A Take on the Major 2011 Oscar Nominations
Tue, January 25, 2011 
BEST PICTURE:
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
The Fighter (Paramount Pictures), David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features), Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company), Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Darla K. Anderson, Producer
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
Winter's Bone (Roadside Attractions), Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers
Take: No complaints here. I think this list represents all of the best films of the year with no second guessing. It's obviously a two-horse race between The Social Network and The King's Speech, but watch out for The Fighter. I'd say that's this year's dark horse.
DIRECTING:
Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
David O. Russell - The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
Tom Hooper - The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company)
David Fincher - The Social Network (Columbia Pictures)
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - True Grit (Paramount Pictures)
Take: Another year, another snub for Christopher Nolan. Don't get me wrong, all the nominees here are well deserving (especially Aronofsky, Russell, and Fincher), but the Coen Bros.? True Grit was a great film but they just won two years ago with No Country for Old Men and are probably last on eveyone's list to win because of that. Nolan deserved a nomination, hands down.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Javier Bardem - Biutiful (Roadside Attractions)
Jeff Bridges - True Grit (Paramount Pictures)
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network (Columbia Pictures)
Colin Firth - The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company)
James Franco - 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Take: Firth is the favorite and will most likely win, but common Academy, what about Mark Wahlberg? The guy put himself through hell for four years both for his role in The Fighter and to get the film made. No other actor on this list can say they did anything close to that. He deserved a nomination.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features)
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole (Lionsgate)
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone (Roadside Attractions)
Natalie Portman - Black Swan (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine (The Weinstein Company)
Take: It's either going to be Portman or Bening. Sorry Nicole, but you're just there for show.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Christian Bale - The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
John Hawkes - Winter's Bone (Roadside Attractions)
Jeremy Renner - The Town (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features)
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Take: Christian Bale will win. Next.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Amy Adams - The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Melissa Leo - The Fighter (Paramount Pictures)
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit (Paramount Pictures)
Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom (Sony Pictures Classics)
Take: Great list, great nominees. Very impressive for the young Hailee Steinfeld, but I think this is Melissa Leo's to lose.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight Pictures), Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
The Social Network (Columbia Pictures), Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
Toy Story 3 (Disney•Pixar), Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
True Grit (Paramount Pictures), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Winter's Bone (Roadside Attractions), Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini
Take: Based on this whole award season so far, this is Aaron Sorkin's without a doubt. Would be shocked if he doesn't win.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Another Year (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Mike Leigh
The Fighter (Paramount Pictures), Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures), Written by Christopher Nolan
The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features), Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Seidler
Take: Any of these films could win, but my gut tells me they will give it to Nolan for Inception based on his snub for Best Director.
Reader Comments (1)
If I were Nolan I would very much like to own the award for Original Screenplay.