You can’t operate a film blog, by law, without going out on a limb in the runup to the Oscars.
With that in mind, here are WWTW’s predictions for Oscar night.
Whenever I take part in a casual Oscar poll I usually come out near or on top. But one year Mrs. WWTW, who didn’t know who Robert DeNiro was when we first met, tied me. So that keeps me humble.
Here’s how the Oscar telecast will play out:
- Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds” – The night’s biggest no brainer. He should win the award just for the movie’s riveting first scene. The one award category you can take to the bank.
- Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, “Precious.” The comedienne deserves to win, and probably will, but a dark horse candidate looms in the distance in the lovely form of “Up in the Air’s’” Vera Farmiga.
- Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart.” – He’s due, he’s great, he’s been married for like a thousand years to the same woman – that’s practically science fiction in La La Land. And he’s just quirky and gracious enough to deliver a kille, Dude-esque speech.
- Best Actress: Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side” – 2009 was the Year of the Bullock, in case you didn’t know. Consider this her Julia Roberts moment – the box office star who proved once and for all she could act. It helps that she’s a doll and doesn’t take herself too seriously. Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia” represents her stiffest challenger. Never count out the Streep.
- Best Director: James Cameron, “Avatar” – Say what you will about the film’s politics, it’s a stunning achievement on so many technical levels that it’s hard to deny the “Titanic” auteur his due. Some argue Kathryn Bigelow will win for “The Hurt Locker,” but the drive to give the first female director an Oscar will stall Sunday night.
- Best Picture: “Avatar” – Sigh. Is is a blockbuster? The biggest. A stunning visual achievement. Yup. A great story with memorable characters, sharp dialogue and a story that tears at your soul? Not even close. No matter. The newly expanded field of 10 leaves no other film strong enough to compete with the “Avatar” juggernaut.
(Photo: The peace-loving Na’vi are at the heart of James Cameron’s monster hit “Avatar.”)
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My money IS on Waltz. After watching his awkward interview w/Charlie Rose I’m still convinced. I’m picking Streep just because she’s due and hoping that Avatar and Cameron don’t win. Still bitter about all that Titanic hype. Bridges should win too. Been a big fan since the The Fisher King.