Oscar Nominations 2011

Being a blog called "The Oscar Project" it would be impossible for me to not to discuss all of the nominations that came out on Tuesday. Below is the list of all of the nominations. I'll make comments were I have them.

Best picture: "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "Inception," "The Kids Are All Right," "The King's Speech," "127 Hours," "The Social Network," "Toy Story 3," "True Grit," "Winter's Bone."

My Opinion: I've seen 5 of these movies and I can't wait to see the other 5. It looks to be a two picture race right now between "The Social Network" and "The King's Speech." If voting was right now it would probably go to "The King's Speech." The time to pay attention is about two weeks before the awards. This is when the ballots are due back and whatever movie is hot that week will be the winner. If it was up to me, I would give it to "The King's Speech."

Actor: Javier Bardem, "Biutiful"; Jeff Bridges, "True Grit"; Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"; Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"; James Franco, "127 Hours."

My Opinion: I've only seen two of these performances, but everyone says that this one is going to Colin Firth and based on his performance, he absolutely deserves it.

Actress: Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"; Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"; Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"; Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"; Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine."

My Opinion: This is a two way race between Annette Bening and Natalie Portman. It could go either way. Right now momentum is with Natalie Portman, but she may be over exposed right now which could go against her.

Supporting actor: Christian Bale, "The Fighter"; John Hawkes, "Winter's Bone"; Jeremy Renner, "The Town"; Mark Ruffalo, "The Kids Are All Right"; Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech."

My Opinion: This is between Christain Bale and Geoffery Rush. If "The King's Speech" wins I bet Rush wins. If it doesn't then Bale gets it again.

Supporting actress: Amy Adams, "The Fighter"; Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech"; Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"; Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"; Jacki Weaver, "Animal Kingdom."


My Opinion: I'm not sure on this one, I'll need to see "The Fighter" first.

Directing: Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"; David O. Russell, "The Fighter"; Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"; David Fincher, "The Social Network"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "True Grit."

My Opinion: How was Nolan snubbed again? He was snubbed for "Memento," then "The Dark Knight" and now for "Inception." This will probably go to Fincher.

Foreign language film: "Biutiful," Mexico; "Dogtooth," Greece; "In a Better World," Denmark; "Incendies," Canada; "Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)," Algeria.

Adapted screenplay: Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy, "127 Hours"; Aaron Sorkin, "The Social Network"; Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich, "Toy Story 3"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "True Grit"; Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini, "Winter's Bone."


My Opinion: I don't agree with the rule that sequels must be nominated for best adapted screen play. If that was the case then any bio-pic should also be nominated here. But "The King's Speech" which is adapted from a true story is not. Does that seem right. Anyways this goes to "The Social Network," Sorkin has written another gem.

Original screenplay: Mike Leigh, "Another Year"; Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson and Keith Dorrington, "The Fighter"; Christopher Nolan, "Inception"; Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, "The Kids Are All Right"; David Seidler, "The King's Speech."

My Opinion: This will probably go to "The King's Speech," but it is possible to go to "Inception" as an apology to Christopher Nolan for the directing snub.

Art direction: "Alice in Wonderland," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1," "Inception," "The King's Speech," "True Grit."

Animated feature film: "How to Train Your Dragon," "The Illusionist," "Toy Story 3."

My Opinion: "Toy Story 3." Is this even a question.

Cinematography: "Black Swan," "Inception," "The King's Speech," "The Social Network," "True Grit."

Sound mixing: "Inception," "The King's Speech," "Salt," "The Social Network," "True Grit."

Sound editing: "Inception," "Toy Story 3," "Tron: Legacy," "True Grit," "Unstoppable."

Original score: "How to Train Your Dragon," John Powell; "Inception," Hans Zimmer; "The King's Speech," Alexandre Desplat; "127 Hours," A.R. Rahman; "The Social Network," Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Original song: "Coming Home" from "Country Strong," Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey; "I See the Light" from "Tangled," Alan Menken and Glenn Slater; "If I Rise" from "127 Hours," A.R. Rahman, Dido and Rollo Armstrong; "We Belong Together" from "Toy Story 3," Randy Newman.

Costume: "Alice in Wonderland," "I Am Love," "The King's Speech," "The Tempest," "True Grit."

Documentary feature: "Exit Through the Gift Shop," "Gasland," "Inside Job," "Restrepo," "Waste Land."

Documentary (short subject): "Killing in the Name," "Poster Girl," "Strangers No More," "Sun Come Up," "The Warriors of Qiugang."

Film editing: "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "The King's Speech," "127 Hours," "The Social Network."

Makeup: "Barney's Version," "The Way Back," "The Wolfman."

Animated short film: "Day and Night," "The Gruffalo," "Let's Pollute," "The Lost Thing," "Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)."

Live action short film: "The Confession," "The Crush," "God of Love," "Na Wewe," "Wish 143."

My Opinion: I don't know most of the movies nominated for shorts but you can view a lot of these either online for free, or some of the smaller art theaters will actually screen these all on the big screen in one night. I suggest looking for a place that is doing this, it is a fun night of film watching.

Visual effects: "Alice in Wonderland," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1," "Hereafter," "Inception," "Iron Man 2."

The King's Speech - New Movie Review

As a Golden Globe nominee and a potential Oscar nominee, I have been looking forward to seeing "The King's Speech" since I first heard of it. The story centers on King George VI as he ascends to the monarchy and how he was coached in the art of public speaking. This is only the surface of the movie and if you dig deeper you will find a much more rich and rewarding experience about how a man is thrust upon the throne.

There is no way to talk about this movie without first mentioning the acting performance put forth by Colin Firth. Mr. Firth is most known for playing the perfect English gentleman that has no problem speaking. Here he must portray someone who does not posses the ability to speak in public. Not only does he successfully add a stutter to his voice and change his accent. But he is also able to display his frustration with the stutter even when he is not speaking. His throws his entire being into this performance and it is worth watching this movie only for this. Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter also give noteworthy roles, but this movie belongs to Colin Firth.

Director Tom Hooper also added a few nice touches to show the differences between the future King and his speaking tutor by using simple shots that show them on different sides of the screen when they do not see eye to eye and then placing them on the same side of the screen once they understand each other. The movie is full of little gems like these that reward any viewers that pay attention to such things.

If the movie has any one flaw, it lies in the script. While telling the story sufficeintly and containing a good deal of smart dialogue, I left the movie feeling that a scene was missing. The entire first half of the classes between King George VI and his teacher focused on what in his childhood caused his stutter and it is never fully discussed or revealed in the second half. After thinking about the movie and dissecting it myself, one can come to the conclusion that the King developes the stutter as a means of being okay with not being King. But with so many possibilities presented by the movie I felt as thought the movie should have addressed this more directly.

"The King's Speech" is definitely one of the best pictures of the years and deserves any accolades it has already received. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.