My Oscar Picks 2010

NOTE: I wanted to post this before the show so all the links point to the same place right now. I’ll edit them later.

I usually like to see all the films nominated in the popular categories but this year I missed a few key films. I’ll make note of those when I think it matters.

Best Actor

The clear winner among the performance I saw is Jeff Bridges for his portrayal of a washed up country singer who is down on his luck and struggling with his addiction to alcohol in Crazy Heart. Bridges is an exceptional actor and this performance is brilliant.

I saw the other two films – The Hurt Locker and Up In the Air – twice and I would give second place to George Clooney. The second time I saw this film I found myself surprised that I’d not remembered his performance. It was a solid performance.

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen two of the performances – Morgan Freeman and Colin Firth. I understand both are excellent actors and I’m guessing both were better than Clooney and Renner.

Best Supporting Actor

I did not see The Lovely Bones or Invictus and I saw Inglorious Basterds twice.

I was thoroughly impressed with Harrelson’s performance in The Messenger. In any other year, he might be the clear winner, but I think the Oscar should definitely go to Christoph Waltz for his performance in Inglorious Basterds. His was one of the finest performances I remember seeing in any film.

Plummer’s performance was excellent in The Last Station was also excellent but I have to make Harrelson my second pick.

Best Actress

I’ve seen all of these films and I’m a fan of all these actresses, but I’m not excited about this category this year. Last year, I thought all five nominees were brilliant and I had no idea who would take the Oscar. This year I think there is a clear winner, but I’m still not that excited about it – even though it’s an actress I really love.

Julie & Julia was not nearly as good as expected. Streep is an excellent actress (and my choice for this Oscar last year) and I love Amy Adams but the people they were portraying were not nearly as lovable as the actresses themselves. I guess that colors my opinion of the movie and the performances.

Precious was a great film and Sidibe’s performance was solid – especially for a first performance – but not worthy of the Oscar, in my opinion.

Mirren was fantastic in The Last Station and I enjoyed the film, but the other two performances were better in my opinion.

I would give second place to Carey Mulligan for her performance in An_Educatoin. This is the first time I’ve seen her and I was very impressed. I’ve read that she is the favorite to win, but I think the Oscar belongs to Sandra Bullock.

The Blind Side is the kind of film I do not normally appreciate and this is no exception. I have to say I enjoyed the film more then I expected but it was not an excellent film. Bullock’s performance, on the other hand, was fantastic. My opinion might certainly be skewed by my undying love for Sandra Bullock, but I’d like to think I’m being objective. Two days before I saw this film, I’d seen her in another film where she plays a completely different role and the difference in characters was remarkable. She really did an excellent job in this film. Really? I’m not just sayin’ that because I like her.

Best Supporting Actress

I’m disappointed I did not get to see Nine. I’ve read that it was not a great film but the last few films in which I’ve seen her, Cruz has been fantastic.

I saw Up In the Air before the nominations were announced because I had read that it was going to be a favorite for Best Picture. I was very impressed with the film and with many of the performances. As I’ve already written, I wasn’t blown away by Clooney but his performance was good – as were the other performances in the film.

The performance that stood out for me was Anna Kendrick’s. I wasn’t sure if I’d just fallen for her character or not, but I loved her in the film.

When the nominations were announced I was very pleased she was nominated and I was a little confused about Farmiga’s nomination. I had not been nearly as impressed with her. When I saw the film a second time, though, it made more sense. It also confirmed my opinion of Kendrick. Her performance was excellent (and now I’m sure I’ve fallen for the character).

Then I saw Precious and a once in a lifetime performance by Mo’Nique. She was great from start to finish but her monologue late in the film was brilliant.

Just the other day I went to see Crazy Heart since I’d heard Bridges was great. I’m glad I did because Bridges is the clear winner in his category, but I don’t think Gyllenhaal wins this category. Her performance was solid and probably worthy of the nomination, but I don’t expect her to win.

I’d like to see Kendrick beat Mo’Nique, but I’d have to call this one a toss up.

Best Animated Feature

I’ve only seen two of these films but I’m certain Up wins this category. Before I learned that the best picture category was being expanded to ten films, I still felt as though Up was worth of best picture. It was that good. I assumed it wouldn’t be nominated and was pleased to learn when the field would be expanded to ten because I thought it might get a nomination. Turns out I was right but I still don’t expect it to win – because this category exists.

Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself here.

Up clearly wins this and I have to give second to the only other film I saw – Coraline, which I think was a fantastic film too.

Art Direction ##

Only seen one of these films – Avatar – so I am going to guess.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus wins, Nine maybe.

Cinematograpy

I did not see Harry Potter (I’m a big fan of the Potter books and films, I just missed this one) and I did not see The White Ribbon.

I only saw Avatar once. I saw the other two – The Hurt Locker and Inglorious Basterds – twice.

I think Inglorious Basterds is the clear winner but any of the others could certainly win. So, I’ll have to go on my son’s recommendation on this one. He came home from Harry Potter and told me that it was one of the best “looking” movies he had ever seen. If you know my son, you understand that means a lot.

So, I’ll go with Harry Potter as my second choice. My son agrees, btw.

Costume Design

We received Bright Star from NetFlix about two weeks ago but we haven’t watched it yet. Haven’t seen any of these films so I’ll guess again.

Nine wins, Bright Star in second.

Directing

I’ve seen Avatar and [Precious][precous] once; Up In the Air, The Hurt Locker, and Inglorious Basterds twice.

I think this is an easy call really – Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker. Second place is a tougher call for me but I’d give it to Jason Reitman for Up In the Air.

Documentary Feature

I’ve only seen two of these and I think it’s toss up who wins. I’ll go with The Cove to win and Food, Inc. in second. They are both great documentaries. If you haven’t seen them, you should.

Documentary Short

Haven’t seen any of these and I’m not going to guess on this one.

Film Editing

I’ve seen Avatar and [Precious][precous] once; District 9, The Hurt Locker, and Inglorious Basterds twice.

I’m going to pick The Hurt Locker to win and Inglorious Basterds second.

Foreign Film

Also not going to guess.

Makeup

Star Trekwins and my second pick is Il Divo.

Score ##

Avatar wins and Up is my second pick.

Song

The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart and my second pick is Almost There from The Pricess and the Frog.

Best Animated Short ##

This is a tough one for me. I saw them all and they were all worthy of an award. I’m going to guess that A Matter of Loaf and Death will win but my favorite was Logorama.

Best Live Action Short

Also a tough one for me. I wasn’t a huge fan of The Door but I liked the others. My favorite was The New Tenants but I’ll make it my second pick. I think the winner will be Instead of Abracadabra

Sound Editing

I’ve seen all these films and I think this is another tough call. Up and Avatar are possibilities since they are both animated (essentially). Inglorious Basterds would also not surprise me, but I think the winner will be The Hurt Locker and my second pick is Star Trek.

Sound Mixing

I’ve seen all these and I can’t believe Transformers was nominated. That movie was one of the loudest experiences of my entire life. It sounded to me as though everything was at the same level. Perhaps it was just a problem at that theater. I hated the movie too, btw.

I think Inglorious Basterds will, and should, win. Star Trek is my second pick.

Visual Effects

I saw District 9 twice and the others once. Avatar will win, but I’d prefer either of the others win instead.

Adapted Screenplay

Along with District 9, I saw Up In the Air twice. I saw the others once. Up In the Air will win. Tough call for second but I’ll have to go with In the Loop.

Original Screenplay

I’ve seen two of these only once and the others twice. I am not going to be disappointed no matter who wins but I would choose A Serious Man or Inglorious Basterds.

Best Picture

Like I mentioned earlier, I am glad this category was expanded to ten films because I think Up deserves a nomination. It is worthy of the win but I don’t expect it to win.

I have seen all of these films – half of these movies twice – and I’d call all of them excellent films. I don’t think Avatar or The Blind Side are in the same category as the others, but they are still excellent films.

I saw Up first and I thought it was worthy of an Oscar from day one. The next film I saw was The Hurt Locker and was sure it would win for best picture. As I saw each of the next films, most of them made me wonder a bit but I stick by my original pick. My second choice is Up In the Air.

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  5. Update on My Oscar Hunt
March 7, 2010 | Filed Under Fun 

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