On Sunday, the 83rd Annual Academy Awards will conclude a solid year in film that saw a decrease in Mega Summertime Blockbusters, and the rise of the mainstream indie movie. As an admitted film nerd who sees pretty much anything, regardless of how bad they are (Still recovering from Grown Ups), this was one of the more notable movie years. With movie studios seemingly more stubborn on what movies are made, the overall quality seemed to improve. (Although I can’t say the same for Nicholas Cage… Still don’t know what’s going on there) So without further ado, I present your guide to the Oscars.
Best Picture Nominees:
-Inception -Black Swan
-The Kids Are All Right -The Fighter
-The Social Network -127 Hours
-Winter’s Bone -Toy Story 3
-The Kings Speech -True Grit
And the Oscar goes to: The Kings Speech
Amongst such great competition, the fascinating account of King George VI & his unexpected rise to the crown in war-weary England stands tallest. It’s as inspirational as it is heartfelt. It will make you laugh one minute, than cry the next. Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, & Helena Bonham Carter are dynamic together and help bring Tom Hooper’s masterpiece to dazzling new heights. It’s as close to a perfect movie as one can get.
The "Are You Kidding Me? I Got Snubbed” award: The Social Network
Making a movie about one of the biggest advances impacting our everyday social lives couldn’t be an easy task. Neither was telling the story of the people behind it all. Facebook has become such an integral part of people’s lives that the account of Mark Zuckerberg’s meteoric rise into cultural infamy deserves no less than its movie equivalent, and director David Fincher was clearly ready for the task. Throw in the verbal onslaught from Jesse Eisenberg as the CEO (bitches), and you can’t hit the “like” button fast enough. After multiple viewings, I still don’t know what hit me.
The “What About Me?!?” award: Toy Story 3
While Inception and Black Swan took us to dizzying new worlds and mental breakdowns we never dreamed possible, Toy Story 3 seems to get lost on everyone. There seems to be a stigma about animated movies that, for whatever reason, never seem to get the proper accolades they deserve. (Up anybody???) The third installment of Pixar's masterful trilogy bounded over the high bar set by the previous two, and somehow managed to make us more nostalgic to when the world seemed so big, and made us realize what was really important to us. Not just the toys of our childhood, but the connection and memories made. Pixar certainly knows how to make a movie.
The “I couldn’t even get nominated?!?!?” Best of the rest:
Big hitters like The Town (Liked it better when it was called Heat) and Shutter Island, as well as the lesser known Blue Valentine, Another Year, and Rabbit Hole were all certainly worthy.
Best Actor
Colin Firth - The King’s Speech
Javier Bardem - Biutiful
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Jeff Bridges - True Grit
James Franco - 127 Hours
And the Oscar goes to: Colin Firth - The King’s Speech
When the nominees were announced a few months ago, I knew immediately that the competition in this category would be the most heated, and rightfully so. Ultimately, Firth’s portrayal of King George VI’s reluctant ascension to the throne that made The King's Speech the marvel it is. Firth’s performance brings a human element to the role, something usually refrained from British royalty. He’s the snobbish royalty, the loving husband, the shamed son, and ultimately the voice of England during wartimes. I can’t imagine this movie without him, and quite frankly I don’t want to imagine it any other way.
The "Are You Kidding Me? I Got Snubbed” award: Jessie Eisenberg - The Social Network
Portraying the youngest billionaire CEO in history can’t be easy, but after watching Eisenberg’s portrayal of Mark Zucckerberg, you’d think it was. In realization, Eisenberg brought his snarky, fast-talking know-it-all style that made last year’s Zombieland such an unexpectedly good time, and turned it up to 100. His character is described perfectly: “You’re not an asshole Mark, you’re just trying so hard to be one.” Eisenberg takes this mantra to heart, because he makes us want to like the character that has indirectly impacted our virtual lives so profoundly, but we can’t. He won’t let us.
The “What About Me?!?” award: James Franco - 127 Hours
Forgotten among the heavyweights was Franco’s performance of real life hiker/climber/overall adventure junkie Aron Ralston, who inexplicably gets his arm trapped by a boulder in an isolated cave. It harkened back to the movie Into the Wild which mirrored the same individual struggle, not of man vs. nature of which it initially appears, but man vs. self. There are some scenes were Franco’s character is literally at the brink of succumbing to his inevitable fate, and those heart-pounding moments make 127 Hours the delight it is. I can guarantee Oscar hasn’t heard the last of James Franco.
The “I couldn’t even get nominated?!?!?” Best of the rest:
I find it hard to believe that Michelle Williams was nominated for Blue Valentine, and Ryan Gosling was not, Leonardo DiCaprio for either Inception or Shutter Island, Mark Wahlberg for The Fighter, & Andy Garcia in City Island was awesome. Paul Giamatti's performance in Barney’s Version was deserving, but not sure enough people saw it in time... if not look for it next year.
Best Actress
Annett Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter’s Bone
And the Oscar goes to: Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Death, taxes, Natalie Portman winning. We have so little certainties in life, but Portman winning this award is one of them. She gives the performance of her still young, but well-travelled career as Nina Sayers in Darren Aronofsky’s ballet-meets-psycho-thriller-mental breakdown masterpiece. Not only physically demanding (she did most, if not all of the ballerina performances), but Portman’s inner transformation from sweet, innocent dancer to the dark, passionate, troubled prima ballerina, which ultimately winds up destroying her, is nothing short of brilliant. Portman herself has always had the stigma of playing the good girl with one menacing self destructive flaw, and this role makes those others sit at the kiddy table. (Even Closer, for which she was recognized for in 2004) It’s clear who the prima ballerina is this year.
The "Are You Kidding Me? I Got Snubbed” award:
No one. Portman was by far the best. She’s winning. Done.
The “What About Me?!?” award: Jennifer Lawrence - Winter’s Bone
Coming from the world of sitcoms and being relatively unknown didn’t stop Lawrence from delivering a powerful performance as Ree, the reluctant guardian of her two siblings and her detached from reality mother. Lawrence’s character was a runaway train, drawing her strength from the longing to save her family from losing their home, finding her fugitive father, and reluctantly (but by necessity) sacrificing her childhood someone to be strong when no one else could. Hopeless was not in her vocabulary. Riveting performance might be an understatement.
The “I couldn’t even get nominated?!?!?” Best of the rest:
Anne Hathaway was excellent in Love and Other Drugs, as was Lesley Manville in Another Year. Oh and how Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit was not in this category is still beyond me.
Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale – The Fighter
Jeremy Renner – The Town
Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech
John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone
And the Oscar goes to: Christian Bale – The Fighter
You’d almost expect The King’s Speech to sweep everything, but his performance as Dicky Eklund is as hard hitting as you would expect from Bale. As the older brother of Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg, Dicky became infamous for ‘knocking down’ Sugar Ray Leonard in a fight years before and pretty much became the only legacy in his now drug-riddled life, and sharing the spotlight, especially with his little brother, clearly was a struggle. Bale lost a ton of weight to transform into Dicky, and really delivered the humorous, yet heart-breaking performance that this tragically-flawed character deserved.
The "Are You Kidding Me? I Got Snubbed" award: Geoffrey Rush – The Kings Speech
Trying to pick between these two is a borderline futile endeavor. Rush’s portrayal of Lionel Logue, the failed actor turned speech therapist who befriends the soon to be King, holds his own the entire way. He becomes an easy fall guy for King George VI’s shortcomings, but comes out of it looking better than ever. Rush is spectacular, as this really could go either way, but I’m sticking with Bale.
The “What About Me?!?” award: Jeremy Renner – The Town
It seems like everyone kinda-sorta dismissed The Town all together, but Renner’s portrayal of Gem is deserving of some attention. As he demonstrated last year with The Hurt Locker, Renner is capable of playing the characters that are one step away from the edge of self-destruction. It’s easy to see the tensions burning up inside his character, and the scenes where he lets it all out are nothing short of spell-binding. Good luck breathing while he’s jumping off the edge.
The “I couldn’t even get nominated?!?!?” Best of the rest:
Perhaps the biggest omission of all potential nominees was Andrew Garfield’s performance as Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network. Joseph Gordin-Levitt for Inception, and Dustin Hoffman in Barney’s Version were awesome.
Best Supporting Actress:
Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit
Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech
Melissa Leo – The Fighter
Amy Adams – The Fighter
Jacki Weaver – Animal Kingdom
And the Oscar goes to: Melissa Leo – The Fighter
First, full disclosure: I never saw Animal Kingdom, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. Regardless, Leo’s character Alice Ward has the unenviable task of taking sides between her 9 children and still believing she is still in charge of everyone. Her encounters with Amy Adams' character steals the thunder between Micky and Dicky, and the volatility makes everyone know that she is a force to be reckoned with.
The "Are You Kidding Me? I Got Snubbed” award: Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit
Anyone that can hold their own with the likes Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin has done something right, and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld’s character of Mattie Ross does just that. While the remake might have fallen short of the original, what doesn’t fall short is her performance as a teenage girl who vows to find the killer of her murdered father. She plays it with the right mix of toughness and innocence to really carry the movie throughout. She brings heart to an otherwise soulless movie, and that’s reason enough to win.
The “What About Me?!?” award: Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech
It’s so easy to overlook how good she was in this movie, because of the other two heavyweights in this movie. Bonham Carter portrays a younger Queen Elizabeth, who really is the rock in her marriage to King George VI. She finds Lionel Logue (Rush) and reassures her husband what he is truly capable of. Bonham Carter is known for portraying the more unusual characters in film, and is excellent in this role, but it might not be enough being overshadowed by Firth and Rush.
The “I couldn’t even get nominated?!?!?” Best of the rest:
No love for Mila Kunis from Black Swan??? Also, Olivia Wilde was excellent in The Ghost Writer as was Marion Cotillard in Inception.
Best Director
David O. Russel – The Fighter
Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan
Tom Hooper – The King’s Speech
David Fincher – The Social Network
Ethan and Joel Coen – True Grit
And the Oscar goes to: David Fincher – The Social Network
The biggest landmark film of the year belonged to The Social Network. Fincher’s vision of Zuckerberg’s billion dollar contribution to society was easily the most impactful movie of the year. The story was somewhat familiar, but Fincher infuses his own trademark style that made Se7en, Fight Club, and Benjamin Button so enjoyable. He builds such an emotional ride that it’s impossible not to sit back, and me amazed the places he takes you.
The "Are You Kidding Me? I Got Snubbed" award: Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan
I think it’s finally safe to say that Aronofsky has arrived, and let me be the first to welcome him with open arms. After scoring critical acclaim with Pi, the brilliant Requiem For A Dream, and The Wrestler (Hesitant to include The Fountain because I’ve watched it three times and still have no idea what was going on… Doesn’t mean I didn’t like it though!) he seems to have found his niche in making movies that you have to take a deep breath, and ask yourself, what in the f*** did I just watch?!? Black Swan is no different. The music, the cinematography, the performances all rise to a stunning, beautiful crescendo, only to crash in front of our very eyes. And then at last, we can finally breathe again.
The “What About Me?!?” award: Tom Hooper The King’s Speech
How can the best picture not win best director??? The performances are what make this movie so unique, while Fincher and Aronofsky incorporate their own profound styles more into the finished product. Don’t get me wrong, each style works for all three films respectively. The other two pushed the boundaries of filmmaking.
The “I couldn’t even get nominated?!?!?” Best of the rest:
Um, does the name Christopher Nolan ring a bell to anyone? Remember when Inception was the most ground-breaking film of our time? What happened since the summer? Same could be said for Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours.
