Yet there are still those who were overlooked. Primarily, I am thinking of Jackie Earl Haley who was electrifying as Rorshach in Watchmen.
Best Supporting Actress
Penélope Cruz for Nine, Vera Farmiga for Up in the Air, Maggie Gyllenhaal for Crazy Heart, Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air, Mo'nique for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.
Finally, a category in which I have seen all of the nominees! Most of the performances here are very good, the one notable exception is that they nominated the wrong actress from Nine. Sure, Penelope Cruz was a little flashier and more prominent, but it was not the best one here. They should have nominated Marion Cotillard as Daniel Day Lewis's long-suffering wife. However, in the end it matters not as neither one is going to win.
My feeling is that Mo'nique is going to win. First off, her performance is eye-catching in its cruelty and builds to the revelations at the end. Secondly, the Academy loves actors that go through transformations and this is not the same Mo'nique we know from the comedy stage. At the same time, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick both gave strong performances and a win by one of them could signal a big night for Up in the Air.
Would I have preferred to see all of the nominated performances beforehand? Of course! However, I think it is still relatively easy to guess the winners or at least have a good idea of the likelihood of a given nominee. Be sure to check out the ceremony on March 7, 2010.
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments
1 - Nick
Great analysis. Looking forward to the Oscars this weekend.
2 - Geoff Hasler
This year, the new voting system among the 6,000 Academy members may distort the true vote. Avatar deserves Best Picture for sheer originality and use of new technology; Jeff Bridges deserves Best Actor; Meryl Streep deserves Best Actress.
3 - Baritone
Well, you got them all right. Woohoo!
As to best picture, which you didn't address here, I can only say that "Avatar," while dazzling to the eye and a technical triumph, I didn't believe it was the best picture of the year, and apparently the voters didn't either. I'm not sure how it would have come out if there had been but the usual 5 nominees, but when it comes down to it, "Avatar" is an old, oft rehashed story. Cameron's vision apparently doesn't go far beyond the technical.
I haven't seen "The Hurt Locker," but it obviously struck more nerves than 8 foot tall blue beings with long tails and flat noses.
B
4 - Chris Beaumont
You're right, to an extent. After listening to some interviews with Cameron, I feel the familiar story was a calculated risk. He is a tchnical director who wants his stories to be identifies with by the majority. The best way to do that is deliver something familiar. I am not saying this is a good thing to do, but it allows more of an in than a more experimental style, especially when you have an eye to a budget this large, box office dollars are a must.
I do address the best picture category in a prior column. Also, if the ten nominees were based on my top ten, it would look quite different.