By Carrie Wittmer
It’s easy to explain why each of the 10 films nominated for best picture this year are well worth watching before the 83rd Academy Awards Feb. 27. James Franco and Anne Hathaway will host the ceremony, hopefully living up to the expectations every film honored this year deserves.
Anyone not inhabiting a media repellent cave this summer saw “Inception,” Christopher Nolan’s inventive dream-meddling blockbuster that deserves the nomination but has a small chance of winning since Nolan got robbed of a Best Director nomination.
As the Golden Globe winner for Best Picture and Best Director, “The Social Network” is a popular contender for the coveted statue this year.
Aaron Sorkin’s skillfully written screenplay tells the story of the founding of Facebook while sticking intelligently to classics themes of friendship and betrayal. David Fincher’s direction makes scenes of long hearings thrilling. You might find yourself on the edge of your seat while Mark Zuckerberg (Best Actor nominee Jesse Eisenberg), defends himself against lawyers and blogs about web codes.
Whatever “The Social Network’s” fate in the Best Picture category, it looks like 2011 is the year David Fincher gets deservedly awarded as Best Director.
While Eisenberg delivered a believable performance of the creator of Facebook, the Oscar for both Best Actor and Best Picture will most likely go to British film “The King’s Speech.” It’s been hard not to hear the buzz about Colin Firth’s performance as King George VI of Britain who has a speech impediment, also starring supporting nominees Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush.
The disturbing ballerina-bird thriller, Darron Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” is a likely contender. Aronofsky’s artistic and horrifying vision of a ballerina’s struggle with a role in the Swan Lake is shocking audiences, as is its graphic lesbian scene starring hotties Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis.
Portman snagged a Golden Globe and a Best Actress nomination for her portrayal of Nina, a struggling ballerina who loses her mind in a role. Portman’s performance leaves you wanting more of her dark side.
There were many captivating performances in this year’s best picture nominees. Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo are in the running for their roles in the light-hearted comedy “The Kids Are Alright.” Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo are nominated for their supporting roles in the boxing film based on true events, “The Fighter,” also starring past nominee Mark Wahlberg.
Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes received nominations for their performances in the uncommonly seen drama “Winter’s Bone.” “127 Hours” is another performance-driven nominee with James Franco’s performance as a trapped mountain climber who must remove his arm. Those who can muster the film without cringing deserve an award themselves.
The Coen Brothers’ charming and clever remake of the western “True Grit” is worth seeing for the performances. The chemistry between supporting actress nominee 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon makes the film well worth a watch and a Best Picture nomination.
“Toy Story 3” is an unlikely nominee, though it is guaranteed the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. If it weren’t for Pixar’s nostalgic threequel, the award would undoubtedly go to Disney’s non-Pixar computer-generated gem of a musical, “Tangled.”
Even if you haven’t seen some or any of this year’s Oscar nominated films, it will certainly be a ceremony worth watching. If not, at least with James Franco’s presence will provide eye candy for the evening. Tune in to ABC Sunday at 8 p.m.
