2010 Academy Awards Thread

[Adam]

NOMINATIONS

Best Picture

“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” Nominees to be determined
“District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” Nominees to be determined
“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, ProducersDirecting

“Avatar” James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” Jason ReitmanActor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”Actor in a Supporting Role

Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”Actress in a Supporting Role

Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon TurnerWriting (Original Screenplay)

“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthyAnimated Feature Film

“Coraline” Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
“Up” Pete DocterDocumentary (Feature)

“Burma VJ” Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
“The Cove” Nominees to be determined
“Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
“Which Way Home” Rebecca CammisaForeign Language Film

“Ajami” Israel
“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” Argentina
“The Milk of Sorrow” Peru
“Un Prophète” France
“The White Ribbon” GermanyArt Direction

“Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie GrayCinematography

“Avatar” Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” Christian BergerCostume Design

“Bright Star” Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” Sandy PowellDocumentary (Short Subject)

“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
“Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
“Rabbit Ã* la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna WydraFilm Editing

“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe KlotzMakeup

“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny ShircoreMusic (Original Score)

“Avatar” James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
“Up” Michael GiacchinoMusic (Original Song)

“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone BurnettShort Film (Animated)

“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick ParkShort Film (Live Action)

“The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
“Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
“Kavi” Gregg Helvey
“Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
“The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi MagnussonSound Editing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom MyersSound Mixing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey PattersonVisual Effects

“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton
Hmmm, so they decided to go the boring as all fuck route

[Eleven]

Boy was that dispiriting.

[Morris Schæffer]

The Blind Side a best picture nom?!

District 9 getting a best picture nom is pretty cool though.

Either The Hurt Locker or IB cannot lose out to Up in the Air. They just can't.

[ledfloyd]

what the hell was that?

[Dukefrukem]

The Blind Side a best picture nom?!

District 9 getting a best picture nom is pretty cool though.

Either The Hurt Locker or IB cannot lose out to Up in the Air. They just can't.

Wow!!!!!!!!!

[Watashi]

what the hell was that?
The Oscar nominations?

You expected Love Exposure to get nominated?

[Watashi]

In the Loop got nominated for best adapted screenplay. Awesome.

[Dukefrukem]

Avatar is winning. Callin it now.

[[ETM]]

YES! The Secret of Kells was nominated! It has no chance against the others, of course, but I thought it didn't have a shot at a nomination in a strong year such as this. I hope Moore and Cartoon Salon get a well deserved boost out of this.:pritch:

[ledfloyd]

The Oscar nominations?

You expected Love Exposure to get nominated?
i didn't expect the blind side to get nominated. and the acting noms are garbage.

[Ezee E]

A Serious Man getting nominated was a surprise to me. I'm guessing that will be its only nomination as well.

District 9 makes me wonder if it'll hurt Avatar at all. Bahaha.

[ledfloyd]

A Serious Man getting nominated was a surprise to me. I'm guessing that will be its only nomination as well.

District 9 makes me wonder if it'll hurt Avatar at all. Bahaha.
one would hope. a serious man and in the loop were the only pleasant surprises for me.

[Dukefrukem]

So.... anyone else think this is gonna be the best Oscars ever?

[ledfloyd]

So.... anyone else think this is gonna be the best Oscars ever?
:|

[Watashi]

So.... anyone else think this is gonna be the best Oscars ever?
If Basterds wins, yes.

[[ETM]]

So.... anyone else think this is gonna be the best Oscars ever?

Nothing can beat the "Take THAT!" night of the ROTK sweep.

[ledfloyd]

If Basterds wins, yes.
good point. though, i'm not sure tarantino has much of a chance in any of the major categories. waltz will win, that's about all i can see.

[ledfloyd]

;238803']Nothing can beat the "Take THAT!" night of the ROTK sweep.
my favorite year was seeing the coens take writing, directing and picture with the european acting sweep.

[Dukefrukem]

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin hosting, Avatar, D9 and IB nominated for BP.

I haven't been this excited since that time I found a new place to hid my porn.

[[ETM]]

my favorite year was seeing the coens take writing, directing and picture with the european acting sweep.

It was sweet. I was half-joking of course.

[Fezzik]

Concerning the Oscar nominations as a whole, the biggest surprise from my perspective is that Where the Wild Things Are didn't land a single nomination (not even for costumes!)

Most pleasant surprise: Delbonnel getting nominated for his cinematography on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I'd been hoping for it, but never actually expected it.

[B-side]

I don't claim to be an expert on cinematography, but Avatar for best cinematography? Really? I think this brings about the question of whether CG/animated films and live-action should be considered alongside each other for the same nomination.

[ledfloyd]

;238808']It was sweet. I was half-joking of course.
i honestly wasn't sure if you were a bit LOTR fan or not.

[angrycinephile]

Most pleasant surprise for me is Hans Zimmer being nominated for his score to Sherlock Holmes. His first nomination since 2001. For some reason they've neglected him ever since. Don't understand what James Horner's lazy copy-and-paste score is doing in the same category though. Especially not when Moon and The Road are sadly missing.

Biggest snub I think is Anthony Dod Mantle for Antichrist. Maybe Sam Rockwell for Moon too.

Anyways, I hope Jeff Bridges wins Best Actor. I say this without having seen his film though, but come on... Bridges deserves a damn Oscar.

[Fezzik]

Maybe Sam Rockwell for Moon too.


This is by far the most egregious snub in my opinion.

[B-side]

District 9 is an adapted screenplay? What's it based on?

Short film.

[[ETM]]

For good reason they've neglected him ever since.

Fixed.


Don't understand what James Horner's lazy copy-and-paste score is doing in the same category though. Especially not when Moon and The Road are sadly missing.

This is infuriating. While it works in the film, Horner's score is just another example of his old "if it worked once (or ten times) it will work again" routine.

[[ETM]]

i honestly wasn't sure if you were a bit LOTR fan or not.

I love Tolkien (ETM stands for Eärendil The Mariner) and loved Jackson's films, so I was glad he got recognition for ROTK, but the sweep was completely unjustified and not fair to several films that year. So yeah, half joking.

[number8]

10 noms made it easier for Up, but obviously not as impressive as Beauty and the Beast.

[Dukefrukem]

District 9 should be in the noms for Sound Editing.

[Raiders]

Sorry Adam, I wanted there to be its own thread, but since vBulletin only allows, without hacking, threads to be shown in chronological order, I needed to edit your post to have it show the noms. Your comment is still at the bottom.

[Spinal]

10 Best Picture nominations is such a stupid idea.

[Dead & Messed Up]

10 Best Picture nominations is such a stupid idea.

You can look at the other categories (like best director) and easily ditch five nominees. It's very transparent.

[Skitch]

No nom for Sam Rockwell is unacceptable.

[Morris Schæffer]

10 Best Picture nominations is such a stupid idea.

Including the likes of The Blind Side is.

[Spinal]

There's only one way to solve this. Get drunk with friends and make disparaging remarks about the size of James Cameron's penis throughout the entire ceremony.

[Spinal]

Seriously though, this feels like the year where we're going to get a woman winning Best Director.

[Fezzik]

There's only one way to solve this. Get drunk with friends and make disparaging remarks about the size of James Cameron's penis throughout the entire ceremony.

Is that your advice for yourself, for us, or for Kathryn Bigelow? :P

[number8]

Pete Hammond is such a tool. He sent out an email this morning to colleagues bragging that he was the one that got The Blind Side nominated, because a month before release he saw an advanced screening and convinced WB that they have an Oscar bid, which WB wasn't even considering at that point.

[Fezzik]

10 noms made it easier for Up, but obviously not as impressive as Beauty and the Beast.

Agreed. Unless they go back to 5 nominees again at some point, Beauty and the Beast will stand alone atop that mountain, I guess.

(unless an animated film actually wins BP someday)

[Fezzik]

Pete Hammond is such a tool. He sent out an email this morning to colleagues bragging that he was the one that got The Blind Side nominated, because a month before release he saw an advanced screening and convinced WB that they have an Oscar bid, which WB wasn't even considering at that point.

:crazy::frustrated:

The more I hear about Hammond, the less I like him.

[Spinal]

Is that your advice for yourself, for us, or for Kathryn Bigelow? :P

Oh man. How bad would it be to lose an Oscar to your ex? Unless there is a major upset, that's going to happen to somebody.

[balmakboor]

:crazy::frustrated:

The more I hear about Hammond, the less I like him.

I don't even know who Pete Hammond is, but, if he had anything at all to do with The Blind Side, I automatically dislike him.

I'm way ahead though this year over previous years on seeing the best pic nominees. I only still need to see An Education, Precious, and A Serious Man. I suppose they'll all hit my small town soon now.

[NickGlass]

Seriously though, this feels like the year where we're going to get a woman winning Best Director.

You mean that old lesbian Cameron?

[balmakboor]

Was Ponyo eligible this year? I thought it was way better than Up.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Seriously though, this feels like the year where we're going to get a woman winning Best Director.

I'm also sure it's gonna win Picture. The Academy loves a narrative, and they already told the story of Cameron Triumphant.

[number8]

Was Ponyo eligible this year? I thought it was way better than Up.

It was, but not many people liked it.

[balmakboor]

I'm also sure it's gonna win Picture. The Academy loves a narrative, and they already told the story of Cameron Triumphant.

If The Hurt Locker wins the top prizes, this will be one of those rare years where I go to bed happy.

I'd be happier if Basterds wins, but I'm convinced that Tarantino's film will get the last laugh of sorts. I predict it will be the only movie in that best pic line-up that people will still be watching and caring about in five or ten years.

[[ETM]]

I'd be happier if Basterds wins, but I'm convinced that Tarantino's film will get the last laugh of sorts. I predict it will be the only movie in that best pic line-up that people will still be watching and caring about in five or ten years.

Depends on "people", really.

[dreamdead]

This sentence from the NYTimes (http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/avatar-and-hurt-locker-lead-the-oscar-field/?ref=movies) threw me for a loop:


Mr. Daniels made instant Oscar history as the first black director of a best picture nominee.

Singleton was nominated for Boyz n the Hood (whereas the film wasn't nominated), but Lee's never had a best direction nomination. So weird.

[balmakboor]

It was, but not many people liked it.

Really, I placed it number one on my top 10 list and my rave review had a record number of people thanking me for recommending the movie to them. It is also at 91% on the RT-meter.

Who are these people who didn't like it?

(I published my top ten before rewatching Basterds and before watching The Hurt Locker. My top three now would be:

1. Basterds
2. Hurt
3. Ponyo

[number8]

Translation:

"Sigh, why couldn't a black person have directed Crash?"

[number8]

Who are these people who didn't like it?

Oscar voters? It was all but forgotten by the media by the end of the year. I don't remember seeing any push for it from Disney, since they were busy trying to get Princess and the Frog and Up in there.

[Spinal]

I'd be happier if Basterds wins, but I'm convinced that Tarantino's film will get the last laugh of sorts. I predict it will be the only movie in that best pic line-up that people will still be watching and caring about in five or ten years.

I think you'll change your mind after you see A Serious Man.

But the idea of people trying to watch Avatar 10 years from now amuses me greatly.

[balmakboor]

;238865']Depends on "people", really.

Oh, I'm not saying everyone will like it in ten years. I do expect that people will still be watching and arguing about it in ten years.

It's kind of like the year where Ordinary People won. Far more people watch and argue about Raging Bull now than any of the other nominees (such as Coal Miner's Daughter and Tess) except for possibly The Elephant Man.

Actually, naw, The Elephant Man -- which I think is pretty great -- gets buried beneath most of Lynch's other films including Dune.

[balmakboor]

I don't remember seeing any push for it from Disney...

Those basterds.

[Spinal]

I am so glad Star Trek did not get a Best Picture nomination.

[Qrazy]

Oh, I'm not saying everyone will like it in ten years. I do expect that people will still be watching and arguing about it in ten years.

It's kind of like the year where Ordinary People won. Far more people watch and argue about Raging Bull now than any of the other nominees (such as Coal Miner's Daughter and Tess) except for possibly The Elephant Man.

Actually, naw, The Elephant Man -- which I think is pretty great -- gets buried beneath most of Lynch's other films including Dune.

By buried you mean?

[Winston*]

;238792']YES! The Secret of Kells was nominated! It has no chance against the others, of course, but I thought it didn't have a shot at a nomination in a strong year such as this. I hope Moore and Cartoon Salon get a well deserved boost out of this.:pritch:

I thought Mary and Max was much more deserving of a best animated feature nomination. Has that not had a US release yet?

[Skitch]

I am so glad Star Trek did not get a Best Picture nomination.

Why? It was better than Avatar.

Question...who exactly gets to vote on these noms and winners? A friend told me critics weren't aloud to be part of the process...is that true? I assumed a few critics would be in there.

[[ETM]]

I thought Mary and Max was much more deserving of a best animated feature nomination. Has that not had a US release yet?

I've heard it talked about and I don't know, haven't seen it. "Kells" had a week long run in Burbank to qualify for the Oscars and that's it.

[Raiders]

Why? It was better than Avatar.

Question...who exactly gets to vote on these noms and winners? A friend told me critics weren't aloud to be part of the process...is that true? I assumed a few critics would be in there.

It's the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (hence the Academy Awards).

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_of_Motion_Picture_Arts _and_Sciences

I think critics are eligible (well, "writers" anyway) but it is made up of all kinds of industry professionals.

[Barty]

The 10 best picture lineup would make sense if the oscars were held every 4 years like the Olympics. Now that would be fun.

[Ezee E]

Yes. Very happy that Star Trek wasn't nominated.

I like Martin Scorsese's analysis of Avatar in that it's hugely popular and akin to something like The Jazz Singer. I've heard him say in one of his documentaries that while The Jazz Singer had new technology, it particularly wasn't a good movie at all.

I'm looking forward to the Match Cut nominations though!

I wonder if the ten nominations may surprise us. My reasoning is that a film like A Serious Man obviously has some lovers behind it that would vote for it no matter what. Now, it has no chance at winning, but those votes will take away from other movies. Same goes for District 9 and The Blind Side. Who will that hurt or help in the long run?

[balmakboor]

The 10 best picture lineup would make sense if the oscars were held every 4 years like the Olympics. Now that would be fun.

The only problem with that is movies that are only one year old would be at a disadvantage to those that are four years old. Four years is enough time for movies to grow in esteem and be better understood and start to gain classic status. People are still trying to figure out what to make of some of the best movies of the past year.

Now, if it was always looking four years back like in 2010 the movies eligible would be from 2003 to 2006 then it would be pretty intriguing.

What would and should the ten nominees be from 2003 to 2006?

[baby doll]

I've seen eight of the best pictures nominees, and mostly they're not terrible. An Education is probably the most audience-insulting character-driven film of the year, and the last half of District 9 is about as intellectually and emotionally stimulating as watching some one else playing Doom (there's even a POV shot of a soldier with his gun protruding into the frame). I guess the same is true of Avatar, but the aliens' skin looks cool in 3D. Up was cute but forgettable. Inglourious Basterds is, despite my reservations, what Roger Ebert would call "a real movie," meaning I couldn't forget it. And I really liked The Hurt Locker, Precious (why the hate, Match-Cut?), and best of all, A Serious Man, which isn't as mindblowing on second viewing but it's still impressive. I flat-out refuse to see The Blind Side, and probably won't go to see Up in the Air just because I've had my fill of mediocrity after Crazy Heart.

Predictions? I'm a pessimist, so I'll say Avatar is going to win. It cost a fortune and turned a profit, and therefore has "prestige." Reviewers liked The Hurt Locker, but it cost less than one-tenth of what it cost to make Cameron's film, and not many people saw it. Also, Hollywood hates women.

If I picked the winners...
Best picture: A Serious Man by Ethan and Joel Coen
Best director: Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds
Best Actor: Colin Firth for A Single Man
Best Actress: Gabourey Sidibe for Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique for Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

[MadMan]

The 10 best picture lineup would make sense if the oscars were held every 4 years like the Olympics. Now that would be fun.Such an idea would be cool, but probably highly unlikely to happen.


10 Best Picture nominations is such a stupid idea.My thoughts exactly. But hey since they nominated movies that made lots of money or were really popular (see: Avatar, The Blind Side) the ploy will result in high ratings. I'm hoping for the whole thing to backfire, but I imagine we'll see this stupid idea sticking around for years to come.

The last Oscar ceremony I thought was truly cool was the one that covered 2007, when the Coens Brothers finally took home Best Picture and Best Director. Last year's was one of the most boring in recent memory.

[megladon8]

I'm going to be really pissed off if Avatar wins Best Picture. Because it doesn't deserve it at all, plain and simple.

Best Visual Effects? Absolutely.

[[ETM]]

I hope to god Avatar doesn't win Best Picture not so much because there are better films on the list (there are), but to avoid the inevitable bitchin'.

[Watashi]

Avatar isn't the best film of the list of 10, but I wouldn't care if it won. Stuff like Up and A Serious Man have no shot anyway.

Since when did the most deserving film ever win Best Picture anyway?

[megladon8]

I'm putting my money on Jeff Bridges for Best Actor.

[Derek]

I'm going to be really pissed off if Avatar wins Best Picture. Because it doesn't deserve it at all, plain and simple.

How often does a picture that deserves to win actually win? Once a decade, maybe?

[ledfloyd]

How often does a picture that deserves to win actually win? Once a decade, maybe?

No Country for Old Men

Annie Hall
The Godfather, Part II
The Godfather

The Apartment

Casablanca
Rebecca

It Happened One Night

it averages out to be about that yeah.

[Winston*]

Unforgiven deserved it IMO.

[Boner M]

HOW DARE THEY

[Spinal]

You skipped Amadeus sucka.

[Pop Trash]

Unforgiven deserved it IMO.
Indeed. I'd say Schindler's List and Silence of the Lambs as well.

[Boner M]

Midnight Cowboy too.

[ledfloyd]

haven't seen amadeus or midnight cowboy. i like silence of the lambs enough. i don't really care for unforgiven or schindler's list. though unforgiven is better than alot of other winners.

glad i haven't caught any flak for leaving out shakespeare in love.

[Spinal]

glad i haven't caught any flak for leaving out shakespeare in love.

It didn't deserve to win, but it's better than the film everybody was expecting.

[MadMan]

Look, I stopped really giving a shit when Chicago won Best Picture. I was very surprised actually that No Country For Old Men won, considering that the Coens had gotten the shaft before.

[BuffaloWilder]

I don't claim to be an expert on cinematography, but Avatar for best cinematography? Really? I think this brings about the question of whether CG/animated films and live-action should be considered alongside each other for the same nomination.

It works by usually the same basic principles, except that you're building from the ground up inside a computer instead of shooting live on-locations.

As for Best Picture, it's a real toss-up between District 9 and The Hurt Locker, although I think my interests lie most with the latter, if only by a little bit. Not one but two tried-and-true action films nominated? Three, if you count Avatar?

Am I in bizarro world?

[Beau]

Avatar is probably going to win.

Sorry, y'all.

[Skitch]

I don't think Avatar will best pic or director. The Oscars are politics, and Cameron has already got his. Which is why Bullock will probably get best actress.

I think it would be better to let em sit a year. Then every year we have the Oscars for year or two previous. Let's some time for films to really sink in. Sometimes it seems like the Academy is "blown away" by a pic that doesn't hold up.

I'm still surprised Beautiful Mind won. Again, politics.

[Raiders]

Midnight Cowboy too.

For undeserving winners? Indeed.

[Spinal]

Sandra Bullock ... Best Actress?

What's next? Julia Roberts? :|

[Watashi]

Sandra Bullock ... Best Actress?

What's next? Julia Roberts? :|

Is this a trick question?

[MadMan]

Oh and if Avatar wins, that means a sci-fi action movie finally won Best Picture. Even though far superior ones have been made over the years, including (funny enough) District 9, which is also nominated this year.

[Skitch]

Sandra Bullock ... Best Actress?

What's next? Julia Roberts? :|
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't vote for her, I'm just guessing she will win, based on Hollywood politics. I want to be clear on this. Lol

[balmakboor]

Since I started watching the Oscars in 1978, I can only think of a handful of times where they totally fucked up with best picture. By fucked up, I mean the movie was unworthy of the honor and was significantly inferior to the other nomimees.

For example, I don't think Slumdog was a worthy winner, but the other nominees all had their problems as well. I would've been happier with either Milk or Button, but I wasn't heartbroken or anything.

The fucked up winners for me were:

2006 - Crash
2003 - Chicago
2002 - A Beautiful Mind
1997 - The English Patient

I'm tempted to mention two others although they may not quite fit my criteria:

1983 - Gandhi
1982 - Chariots of Fire

As impressive as it is in many ways, I really think Gandhi is a deeply flawed and disappointingly by the numbers biopic that gave me no insight into the man beyond what I could read in an encyclopedia. That was actually the year for me that I lost faith in the Academy. Gandhi to me was tone deaf while E.T. was fucking Mozart.

I won an Oscar poll by predicting Chariots of Fire, but I wasn't happy about its win. We've since learned that director Hugh Hudson was a sub-hack and that over-edited, gloopy mess of a movie is only remembered now for a scene of guys running on a beach to Vangelis. (Hell, that's about the only way it was remembered in 1982.) Raiders of the Lost Ark is the definition of classic and Reds is a flawed but fascinating bit of historical epic filmmaking -- basically Warren Beatty trying to be Woody Allen and mostly succeeding.

But, the movie that would've gotten my vote then and now is Atlantic City. If I ever put together a list of movies nominated for best picture that have never received the high praise they deserve, it might top my list.

[Fezzik]

As impressive as it is in many ways, I really think Gandhi is a deeply flawed and disappointingly by the numbers biopic that gave me no insight into the man beyond what I could read in an encyclopedia. That was actually the year for me that I lost faith in the Academy. Gandhi to me was tone deaf while E.T. was fucking Mozart.

:pritch:

I am SO glad I am not the only one who feels this way. For as much money as it made, and how beloved it was at the time, I find that E.T. is now criminally underrated (maybe "dismissed" is a better word here?).

In talking to people I know who are into movies, the film just isn't held in that high a regard, and that attitude seems prevalent in a lot of what I've read, as well. I just don't understand it. To me, its still Spielberg's most touching, emotionally wonderful film.

[Ezee E]

I'd say I probably started actively watching, and being interested in the Oscars at around '94. The only one that surprised me with its wins were Shakespeare in Love and Crash (albeit just a little). Out of what was nominated, I never really had a problem with the winners either, except I thought there was no way that Shakespeare in Love could be better than Saving Private Ryan.

I still don't know.

[Arthur Seaton]

And I really liked The Hurt Locker, Precious (why the hate, Match-Cut?),
Because it's so far over the top?

[baby doll]

Because it's so far over the top?Why is that necessarily a bad thing, even in a film that purports to be realistic? Its story is definitely extreme, but it didn't seem to me completely outside the realm of possibility.

[baby doll]

As far as the Oscars historically screwing the pooch, I've seen all the winners since 1998, and I liked Shakespeare in Love, American Beauty, A Beautiful Mind, Chicago, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and even Crash when I saw them, but they're so mediocre I can barely remember them now. Gladiator, Million Dollar Baby, The Departed, and Slumdog Millionaire sucked. No Country for Old Men is a good film, but it's far from the Coens' best work (I prefer Blood Simple, Barton Fink, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, The Man Who Wasn't There, Burn After Reading, and A Serious Man). It won because it was an adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy novel, was utterly humorless, and presented a view of the world that was comfortingly pessimistic, and therefore had "prestige." It was also a revisionist western, so it had the air of telling us something new about the world while really telling us old about the movies (i.e., in the movies, the good guy always wins, but in real life, that's not always the case--never-mind that things in real life are rarely so clear cut as they are in the film). It's more accomplished as storytelling than Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors, but it's every bit as pretentious.

[Spaceman Spiff]

It's more accomplished as storytelling than Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors, but it's every bit as pretentious.

What?

[baby doll]

What?That's right.


it [has] the air of telling us something new about the world while really telling us old about the movies (i.e., in the movies, the good guy always wins, but in real life, that's not always the case--never-mind that things in real life are rarely so clear cut as they are in the film).

[Hugh_Grant]

Why is that necessarily a bad thing, even in a film that purports to be realistic? Its story is definitely extreme, but it didn't seem to me completely outside the realm of possibility.
Errr, maybe because I've worked in the inner city and known young women like Precious, I found it to be beyond that realm--and then some. For once I agree with Armond White.

[Qrazy]

That's right.

So if the good guy doesn't win the film is pretentious? Or do you just mean that you feel both films are forcing the point that the good guy doesn't win home too hard?

[baby doll]

Errr, maybe because I've worked in the inner city and known young women like Precious, I found it to be beyond that realm--and then some. For once I agree with Armond White.When I say it's not "completely" beyond that realm, I mean that it's pretty unlikely that everything that happens in the film would be happening to one person, but there are US teenagers who are functionally illiterate, have abusive parents, and so on. In any event, I wasn't bored. As for White, he seems to expect that any film about black people should some how be representative of all African-Americans, as if that were possible.

[baby doll]

So if the good guy doesn't win the film is pretentious? Or do you just mean that you feel both films are forcing the point that the good guy doesn't win home too hard?The latter. It would be hard to disagree with the thesis that life isn't fair. But in these films, evil is always the winner, whether it's Alan Alda getting the girl, or Martin Landau getting away with killing the girl, or Javier Bardem's super-human boogie man, who can appear and disappear at will. And good and evil are always clear-cut. And the films' pessimism supposedly makes them more grownup than the movies where the good guys always win, when they're really just as childish.

[Qrazy]

The latter. It would be hard to disagree with the thesis that life isn't fair. But in these films, not only is evil always the winner, whether it's Alan Alda getting the girl, or Martin Landau getting away with killing the girl, or Javier Bardem's super-human boogie man, who can appear and disappear at will. And good and evil are always clear-cut. And the films' pessimism supposedly makes them more grownup than the movies where the good guys always win, when they're really just as childish.

I agree with you on No Country for Old Men but not on Crimes.

[number8]

Why is that necessarily a bad thing, even in a film that purports to be realistic? Its story is definitely extreme, but it didn't seem to me completely outside the realm of possibility.

The handling is more over the top than the possibility of the subject matter.

The fantasy sequences, Monique's acting, the overbearing voiceover, the cutaway to cooking grease during the rape scene, the deliberate slow-motion of the falling TV, the lack of weight in the third act twist. It's just a badly made movie, and it's some distasteful shit.

[baby doll]

The handling is more over the top than the possibility of the subject matter.

The fantasy sequences, Monique's acting, the overbearing voiceover, the cutaway to cooking grease during the rape scene, the deliberate slow-motion of the falling TV, the lack of weight in the third act twist. It's just a badly made movie, and it's some distasteful shit.I'll admit with regards to the fantasy sequences that the idea of a "modern fairy tale" is pretty f-in' hackneyed, even (especially) if the point is to show how the heroine's life isn't a fairy tale (no fairy godmother's going to turn up in this film to cure AIDS), thereby putting unnecessary, even damaging emphasis on the already dubious idea that the filmmakers are simply keepin' it real. That said, I think Daniels' sense of humor partially redeems these sequences: the poster of Precious in a Flashdance-style movie, and the Italian neo-realist sequence are both pretty hilarious.

As for Mo'Nique's acting, I think she's very naturalistic and that adds to this overall sense of the film being "authentic," and it's the claims to authenticity that's the source of my own ambivalence towards the film. But just as a performance, I think she's very good.

And with regards to Daniels' filmmaking, I don't see what's so egregious about using slow motion (deliberately or accidentally) to put added emphasis on an event that at normal speed would last only a few seconds. And the cutaways to cooking grease, well, this isn't a movie that does anything in half measures.

[Dead & Messed Up]

:pritch:

I am SO glad I am not the only one who feels this way. For as much money as it made, and how beloved it was at the time, I find that E.T. is now criminally underrated (maybe "dismissed" is a better word here?).

In talking to people I know who are into movies, the film just isn't held in that high a regard, and that attitude seems prevalent in a lot of what I've read, as well. I just don't understand it. To me, its still Spielberg's most touching, emotionally wonderful film.

Rep for you. It's a wonderful family film that could've crashed in a hundred different ways, and instead it just soars and soars.

Maybe the reason is that it's almost pure storytelling. Despite all the laudable elements (creature effects, child performances), it rises above and becomes a singular experience.

[Adam]

Seriously, what the duck, guys

dJ3kwMq18-8

[Hugh_Grant]

The handling is more over the top than the possibility of the subject matter.

The fantasy sequences, Monique's acting, the overbearing voiceover, the cutaway to cooking grease during the rape scene, the deliberate slow-motion of the falling TV, the lack of weight in the third act twist. It's just a badly made movie, and it's some distasteful shit.

I don't think I could agree anymore with this. The "third act twist" is what sunk the film for me.

[Derek]

Seriously, what the duck, guys

pu8zYsz04oE

I can't see Sandra Bullock in that preview without thinking about White People Problems (http://www.atom.com/funny_videos/white_problems/).

[Pop Trash]

Seriously, what the duck, guys


You're changing that boy's life.

NO HE'S CHANGING MINE!!!!!!!!!!

[Spun Lepton]

The Hurt Locker is gonna clean up.

I haven't seen the movie, this is based on the insane amounts of buzz I've been hearing, even though I'm not actively following the Oscars.

[Ezee E]

But Sandra Bullock is such a nice person!

[number8]

My thoughts. (http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/movie-news/6353-ten-biggest-surprises-from-the-2010-oscar.html)

[chrisnu]

Hopefully, Firth has this. He was absolutely superb.

[MadMan]

The Hurt Locker is gonna clean up.

I haven't seen the movie, this is based on the insane amounts of buzz I've been hearing, even though I'm not actively following the Oscars.Hurt Locker will win Best Director, and maybe a screenplay award (I can't remember if its adapted, or original) and some other minor awards. But I think Avatar will win Best Picture. We could have a split between the two major categories for the first time in quite a while.

PS: I believe the last time that happened was 2005, when Crash won Best Picture but Ang Lee won Best Director.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I just realized that, despite the expansion from 5 to 10, I've still seen more Best Picture nominees for 2009 then any other year at this time, and I'd rank them as follows:

1. Inglourious Basterds
2. A Serious Man
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Up
5. Avatar

[NickGlass]

Oh, Best Picture rankings, I can do this (but not without feeling even more disillusioned).

Good
1. The Hurt Locker
2. Inglourious Basterds
3. A Serious Man

Not very good
4. Precious
5. Up

Bad
6. Avatar
7. District 9

Awful
8. The Blind Side
9. An Education
10. Up in the Air

Also, anyone moderately interested in the awards (or cultural implications of the awards), should check out The Film Experience's symposium:

http://thefilmexperience.net/Awards/2009/oscar_symposium.html

[balmakboor]

I've seen nine. I'd rank them like this:

1. The Hurt Locker
2. Inglourious Basterds
3. A Serious Man

4. Precious
5. Avatar
6. Up in the Air
7. District 9

8. Up





9. The Blind Side

[Watashi]

1. Inglourious Basterds
2. Up
3. A Serious Man
4. The Hurt Locker
5. Avatar
6. Up in the Air
7. District 9




8. An Education

lolwut:

9. Precious
10. The Blind Side

[BuffaloWilder]

The only two movies I would put below Up would be Precious and Avatar. I don't count The Blind Side.

[Eleven]

1. A Serious Man
2. Inglourious Basterds
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Up

5. District 9
6. Avatar


7. Up in the Air
8. An Education
9. Precious



10. The Blind Side

[Ivan Drago]

1. Inglourious Basterds
2. Avatar
3. District 9
4. Up
5. Up in the Air
6. The Blind Side

[Henry Gale]

****

1. Inglourious Basterds
2. Up
3. A Serious Man

***½

4. The Hurt Locker
5. District 9
6. Avatar

***

7. Up In The Air

**½

8. Precious

**

9. An Education

and nothing before The Blind Side's nomination made it seem like I needed to ever see it, so unless it wins, my knowledge of its existence will likely stay as is.

[MadMan]

I think last year I saw a decent number of the BP nominees, but I don't remember.

Ranking the ones I've viewed:

1. A Serious Man
2. Up
3. Inglourious Basterds
4. The Hurt Locker
5. District 9
6. Up in the Air
7. Avatar

I'm sure that Precious and The Blind Side would be near the bottom of my list-and I've actually seen bits and pieces of The Blind Side. An Education is something that could go either way, really.

[Adam]

Spicy
A Serious Man, Inglourious Basterds

Medium to Mild
District 9, An Education, Up, Up in the Air, The Hurt Locker

Bland
Avatar

[angrycinephile]

I should really see that damn The Blind Side before Sunday just to have seen all the 10 nominees.

I don't know but for some reason I'm looking forward to this years Oscars a lot.

[Dukefrukem]

Avatar is winning best picture guys.

[Barty]

Avatar is winning best picture guys.

Actually, Inglourious will.

[BuffaloWilder]

Actually - if the BAFTAS are any indication - The Hurt Locker will.

[Eleven]

In any case, I hope we're not Blind Sided.

[BuffaloWilder]

...by Up.

[Ezee E]

Actually, Inglourious will.
This is what I'm thinking.

[Barty]

Either way, we're going to get An Education come next Sunday.

[Mysterious Dude]

My official prediction is: The Hurt Locker. But I think Up in the Air and Avatar both have a good chance.

[angrycinephile]

I should really see that damn The Blind Side before Sunday just to have seen all the 10 nominees.

Ooh, I shouldn't have done that.

I'm pretty sure The Proposal would be more worthy of a Best Picture-nomination than this stupid Hallmark channel schmaltz.

Walter Chaw really isn't too far off in his review (http://www.filmfreakcentral.net/screenreviews/blindside.htm).

Bullock's performance is bad btw. Such a shame she's going to win.

[balmakboor]

Gotta love that Chaw review. What I just can't figure out is The Blind Side is still packing them in. I was leaving the theater after watching The Crazies on Sunday and the hallway was clogged with women discussing the movie and how heartwarming it is. I just want to shake them.

I'm actually pretty excited about this Sunday. If we do get Blind Sided, it will be the most spectacular low in Oscar history. And it could happen. A lot of people truly love the movie.

[NickGlass]

Bullock's performance is bad btw. Such a shame she's going to win.

::wags finger, shakes head, and makes a speech about how racism is bad::

Yeah, that's the whole performance.

[Ezee E]

::wags finger, shakes head, and makes a speech about how racism is bad::

Yeah, that's the whole performance.
Southern people don't do that.

[[ETM]]

I just want to shake them.

Like a polaro... ok, I'm done.

[Raiders]

This is what I'm thinking.

Really? I would say only District 9, Up and A Serious Man have less of a chance of winning.

I'll stick with The Hurt Locker for now only because I can't see a repeat of 1998's schmooze-fest for James Cameron's New "Game Changing" Uber-Blockbuster. Plus, it's a film with its eyes forward, not backwards, which does not gel with the Academy.

Don't count out Precious. For SOCIAL DRAMA, look to '06 where Crash had a lot of support, but a Best Picture win was downright shocking. Then again, it only had one other frontrunner to deal with and only a total of 5 nominees.

[balmakboor]

...it only had one other frontrunner to deal with and only a total of 5 nominees.

I still think that having 10 nominees is going to make surprises more likely. All of the nominees are bound to get some votes and there are a high number of frontrunners -- Avatar, Up in the Air, Inglourious Basterds, The Hurt Locker, and maybe even Precious. Those will be pulling votes away from each other and you know that Up will have support considering the allure in some circles of finally getting an animated best picture winner.

I think this is all going to add up to a very narrow vote margin between a frontrunner like The Hurt Locker and a dark horse like The Blind Side. Anything can happen this time folks.

Well, not quite anything. I am certain that An Education, A Serious Man, and District 9 won't be listed in that final envelope.

[Ezee E]

My reasoning is all about the preferential balloting system that is brand new.

So many people are going to have Hurt Locker at #1, Avatar at #10, and the other way around, that I think we'll see a surprise. Inglourious Basterds was highly liked, widely seen, and won the SAG Ensemble award which represents the highest percentage of Academy voters.

Otherwise, I say Hurt Locker.

Basterds has a 15-1 odds for Vegas right now.

[balmakboor]

My reasoning is all about the preferential balloting system that is brand new.

So many people are going to have Hurt Locker at #1, Avatar at #10, and the other way around, that I think we'll see a surprise. Inglourious Basterds was highly liked, widely seen, and won the SAG Ensemble award which represents the highest percentage of Academy voters.

Otherwise, I say Hurt Locker.

Basterds has a 15-1 odds for Vegas right now.

I didn't even realize this preferential balloting thing.

The following explanation makes it sound pretty weird. Why can't they just give 10 pts to a number 1, 9 points to a number 2, etc.?

"Voters will be asked to rank the nominees in order of preference, one through 10. Those ballots will then be tallied using the preferential system… in which the film with the fewest Number One votes will be eliminated, and its votes redistributed based on the film listed second on those ballots. Eventually, one film will wind up with more than 50 percent of the vote, and will be named the Academy’s Best Picture of 2009."

[Ezee E]

I didn't even realize this preferential balloting thing.

The following explanation makes it sound pretty weird. Why can't they just give 10 pts to a number 1, 9 points to a number 2, etc.?

"Voters will be asked to rank the nominees in order of preference, one through 10. Those ballots will then be tallied using the preferential system… in which the film with the fewest Number One votes will be eliminated, and its votes redistributed based on the film listed second on those ballots. Eventually, one film will wind up with more than 50 percent of the vote, and will be named the Academy’s Best Picture of 2009."
To win, one film must have 50% of the "first place votes".

So if after the first round, a movie doesn't have 50%, they'll take the movie that has the least #1s (A Serious Man?), and go with their #2's. That goes on until there's a 50% winner.

Again, this is why I think Basterds has the best chance because Hurt Locker/Avatar lover/haters will hurt each other the most, allowing for Tarantino or... GASP... The Blind Side to win.

[Watashi]

Yeah, I think Inglourious is now the front-runner.

[Fezzik]

Yeah, I think Inglourious is now the front-runner.

I really hope you're right, but...

what have you seen that makes you think this?

[Raiders]

To win, one film must have 50% of the "first place votes".

So if after the first round, a movie doesn't have 50%, they'll take the movie that has the least #1s (A Serious Man?), and go with their #2's. That goes on until there's a 50% winner.

Again, this is why I think Basterds has the best chance because Hurt Locker/Avatar lover/haters will hurt each other the most, allowing for Tarantino or... GASP... The Blind Side to win.

...

That's officially the dumbest system I have heard of. You have to go out of your way to create something that illogical.

[balmakboor]

I read here a while back about some dude who's taking all the credit for The Blind Side even being nominated. I'm starting the think he was also the guy who came up with this preferential voting system.

[Skitch]

In any case, I hope we're not Blind Sided.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/skitchthemovieman/Net%20Fun/billyrayshort4xp5.gif


...by Up.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/skitchthemovieman/Net%20Fun/Futurama_Fry_Looking_Squint.jp g


Either way, we're going to get An Education come next Sunday.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/skitchthemovieman/avatars/1283fd3a00c953591.jpg

[balmakboor]

It's actually quite easily conceivable that a movie that would win handily by giving 10 pts for 1s, 9 for 2s, etc. will be knocked out in the first round or so simply because few people gave it a 1 but almost everybody gave it 2 through 4. With all of the in-fighting amongst the top contenders, I can easily see Avatar or Hurt Locker being one of the first to go.

It's looking better for Basterds and The Blind Side all the time. Hell, things are looking up for Up and A Serious Man as well.

[Fezzik]

What the heck, I'll play the Ratings Game:


****

1. Inglourious Basterds
2. Up
3. District 9


*** 1/2

4. The Hurt Locker

***

5. Avatar
6. Up In The Air

** 1/2

7. Precious
8. The Blind Side

**

9. An Education


As for A Serious Man, I'm sure it will rate pretty high, but, it hasn't come within 30 miles of Tallahassee, so, I'll have to wait for DVD or Netflix

[balmakboor]

As for A Serious Man, I'm sure it will rate pretty high, but, it hasn't come within 30 miles of Tallahassee, so, I'll have to wait for DVD or Netflix

So, why are you still waiting? I saw it on DVD a couple weeks ago. It's terrific.

[Fezzik]

So, why are you still waiting? I saw it on DVD a couple weeks ago. It's terrific.

Wait... Its out? Cant find it locally. NETFLIX to the rescue!

Thanks for the heads up!

[Ezee E]

I am curious what happens if voters only pick six movies and negate the last four votes for movies they didn't see?

[soitgoes...]

I am curious what happens if voters only pick six movies and negate the last four votes for movies they didn't see?

They should lose their voting privileges because they couldn't manage to watch 10 films. But honestly, their vote shouldn't count unless they have seen all the films on their ballot. Not that there is any way to police that.

I know this isn't the direction you intended your question to go. ;)

[Ezee E]

They should lose their voting privileges because they couldn't manage to watch 10 films. But honestly, their vote shouldn't count unless they have seen all the films on their ballot. Not that there is any way to police that.

I know this isn't the direction you intended your question to go. ;)
In the foreign and documentary categories, that is the rule actually. I think that's why there's always surprises in that category.

For the rest, there's 2177 members or so. Or that might be the 50% required to win... Either way, impossible to track that.

And yes, totally off track now of what I wanted.

[kopello]

And here I was being fairly sure that Best Picture would come down to The Hurt Locker or Avatar. So maybe rooting for Basterds isn't a bad idea after all...

[Barty]

...

That's officially the dumbest system I have heard of. You have to go out of your way to create something that illogical.

Um, no it's not illogical at all. In fact, it's one of the few systems that will reward broad support, rather than simply a bunch of hardcore fans.

[balmakboor]

Um, no it's not illogical at all. In fact, it's one of the few systems that will reward broad support, rather than simply a bunch of hardcore fans.

Actually, no. You're wrong. Films with hardcore fans are likely to get lots of 1s and 2s along with lots of 9s and 10s. Films with broad support are likely to get lots of 2s thru 5s. The films with broad support will likely get the boot before they get a chance to convert those 2s and 3s into 1s.

I see The Blind Side having all 1s and 10s. Rabid fans and sane people.

[Raiders]

Um, no it's not illogical at all. In fact, it's one of the few systems that will reward broad support, rather than simply a bunch of hardcore fans.

What if I only really liked two of the films, but neither my first two choices have 50%. Does it seem fair that my ballot will be used as a vote for a film I don't like very much?

[balmakboor]

The more I think about it the more I realize just how unpredictable this whole thing is. With my Blind Side example, if rabid fans give it lots of 1s and 2s, it will help it survive the first few elimination rounds, but it wouldn't survive until the end.

I think the winner is going to be the movie that gets enough 1s to survive the crucial first few rounds and then lots of 2s and 3s and 4s to keep it building in votes.

This thing definitely doesn't favor films that divided voters. Those may start out strong, but won't have anything in the middle to build from. The winner will be something that few loved and few hated like Up in the Air.

In other words, it'll be another year like any other at the Oscars.

[Adam]

Yeah, the great irony is that, if every voter's fourth favorite film wins, they may actually start giving oscars out to movies that deserve it again

[MadMan]

Look, the Academy's decisions will always be questioned by anybody and everybody. That's part of the fun. The problem is when the Oscars are awarded to certain movies that too many people agree didn't deserve them, I suppose, coupled with the fact that there are way too many awards ceremonies out there. Saturation=even the top dogs (the Oscars, the Golden Globes) becoming in danger of ending up irrelevent, since hay even Twilight New Moon won something, even if its a Nick Kids trophy.

[[ETM]]

I will say this only once: "irrelevant".

[Raiders]

;246068']I will say this only once: "irrelevant".

This post is its own joke. I like it.

[[ETM]]

This post is its own joke. I like it.

:P

I was thinking of an 'Allo, 'Allo reference, but I'm glad you're amused.

[Barty]

Actually, no. You're wrong. Films with hardcore fans are likely to get lots of 1s and 2s along with lots of 9s and 10s. Films with broad support are likely to get lots of 2s thru 5s. The films with broad support will likely get the boot before they get a chance to convert those 2s and 3s into 1s.

I see The Blind Side having all 1s and 10s. Rabid fans and sane people.

Um, no, that means I'm right. Because broad support will be meaningless unless you have enough #1 votes to survive. In short, it balances everything pretty good.

[Barty]

What if I only really liked two of the films, but neither my first two choices have 50%. Does it seem fair that my ballot will be used as a vote for a film I don't like very much?

The only fair awards is your own personal awards, which in everyone's own opinion is the best awards. :pritch:

[balmakboor]

Um, no, that means I'm right. Because broad support will be meaningless unless you have enough #1 votes to survive. In short, it balances everything pretty good.

Yeah, I'm actually agreeing with you now. I don't know if it's because of the logic or because I must find a way to convince myself that The Blind Side doesn't have a chance and that A Serious Man and Inglourious Basterds have more than a chance.

[Raiders]

The only fair awards is your own personal awards, which in everyone's own opinion is the best awards. :pritch:

This is true. I guess my problem with the current Oscar voting system is that I don't think the most broad support (at any level of passion) should necessarily be the only determining factor.

Really, I think it should be a simple vote. Everyone send in their pick to win. Whichever gets the most, wins. Simple. Don't know why it has to be a 51% majority when there are 10 films. I want to know which one is the most loved and impassioned, not which is the most universally respected.

[Melville]

Really, I think it should be a simple vote. Everyone send in their pick to win. Whichever gets the most, wins. Simple. Don't know why it has to be a 51% majority when there are 10 films. I want to know which one is the most loved and impassioned, not which is the most universally respected.
I don't care one way or the other, but wouldn't it be kind of silly if a film could win with only 10%+1 vote? That wouldn't really represent the choice of the Academy.

[Ezee E]

The Coens have no chance this time around.

[Raiders]

Hm, I did re-read the description of the voting process... and I suppose it does make more sense. I didn't see, or comprehend, that they were eliminating films with the fewest first place votes.

[Raiders]

I still would vote if they're going to have a preferential system, they should just assign values to the rankings and tabulate it that way. Ballots with less than 10 films will start with the highest value being the # of films on the list (7 films listed, #1 gets seven points).

I just don't like the idea of using a 51% majority.

[Ezee E]

I still would vote if they're going to have a preferential system, they should just assign values to the rankings and tabulate it that way. Ballots with less than 10 films will start with the highest value being the # of films on the list (7 films listed, #1 gets seven points).

I just don't like the idea of using a 51% majority.
awardsdaily.com did a test with this with fan voters, and it basically came down to the movie with the most #1s winning the each time, no matter how it was tabulated.

[Watashi]

Looks like everyone is prediicting an Avatar sweep (with the exception of Bigelow).

I don't really care if Avatar wins, but it will be amusing to see all the haters flip out and call it the worst best picture winner evar!

[megladon8]

I'm not an Avatar hater, and it would be retarded to say it's the worst Best Picture winner ever considering it's of the same decade as Chicago and Crash...

But...

Damn that would still be disappointing, with other much worthy contenders in the race.

[hey it's ethan]

How are people actually predicting Avatar to win? The Hurt Locker HAS WON PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING.

[megladon8]

How are people actually predicting Avatar to win? The Hurt Locker HAS WON PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING.


No, Precious has.

[hey it's ethan]

No, Precious has.
The Hurt Locker has won almost every single Critics Award, in addition to winning the Producers Guild Award, Directors Guild Award and Writers Guild Award. It's been pretty much unstoppable.

[balmakboor]

Hm, I did re-read the description of the voting process... and I suppose it does make more sense. I didn't see, or comprehend, that they were eliminating films with the fewest first place votes.

Eliminating the bottom film and re-distributing its next highest votes is how the whole thing works. And that was the gist of my worries. A film could have the fewest 1s and get eliminated in the first round and yet be rated 2, 3, or 4 on all of the other ballots. With sliding scale scoring, which is usually used for such ranking type balloting, that film would've likely won.

But, I'm not too worried anymore. That scenario isn't very likely -- or is it?

Is it possible that Basterds could get very few 1s, but lots of high scores? Somehow, I think so. And, if that's the case, and if it gets enough 1s to not be at the bottom, its score would climb with every round while the early leaders would stay put.

[Ezee E]

Trailer (http://www.cracked.com/video_18156_a-trailer-every-academy-award-winning-movie-ever.html) for every nominated movie ever made.

Actually pretty funny.

[B-side]

Trailer (http://www.cracked.com/video_18156_a-trailer-every-academy-award-winning-movie-ever.html) for every nominated movie ever made.

Actually pretty funny.

That was great.

[balmakboor]

While re-watching The Hurt Locker this evening (which didn't hold my interest quite as much as the first time), I thought of a new twist on this best picture voting thing. What if voters have a particular movie they want to see win so they place it number one and then place all of the movies they fear will beat it at the bottom? Enough people do shit like that and we could be hearing the words District 9 read from that final card.

[balmakboor]

Saw A Single Man this afternoon. I thought it was perfect. I loved every damn frame. What a great double bill it would make with Far From Heaven.

[number8]

Anyone else use Cablevision and had ABC yanked off the air this morning?

Suck a dick, Cablevision. Suck more dicks, ABC.

[angrycinephile]

Sandra Bullock won the Razzie for All About Steve so I guess this will be the first time the same actor will win both the Oscar and the Razzie (albeit for different movies) the same year. Saddest thing is that her performance in The Blind Side is probably equally as bad.

Oh, and the other "winners" were:

Worst picture: "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

Worst director: Michael Bay ("Transformers: Revenge of the
Fallen")

Worst screenplay: "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

Worst actor: The Jonas Brothers ("Jonas Brothers: The 3-D
Concert Experience")

Worst supporting actor: Billy Ray Cyrus ("Hannah Montana:
The Movie")

Worst supporting actress: Sienna Miller ("G.I. Joe: The
Rise of Cobra")

Worst screen couple: Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper
("All About Steve")

Worst remake/rip-off or sequel: "Land of the Lost"
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Worst picture of the decade: Battlefield Earth

Worst actor of the decade: Eddie Murphy

Worst actress of the decade: Paris Hilton

[Henry Gale]

Sandra Bullock won the Razzie for All About Steve so I guess this will be the first time the same actor will win both the Oscar and the Razzie (albeit for different movies) the same year. Saddest thing is that her performance in The Blind Side is probably equally as bad.

At least she showed up to accept it. I mean I realize that sort of thing tends to be more of a PR move that shows they can take a joke, but I still find it entertaining.

[NickGlass]

Anyone else use Cablevision and had ABC yanked off the air this morning?

Suck a dick, Cablevision. Suck more dicks, ABC.

So they went through with it, huh? Bastards.

I, thankfully, have Time Warner. And, more thankfully, my friends hosting the Oscar party have Time Warner as well. I called them yesterday, somewhat frantically, to make sure of that.

Perhaps you should go to a bar and watch the awards? I think that sounds like a brilliant idea.

[number8]

I found a live stream online, but yeah, I might go to a bar.

[Ivan Drago]

I found a live stream online, but yeah, I might go to a bar.

Play the Oscars Drinking Game! I plan on it.

[number8]

I should go to Comix just for their special menu:


The Lovely Boneless Chicken Tenders
Alec Baldwings
Whoopi GoldBurger
The Hurt Liqueur
The Blind Sidecar
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire Gin & Tonic

[number8]

Silver lining for Cablevision customers. As an apology, all their OnDemand is free today.

Which one should I watch first? A Serious Man or District 9?

[balmakboor]

I've watched A Single Man and Antichrist this weekend and am about to re-watch Ponyo. I love all three so much, the whole evening of Oscar is going to feel pretty damn unrepresentative of the great year it was. God, it would be so fitting now if The Blind Side ended up winning.

[Ezee E]

I wanted to fit in another one of the Oscar nominated movies, but I'd rather make Potato Skins.

[Pop Trash]

I've watched A Single Man and Antichrist this weekend and am about to re-watch Ponyo. I love all three so much, the whole evening of Oscar is going to feel pretty damn unrepresentative of the great year it was. God, it would be so fitting now if The Blind Side ended up winning.

What's your 2009 top ten now out of curiosity?

[Spinal]

Ended up seeing 6 out of the 10 Best Picture nominations and would rank them like this:

1. A Serious Man
2. Inglourious Basterds
3. The Hurt Locker
4. District 9
5. Avatar
6. Up

Not terribly interested in the others, though I would like to see An Education.

Only saw Renner in the Best Actor category.

Didn't see any Best Actress nominees.

Only saw Waltz in the Supporting Actor category.

Didn't see any Supporting Actress nominees.

Tarantino would be my choice over the ex-couple for Director. But I would have no problem with Bigelow winning. No Coens in this category is idiotic.

If Up wins the Original Screenplay category, I will be highly annoyed. I've already accepted that it will win for Animated Feature. Either Tarantino or the Coens should win here obviously. Haven't seen The Messenger.

Adapted Screenplay. Only saw District 9 and that definitely shoud not win. I assume this is a Precious category.

Not going to say anything about cinematography without seeing the Haneke film.

Didn't see any of the Foreign Films, but will be rooting for Haneke.

[Watashi]

If Up wins the Original Screenplay category, I will be highly annoyed.

:pritch::pritch::pritch::pritc h:

I hope it does win (it won't) so I can witness your annoyed state of presence.

I hope Up wins everything. Even stuff it wasn't nominated for. Ed Asner for Best Actor!

[Spaceman Spiff]

So... is The Hurt Locker going to win Best Picture? I bet $5 it would to my co-worker (he's going for Avatar).

[Spinal]

So... is The Hurt Locker going to win Best Picture? I bet $5 it would to my co-worker (he's going for Avatar).

With 10 nominees, I think it's really hard to say. I'm kind of thinking that the cult of Precious will cling together and win the day.

[megladon8]

I'm with Spinal.

Precious will win Best Picture.

If it doesn't, tomorrow there'll be people claiming racism in the Academy.

[Spinal]

If it doesn't, tomorrow there'll be people claiming racism in the Academy.

I can't really say I agree with you here. What makes you think this?

[number8]

There's no fucking way Precious is winning. No way.

[Spinal]

There's no fucking way Precious is winning. No way.

I sat through Crash winning. My paranoia runs deeps.

[balmakboor]

What's your 2009 top ten now out of curiosity?

I really need to see a few of these again to make sure I'm not going overboard, but...

1. A Single Man
2. Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea
3. Inglourious Basterds
4. Antichrist
5. Anvil! The Story of Anvil
6. Goodbye Solo
7. A Serious Man
8. Sin Nombre
9. Treeless Mountain
10. Munyurangabo

[megladon8]

I can't really say I agree with you here. What makes you think this?


I'm just being sarcastic. But in truth, there is always SOME looney out there who starts shouting "conspiracy", whether it be by playing the race card, the gay card, the right-wing/left-wing card, or whatever.

[balmakboor]

Obviously from my list, I'm hoping Basterds or Serious Man pull an upset. I was disappointed by how Locker didn't fully hold up to a second viewing and I can't imagine Avatar fairing much better. I really liked Precious though.

Btw, I still think Up in the Air is gonna win for its screenplay.

[Spinal]

I'm not sure when I'll ever be in the mood to watch Precious, but Gabourey Sidibe gets points from me for referencing Welcome to the Dollhouse.

[megladon8]

I really enjoy watching the Oscars.

Regardless of who actually wins, I find the whole thing really entertaining.

[angrycinephile]

I really enjoy watching the Oscars.

Regardless of who actually wins, I find the whole thing really entertaining.

Yeah. I'm interested to see how Baldwin and Martin will do as hosts.

[Winston*]

Only seen two of the acting nominees (Waltz and Tucci), and only one of them was good.

[Watashi]

Um... Precious is not winning. The Blind Side has a better chance at winning.

[megladon8]

What makes you so sure?

[Watashi]

Prior awards? How the academy votes?

It's between Avatar, Hurt Locker, and maybe Inglourious Basterds.

The only thing Precious is going to win in supporting actress.

[megladon8]

Prior awards? How the academy votes?

It's between Avatar, Hurt Locker, and maybe Inglourious Basterds.

The only thing Precious is going to win in supporting actress.


I don't see how any of this indicates that Precious has no chance of winning.

I think it has a better chance than Inglourious Basterds, that's for sure.

The Academy has a history of having some very unexpected wins, so I don't think anything's written in stone.

[eternity]

I'm not sure when I'll ever be in the mood to watch Precious, but Gabourey Sidibe gets points from me for referencing Welcome to the Dollhouse.

Her facial expressions when she was on stage/won are the cutest thing I've ever seen (this week).

[number8]

They don't really have a history of unexpected wins. They usually follow the DGA, PGA and WGA awards very closely, since they're the same people voting. And since best film from all three went to The Hurt Locker, it's a very safe bet that it's going to win.

The votes are pretty much split between that and Avatar. If there's going to be an upset, it's going to be Avatar. I don't see any other film winning.

[eternity]

They don't really have a history of unexpected wins. They usually follow the DGA, PGA and WGA awards very closely, since they're the same people voting. And since best film from all three went to The Hurt Locker, it's a very safe bet that it's going to win.

The votes are pretty much split between that and Avatar. If there's going to be an upset, it's going to be Avatar. I don't see any other film winning.
Avatar's only chance comes from the split of enthusiasm between Hurt Locker and Basterds voters, but that probably won't matter given the preferential voting method. In a traditional ballot, Avatar would have a chance to clean up because of that fissure, but if you are on team Basterds or team Hurt Locker, chances are you love the other one too.

[MadMan]

;246068']I will say this only once: "irrelevant".Bah, spelling :P

All I really give a damn about is if Waltz wins Best Supporting Actor. Which he hopefully will.

PS: Cracked's take on some of Oscar's mistakes, which is a funny (and mostly spot on) read: http://www.cracked.com/article_18460_5-reasons-oscars-matter-even-less-than-you-thought.html

[Raiders]

Can we just take a moment to ponder how awesome Kathryn Bigelow looks at 58?

[megladon8]

Anna Kendrick looks incredible, too.

[Dead & Messed Up]

They don't really have a history of unexpected wins. They usually follow the DGA, PGA and WGA awards very closely, since they're the same people voting. And since best film from all three went to The Hurt Locker, it's a very safe bet that it's going to win.

The votes are pretty much split between that and Avatar. If there's going to be an upset, it's going to be Avatar. I don't see any other film winning.

Honestly, I could see Inglourious pulling an upset, since it won the SAG award for Best Ensemble, and actors represent the biggest voting block of the Academy.

[[ETM]]

Can we just take a moment to ponder how awesome Kathryn Bigelow looks at 58?

She's absolutely gorgeous.

[MadMan]

Can we just take a moment to ponder how awesome Kathryn Bigelow looks at 58?Holy crap, she's that old? Whoa. She does look good still.

I like the Martin-Baldwin pairing, that was relatively funny. Time to get to the awards, though.

[Glass Co.]

Did anyone see Stanley Tucci's disgusted shake of the head? Does he dislike the movie that much?

Hurray Christoph Waltz. A more well-deserved winner tonight there likely won't be.

[Sxottlan]

I'm glad Waltz won.

And I'm glad they brought back the acting clips, even if they're the montage variety. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced the actor presentations last year was some odd way of not showing a Heath Ledger clip.

[angrycinephile]

Why didn't the audience laugh at his awesome uber-bingo joke?

Lovely to see Waltz winning. I would be so glad if Anna Kendrick won the next category but it ain't gonna happen.

[Sxottlan]

Nameless, faceless gators out there.

[Wryan]

Someone out there better not think his family is the greatest adventure.

[Sxottlan]

Glad they dropped the song performances. Although I would have liked to hear "The Weary Kind" again.

Three for three for all the ones I've wanted to win so far.

[angrycinephile]

Meh. Tarantino or the Coens should have won.

[Sxottlan]

Molly Ringwald!?

Oh, for Hughes.

[balmakboor]

Cool. I'm four for four in my Oscar poll.

[balmakboor]

Meh. Tarantino or the Coens should have won.

Absolutely.

[angrycinephile]

As much as I like John Hughes, I'm not sure he should get a special tribute like this.

[Sxottlan]

As much as I like John Hughes, I'm not sure he should get a special tribute like this.

It is a bit strange to be getting this much time.

EDIT: Although I realize upon seeing the cast of his films on stage how most everyone in that audience were teens when Hughes was making his films and probably love them more than I.

[balmakboor]

Yeah. So many pass away each year and all they get is a quick mention in a montage.

[Wryan]

Yeah Samuel L. Jackson. You give that introduction for Up! Thanks, Samuel L. Jackson.

[Sxottlan]

They're back to saying "the winner is."

[balmakboor]

God I suck at the short film categories. I should do more research or find them all online or something. I wish Nick Park had won.

[MadMan]

Waltz won. All is good. I'm sucking it up in picking the winners. Ben Stiller is hilarious.

[angrycinephile]

Ben, it was funny in the beginning but you're overdoing it now.

[Sxottlan]

Finally! The Trek franchise gets an Oscar.

[Mysterious Dude]

I really liked Logorama, but I'm surprised it won against Wallace and Grommit.

[Raiders]

Uh oh.

[Sxottlan]

There went District 9's one chance for an Oscar.

EDIT: Wrap it up. Wrap it up.

[Sxottlan]

A salute to horror? That's random.

Besides, they already gave Precious two awards.

[Mysterious Dude]

It occurs to me that Avatar is screwed for best picture. Out of the last ten winners, all of them were at least nominated for one of the screenplay awards, and seven of them won. Avatar wasn't even nominated for its screenplay. Why didn't I notice this earlier?!

[Wryan]

Interesante!

[balmakboor]

Kathy Bates looked like she was going to go all misery on Cameron.

[Sxottlan]

Uh oh. Charlize Theron said Precious without the requisite "Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire."