The nominations are announced, the horses are on the track and the race is on. “King’s Speech,” the winner at the Producers Guild, and “Social Network,” the winner at the Golden Globes and critics associations, are out front with what looks to be a tight battle to the finish line at the Academy Awards on Feb. 27. But don’t count out “True Grit,” who with 10 has the second most nominations overall after “King’s Speech’s” 12 noms, or “The Fighter” or Christopher Nolan’s “Inception. In fact, once you take a look at all 10 Best Picture nominees this year, don’t count out any of these great movies – they are all winners.
“The King’s Speech” – The battle of King George VI, played by Best Actor nominee Colin Firth, to overcome his speech impediment with the help of therapist Lionel Logue, played by Best Supporting Actor nominee Geoffrey Rush, as Europe heads towards World War II has proven to be a story for our times. The current frontrunner.
“The Social Network” – The creation of Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg, played by Best Actor nominee Jesse Eisenberg, is almost a Greek tragedy for the digital age. A grand scale of a game changing technology at work, but it’s also a very intimate story of ambition and betrayal. The very close number #2 – but could be in the lead by the time you read this.
“Black Swan” –A very different perspective on ballet and Swan Lake by director Darren Aronofsky, who is up for an Oscar himself, the psycho-sexual thriller takes lead dancer Nina, played Natalie Portman, who of course is nominated herself also, to the limits physically and mentally. She’s not altogether alone on that journey which is why it was surprising that Mila Kunis was snubbed for a Best Supporting Actress nom.
“127 Hours” – You know the story, might even have read the best selling book by Aron Ralston – hiker gets trapped under a bolder while out by himself, has to cut off his own arm to save himself. Ouch!! Audiences had a hard time watching the actual amputation but nobody could look away from the film Danny Boyle, who won the Oscar back in 2009 for “Slumdog Millionaire,” made or the performance by James Franco --- who is both up for Best Actor and the co-host of this year’s Oscars with Anne Hathaway.
“The Fighter” – Mark Wahlberg spent years trying to get the story of Mickey Ward onto the big screen and while the lead actor didn’t get a nomination, his bout film could score a surprise TKO. If it doesn’t take the golden man, the combo of Wahlberg and Christian Bale, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, as Mickey’s drug addled older brother Dickey, and their mother, played by the also nominated Melissa Leo, who is up against the film’s Amy Adams, will always have a special place in our hearts as a champ.
“Inception” – You could sum up this effort from “Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan, who amazingly didn’t get a nomination, as an extended play on the saying “life is but a dream.” You could but, with stellar performances from Leo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard and the rest of the cast, and a wonderfully executed trip through time and space, “Inception” leaves you wondering where reality really begins and ends – in the best way.
“Toy Story 3” – Pixar rarely lets us down but many worried that the return of Woody, Buzz and the gang could slump in its second sequel. That fear was a wasted emotion. “Toy Story 3” was not just a good animated movie, not just a good 3D movie but a very good movie and if my niece was an Academy voter …
“The Kids Are Alright” – Director Lisa Cholodenko, who was robbed in not getting a nomination herself, took a very deft look at a very modern American family. With the likes of Mark Ruffalo, who got a Best Supporting Actor nom, Annette Bening, who got a Best Actress nom, and Julianne Moore playing a very diverse group of parents, the kids and the film were a lot more than just alright, a lot.
“True Grit” – Jeff Bridges, last year’s Best Actor winner for “Crazy Heart,” doesn’t make you forget John Wayne’s Oscar wining turn in the 1969 version of “True Grit” but that was not his or the Cohen Brothers, who got a Best Director nomination Tuesday, intent. What they did do is sheer craft at work – and that is why Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld both were nominated as well and that is the truest grit of all.
“Winter’s Bone” – Beautiful. Powerful. With four nominations, Best Film, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay, the 2006 novel of A family in the troubled Ozarks has left audience and critics stunned. And Jennifer Lawrence, well, what fulsome praise, plus Oscar nom, can we add to the mountain she has rightly received?
