Oscar Picks

I don't care if you all think I'm one big F-A-G quee-ah for doing this, but I thought it'd be fun to make some Oscar picks. You guys all picked your favorite albums of the year, but I'm not as into music as you guys are (though I'm getting there). Movies are my music.

Best Picture: 127 hours

How do you make an interesting movie about a guy trapped by a falling boulder, all by himself? Watch and see- it was a good one. The popular favorite choice is the King's Speech, which I thought WAS good, but not great. It'll probably win because of the accents and period piece costumes/ art direction. If the Social Network wins, I may boycott Facebook in protest. It was another good movie, but not Best Picture worthy.

Best Actress: Natalie Portman- Black Swan

Black Swan was nowhere near the best movie of the year, but it probably would not even have been made without Natalie Portman. She WAS this movie. Her descent into utter madness is rivaled only by Russel Crowe in A Beautiful Mind. I am admittedly biased towards Ms. Portman (I think my crush has officially crossed over from the playfully entertaining to the criminally obsessive), but this was a performance for the ages.

Best Actor: Colin Firth- The King's Speech

The King's Speech would have been nothing without his performance. When his Prince Albert (hehe), affectionately called Bertie by family and friends, would mount a podium for an official royal speech, you could almost SEE his throat swallowing itself in stutters. Honorable mention: James Franco- seriously, watch 127 hours.

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo- The Fighter

I'm not sure how to describe her performance- gritty, determined, anything but cliched, as a mother trying to do well by both sons, whose interests conflict. She was essentially a mother choosing between sons. A powerful performance. Possible upset: Amy Adams- The Fighter. Hard to say who was better in this movie, but my gut picks the conflicted mother over the commited girlfriend. Possible upset #2: Hailee Steinfeld- True Grit. She stole the show in a re-make of a John Wayne western while sharing screen time with Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon. Need I say more?

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale- The Fighter

If you've ever met a crack head, you would feel how accurate his performance is, down to every tic, voice inflection, and manic diatribe. Furthermore, his performance as a crackhead is all the more powerful when you consider that he also plays the all-American vigilante anti-hero Bruce Wayne. His range as an actor is impressive.

Best Director: David O. Russel- The Fighter

Three out of the four main characters in this movie are nominated for an Oscar (Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo). The fourth is Marky Mark, who can bring a lot of interesting projects to the screen (silver or small) as an E.P., but is somewhat lacking as an actor. I have to assume the common denominator was the director, who made a mediocre story into a great film by virtue of the actors' performances, without a big budget or elaborate costumes.

Moral of the post- Scott, you aren't the only one who reads this site (or makes overly long posts, for that matter). Must see movies of the year include 127 Hours, The Fighter (much better if watched with your brother), True Grit, The King's Speech, The Social Network (I love a good smart ass), Black Swan (but only once- it was creepy).

Also, if you can check your macho male ego, see No Strings Attached, possibly the most underrated comedy since Death at a Funeral (British version). It's probably the best movie to cover previously undocumented topics (friends with benefits/ fuck buddies) since Knocked Up. And it's vulgar as shit and you see Natalie Portman in vaious states of undress (see above).

How's that for "keeping it Shanty", young Rustic?