It's Oscar Time Again!

I don't know why I love the Academy Awards so much. Maybe it is because I really love movies. And this time of year is like Christmas for film buffs. We are flooded with a wide selection of great films. And there is this feeling--a sense of urgency and obligation to see them all. It's as if we have no right to express a preference unless we have actually seen all the films nominated. There is probably no one--not even a top film critic--who can claim to have done so. Mostly because it is an impossible task. Even if one is sent all the freebie screeners, who will be able to find the free time to view them all? Then there is the problem of availability, which is the biggest obstacle to the majority of us. Not all movies play in one's local theater. Also, Netflix doesn't have every title. And even if you hunt for them on Amazon, i Tunes, etc., some just can't be found--even online from a file sharing service. I have been doing my best to find Biutiful with no such luck. Even though Javier Bardem is up for Best Actor in a landmark nomination--being the first non-English speaking performance in this category, I can't get access. Twisted isn't it?

So after searching far and wide, I have managed to view a great number of the nominated movies. I think this was an excellent year for films--both feature and documentary. And the Best Actor and Best Actress categories have some very strong contenders. One unexpected treat was Michelle Williams' performance in Blue Valentine. I was pleasantly surprised by how good this movie was and how poignant the actors' performances were. Ryan Gosling was overlooked for the Best Actor category--perhaps because his body of work is so strong. I think this can work against an actor sometimes. Colin Firth has mostly gone unrecognized by The Academy--until now. This year he's up for Best Actor for The King's Speech. I don't think this was his best performance. See my blog entry explaining why HERE. There are a few movies nominated that I have no desire to see such as True Grit and Inception. I may eventually see them. I have not seen The Fighter. I really, really hate boxing. It is senseless violence which turns my stomach. I did see Million Dollar Baby--and loved it. But it was more about the relationships in the film than boxing. I am hoping The Fighter is as well. So, I am willing to give it a chance. If any of the performances outshine my original picks, I will modify my list. (*Update mid Feb.: I have tried watching Inception twice. Perhaps I have an undiagnosed case of ADD 'cause I just cannot get into this film. I have not given up though. I will reserve it for later--for when I am bedridden with the flu--too lethargic to get out of bed; I will be a captive audience. Also, I have viewed The Fighter. Good movie--not just about boxing. Christian Bale gives an award-worthy performance as a down-on-his-luck crack addict--jittery, emaciated, and teeth grinding. I am now torn between him and Geoffrey Rush for Best Supporting Actor.) Also, I have not seen any of the animated films. (*Update Feb. 22: I saw Toy Story 3 & loved it.)

So then, I have not seen every movie up for an award. And my preferences are very subjective--as are everyone else's.


These are the Nominees. My picks are in red. Films which I have not seen yet are in purple.

Actor in a Leading Role

* Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
* Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
* Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
* Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”
* James Franco in “127 Hours”

Actor in a Supporting Role

* Christian Bale in “The Fighter
* John Hawkes in “Winter's Bone”
* Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
* Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
* Geoffrey Rush in “The King's Speech”

Actress in a Leading Role

* Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
* Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
* Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter's Bone”
* Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
* Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

Actress in a Supporting Role


* Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
* Helena Bonham Carter in “The King's Speech”
* Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
* Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
* Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”

Animated Feature Film

* “How to Train Your Dragon” Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
* “The Illusionist” Sylvain Chomet
* “Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich

Art Direction

* “Alice in Wonderland”
Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara
* “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”
Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
* “Inception”
Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
* “The King's Speech”
Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr[/COLOR]
* “True Grit”
Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh[/COLOR]

Cinematography


* “Black Swan” Matthew Libatique
* “Inception” Wally Pfister
* “The King's Speech” Danny Cohen
* “The Social Network” Jeff Cronenweth
* “True Grit” Roger Deakins

Costume Design


* “Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood
* “I Am Love” Antonella Cannarozzi
* “The King's Speech” Jenny Beavan
* “The Tempest” Sandy Powell
* “True Grit” Mary Zophres

Directing

* “Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky
* "The Fighter” David O. Russell
* “The King's Speech” Tom Hooper
* “The Social Network” David Fincher
* “True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Documentary (Feature)

* “Exit through the Gift Shop” Banksy and Jaimie D'Cruz
* “Gasland” Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
* “Inside Job” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
* “Restrepo” Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
* “Waste Land” Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

Film Editing

* “Black Swan” Andrew Weisblum
* "The Fighter” Pamela Martin
* “The King's Speech” Tariq Anwar
* “127 Hours” Jon Harris
* “The Social Network” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Music (Original Score)

* “How to Train Your Dragon” John Powell
* “Inception” Hans Zimmer
* “The King's Speech” Alexandre Desplat
* “127 Hours” A.R. Rahman
* “The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Best Picture

* “Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
* “The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
* “Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
* “The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
* “The King's Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
* “127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
* “The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
* “Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer
* “True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
* “Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)


* “127 Hours” Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
* “The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
* “Toy Story 3” Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
* “True Grit” Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
* “Winter's Bone” Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Writing (Original Screenplay)

* “Another Year” Written by Mike Leigh
* “The Fighter” Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson;
Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
* “Inception” Written by Christopher Nolan
* “The Kids Are All Right” Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
* “The King's Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler

My Favorite Films This Year Are:


127 Hours
Black Swan
The Social Network
Rabbit Hole
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Blue Valentine
Catfish
Toy Story 3

Comments

Gosh these new journals are wierd :)
There was one year that I went to the movies damn near every weekend - and that year, I had seen pretty much ALL of the movies nominated for oscars. It was a different oscar's experience, that's for sure.
This year? I haven't seen any of the movies above... oh, except Inception... been meaning to go see Black Swan but haven't gotten around to it. Is it as good as the hype it's been getting?
 
everybody's lost;bt3 said:
Gosh these new journals are wierd :)
There was one year that I went to the movies damn near every weekend - and that year, I had seen pretty much ALL of the movies nominated for oscars. It was a different oscar's experience, that's for sure.
This year? I haven't seen any of the movies above... oh, except Inception... been meaning to go see Black Swan but haven't gotten around to it. Is it as good as the hype it's been getting?

Black Swan was awesome. I felt like I was being pulled into the screen. I stop breathing for a minute. If you have seen Requiem For a Dream--and liked it, then you are sure to like this film as well, as it is by the same director, Darren Aronofsky.
 
Oh my god said:
you should see "Inception"

I know critics and audiences love Inception. But I am such a skeptic that I have a hard time embracing films with supernatural elements--unless they are horror films such as The Ring or The Blair Witch Project. I wasn't a fan of The Sixth Sense for the same reason. Though I do think the acting was excellent--especially Haley Joel Osment's performance.

Also, I am not a fan of Christopher Nolan's style. Memento was so convoluted. I mean honestly, did it make any sense at all? It was a case of The Emperor's New Clothes--everyone new it was crap but no one would admit it for fear of appearing dumb--like they were the only one who didn't get it. I don't like movies that make me feel stupid or ones that can't be enjoyed with out dropping a hit of acid first.
 
Inception does not really have a supernatural element, its about dreams. However, if you did not like other Christopher Nolan films, then yeah, I doubt you would like this one. Ah well, to each their own...
 
Oh my god said:
Inception does not really have a supernatural element, its about dreams. However, if you did not like other Christopher Nolan films, then yeah, I doubt you would like this one. Ah well, to each their own...

Hey Robby. I'm gonna see Inception tonight. You sold me. I'll let you know what I think.
 

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