Puttin the "Hurt" on the Oscars

I made some good picks and I made some bad ones. Recapping the results of the Oscars, I still stand by what I believe should've won in many categories, while others were simply a result of having not seen the film (Crazy Heart- I'm sure Jeff Bridges deserved it). In all, I felt the Oscars was extremely well done. Creating the most successful film of all time speaks enough for Avatar, although I believe much of that goes to its directing, for which I think Cameron should've taken the statue rather than Bigelow. Hurt Locker was a good film, but not the best of the year. The problem is, its hard to pinpoint which should've beat it, between Basterds, Avatar and Up in the Air.

I am proud to say that I called Cristoph Waltz winning an Oscar 6 months ago immediately after watching INglourious Basterds on opening day. Me and everyone else who saw it. But still.

Most importantly for the night, for those who don't know me and who aren't aware of my massive crush for Sandra Bullock, it only grew tonight. I think Caret Mulligan deserved to win, but my heart was for Bullock. What was most impressive to me, however, was her speech. She is elegant, funny and delivered a message bigger than her or the movies she acts in.

In all it was a great Oscar night with countless deserving films. Hopefully the next 365 days offer us a new set of great films. Most likely not 10 worth nominating, but we can all hope, can't we?

And the Oscar goes to...

Well, we don't know yet. But seeing as I've taken the time to watch all 1o of the best picture nominees, I'm going to offer up my guesses. Now, granted, I have not seen some of the candidates for best actor/actress and some of those, but I have seen a majority. So here is what we are looking at.

Best Picture Nominees-

Avatar

The Blind Side

District 9

An Education

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

Precious

A Serious Man

Up

Up in the Air

Favorite to win: Inglourious Basterds

I had trouble deciding this category, partly because of the amount of good flims up this year, and even more so deciding between this, Avatar or Up in the Air. Each film is so vastly different. However, I feel the screenplay for Inglourious Basterds takes the cake and the acting is on par with the others. Had Avatar had a bit more of an original plot, I think it would take the cake hands down.

Best Directing Nominees-

Avatar (James Cameron)

The Hurt Locker (Kathyrn Bigelow)

Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)

Precious (Lee Daniels)

Up in the Air (Jason Reitman)

Favorite to win: Avatar (James Cameron)

This was tough. In my opinion it came down to Tarantino and Cameron, and the only weak spot in Avatar was its unoriginal plot- something that doesn't affect the direction. Cameron should take home another.

Actor in a Leading Role Nominees-

Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)

George Clooney (Up in the Air)

Colin Firth (A Single Man)

Morgan Freeman (Invictus)

Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)

Favorite to win: George Clooney (Up in the Air)

I have only seen 3 of the films in this category, and unfortunately I missed Crazy Heart, and I've heard Bridges was outstanding. However, I have to go off of what I've seen, and Clooney delivered a great performance for Up in the Air.

Actor in a Supporting Role Nominees-

Matt Damon (Invictus)

Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)

Christopher Plummer (The Last Station)

Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)

Christop Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

Favorite to win: Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

This was the category in which I had the least trouble choosing. From the moment I finished watching Inglourious Basterds last year, I said he should win an Oscar. And I still think he will.

Actress in a Leading Role Nominees-

Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)

Helen Mirren (The Last Station)

Carey Mulligan (An Education)

Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)

Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

Favorite to win: Carey Mulligan (An Education)

While anyone who knows me knows my love for Sandra Bullock, unfortunately I think she will be edged out by the young Winchester native. Mulligan delivered an outstanding performance in An Education and I hope she doesn't get the shaft in favor of her elderly peers.

Actress in a Supporting Role Nominees-

Penelope Cruz (Nine)

Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)

Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart)

Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)

Mo'Nique (Precious)

Favorite to win: Mo'Nique (Precious)

While each of the ladies from Up in the Air delivered memorable performances, the portrayal of an evil mother in 1980s Harlem by Mo'Nique was unforgettably wicked. She should take home the statue on this one.

Animated Feature Film Nominees-

Caroline

Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Princess and the Frog

The Secret of Kells

Up

Favorite to win: Up

It's the only animated film up for Best Picture. Enough said?

Best Art Direction-

Avatar

The Imaginarim of Doctor Parnassus

Nine

Sherlock Holmes

The Young Victoria

Favorite to win: Avatar

It is unfortunate for other art directors that this movie came out the same year as theirs. I don't see much competition here.

Best Original Screenplay Nominees-

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Bastereds

The Messenger

A Serious Man

Up

Favorite to win: Inglourious Basterds

I simply think this was the most well-written movie in the fields this year. Tarantino should take home the little gold man for this one.

Cinemetography Nominees-

Avatar

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

The White Ribbon

Favorite to win: Avatar

While I missed out on the White Ribbon, it is hard to see anything putting up a fight with Avatar. I'm not sure if it will be punished by the fact that the movie was almost all CGI, but it shouldn't be. (For those curious as to how the visuals for Avatar were done, check out my January 3rd post on the film)

Other Notables:

Best Visual Effects- Predicted winner: Avatar

Adapted Screenplay- Predicted winner: Up in the Air (Very close second: An Education)

I want to care about the Oscars

I love movies. Maybe too much, to the point where I'm not critical enough of the pieces that I'm watching. But often, I find no reason to not be entertained by the piece of escapism on my TV screen.

However, in the past I've always gone about the Oscars by simply rooting for the films that I'd actually seen, rather than what movies are actually best. This year, I have remedied the problem. I have obtained every film on the best picture list that I had not yet seen, and my goal is to watch them all by March 6th. If I find extra time, I'll look into the best actor/actress, supporting actor/actress lists to see if there are films there not on the other lists but thats a secondary priority.

My goal is simply to actually have an opinion about what movie is better than another, and to actually have seen the performances of the individuals up for the acting and directing awards as well.

The Best Picture list is as follows (X's mark the films I have already seen)

Avatar---------------- X

The Blind Side---------X

District 9--------------X

An Education----------X

The Hurt Locker------

Inglourious Basterds--X

Precious--------------X

A Serious Man--------X

Up -------------------X

Up in the Air----------X

I have all of them ready to go, including some of the ones I've already seen but I just want to re-watch and refresh.

One early prediction- I have almost no doubt in my mind that Cristoph Waltz will win best supporting actor for his role in Ingourious Basterds

I am really looking forward to seeing the films for this year. It looks like a pretty solid line-up and I am already having enough trouble choosing who I would pick just out of the handful that I've already seen (probably between Avatar and Ingourious Basterds, but Up in the Air is right there with the pack)

Update: Since the original date of this post I have finished up Blind Side, District 9, Precious, An Education and A Serious man. None affects my original contenders for best picture. The only one left to see is The Hurt Locker which I saved for last on purpose because it seemed the most interesting.