Here’s our run-down of the Oscar contenders and our thoughts:
Best Picture
Avatar
LS: If the public voted with their wallet, this would be the sure-fire winner. However, I don’t think the Academy is ready to give the award to “Avatar”, as many members are surely still digesting what it means for the industry. And, frankly, it’s a terrible script. Still, probably among the top three contenders.
AW: If this wins, I’ll be as blue as the people of Pandora. I liked the ride and respect the technical achievement, but if I had been part of a quasi focus group where they stopped the movie after every few scenes and asked me where I thought it was going, I would’ve scored 100%. You would’ve too. Even if you are a monkey.
The Blind Side
LB: If this weren’t based on a real story, I’d have called bullshit on it about 10 minutes in. It’s a film made for an underserved target group of soccer moms and people who like to believe that people are essentially good. There’s no real dramatic tension to be found, as you know where it’s going from the opening frame. No chance in hell of winning best picture.
AW: This is the one I haven’t seen, which is weird, because I love triumph over tragedy, coming of age and fish out of water movies and you could argue this is all three. I will see it, at some point and I assure you the advertisement that reminds me to do so will not contain the words “Winner of Best Picture.”
District 9
LB: While I personally loved “District 9”, I can’t see the Academy giving best pic to it. Given that the average age of voting members is around 65, there’s bound to be tons of folks who just didn’t enjoy this subversive switcheroo of a sci-fi flick.
AW: Hold the presses, Lars and I actually disagree about something. Sort of. I got the powerful message of the film and thought the performances we good. But I didn’t love the movie, and I honestly know why; it was all about expectation. I rarely allow myself to be taken in by a campaign for a film unless the campaign itself is great. And in this case it was. The broadcast and outdoor work was tremendous; the problem was that they created a perception in my mind of a completely different movie than the one I saw. It’s crazy, but because the advertising was so good, I actually enjoyed the movie less.
An Education
LB: This film is a charming chamber piece that I could’ve seen winning in the 80s, when the Academy seemed to love small films like “Remains of the Day”. However, it doesn’t quite have the long-term impact and gravitas to be a true contender. And while Carey Mulligan is very good in it, it’s still just a filler film on this list.
AW: What the smart guy above said. Ditto.
The Hurt Locker
LB: My money is on this one to win. It just cleaned house at the BAFTAs (the British Oscars) and it plays great as both an action movie and a meditation on the futility of war and what it does to people. Plus it is an incredibly gripping tour-de-force of directing, photography and sound editing.
AW: I think this has a very good chance to win as well, but there’s that hedging of bet, voting consolation thing. By that I mean, do people vote this as best picture but give director to Jim Cameron or do they give director to Bigelow and give best picture to Avatar, and then where does that leave Tarantino? I hope they just vote for the best in every category. I also hope for world peace. Hurt locker was a powerful look at the war in Iraq in close to a docudrama style. I thought it was excellent with great performances. But at the end of the year, I’d still be looking for another movie to best it. Don’t know if there was one in ’09.
Inglourious Basterds
LB: I’d give good money to see Quentin Tarantino deliver a best picture acceptance speech. I doubt it’ll happen with this one, even if it’s probably his best script since “Pulp Fiction”. The real cineastes of the Academy surely revel in his appropriation of classic movie scenes and styles – you could say that Tarantino is the greatest mash-up artist in movie history – but there’s also many people who just don’t get him.
AW: Thank goodness there’s someone like Tarantino making movies today. And thank goodness there’s only one. His brand is wonderful, he challenges himself with every picture and is fearless behind a typewriter or a camera. This film is no exception and though I think it has no shot to win, would have been a great dark horse.
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
LB: This is the only one of the nominees I have not seen. God knows I’ve tried, but every time I wanted to go see it, the subject matter has just seemed so depressing that I’ve ended up seeing something else instead. But I hear it’s heartbreaking.
AW: This is a complete film, everything is well done, but it’s an issue-driven story that’s hard to watch and hard to forget. I think this film more than any other brings up the question about voters not getting behind tough, depressing movies. It happens a lot. And it puts a strike against this and even The Hurt Locker, while giving Avatar and Up an advantage.
A Serious Man
LB: While I’m a huge fan of the Coens in general, this one I just plain didn’t like. I think it’s one of their lesser works, and it didn’t work for me as either comedy or drama. I think it’s tonally off and lacks a credible ending. Now, if we were to award best trailer of the year, they’d have won hands down.
AW: I totally agree with respect to this being a Coen misfire. This film, more possibly than any of the others, make me feel like 2009 was absolutely not the ideal year to expand the best picture category to ten films. I’m not even sure there are five on this list that are worthy of Oscar, and can think of at least two that aren’t here but should be if we’re honoring ten.
Up
LB: I love, love, love Pixar and everything they do. I had the pleasure of visiting them last year and was blown away by their work culture and the premium they put on creativity and collaboration. The first twenty minutes of “Up” may just be the best twenty minutes of any film made last year. In a weaker line-up of movies, they’d have had a shot a best picture.
AW: It’s amazing. As a writer, words are my tools, my weapons, and in film, most often dialogue seems to be the measure of the screenplay. But the few words spoken and more notably the montage at the front of this film (which was certainly scripted by the screenwriter) convey so much to the audience, it’s a case study of how less is more in screenwriting. That showing can be so much more powerful than telling. After that it’s a straight adventure, predictable with a few funny characters, but the bar is set unbelievably high in the opening and never stays there.
Up in the Air
LB: I found this movie somewhat depressing, when I saw it, as it reminded me a little too much of phases of my own professional life, where I’ve sometimes been traveling way too much. It’s timely, funny and poignant in equal measure and there seems to be a lot of love for it. This could come out of the blue and be the upset, if “Avatar” and “Hurt Locker” split the vote.
AW: I really enjoyed this one. I thought this was the first time I saw George Clooney in a vulnerable spot – it was a test for him – and I thought he passed it with flying colors. There are depressing parts of the film, but there’s humor too and it just felt very real to me, thanks to a good script and excellent performances. And the fact that they’re all suffering together made it less painful for me. I guess I’m into communal suffering.
Other categories
LEAD 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”
LARS: Will Win: Jeff Bridges Should Win: Jeremy Renner
ADAM: Will Win: Jeff Bridges Should Win: George Clooney
LB: Should’ve been nominated: Sharlto Copley, the first-time actor, who carried “District 9” as its heart and soul.
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”
LARS: Will Win: Christoph Waltz Should Win: Christoph Waltz
ADAM: Will Win: Christoph Waltz Should Win: Christoph Waltz
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”
LARS: Will Win: Sandra Bullock Should Win: Meryl Streep
ADAM: Will Win: Sandra Bullock Should Win: Gabourey Sidibe
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”
LARS: Will Win: Mo’Nique Should Win: Vera Famiga
ADAM: Will Win: Mo’Nique Should Win: Mo’Nique
ORIGINAL SCREEPLAY
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up
LARS: Will Win: The Hurt Locker Should Win: Inglorious Basterds
ADAM: Will Win: Inglorious Basterds Should Win: Inglorious Basterds
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Up in the Air
LARS: Will Win: Up in the Air Should Win: In the Loop. Hands down the funniest movie of 2009. Please watch it!
ADAM: Will Win: Up in the Air Should Win: Up in the Air
DIRECTOR
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel
‘Push’ by Sapphire
Up in the Air
LARS: Will Win: The Hurt Locker Should Win: Avatar. Seriously, folks, it’s one man’s vision. It’s a monumental achievement in directing.
ADAM: Will Win: Avatar Should Win: The Hurt Locker
PS: Click on the statuette above to link to a ballot page to print out for your Oscar pool and party. And save a couple of pigs in blankets for us!
