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Matt's doing a Oscars post, so it seemed as though I should too.
We're doing an Oscars party tonight, you see. This is my first year of actually paying attention to the Academy Awards. I find it very strange to note that I've seen all the Best Picture, Supporting Actor/Actress, Best Actor/Actress, Animated Feature, Art Direction, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Original Score, Sound mixing, and Adapted and Original Screenplays nominations. I've seen all but one Costume Design nomination (The Tempest being the sadly missing one), all but one Vis![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
innocent_man's LJ, if not here (I'm terribly bad about photo posts).
So, the menu:
Drinks
The Social Network -- Appletinis
Appetizers
The Fighter -- Beef Tartare
Winter's Bone -- Winter Salad (flowering kale, apple, endive lettuce, orange vinagrette, croutons)
Entrees
Black Swan -- Slow-cooked turkey breast with sage, onion, and thyme, with a duo of sauces: black mole and cinnamon-nutmeg bechamel.
The King's Speech -- Crown pork roast with stuffing
Sides
True Grit -- Smashed red potatoes with red-eye gravy
127 Hours -- Squash! (scalloped butternut squash)
The Kids Are All Right -- Artichokes, with garlic and lemon
Desserts
Toy Story 3 -- Cupcakes of some variety. Heather's making these, and they're a secret. There will apparently be some sort of Maple buttercream involved. I'm excited.
Inception -- Parfaits! (layers, you know.) Espresso-soaked ladyfingers, chocolate-kahlua curd, more ladyfingers, orange curd, more ladyfingers, whipped cream.
And now, without further ado, my picks for the Oscars:
Leading Actor: It's probably going to Colin Firth. I don't have a problem with this at all. Seriously, he did an outstanding job. I kind of think I want it to go to James Franco, though. He carried that whole damn movie (127 Hours) pretty much by himself, and he did a hell of a job. Jeff Bridges was wonderful but was just winning Oscars last year. Jesse Eisenberg made me want to alternatively get him in behavioral therapy and on meds and just beat him about the head and shoulders, but I don't know that it's Oscarworthy. Javier Bardem.... one, he's much hotter when he's not in a Coen Brothers' film. Two, he's a hell of an actor, and he really made <i>Biutiful</i> worth watching. That said, again, I don't think it rises above his competition. So I'd choose James Franco. (Oh, and Ryan Gosling should have been here and got robbed.)
Leading Actress: Natalie Portman should win, really. Her performance in Black Swan was nothing short of amazing. I'd say my second choice, though, is Jennifer Lawrence from Winter's Bone. Don't get me wrong, Annette Benning was fantastic. I liked Nicole Kidman in her role, but I never really forgot I was watching Nicole Kidman. I didn't care for Michelle Williams' too terribly much, but her role was subtle and IMO, her performance was really overshadowed by her co-star, who was outstanding.
Supporting Actor: Christian Bale. OMG, his performance. To give you a clue, at the end of the movie they have a bit of film they shot with the brothers they based the movie on. I recognized the guy Christian Bale played based on Bale's performance, otherwise I'd have had no clue. Dear Lord. Don't get my wrong, I love Geoffrey Rush and would love to give it to him. I thought Jeremy Renner was good, but I wasn't overwhelmed by his performance. Mark Ruffalo was really captivating in his role as Paul, and John Hawkes... a hell of a job. Really. I honestly can't picture him outside that role, and I don't know that I want to. But as much as I loved it, I can't honestly say any of them outshine Bale. He ought to have been in the Leading Actor category.
Supporting Actress: My pick? Hands down, Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit. Again, should have been in the Leading Actress category, because she's what holds that film together. An amazing performance. Now, will she get it? Who knows. She's so young, and she's up against some stiff competition. Jacki Weaver was understated and nuanced, seemingly pleasant and sweet, and yet frightening and utterly loathsome in Animal Kingdom (and trust me, I'm greatly oversimplifying her performance). Melissa Leo was really, really good, as was Amy Adams. And Helena Bonham Carter was excellent in her role, but honestly, of these... I think her performance was probably the least, if only because it really asked the least of her.
Animated Feature: How To Train Your Dragon is my pick, but Toy Story 3 is probably going to win. I saw The Illusionist, and it was very much a Jacques Tati film, including the overall lack of dialogue. It is by far, I think, the most adult and sophisticated of the films. It's also really, really lovely to look at. That said, it had possibly the least heart. It was just... kind of hollow.
Art Direction: The easy pick for this one is Alice in Wonderland. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1... I get it, and it's well done, but it really doesn't rate for me. Inception is a worthwhile entrant here, and it should give Alice a run for its money. The King's Speech and True Grit are both period pieces, naturally, and as such excellent entrants here. That said... I think I'd go for Inception. Amazing visuals, all the way around.
Cinematography: I think it's Black Swan. I know, Inception's in the category, and that's a hard choice for me. The King's Speech was nice, but again, it didn't do it for me the same way. True Grit.... really good cinematography. The Social Network didn't stand out to me, honestly, although the editing was very good.
Costume Design: With what I've seen of The Tempest, I kind of think I have to choose it, even though I haven't seen the film. Alice in Wonderland was awesome, costume wise, so I think it's my second choice. I Am Love was a surprisingly strong showing in this category... it was a really pretty film. And again, The King's Speech and True Grit, both period pieces and both amazingly well done.
Directing: Geez. First, shall I mention that Christopher Nolan was robbed? Totally should have been here. That said, I think Aranofsky and Black Swan are my picks here. Brilliant film, just brilliant. The other films, all really amazing, are all worthy contenders for this award and as such, I won't go into the details of the rest of them.
Film Editing: So, The Social Network is really cleverly edited (as was Biutiful, which should have been here), and I think the editing is really one of the major things that makes the movie worthwhile. Yes, there are other really well-done aspects to it, but the editing is a huge part of it. 127 Hours, though, has to win my vote. The editing on that movie, the score, the screenplay and the acting really make that movie work -- it's not just for artistic merit or ornament or "because it's nice to have." 127 Hours requires exceptional service from these aspects and puts them right out in front, because all of them have to be there or there's no movie to make. Danny Boyle's crew did a hell of a job, and so I have to choose 127 Hours over any of the others.
Original Score: Again, 127 Hours hands down. It's not even really worth discussing the others in this context.
Sound Mixing: So, I had to skip Sound Editing because I've only seen three of the films, and I don't think I can really make a fair judgment based on that. In Sound Mixing, though.... I'm really torn between Inception and True Grit. Salt was a fun romp and the sound mixing was well done, but it didn't compare. By the same token, I'm not won over by The Social Network in this category. I think, though, it has to be Inception. Again, it just really makes a huge difference in the film.
Visual Effects: I haven't seen Hereafter, but that's the only one. I think here, I'd probably choose Iron Man 2. I know, over Inception? Really? And yet, yes. Even over Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter.
Adapted Screenplay: This one is really, really hard. I think I have to give it to True Grit, although Winter's Bone really calls to me, and 127 Hours is masterful, and The Social Network is Aaron Sorkin and the dialogue really shines. The only one I'm not deeply impressed by is Toy Story 3, and I'm not sure what it's doing here. I've therefore basically just closed my eyes and picked on almost at random, and that's True Grit.
<b>Original Screenplay:</b> <i>Inception</i>, I think. <i>Another Year</i>... no. I'd give it acting awards, but not really screenplay. <i>The Fighter</i> was good, but not as good as <i>Inception</i>. <i>The King's Speech </i>was really good, and clever, and honestly gave Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth yards and yards of rope to play with. <i>The Kids Are All Right</i> just really nailed it, and I think was an amazingly clean and honest work. <b>But <i>Inception</i>... that kind of blew me away. I have to go with that. </b>
<b>Best Picture: </b>I really liked <i>The King's Speech</i>, and if it gets the Oscar, I won't be sad. It's not actually my pick, though. Nor is Black Swan, although it was amazing (and is <lj user="innocent_man">'s pick). Honestly, I'm torn between three movies that I'm pretty sure are not going to get the award -- <i>True Grit</i>, <i>Inception</i>, and <i>Winter's Bone</i>. <i>True Grit</i> was, frankly, an amazing movie. <i>Inception</i> was conceptually fascinating and really well executed. <i>Winter's Bone</i>... honestly, I hadn't expected to care for it at all. I can't even tell you what, particularly, makes it an exceptional movie, except that it is. It's just... it's all of a piece. It's seamless. And when I think over all the Best Picture noms, and there are some truly great movies in there, its the one that just leaves me sort of stunned. <b>So I suppose that makes <i>Winter's Bone</i> my pick. </b>
We're doing an Oscars party tonight, you see. This is my first year of actually paying attention to the Academy Awards. I find it very strange to note that I've seen all the Best Picture, Supporting Actor/Actress, Best Actor/Actress, Animated Feature, Art Direction, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Original Score, Sound mixing, and Adapted and Original Screenplays nominations. I've seen all but one Costume Design nomination (The Tempest being the sadly missing one), all but one Vis
innocent_man's LJ, if not here (I'm terribly bad about photo posts). So, the menu:
Drinks
The Social Network -- Appletinis
Appetizers
The Fighter -- Beef Tartare
Winter's Bone -- Winter Salad (flowering kale, apple, endive lettuce, orange vinagrette, croutons)
Entrees
Black Swan -- Slow-cooked turkey breast with sage, onion, and thyme, with a duo of sauces: black mole and cinnamon-nutmeg bechamel.
The King's Speech -- Crown pork roast with stuffing
Sides
True Grit -- Smashed red potatoes with red-eye gravy
127 Hours -- Squash! (scalloped butternut squash)
The Kids Are All Right -- Artichokes, with garlic and lemon
Desserts
Toy Story 3 -- Cupcakes of some variety. Heather's making these, and they're a secret. There will apparently be some sort of Maple buttercream involved. I'm excited.
Inception -- Parfaits! (layers, you know.) Espresso-soaked ladyfingers, chocolate-kahlua curd, more ladyfingers, orange curd, more ladyfingers, whipped cream.
And now, without further ado, my picks for the Oscars:
Leading Actor: It's probably going to Colin Firth. I don't have a problem with this at all. Seriously, he did an outstanding job. I kind of think I want it to go to James Franco, though. He carried that whole damn movie (127 Hours) pretty much by himself, and he did a hell of a job. Jeff Bridges was wonderful but was just winning Oscars last year. Jesse Eisenberg made me want to alternatively get him in behavioral therapy and on meds and just beat him about the head and shoulders, but I don't know that it's Oscarworthy. Javier Bardem.... one, he's much hotter when he's not in a Coen Brothers' film. Two, he's a hell of an actor, and he really made <i>Biutiful</i> worth watching. That said, again, I don't think it rises above his competition. So I'd choose James Franco. (Oh, and Ryan Gosling should have been here and got robbed.)
Leading Actress: Natalie Portman should win, really. Her performance in Black Swan was nothing short of amazing. I'd say my second choice, though, is Jennifer Lawrence from Winter's Bone. Don't get me wrong, Annette Benning was fantastic. I liked Nicole Kidman in her role, but I never really forgot I was watching Nicole Kidman. I didn't care for Michelle Williams' too terribly much, but her role was subtle and IMO, her performance was really overshadowed by her co-star, who was outstanding.
Supporting Actor: Christian Bale. OMG, his performance. To give you a clue, at the end of the movie they have a bit of film they shot with the brothers they based the movie on. I recognized the guy Christian Bale played based on Bale's performance, otherwise I'd have had no clue. Dear Lord. Don't get my wrong, I love Geoffrey Rush and would love to give it to him. I thought Jeremy Renner was good, but I wasn't overwhelmed by his performance. Mark Ruffalo was really captivating in his role as Paul, and John Hawkes... a hell of a job. Really. I honestly can't picture him outside that role, and I don't know that I want to. But as much as I loved it, I can't honestly say any of them outshine Bale. He ought to have been in the Leading Actor category.
Supporting Actress: My pick? Hands down, Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit. Again, should have been in the Leading Actress category, because she's what holds that film together. An amazing performance. Now, will she get it? Who knows. She's so young, and she's up against some stiff competition. Jacki Weaver was understated and nuanced, seemingly pleasant and sweet, and yet frightening and utterly loathsome in Animal Kingdom (and trust me, I'm greatly oversimplifying her performance). Melissa Leo was really, really good, as was Amy Adams. And Helena Bonham Carter was excellent in her role, but honestly, of these... I think her performance was probably the least, if only because it really asked the least of her.
Animated Feature: How To Train Your Dragon is my pick, but Toy Story 3 is probably going to win. I saw The Illusionist, and it was very much a Jacques Tati film, including the overall lack of dialogue. It is by far, I think, the most adult and sophisticated of the films. It's also really, really lovely to look at. That said, it had possibly the least heart. It was just... kind of hollow.
Art Direction: The easy pick for this one is Alice in Wonderland. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1... I get it, and it's well done, but it really doesn't rate for me. Inception is a worthwhile entrant here, and it should give Alice a run for its money. The King's Speech and True Grit are both period pieces, naturally, and as such excellent entrants here. That said... I think I'd go for Inception. Amazing visuals, all the way around.
Cinematography: I think it's Black Swan. I know, Inception's in the category, and that's a hard choice for me. The King's Speech was nice, but again, it didn't do it for me the same way. True Grit.... really good cinematography. The Social Network didn't stand out to me, honestly, although the editing was very good.
Costume Design: With what I've seen of The Tempest, I kind of think I have to choose it, even though I haven't seen the film. Alice in Wonderland was awesome, costume wise, so I think it's my second choice. I Am Love was a surprisingly strong showing in this category... it was a really pretty film. And again, The King's Speech and True Grit, both period pieces and both amazingly well done.
Directing: Geez. First, shall I mention that Christopher Nolan was robbed? Totally should have been here. That said, I think Aranofsky and Black Swan are my picks here. Brilliant film, just brilliant. The other films, all really amazing, are all worthy contenders for this award and as such, I won't go into the details of the rest of them.
Film Editing: So, The Social Network is really cleverly edited (as was Biutiful, which should have been here), and I think the editing is really one of the major things that makes the movie worthwhile. Yes, there are other really well-done aspects to it, but the editing is a huge part of it. 127 Hours, though, has to win my vote. The editing on that movie, the score, the screenplay and the acting really make that movie work -- it's not just for artistic merit or ornament or "because it's nice to have." 127 Hours requires exceptional service from these aspects and puts them right out in front, because all of them have to be there or there's no movie to make. Danny Boyle's crew did a hell of a job, and so I have to choose 127 Hours over any of the others.
Original Score: Again, 127 Hours hands down. It's not even really worth discussing the others in this context.
Sound Mixing: So, I had to skip Sound Editing because I've only seen three of the films, and I don't think I can really make a fair judgment based on that. In Sound Mixing, though.... I'm really torn between Inception and True Grit. Salt was a fun romp and the sound mixing was well done, but it didn't compare. By the same token, I'm not won over by The Social Network in this category. I think, though, it has to be Inception. Again, it just really makes a huge difference in the film.
Visual Effects: I haven't seen Hereafter, but that's the only one. I think here, I'd probably choose Iron Man 2. I know, over Inception? Really? And yet, yes. Even over Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter.
Adapted Screenplay: This one is really, really hard. I think I have to give it to True Grit, although Winter's Bone really calls to me, and 127 Hours is masterful, and The Social Network is Aaron Sorkin and the dialogue really shines. The only one I'm not deeply impressed by is Toy Story 3, and I'm not sure what it's doing here. I've therefore basically just closed my eyes and picked on almost at random, and that's True Grit.
<b>Original Screenplay:</b> <i>Inception</i>, I think. <i>Another Year</i>... no. I'd give it acting awards, but not really screenplay. <i>The Fighter</i> was good, but not as good as <i>Inception</i>. <i>The King's Speech </i>was really good, and clever, and honestly gave Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth yards and yards of rope to play with. <i>The Kids Are All Right</i> just really nailed it, and I think was an amazingly clean and honest work. <b>But <i>Inception</i>... that kind of blew me away. I have to go with that. </b>
<b>Best Picture: </b>I really liked <i>The King's Speech</i>, and if it gets the Oscar, I won't be sad. It's not actually my pick, though. Nor is Black Swan, although it was amazing (and is <lj user="innocent_man">'s pick). Honestly, I'm torn between three movies that I'm pretty sure are not going to get the award -- <i>True Grit</i>, <i>Inception</i>, and <i>Winter's Bone</i>. <i>True Grit</i> was, frankly, an amazing movie. <i>Inception</i> was conceptually fascinating and really well executed. <i>Winter's Bone</i>... honestly, I hadn't expected to care for it at all. I can't even tell you what, particularly, makes it an exceptional movie, except that it is. It's just... it's all of a piece. It's seamless. And when I think over all the Best Picture noms, and there are some truly great movies in there, its the one that just leaves me sort of stunned. <b>So I suppose that makes <i>Winter's Bone</i> my pick. </b>
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Date: 2011-02-27 04:30 pm (UTC)From:Haven't seen most of the films this year ... really "Inception" was the only one. I liked it a lot, but didn't see it as an Oscar film.
There was a time, especially when I was trying to get into the film biz (what my undergrad degree was in, after all) when these awards were major for me, but not so much these day. That said, I imagine I'll still watch 'em.
... though not with as nice a spread as it sounds like you're making!