his Golden Globe wins for Best Director and Best Picture.
Other nominees:
Second Choice: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Third Choice: Lee Daniels, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
