A Few Thoughts On… The 2011 Oscars.

Hollywood’s biggest night of the year turned out to be a mediocre and disappointing one at best. This year I predicted in 7 of the major categories who I think would win and ended up with a record of 4-7. A big difference from last year when I went 6-6 (Next year I plan on making predictions in all 24 categories). Did I just make poor choices? No, I just believe the statues went to the wrong people.

The first mistake of the night was in the Supporting Actress category. I was confused as Melissa Leo’s name was called out instead of more deserving nominees such as Hailee Steinfeld or Helena Bonham Carter. Her role in the fighter was impressive, just not award impressive. And not to mention the fact that she took out ads promoting herself in the category.

Then there was the Directing winner. I believe Tom Hooper to be a talented director but best director? No. I still find The king’s Speech to be the better film, David Fincher was the far better director for The Social Network. And, even though I have said it before, it bares repeating: Christopher Nolan should have woke up next to the statue this morning. I thought it would have been great if he had a Zoolander moment last night and went up to receive the award.

For me the most disappointing category of the night was Best Documentary Feature. I think it’s a shame that Banksy didn’t win with Exit Through the Gift Shop just because he would only accept the award if his identify remained secret. But there were  better choices than inside Job. Josh Fox’s Gasland for example, or even Restrepo.

As for the night itself, there was nothing special about it. James Franco seems tense and uncomfortable as host while Anne Hatheway was exciting and energetic. But there were some memorable moments. Leo’s F-bomb. Franco in a dress. Kirk Douglas hamming it up. Downey Jr. and Law bantering. All great stuff but it still equalled out to a mediocre night on the pink- I mean red carpet. 

Just a suggestion: Kirk Douglas/ Robert Downey Jr. as host next year.

My 2011 Oscar Nomination Picks

The Oscars. For most people it’s about watching celebrities walking down the red carpet looking glamorous. But there is something deeper to it. It’s a time to reflect upon the past year in film. Unlike last year where I was 100% percent on my choices (Which was good, considering I went 6-6), this year I’m less so.

So I’m happy to say, welcome to the second annual “The Buffalo Picks the Oscars”. Or something like that.

Best Picture

1. Black Swan      6. The Kid’s Are All Right

2.The Fighter       7. The King’s Speech

3. Inception         8. The Social Network

4. 127 Hours       9. Toy Story 3

5. True Grit         10. Winter’s Bone

Who Will Win: The King’s Speech

Who Should Win: The King’s Speech

Who could Win: The Social Network, Black Swan

You may be asking… didn’t you pick The Social Network as the best film of 2010? And you would be correct, I did. But unfortunately I never got the chance to see The King’s Speech in theaters last year. I can honestly say that If I were to revise my “Best of…” list right now, that film would knock The Social Network down to the second prize spot. But in truth they both are remarkable films and if either one were to win, they would both deserve it.

Documentary Feature

1. Exit Through The Gift Shop

2. Gasland

3. inside Job

4. Restrepo

5. Waste Land

Who Will Win: Exit Through The Gift Shop

Who Should Win: Exit Through The Gift Shop

Who Could Win: Gasland, Restrepo

This Category is going to be the most interesting to me because I don’t have a clear thought on who will actually win it. I believe Banksy’s fantastic street art doc has the best chance to take home a trophy. But the antics of the anonymous artist may be off-putting to voters. Other likely choices are Josh Fox’s examination of the natural gas corporations in Gasland and the military film Restrepo.

Directing

1. Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan

2. David o. Russell, The Fighter

3. Tom Hopper, The King’s Speech

4. David Fincher, The Social Network

5. Joel & Ethan Coen, True Grit

Who Will Win: David Fincher

Who Should Win: Christopher Nolan

Who Could Win: Darren Aronofsky

If you are wondering why I listed Christopher Nolan as the man who should win best director since he was not chosen as a nominee, it’s simple: He should win. Inception was the best directed film of this past year and I believe he was unfairly snubbed just because some people have a beef with him. Just goes to show that award politics are as strong as ever.

Actor In A Leading Role

1. Javier Bardem, Biutiful

2. Jeff Bridges, True Grit

3. Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

4. Clon Firth, The King’s Speech

5. James Franco, 127 Hours

Who Will Win: Colin Firth

Who Should Win: Colin Firth

Who Could Win: Jesse Eisenberg

I’m pretty sure Colin Firth’s performance as stammering King George VI is the obvious choice for the statue. For a role as brave to portray as this one, I believe the brilliant Firth deserves some recognition. The only person who could possibly dethrone him is Jesse Eisenberg’s Mark Zuckerberg.

Actor In A Supporting Role

1. Christian Bale, The Fighter

2. John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone

3. Jeremy Renner, The Town

4. Mark Ruffalo, The Kid’s Are All Right

5. Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

Who Will Win: Christian Bale

Who Should Win: Geoffrey Rush

Who Could Win: Mark Ruffalo

For some reason, many people have a soft spot for Christian Bale’s portrayal of a drug addict in The Fighter. I do not. Truthfully I find his performance to comical, obnoxious and unbelievable at times. I found Geoffrey Rush’s Lionel Logue much better.

Actress In A Leading Role

1. Annette Bening, The Kid’s Are All Right

2. Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole

3. Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone

4. Natalie Portman, Black Swan

5. Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Who Will Win: Natalie Portman

Who Should Win: Natalie Portman

 Who Could Win: Annette Bening

If there was one woman who poured everything into a performance, it would be Natalie Portman in Black Swan. Nothing more really needs to be said.

Actress In A Supporting Role

1. Amy Adams, The Fighter

2. Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech

3. Melissa Leo, The Fighter

4. Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

5. Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Who Will Win: Hailee Steinfeld

Who Should Win: Helena Bonham Carter

Who Could Win: Hailee Steinfeld, Helena Bonham Carter

This race seems to be down to two fantastic ladies. The new comer Hailee Steinfeld and my personal choice as the better performance, Helena Bonham Carter. As with the best picture category, if either of them win the statue then I would agree with it.

So these are my choices for the best of the best, now to hear yours. Leave them below if you would be so kind.