Ryan McNeil
Alrighty, after that brief moment of sharing a touch of my personal life with y’all, allow me to get back to the Oscar shenanigans at hand. The big dogs are up today – here are my thoughts on the race for Best Actor and Best Actress.
Ladies first, as the old saying goes.
This year, the category is actually stacked with five amazing performances. The least exposed, and therefore the first scratch, is Helen Mirren. Mirren does tend to get nominated just for getting out of bed these days…but take my word for it – this nomination is well earned. Thankfully, there isn’t a lot of tarnish on the Oscar she was given just three years ago, and that’s a good thing because she isn’t winning here.
The next pair, are the unfortunate cast-offs. Both Carey Mulligan in AN EDUCATION and Gabby Sidibe in PRECIOUS dazzled. I mean “capital D dazzled”. their performances couldn’t have been more different, and yet they are equally memorable, moving, and charming. Were this award being handed out in November I’d wager they were neck-and-neck for the prize, but sadly the applause for their work has already died off. Mulligan already has projects in the work – I can only hope this isn’t the last we’ve heard of Sidibe.
Another actress who seems to get nominated just for getting out of bed is Meryl Streep. Funny thing though, she can’t seem to ever convert those nominations into wins! It’s been over twenty years since she last brought home the gold…and I have to wonder if the joie de vivre she brought to her role as Julia Child might be enough to win her another one.
If Meryl is going to win, she’s in tough…and ‘tough’ once starred in PRACTICAL MAGIC. Sandra Bullock is currently the odds-on favorite, and I can’t tell you how much that disappoints me. Oscar wants to reward her for a spunky, somewhat dramatic part in a feel-good film, and more so because they can. Bullock is the girl that everybody likes, and her work in THE BLIND SIDE is just good enough to award. The only question is – does all of Hollywood agree with anointing her?
The Hatter’s Pick… I’m going rogue – Meryl pulls off a slight upset.
Now let’s hear it for the boys.
Morgan Freeman’s stint as Nelson Mandella in INVICTUS is the sort of part designed to get Oscar’s attention. It did indeed get Oscar’s attention enough to scoop itself a nomination, but that’s the end of the road for Madiba.
While some other LAMB’s might call his performance one-note, I was quite moved by Colin Firth’s part in A SINGLE MAN. I thought he really conveyed a sense of isolation and loss in a way that’s difficult to do convincingly. Unfortunately, the film was seen by far too few to really gain any traction. I can only hope that this isn’t the last role of the sort that we see from Colin Firth.
George Clooney will win an Oscar as lead actor eventually, the guy is just too good not to. I might well have believed that his work in UP IN THE AIR could have cinched it for him, but like everything else to do with the movie, the buzz surrounding his role piqued too early. Sorry George, no hardware tonight – but keep the great work coming, won’t you?
If there’s a surpise coming on Oscar night, and believe me it’d be a BIG surprise, Jeremy Renner might be it. By his own admission, he’s just happy to be there, and knows that he’s sitting at the kids table for this party. However, a groundswell of support for THE HURT LOCKER could spill over into an unexpected win for Renner. He hasn’t made much noise in the awards run-up…but y’know what kids? Stranger things have happened!
Renner or no Renner, the award is Jeff Bridges’ to lose. His down-and-out turn as Bad Blake in CRAZY HEART is the sort of role Oscar voters eat for breakfast. Add to that that Bridges is one hell of a nice guy, and you have the recipe for an award being given for a great role, and a great overall body of work. The movie was average, but his part in it was top notch. The award is a tad overdue, and it would shock a lot of people for Bridges to go home empty handed.
The Hatter’s Pick… The Dude finally abides. Bridges takes the gold.
Whaddaya think folks? Leave comments with your own thoughts on possibilities and predictions of the Best Acting races.
I missed Meryl Streeps’s portrayal of Julia Child and The Blind side doesn’t come out for a couple of weeks. Of what I have seen I would go for Carey Mulligan, not that I think she has a chance on the big night!
Crazy Heart opens tomorrow and I am planning to see it on Sunday so I will reserve judgment until then. I have seen the other four nominated movies and think Colin Firth is a clear winner out of those four. I felt A Single Man was a flawed film but his performance was sublime.
Bridges is getting it, which is awesome, but Firth deserves it.
As for Meryl? I don't think she's getting it this year, but I will happily shut the eff up if she does. Just as long as Sandra doesn't get it.
wow, bold call for Streep, but having just watched Julie and Julia I can agree with it, she is so funny in this film. would love to see her do an all out comedy.
I think there were a few major flaws with Precious but Sidibe wasnt one of them – she just has a great screen presence (and im not talking about her size) in the same way Clooney has a great screen presence. Wouldnt mind if she won either.
As Fands says The Blind Side aint out here on the best side of the Atlantic yet, but isnt the type of film id rush to see anyway. that said, I wont bash Bullock like some people (YOU, Aiden R!!!) if I havent seen it. I for one really enjoyed The Lake House.
its looking like the dude for actor though.
Can we really trust the opinions of anyone who enjoyed The Lake House? I request McG's comments be stricken from the record books.
@ Andy… If I had a vote, it would be cast for both Mulligan and Firth.
@ Aiden… I think if(when?) academy members cast a vote for Bullock, they are encouraging her to do more dramas and forgetting how bad she is at it (IN LOVE AND WAR anyone?)
@ Ross… When the nominations were announced, THE BLIND SIDE was my first go-see so I could get all ten Best Pic nods scratched off. It's not horrible…but I do wonder how it's going to play on your side of the pond.
@ Aiden (again)… I'll give the guy full marks for admitting such things openly.