Better late than never, but we’re back for a second year. Every category. Every pick. Every award. And as always, a free case of soda to any who best this effort
Best Picture - ‘Avatar’
It’s Pocahontas-in-space versus that bomb-squad-flick-you-meant
Male Performance in a Leading Role - Jeff Bridges – ‘Crazy Heart’
The Dude abides, better late than never.
Female Performance in a Leading Role - Sandra Bullock – ‘The Blind Side’
It’s just her year. Disregard that arguably the greatest female screen performer in Hollywood’s storied history has lost out each of the past 26 years.
Male Performance in a Supporting Role - Christoph Waltz – ‘Inglourious Basterds’
For a third year in a row (after Javier Bardem in ’08 and Heath Ledger posthumously in ’09), this award is the most definitive lock of any category this year. Walt put the best job up of any actor this year, and did so in four languages. He was not the seamless evil we saw in either Anton Chigurh (Bardem) or the Joker (Ledger), but the maniacally grey supergenius we haven’t seen since Anthony Hopkins took the screen as the good doctor, Hannibal Lecter...
Female Performance in a Supporting Role – Monique – ‘Precious’
It’s a clean sweep for her this awards season.
Director - Kathryn Bigelow – ‘The Hurt Locker’
She one-ups her ex-husband and his blockbusting blockbuster, all the while writing her own history as the first female winner of the award.
Cinematography – ‘The Hurt Locker’
‘Avatar’ could upset, as could the winner for Foreign Feature (see below), but Oscar voters often care little beyond momentum.
Animated Feature - ‘Up’
Pixar hits the trifecta (‘Ratatouille’ in ‘08, the immaculate ‘WALL-E’ in ’09). Nobody does movies better. Tell me you weren’t holding back tears.
Documentary Feature – ‘The Cove’
Jason Bourne meets Whale Wars. That’s pretty much it.
Foreign Language Film – ‘The White Ribbon’
Rule for picking Best Foreign Film: Choose the one that sounds the most like a Holocaust drama. In this case, it’s close enough; it’s a German film set before the First World War. Otherwise, ‘A Prophet’ definitely stands to upset.
Original Screenplay – Quentin Tarantino - ‘Inglorious Basterds’
Yeah, it’s QT, and QT can write with the best of them. And then better.
Adapted Screenplay – Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner – ‘Up In the Air’
Overrated film. Overrated performances. Not a bad script.
Makeup – ‘Star Trek’
It’s a sympathy nod. After not getting shortlisted for Best Picture, well, you know.
Costume Design – ‘The Young Victoria’
These costume dramas, and especially those in Victorian England, tend to bag these with ease. And hey, Emily Blunt can’t look half bad in whatever she wears.
Art Direction – ‘Avatar’
Again: momentum, momentum, momentum. Does ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ seem a superior pick? Does even ‘Sherlock Holmes’? Meh, ‘Avatar’ plain looks cool.
Sound Editing – ‘Avatar’
This category is…
Sound Mixing – ‘Avatar’
…not the same as this category. But ‘Avatar’, loud and wondrous as it is, shall take both home.
Visual Effects – ‘Avatar’
As always, Visual Effects literally translates to “Best Big-Budget Sci-Fi Movie”. I need not name it again.
Film Editing - 'The Hurt Locker'
The 'Avatar' technical crew shall stay seated just this once.
Original Score – ‘Up’
It’s animated, yes, but beautiful. Consider that first ten-minute montage.
Original Song – Ryan Bingham, T. Bone Burnett – The Weary Kind – ‘Crazy Heart’
Gah…country-ish, but think ‘Once’—a solid indie-esque film revolving around music
Animated Short - ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’
The Wallace and Gromit franchise, as brilliant and amusing as ever, grabs a fourth Oscar from the Academy. And please go see this—it’s 25 minutes of claymation magnificence.
Live Action Short - ‘Kavi’
Haven’t seen any of the nominees. It’s just an educated hunch.
Documentary (Short Subject) - ‘China’s Unnatural Diaster: Tears of Sichuan Province’
See above.
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