Originally published in the Samford Crimson 3/9/11
The 83rd annual Academy Awards occurred last week and there weren’t many surprises.
“The King’s Speech,” behind a late push from the British theater and the Producer’s Guild Association, took the spoils in Best Picture. More impressing than that, however, Tom Hooper’s film is the first film to be awarded four of the Big Five (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay) since “American Beauty” in 2001.
“The Social Network” brought in a disappointing haul. The early favorite only received awards for three of its eight nominations. Director David Fincher must still await his long desired directing Oscar.
Natalie Portman and Wally Pfister were amongst the first time Oscar winners for their respective work in “Black Swan” and “Inception.”
“Inceptions” unmatched imaginative prowess swept the sound editing and visual effects awards. While palpable performances by Christian Bale and Melissa Leo aided “The Fighter” in knocking out the supporting role categories.
The awards were not much for surprises; however, outside of a creative opening piece, the hosts were entirely shocking.
Anne Hathaway was so surprised and thrilled that she was asked to host the Oscars that she forgot how to act. Or maybe she never really knew how. You can’t really blame the poor girl though. Despite an overly raunchy and overtly steamy appearance in “Love and Other Drugs,” it seems she will always be the awkward, excessively giddy “tween” from “The Princess Diaries.”
James Franco on the other hand was too “exhausted” to remember why he was asked to be a host. His lackluster approach stuck out like a sore thumb next to the overeager babbling of his counterpart.
The 83rd Oscars were down nine percent in ratings from 2009 and failed to appeal to a younger audience as the Academy had hoped. But this is not due to a less spectacular list of award winning movies.
“The Social Network” will be a film that defines a generation and speaks volumes about society. Inception pushed the boundaries of reality and moved blockbusters to a new level. The Coen brothers remade John Wayne’s “True Grit” with absolute class regardless of a need for Cogburn subtitles. Danny Boyle’s repackaging of the amazing story of Aron Ralston shook audiences and retold a painful story of redemption with gut-wrenching tangibility.
And “The King’s Speech” will join the ranks of the Best Pictures. Tom Hooper’s work, alongside a brilliant cast and a flawless performance from Colin Firth, will forever be revered as theatric brilliance. It already received the approval of the Queen and the Academy what more does it need?
Rottentomatoes.com has the film listed at number 31 on their Best of the Best Pictures list. But Colin Firth’s performance and recent emergence as a dominant force in the acting world is what boasts the most staying power in this film.
With the 83rd Academy Awards in the rear view mirror, it is never too early to begin looking forward to next year’s awards.
Nothing is more fun than a little speculation. Here is a little preview of some upcoming films that may possibly be Academy worthy next time around.
Already established directors Stephen Spielberg, David Fincher, Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese and George Clooney will release notable titles this year, along with a host of first timers, headlined by Jodi Foster. A couple of promising return films from Terrence Malick, David Cronenberg and Cameron Crowe will also hit the silver screen in 2011. Overall it is shaping up to be a promising year in cinema.
Stephen Spielberg’s “War Horse,” a film adaptation of Michael Morpugo’s novel, comes out in late 2011. The World War I story should be Spielberg’s first real Oscar hopeful since 2005.
Fresh off of his recent Oscar defeat, David Fincher will release a remake of the Swedish film, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” based on the book by Stieg Larson. With Daniel Craig and Roonie Mara headlining the cast this is an optimistic Oscar nominee. Oscar winner Trent Reznor will once again write the score for Fincher’s project.
In 1980 legendary actor Robert Redford made the move to director with “Ordinary People” and won four Oscars. Since then only “A River Runs Through It” has garnered him any notice from the Academy. This year Redford’s film “The Conspirator,” about the only female linked to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, hits theaters and hopes to bring the film legend back to Oscar level.
Martin Scorsese looks to add to his lone Oscar with “Hugo Cabret,” a film based on a novel by Brian Selznick. Scorsese’s first 3D film will be released the day before Thanksgiving.
George Clooney won his first Oscar just a year ago for his work in “Up in the Air.” This time Clooney looks for an Oscar win on the other side of the camera. Clooney directs and acts in “The Ides of March” set to release in October 2011.
It is hard to decide which is the bigger news for this next film: Academy Award winner Jodi Foster’s directing debut or recent breakdown of the year winner Mel Gibson’s interaction with a stuffed beaver puppet. Jokes aside, this film has potential and has already created a considerable amount of buzz. Had the film made the cut for the Sundance Film Festival it would have had a better shot at Oscar contention.
Three successful directors who have been out of the game for a while will reenter the scene this year. Terrence Malick, David Cronenberg and Cameron Crowe all make their returns to the cinema in 2011.
“The Tree of Life,” Malick’s film featuring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn is at first glance the most promising of these three.
However, Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method,” about the relationship between Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, stars the brilliant Viggo Mortentsen and could be an interesting nominee. Crowe, the only one of these three returning directors to have won an Oscar, joins forces with Matt Damon and Scarlett Johannson in a “dramedy” of typical Crowe style.
These are just a few of the films coming out in 2011 that hope to be in consideration for the 84th annual Academy Awards.
Cinema and Culture 