Oscar Predictions (Part Two)

I know this is after the fact, I simply just ran out of time on Oscar day, but I would like to provide, a detailed (and honest, I did not change any of my predictions to match who won, and hopefully you believe me) prediction of what I think will win and what I wanted to win.

Best Achievement in Directing
Will Win: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker
(Kathryn not deserves this, I can not even consider anyone else winning this one. Sure, Lee Daniels had a challenge in bringing the emotion out of his actresses (and actors), but that responsibility also relies on the talent. James Cameron produced the highest grossing film ever, but I think he forgets that there is no "I" in team. I believe wholeheartedly if The Hurt Locker is going to take Best Picture, Kathryn will lock this one in.)

Would Not Mind Winning: Jason Reitman for Up In The Air or Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds


Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Will Win: Inglourious Basterds
(I was on the fence with this nomination. The Hurt Locker was my original pick, but seeing the lack of wins I was giving Inglourious Basterds, I felt it deserved to take this gold because Quentin rewrote history and gave the film a style all its own. So if one screenplay deserves the gold, it would be Basterds.)

Should Win: The Hurt Locker
(Overall, the screenplay for Hurt Locker is nothing short of brilliant. Plus, since I am considering the film Best Picture and Best Director, I honestly do not doubt this will take home the gold. The story is great, which made for an absolutely great film and this film could take home the entire package.)

Would Not Mind Winning: Up


Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Will Win: Up In The Air
(This film is not taking home many awards in my book and that leaves me with a sour taste, since I enjoyed this film more than almost all the other films this season, so as a result I am giving the film my nod for best Adapted Screenplay. There are probably others that deserve it more, but ultimately, I want to see this one take home the gold.)

Should Win: Precious
(By far the most dramatic piece. The film relies heavily on dialogue (cussing mainly), but I am sure the screenplay is still phenomenal (especially when I hear that the book is nothing but cussing as well). So kudos for adding substance to an otherwise drab book.)


Best Achievement in Cinematography
Will Win: The Hurt Locker
(Take away Avatar & Harry Potter, since they are more CGI than cinematography (I know you use cameras with CGI as well, but it is much easier and is nothing like good old being out in the field, choosing your shots. Hurt Locker is raw and uses every single frame to tell the story. There is no wasted shots in Hurt Locker and for that alone it deserves the win. Plus, for a war film, it strays away from anything that any other war film does and for that it especially deserves the win.)

Would Not Mind Winning: Inglourious Basterds


Best Achievement in Editing
Will Win: Avatar
(Have a feeling this one of the many awards Avatar will be bringing home on Oscar night.)


Best Achievement in Art Direction
Will Win: Avatar
(If there is one award (along with Visual Effects) that Avatar should get it is this one. Not that I agree with the decision, but Avatar was a one trick pony. All it was, was beautiful landscapes and visual effects. All of which can thanked for by Art Direction. If Avatar does not win this one, it has failed on all levels.)

Would Not Mind Winning: Young Victoria
(Those sets had to take FOREVER!)


Best Achievement in Costume Design
Will Win: The Young Victoria
(Hands down, this film had the most beautiful costumes. A lot of people believe that Coco Before Chanel should win because it is about the lady that made Chanel clothing, but to be honest, it was never that great aside from a few costumes. Young Victoria goes all out while films like Bright Star had barely any costumes and Imaginarium's costumes look like they came from the dump. I see no one else winning this besides Victoria.)


Best Achievement in Makeup
Will Win: Star Trek
(I was on the fence about this award as well. Il Divo obviously did not deserve the award because only a few characters seemed to really have any makeup. I kept thinking Young Victoria would win just because of the nature of the film but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that makeup was not really an elemental part of the film seeing as they only really wore normal makeup and nothing special. Then look at Star Trek where half (or more) of the characters have prosthetic elements on their faces. By far, Star Trek took my vote.)


Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Will Win: Up
(I will be physically pained if Up does not win best Score. For the sole fact that when I left Up I could not stop humming the music. I think of Up and I hear the score. (When the Oscars played the Up theme, I was brought back to all the emotions caused by the film itself and that is what a score is all about). Without a doubt, Up has to win.)


Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Will Win: "The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart

Would Not Mind Winning: "Take It All" from Nine


Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
Will Win: Avatar
(All of Avatar was, was created sounds. You would think it would take home the gold.)

Should Win: The Hurt Locker
(Explosions can be tricky as far as Mixing.)


Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Will Win: Avatar

Should Win: The Hurt Locker


Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Will Win: Avatar
(Honestly... if Avatar doesn't win this, James Cameron will kill everyone.)


Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Will Win: Up
(By far, the greatest all around Animated Film this year, if not from most years. This film does so many things for so many people on so many different levels, it is no surprise that it also got Best Picture nod because in the back of your mind you kind of wish it would win it.)


Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Only One I Saw: The White Ribbon
(Could easily win the award from what I saw. I have absolutely nothing to compare it to however.)


Best Documentary, Features
Will Win: The Cove
(I truly hope this film wins. Just because Food Inc. is already so publicized, The Cove could really use some extra publicity with such a great message and overall good film, I think this film acts like an actual dramatic film and does a great job as a PSA documentary. Would buy this film over Food Inc. any day.)


Best Short Film, Animated
Only One I Saw: Wallace & Gromit-Matter of Loaf & Death
(As the only short I viewed this year, by far it could take the gold, but once again, absolutely no basis in comparison to any of the others.)


That is all for this year. Stay tuned for my thoughts on who actually won.

Oscar Predictions (Part One)

After viewing 37 films that were nominated for the Oscars, it is time to give my thoughts as to who I think will win, should win, and I would not mind seeing win:

Best Picture
Will Win: The Hurt Locker
(This was the only film that felt like an Oscar film this year. Last year, Slumdog Millionaire made me feel the exact same way. The film hit all the right spots & therefore deserves to be rewarded.

Would Not Mind Winning: Up In The Air


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Will Win: Jeff Bridges
(Though George Clooney was fantastic and my personal favorite from the year, Bridges just brought one of the best performances of his career and deserves every ounce of this award.)

Would No Mind Winning: George Clooney, Jeremy Renner
(In comparison, Jeremy Renner probably does not deserve to win as much as the other two, but I would definitely understand his win.


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Will Win: Gabourey Sidibe
(Was the toughest category to determine. Just have a feeling that with her breakthrough performance and young age, she will steal the award from Sandra Bullock.)

Should Win: Sandra Bullock
(Of all the films I have ever viewed Sandra in, I have never once enjoyed her. It grew to become a hatred for her acting, but viewing Blind Side finally provided a performance I enjoyed her in and actually wanted to see more of her in the film.)

Would Not Mind Winning: Carey Mulligan
(Carey Mulligan has won numerous awards for this performance and as a young actress in such a powerful performance, I have a small, very small feeling she could pull the upset.)


Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Will Win: Christoph Waltz
(No one else in this category even comes close to deserving this award. Waltz blew the competition away and Inglourious Basterds was the first film of the category that I saw and thought this all the way through. This will be one that if he does not win, I will lose faith in humanity.)


Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Will Win: Mo'Nique
(As a comedian, there is nothing more impressive than being able to turn it off and be believable. Mo'Nique accomplished that & more and became an icon for evil. She worked her ass off for this nomination and should come through in the end.)

Should Win: Anna Kendrick
(From the start, I picked Kendrick to win until I saw Mo'Nique's performance. Kendrick took a huge leap from Twilight to Up In The Air and if anyone pulled off a great performance, it was her. I secretly hope she wins, but do no see that happening.

Would Not Mind Winning: Maggie Gyllenhaal
(Maggie pulled a Bullock this year. I have never witnessed a film that I actually enjoyed Maggie in until Crazy Heart. Though her performance lacks in comparison to the prior two (Mo'Nique & Kendrick), I never say never.


***The Rest of my Predictions will be posted later today***

The End

And this folks is where my Oscar Challenge ends....

With three films that are not readily available to me, I must call this the end. Burma VJ, Most Dangerous Man, & Which Way Home (all documentaries), will not be viewed this year. However, once they become available I will provide my thoughts.

Either tonight or tomorrow morning, I will be providing my predictions of the Oscars and following the Oscars, I will be offering my thoughts on the winners.

I will be continuing this blog beyond the challenge as a reviewing station for all media that I absorb, films, television, books, etc. I hope that my insights can help you to further or mind and absorb media that you may not normally give a chance. I thank you, anyone that has been following me through the last month of reviews.

Enjoy your Oscar weekend.

The White Ribbon (Das Weiss Band)

THE WHITE RIBBON

Up For:
Best Achievement in Cinematography
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Though not viewing any of the other foreign language films this year, I still believe this film is strong enough to win.

The White Ribbon never feels like a foreign language film. Though a period piece set in black and white, the film could just as easily take place at anytime, any place (at times this film felt very much older).

The eeriness of the film is the a huge component in keeping the viewer absorbed. Two hours of subtitles and black & white could easily bore a person to death, but the film had so much more going for it to keep a person's interest intact.

The story was complex and twisting, keeping you in the middle a mystery the entire film, even through the end, where there are few answers given, simply assumptions made by the viewer from the information that was given.

Never have I seen so many wonderfully amazing performances by so many children. The young children could break your heart. The girls were gorgeous and could melt your heart, or they could be cold and concise. The boys were rascals one moment, but vigilantes the next. The children, by far, out-acted the adults in the film.

With no expectations going into the film, finding that the story was so dark, I was reminded of stories like Children of the Corn and Tommyknockers, without the supernatural feel. I felt as though anything and everything could happen in the film's plot, with deaths and injuries inflicted around every corner.

The film was subtle, never over the top, but never anti-climatic. There was a new relationship, or new cruel twist that derived to keep the German town it portrayed in constant array. By the end, you feel as though you lived in that town for years.

The costumes of the film were spot-on, the acting was unexpected, and the cinematography earned its nomination, almost seeing the color in the black & white, particularly the cut scenes of nature, where the swaying wheat or the trees almost seemed to pop out of the screen with such brilliance.

By far, from what the film was on paper, I did not expect to enjoy the film as much as I did and will cause me to see more from this director. I suggest that if you enjoy films like The Orphanage and Pan's Labrynth, along with the edginess of Children of the Corn, this is a great film to indulge yourself with.

(3 FILMS TO GO)

Il Divo

IL DIVO

Up For: Best Achievement in Makeup

Il Divo proved to be a very odd film. The makeup nomination, from my analysis must come from the formation of the main character, Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti. A small, hunched-back, droopy eared man is the basis of this Italian political film.

Not sure it quite compares with the complexity and sheer abundance of makeup in both Star Trek & Young Victoria, but contributes to the film none-the-less.

My favorite portion of the film: the title sequences introducing characters, which take on a 3-D quality, in particular two back to back "lower thirds" used in the introduction of the film during a montage of deaths, a man hanging under a bridge and another man choking at a table.

The hardest part of this film was putting names with faces. Many different names and titles are used and with the language barrier, the film proved challenging to follow.

Not sure, even at the end of the film, that I got all I could from it and it may take another viewing to put it all together, but the style of the film is unlike any film I have viewed before with the constant spiking of the lens, and odd humor.

In the end, this is an odd nomination to go with an odd film. Period.

(4 FILMS TO GO)

The Secret of Kells

THE SECRET OF KELLS

Up For: Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

The aesthetics of the Secret of Kells were phenomenal. The animation was spot on, with gorgeous scenes and brilliant animations. The score was exceptionally well done, with upbeat Celtic tunes and the fairy chanting of the young lady doing the voice of Aisling. The voices were well chosen despite the voice for the overbearing uncle, whose voice seemed detached from the mouth it was coming from.

The humor of Kells was worth the price of admission alone ($5 dollars at the Fargo Film Festival), with the opinionated (voiceless) cat following the lead character, Brandon, around on his chases and getting itself into trouble. The dialogue was well written and often humorous ("You can't find out everything from books, you know." "I think I read that once.")

The story was a downhill battle (in a bad way). The story of Kells started off powerful and intriguing, foreshadowing what was to come (or so you think). The formula of the film worked for the most part. A challenge would be laid out for Brandon and he would follow through on his adventure coming across challenges on his journey. Twice this happened where a path would be laid out for the characters to follow to get what they need. It was too bad the entire film did not follow this course because the end of the film trails off into nothingness, eventually leaving you with nothing to say about the end. There is no resolution, no moral, no understanding. I feel as though they took this story from the middle of a book and only showed a portion, with no 3 act structure.

Secret Of Kells was worth the viewing, but as far as Best Animated, Up still has that nomination locked and ready to take to the bank. Though Kells had its moments, I struggled through the middle of the jumbled storytelling, which is far from my easy viewing experience of Up. Though some films make you work to watch them, but it becomes worth it in the end, I would have been fine with leaving the film where it was when I lost interest.

(5 FILMS TO GO)

Drawing To A Close

With only 6 films left to view, 3 of which I cannot find anywhere:

Il Divo (Up for Best Make-Up)

Most Dangerious Man In America (Up for Best Documentary)

Which Way Home (also Up for Best Documentary)

My Oscar Challenge is growing to a close. I will save my final predictions after tonight when I view the remaining films (Secret of Kells, Burma VJ, and The White Ribbon), but I wanted to make a list of the films in order than I liked them, as so you may choose with the last few days before the Oscars of any you might want to see.

I have decided to view The Hurt Locker again as it was at the start of this challenge and I need a refreshment of it, so I may be posting another review of it later today.

List of Oscar Nominated Films in Order of Favorites
(Not Necessarily in the order I think they will win, but personal preferences throughout this entire Challenge...also not in the order of all time favorite)

Up In The Air
Up
Crazy Heart
Messenger
Transformers 2 - Revenge Of The Fallen
Hurt Locker
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Sherlock Holmes
The Cove
Blind Side
Last Station
Nine
Young Victoria
Invictus
Precious
An Education
In The Loop
A Single Man
A Serious Man
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince
Food Inc.
District 9
Julie & Julia
Coco Before Chanel
Avatar
Princess & Frog
Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death
Paris 36
Bright Star
Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Lovely Bones
Coraline

Feel free to comment on your thoughts or your favorites.

(6 FILMS (MORE LIKE 3 FILMS) TO GO)

The Last Station

THE LAST STATION

Up For:
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

This film deserves the story that preceded it.

A friend of mine and I decided to see this film at a 9:55pm showing on a Tuesday night. Upon purchasing our tickets and getting concessions, we walked to the numbered theater that it was playing. Upon arriving, we had to take a moment to stare blankly at the poster that was placed above the door of the entrance to the seating auditorium. Even the poster looked dull. With a name like The Last Station, and the time period, and the idea that the film revolved around a train, we were not excited...at all.

In the theater, we sat by ourselves for the previews and the first minutes of the film until a male (who looked as though he had stumbled into the wrong theater) sat down a few rows in front of us and continued on the journey of the film with us (eventually dropping an object that made the sound of shattering glass.... probably alcohol).

The Last Station, turns out, has hardly anything to do with a train. Instead, the film revolves around the hectic, yet passive life of the writer of War & Peace, Tolstoy, played by Christopher Plummer, who definitely earns his nomination (in comparison to his anti-climatic performance in Imaginarium of Doctor Parnannuss or his voice as Charles Muntz in Up). Helen Miren plays his eccentric wife, that is paranoid that Tolstoy's loyal advisor, Paul Giomatti, is trying to steal everything Tolstoy has earned from his writing by making his copyrights public domain for easier access to a wider audience.

In the fray of all of this, James McAvoy (widely known from his role in Wanted) enters to become Tolstoy's young secretary, learning more than he bargained for from a sexual Tolsoyan, Masha, played by gorgeous Kerry Condon.

The Last Station will take you through the full spectrum of emotion, making you laugh with its comedic timing and pace, while making you cry to the eventual demise of its main character (its historically accurate, so I'm not spoiling anything). It will make you distrust everyone, yet feel for each side of the argument.

Obviously, this film deserves the nominations it received and would not surprise me if it took the gold.

In the end, my friend and I left the film grateful for having experienced a film we would never have seen in a million years had we had a choice, and both agreed that our biggest challenge now would be persuading others to view the film so that they may experience the beauty that was this film.

(6 FILMS TO GO)

Wallace & Gromit-A Matter Of Loaf & Death

WALLACE & GROMIT - A MATTER OF LOAF & DEATH

Up For: Best Short Film, Animated

As the only short film I will be viewing this year, I do not have much to compare this film to. However, this film was solid. Nick Park definitely has enough background to achieve an Oscar from his work.

The story of the film is predictable and meant for children (even the subject matter is somewhat adult). The story is recycled from many other short stories, but the comedy is still there, especially in the facial expressions of Gromit (the dog). Overall, claymation is not my favorite, but it is tough, especially to get emotion to come from a lump of clay. I enjoyed the innuendos and allusions to other films like Ghost.

I will probably pick this as the film to win, since it was the most widely released and, essentially, the only short animated film I viewed in the Oscar Challenge

(7 FILMS TO GO)

The Lovely Bones

THE LOVELY BONES

Up For: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Did you happen to notice that this film was only nominated for one thing? There was a reason for that. This film was bad, through and through.

Yet the one, somewhat shining light of the film was the utter creepiness of Stanley Tucci as the neighborhood killer.

I often felt that if I were an emo 12 year old girl that loved the book, I would be absolutely enthralled with this film and it would probably be my favorite film, with meaning and emotion. But as a 22 year old adult male, this film was a glorified Twilight film without the vampires.

Sure, this film had Mark Wahlberg, a young actress playing the main character, an adapted screenplay, and lots of special effects, yet they did not get recognized. That should be a huge red flag for anyone with hopes for this film.

The story was laughable (yes, I am sure the book handles it better, but there is no saving it), the acting was ineffective, and the ending was absolutely horrible and justifiable.

Having seen the trailer, I expected so much more from this film and was unrelentingly let down. The Lovely Bones easily becomes one of the worst films I have viewed in the Oscar Challenge. Though Stanley Tucci was the only good part, I still do not see him winning against the powerhouse of Christoph Waltz, especially in this dismal excuse for a teen drama.

(8 FILMS TO GO)