Award Season Preview

As editor of the film section and all-around film nerd, I keep pretty close tabs on where and when films are released as well as what is getting Academy Award buzz. Even so, I don’t always get to see the more independent stuff that only screens at festivals and limited runs in New York and Los Angeles. So, while brainstorming possible 2010 Oscar nominees, I asked for suggestions from New Jersey Film Festival Director Al Nigrin, an American Studies professor. Here’s what we came up with.

Al Nirgrin: Unlike last year, I think there are many good films out there this year. I absolutely hated Where the Wild Things Are, but almost every other film I have seen has been very good or better. I saw [Quentin] Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds during the summer, and I really enjoyed its alternative reality and many references to other films within its narrative. Jane Campion’s Bright Star is wonderfully acted, shot and costumed. I also thought Lars Von Trier’s newest film ANTICHRIST was at once stunning, beautiful, captivating, terrifying and altogether engrossing. Lee Daniels’ film Precious was a revelation. I hope it wins many awards. Some of the films I think currently have Oscar buzz:

Best Picture:
Lee Daniels’ Precious
Jane Campion’s Bright Star
Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones
Clint Eastwood’s Invictus

Best Actor:
Ben Wishsaw in Bright Star
Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious Man
Viggo Mortensen in The Road
Daniel Day-Lewis in Nine

Best Actress:
Charlotte Gainsbourg in ANTICHRIST
Abbie Cornish in Bright Star
Gabourey Sidibe in Precious
Saoirse Ronan in The Lovely Bones

Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds
Paul Schneider in Bright Star

Best Supporting Actress:
Mo’nique in Precious
Anna Kendrick in Up In The Air

IB: I disagree about Where the Wild Things Are! I thought it was really atmospheric and imaginative. I mostly agree with all your other picks, although I have a few additions. If the performance of Rob Marshall’s Chicago at the 2003 Academy Awards is any indication (it took home six Oscars), I’ll be putting money on his Nine, which is a return to the musical format. It comes out on Christmas Day and is a reimagining of film-class favorite Federico Fellini’s 8 ½. I agree with you that Daniel Day-Lewis, who seems to be catnip to the Academy voters (four nominations and two wins), will probably be nominated. But don’t be surprised if it gets “Best Picture,” too. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the Coen brothers back for A Serious Man, and the Academy is crazy if they don’t nominate Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker. Finally, I hope The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus gets a nomination simply because Terry Gilliam has yet to make an uninspired or unexciting film.

As far as performances go, Nicholas Cage has been getting great reviews for his insane performance as drug-addicted, amoral cop in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call-New Orleans, which supposedly recalls his Oscar-nominated turns in Leaving Las Vegas and Adaptation. Newcomer Tom Hardy, who was Handsome Bob in RocknRolla, gave a fascinatingly nuanced performance in Nicholas Winding Refn’s Bronson. Bronson is the story of Britain’s most violent and expensive prisoner, Charles Bronson; of the 34 years he’s been in jail, he has spent 30 in solitary confinement. Hardy captures the senselessness and bombast of such a man perfectly. Also, I know nominations for comedies are usually a long shot at the Oscars, but I think Meryl Streep deserves one for her spot-on recreation of Julia Childs in Julie & Julia.

Finally, while there is a lot of controversy over the Academy’s decision to change the number of “Best Picture” nominations from five to 10, I hope it means Pixar’s Up gets in there — and that it wins. Up was sweet and funny and beautifully animated.