2009-12-15 14:46:42

GOLDEN GLOBES & OSCAR GLORY: Up in the Air?

Filed under: Film,News
Posted by: Craig

With this morning’s announcement of the Golden Globe nominations, the Oscar race officially heats up. By nominating comedies/musicals as well as dramas, the Golden Globes raise the hopes of numerous actors, producers and studios for Academy Awards. For example, a film like Nine is suddenly taken much more seriously as an Oscar contender because of the Golden Globe recognition. The Hurt Locker was bolstered by honors from the New York and Los Angeles film critics. The foreign press loves the outrageous talents of Quentin Tarantino and his bold reimagination of World War II, Inglourious Basterds. I foresee an Oscar for supporting actor Christoph Waltz but not for Tarantino. Fox is undoubtedly thrilled that James Cameron has delivered a masterful mix of technology and storytelling in Avatar. But none of them will win the Oscar.

The winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture (and frankly, might as well hand it out today and save all that costly campaigning) will be UP IN THE AIR. Why? It represents Hollywood at its best. It is serious, but accessible, timely and timeless. It provokes and entertains, offers gorgeous actors in stylish roles with a whiff of sophistication. Three strong performances enliven a smart script. While the Academy has given plenty of recognition to smaller, independent films in the last few years, when offered an opportunity to affirm the studio system, they will gladly take it.

Jeff Bridges has garnered surprising kudos for his portrait of a hard living country crooner in Crazy Heart. Surely, no actor has offered a more surprising array of performances (from a shaggy alien in Starman to a crash survivor in Fearless through the legendary Big Lebowski) without an Oscar on his mantle. But I sense that Crazy Heart may be too minor an entertainment (it was created for CMT–Country Music Television) to garner an Oscar.

The Academy would undoubtedly love to honor the Cary Grant of our era, George Clooney as Best Actor for Up in the Air. He has proven himself a serious actor in diverse films like Good Night and Good Luck, Michael Clayton, and Syriana (for which he won Best Supporting Actor). With Up in the Air, the Academy has a perfect opportunity to affirm his artistry and his star power.

I am hopeful that Kathryn Bigelow will be nominated as best director for the riveting Hurt Locker. She has prospered in a decidedly man’s world, a tribute to her talent and drive. Yet, as the son of Hollywood veteran , Jason Reitman is the leading contender for best director. He has made three smart films (Thank You for Not Smoking, Juno and Up in the Air), a tough thing to pull off in any era but almost unheard of within blockbuster biased studios today. Reitman may also get extra points as a director for co-writing the savvy screenplay.

The close race for Best Actress may come down to campaigning. Who carries themself with enough grace on the red carpets ahead? Whose story fits better into a sound bite for Barbara Walters or Entertainment Tonight? Does Hollywood want to discover a new talent or affirm an underappreciated one? For best actress in a drama, the Golden Globes tapped Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria, Helen Mirren for The Last Station, Carey Mulligan’s starmaking turn in An Education, Gabourey Sidibe’s gutwrenching performance in Precious, and Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side. Meryl Streep will probably be nominated for Julie & Julia but surely she has already received enough Oscar gold.

Emily Blunt and Helen Mirren may be handicapped by small period pieces that few moviegoers will see. I caught An Education and Precious during their premieres at Sundance. Both films delighted our industry heavy audiences. There is such a rush discovering new talent, seeing an unheralded performer burst onto the big screen. Carey Mulligan is captivating as a smart young woman bored by her English school. She falls for an older man who offers fast cars and sophisticated bars. Mulligan captures all the heartbreak and knowledge that comes from such adolescent experiences—a memorable education.

Gabourey Sidibe absolutely inhabits Precious. Her character’s perseverance amidst overwhelming odds is quite admirable. Sidibe’s monosyllabic performance is even more surprising when you discover how vivacious she is off screen. As voters see just how much craft went into her performance, Sidibe’s prospects for Oscar gold may rise.

But if I had to wager, I’d put my money on Sandra Bullock. She has delighted audiences for so long with so little appreciation of her dedication and craft. Only drawback, The Blind Side is not the kind of film that Hollywood necessarily likes–rural, Southern, and sweet. Yet, Sandra Bullock’s warm and generous portrait of real life role model, Lee Anne Tuohy, offered audiences in the flyover district between New York and Los Angeles a rare opportunity to see someone like themselves—a bright Christian mother who makes a tangible difference in her community. The overwhelming word-of-mouth success of this “small” movie, blindsided Hollywood. The Academy may have to realize that Bullock took the riskiest role—potentially sacrificing credibility in liberal Hollywood enclaves by playing a heroic, conservative Christian housewife. Now that’s news!

Comments (2)

2 Comments »

1. I think you may be right Craig about “Up In The Air” winning the Best Picture trophy. But I wonder (come February/March) if the film will be all out of steam? This feels like an uncertain season already, especially after today’s Golden Globe nominations. If I had to throw money now at a dark horse winner, it’d be for “Precious.” I think with Lee Daniels in charge (if he gets a best director nod and wins, he’ll be the first gay African-American to win in that category) and strong female performances, it has a serious chance of winning the best picture prize. Plus, upsets are always kind of fun. Aren’t they?

   Comment by Neville — December 16, 2009 @ 11:28 pm

2. It really depends on who picks up steam heading into the nominations and final round of voting. Avatar may have some strong legs–driving interest up while other pictures crank down.

   My Mom recently went to see Precious. That is way out of her wheelhouse–a good sign about how far ranging its audience can be….

   Comment by Craig — December 18, 2009 @ 11:32 pm

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