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On March 7th, the 2010 Academy Awards® will once again take over the airwaves, and the most honorable awards in filmmaking will be bestowed upon the best artists, actors and motion pictures of last year. And, for the first time since 1943, the Academy has granted that there will be 10 Best Picture nominations.
2009 was a rather surprisingly good year for film in general. At the beginning of the year, most of the films in theaters were written and filmed at the time of the WGA Writer’s Strike in late 2007. This meant rushed or incomplete scripts, which could not be rewritten under the rules of the WGA. Fortunately, it seems as though many of those films managed to avoid being plagued by the strike, as all 10 nominations are truly what the best of ’09 had to offer.
And...the nominees for Best Picture are:
Avatar: Directed by James Cameron
The biggest film of…well…ALL TIME leads the race with 9 nominations. While it will most definitely sweep the technical categories (and deservedly so), the idea of a big science fiction epic winning the almighty Best Picture award seems a little daunting. There are a large number of filmgoers who were amazed by Avatar, and even a great many more left wondering how a film with such a clichéd script could create such a phenomenon. For a big blockbuster to rank a nomination is not a surprise for the Oscars®, Star Wars: A New Hope. Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, E.T. and all three of The Lord of the Rings were each nominated in the category. In 2003, the third Rings film famously swept with 11 Academy Awards. Titanic was not the most original film of 1997, but it was certainly the most memorable, and the same applies with Cameron’s follow up Avatar. The Academy cannot ignore a film which has reached out to millions of people across the globe with such a cultural impact. Despite its flaws, Avatar is well told, expertly crafted, brilliantly directed, and most importantly of all, it was thoroughly entertaining.
Will it win? Comicon fans rejoice! This could be the year of the Sci-fi!
For a full review of Avatar, visit our previous review here.
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The Blind Side, Directed by John Lee Hancock
One of the surprise nominations, The Blind Side is most notable for the captivating performance of Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy, and her family’s taking in of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster. This young man is given a second shot at life as a successful student and eventually becomes a professional football player. It has become a box office success, and has won over the general audience with its heartfelt and touching story. Bullock gives the performance of her career as the feisty Leigh Anne, a woman whose determination helps ensure the success of Michael Oher (played by Quinten Aaron). Despite a mixed consensus from critics, the film has managed to secure two of the top nominations, making it an interesting choice to watch for come Oscar® night.
Will it win? It wouldn’t be a Blind Side if it did.
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District 9, Directed by Neill Blomkamp
Now here is a film that both surprises and delights many film lovers. Likely the most lightly financed yet smartest sci-fi film of the year, District 9 has become a cult classic among fans and is a ballsy choice for the Academy. But alas, it was most certainly not the best film of the year, and when the votes are tallied, this one won’t even come close.
Will it win? As unlikely as any Sci-Fi film featuring ugly, gross, gun carrying, cockroach-like aliens which mutates into a heartwarming film uncovering the truth behind a marriage, and the relationship of a father and his son.
For a full review of District 9, visit our previous review here.
An Education, Directed by Lone Scherfig
Based on an autobiographical memoir of the same title written by the British journalist Lynn Barber, the high praise in this film comes from newcomer Carey Mulligan’s standout performance as Jenny, a young woman full of promise and intent to study at Oxford until she meets an older man (Peter Sarsgaard) who changes her life in ways she cannot realize. The film first made waves at the 2009 Sundance film festival where it won the World Cinema Audience Award in the Dramatic category. Despite Mulligan’s praise for her performance, she faces sharp competition from veteran Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock, which will provide no easy feat in helping Academy voters decide who deserves the gold.
Will it win? Unlikely, but it’s certainly a lesson in fine filmmaking.
The Hurt Locker, Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
If this film hasn’t hit your radar yet, you owe it to yourself to see free up some movie time. With fantastic performances, and suspenseful sequences that linger on until you are almost exhausted; The Hurt Locker is quite a ride. What is also promising about it is that it is a film, an Iraq based film no less, which offers no major, overtly preachy, message. It simply shows what soldiers are doing everyday to protect this country. It doesn’t question if what they are doing is moral or right, but it brings the audience up close to the personal hardships endured everyday, and the effects of their actions on their souls. This is a very powerful film, and most certainly a major contender for the win. The Hurt Locker is up for 9 nominations
Will it win? It’s definitely the one to beat.
Inglourious Basterds, Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino returns to form, and the work speaks for itself with 8 nominations! This is the largest amount of nominations a Tarantino film has received, and the first time he has been nominated for any kind of Oscar since Pulp Fiction in 1994. Although it would be great if it won best picture, the odds are against it. However, the real crime will be if Christoph Waltz (The infamous Hans Landa) does not win the Best Supporting Actor category, which he is rightfully nominated for and deserves. There was not a single character that was more captivating or memorable than his was. Basterds also has a fair chance at winning Best Original Screenplay as well, as no one in the industry writes dialog like Tarantino does.
Will it win? Here’s hoping!
For a full review of Inglourious Basterds, visit our previous review here.
Precious, Directed by Lee Daniels
One of the most controversial films of the year, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, is getting notable recognition from the Academy with 6 nominations. In particular, the performances of the two lead actresses, Gabourey Sidibe and Monique Imes (Mo’Nique), have been nominated in each of the respective actress categories. The film was a hit at the 2009 Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals, which provoked Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry to assist in promoting the film to a distributor, as well as receiving production credit. Precious tells the tale of an abused, obese and illiterate teenager growing up in Harlem in the late 1980’s. It has generally received strong praise, although some critics found the story to be exploitive in the presentation of the abuse scenes and it’s dark social commentary.
A Serious Man, Directed by the Coen Brothers
This is a nomination that both surprising and not surprising. A Serious Man was amongst one of the most memorable films of the year. If you haven’t already read our full revie, you can read it here. Although it was not widely circulated film and many have not heard of it, it is one of the most original films of the year.
Will it win? Unlikely. But at least the Academy have given well deserved nod to the Coen Brothers.
For a full review of A Serious Man, visit our previous review here.
Up, Directed by Peter Doctor & Bob Peterson
A major surprise, as only one other animated film in history (Disney’s own Beauty and the Beast) has been nominated for the Best Picture category, It’s quite a delight that UP gets to be the only other to share that title thus far. With lovable characters and a creative, funny story with a great deal of heart, UP is a favorite for many. Unfortunately, since it is also nominated in the Best Animated Feature category where it’s biggest competitor is Fantastic Mr. Fox, the odds of it getting the big prize are slim.
Will it win? Only if the Movie Gods deem it worthy
Up in the Air, Directed by Jason Reitman
Here is a film that has gathered a lot of buzz, praise and love in the recent months. The third film from Rietman (Thank You for Smoking & Juno), this is a film for our times. It deals directly with the economic fallout of the country, and is a pretty accurate portrait of the world we live in today. George Clooney finally washed away the horrible memories of the nippled-Batsuit with this role, perhaps his best. The anomaly for this film is how memorable it is. The film is well made, people praise it, and there is nothing wrong with the story, performances or directing, but it’s still leaves the audience a little empty afterward. It feels very middle-of-the-road, and certainly won’t be on anyone’s mind in the next year or so
Will it win? Only if they votes are tied between the Hurt Locker and Avatar
What are your thoughts on the Oscar® nominations? Agree? Disagree? Who do you think got snubbed? We want to know.
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