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And the Nominees Are…
As I touched on recently, the Academy have changed their rulings so that 10 films can be nominated for the big Best Picture prize at next years Academy Awards. Whilst 2009 has had some grand films, none really stand-out as Best Picture and many predict it will come down to the hardest predict Oscar‘s night for a long time. So I had a think about it and these are the 10 films I suspect will get the noms for Oscar night.
Amelia
This was the tough choice. It was either this or Clint Eastwood‘s Invictus. Both are based on incredible true stories, Amelia of course being about Amelia Earhart and Invictus is about Nelson Madelia. I was going to put Invictus because of the combination of Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, however I have a strong feeling that film will get delayed, so here is Amelia to fill it’s true story spot in the top 10. It also has Oscar favourites Hillary Swank and Richard Gere and it should be just the sort of tastefully tacky picture audiences and Academy both fall for. Definitely not the stand-out film on the list, but I will be highly surprised if this doesn’t get a nod.Amelia will be released in cinemas from November 12
An Education
An Education is currently one of the front-runners, I would dare to say that it will have the shortest odds come next year. The reviews so far have been amazing, Carey Mulligan gives a break-out performance that will put her on the path to stardom. It is also a period piece and is exactly the sort of film the Academy goes bonkers for, plus it is British and only one year this decade hasn‘t featured a British film. Add in Nick Hornby‘s amazing script (yes I have read it) and you have a film that is shaping up as the clear favourite. What is working against it? It may just be a little bit small time and a bit too indie for the Academy. Only time will tell.An Education will be released in cinemas from October 22
Brothers
So this list features two Iraq war movies. However, unlike the other, this is not set in Iraq and could play has a very well made thriller-drama when compared to the confronting war of the other film. So why do I think this deserves a nod in front of the other 30 Iraq films released each year? Firstly the cast. Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire. Early reports have it that Maguire puts in the performance we have been waiting 10 years for and he finally shows he actually has dramatic talent, whilst Gyllenhaal and Portman are past-nominees. The big card here though is Jim Sheridan, name might mean nothing to you, but he has had a fantastic career that has garnered him 6 Oscar noms, but no wins. This could be the year for Jim!Brothers is expected to hit cinemas in February or March
District 9
Ok I could cop a bit of flack for this. In my mind though District 9 in the wild-card, the dark horse, the one that could just do what so many sci-fi flicks have failed to do before it. Whilst I doubt it would ever win, I hope it just gets a nomination, because lets be honest, no other film this year was as original or as engaging to watch. It was one of the years best and does indeed deserve to be nominated for Best Picture. If it doesn‘t then you‘ll get just as much out-cry as you got last year when Dark Knight was snubbed. In the end though, I could just be hoping for a little too much.District 9 has already shown in cinemas and will be available on DVD and Bluray early next year
The Hurt Locker
This should please a lot of you on here! Personally I haven‘t seen it, mainly because Perth hasn‘t had it at a festival yet, however I haven‘t seen a film as well received as this one this year. A nomination is a definite, I have no doubt about that (yes I will bet my other, and last remaining, testicle on that!) however it will have its work cut out for it if it wants the award. I mainly say this because it is directed by a female, the Academy have never acknowledged the female director’s working in the industry. Although Jeremy Renner is odds on fav to win Best Actor, which is great, but I think that could be the only award it goes home with on Oscar night.The Hurt Locker will be released in cinemas from February 4
The Lovely Bones
I don’t like Peter Jackson, never have, never will, so my enthusiasm for this project isn‘t that high. However of all the films on the list, this is the sort of film the Academy is likely to recognise. Ignore the early reports that call it a generic thriller rather than a hard-hitting drama and focus on the actual film. One of the greatest books of all-time, adapted by one of the greatest film-makers of all-time, starring a cast that features some of the current and all-time greats and a story that has strong messages, heaps of originality and a whole lot of heart. I don‘t think it will win the Oscar, but it will get very close and just looking at the trailer suggests it will be one of the emotional highlights of the year. Good luck.The Lovely Bones will be released in cinemas from December 26
The Men Who Stare At Goats
If Burn After Reading can get nominated for all the awards it did, then Goats (as the cool kids call it) should definitely get a BP nom. Haven‘t seen the trailer? Well please do, it looks absolutely gold and it features the best cast of any film on this list. You have Clooney, Spacey, Bridges of the Jeff kind and Mr. Ewan McGregor. You also have a fresh director, a script by a fresh writer and a story based on a best-selling book. Could be the breath of fresh-funny air that Hollywood really needs, plus I also think that 2009 is Clooney‘s year. He has two films on this list and another that just missed out, but that one will probably win Best Animated Feature.The Men Who Stare At Goats is expected to hit cinemas in February or March
Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire
Whilst only a few films are getting better reviews than Precious, it is one film that I feel may not get the Oscar recognition it truly deserves. Whilst Mo’Nique already has the supporting actress Oscar, the film’s director has burnt many bridges in Hollywood over the years with his previously produced films. The Academy hates being disrespected and rarely forgive people who bag them, hence I don’t see Precious getting a nomination or the Award, but its on the list cause it deserves to be and fingers crossed the Academy will get over themselves and nominate this film.Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire will be released in cinemas from February
Up in the Air
At this very date in time Up in the Air is favourite for the Best Picture award. It has received cracking reviews from its festival showings, some of which made me wet at their awesomeness. It also has nothing working against it. You have previously nominated writer/director in Jason Reitman, you have a previous winner in the lead with Clooney, you have Anna Kendrick who puts in the break-out performance of the year and the story is original, funny, fresh and life affirming. I can‘t say anything more about it really, because I guarantee that come next year you would have all seen, loved and being cheering on Up in the Air.Up in the Air will be released in cinemas from January 7
Where the Wild Things Are
I couldn‘t not include this film on the list. Whilst it may have been in production hell for the good part of 18 months, it is hard to deny the potential this film has and we‘ve only seen the trailers! I personally expect this to scoop the production Oscar‘s, but it could very well become a BP shoe-in when it gets released next week in the US, first reviews will be critical to how far this film will go in the race, but I have a strong feeling this will be the classic we have all become to expect of it. I truly hope that this gets nominated and Jonze‘s work is honoured.Where the Wild Things Are will be released in cinemas from December 3
And this concludes the 10 films I think will get nominated at the Oscars next year.
12/10/2009
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Comments
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Remember though, this year has 10 nominations. If 1 ****ty film could get in last year, you have to expect that a couple of average ones will get in this year. If I had to pick between Goats and Wild Things, I reckon its going to be hard for the Academy not nominate Wild Things. Yes it has only got good reviews, but it has that "awards" feel about it. It will hard for them to go past it.
01/12/2009
Nut Up or Shut Up!
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I think reviews can be a pretty good indication. Especially bad reviews removing a film from contention; maybe not so much for good reviews putting it in contention.
I don't feel Wtwta has been as well received as we expected a few months back, even you only gave it 3/5. I don't think the Academy would be nominating underperformers. Which it was. Maybe the indie-ness could get it across the line, probably a bit harsh for me to include it in the same list as Amelia.
For starters on Goats, it's sitting on 6.9/10 on IMDb, i know completely amatuer rating to go by, but that's also a fair indication that this hasn't provided what it promised. A similar styled dark comedy like A Serious Man has a bit more promise in my opinion.
And the Reader was a terrible choice... it was nothing special, good acting, but meh. *Sigh* I dunno.
01/12/2009
"You gotta enjoy the little things" in Melbourneland
Kudos: 12,169
Cause reviews really set a precident for what gets nominated 
The Reader got a nom last year with only 61% on RT.
Amelia is out of contention and I reckon Brothers might be as well, but Goats has got good reviews and so has Wild Things and both are the sort of films Academy always nominates.
01/12/2009
Nut Up or Shut Up!
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Hmm... i think only about 6 are still in contention Milky.
Amelia seems to be getting an atrocious reception, 5.8 on IMDb! Brothers has only 67% on RT, The Men Who Stare at Goats sounds like a complete dissapointment, after that great trailer. And Where the Wild Things Are seems like a definite no, not too well received either.
01/12/2009
"You gotta enjoy the little things" in Melbourneland
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Milky-Shee said: Depor23 said: You really think Where the Wild Things Are will get a nomination? I know there's 10 nominees this year but still..big call, especially seeing that it hasn't been released yet. Barely any of these films have been released yet. Its just as big a call as The Lovely Bones
In fact only 2 have been released (one in Australia!), so this list is a pretty big call!
Ps. I'm not liking the look of An Education...
13/10/2009
"You gotta enjoy the little things" in Melbourneland
Kudos: 12,169
Depor23 said: You really think Where the Wild Things Are will get a nomination? I know there's 10 nominees this year but still..big call, especially seeing that it hasn't been released yet.
Barely any of these films have been released yet. Its just as big a call as The Lovely Bones 
13/10/2009
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You really think Where the Wild Things Are will get a nomination? I know there's 10 nominees this year but still..big call, especially seeing that it hasn't been released yet.
13/10/2009
Brisbane, Queensland
Kudos: 12,169
IAMColonel said: Ps. In what lifetime did Richard Gere do well in the Oscars?
My bad! I was thinking of his Golden Globe (plus he has been nom'd a few times for those). But his time has probably come where he deserves an Oscar, like Morgan Freeman only got his cause he had come to deserve it over his career. Plus I don't care what you say, he isn't my fav either, but Gere is pretty good actor.
Also... just in general... I'd like to add that Shutter Island isn't on the list because of its delayed release date, which means it will not be alledgable for nomination unless they release it in LA and NY in 10 cinemas before Dec 31, which they probably won't do considering it is almost 2 months before its official date.
12/10/2009
Nut Up or Shut Up!
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I likey, i likey!
Really great list. A couple I wasn't even considering - not that i've thought much into it - like Brothers, Goats and Precious, I'll keep my eyes peeled now!
Up in the Air really does look the goods.
Ps. In what lifetime did Richard Gere do well in the Oscars? 
12/10/2009
"You gotta enjoy the little things" in Melbourneland
Kudos: 12,169
(500) Days of Summer is a great film, you know how much I love it, but its just not the sort of film the Academy nominated... especially not for BP.
12/10/2009
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What about (500) Days of Summer?
To be honest, I've never watched the Oscars. Might have to this year.
I really hope The Hurt Locker does, such a great film.
But if it doesn't....
I'll have the full set XD
12/10/2009
Geelong,Victoria
Kudos: 12,169
There was some noticeable missing films and I‘d be happy to talk them through with you, I have been working on this list for the good part of a week and I believe, as a massive Oscar follower, that this will be very close to the final 10 nominees.
Notable missing films include Inglourious Basterds, Shutter Island, Invictus, A Serious Man, Bright Star, The Informant, Avatar, The Road and Nine.
Please Digg. Thank you.
12/10/2009
Nut Up or Shut Up!