I have watched both of the movies mentioned above, and it seems there will be a serious fight between them in the upcoming 83rd Academy Awards or well known as Oscar. Both are the current hottest contenders for the Best Picture of the year, to be revealed this Sunday’s night (Monday’s morning in Malaysia).
The official nominees for the Best Picture are:
Black Swan – definitely going to watch it by this week as it received critical acclaim and high appraisal for Natalie Portman.
The Fighter – no interest on this kind of movie.
Inception – one of the best for the year, in music, in visual effects, and in original screenplay too (brilliant idea).
The Kids Are All Right – not available yet in Malaysia.
The King’s Speech – an epic historical drama film, but for me, it’s not the best for the year.
127 Hours – a movie based on a true story with brilliant performance by the one and only main cast, James Franco.
The Social Network – a movie on Facebook founding that leaves a great impact on the modern society with focus on friendship. The best of the year.
Toy Story 3 – a very touching animated film with great adventure.
True Grit – Not interested in this type of movie.
Winter’s Bone – Not available yet in Malaysia.
Out of the 10, I have watched 5, and will turn to 6 by end of this week before the Academy Awards presentation night. This is the first time I have been focusing so much on this awards, the biggest in film industry because I have watched many of those nominated films, so I have great interest on it for this year (based on movies released in 2010).
I have created a post on the official nomination list of the 83rd Academy Awards, to be hosted by young stars, James Franco and Anne Hathaway.
https://vincentloy.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/83rd-academy-awards-oscar-2011-nomination-list/
That post also includes my predictions and my favourite picks (which are separated). I believed for each year, the results that are announced are not fully satisfying. Same goes to this year.
Before the Oscar, there have been many awards (some I have not even heard before), and their picks go to either The King’s Speech and The Social Network. The King’s Speech won a lot, especially at British Annual Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) while The Social Network won big in Golden Globes Awards. However, if we checked on the statistics, The King’s Speech won more than The Social Network.
Before The King’s Speech, it is only The Social Network that steals the media attention for its brilliant acting, adapted screenplay, directing, editing and original score. After the release of The King’s Speech, everyone turned to this epic historical drama film, while there are only a bit of attention on the other nominees. A bit unfair, and predictable, that The King’s Speech will win the Best Picture at the Oscar.
The Social Network still has the chance to take the most prestigious award home. For me, I seriously like this movie a lot. For me, it’s not only the best picture of the year, but also among the best for the past ten years. I believed many people like The Social Network more than The King’s Speech, but they have to predict The King’s Speech to win because they have known the style of Oscar voters who are more into The King’s Speech. Of course, these predictors do not wish their predictions wrong, so they picked The King’s Speech rather than their own favourite, The Social Network.
For the Best Actor, the main fight is still between Colin Firth from The King’s Speech and Jesse Eisenberg from The Social Network. Same case as for the Best Picture category. Colin Firth lost last year, and so he will definitely going to win this year, unless Oscar wanted to give us a surprise. Colin’s acting is good as the King, but just not as perfect as Jesse as Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg. His character is more outstanding. This is the first time Jesse received an Oscar nomination and I think he is already well satisfied with that. He even won some smaller awards in Best Actor category for his impressive role in The Social Network. Oscar will definitely thinks that he is too young (28 years old) for their Best Actor award. Oh..please, age is not a factor! The acting is the main point! If Colin lost last year, why everyone want to give the award to him this year despite there is no breakthrough in his performance.
Jesse and Colin chatting at the Oscar Luncheon:
For the Best Actress category, I think there is no fight at all, as everyone is looking forward to Natalie Portman‘s excellent performance in Black Swan, the movie I’m anticipating for this Oscar week. Same case for the Best Animated Film, which will definitely goes to Toy Story 3. A bit weird that Tangled and Despicable Me are not in the nomination. Nothing much to say for Best Supporting Actor as my favourite, Andrew Garfield from The Social Network is not nominated. He did a good job in the film alongside with Jesse Eisenberg.
From left to right: Jesse Eisenberg and Colin Firth for Best Actor, and Natalie Portman for Best Actress.
Many have already confirmed that David Fincher is going to win Best Director for The Social Network and Aaron Sorkin for Best Adapted Screenplay. As for Best Original Score, there is a slight fight between The Social Network and Inception, but I think Oscar would prefer The Social Network as they do not like sci-fi based music too much. For many other categories, I’m not interested.
So, finally, what I think is that The Social Network will not win the Best Picture while there are many other not-so-prestigious awards waiting for it. The King’s Speech is going to win Best Picture (eventhough I disagreed but have to accept this upcoming fact) and Best Actor, and some others, probably not more than four. The King’s Speech is definitely going to lost in Best Supporting Actor and Actress category (to be honest). Anyway, both films will win big at the star-studded night.
The official movie trailers for The King’s Speech and The Social Network:
You have to really watch this two movies and judge on your own, which is better? I have to accept the fact that everyone has different opinions.
So, here is basically my summary of my predictions and all those things about Oscar. Nominated in the Oscar is already a gift, winning it is like a gift above a gift, a prestigious one. I really hoped that the Oscar voters really think and decide well in voting, as their votes decide the winners and the losers on this most important film awards. Ohh, I want to watch the awards presentation! Can I watch it live in Malaysia? Most probably no…too bad….
For The Social Network, you are still the best movie of the year for me and many of us!
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Ohh….,this is my 555th post of my blog! What a nice number!
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