Oscar Talk 2010

[Cena's Little Helper]

In 20 days, the National Board Of Review's announcement of awards will officially kick off the Oscar season, wherein various societies and guilds, as well as the foreign press, choose whom they believe (for all intents and purposes) to be the best choices for the world's most prestigious film awards. This thread serves as the place to post your predictions, vent about snubs, and argue with each other over who really deserves the statue.

This weekend, I will personally be going to see two films that are generating quite the buzz among critics and film enthusiasts: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. While I don't have high expectations for Doctor Parnassus, I am really looking forward to Precious. If such mediocre indies as Little Miss Sunshine and Juno can get love from AMPAS, then I'd imagine that Precious will receive just as much, even if it turns out that the film isn't that much better than the aforementioned ones.

 

[Loveless]

I'm having to look over a list of films released this year because absolutely nothing is coming to mind that's Oscar-worthy.

Up looks like a good bet to take the animated award. Coraline could steal it I suppose but it would be undeserving. Pixar are moving nearer to a kind of Studio Ghibli production and Up was the first step in animation for adults.
Good performances in Sunshine Cleaning (Emily Blunt) and Two Lovers (Joaquin Pheonix) but the films didn't get much attention. Jamie Foxx was incredible in The Soloist but the film was so desperate for Oscars it lost a lot of credibility. Away We Go could get a nomination for Best Original Screenplay, as long as 500 Days Of Summer takes that prize I won't mind.
Moon is a film worthy of attention and Sam Rockwell was great in it. District 9 I've not seen but is supposedly great. Inglorious Basterds? Zombieland I loved but there's no way in hell that's getting nominated. Not seen Where The Wild Things Are. Amelia? The academy loves biopics and Hilary Swank.

Honestly there is very little I consider Oscar worthy from this year, which hopefully will allow Let The Right One In to get some attention. I'm not holding my breath but it damn well better win the Foreign Film award at least.

 

[jmt225]

I already know this year Precious will be the film that pisses me off with the Oscars. Last year it was Slumdog Millionaire, and the year before that it was No Country for Old Man.

Look, I'm sure Precious is a sweet little movie, but I doubt it's anywhere near as great as the critics are hyping it up to be as. Seriously, if this goes on to win all these Oscars, it'll only be because it has an all black cast and that bitch Oprah Winfrey is involved with it. Seriously, you put Oprah as executive producer of Ballast, watch how all of a sudden that gets the Oscar buzz around and critics become louder in their praise for it. And Ballast was a wonderful movie that actually deserved some nods if you ask me. I would bet anything I have that Precious doesn't come close to touching Ballast, in terms of emotion, acting, and just overall quality.

And then of course you have A Serious Man, which is getting a lot of buzz. I haven't seen this one yet, but to me it just seems like the critics are riding the Coen Brothers nuts, once again. I like the Coen Brothers, but man do their most highly criticized films end up being their worst work in my eyes. But still... I won't fully judge until I actually see it.

Anyway, so far the Oscar worthy pictures I've seen are The Soloist, 500 Days of Summer, and Inglourious Basterds. However... Invictus, Nine, The Hurt Locker, and Up in the Air are all movies I need to see, that I think look Oscar worthy.

Come January, I'll be able to post better predictions, and give more thoughts to this subject, since most 'Oscar' movies don't come out until around this time and December, unfortunately.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

I already know this year Precious will be the film that pisses me off with the Oscars. Last year it was Slumdog Millionaire, and the year before that it was No Country for Old Man.

Look, I'm sure Precious is a sweet little movie, but I doubt it's anywhere near as great as the critics are hyping it up to be as. Seriously, if this goes on to win all these Oscars, it'll only be because it has an all black cast and that bitch Oprah Winfrey is involved with it. Seriously, you put Oprah as executive producer of Ballast, watch how all of a sudden that gets the Oscar buzz around and critics become louder in their praise for it. And Ballast was a wonderful movie that actually deserved some nods if you ask me. I would bet anything I have that Precious doesn't come close to touching Ballast, in terms of emotion, acting, and just overall quality.

And then of course you have A Serious Man, which is getting a lot of buzz. I haven't seen this one yet, but to me it just seems like the critics are riding the Coen Brothers nuts, once again. I like the Coen Brothers, but man do their most highly criticized films end up being their worst work in my eyes. But still... I won't fully judge until I actually see it.

Anyway, so far the Oscar worthy pictures I've seen are The Soloist, 500 Days of Summer, and Inglourious Basterds. However... Invictus, Nine, The Hurt Locker, and Up in the Air are all movies I need to see, that I think look Oscar worthy.

Come January, I'll be able to post better predictions, and give more thoughts to this subject, since most 'Oscar' movies don't come out until around this time and December, unfortunately.

Yeah, you couldn't be more wrong about Precious. More than likely, Oprah and Tyler Perry attached their name to the film because they knew that it would end up making them look good, rather than the other way around.

Precious has nothing to do with "the man" keeping African-Americans down. Furthermore, it has nothing to do with cheering for someone whose advantages are downplayed while their disadvantages are overemphasized to the point of making you roll your eyes and shake your head in disgust. This film is nothing less than a swift, hard kick in the face; it's about someone having to claw their way to survival and whose only dream is a kind of life that we take for granted and that, in fact, most of us would still consider very unsatisfying.

 

[X]

All I know is that if District 9 isn't nominated for something besides an effects award this year, I'm going to be severely pissed. The Oscar voters have long discriminated against Sci-Fi and horror, but hopefully with a big name like Peter Jackson involved, they might finally decide to pay some respect. I haven't seen many of the possible Oscar contending films this year, but frankly I thought District 9 was so good that it deserves a nomination for Best Picture, especially now that the Best Picture nominations have been expanded to 10 films and not just 5. I'm assuming that's going to start immediately this year of course.

I really can't predict much of anything else as I haven't kept very up to date with most of this years more critically acclaimed films. I usually cram as many in as I can before the Oscars anyways though, so I should be fine.

 

[jmt225]

Yeah, you couldn't be more wrong about Precious. More than likely, Oprah and Tyler Perry attached their name to the film because they knew that it would end up making them look good, rather than the other way around.

Obviously we can't have a real discussion about Precious since you've seen it and I haven't; I'm just suspicious of the film, that's all. Maybe it'll change my mind when I see it, but for now... I truly believe it's only getting the hype it's getting due to the names producing it. Otherwise it'd just be another little indy film, like Ballast was. Speaking of... have you seen that Tdigs? If so, did you really think Precious was better than it, since you know, "I couldn't be more wrong?"

Precious has nothing to do with "the man" keeping African-Americans down. Furthermore, it has nothing to do with cheering for someone whose advantages are downplayed while their disadvantages are overemphasized to the point of making you roll your eyes and shake your head in disgust. This film is nothing less than a swift, hard kick in the face; it's about someone having to claw their way to survival and whose only dream is a kind of life that we take for granted and that, in fact, most of us would still consider very unsatisfying.

You lost me here. I don't know if this is necessarily directed at me or not, but if it is.... I didn't talk about what the film was about, nor does it have anything to do with why I think it may be getting overhyped by critics.

All I know is that if District 9 isn't nominated for something besides an effects award this year, I'm going to be severely pissed. The Oscar voters have long discriminated against Sci-Fi and horror, but hopefully with a big name like Peter Jackson involved, they might finally decide to pay some respect. I haven't seen many of the possible Oscar contending films this year, but frankly I thought District 9 was so good that it deserves a nomination for Best Picture, especially now that the Best Picture nominations have been expanded to 10 films and not just 5. I'm assuming that's going to start immediately this year of course.

Since the Oscars now give 10 nominations for Best Picture, I'm positive District 9 will be up for it. I also wouldn't be surprised if Sharlto Copley got nominated as well for Best Actor, but I highly doubt he wins.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

Obviously we can't have a real discussion about Precious since you've seen it and I haven't; I'm just suspicious of the film, that's all. Maybe it'll change my mind when I see it, but for now... I truly believe it's only getting the hype it's getting due to the names producing it. Otherwise it'd just be another little indy film, like Ballast was. Speaking of... have you seen that Tdigs? If so, did you really think Precious was better than it, since you know, "I couldn't be more wrong?"

Why would I respond to a post of yours if I wasn't informed of everything you mentioned in it? I've seen Ballast, and, in my opinion, it's pretty much George Washington directed by Vince Gallo. Unfortunately, Vince Gallo sucks as a director, and this film doesn't hold a candle to the cinematography and overall production values of George Washington (yes, I'm aware Ballast won some kind of award for cinematography, but it's nowhere near as good as the Malickean look and feel of George Washington).

You lost me here. I don't know if this is necessarily directed at me or not, but if it is.... I didn't talk about what the film was about, nor does it have anything to do with why I think it may be getting overhyped by critics.

How can you say it's being over-hyped by critics if you haven't seen it? Couldn't it be the case that it's just that damn good? And, I mention this to you because you brought up Oprah Winfrey, whose name brings a lot of meaning to any conversation in which she is mentioned. If anything, this film is going to get robbed because of those other Sundance pieces of shit Little Miss Sunshine and Juno; the public has probably acquired an aversion to independent film because of how much of a letdown these two films were. Unfortunately, it looks like this disappointment will be unjustly displaced onto Precious.

Edit: Oh, and Ballast was released last year. AMPAS only seems to make exceptions to the rules for masterpieces, so I wouldn't count on Ballast getting any love.

 

[jmt225]

Why would I respond to a post of yours if I wasn't informed of everything you mentioned in it?

Well, you didn't bring it up, so I was curious just in case. Besides, I wanted to know your thoughts on the film in the first place.

I've seen Ballast, and, in my opinion, it's pretty much George Washington directed by Vince Gallo. Unfortunately, Vince Gallo sucks as a director, and this film doesn't hold a candle to the cinematography and overall production values of George Washington (yes, I'm aware Ballast won some kind of award for cinematography, but it's nowhere near as good as the Malickean look and feel of George Washington).

I'm also a fan of George Washington, but Ballast is a completely different movie. To say they're the same would be like saying that George Washington was the same as the film Fresh, which of course it isn't.

How can you say it's being over-hyped by critics if you haven't seen it?

Oh, come on Tdigs. You never thought a movie could end up being shit after seeing the trailer and the cast?

Dude, I'm just assuming that the film won't live up to the hype. Sure, I can't say it 100%, but still... it's just how I feel at the moment. I thought Juno and Little Miss Sunshine would both fail as well, and while Juno was definitely over-hyped, I fucking LOVED Little Miss Sunshine. So, sure.... maybe I'll end up loving Precious as well, but right now it just doesn't seem like my type of film and I'm just suspicious that the critics have their own agenda regarding the film.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I don't pay much attention to the Oscars. I lie, I like to see what they're wearing on the red carpet. But awards for average films defeats the point of having the awards in the first place.

Seperate categories for foreign language & animation when they're easily better than most of the films in the ''best film'' category? Slumdog Millionaire was a fine film, but best film of the whole year? Don't think so.

Best film nominees should get on peoples best films lists.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

OMG! So excited! I love the Oscars(both for the awards and like Jake, what the celebs wear). This year is alittle less exciting for me since none of my faves are contenders this year(Angelina/Julia/Halle/Charlize/ect) but I'm still pumped. And as last year's Oscar competition winner, I'm telling y'all now I'm winning it again, so step off.

It's too early right now to predict the nominations and who's going to win. After the critics awards(NYC & LA are the major ones), The BAFTAS, and the Globe/SAG nominations it will be easier to predict the winners.

Precious, right now has the most buzz I think. Not only do the critics love it, the box office numbers have been remarkable(seeing how it's only in limited release). A Best Picture nod is a lock. I also think Monique is by far the clear front runner for Best Supporting Actess. The critics are in love with her performance, and I think the only thing that can slow her down is negative press. She's been getting alot of it, for refusing to promote the movie since she doesn't get paid for it. She skipped the Toronto Film Festival and other public events because of it, and has publicly said she could give two shits about an Oscar, and that an Oscar won't put food on her table. But as long as the negative press doesn't overshadow the perfomance, I think she'll win.

GABOUREY SIDIBE, is a lock for Best Actress, but unlike Monique I don't think she's a lock to win. I think the precurser awards will either give her a boost or end her oscar hopes, depending on the outcome. Mariah Carey is also getting some buzz, but she won't be nominated. I'm glad the critics enjoyed her performance, but it's too low key, not enough screen time, and she's overshadowed by Moniques over the top role. She could get a Globe nod, which is nice.

And the film is getting some buzz because of The Big "O", but if it is nominated for alot of Oscars and wins, it's not because Oprah is the producer. The film is getting the buzz because of the performances, and story not because Oprah's name is tagged to it. Oprah along with Denzel Washington didn't help "The Great Debaters" receive nominations and buzz.

The only category that I really care about is Best Actress. Right now, I feel their is 3 locks

GABOUREY SIDIBE, "Precious"
MERYL STREEP, "Julie & Julia"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"

I also think Helen Mirren will most likely get in "The Last Station".

The final nominee is up in the air, and could be anyone of these ladys
Sandra Bullock
Maggie Gylenhal
Saoirse Ronan
Robin Wright Penn
Marion Coltillard
Penelope Cruz
Hillary Swank

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

Here are your National Board Of Review Awards For 2009 (Link):

Best Picture: Up in the Air by Jason Reitman

Ten Best Films
(in alphabetical order)
AN EDUCATION
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER
THE HURT LOCKER
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
INVICTUS
THE MESSENGER
A SERIOUS MAN
STAR TREK
UP
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Best Director
Clint Eastwood, Invictus

Best Actor
Morgan Freeman, Invictus and George Clooney, Up In The Air (tie)

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan, An Education

Best Supporting Actor
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger

Best Supporting Actress
Anna Kendrick, Up In The Air

Best Foreign Film
A Prophet

Best Documentary
The Cove

Best Animated Feature
Up

Best Ensemble Cast
It’s Complicated

Breakthrough Performance by an Actor
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Breakthrough Performance by an Actress
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious

Spotlight Award for Best Directorial Debut
Duncan Jones, Moon, Oren Moverman, The Messenger and Marc Webb, 500 Days of Summer (tie)

Best Original Screenplay
Joel & Ethan Coen, A Serious Man

Best Adapted Screenplay
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up In The Air

Special Filmmaking Achievement Award
WES ANDERSON, The Fantastic Mr. Fox

William K. Everson Film History Award
JEAN PICKER FIRSTENBERG

NBR Freedom of Expression
BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY
INVICTUS
THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSEBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS

Five Best Foreign-Language Films
(in alphabetical order)
THE MAID
REVANCHE
SONG OF SPARROWS
THREE MONKEYS
THE WHITE RIBBON

Five Best Documentaries
(in alphabetical order)
BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY
CRUDE
FOOD, INC.
GOOD HAIR
THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS

Top Ten Independent Films
(in alphabetical order)
AMREEKA
DISTRICT 9
GOODBYE SOLO
HUMPDAY
IN THE LOOP
JULIA
ME AND ORSON WELLES
MOON
SUGAR
TWO LOVERS

From 1974 to 2008, 39 films have been named the best film of the year by the National Board of Review (there were ties for this category in four of the 35 years: in 1975 Nashville tied with Barry Lyndon; in 1981, Chariots Of Fire tied with Reds; in 1983, Betrayal tied with Terms Of Endearment; and in 1994, Forrest Gump tied with Pulp Fiction). 33 of these 39 films have gone on to be nominated by AMPAS for Best Picture, while only 12 of these 39 have gone on to win the aforementioned award.

Unfortunately, Precious didn't even get a placement in the National Board Of Review's top 10 films of 2009. Luckily for Precious, though, the National Board Of Review very rarely lists all eventual Best Picture nominees in its top 10 list; furthermore, this year, there will be ten instead of five Best Picture nominees.

Lastly, although the National Board Of Review's best director has sometimes in the past not been chosen as a nominee for AMPAS' analogous award, I'd say that Eastwood's win here is a fairly good indicator that he'll get his fifth nomination for Best Achievement in Directing come 2 February 2010.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

Yesterday, the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) announced their award selections for the films of 2009. What follows is their list of nominees, with the nominee in bold being the award winner )link to the WAFCA's announcement):

Best Actor
George Clooney | Up in the Air
Colin Firth | A Single Man
Morgan Freeman | Invictus
Viggo Mortensen | The Road
Jeremy Renner | The Hurt Locker

Best Actress
Sandra Bullock | The Blind Side
Carey Mulligan | An Education
Maya Rudolph | Away We Go
Gabourey Sidibe | Precious
Meryl Streep | Julie & Julia

Best Supporting Actor
Woody Harrelson | The Messenger
Anthony Mackie | The Hurt Locker
Alfred Molina | An Education
Stanley Tucci | The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz | Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress
Vera Farmiga | Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick | Up in the Air
Mo'Nique | Precious
Julianne Moore | A Single Man
Samantha Morton | The Messenger

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow | The Hurt Locker
Lee Daniels | Precious
Clint Eastwood | Invictus
Jason Reitman | Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino | Inglourious Basterds

Best Screenplay, Adapted
The Blind Side | Warner Bros.
An Education | Sony Picture Classics
Precious | Lionsgate
The Road | Dimension
Up in the Air | Paramount

Best Screenplay, Original
(500) Days of Summer | Fox Searchlight
The Hurt Locker | Summit Entertainment
Inglourious Basterds | Weinstein Company
A Serious Man | Focus Features
Up | Walt Disney

Best Film
The Hurt Locker | Summit Entertainment
Inglourious Basterds | Weinstein Company
Precious | Lionsgate
Up | Walt Disney
Up in the Air | Paramount

Best Breakthrough Performance
Anna Kendrick | Up in The Air
Christian McKay | Me and Orson Welles
Carey Mulligan | An Education
Jeremy Renner | The Hurt Locker
Gabourey Sidibe | Precious

Best Ensemble
The Hurt Locker | Summit Entertainment
Nine | The Weinstein Company
Precious | Lionsgate
Star Trek | Paramount
Up in the Air | Paramount

Best Animated Film
Coraline | Focus Features
Fantastic Mr. Fox | Fox Searchlight
9 | Focus Features
Ponyo | Walt Disney
Up | Walt Disney

Best Foreign Film
Broken Embraces | Sony Picture Classics
Red Cliff | Magnet / Magnolia
Sin Nombre | Focus Features
Summer Hours | IFC Features
The White Ribbon | Sony Picture Classics

Best Art Direction
The Lovely Bones | Paramount
Nine | The Weinstein Company
Star Trek | Paramount
Where the Wild Things Are | Warner Bros.
The Young Victoria | Apparition

Best Documentary
Anvil! The Story of Anvil | Abramorama
Capitalism: A Love Story | Overture
The Cove | Lionsgate
Food, Inc. | Magnolia
Good Hair | Roadside Attractions

Well, although every other major critics association in America has yet to dole out its accolades for this year's films, a few things should be noted here:

1) The Hurt Locker got a lot of love. While I didn't care for this film all that much, Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie are two of Hollywood's most criminally underrated actors. Hopefully, other film societies, and ultimately AMPAS, feel the same way as WAFCA does about these two men.

2) Nine and The Lovely Bones went virtually unrecognized. Are people getting sick of musicals, or just the Weinstein brothers' constant attempts to make nothing but Oscar bait? Also, is it the case that Peter Jackson isn't that great of an adapter after all?

3) Don't count Precious out just yet. Sure, it failed to get recognized as a top ten film of the year by the National Board Of Review and its hype has died down a little, but, if the WAFCA's nominees are any indication of AMPAS', then it will be (rightly) rewarded come this February.

 

[X]

I'm shocked you aren't upset that Sin Nombre beat out The White Ribbon TDigs you Haneke mark. Sin Nombre is one of the few nominated films this year that I've actually gotten around to seeing, and it's a marvelous film. Haven't seen Haneke's White Ribbon yet, likely won't until it's on DVD (unless it already is?) but it won the Palme d'Or so you can't count him out there. I'll save my opinion on the victor in that category until I've actually seen The White Ribbon.

I've realized I have seen very few of the movies I'm seeing getting nominated this year. Christoph Waltz getting the win as Best Supporting Actor is well deserved though, I absolutely loved his performance in Basterds, one of the highlights of the year.

I'm saying it right now though: I better see some serious nominations for District 9. I realize it's not anywhere near the usual Best Picture fare, but damnit if the Lord of the Rings can win, why not District 9? Of every film I've seen released this year, it's undoubtedly the best. I'd like to atleast see nods given via nominations to the likes of Sharlto Copley for his role as Wikus and Neill Blomkamp for his excellent writing and direction. Sci-Fi might be too much for the Academy though, they've always ignored the Sci-Fi and horror genres. Are there any films being released about the Holocaust or pedophile priests? If so District 9 might not stand a chance in the Academy's eyes.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

This weekend, both the Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) announced their award recipients. BSFC winners come first, with LAFCA winners following:

Best Picture: Hurt Locker

Best Actor: Jeremy Renner for Hurt Locker

Best Actress: Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique for Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow for Hurt Locker

Best Screenplay: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for A Serious Man

Best Cinematography: Barry Ackroyd for Hurt Locker

Best Documentary: The Cove

Best Foreign-Language Film: Summer Hours

Best Animated Film: Up

Best Film Editing: Bob Murawski and Chris Innis for Hurt Locker

Best New Filmmaker: Neill Blomkamp for District 9

Best Ensemble Cast: Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire and Star Trek (Tie)

Best Use of Music in a Film: Crazy Heart

Source

PICTURE: "The Hurt Locker"
Runner-up: "Up in the Air"

DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
Runner-up: Michael Haneke, "The White Ribbon"

ACTRESS: Yolande Moreau, "Séraphine"
Runner-up: Carey Mulligan, "An Education"

ACTOR: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
Runner-up: Colin Firth, "A Single Man"

ANIMATION: "Fantastic Mr. Fox"
Runner-up: “Up"

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: "Summer Hours"
Runner-up: "The White Ribbon"

NEW GENERATION: Neill Blomkamp, "District 9"

MUSIC/SCORE: T-Bone Burnett and Stephen Bruton, "Crazy Heart"
Runner-up: Alexandre Desplat, "Fantastic Mr. Fox"

PRODUCTION DESIGN: Philip Ivey, "District 9"
Runner-up: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, "Avatar"

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Christian Berger, "The White Ribbon"
Runner-up: Barry Ackroyd, "The Hurt Locker"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Mo'Nique, "Precious"
Runner-up: Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"
Runner-up: Peter Capaldi, "In the Loop"

SCREENPLAY: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, “Up in the Air"
Runner-up: Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche, "In the Loop"

DOCUMENTARY / NON-FICTION FILM: "The Beaches of Agnès" and "The Cove" (tie)

DOUGLAS E. EDWARDS INDEPENDENT/EXPERIMENTAL FILM/VIDEO: Anders Edstrom and C.W. Winter, "The Anchorage"

Source

So, what can we gather from these announcements? A few things:

1) Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique are locks for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. I'm not a big Tarantino fan, and Inglourious Basterds was no exception for me. But, Waltz was great in it. Here's to hoping that the only nominations Inglourious Basterds receive are ones for Supporting Actor and Screenplay (writers absolutely love Tarantino for some reason).

2) The love for The Hurt Locker isn't limited to America's capital. Hey, I'd rather see this film get recognized than Up In The Air. Hopefully, Hollywood will get off its high-horse and start recognizing films that aren't about well-off, hypocritically sentimental, fickle pricks.

3) I got a feeling, Woooo-hoooo!, that Michael Haneke's getting a Best Director nomination. Yes, he was only recognized as runner-up by the Los Angeles Critics Film Association, and, yes, this critic's society always makes some singular choices for its awards every year, but, The White Ribbon's greatness cannot be denied. If the critics in New York feel similarly, then The White Ribbon will be the film to watch out for (along with The Hurt Locker).

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

Here are the New York Film Critics Circle's selections for 2009. Following these selections are the film nominees for the 2010 Golden Globe Awards:

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Best Screenplay: In The Loop
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Best Actor: George Clooney, Up In The Air / Fantastic Mr. Fox
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, Precious
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Cinematographer: Christian Berger, The White Ribbon
Best Animated Film: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary): Of Time and The City
Best Foreign Film: Summer Hours
Best First Film: Steve McQueen, Hunger

Source

Best Motion Picture - Drama
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire
Up In The Air

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
500 Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

Best Director in a Motion Picture
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Tobey Maguire, Brothers

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Matt Damon, The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cotillard, Nine
Julia Roberts, Duplicity
Meryl Streep, It's Complicated
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
It's Complicated
Up in the Air

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Avatar: "I Will See You," James Horner, Simon Franglen, and Kuk Harrell
Brothers: "Winter," U2
Crazy Heart: "The Weary Kind," T-Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham
Everybody's Fine: "(I Want To) Come Home" Paul McCartney
Nine: "Cinema Italiano," Maury Yeston

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Avatar
The Informant!
A Single Man
Up
Where the Wild Things Are

Best Animated Film
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up

Best Foreign Language Film
Broken Embraces
Baaria
The White Ribbon
The Maid
A Prophet

Source

Well, taking everything into account, it looks like The Hurt Locker will be the film to beat this year. Right now, here are how I think things will turn out in the Best Picture and Best Director Oscar races:

Best Picture
1) The Hurt Locker
2) I'm Bourgeoisie, Woe Is Me!!! (AKA Up In The Air)
3) Precious
4) - 10) ???

Best Director
1) Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
2) Jason Reitman, Up In The Air
3) - 5) ???

Bigelow and Reitman are pretty much locks for Best Director. I'm hoping for a Haneke nomination, so, I'm going to reserve a spot for him based on faith. That leaves two nomination slots open; given that the Academy loves Eastwood, the decent reviews for Invictus lead me to believe that its quality will be just enough for Eastwood's fifth Best Director nomination. As for the last slot, my money's on it going to either James Cameron for Avatar or Lee Daniels for Precious.

 

[SpoodBeest]

If anyone cares about movie awards lets just discuss the most prestigious award in film making. Mainly i'm going to talk about the "Best Picture" category. Now for some sort of reason, it was announced earlier this year that this would be the only category to go up an extra 5 slots in the nomination list.

What I ask is why? It's the most prestigious of the awards given out at the show, and I thought 5 spots was more than enough for this award's nominees. But apparently for the new decade they are expanding it by an additional 5 spots.

So let's also talk about the films that could be nominated for this award. Not many films stand out, and I think they are having issues trying to fill up all 10 spots, because not even I can think up 10 great standout films
from this year.

Some that come to my mind are:

1. Up
2. The Hurt Locker
3. Inglourious Basterds
4. Avatar
5. Up In The Air
6. Precious


Thats only 6, not to mention a few of those films are genres that the academy is really well known for snubbing. But that may all have to change with this new 10 nomination spot for Best Picture
Well lets see how many of you actually care.
__________________

 

[Cookie]

The Best Picture category is going to be loaded with a whole lot of awful this year. I'm not excited about it at all. I'm hoping to see A Serious Man in there.

I can see any of these films in the top 10 but I don't agree with many of them being nominated: Precious, The Hurt Locker, Avatar, Inglourious Basterds, Up in the Air, Invictus, A Serious Man, An Education, (for the love of all that is holy I hope not) Nine, and Up. I'd love to see A Single Man or Bright Star (I love love LOVE Jane Campion) in there but I don't really see it happening.

The category I'm really interested in this year is Best Actor. I was floored by Colin Firth's performance in A Single Man and I love Jeff Bridges so to (hopefully) see them both in that category will be wonderful. I hope Jeremy Renner gets some love, too.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

All right folks, here are your Oscar nominations for the major categories for 2010. I am not happy with them whatsoever (for reasons I'll get into after I list them):

Best Picture

Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up In The Air

Best Director

James Cameron - Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds
Lee Daniels - Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Jason Reitman - Up In The Air

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
George Clooney in Up in the Air
Colin Firth in A Single Man
Morgan Freeman in Invictus
Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

Best Actress

Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
Helen Mirren in The Last Station
Carey Mulligan in An Education
Gabourey Sidibe in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia

Best Supporting Actor

Matt Damon in Invictus
Woody Harrelson in The Messenger
Christopher Plummer in The Last Station
Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress

Penélope Cruz in Nine
Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal in Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air
Mo’Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire

Best Original Screenplay

The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up

Best Adapted Screenplay

District 9
An Education
In The Loop
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Up In The Air

Comments

Are you fucking kidding me with some of these nominations?! I can't believe AMPAS didn't give Michael Haneke, the most important European filmmaker since the 1970s, a Best Director nomination for The White Ribbon. I'm glad to see Lee Daniels make the cut (thankfully AMPAS doesn't hate poor people as much as they hate people that don't make films in English), but there's no way in hell Tarantino or Reitman deserve a nod over Haneke. While Inglourious Basterds is nothing more than a stylish, ignorant, and immature alternate history for obsessive Nazi-haters to jack off to, Up In The Air is a smug, bourgeoisie dramedy that will be irrelevant in five years' time.

While the Best Supporting Actor nominations don't piss me off as much as the Best Director category, I still have a bone to pick here. When did the Best Supporting Actor category become the place to ignore the best performances of the year and instead reward Hollywood stars and so-so character actors? How the fuck can AMPAS give The Hurt Locker so much love but totally ignore Anthony Mackie, who was even better than Jeremy Renner in the aforementioned film? Of course, AMPAS, snub him and give nominations to Matt Damon in a film that screams mediocre through and through and Stanley Tucci for a role in perhaps this year's biggest disappointment.

All right, rant done. Discuss the Oscar nominations.

 

[Cookie]

I agree that the nominations are fucking awful but I'm not at all surprised. On the contrary, I'm pleasantly surprised to see the abysmal Nine rightfully left out of Best Picture. Unfortunately they had to completely negate that by nominating The Blind Side. Having stuff like that nominated is a perfect example of why we don't ever need 10 best picture nominees. I can easily think of at least 50 better movies this year that could've taken its place. It's really a shame.

TOTALLY agree with your Haneke point. Haneke could and should've easily had a Best Director nod, especially over Reitman. And I'm a pretty big Tarantino fan but there's no doubting that The White Ribbon is far, FAR superior to Quentin's work and I don't get how anyone can disagree.

I guess it's obvious that at this point it's between Avatar and The Hurt Locker battling it out for Best Picture. Just judging from the nominations, I'd give THL the momentum going in because they got a couple surprise noms I wasn't expecting today while Avatar got some snubs. I really enjoyed The Hurt Locker and don't mind if it has the upper hand because I absolutely do NOT want Avatar to win Best Picture.

 

[jmt225]

Are you fucking kidding me with some of these nominations?! I can't believe AMPAS didn't give Michael Haneke, the most important European filmmaker since the 1970s, a Best Director nomination for The White Ribbon.

Dude, didn't I tell you not to get your hopes up? You set yourself up for disappointment, man, bottom line. You should have known there was no way, with the American films released this year, that Haneke had even the smallest chance of getting nominated for Best Director.

You should still be happy though; at the end of the day he IS going to get an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. That's something to be proud of.

Anyways, my only real disappointment was that (500) Days of Summer didn't get any love. I mean, while I haven't seen any of these films, there's no way The Blind Side and fucking Up are better movies than (500) Days of Summer. I'm sure The Blind Side is a sweet lil' film, but better than (500) Days of Summer? Highly doubtful. Moreover, I saw District 9, and while it deserves the nod and was a good movie, (500) Days of Summer is still better, IMO.

Also would have loved to seen JGL or even Robert Downey Jr. get nominated over Morgan Freeman. Tdigs, you've seen Invictus apparently, is Freeman's performance really that good? From the trailers/commercials, to me his accent sounds like shit, and he doesn't resemble Nelson Mandela AT ALL. Why is his performance getting so much love?

But yeah... might as well put up some predictions:

Best Picture

Prediction: Avatar
Who I want to win: Inglourious Basterds

Best Director

Prediction: James Cameron - Avatar
Who I want to win: Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker (Note: Seriously, how bad ass would it be for the director of Point Blank and Near Dark to win an Oscar?)

Best Actor

Prediction: Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
Who I want to win: George Clooney in Up in the Air (Note: Wouldn't mind if Bridges won, but Clooney is my main man, so I have to root for him.)

Best Actress

Prediction: Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
Who I want to win: Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

Best Supporting Actor

Prediction: Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds
Who I want to win: Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress

Prediction: Mo’Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Who I want to win: Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air (Note: Don't really care about this. I doubt any of these performances are worth a shit. Mo'Nique played a mean bitch, big whoop. Might sound superficial as hell, but at least Anna Kendrick is nice to look at while on-screen.)

Best Original Screenplay

Prediction: Inglourious Basterds
Who I want to win: Inglourious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay

Prediction: Up In The Air
Who I want to win: Up In The Air