Every year, we usually publish in Malibu Times Magazine our choices of who might be the newest Academy Award winners long before the Golden Globe winners are announced. This year, we’re printing the story in the paper to go along with our Oscar ballot contest, to help our readers decide who the winners might be.
By Jonathan Friedman / Special to The Malibu Times
This year’s Academy Awards has people seeing double. There will be two hosts (Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin) and, for the first time since 1943, there are 10 films up for the top prize rather than the usual five. The reason given for the expanded nomination list is to give a chance for “overlooked” films to get into the race. The likely real reason is so blockbuster films people have actually seen will be up for consideration at the March 7 presentation.
This has made it possible for films like the popular animation adventure “Up” to be up for consideration. (Unfortunately, “Star Trek,” considered by some to be a dark horse for the contest, received only technical nominations, including visual effects.)
So with our blindfolds on and a little help from the buzz-meter, here are The Malibu Times predictions of who may win a golden statue.
BEST PICTURE
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
A movie about an illiterate, overweight teen raped by her father and loved by few, this is definitely not popcorn fare. But it is a film that has earned heaps of praise by critics. Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry loved the movie so much, they came on as executive producers to give the film an extra “push.” Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe stars in the title role. Mo’Nique, more famous for comedy, plays the mother from hell. She does the evil character so well you might not even recognize her. And you surely won’t recognize Mariah Carey, who plays a welfare worker who is one of Precious’ few supporters. Another singer, Lenny Kravitz, also costars.
“The Hurt Locker”
The war in Iraq has been so long that it has allowed for several movies to be made about the conflict. This one about the men who defuse bombs has received the most critical praise. The movie does not take a stance on whether war is good or bad, or whether the U.S. should be in Iraq. But it does show the high dangers of this conflict and how some of the participants enjoy the adrenaline of it. Jeremy Renner stars as Sgt. First Class William James, who puts viewers on the edge of their seats as he tries to solve the deadliest of puzzles. And, oddest of all, he seems to like it. But his addiction puts colleagues Sgt. JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) in harm’s way.
“Avatar”
James Cameron has not put out a film since 1997’s “Titanic.” Writing, directing and coproducing a movie that won 11 Oscars and has made more money than any other is probably enough reason to retire. But Cameron is back for what could be a new epic. “Avatar” takes viewers to the distant planet, Pandora, where Earthlings are trying to scoop up the natural resources. But the natives are not too happy, and they’re willing to put up a fight. This science fiction extravaganza is presented in 3-D (there’s a 2-D version for the weak) and contains high-tech animation filmed with cameras made just for this movie. Sam Worthington stars in the movie as Jake Sully, a paralyzed marine who goes undercover in the new world looking like a native. Zoe Saldana (Uhura in “Star Trek”) plays the love interest who makes Scully’s mission oh-so interesting as he must decide between her and the forces of Earth. Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Rodriguez also star. The film won this year’s Golden Globe Best Motion Picture, Drama Award.
“Up in the Air”
A “dramedy” about a man who flies around the nation to announce layoffs probably will not be funny to many who have recently been at the other end of the employment conversation in real life. This was such a concern to filmmakers that parts determined to be the most offensive were removed from the final product. Jason Reitman, whose 2007 effort, “Juno,” earned him an Oscar nod, cowrote and directed this movie based on a novel of the same name. Academy Award winner George Clooney stars as the man in charge of giving the bad news.
“Up”
Audiences fell in love with this animated summer tale about the wild adventures of the aging Carl (Ed Asner) and his sidekick, eight-year old Russell (newcomer Jordan Nagai), and the critics loved it, too. Oscar voters agreed and made it the second only animated movie to ever receive the Best Picture nomination. The other was “Beauty and the Beast” in 1991. The film has also been nominated for Best Animated Feature Film.
Other Best Picture contenders: “District Nine,” “An Education,” “The Blind Side,” “Inglorious Basterds,” “A Serious Man.”
BEST ACTOR
George Clooney (“Up in the Air”)
He already won an Oscar from 2005’s “Syriana.” But this time, one of the most successful film actors to come out of television could be up for the top acting prize. Clooney plays a man who travels the nation to inform people about some of the worst news they can get, that they are no longer employed. But he is also a lonely man who just so happens to meet some interesting people during his journeys.
Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart”)
To quite a few people, Bridges will always be The Dude from “The Big Lebowski.” But he is also a four-time Oscar nominee, earning nods for this award in 1985 and for supporting roles in 1972, 1975 and 2001. And he won the Golden Globe for this role. This time, many are considering him the leading candidate to win the Oscar prize. Bridges plays Bad Blake, a country music singer with a drinking problem who has not scored a hit in awhile, and who has fallen in love with a younger journalist, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Jeremy Renner (“The Hurt Locker”)
Those who enjoy independent films might recall Renner’s role as the world’s most famous homosexual cannibal in the title role of 2001’s “Dahmer.” Renner is playing a very different character in this film as a man with a skill at defusing bombs. He gives a highly praised performance as a man who enjoys the adrenaline rush of the many near-death experiences.
Morgan Freeman (“Invictus”)
The Oscar winner, whose voice has eclipsed James Earl Jones as the most sought after, plays one of the most celebrated men of the past century, Nelson Mandela. Freeman has wanted to play the anti-apartheid activist so much, he bought the film rights to the book this movie is based on before it was even published. Clint Eastwood directs the film about the South African rugby world cup team’s attempt to bring the nation together by winning a title. The last time Eastwood and Freeman teamed, in 2004 for “Million Dollar Baby,” Freeman won the supporting actor prize.
Other contenders: Colin Firth (‘A Single Man”)
BEST ACTRESS
Gabourey Sidibe (“Precious”)
A year ago, Sidibe was a college student perusing a psychology degree while occasionally acting in local stage roles. Now she’s receiving critical acclaim for her role as a teenager suffering as bad a life as one can have. Sidibe is Precious, a girl who cannot read, has been raped by her father to produce one child, with another on the way. And few people are willing to help her, with her mother not being among those willing to do it.
Sandra Bullock (“The Blind Side”)
It is being called Bullock’s finest performance (and The Hollywood Foreign Press Association agreed, giving her Golden Globe). Although her resume includes less stellar performances in movies like “Speed 2: Cruise Control” and this summer’s stinker, ‘All About Steve,” she has a good chance to win the gold. Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, a real-life wealthy white Tennessean who added to her family an under-educated black teenager with nothing to his name. Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) went on to achieve academically and athletically in this story about the current Baltimore Ravens football player.
Carey Mulligan (“An Education”)
The English actress won the award for Best Hollywood Breakthrough Performance at the Hollywood Film Festival. And she could be on the path toward more prestigious recognitions for her role as the Lolita-esque schoolgirl, Jenny. Mulligan’s character falls for an older man played by Peter Sarsgaard, and she receives an education in many ways.
Helen Mirren (“The Last Station”)
The veteran English actress won an Academy Award in 2006 for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen.” She could be in contention for a trophy again for playing the wife of 19th century Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Mirren won the Best Actress Award at the Rome International Film Festival for this performance.
Meryl Streep (“Julie & Julia”)
Streep is no stranger to Oscar nominations. She has been recognized 15 times, winning awards for “Kramer vs. Kramer’ (1979) and “Sophie’s Choice” (1982). Streep plays Julia Child in this film that chronicles the famous cook’s rise to fame and a story about New York woman who took on Child’s recipes.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
One of the leading contenders for this award is Mo’Nique, the Golden Globe winner this year and an actress far more famous for comedy. But her role as the mother from hell in “Precious” is anything but funny.
Other contenders include Penelope Cruz (“Nine”), Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air”), Maggie Gyllenhaal (“Crazy Heart”) and Anna Kendrick (“Up in the Air”).
EST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Considered by most Oscar prognosticators as the weakest competition, there are several candidates for the win. Among them is Stanley Tucci, a celebrated actor who has never before received a nomination, for his frightening portrayal of a child killer in “The Lovely Bones.” Other contenders include Matt Damon (“Invictus”), Woody Harrelson (“The Messenger”), Christopher Plummer (“The Last Station”), and Christoph Waltz (“Inglorious Basterds”).