Oscar nominees to watch
With less than two weeks until the 83rd Academy Awards, debate surrounding who will win is beginning to peak. Can anything possibly unseat the juggernaut favorite “The Social Network?” Will “Toy Story 3” carry its momentum from getting a nomination? Will the legacy of “True Grit” make lightning strike twice for Rooster Cogburn?
In my opinion, nominations are the more important than who wins. Nominations give you a great list of films to go back and find if you missed them during their time in theaters.
That being said, here are some nominees to watch out for during the big show:
"True Grit": Don’t be surprised if “True Grit” snags a few more awards than you’d expect. I’ve been singing supporting actress Hailee Steinfeld’s praises for weeks now, and I still think she’s a shoe-in for her category, even with “The Fighter’s” Amy Adams and Melissa Leo giving her a run for her money.
Jeff Bridges has a real chance at nabbing Best Lead Actor for a second straight year too, even if it was for his second best role this year (“Tron: Legacy” for life!)
Christian Bale: Despite his tantrums against light crew workers and his terrible Batman voice, he’s my lock for the night. If he doesn’t win Best Supporting Actor, rioting should ensue.
"Exit Through the Gift Shop": The street art documentary might be the most interesting documentary of 2010, but I wouldn’t be the least surprised if it got snubbed. Not because it’s not good, but because the Academy historically hasn’t picked fan favorites, especially in the Documentary category.
"The Social Network": I don’t think “The Social Network” will win Best Picture, but I think the Academy is going to try to make up for it with other awards. Look for David Fincher to take Best Director and for the film itself to win for Best Adapted Screenplay.
"Tron: Legacy": I realize my “Tron” fanboyism has the ability to cloud my judgment sometimes, but I’m still scratching my head on how this got left out in the cold for Visual Effects (especially against the likes of “Hereafter” and a more visually tame “Harry Potter.” Its nomination for Sound Editing will be similarly ignored on the big night.
"Inception": Another loser for the night will be “Inception.” Though it’s neck and neck in almost every category in which it’s nominated — Original Score, Cinematography and Art Direction — expect it to come up empty handed in all of them.
Whatever the outcomes, I’m sure we’ll all disagree with the winners.
