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Written by Trent Daniel
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Thursday, 11 March 2010 |
Just to prove I’m an honest man, I’ll compare my predictions for the Academy Awards to the actual results.
Final tally: Out of 24 awards, I got 13 right (54%)
Of the “Big 6” (picture, director, the 4 acting awards), I got 4 right (67%).
Since some were admittedly a crap shoot (such as best documentary short), I’m satisfied with how I did. I admit to missing the big one (Best Picture), but rumor has it that the vote was close. If I could do one over, it would be Best Actor-I mistakenly predicted an upset when Bridges was clearly the sentimental favorite.
(My hits are marked with an X.)
Category
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Prediction |
Actual Winner
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Avatar |
The Hurt Locker |
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Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
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Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker |
X
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Jeremy Renner, ‘The Hurt Locker.’ |
Jeff Bridges, ‘Crazy Heart’ |
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Sandra Bullock, ‘The Blind Side’ |
Sandra Bullock, ‘The Blind Side’ |
X |
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Christoph Waltz, ‘Inglorious Basterds’ |
Christoph Waltz, ‘Inglorious Basterds’ |
X |
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Mo’nique, ‘Precious’ |
Mo’nique, ‘Precious’ |
X |
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Read more... [Trent's Fearless 2010 Oscar Predictions: Recap]
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Written by Trent Daniel
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Tuesday, 09 March 2010 |
 Though District 9 is perhaps the most surprising of the best picture nominees, viewers of this but thought provoking sci-fi film know that it has earned at least some recommendation from the academy and puts newcomer Neill Blomkamp on the short list of promising young filmmakers.
When used by a gifted and imaginative artist, the sci-fi genre can be used to make profound statements regarding our world and the human condition in a fresh and imaginative way. Blomkamp does such a thing: his story about the unwelcome arrival of a rather pathetic hoard of alien visitors is a harsh rebuke of his native South Africa’s apartheid past in particular and of the way, in general, societies throughout history have treated outsiders.
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Read more... [DVD Review: District 9]
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Written by Trent Daniel
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Sunday, 07 March 2010 |
MY OTHER 2010 OSCAR PREDICTIONS:
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Written by Trent Daniel
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Thursday, 04 March 2010 |
Best Supporting Actor Choices:
Best Supporting Actress Choices:
Who will win best supporting actor:
I feel this is the strongest lock of the night. Waltz has picked up every award in sight since Cannes for his star-making turn as the villainous Col. Landa. Equal parts charming, funny, cruel and fearsome, he dominates every scene he is in. It is also worth noting that his role required him to act in four languages. The other nominees were in films either hardly seen (‘The Last Station,’ ‘The Messenger’) or box office disappointments (‘Invictus,’ ‘The Lovely Bones’). Waltz will win and deserves it.
My pick for best supporting actor: Christoph Waltz
View my pick for Best Supporting Actress after the fold.
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Read more... [Trent's Fearless 2010 Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actor/Actress]
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Written by Trent Daniel
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Thursday, 04 March 2010 |
Best Actor Choices:
Best Actress Choices:
This is a very tough call. Perhaps surprisingly, I feel Freeman is the least likely to win. The Academy might feel it has awarded Clint Eastwood (the director of ‘Invictus’) enough lately, Freeman won only a few years ago for ‘Million Dollar Baby’ and ‘Invictus’ was a box office disappointment. Firth was somewhat of a surprise winner at the BAFTA awards earlier this month, but the Academy might be more inclined to honor smaller American films this year instead of a little seen British film. The Oscar I feel is a three way contest between Clooney, Renner and Bridges. ‘Up in the Air’ was a leading Oscar contender a few months ago, but perceptions of the film have cooled a bit, which hurts Clooney’s chances (and being a recent winner hurts his chances a bit as well). Bridges is a well respected veteran who has never won and he has received critical praise for his performance as a down and out country singer. However, few have seen his film and his upset loss at the BAFTA awards to Firth might mean he can no longer ride the momentum of critical waves all the way to the Oscar. Renner is an up and comer, but received rave reviews as well for his arresting and believable performance as a soldier addicted to the danger of war. In a slight upset, the Academy will decide to further honor the co-best picture of the year by giving the award to Renner (deserved, IMHO).
My pick for best actor: Jeremy Renner.
View my pick for Best Actress after the fold.
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Read more... [Trent's Fearless 2010 Oscar Predictions: Best Actor/Best Actress]
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Written by Trent Daniel
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Monday, 01 March 2010 |
The movies up for Best Director:
The Academy will make history (which it likes to do) by making Bigelow the first female Best Director winner. If ‘Avatar’ edges out ‘The Hurt Locker’ for Best Picture, then Bigelow’s win will be the Academy’s way of awarding the co-best picture of the year. Her main competition is her ex-husband Cameron. His formidable case for winning is that ‘Avatar’ further solidified the argument that he is the best mega-budget blockbuster director of all time (perhaps even ahead of Spielberg). However, with a substantially smaller budget, Bigelow made an extremely powerful and poignant film-and the most critically acclaimed film of the year. Bigelow will and should win.
My Pick for Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
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Written by Trent Daniel
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Monday, 01 March 2010 |
 A Serious Man is a dark comedy starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, and Adam Arkin. Directed and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen.
It is fitting that the protagonist, one Larry Gopnik is a physics professor in this typically challenging-but often rewarding-Coen brothers film. He seems to believe that he can use formulas to find a logical resolution to nearly any question, yet he fills his giant blackboard with unintelligible calculations that look impossible on the surface. Indeed, even he refers to challenging paradoxes of physics, such as Schroedinger’s cat and Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, which basically means “we can never know what is going on.”
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Read more... [DVD Review: A Serious Man]
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Written by Trent Daniel
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Thursday, 25 February 2010 |
Hopefully, not many people will remember that I did not do all that well last year picking the Oscars.
However, I plan to rebound successfully this year and will brazenly predict all winners at the 82nd Academy Awards. Feel free to disagree and send me your predictions.
The movies up for Best Picture:
TO READ MY PICK, CLICK ON THE "READ MORE"
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Read more... [Trent's Fearless 2010 Oscar Predictions: Best Picture]
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Written by Trent Daniel
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Thursday, 25 February 2010 |
 Triangle is a horror film starring Melissa George, Michael Doorman, Rachael Carpani and Henry Nixon. Directed by Christopher Smith.
Have you ever had a dream in which you run and run and run from the same dangerous or scary place, only to somehow return again and again? Few films have captured this nightmare as successfully as has Triangle, a disturbing and effective thriller out of Australia.
The plot: Jess (George), a single mom, takes an invitation to sail on a yacht with a friend and a few pals. However, she cannot shake the feeling that something is wrong. Her fears are soon realized when, in the middle of the sea, the wind suddenly dies and a thunderstorm appears out of nowhere. The ferocious storm soon capsizes the yacht, stranding the survivors on the overturned hull. A huge ocean liner soon passes and the survivors jump on board, relieved that they are seemingly saved. However: 1) the huge ship is seemingly deserted and 2) Jess is convinced that she has been on board before. To further complicate matters, there does appear to be another passenger on board-one who does not intend to let any of the others leave alive. To reveal more would spoil the surprises.
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Read more... [DVD Review: Triangle]
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| Results 1 - 19 of 215 |
DVD Review: District 9Though District 9 is perhaps the most surprising of the best picture nominees, viewers of this but...
DVD Review: A Serious ManA Serious Man is a dark comedy starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, and Adam Arkin. Directed...
DVD Review: TriangleTriangle is a horror film starring Melissa George, Michael Doorman, Rachael Carpani and Henry...
DVD Review: The Hurt LockerThe Hurt Locker is a war drama starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty and Guy...
DVD Review: The PropositionThe Proposition is a western starring Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Guy Pearce and Emily Watson....
DVD Review: Jennifer's BodyShoot, I was hoping I’d like this one.
I am an unapologetic fan of horror films (and sometimes...
Oral Fixation
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