The Oscars are imminent! And my vote is in. My hypothetical vote, that is. Do you know how the voting for best picture works this time? The Academy is using instant run-off voting, which means that every voter writes down a list of the nominated films in their order of preference, all the number one slots are compared, and the worst loser gets eliminated from the running. All the ballots with the worst loser at number one then have to run with their second favourite choice, and the first movie to get a clear majority wins. So here’s my vote:
1. Inglorious Basterds – A true work of art. Every scene is a child of the cinematographic titans.
2. Up in the Air – Depressing and sprinkled with dark humour, it’s one I’ll remember.
3. District 9 – I love good satire and a fun story, if it hadn’t been quite so computer-gamey at the finish it would’ve grabbed my second place.
4. The Hurt Locker – Haven’t seen yet but as Centrebet’s favourite to win over Avatar with 1.75 to 2 odds, it gets my support right after the movies I have an emotional attachment to.
5. The Blind Side – Just know Sandra Bullock’s in it.
6. Up – A friend assures me that Finding Nemo was better.
7. A Serious Man – Meh.
8. An Education – Didn’t enjoy the write-up so I watched Crazy Heart instead last Saturday.
9. Precious – I didn’t like the poster.
10. Avatar – My strategic vote. I enjoyed watching it in 3D for the effects, but after someone told me it was the best movie they’d seen all year I reacted violently and haven’t cooled since.
I’d also vote Jeff Bridges in for Best Actor (with Clooney as my second-favourite) but since the Dude is tipped to win, and there’s no more run-off voting, I can leave it at that.
Like your 1st choice. Basterds was an epic performance by all involved. Just loved every second of it and especially noted Christoph Waltz’ performance – have to say I have never seen someone so immersed in ANY role EVER.
Serious man’ was meh?… Seriously, I know it’s not an easy movie requiring more analysis, but MEH?! /shakes his fist in anger.
All in all, I agree with your choices, although please see the ‘Hurt Locker’ and give us your opinion. I watched it one day out of the blue.
SPOILERS (if you can spoil a movie about nothing I guess)
Unaware at the time of the buzz and hail this movie would receive, I entered the theater with no presumptions or expectations.
I watched intensely from start to finish, waiting for the twist to finally arrive… Nothing. The movie felt like it wanted to go somewhere with the main character, somewhere darker, but ended up very… dry. There seems to be NO plot arc whatsoever, giving me the feeling of watching a series and missing out on some key episodes. Ralph Finnes shows up as a SAS officer for 5 minutes, which was probably the most entertaining bit of the movie. Its ending felt tagged on as well, – after returning home, the main character decides that this is not the place for him, his soul has been damned and reality warped, he can only find his place on the battlefield, so he returns to I-RACK… all this presented in the 2 minutes before the credits roll… I felt like standing up and shouting ‘WHAT?!? THAT’S IT! HOW PROFOUND!’/sarcasm. I was disappointed and bored.
A week or two later, this movie is the bomb in the press. The ‘amazing’ reviews did not end and I felt like an idiot. I started to think that perhaps I did not get it , so I re-read the plotline and some critics analysis and decided that I will not spend another 130 minutes wasting my time.