Friday, February 25, 2011

Our Votes for the 2011 Academy Awards


DEXTER'S PREDICTIONS
I feel like I've seen all the nominated movies as I've heard so much about them!    I think The King's Speech will be the big winner of the night.  Why?  Well, for me, the furry costumes sounded like things I like to hunt.  Like King George VI, it took me a while to find my voice with Eric and Neil.  It also seems the most like Masterpiece Theatre which I sometimes get stuck having to watch at home with the guys.

Best Picture: The King's Speech
Actor: Colin Firth
Actress: Natalie Portman
Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo
Director: David Fincher
Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Original Screenplay: The King's Speech
Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Film Editing: The King's Speech
Cinematography: The King's Speech
Art Direction: The King's Speech
Costume Design: The King's Speech
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NEIL'S FAVORITES
I found 127 Hours to be my favorite of the nominees.  It was a devastating story told with imagination and energy.  Inception was my favorite visually.  Some undisputed standout performances for me were Natalie Portman, Melissa Leo, and Christian Bale.  The King's Speech was a beautifully done period piece and a story that needed to be told.  I just didn't find it to be the most original movie of the year.  I found that to be Please Give which unfortunately was not nominated.

Best Picture: 127 Hours
Actor: James Franco
Actress: Natalie Portman
Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo
Director: David Fincher
Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Original Screenplay: The Kids Are All Right
Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Film Editing: 127 Hours
Cinematography: Inception
Art Direction: Inception
Costume Design: I Am Love
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ERIC'S PICKS
The Social Network was the best movie of the year and most reflective of the zeitgeist.  Toy Story 3 is a lovely nominee for Best Movie, but like Avatar last year, actors will not vote for animated movies as the best of the year (no matter how much money they make) because they don't want to eventually be out of jobs.  I love Colin Firth in anything, but James Franco was the whole movie and was riveting.  Two that need the attention:  Another Year is Mike Leigh's best since Secrets and Lies; it's the British lower middle - middle class Uncle Vanya of this decade.  Milan in 1990 looked bleak, awe-inspiring, and on the verge of an epiphany in I Am Love and the image of Tilda Swinton in that scarlet cocktail dress and Marisa Berenson in that black pantsuit is indelible.  

Best Picture: The Social Network
Actor: James Franco
Actress: Michelle Williams
Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo
Director: David Fincher
Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Original Screenplay: Another Year
Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Film Editing: 127 Hours
Cinematography: Inception
Art Direction: Inception
Costume Design: I Am Love
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Possible Upsets:
Best Actress: Annette Bening 
      (the Academy loves her)
Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld 
      (she actually was the star of True Grit)
Director: Tom Hooper 
      (if The King's Speech gets on a roll of winning everything)

CHECK BACK ON MONDAY for Dexter's After Oscar Recap of how we all fared, but don't be surprised when Dexter wins this race.  Don't forget the Independent Spirit Awards show on IFC. It premieres Saturday night at 10 p.m. (and then repeats ad infinitum) because there are some really dynamic choices.  The Academy Awards can be seen on ABC starting at 8 p.m. on Sunday night.

Please leave us a comment with your favorite Oscar pics!

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