We Hate Hollywood

I apologize for the delay.  In late January, I was involved with a death in the family.  After dealing with the grief and logistics of that, it’s just taken me some time to get going with this site again.  But here we go.

Last year, I wrote about why we hate Oscar.  I mentioned there that while there are things that annoy me about the telecast and the way the awards are handled overall, I still watch them even though I don’t put a lot of stock in them.  I love movies, so I still have an interest in watching the show.  I’m not crazy about making predictions but I do get asked a lot, so here we go.  Keep in mind that I have not seen all of the films.  I do my best, but it’s hard to see everything out there when you’re still a maverick in this game.

Best Picture:

Having 10 Best Picture nominations is stupid.  In the 1930s and 40s, there were 8-12 Best Picture nominees so this isn’t the first time this has happened.  But I - and most people I imagine - prefer keeping the 5 nominations.  The show is already long enough.  Plus, it lets in idiotic titles like Avatar.  One interesting sidenote is that instead of just picking their favorite, the Academy voters this year are doing a system where they rank the 10 films in order of preference.  Then, the bottom 2 are eliminated, and they are asked to vote again, etc.

The Hurt Locker (winner) - Terrific war film from Kathryn Bigelow.  It manages to be an insightful commentary on war as a drug and how it affects 3 people very differently while remaining politically neutral.  At the same time, it is a technical masterpiece and an absolute nail biter.  And why can’t an action film finally win the coveted prize?  In addition, Kathryn Bigelow won the Director’s Guild Award, and the film won the Producer’s Guild Award.  Historically, this points to an Oscar win.
Avatar - If The Hurt Locker loses, it will be to Avatar.  I’m still amazed at our capacity for stupidity.
The Blind Side - How the hell was this nominated?   I liked the film but it is nowhere near Oscar worthy.  Even more troubling is the fact that as the “true story” has become known, we see how manipulated we’ve been by the Hollywoodization of the film.
District 9 - A terrific piece of science fiction from South African director Neill Blomkamp.  If you haven’t seen this yet, you really should rent it.
An Education - the only film in this category I haven’t yet seen.
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up - Sublime Pixar film.  Made my Top Ten of the Decade list
Up in the Air

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) (winner) - Jeff Bridges has been steamrolling his contenders in the other awards shows and deservedly so.  He is easily one of the best actors working today and his performance as Bad Blake is an absolute joy to watch.
Colin Firth (A Single Man) - Colin Firth’s performance is both haunting and heartbreaking.  A true achievement.
George Clooney (Up in the Air) - George makes acting look so easy, but that takes real skill.  He is perfect in this role.
Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) - Jeremy Renner has been in the business 20 years but it largely unknown until now.  This outstanding performance has finally put him on the map.
Morgan Freeman (Invictus) - Haven’t seen Invictus but the Academy loves Morgan even tho, many critics didn’t like this performance.

Best Actress

Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) (winner) - Bullock has been gathering up many awards already.  This is her best role but, like the film, far from Oscar-worthy. Again, I’m betting on stupidity.
Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia) - If there is an upset, it will be Meryl.  And it would be justified.  I’m still amazed at Meryl’s ability to completely disappear into a character as she did with Julia Child.
Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) - She won’t win but to be nominated for your first performance is an astonishing feat.
Carey Mulligan (An Education) - Haven’t seen it
Helen Mirren (The Last Station) - Haven’t seen it.

Best Supporting Actor

Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) (winner) - He will win by a landslide.  I can’t even think of a villainous performance more deserving in probably the last decade.
Matt Damon (Invictus) - Haven’t seen it.
Woody Harrelson (The Messenger) - Haven’t seen it.
Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones) - Haven’t seen it.
Christopher Plummer (The Last Station) - Haven’t seen it.

Best Supporting Actress

Mo’Nique (Precious) (winner) - I don’t think there are going to be any real surprises or upsets in the acting categories.  Mo’Nique walks away with this one easily.  Amazing performance as one of the most insidious mothers in film history.
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart) - I liked the film but thought Maggie was terribly miscast.  Her nomination is puzzling.
Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air) - Such a charismatic performance as the elusive object of Clooney’s desire.
Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) - She has only been acting since 2003 and is only 24 years old with an Oscar nomination.  Her fiery yet vulnerable Natalie Keener is one of the best parts about the film.
Penélope Cruz (Nine) - Haven’t seen it.

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) (winner) - As I mentioned before, Kathryn Bigelow walked away with the Director’s Guild Award which has correctly predicted the winner 50 out of the last 61 years.  She deserves it.  Her eye for action scenes and her ability to build tension are uncanny.
James Cameron (Avatar) - If Bigelow wins, it will be to her ex-husband.  And stupidity will once again have reared its head Sunday night.
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds) - I had a hell of a good time with this film but one criticism I recently heard about QT that I believe holds some validity is that he creates individual scenes that are indelible masterpieces.  But, he needs to bring that same level of skill to his entire films to create better cohesion.
Lee Daniels (Precious) - Lee has created a really special film.  Just read my review.  I don’t have much more to say about it.
Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) - Jason makes his screenplay and his directing pop.  Every scene works.

Best Documentary Feature

The Cove (winner) - Louie Psihoyos has created a piece of thoughtful and exhilarating environmental propaganda that moved me deeply much to my surprise.
Food, Inc. - An unforgettable and disturbing look at how we consume.  If this wins, I’ll be happy too.
Burma VJ - Haven’t seen it.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers - Haven’t seen it.
Which Way Home - Haven’t seen it.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner (Up in the Air) (winner)
Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell (District 9)
Nick Hornby (An Education)
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche (In the Loop) - Excruciatingly funny.  I’d be happy with this win too.
Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious)

Best Original Screenplay

Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds) - Mark Boal won the Writer’s Guild Award this year, but I think QT will pull off the Oscar.
Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)
Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman (The Messenger)
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen (A Serious Man)
Bob Peterson, Pete Docter. Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy (Up)