Alright, I think it’s high time for some good old-fashioned whining about who did and did not get nominated.
Best Picture
127 Hours
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter’s Bone
This was pretty easy to predict (I’ve been predicting those ten films since November). I’ve seen seven of them (yet to see The Fighter, 127 Hours, or Winter’s Bone), and I’m fine with all of them being nominated. I would’ve loved to see The Town sneak in (perhaps instead of True Grit), but I really can’t complain here.
Best Actor
Javier Bardem (Biutiful)
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Colin Firth (The King’s Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)
So so SO happy for Jesse Eisenberg and Colin Firth! Both were amazing, and it’s great to see them recognized. Bardem is a bit of a surprise (though a lot of people were predicting him…). I haven’t seen his performance or Franco’s, but I hear they’re both wonderful, and I like them both a lot as actors. I’m kind of bummed that Ryan Gosling didn’t get it (though I haven’t seen his film, so who am I to judge?), and that Bridges did. Bridges was good, but to me, it was kind of a one-dimensional character. Since he just won last year it might have been nice to spread it around, rather than just nominating him because he’s Jeff Bridges. I like the Dude, but it seems like a throwaway nomination. (Am I still a bit sore over the fact that he beat Firth last year? Possibly.)
Best Actress
Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right)
Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)
This is the line-up that I expected (but am I allowed to pat myself on the back for predicting the yes for Williams, no for Gosling nomination split?). Only seen Bening and Portman, but Portman DEFINITELY should (and will) win.
Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale (The Fighter)
John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech)
First of all: YAY Mark Ruffalo! And while I didn’t go as absolutely nutty over Andrew Garfield’s performance as some people (despite the fact that I love him), I would have much rather seen him nominated than Renner. Renner is a great actor, and he was good in The Town, but I just don’t see it as a character/performance worthy of an Oscar nomination. I was a slightly doubtful of Garfield’s chances (though not enough to stop predicting him), so it wasn’t a complete shock, but I would’ve liked to see him nominated.
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)
Arghhh…WHY did I change my prediction to Mila Kunis at the last second?? That said, I would’ve much preferred to see her get nominated over Carter or Steinfeld. C’est la vie.
Best Director
Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (True Grit)
David Fincher (The Social Network)
Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech)
David O. Russell (The Fighter)
I had to read this list over a couple of times, because I kept thinking, “I feel like someone is missing”. Then I realised who it was, and I nearly had an aneurysm. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, anyone? WTF. How does that man still not have a Best Director nomination? The Dark Knight snub hurt, and now this? You nominate TOM HOOPER over him? But ANYWAYS, YAY DARREN ARONOFSKY!!! It’s about time he gets nominated.
(Who would’ve thought I’d have the strongest reaction to Best Director out of all the categories?)
Oh, and how did Black Swan get snubbed for Make-Up and Costume? Just wondering.
Times Like Those 