Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Foreign Language Film
Best Foreign Language Film
Baaria, Giuseppe Tornatore (Italy)
An autobiographical tale set in the director’s Sicilian hometown
Forever Enthralled, Chen Kaige (China)
Biopic chronicling the life of Mei Lanfang, China’s greatest opera star.
I Killed My Mother, Xavier Dolan (Canada)
A young gay man has some serious issues with his mother.
A Prophet, Jacques Audiard (France)
Prison drama in which a young hood learns what it takes to reach the top of that small (and nasty) world.
The White Ribbon, Michael Haneke (Germany)
As a prelude to both World War I and World War II, a German village unexpectedly becomes the setting of numerous acts of cruelty.
Quality (much like fairness) is in the brain of the judge. (Of course, if we’re lucky enough to have a judge [...]
by Andre Soares | October 18, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, A Prophet, About Elly, Academy Awards, Chen Kaige, Film Awards, Foreign Language Film Category, Forever Enthralled, Giuseppe Tornatore, I Killed My Mother, Involuntary, Jacques Audiard, Michael Haneke, The White Ribbon, The Wind Journeys, Time of Fear, Xavier Dolan
Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Penélope Cruz, Nine
A film director’s seductive mistress (if she’s half as tantalizing in the film as she is in the above photo, Cruz deserves not only a nod but the golden statuette itself)
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
A professional downsizer’s trainee
Mo’Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
A pregnant, illiterate teen’s Mom from Hell
Julianne Moore, A Single Man (with Colin Firth)
A married alcoholic pining for an English professor — who just happens to be both gay and suicidal
Emma Thompson, An Education
A school headmistress in 1960s London
The most disputed acting category in the 2010 Oscar race. In addition to the aforementioned five actresses, five others who could easily land a nomination (in case their movies open [...]
by Andre Soares | October 16, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, A Single Man, Academy Awards, An Education, Anna Kendrick, Emma Thompson, Film Awards, Julianne Moore, Kathy Bates, Mariah Carey, Mo'Nique, Nine, Penélope Cruz, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, Rachel Weisz, Sigourney Weaver, Up in the Air, Vera Farmiga
Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Alfred Molina, An Education (with Cara Seymour, Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard)
An overprotective father worries about his wayward daughter in 1960s London.
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station (with Helen Mirren)
Initially touted as a potential best actor contender, Plummer is getting the supporting treatment for his performance as the elderly Leo Tolstoy. In that category, the veteran actor has a much better chance of landing a nomination. (James McAvoy, formerly in this list for his role in The Last Station, is now in the Oscar 2010 best actor race.)
Paul Schneider, Bright Star
John Keats‘ not too sympathetic best friend Charles Armitage Brown.
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Apparently, nothing lovely about Tucci in this one.
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds (with Diane Kruger)
Nazi [...]
by Andre Soares | October 15, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, Academy Awards, Alfred Molina, An Education, Bright Star, Christoph Waltz, Christopher Plummer, Film Awards, Inglourious Basterds, Liev Schreiber, Matt Damon, Paul Schneider, Stanley Tucci, The Last Station, The Lovely Bones
Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Actress
Best Actress
Abbie Cornish, Bright Star
Frances ‘Fanny’ Brawne has a relatively brief but intense love affair with poet John Keats
Carey Mulligan, An Education
In 1960s London, a schoolgirl falls for a man in his 30s
Michelle Pfeiffer, Cheri
An older courtesan introduces a young man to the art of lovemaking
Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
An abused pregnant teen is befriended by a compassionate teacher
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Julia Child joyfully introduces dead poultry into American kitchens
A dozen actresses — female actors if you wish — can be considered as very strong candidates for a 2010 best actress nomination (as long as their movies open in LA until December 31). In addition to the [...]
by Andre Soares | October 14, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, Abbie Cornish, Academy Awards, An Education, Brenda Blethyn, Bright Star, Carey Mulligan, Film Awards, Julie and Julia, Meryl Streep, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penélope Cruz, Saoirse Ronan, The Lovely Bones, Yolande Moreau
Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Actor
BEST ACTOR
George Clooney, Up in the Air
A professional downsizer finds the frequent-flying love of his life while having to come to terms with his long-lost humanity.
Matt Damon, The Informant!
A pathological liar helps the FBI nab his employer, a dishonest agribusiness conglomerate.
Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine (with Marion Cotillard)
In this musicalized remake of Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2, Daniel Day-Lewis plays the old Marcello Mastroianni role of the Italian film director trying to cope with the women in his life.
Colin Firth, A Single Man
In 1960s Los Angeles, a gay college professor is determined to kill himself after learning that his lover has died in an accident.
Viggo Mortensen, The Road
A man and his son struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
I’d say that four [...]
by Andre Soares | October 14, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, A Single Man, Ben Whishaw, Colin Firth, Daniel Day-Lewis, Film Awards, George Clooney, Hal Holbrook, James McAvoy, Matt Damon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Nine, The Informant, The Road, Up in the Air, Viggo Mortensen
Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Director
BEST DIRECTOR
The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow
The Lovely Bones, Peter Jackson (above, with Saoirse Ronan)
A Serious Man, Joel and Ethan Coen
Up in the Air, Jason Reitman (above, with George Clooney)
The White Ribbon, Michael Haneke
In all honesty, I don’t know who the hell will get a best direction nod this year — though I’m pretty sure it’ll be five of the ten directors listed in my "tentative" 2010 best picture Oscar list.
For the record, the other five not listed above are: Lone Scherfig for An Education; Grant Heslov for The Men Who Stare at Goats; Lee Daniels for Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire; Steven Soderbergh for The Informant!, and Rob Marshall for Nine.
Unless, of course, Jane Campion manages to [...]
by Andre Soares | October 12, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, A Serious Man, Academy Awards, Jane Campion, Jason Reitman, Joel and Ethan Coen, Kathryn Bigelow, Michael Haneke, Peter Jackson, The Hurt Locker, The Lovely Bones, The White Ribbon, Up in the Air
Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Documentary
BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Beaches of Agnès, Agnès Varda
Veteran filmmaker Agnès Varda remembers her life’s beaches, sand dunes, sun rays, and more.
Burma VJ, Anders Østergaard
In 2007, thousands of monks took to the streets of Burma to protest the military government’s brutal anti-democratic policies.
The Cove, Louie Psihoyos
Beautiful, intelligent dolphins are abused and slaughtered to provide entertainment and fodder for ugly, stupid people. The bloody cove of the title is located near Taijii, Japan, where the government does nothing to stop the slaughter.
Food, Inc., Robert Kenner
The distasteful food industry and their government accomplices vs. your health
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
Daniel Ellsberg, the Vietnam War, the Pentagon Papers, undemocracy at work, [...]
by Andre Soares | October 10, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, Academy Awards, Agnès Varda, Burma VJ, Capitalism: A Love Story, Defamation, Documentaries, Film Awards, Food Inc, Michael Moore, The Beaches of Agnes, The Cove, The September Issue, Yoav Shamir
Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Animated Feature
Best Animated Feature
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Phil Lord and Chris Miller
As a scientist tries to solve world hunger, it starts raining food.
Coraline, Henry Selick
A young girl discovers a new world featuring an idealized version of her dysfunctional family life — and some spooky little secrets as well.
Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wes Anderson
Farmers band together to get rid of Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) and his family (Meryl Streep is the Missus).
Ponyo, Hayao Miyazaki
A five-year-old boy and a goldfish princess develop a close bond.
Up, Pete Docter
A man in his late 70s takes his house and a young stowaway to the South American jungle.
In case there are 16 or more animated features being considered for the 2010 Academy [...]
by Andre Soares | October 10, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, 9, Academy Awards, Animation, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Film Awards, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Ponyo
Oscar 2010: More Best Picture Contenders
Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw in Bright Star
Oscar 2010: Early Predictions for Best Picture Part I
Among the top runners-up in that category are: Jane Campion’s period romance Bright Star, which would have a much better chance had its box-office figures been more impressive; Quentin Tarantino’s dark World War II fantasy Inglourious Basterds; Marc Webb’s quirky 500 Days of Summer; Tom Hooper’s The Damned United, about Leeds United coach Brian Clough; Tom Ford’s A Single Man, based on a Christopher Isherwood novel; Michael Moore’s anti-Wall Street Capitalism: A Love Story; and Pete Docter’s animated hit Up.
And here are some more: Clint Eastwood’s Invictus (above, with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon), adapted by Anthony Peckham from John Carlin’s [...]
by Andre Soares | October 10, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, Academy Awards, Best Picture Predictions, Bright Star, Broken Embraces, Coco Before Chanel, Film Awards, In the Loop, Invictus, State of Play, Up
Oscar 2010: Early Predictions – Best Picture
BEST FILM
An Education, d: Lone Scherfig; scr: Nick Hornby
In Swinging (suburban) London, a teenager decides to have her first sexual experience with a man in his thirties.
The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow; scr: Mark Boal
An elite unit of the US Army must disarm bombs during combat in an "enemy" city in Iraq.
The Informant!, d: Steven Soderbergh; scr: Scott Z. Burns
A whistle-blower (who also happens to be a pathological liar) helps the US government nab an agribusiness conglomerate.
The Lovely Bones, Peter Jackson; scr: Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
A murdered girl, now a heaven-resident, sees how life has changed in her small Pennsylvania town following her disappearance.
The Men Who Stare at Goats, d: Grant Heslov; scr: Peter Straughan
A journalist gets involved with US [...]
by Andre Soares | October 10, 2009
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Tags: 2010 Oscar, 2010 Oscar Predictions, A Serious Man, An Education, Best Picture Predictions, Film Awards, Nine, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, The Hurt Locker, The Informant, The Lovely Bones, The Men Who Stare at Goats, The White Ribbon, Up in the Air
