By Chris Kavan - 07/26/10 at 03:43 PM CT
I don't know about you, but we're at the halfway point of the year and I haven't been impressed with the slate of films thus far.
In fact, other than Inception and Toy Story 3, there haven't been any movies I have seen that I would consider Oscar contenders for any of the major awards. In limited release, films like Winter's Bone and The Kids Are All Right have been getting good buzz and critical praise and could also factor into the final tally. Shutter Island's release was pushed back - it may or may not help its chances. Roman Polanski's The Ghost Writer should also gain some attention.
Still, that's only a handful of films and not nearly enough, especially if they keep the expanded best picture format from last year. The late summer into fall season does have some major filmmakers - David Fincher with The Social Network, Clint Eastwood's Hereafter, Joel and Ethan Coen's True Grit remake and Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. Yet aside from a few trailers, I don't know much about these films and whether big names can live up to big awards.
We'll if George Clooney can impress in The American and if the quirky Get Low can score in limited release. Early Oscar predictions are notorious - even last year I was only a month or two ahead of the awards and still got it mostly wrong. It's a fickle subject and prone to swift changes depending not just on critical success but monetary reward as well.
So what - do you think anything this year deserves to be up for best picture, actor or director? Any films I missed that should be considered and any coming up that look promising. In fall, a better picture should arise, but for now I'm decidedly underwhelmed by the prospects.
Comments
Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/27/10 at 01:02 PM CT
Maybe we need a best-of Leonardo DiCaprio face-off - Titanic Leo vs. Gangs of New York Leo vs. Aviator Leo vs. The Departed Leo vs. Blood Diamond Leo vs. Shutter Island Leo vs. Inception Leo. I think you just gave me my next blog idea.
Alex - wrote on 07/26/10 at 08:34 PM CT
Not sure if I am worried or not. I would say that despite some really really really crappy big budget movies, there have been 2 really great movies - Shutter Island and Inception. One of which will probably get an Oscar nod. I do feel sorry for Leo as he will be pitted against himself for the best actor - much like 2002 or 2003 when it was Frank Abingale (Leo) vs Gangs of New York (Leo)
