24hrs to Oscar

This is probably the latest I have ever written a pre-Oscar blog. But as my procrastination knows no bounds and my boyfriend was in town this week I have found challenging to sit and comment. Admittedly, I found the nominations a bit underwhelming and a few of them downright disconcerting and so I have had to take time to reflect on what I would write leading up to "the biggest night in Hollywood". As well, as the awards season continued and the conclusions seemed to look more and more forgone, I got a tad disheartened and wasn't sure I would write anything at all. But with 24hrs to go before the red carpet welcomes the (supposed) best of 2009, I had to put down a few lines on the big categories. So here we go...

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"

I find this category to always be an interesting one. It can contain the most intriguing mix of performances and this year is no exception. I must admit to only seeing on film on this list so the lovely ladies from "Up in the Air" are the only performances I can speak to directly. Both are strong performances. Kendrick in particular strikes a chord and holds her own admirably against George Clooney. As a supporting performance, hers gives the leading man the most to work with and definateley elevates the film. Farmiga is talented at achieving a calm strength and is definately Clooney's equal - perhaps making her role a leading lady type and not appropriate for the category. As for the others, Cruz is getting a supporting not for a film with no other key nominations which suggests to me, that while her performance may have been excellent, no one wins for holding up a house of cards. Maggie Gyllenhaal may deserve this award just for being noticed next to the scene-stealing powerhouse that is Jeff Bridges. And while I don't believe this is her year, I think we will see her on this list again. And then there is Mo'nique who is going to win this award on pure gusto alone. All reports indicate that her abusive mother is a mother of a performance and one so central to the Precious storyline that it is definitive of the supporting actress category.
Odds on: Mo'Nique
I would like to see: Anna Kendrick

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"

Looking at this list now it almost feels silly. Everyone knows there is only one name in this category and that is Christoph Waltz. The guy's performance in "Inglourious Basterds" is magnetic, scary and accessible - even when he is speaking another language. His charater links the threads of the film together and I cannot imagine what it would have been without him. For that he deserves all the gold he has received this season. As for the others, it really does not matter. I find it surprising that Damon is in nominated at all for his role in "Invictus" was so small that I could hardly say Damon achieved something extraordinary. The Plummer and Tucci nominations are kind tokens to deserving actors but "The Last Station" was not widely released and "The Lovely Bones" was widely panned so both men will suffer from the exposure of their products. And I wish I could comment on Harrelson but "The Messenger" just made it to theatres here in Canada and so his worthiness remains a mystery to me. I'm sure if he won it would be entertaining but that event will have to wait another day.
Odds On: Christoph Waltz
I would like to see: Christoph Waltz

Best Adapted Screenplay
"District 9" - Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
"An Education" - Nick Hornby
"In the Loop" - Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" - Geoffrey Fletcher
"Up in the Air" - Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Adapted screenplays can be tricky (just ask the team working on the Twilight films!) because the must respond to a source material and create an effective base for a different medium. I have always believed that an adapted film that can capture the essence of it's source and achieve something cinematic is the sign of great work. In this respect, all of the nominations are deserving. The easiest translation may have been "District 9" which was adapted by its original writer and is an extension of its original format. Still, "District 9" is an exceptional film with a creative and effective narrative and if it had been written from scratch I am sure it would have landed a nomination for original screenplay. "An Education" is a gem of a film. It is like a perfect engagement ring - well-set, multi-faceted and with a special brilliance. It is also written by one of my favourite authors who has made a name for himself writing confused man-children and this film uses that strength quite well. "Up in the Air" is supposedly far afield from its original novel but the film is well-written and the screenplay definately contributes to a solid picture overall. As the screenplay awards are often given to the films that have strong achievements across the board but cannot be justified as the big prize winner this may be the route for Air. I have not seen "Precious" or "In the Loop" but I don't think they are true contenders in this race.
Odds On: "Up in the Air"
I would like to see: "District 9"

Best Original Screenplay
"The Hurt Locker" - Mark Boal
"Inglourious Basterds" - Quentin Tarantino
"The Messenger" - Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
"A Serious Man" - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"Up" - Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

What a tough race this one is. "The Messenger" is a true dark horse with a limited release that will definatley work against it. In a year when the other side of war is being wide-spread it definately had the message to snag this golden nod. The Coen's are known for their exceptional writing and "A Serious Man" ended up on many best picture lists for 2009. "Up" is riding the coattails of it's opening 5 minutes which are so heartfelt and well-crafted that the story feels much stronger than it is. But, in truth, the narrative of "Up" weakens as the film progressing so the film will have to settle for the best animated film prize instead. Which brings this fight down to "The Hurt Locker" and "Inglourious Basterds". And in a story-telling fight? I have to go with the basterds. The tale is so crazy and compelling and well-constructed that Tarantino deserves to have his words gold-plated - finally.
Odds On: Inglourious Basterds
I would like to See: Inglourious Basterds

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"

Everyone keeps telling me that Jeff Bridges is going to win this award and so I guess it is his to lose. I personally have no interest in the movie and I find that broken-down-men-seeking-redemption performances to be rather annoying. It is nice to
see Colin Firth finally in an oscar race but I think the weaker elements of the film will keep his performance from being recognized beyond the nomination. Ditto for Morgan Freeman who appears to be fulfilling a wish of Nelson Mandela rathern than expanding his range with "Invictus". Which leaves us with Renner and Clooney. The former is a little-know character actor. The latter Hollywood royalty. Both play men at the mercy of their circumstances who must find out how they wish to be defined. Both men offer exceptional performances. Renner's has a quiet depth that is magnetic to watch. Clooney's achieves a level of casualness that actually turns a matinee idol into an everyman. But I guess it won't really matter because Bridges has the crazy heart - and the history - to stomp all over them.
Odds On: Jeff Bridges
I would like to see: George Clooney

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"

For me, the biggest issue with this category is two-fold. One, Sandra Bullock is in it. Two, Emily Blunt (for "The Young Victoria") is not. The fact that the former is going to sweep in and take home a little golden man makes me even madder. Yes, it is the Julia Roberts/Erin Brockovich thing all over again and it sucks. I hate that one of "America's Sweethearts" is about to win an award for playing a sharp-tongued do-gooder when the role is easily a movie-of-the-week on the Hallmark channel. So oh well to Helen Mirren - who can do no wrong. Too bad to Carey Mulligan - who managed to recapture 16-year-old innocence and bravado so well. Uh oh to Gabourey Sidibe who had to similate things on film that noone would want to do and she did it with grace and intent. And so sad to Meryl Streep - who can do no wrong.
Odds On: Sandra Bullock
I would like to see: Gabourey Sidibe

Best Director
"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

This is the big race. No matter how many films you put in the Best Picture category or what happens with the actors, Best Directing is THE race. It is the race about filmmaking. It is the race about realizing a vision. It is the race about who created something from nothing by bringing together other artists and making it work. And for that, the award should go to Kathryn Bigelow. Her direction of "The Hurt Locker" is extraordinary. The palate, the shots, the pacing is amazing. The story works because of what she has created behind the camera to give us the world we see on the screen. I hope this award is properly bestowed. This is not to say the others are deserving. James Cameron re-invented the experience of movie-going and this may put him on the podium a second time but his "Avatar" is too-heavy and poorly paced and all the visuals in the world can't hind that failure in direction. His win for "Titanic" was at least for a film that was well-directed epic and "Avatar" pales in comparison. Tarantino remains a master at story-telling but his consistency falters. Daniels is nominated for having the pure guts to make a movie out of the Sapphire story. And Reitman has a ways to go before his award will come. But it will. Reitman's films are solid, cleanly directly (almost too clean) pictures and if he continues on his current track he will be rewarded eventually.
Odds On: James Cameron
I would like to see: Kathryn Bigelow

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"
Oh goodness, 10 films this year. What was the Academy thinking? More movies does not necessarily mean better choices or that the true film will emerge victorious. A couple of key things: "The Blind Side" should not even be in this race. It has NO other nominations in any of the filmmaking categories so how can a film with no artistic strengh be a best picture? Shameful. "Up" is a deserving film for animated feature but its story-telling and execution do not put it in the same category as others on this list. If it was "The Incredibles" I might consider its inclusion but not this year. "A Serious Man", "An Education" and "District 9" are great movies. They will remain in the listings of favourites from 2009 and as gems of solid movie-making but none are BIG enough to snag the top prize. "Precious" is an odd addition and its strength confuses me. But heart-wrenching drama/trauma has always been considered cinematic so perhaps it does do what is necessary. But let's not kid ourselves. This is a three movie race and they could reduced the nominations and it would still have worked out this way. Yes, I know the media has made it an "Avatar" versus "The Hurt Locker" showdown but this is because of the personal history of the directors. If Bigelow and Cameron had never been an item then the field would be wider and the film I feel most deserving - Basterds - would be getting more credit. Here I am hoping for a split vote between the Smurf-war and the real-war and the re-envisioned-war will prevail. From an artistic point of view, "Inglourious Basterds" is amazing. It creates a whole new world and tells an engaging story and uses cinema in an inventive way. It is what iconic films are all about and it should be recognized as such.
Odds On: "Avatar"
I would like to see: "Inglorious Basterds"