One of my favorite times of the year is the Oscars. I am not a gambler, but I sure love placing bets to see who will win. It adds excitement to the show and gives me more reason to watch, besides the great hosts, which this year includes Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.
I have the upper hand this year as I have seen 90% of the Best Picture nominees and as I have become accustomed to, saavy on what critics and voters may think thanks to the internet.
So what do I want to win? I'll show you. I also decided that since there are 10 best picture choices, I would rank them in order that I would want them to win mixed with some facts about what may actually win. So, here they are: my choices:
Best Motion Picture of the Year
1. Up in the Air - For me, this movie worked on so many levels. Not only was it entertaining, but it was emotional and painfully honest look at modern society. I find it to rank amongst the timeless films like "Network" and "The Truman Show" as films that in 20 years will be used to reflect our lifestyle. No other film has moved me this way in a long time.
2. The Hurt Locker - Most likely to win because of an amazingly emotional story. What many are considering the first Iraq War Classic is cinematic beauty of the human soul in time of war. Director Katheryn Bigelow deserves to win best director for creating tension so perfectly while making us realize that we're just caterers to the violence.
3. Inglourious Basterds - Director Quentin Tarantino's World War II fantasy is very much an established story that creates complexity and originality in an otherwise beaten to death genre. With an Oscar worthy performance by Christoph Waltz (as he deserves the award more than anyone else) as Col. Hans Landa, the story's drive is simple but results in one hell of a ride that we have come to expect from Tarantino.
4. A Serious Man - The Coen Brothers return with a truthful portrait of Larry Gopnik, a teacher who is up for tenure and is also facing family crisis. Their ability to blend the drama and comedy so perfectly proves why they are masters at their craft.
5. District 9 - The surprise masterpiece of last summer. With an amazing and underlooked performance from Sharlto Copley, the story redefines what alien movies could be and proves that director Neil Blomkamp is a force to be reckoned with down the line.
6. Precious - What is essentially a more dark after school special is a simple portrait of a girl who faces hatred from her mother and faces desire to better herself despite her handicaps. A stunning performance from the unlikely Mo'Nique that deserves the Oscar carries the picture from it's so-so roots to a haunting tale.
7. Up - The first animated film since "Beauty and the Beast" to be nominated for best picture. While it most likely will win best animated (though "Fantastic Mr. Fox" deserves it more), it's a far cry in this race despite an emotionally complex story that keeps children's movies as an ageless force.
8. An Education - Despite a breath taking performance by Carey Mulligan, the movie lacks any real concrete flair to win the best picture Oscar. It has a strong message about following dreams and loving music, but does little else to capture the viewer.
9. The Blind Side - Pretty much from what I gathered "Remember the Titans" for the Lifetime crowd. It seems like the ultimate cop out choice for a surprise nominee that deserved to go to numerous other talented laureates.
10. Avatar - The most overrated on the list may have technological advancements on it's side, but it's more of a joke than an actual masterpiece as far as plot.
1. Up in the Air - For me, this movie worked on so many levels. Not only was it entertaining, but it was emotional and painfully honest look at modern society. I find it to rank amongst the timeless films like "Network" and "The Truman Show" as films that in 20 years will be used to reflect our lifestyle. No other film has moved me this way in a long time.
2. The Hurt Locker - Most likely to win because of an amazingly emotional story. What many are considering the first Iraq War Classic is cinematic beauty of the human soul in time of war. Director Katheryn Bigelow deserves to win best director for creating tension so perfectly while making us realize that we're just caterers to the violence.
3. Inglourious Basterds - Director Quentin Tarantino's World War II fantasy is very much an established story that creates complexity and originality in an otherwise beaten to death genre. With an Oscar worthy performance by Christoph Waltz (as he deserves the award more than anyone else) as Col. Hans Landa, the story's drive is simple but results in one hell of a ride that we have come to expect from Tarantino.
4. A Serious Man - The Coen Brothers return with a truthful portrait of Larry Gopnik, a teacher who is up for tenure and is also facing family crisis. Their ability to blend the drama and comedy so perfectly proves why they are masters at their craft.
5. District 9 - The surprise masterpiece of last summer. With an amazing and underlooked performance from Sharlto Copley, the story redefines what alien movies could be and proves that director Neil Blomkamp is a force to be reckoned with down the line.
6. Precious - What is essentially a more dark after school special is a simple portrait of a girl who faces hatred from her mother and faces desire to better herself despite her handicaps. A stunning performance from the unlikely Mo'Nique that deserves the Oscar carries the picture from it's so-so roots to a haunting tale.
7. Up - The first animated film since "Beauty and the Beast" to be nominated for best picture. While it most likely will win best animated (though "Fantastic Mr. Fox" deserves it more), it's a far cry in this race despite an emotionally complex story that keeps children's movies as an ageless force.
8. An Education - Despite a breath taking performance by Carey Mulligan, the movie lacks any real concrete flair to win the best picture Oscar. It has a strong message about following dreams and loving music, but does little else to capture the viewer.
9. The Blind Side - Pretty much from what I gathered "Remember the Titans" for the Lifetime crowd. It seems like the ultimate cop out choice for a surprise nominee that deserved to go to numerous other talented laureates.
10. Avatar - The most overrated on the list may have technological advancements on it's side, but it's more of a joke than an actual masterpiece as far as plot.
Achievement in Directing
* Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
* Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
* Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
* Carey Mulligan, An Education
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
* Mo'Nique, Precious
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
* Fantastic Mr. Fox
Original Screenplay
* Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino
Adapted Screenplay
* Up in the Air, Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
* The White Ribbon (Germany)
Original Score
* Michael Giacchino, Up
Original Song
* "The Weary Kind," Music & Lyrics by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett (Crazy Heart)
Achievement in Art Direction
* The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Achievement in Cinematography
* Inglourious Basterds, Robert Richardson
Achievement in Costume Design
* The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Monique Prudhomme
Best Documentary Feature
* Food, Inc.
Best Documentary Short Subject
* Rabbit à la Berlin
Achievement in Film Editing
* District 9, Julian Clarke
Achievement in Makeup
* The Young Victoria
Best Animated Short Film
* A Matter of Loaf and Death
Best Live Action Short Film
* The Door
Achievement in Sound Editing
* The Hurt Locker
Achievement in Sound Mixing
* The Hurt Locker
Achievement in Visual Effects
* Avatar
* Inglourious Basterds, Robert Richardson
Achievement in Costume Design
* The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Monique Prudhomme
Best Documentary Feature
* Food, Inc.
Best Documentary Short Subject
* Rabbit à la Berlin
Achievement in Film Editing
* District 9, Julian Clarke
Achievement in Makeup
* The Young Victoria
Best Animated Short Film
* A Matter of Loaf and Death
Best Live Action Short Film
* The Door
Achievement in Sound Editing
* The Hurt Locker
Achievement in Sound Mixing
* The Hurt Locker
Achievement in Visual Effects
* Avatar
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