I’m just about ready to get to work on updating “The Contenders” section of the site for the 2011 Oscar race and now that we’re just over 25% of the way completed with the new year I figured I may as well take a quick look back and see if there’s anything to concern myself with.
January is easy to dismiss as there wasn’t a single film that caused a blip on the Oscar radar and February can be just as easily dismissed leaving March as the lone month with anything worth possibly discussing.
The obvious titles to begin with include The Adjustment Bureau (solid chemistry between Damon and Blunt, but no chance), Jane Eyre (could possibly remain part of the conversation, but only as a “last one in” contender) and Win Win, which is the one with the best shot, but where?
If you wanted to extend to the first two weeks of April and add Hanna and Meek’s Cutoff feel free, but neither will stick with the Academy. Hanna is my favorite film of the year so far, but it’s not Academy material and while it’s got a great score, so did TRON: Legacy and we all know how that turned out. Meek’s is too bleak and too minimalist to be remembered beyond the next couple of weeks at best.
As far as I see it, the live action possibilities are very slim so far. Win Win could register some nominations, potentially for Paul Giamatti and perhaps for Tom McCarthy’s screenplay. I would love to see Amy Ryan get noticed, but I seemed to be alone in really digging her performance. Jane Eyre has several good performances, but I’m not putting any stock in Wasikowska or Fassbender getting mention.
I guess all we’re left with is the year’s first crop of animated films, which is at five so far by my count.
- Gnomeo and Juliet (Disney)
- Rango (Paramount)
- Mars Needs Moms! (Disney)
- Hop (Universal)
- Rio (Fox)
There was a film called Mia and the Migoo that was released in March, but I’m not sure it will count toward the Oscar total.
There are still quite a few animated features left this year that should give us five nominees this time around including Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil, The Lion of Judah, Kung Fu Panda 2, Cars 2, Winnie the Pooh, The Smurfs, Puss in Boots, Happy Feet 2, Arthur Christmas, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. Did I miss any?
I’m sure one or two will pop up out of nowhere that I wasn’t aware of, but for now I count 16 and possibly 17, which is enough for five nominees. Question is, will Pixar take home another with Cars 2 and if not what’s going to take it?
