Write On! Review: Oscar Picks

The Oscars are on Sunday, February 27, on ABC! After a year of film viewing—with a lot squeezed in this past week—here are my picks for winners in the 83rd Academy Awards in the key categories. (My pick is the first name in bold under the category).

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Thanks, Ron H., for being a sounding board on the picks!

Writing (original screenplay)
The King’s Speech
Another Year
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right

The King’s Speech seems to be trending as the all-around favorite, which makes me think it will win in several categories, but I wouldn’t rule out The Fighter.

Writing (adapted screenplay)
The Social Network
127 Hours
Toy Story
True Grit
Winter’s Bone

Again, I’m basing this pick on overall popularity and visibility. The Social Network was brought back to the movie theaters during awards season, receiving more promotion and a nice second life. That said, the not-as-widely-seen Winter’s Bone could be a surprise. The gritty and extremely realistic story is unusual and unexpected.

Best Picture
The King’s Speech
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter’s Bone

Director
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
David O. Russell, The Fighter
David Fincher, The Social Network
Joel and Ethan Coen, True Grit

Actor in a Leading Role
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
Javier Bardem, Biutiful
Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
James Franco, 127 Hours

All outstanding performances—particularly Javier Bardem’s—but Colin Firth is due after missing out on A Single Man to Jeff Bridges. Bardem and Bridges have their Oscars; it’s Firth time.

Actress in a Leading Role
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Natalie Portman may deserve Oscar simply for her grueling physical preparation and 20-pound weight loss for the role as a ballerina with an obsessive compulsive disorder. It’s a very disturbing performance, and Portman is flawless—a contradictory study in exterior beauty and interior madness. That said, I think the four-time Oscar nominated Annette Bening (who is terrific in The Kids Are All Right) is due an Oscar, and it would be nice to see the win go to her.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale, The Fighter
John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids are All RIght
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

If not for The Fighter, this would be a win for Geoffrey Rush—he’s just always so good. But Bale—our cool and collected Batman—delivers a remarkably unhinged performance as Dicky Eklund, a crackhead and former boxer.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Tough call. Amy Adams’ character in The Fighter dished it out as good as Melissa Leo’s. And I could see the real Queen Mum in Helena Bonham Carter’s portrayal in The King’s Speech. But Leo really worked that hair and attire.

Animated Feature Film
The Illusionist
How to Train Your Dragon
Toy Story 3

The Illusionist is remarkably poignant, melancholy, sweet and enchanting—this year’s Up. I loved this film!

Foreign Language Film
Biutiful (Mexico)
Dogtooth (Greece)
In a Better World (Denmark)
Incendies (Canada)
Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi) (Algeria)

What’s missing from this list? Cairo Time should have been nominated!

Documentary Feature
Inside Job
Exit through the Gift Shop
Gasland
Restrepo
Waste Land

What are your Oscar Picks? Do you agree? Please comment below.