Yeah, sure, let’s talk about the Oscars.
“Unfortunately, the critical worth, artistic vision, cultural influence, and innovative qualities of many films are not given the same voting weight. Especially since the 80s, moneymaking ‘formula-made’ blockbusters with glossy production values have often been crowd-pleasing titans (and Best Picture winners), but they haven’t necessarily been great films with depth or critical acclaim by any measure.”
Golden mediocrity, ahoy!
It’s political bullshit. Increasing the number of best picture nominees to ten films as a ploy to up ratings is a clear example of this in action. It still matters in this evil, fucked up cycle of industry manipulation and public opinion, but it’s bullshit. Don’t forget that.
That said, I do want to give the Academy its due credit for changing the Best Picture voting process this year, which may make it more possible for smaller pictures to feasibly compete with the big budget productions for the most important award of the night. Quoting CNN:
The Academy’s new first-past-50-percent voting system gives the underdog a real chance. Assuming no film gets 51 percent straight off the bat, the film with the lowest number of votes is eliminated after the first round, and that film’s ballots’ second choices come into play. It wouldn’t be surprising if supporters of “An Education,” “The Blind Side” and “Precious” rated the more Oscar-friendly “Hurt Locker” significantly above “Avatar.”
It might make a difference, it might not.
Politics vs. Artistic Merit
The movies that most deserve to win Oscars rarely do anymore, but it must make for good drama, since we’ve all been talking about them all month. Here’s my picks for who will probably win vs. who actually should if this were a ceremony about actual talent.
Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees: 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”
Should win: Jeremy Renner. “The Hurt Locker” is one of the best films, if not the best film of the decade, and Renner’s intense performance is a large part of that.
Will probably win: Jeff Bridges. “Crazy Heart” was kind of a snooze, but Hollywood loves a drunk.
Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees: 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”
Should win: Carey Mulligan. Her performance in “An Education” was subtle perfection.
Will probably win: Meryl Streep, in one of those “this is an Oscar for all the cumulative times we should have given you one” moves the Academy is so fond of. I thought she was great in “Julie and Julia,” though, so I can’t begrudge her if she finally wins.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees: 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”
Should win: Christoph Waltz, because he’s fucking amazing.
Probably will win: This is one of the few times when the person who win probably will, although I will add that my personal favorite is Stanley Tucci.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees: 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”
Should win: Mo’Nique. What an incredible, heart-wrenching performance. There aren’t many actresses willing to let themselves be in a position that genuinely vulnerable.
Probably will win: Ditto the supporting actor category. There is no other performance in this category that comes remotely close.
Animated Feature Film
Nominees: “Coraline”, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, “The Princess and the Frog”, “The Secret of Kells”, “Up”
Should win: “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” Admittedly, I haven’t seen “The Secret of Kells,” but “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is one of the most thoroughly enjoyable animated films I’ve seen in years—No, ever.
Probably will win: “Up.” I think I’m the only person who didn’t cry over this movie.
Directing
Nominees: “Avatar” James Cameron, “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, “Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, “Up in the Air” Jason Reitman
Should win: Quentin Tarantino. Most of you probably think I’m crazy for this choice, but here’s the thing: even if Tarantino’s style doesn’t appeal to you, you can’t deny that he’s good at what he does. He is excellent at crafting irreverent, entertaining films that are unmistakably his.
Probably will win: Kathryn Bigelow, which I am just fine with.
Best Picture
“Avatar”, “The Blind Side”, “District 9”, “An Education”, “The Hurt Locker”, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”, “A Serious Man”, “Up”, “Up in the Air”
Should win: A Serious Man. A quirky and highly-intelligent interpretation of the book of Job, this one is my favorite film from 2009. It’s a bit cerebral for the average moviegoer, though.
Probably will win: The whole world knows this is a race between “Avatar” and “The Hurt Locker,” and I’m praying that the new voting system allows for some justice in this farce of an awards ceremony for once. There’s a good reason “Avatar” doesn’t have anyone nominated for any acting awards: it was shit, and the idea that it’s in any way superior to a film as well-crafted as “The Hurt Locker” is a joke.
Getting Out of the Oscar Mindset
The best films are seldom the ones winning Academy Awards. They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They? is the best place I know to discover the really good films out there. The site’s most notable feature is its list of the 1,000 greatest films ever made, which is compiled from votes from “2,041 critics, filmmakers, reviewers, scholars and other likely film types,” and is as scientific an assessment of film worth as you can get. To give you an idea of the Oscar discrepancy, only 8 of the top 100 listed films have won Best Picture. If you’re using the Academy Awards to inform your movie viewing habits, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Break out of the box and find out how truly great film can be.
@genjadeshade
7 March 2010 at 5:16 pm Permalink
I JUST finished compiling my own Oscar picks- all the way down to the short films and technical awards- and I pretty much agree with all you’ve got here except Best Actress. While “The Blind Side” wasn’t even close to being the best picture of the year (and didn’t deserve the Best Picture nod either) I think Bullock is going to win, hands down.
…I’m also secretly hoping for an “Inglourious Basterds” upset.
@bzzinglikeneon
7 March 2010 at 5:25 pm Permalink
If it weren’t for the fact that Streep has been nominated 12 times without winning, I would have gone with Bullock, too. If Streep still doesn’t get it, that’s going to be so damned tragic. XD
@rhiannonrevolts
7 March 2010 at 5:45 pm Permalink
I like these picks. They are startlingly close to my own. Honestly, as long as Avatar doesn’t get Best Picture, I think I’ll be cool with stuff.
That said, Mo’Nique blew me away as well, and I don’t get the hate that I’m seeing from a lot of people. As someone who’s had a parent with serious anger issues, and as someone who read the book…she scared the shit out of me, and was not over the top at all.
HATERS TO THE LEFT.
@bzzinglikeneon
7 March 2010 at 5:51 pm Permalink
Honestly, as long as Avatar doesn’t get Best Picture, I think I’ll be cool with stuff.
Yeah, that’s pretty much how I feel about it. My total loathing of that film has made everything else okay this year.
As for Mo’Nique, I don’t understand that, either. I used to have clients who were unfortunately sometimes from very difficult situations not too far removed from what was depicted in “Precious,” so I don’t find it exaggerated at all.
@rhiannonrevolts
7 March 2010 at 6:27 pm Permalink
I felt the need to go write a blog post about it, which is scary. I never do that at Oscar time.
By the way, the link to my site in your sidebar is busted–missing a period. (Just was clicking back through because I was too lazy to go to my address bar.)
@bzzinglikeneon
7 March 2010 at 6:30 pm Permalink
Thanks for the heads up, all fixed now.
even if Tarantino’s style doesn’t appeal to you, you can’t deny that he’s good at what he does.
That was my problem with Tarantino on this film: he just didn’t do it for me this time out. I’m usually a fan of his, but I left the theatre thoroughly unimpressed and was surprised he got nominated in that category.