Comments on: Nerdy Oscar Predictions 2010

By: David

David — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:05:47 +0000

OK, I am starting to sound like a broken record here, always talking about the motivations of the characters (that is finally getting decent in Lost), but Hurt locker is just lacking this. The characters act irrational in a way that normal people don’t and their motives are unclear. Maybe I am too calculating and logical but it just doesn’t appeal to me at all. To me it’s just another below average movie… that won?!

By: Mysti Berry

Mysti Berry — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:24:20 +0000

Very nice calls, very well reasoned!

I disagree about the character arc in Hurt Locker. It’s there, it’s just a tragic arc. When a movie asked the kind of dramatic question that Hurt Locker asks, there’s nothing else you can really do (I think). Or perhaps I’m just so used to filling in the backstory with Kathryn Bigelow. Did Jamie Lee Curtis have an arc in Blue Steel? Caleb in Near Dark? Shoot, now I’m going to have to watch them all again…

Her ability to mix art tropes & zeitgeist setting is like no one else’s…

That said, I bought a copy of Up for the house, not Hurt Locker (though it’s got my vote for everything!)

By: Shell Sherree

Shell Sherree — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:20:53 +0000

I’ll have to wear the Cone of Shame after Christine’s finished with it. 🙂 I’m way behind on movie watching, so won’t offer any wishes/hopes/beliefs {except that I’d give myself a high five if George Clooney wins!}, but I’m unashamedly looking forward to watching! I’m inclined to go along with you re: Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin ~ though I’m just a recent convert to the Alec Baldwin Fan Club.

By: Jen Forbus

Jen Forbus — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:29:54 +0000

I haven’t seen enough of the nominees to weigh in on this, and I’ll not be able to watch it…so I’ll check back afterward to see the post-Oscar reactions.

By: le0pard13

le0pard13 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:52:21 +0000

I think the CG character rendering and detail with the facial features made it easier for the audience to look at them more as characters on the screen rather than just the obvious CG cartoons (as other special effects films have suffered from). The 3-D effects helped that tremendously (and did it without giving the audience headaches–which is easy to do with some of the newer technology). For me, it’s more realized than say George Lucas’ characters and landscapes of his Star Wars prequels.

The story is a familiar one, as you mention. I guess that he married it so well with the effects is something I’m a sucker for, and I enjoyed it. But then, that’s just me ;-). I think it’s a wildcard in the Best Picture race because of its popularity (along with the technology). If I’d get to pick, it’d likely be UP IN THE AIR (only because it didn’t give me motion sickness via the overuse of the shaky cam in THE HURT LOCKER).

By: BIZMAN5

BIZMAN5 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:37:31 +0000

I think expanding the nominees to 10 this year is really dangerous. Notice how past nominees cancel each other out due to irresponsible voting? This is why we have ended up scratching our heads when people like Mira Sorvino win over Kate Winslet and Alan Arkin’s performance in Little Miss Sunshine wins over Jakie Earle Haley’s in Little Children. Give the academy too much to think about and they all get lazy.

By: BIZMAN5

BIZMAN5 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:21:47 +0000

Avatar’s technology and special effects are good but not the story. When it’s not being a Pocahontas remake, it’s a very small improvement on Ferngully. And, as far as the technology goes, why was his wheelchair so 2008 when it takes place in 2154? They haven’t come up with more high-tech wheelchairs by then?

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:13:42 +0000

Still haven’t caught up to what’s out there. [wearing the cone of shame ;-)] We saw Avatar in IMAX 3-D as well…highly recommend that experience, but I don’t think it deserves Best Picture. And you know, PCN, how much I love Up! But as much as I adore the film, I think it should either have been nominated for Best Picture or Best Animated, but not both.

I’m cheering for The Last Truck because it’s about a GM plant in Moraine, OH near my husband’s hometown of Dayton.

By: jmf

jmf — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:34:51 +0000

My review of Avatar was “all glitz, no substance,” and it still stands. I also thought that Cameron robbed us of some wonderful 3D moments by pulling the camera away. However, if there was any movie that deserved a technical award, it would be Avatar.

I thought The Hurt Locker was amazing, and I am admittedly rooting for the first female director to take that award. I also liked George (and Vera — did no one else think that she was phenomenal?) and Up in the Air overall, though I thought it had some story flaws.

I am horrible at picking the winners because I apparently don’t think like the Academy members. And maybe that is why I haven’t yet made it in Hollywood…. Sigh….

By: LolosLetters

LolosLetters — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:10:36 +0000

Best Picture – Not to go all Randy Jackson on you, but ‘for me’ the best was Hurt Locker. I’m more with le0pard re Avatar. I’m anti-Cameron, but couldn’t deny the movie was just plain watchable. Was it contrite and warmed over in the plot arena? Yup, and that’s why I wouldn’t want it to win best picture. To me, best picture means more than impact on the industry. I love me some George, but I just didn’t get all the love for Up in the Air. Maybe it suffered from pre-viewing mania. My vote is very close between Hurt Locker and District 9, but, for me, for you, Hurt Locker wins.

I do have to note that Up was an animated move that held up start to finish, which isn’t usually the case for me. I generally find some lag in the slack of the middle or mid-end. That was a great movie from frame 1 to end.

Best actress. I like Sandra Bullock. I haven’t seen Blind Side. So I shouldn’t partake in the discussion. But in my gut I just feel that’s not an Oscar role. But maybe it’s all the raw cookie dough I just ate.

The one category I really care about is Best Supporting Actor. I know everyone thinks Waltz is a shoe-in and I hope that’s right, because that was perhaps the most flawless performance of the year in my unlearned opinion. Captivating from moment one to end and not a false note in the entire performance. Brilliant, it was, and deserving of the nod.

Ok, gotta go get the Bjork swan dress cleaned for Sunday…