Reactions to the 82nd Annual Academy Awards
March 10th 2010 03:28
Reactions to the 82nd Annual Academy Awards
For the most part, the Academy Awards this year were entertaining as well as satisfying. The triumph of The Hurt Locker over Avatar for Best Picture was so incredibly refreshing and completely deserving. Kathryn Bigelow’s win was also well-deserved, although I do agree that it was sadly becoming more about “a woman” winning rather than “Kathryn Bigelow” winning. At least this milestone has been accomplished and the next time a woman is nominated or even wins, we will not have to endure “I am Woman” being played as the recipient takes the stage *exaggerated eye roll*.
The evening in general solidified quite a few things, among which: NPH has become the industry’s most reliable go-to guy for musical/comedic entertainment and Robert Downey Jr. is incredible (as we all know) and must be cast in as many comedies as humanly possible. On a personal note, the evening also solidified my complete love for Colin Farrell; his anecdote to Jeremy Renner was filled with genuine joy and respect. As hosts, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin got the job done but not without moments of awkwardness. Also, the opening bit dragged a little after a while (there were some awesome gems within it though).
Last year’s show was the first after the revamp in structure and it was so satisfying because it was a tribute to filmmaking. Sadly, this year, we lost that magical feel of cinema and idealistic wonder and returned to self-congratulatory narcissism. Thrown in we did get a few montage segments one of which being a wonderful John Hughes tribute. Discarded were the performances for best song (thank god, as the best song nominees almost universally always suck. Why is this such a hard category to nominate 5 great things?) and in its place was a montage of interpretative dancers set to the 5 nominated scores. It was nice to hear the scores but at the same time, the segment did drag. The evening held a few surprises, including Avatar for Cinematography and the biggest upset of the night; Precious for Adapted Screenplay. I wonder if Jason Reitman is still in shock? All the acting categories played out according to plan. Both sound awards went to The Hurt Locker, which was a bit unexpected. The Hurt Locker walked away with 6 awards to Avatar’s 3. There were a few memorable speeches, as well as dresses and now it’s over and we get to start it all up again in the fall. Before you know it, award season will be around the corner again, as if it never left.
My final tally was a sad 16/24.
Here's a list of my original predictions, with the winners in bold
82nd Annual Academy Awards
Best Adapted Screenplay
Think: Up in the Air – Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Should: In the Loop - Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Won: Precious
Best Original Screenplay
Think: The Hurt Locker - Mark Boal
Should: Joel and Ethan Coen - A Serious Man
Won: Hurt Locker
Best Supporting Actress
Think: Mo’Nique – Precious
Should: Mo’Nique – Precious
Won: Mo’Nique - Precious
Best Supporting Actor
Think: Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
Should: Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
Won: Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
Best Actress:
Think: Meryl Streep – Julie and Julia
Should: Carey Mulligan – An Education
Won: Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
Best Actor
Think: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Should: Colin Firth – A Single Man
Won: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Best Director
Think: Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker
Should: Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker
Won: Kathyrn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker
Best Picture
Think: The Hurt Locker
Should: The Hurt Locker
Won: The Hurt Locker
Best Make-up
Think: Star Trek
Should: Star Trek
Won: Star Trek
Best Song
Think: The Weary Kind – Crazy Heart
Should: The Weary Kind – Crazy Heart (though I just don’t care)
Won: The Weary Kind – Crazy Heart
Best Score
Think: James Horner – Avatar
Should: Alexandre Desplat - Fantastic Mr. Fox
Won: Up
Best Editing
Think: The Hurt Locker
Should: The Hurt Locker
Won: The Hurt Locker
Best Visual Effect
Think: Avatar
Should: Avatar
Won: Avatar
Best Live Action Short
Think: The Door
Won: The New Tenants
Best Animated Short
Think: A Matter of Loaf and Death
Won: Logorama
Best Animated Film
Think: Up
Should: Up
Won: Up
Best Documentary Short
Think: China’s Unnatural Disaster
Won: Music by Prudence
Best Documentary Feature
Think: The Cove
Won: The Cove
Best Sound Editing
Think: Avatar
Should: Up
Won: The Hurt Locker
Best Sound Mixing
Think: The Hurt Locker
Should: The Hurt Locker
Won: The Hurt Locker
Best Foreign Language
Think: El Secreto de Sus Ojos
Won: El Secreto de Sus Ojos
Best Costume Design
Think: The Young Victoria – Sandy Powell
Should: Bright Star – Janet Patterson
Won: The Young Victoria
Best Cinematography
Think: The White Ribbon
Should: Inglourious Basterds (have not seen The White Ribbon)
Won: Avatar
Best Art Direction
Think: Avatar
Should: Avatar
Won: Avatar
Final Tallies
Hurt Locker – 5 (won 6)
Avatar – 4 (won 3)
Inglourious Basterds – 1
Crazy Heart – 2
Up – 1
Star Trek – 1
Up in the Air – 1
Precious – 1 (won 2)
The Young Victoria – 1
| 45 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by SimonC
World Film Festivals
Also agree with the roll of eyes over the woman thing. Funny how know one has been commenting on her being a woman director over the last 30 years. In her press conference backstage, they actually had the audacity to what she would say to him as if she would be running over like a spoilt child to gloat and asked how much she learnt from James Cameron while she was married to him and then had a follow up question about what did James taught her about filmmaking.
At least as you say, its been done now, so we can put it to rest.
ATB.
Comment by Cinema is truth
Cinema is Truth
Cinema is Truth
Glad you enjoyed it!