Yeah, it’s Oscars time again. And your intrepid Film Cannon is here to offer you her predictions (along with insane hopes) for this award season. This year will be especially fun because I’ve only seen a handful of the films nominated (and that’s being generous).
Can’t wait!
Best Original Screenplay
“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” (Walt Disney) Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter
Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
My pick: “Inglourious Basterds”
I suspect that Tarantino is going to get shafted in the “bigger” awards, but they like to keep him around and happy, so I can see him taking home this prize.
Best Adapted Screenplay
“District 9″ Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”) by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
My pick: “In the Loop”
Again, I’m flying blind on a lot of these picks, and while the more conventional part of my brain says “Up in the Air” will take this one, the screenplay categories awards tend to go to risker, “edgier” movies, so I’ll be bold in my choice.
Best Supporting Actress
Penlope Cruz in “Nine
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
My pick: Mo’Nique
She’s the clear frontrunner this year, and while I don’t want to say anyone’s a “lock” for the win, she’s won every other prize for her role, and I see no reason for her to stop now.
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
My pick: Christoph Waltz
Again, I’m going with the safe choice. He’s got considerable buzz for his role, that’s good enough for me. (Ever feel like you’re just on repeat?)
Best Actress
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”
My pick: Sandra Bullock
It hurt a little to write that. Granted, I haven’t seen “The Blind Side,” and I know I’m prejudging her role in it, but while I’ve always liked Bullock, I’ve never found her a particularly moving actress. I wouldn’t begrudge her a win, but it just feels a bit wrong.
Best Actor
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”
My pick: Jeremy Renner
Conventional wisdom says Jeff Bridges is a lock, and they’re probably write, and I *know* I should pick him to win, but I’m listening to my stupid heart on this one. I’ve seen Renner in other roles, he’s fantastic, so I’m in his corner this time.
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
James Cameron, “Avatar”
Lee Daniels, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air”
Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”
My pick: Kathryn Bigelow
The big story of the Oscar nominations is the showdown between “Avatar” and “The Hurt Locker;” they both scored nine nominations each and are directed by former spouses Bigelow and Cameron. Again, here’s me prejudging, but it also seems to be a contest of substance (“Hurt Locker”) and style (“Avatar”).
I can’t really weigh in this fight because I haven’t seen either one, but my “Titanic” bitterness is still alive and well, and I don’t want to see Cameron or “Avatar” win any more awards than is has to (the Visual Effects award is rightfully theirs).
Put me down for Team Bigelow.
Best Picture
“Avatar
“The Blind Side”
“District 9″
“An Education”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
“A Serious Man”
“Up”
“Up in the Air”
My pick: “The Hurt Locker”
We’ve got 10 nominations for Best Picture this year, and the big showdown still comes down to two contenders.
Yes I want “Avatar” to fail more than I want “The Hurt Locker” to win (is this how Yankees’ haters feel), but from a money perspective, “Avatar” made the most money of any movie ever, and that’s a hard fact to ignore.
However, money (or a massive visual effects spectacle) doesn’t lead to quality, and I can’t imagine that “Avatar” is a great movie. When I see it, I may feel differently, (and I’ll eat that crow and like it) but for now…
“The Hurt Locker” ALL THE WAY!!!!!
