My Best Picks of 2009 for the Oscars

It’s that time again for the Academy Awards! As a semi-tradition, I’m involved in an Oscar Pool.   It’s nothing high stakes – more for fun and giggles.  Plus it makes it bearable to watch through 4 hours of the award show.

My picks for 2009, based on the Oscars list from IMDB, are below.  I’m going to be updating my picks as the days go by, as I’m doing further “research”.  I will stop updating it until right before the live show on Sunday, March 7 2010.

Best Picture:  The Hurt Locker

I saw this movie and I was at the edge of my seat.  Realistic and well acted. I always have respected the US Armed Forces, and the movie elevates them into a new level of courage.

Update: Paying tribute to our men and women in the military is always the best choice.  Congrats to The Hurt Locker.

Best Lead Actor: Jeremy Renner Jeff Bridges

I’m gonna guess that it’ll him because I’ve seen the movie, and he was excellent in it. I just watched Jeff’s performance in Crazy Heart. He was gritty and real. A great job acting (and singing!) as an old down-and-out country singer.  He might have a good chance.

Update: Got this one after watching the movie.  I think the singing did it for me.

Best Lead Actress: Meryl Streep

She’s been passed on so many times before, I think she’s due.

Update: I did like Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side, but I didn’t think it was a win. Oh well, better luck next time, Meryl!

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz

Now this is a well educated choice for me.  I’ve always liked an actor who are multi-lingual, and he played it well in the movie Inglorious Basterds.  I hope he chokes the others in his category – not himself, I hope.

Update: This one was pretty obvious to me.

Best Supporting Actress: Maggie Gyllenhaal

A big guess on this one.

Update: I didn’t like Mo’Nique and the movie “Precious”.  I think this one was hard to guess, and the choice was wrong, IMO.

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Not being a sexist, but for a woman who could direct a testosterone filled movie like The Hurt Locker, it surprised me.  She framed the movie well and I hope she gets the nod.

Update: This is the first time a female director to win an Oscar.  I guess the theme for this Oscar is “the first for everything”.

Best Screenplay: Up In The Air

A lot of memorable quotes here.  Smartly written.  I found myself leaning forward, listening to every word.

Update: I thought The Hurt Locker had a good script, but it wasn’t witty enough. The performance of the actors were better than what was on the page.  Good win for them, I suppose.

Best Adapted Screenplay: District 9

Based on Neil Blompkampp’s previous short story Escape from Joburg, the movie expanded the story and put a face that I could follow – and root for.  I like it.

Update: I can’t say much about “Precious”.  Really… I can’t.  Dunno why they win.

Best Cinematography: Avatar

This is one of the most technically amazing movie that I’ve seen.  Sweeping shots, great sfx, and great battle scenes.

Update: Right, this one is pretty obvious to me.

Best Editing: Inglorious Basterds

This is not an easy category, but based on what I saw, I think a movie with multi-timeline, has got to be harder to edit.  This movie flowed pretty well, probably thanks to good editing.

Update: Really?  The Hurt Locker got this one?  I guess a lot of retakes did it.

Best Art: Avatar

Ho-hum story.  But awesome computer graphics!

Update: Yup. Got this one!

Best Costume: Young Victoria

I wanted to vote for Sherlock Holmes but it’s not even nominated here!  So I’m gonna guess this one.

Update: I knew period films always win costume design.

Best Makeup:  Young Victoria

Star Trek gets a sympathy nomination here, which I doubt it’ll win.  So I’ll guess also.

Update: I’m so wrong on this one.  Sorry Spock, for not having faith in Star Trek!

Best Original Score:  Up

Avatar sounded familiar with James Horner.  The Hurt Locker practically has no music.  I hope Disney pulls a surprise here.

Update: Yay for Disney!

Best Original Song: The Princess and The Frog

This is an obvious choice for me, as both Randy Newman and Disney are masters of feel-good original songs.

Update: Oh well, I guess Disney can’t compete with twangy country music epic “Crazy Heart”.

Best Sound Mix: Avatar

Going with a sure bet (hopefully) in the tech department here.

Update: Dang, how can The Hurt Locker win this one?  I guess those quiet moments in the movie made it the best sound mix?  I’m confused.

Best Sound Editing: Avatar

Again, a guess.

Update: Again missed this one. The Hurt Locker is a weird Oscar choice here.

Best Visual Effects: Avatar

A lot of people have been raving about the 3D Imax showing of this movie.  I haven’t seen it myself, but looking at the scenes, the movie has awesome visual effects.  It’s almost a sure bet.

Update: Obvious choice!

Best Animated Film: The Princess and the Frog

Disney went back to basics with this one, and it should be worth it.

Update: It’s either this, or “Up” – but it is computer graphics that win again.

Best Foreign Film: A Prophet

I dunno.  Just a guess.

Update: I have never heard of “The Secret in their Eyes”.  I’m not crying for Argentina.

Best Documentary: Which Way Home

They all look good, I guess.

Update: What is “The Cove”?  I’m not gonna find out.

Best Short Documentary: China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province

All propaganda shorts, but if I have to pick one…

Update: “Music by Prudence” – don’t know this one.  I’ll never know.

Best Animated Short Film: Wallace and Gromit in ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’

I always have a soft spot for Wallace and Gromit.  They just don’t make enough of this type of lovely gems.

Update: Oh man, how can a rip-off of a cartoon film “Logorama” win against the much more original W&G?  I demand a recount!

Best Live Action Short Film: Miracle Fish

A pure guess here.

Update: “The New Tenants” won.  Oh well, it was just a guess here!

Tags: best, movies, oscars