The Oscars
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Monday, March 8, 2010 - 8:31am
The Academy Awards have shaken up the race this year by expanding the Best Picture category from five to ten nominees. As if it wasn’t hard enough to see the top five! To make it easier for those of you who haven’t had the good fortune to see the best of the best, here is my Oscar countdown to who should win the big one.
10. Avatar. The special effects laden in-your-face morality tale featuring blue aliens. A movie should not win simply because it makes a lot of money at the box office but because it is outstanding based on the sum of its parts. Special effects alone won’t do it. Avatar may be entertaining the masses around the world, but it isn’t deserving of the film industry’s most famous statue.
9. The Blind Side. The saccharine (if embellished) true story of Michael Orr’s rise to fame. Sandra Bullock is outstanding as Leigh Anne Tuohy, the woman who takes Orr into her home out of Christian charity. The fire is sure to ignite between Bullock and Streep for Best Actress but not in this category.
8. A Serious Man. The Coen brother’s existential Book of Job featuring a 1970s physics professor. The brothers delight in confusing people, especially when the point of the film is about nature’s laws of uncertainty. A stand-out script and engaging character development spin an interesting tale, but what does it really mean?
7. Up. The tale of a disgruntled old man finding meaning after the death of his wife. It’s nice to see an animated feature on the list, and Pixar will likely make a run for it every year with their endless line of quality projects. The montage depicting Carla and Elli’s relationship at the beginning of the film is enough to capture hearts everywhere.
6. District 9. The strikingly original story of aliens living in a militarized slum in South Africa. The film is captivating in its creative genius with an award-deserving script. It only goes to show that a big budget is not needed to engage an audience with fantastical ideas. Even for non-science fiction fans, this is a stand-out from the rest.
5. Precious. The heartbreaking portrayal of the ultimate family dysfunction. This horrific story has struck a cord with America, bringing the prevalence of domestic violence to light. Mo’Nique, no question, is the soul of the film. She is so figuratively ugly throughout her performance, emitting power with every spoken word and gesture. There’ll be at least one Oscar for this film by night’s end.
4. An Education. The bittersweet betrayal of a 16-year-old girl by an older lover. The sets and costuming brilliantly transport you into the 1960s, but it is the acting that brings you home. You fall in love with Jenny, a 16-year-old with plans to go to Oxford, who meets a handsome stranger in the rain. An absolutely fantastic film that didn’t get enough media exposure.
3. Inglourious Basterds. Quentin Tarantino’s wacky vision of how World War II should have played out. An adventurous ploy to eliminate the heads of the Third Reich as they watch a movie premiere was sure to be up my “red carpet” alley. With a genius script and a witty acting ensemble, everything about Basterds was extraordinary, making my pick for the top three a difficult choice.
2. Up in the Air. The timely tale of a man hired to do corporate down-sizing for cowardly employers. Ultimately, life is all about character, and Up in the Air is ultimately about our humanity. Who are we? How do we cope? How do we get through another day? In this economy, we could all use a little perspective. From soup to nuts, this is film-making at its dramatic best.
1. The Hurt Locker. The intense portrayal of a bomb disposal squad risking life and death on tour in Iraq. Hauntingly poignant. I cannot stop thinking about it. There is noting else to say. Director Kathryn Bigelow has without a doubt delivered the best film of 2009. We’ll just have to watch and see on March 7th if the Academy agrees.
Editorial: Dr. Tanya Feke is a physician at Middlesex Hospital Primary Care - Durham and guest columnist for the Town Times. She was press credentialed to the LA Film Festival in 2009 and continues to pursue a love of film. Diagnosis: Movies reviews are rated on a five stethoscope scale.
