Oscars Review: picks for picture, actor, actress, director

Few movies released in 2010 deserve any sort of consideration at all for the Academy Awards, including some of the nominees. However, there were a small handful of truly incredible movies, most of which made the cut. Though I could certainly speculate on which movies would likely win the awards, it delivers much more depth to present the awards that I would give to the films and hope that they come true.

Though the artistic elements of a movie’s plot should certainly be considered, the judges often rely far too heavily on that single factor. Case in point: “No Country for Old Men.” This movie won four of the most prestigious Academy Awards in 2008, including for Best Picture. But, did anyone in a regular audience honestly like it? The Coen Brothers innovative yet confusing drama held little to no mass appeal, and was praised solely on its critical appeal. I would have never even given the film a nomination for the Academy Awards.

Though too many of this year’s films have been flops, there have been several outstanding diamonds in the rough.

Best Picture

Warner Bros. Pictures

“Inception”

“Inception” deserves the award for Best Picture this year, hands down. Christopher Nolan is a visionary director who understands how to make intelligent and successful movies. Plus the performances by each of the actors, including nearly all of the supporting roles, is beyond exceptional. Furthermore, “Inception” is a movie that forces its audience to think – not in a traditional sociological perspective of many intelligent movies, but of the potential of the mind. As far as I am concerned, “Inception” is as close to a perfect movie as audiences have seen since “The Departed.”

“The Fighter”

“The Fighter” is a close runner-up for Best Picture due to its incredible power. The film grips its audience from the first scene and doesn’t let go until the credits. It set itself far above any other boxing movie by adding a well-developed psychological examination of a drug addict in addition to the action of a traditional rags-to-riches sports flick. Plus, the supporting role of Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund undoubtedly is the best performance of the year. “Marky” Mark Whalburg also showed the world that he can escape from the sea of mediocrity that his past many films have made.

Walt Disney Pictures

“Toy Story 3”

“Toy Story 3” also deserves to be near the top of this important list. The culmination of the trilogy 15 years in-the-making was an emotional rollercoaster, incorporating the best elements of raw feeling, family-appropriate comedy, and adult themes into a visually-stunning animation. Any cartoon that can reduce a full-grown man to tears whilst entertaining a generation of youths deserves to be heavily considered for Best Picture.

“The Town”

I have no idea why “The Town” didn’t receive a nomination for Best Picture. This crime drama was raw, gritty and surprisingly intelligent. Ben Affleck delivered a noteworthy performance, Jeremy Renner played an award-worthy role, and Blake Lively proved that she can act in a real movie. The film was energetic and compelling, and was certainly a better example of fine cinema than several of the other movies that received Oscar nominations this year.

Actor in a Leading Role

Columbia Pictures

Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”

“The Social Network” stole the stage this year as an adaption of America’s newest favorite pastime, Facebook. Audiences were dazzled by the ability of the film to take the story of creating a website and transform it into a dramatic story of a reclusive national treasure’s life. Eisenberg was a perfect casting fit to play Mark Zuckerberg, and proved it with his witty and intelligent adaption of the enigmatic figure. I envision a bright future for this young actor, Oscar or not.

James Franco in “127 Hours”

James Franco delivers a surprisingly nontraditional and strong performance in “127 Hours.” Though the movie is not Best Picture-worthy, its ability to keep the story of one man stuck in a canyon focused and compelling for an hour and a half is certainly noteworthy. Without the acting prowess of Franco and the novel directing of Danny Boyle, “127 Hours” could have fallen into the mediocre realm of a movie like “Buried.”

Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”

I didn’t like “True Grit,” despite the critical tendency to fall in love with every nondescript and emotionless screenplay that the Coen Brothers spit onto the silver screen. However, despite the failures of the directors to make any intelligible and coherent films, Jeff Bridges’ performance in the legendary role that John Wayne once had was stellar. The former B-list actor took back the reins of his career this year by asserting himself as not just that old guy in “Tron,” but also as a truly gritty face of humanity in “True Grit.”

Actress in a Leading Role

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”

“Black Swan” didn’t quite live up to its best picture nomination due in most part to its overwhelming vulgarity, which was necessary to accomplish the film’s theme but drew away from its mass appeal. That being said, Natalie Portman did a terrific job of playing the psychologically tortured dancer in this year’s dramatic thriller. Separating herself far from her roles in movies like “Star Wars,” Portman has asserted herself in this artistic film as a force to be reckoned within the acting community.

Annette Bening in

“The Kids are All Right”

Though I have yet to see “The Kids are All Right,” everything that I have heard from the critical community suggests that both Bening and Julianne Moore delivered powerful and compelling performances in the controversial film about a lesbian couple. If Portman does not win the award, it is quite likely that Bening will pull it off.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams in “The Fighter”

Amy Adams is the only true nomination that stood out for me to win the award for Best Supporting Actress. Starring opposite of Whalberg as his love interest, Adams did a beautiful job of not falling into the rut of a boxer’s girlfriend. Though certainly alluring, she brought intelligence to the role that clashed dramatically with Mickey Ward’s stubborn family. Adams will likely have a flourishing career now that she is back in the public spectacle.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Jeremy Renner in “The Town”

Both Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner performed beautifully in “The Town,” which was a much better movie than the Academy Award judges gave it credit for. Still reeling off of the success of “The Hurt Locker,” Renner further proved himself by neither stealing the stage nor falling into the background of a traditional supporting role.

Paramount Pictures

Christian Bale in “The Fighter”

Christian Bale’s role in “The Fighter” was perfect. He brought raw emotion to the role of a crack addict, and truly adapted to his role. One look into his soulless, dead eyes or at his hollow physique during the film shows Bale’s true dedication to his role. This talent is especially incredible considering that he can switch between the roles of characters like Batman to ones like Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho” with seemingly little effort. The only flaw in Bale’s role in “The Fighter” was that it drew so much away from Mark Whalburg’s better-than-usual, but still weaker performance.

Directing

David Fincher for “The Social Network”

Fincher deserves considerable credit along with writer Aaron Sorkin for transforming scenes of simply writing a website into captivating and dramatic cinema. The film’s true power was derived from its intelligence and wit in telling a unique story in a unique way. It has been a long time since the world has seen the level of depth in a biography that “The Social Network” achieved.

David O. Russell for “The Fighter”

Beyond the movie’s considerable emotional appeal, Russell was also able to create a world with several dynamic and story-driving relationships between all of the actors. Mark Whalburg stood in the center of the plot, but often the pushing force of “The Fighter” is created by his character’s family. The bottom line on this one is that “The Fighter” could have easily been condemned to the level of other campy sports movies, but was saved due to Russell’s magnificent talent.

Posted by Ryan Del Campo on Feb 10 2011. Filed under Features, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.