OSCARS!
There is a longstanding tradition in my family for doing Oscar predictions. Actually, I used to get a $1 for every one I guess right. Lets just say, I cleaned my dad out a few years. I pretend not to care, but deep down I do and I always have fun watching the show. And my friend Ben Santos and I will be co live tweeting the whole experience (cause we’re neeeeerds). So, follow me: www.twitter.com/sarahdistortion
I do my predictions like this: The one I think will win and the one I would like to win. Every once and a while they are the same.
I’m much too emotionally invested in Inception this year and will ATTEMPT to not flood every category with it. But I do think it should win every category. Including best animated feature and best foreign language film (What? they DO go to France!)
BEST PICTURE:
Prediction: The Kings Speech (Dir. Tom Hooper) I will admit I haven’t seen this one yet. And I really wanted to. Same old story. The reason I think it will win is that a) most everyone seems to think it will and b)it was produced by the Weinsteins and they basically own Hollywood. Well, not basically; they do own Hollywood.
Preference: Inception (Dir. Christopher Nolan aka GOD) What makes a movie the “best picture of the year” ? Is it direction? Acting? Story? Is it when all three of those come together, along with cinematography and editing to create a perfect storm of cinematic brilliance? Yes. And in my opinion, that’s what Inception did. I will agree that the acting was, more or less, obsolete. But none of it was bad. It just wasn’t the star, which I thought was fascinating. I love a film where the acting ISN’T the star, because it always is. In a world where every movie is a remake, a sequel, an adaptation or Pixar, Inception brought something new and different to the table and I think that’s why it was the best picture of the year.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Prediction: Colin Firth in “The Kings Speech”. He’s won basically every single other award. And I still think he should have won for “A Single Man” last year but c’est la vie.
Preference: Ryan Gosling (for Blue Valentine). Actually, he isn’t even nominated. but I saw this movie a week or so ago and his performance was outstanding and real and I’m really starting to love him as an actor.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Prediction: Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”. Although there may be an upset with Annette Benning (who I did love in The Kids are Alright), Portman won the SAG and the BAFTA and the hearts of millions because she is also pregnant and people love pregnant movie stars. I think Roger Ebert said it best: “she gets to “act” the most, which to the academy, often means “act out in emotional displays.” She was required to do that by the logic of the role, which had Oscar written all over it.”
Preference: I’ll go with Nataline Portman on this one too. Out of all the women nominated I think she was the best. I liked Black Swan, but I didn’t LOVE Black Swan. I will say she was the best part of it and owned that role.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Prediction: Christian Bale in “The Fighter”. The Kings Speech will probably sweep the most categories (maybe) and I think this is the award the academy will give as a “reward”. But Geoffrey Rush could upset.
Preference: Eeeeh Christian Bale. I love the guy and the performance was really good, especially in the end fighting sequence. And then when you see the REAL Dicky during the credits you’re like WOAH. But honestly, I think the Oscar should be given to Bale’s body for going through all the trauma that dude puts on it. Yikes.
But really, I want Andrew Garfield to win. UGH he was so good in The Social Network. Also, he’s adorable.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Prediction: Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”. I have no idea why, really. I haven’t seen the film, but I’ve read she’s much more a lead than a supporting, which is a big deal in her favor. Plus, Melissa Leo put out some personal ad campaigns supporting her win in this category, which is weird, but doesn’t necessarily put her our of the running, either. I dunno. Bleh. Blah.
Preference: Amy Adams in “The Fighter”. I kind of love her. And she played a trashy Baaaston girl very well.
BEST ACHEIVEMENT IN DIRECTING:
Prediction: David Fincher for “The Social Network”. Despite the fact that Tom Hooper (The Kings Speech) won all the other awards (including the directors guild, which predicts the Oscar winner, like, 90% of the time) I think this ones gonna go to old Finchey.
Preference: SIGH. I GUESS I HAVE TO SAY DAVID FINCHER. Because honestly, it was one of the best directed movies I’ve seen in a while. The pacing was fantastic.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Prediction: Aaron Sorkin for “The Social Network”. This is pretty much a landslide. One of the tightest, most well written movies I’ve seen in a long time. But what did you expect, it’s SORKIN.
Preference: HELL YEAH SOCIAL NETWORK
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Prediction: “The Kings Speech” by David Seidler UNFORTUNATELY. Inception won the writers guild award, but the kings speech wasn’t eligible. So it goes. Therefore, apparently, it will win the Oscar. Blarghy blargh blargh
Preference: INCEPTION OBVIOUSLY. Keyword is original here people. Oh, based on a true story? How fucking original. Nolan is such a brilliant mind. I swear, if he wins this my faith will be restored in Hollywood.
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Prediction: Roger Deakins for “True Grit”. The dude is a serious legend and pretty amazing. He’s been nominated 9 times and has never won. So, y’know.
Preference: Wally Pfister for “Inception”. Beyond the whole movie being beautiful to watch, in particular there were just some amazing shots. The bridge in Paris, the scene where they’re dragging Lucas Haas character from the helicopter, the now-iconic ending. COME ON ACADEMY.
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Can I just say that this is getting insane? Toy Story 3 is up for best picture of the year! How could it not win best animated film? Can they just make like 5 Pixar films a year and then the academy can just give them their own category? Pixar is obviously a powerhouse and Toy Story 3 was great…but can we just give them one last award and move on? Give somebody else a chance to even PLAY? YEESH!!
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Prediction: “Inside Job”. I’ve seen it and it’s good. Although the academy told Banksy he can come to the Oscars dressed however he’d like (Of course he can, this is fucking America), I don’t think they’ll give him the award
Preference: “Exit Through the Gift Shop”. I loved it. Such a smart and fun film. And it’s so multi-faceted. Plus,I’m not gonna lie, I’d love to see Banksy get up there with something weird on. It’d just be a nice shakeup from all stiffness.
FILM EDITING:
Prediction: “The Social Network” Another element of the movie that made it work so well (as it does for most films) was the editing. And perhaps another way for the academy to say “sorry for not giving you best picture”
Preference: Definitely The Social Network.
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE):
Prediction:”The Social Network” - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Although the academy could go the way of The Kings Speech some more. Who knows.
Preference: I’m torn here. I LOVED the score for The Social Network, but if I really had to chose I’d want Daft Punk to win for their “Tron” soundtrack. The movie was crap but DAMN was that an awesome soundtrack. And so perfect for the movie!
SOUND MIXING, SOUND EDITING, VISUAL EFFECTS:
These are probably all going to go to Inception as the “Gee whiz, thanks for playing” award. I’m okay with it, because the film deserves them, but I hope Nolan goes up there and says “Uh, yeah, I get it. Next year I’ll make a British film starring Colin Firth or a movie about Twitter.”
