Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 18:08 2011 Oscar countdown: WGA, Annie Awards and Best Actress
I owe an apology to the readers of Imitation. I've been a little bit tied up during the last few days and I've neglected the Oscar race. I address this apology particularly to those who have written asking about the reasons for this hiatus in such a crucial moment of the awards season. Nothing flatters a blogger's ego more than anonymous interest, so thanks for that and sorry again. I promise to remain focused from now on until the big night.
So, where did we leave off? The King's Speech continued its undisturbed cruise to Oscar victory with wins at the Producers', Directors' and Screen Actors' Guild Awards.
In the meantime, the Writers' Guild Awards have honoured Christopher Nolan for its original script for Inception and, unsurprisingly, to Aaron Sorkin for its adaptation work in The Social Network. Don't take this too seriously, though, at least as far as the honour for Inception is concerned. Due to the WGA's peculiar eligibility rules, Seidler's screenplay for The King's Speech was not in contention. I still think it will prevail, come Oscar time. Regardless of that, Inception's victory was interesting enough. I would have expected The Kids Are All Right to benefit from The King's absence and win in the original screenplay category. It might be an indication that Inception is actually Seidler's main contender for the Academy Award. I don't expect it to happen but it would be a way to recognize a film that otherwise will take home only technical awards.
The animation film industry had its big night with the Annie Awards, which in a controversial decision gave its top honours to DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon over Pixar's Toy Story 3. It was an expected result taking into account Pixar's feud with the International Animation Film Society (ASIFA), which is the organizer of the Annie Awards. In response to Kung Fu Panda's upset victory over Wall-E two years ago, Pixar and Disney withdrew their membership from ASIFA in protest at the voting procedures, thus thwarting their chances of a win any time soon. I was hoping the quarrel to end up with a victory for The Illusionist, one of the most beautiful films (animated or not) I have seen in years, but I know it would be too much to ask from the IAFS. As for Pixar's tantrum, and taking into account Pixar's and Disney's overwhelming dominance in the Annies over the last 20 years, all I have to say is that they should deal with a little more dignity the fact that, once every decade or so, someone out there might actually think the best animated film of the year is not one they have made.
Meanwhile I have seen the two Best Actress-nominated films I still had to watch: Black Swan and Rabbit Hole.
On account of Belgium's provincial release dates, I had to literally travel to another country (admittedly, a comfortable 90 minutes ride to the Netherlands) to catch a screening of Black Swan before the Oscars. I was terribly disappointed with the film, whose denouement is unable to live up to its excellent first half part. Having said that, Natalie Portman is terrific in the lead and she will be a deserved Oscar winner. I'm glad Mila Kunis didn't get the Oscar nod many had predicted. The two other actresses in the film would have been more deserved recipients of a supporting nomination: Barbara Hershey as the Hitchcockian mother (watch out for her at the BAFTA) and Winona Ryder in her short but memorable turn as the aging ballerina.
I was pleasantly surprised with Rabbit Hole, maybe because I was not expecting much. It is a classical, stagy drama that won't be remembered in ten years' time, but Nicole Kidman is superb as a devastated mother grieving her son's death, her pain and suffering genuine and nuanced all along the film.
Portman's and Kidman's performances round up a flawless Best Actress category. I still think Michelle Williams should win for Blue Valentine, but winning an Oscar is often a question of timing, and this is Portman's moment of glory. She will win and few could argue she doesn't deserve it.
Reader Comments (1)
Glad to see Imitation of Life is back on track after the short hiatus to keep us informed about the upcoming Oscar night. We need your posts now more than ever!!!
Concerning Pixar-Disney's tantrum, as you put it, about no being awarded with the "Best Animation Movie" for Wall*e: I am totally suportive of their cancelling membership of ASIFA. Really, is there anyone out there who seriously thinks that Kung Fu Panda is a better movie than the great story of little robbot in love? Imagine the tantrum you'd get if someone you think should get an award for their performance was robbed of it by some undeserving candidate (wink, wink). Moreover, it was the voting procedures they were complaining about... And let's be honest: as of today, Pixar DOES make the best animated long-features. It is hard to imagine that "someone out there might actually think the best animated film of the year is not one they have made".
If a world-wide known Spanish director can get away with having a tantrum and, subsequently, withdrawing his membership from the Spanish Movie Academy (for the exact same reasons and Pixar, by the way) without losing face, why shouldn't Pixar...
Take care, see you soon!