This year was an odd one for movies with a slate of strange indies, like “The Black Swan”, and thought provoking big flicks, like “Inception”. These were coupled with some films that TGATP wanted to like but had mixed feelings about like “The Tourist”, “Barney’s Version”, and “Burlesque”. I am very annoyed that “For Colored Girls” which had the most amazing acting of the whole year is being overlooked. Kimberly Elise and Anika Noni Rose brought such raw and subtle intensity to their roles that it is an absolute crime that the film is being totally overlooked this awards season! This is especially galling considering the amount of praise that was heaped on that embarrassing piece of crap and affront to all of Black womanhood, “Precious” last year! Neither Monique nor Gabrielle turned in half the performance of any of the women in “For Colored Girls”. Perhaps Hollywood needs its Black actresses to portray completely trifling stereotypes in order to recognize them at awards time.
Here are my predictions and my views on who should win.
(Who will win is in RED and who should win is in PINK.)
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
Michael Douglas, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”
Andrew Garfield, “The Social Network”
Jeremy Renner, “The Town”
Geoffrey Rush, “The King’s Speech”
Christian Bale, “The Fighter”– Awesome job from Christian, who completely disappeared into the role and made audiences forget he is the Dark Knight.
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams, “The Fighter”
Helena Bonham Carter, “The King’s Speech”
Mila Kunis, “Black Swan”
Melissa Leo, “The Fighter”
Jacki Weaver, “Animal Kingdom”
As usual, Melissa Leo completely morphed into character.
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy
Johnny Depp, “Alice in Wonderland”
Johnny Depp, “The Tourist”
Paul Giamatti, “Barney’s Version”
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Love and Other Drugs”
Kevin Spacey, “Casino Jack”
Paul made the character of Barney likeable despite his annoying misgogynism.
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy
Anne Hathaway, “Love and Other Drugs”
Julianne Moore, “The Kids Are All Right”
Annette Bening, “The Kids Are All Right”
Emma Stone, “Easy A”
Angelina Jolie, “The Tourist”
Annette Bening, “The Kids Are All Right” – Bening at her best as the lesbian
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Jesse Eisenberg, “The Social Network”
Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
James Franco, “127 Hours”
Ryan Gosling, “Blue Valentine”
Mark Wahlberg, “The Fighter”
Jesse’s portrayal of the annoyingly, but brilliant, Mark Zukerberg made me want to deactivate my Facebook pages!
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Halle Berry, “Frankie and Alice”
Nicole Kidman, “Rabbit Hole”
Jennifer Lawrence, “Winter’s Bone”
Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
Michelle Williams, “Blue Valentine”
Loved Natalie and found the film disturbing. But again, Kimberly Elise “For Colored Girls” should’ve been nominated and should’ve won. As an abused mother and career gal, who suffers the greatest tragedy imaginable, delivered a gut wrenching performance that made me sob every time she hit the screen in the last half of the film.
Best Director — Motion Picture
Darren Aronofsky, “Black Swan”
David Fincher, “The Social Network”
Tom Hooper, “The King’s Speech”
Christopher Nolan, “Inception”
David O. Russell, “The Fighter”
Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” was one of the greatest directorial achievements of all time. While Fincher is always great and should’ve won for “Benjamin Button”, this year should be Nolan’s.
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
“Alice in Wonderland”
“Burlesque”
“The Kids Are All Right”
“Red”
“The Tourist”
“The Kids Are All Right”– All the other films were just ok.
Best Motion Picture, Drama
“Black Swan”
“The Fighter”
“Inception”
“The King’s Speech”
“The Social Network”
The Social Network will win. Inception should win. I loved the Social Network but Inception had a much more original concept and some of the most creative direction and effects of all time.
Best Screenplay — Motion Picture
“127 Hours”
“The Kids Are All Right”
“The King’s Speech”
“The Social Network”
“Inception”
This category is a tie for TGATP. Inception was a completely innovative, abet somewhat confusing, story within a story with spiritual overtones. “The Social Network” had such an incredible screenplay it made you feel like you were re-living the story.
Best Animated Feature Film
“Despicable Me”
“How to Train Your Dragon”
“The Illusionist”
“Toy Story 3”
“Tangled”
“Toy Story 3”– Just incredible entertainment for all ages.
Best Foreign Language Film
“Biutiful”
“The Concert”
“The Edge”
“I Am Love”
“In a Better World”
Two words: Javier Bardem.
Best Original Song — Motion Picture
“Bound to You,” “Burlesque”
“Coming Home,” “Country Strong”
“I See the Light,” Tangled
“There’s a Place for Us,” “Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” Burlesque
Cher will win because she is Cher. But Christina should win because she is Christina! Her voice is the best in the current pop business and was the best thing about the film.
Best Original Score — Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplot, “The King’s Speech”
Danny Elfman, “Alice in Wonderland”
A.R. Rahmin, “127 Hours”
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, “The Social Network”
Hans Zimmer, “Inception”
Hans Zimmer, “Inception” – Driving and pulsating, the music was a main character in this film making it one of the few films, where the music was memorable after the credits rolled.
