The Oscar Noms Are In!

January 27, 2011

Nominees for Best Picture

• Black Swan - Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
• The Fighter - David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
• Inception - Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
• The Kids Are All Right - Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
• The King's Speech - Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
• 127 Hours - Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
• The Social Network - Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
• Toy Story 3 - Darla K. Anderson, Producer
• True Grit - Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
• Winter's Bone - Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Nominees for Directing

• Black Swan - Darren Aronofsky
• The Fighter - David O. Russell
• The King's Speech - Tom Hooper
• The Social Network - David Fincher
• True Grit - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Reel Sassy Critic has seen all 10 Best Picture Nominees, and will now predict the winners of Best Picture and Best Director for your enjoyment and/or laughter (hopefully):

Although I enjoyed all ten nominations for their various merits, the winner for Best Picture will surely be The King's Speech. It has everything. It was the only film I saw all year (and I saw an average of one a week... yes, those many, and more, movies come out every year) that gave me a sense of beautiful humanity. The music is an essential character in the story. It helps the viewer to feel the emotions of the man who would become King George VI and those surrounding him. The acting is superb by all involved, and the story itself is such a joy to live through. The editing is such that you do feel as if you are right there with the Royal Family through their trials in pre-WWII England.

I believe there will be a rare split this year between Best Picture and Best Director, and that David Fincher will win for his work on The Social Network. Also an excellent and well put together film, The Social Network had several relatively inexperienced actors who put on powerhouse performances, and I believe that the Academy will want to reward Fincher's seemingly effortless effort.

If you haven't already, be sure to put a hold on both of these titles. The Social Network is already circulating in MCPL's collection, and it is currently possible to put a hold on The King's Speech ahead of its release date.

Stefanie E.
North Oak Branch