Most Promising of 2010′s Slate?

Posted on 03/09/10 134 Comments

Most Anticipated Best Picture Contender

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133 Comments

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  1. 1

    Bruce says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:04am

    Sasha,

    What about Sofia Coppola’s “Somewhere”?

  2. 2

    jimbo says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:12am

    Early semi-random prediction:
    Best Foreign Language Film- Hearat Shulayim

  3. 3

    Ziyad Abul Hawa says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:15am

    Miral!

    Julian Schanble new pic, with Hiam Abbass and Freida Pinto, which is going to be about… (what used to be) My Highschool! I’m so effin’ excited for this, I visited the shooting a couple of times, looks awesome.

  4. 4

    ryan - the original lower case "r" says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:17am

    I’m calling it now (or have been for awhile)

    Inception for Best Picture
    Christopher Nolan for Best Director and Orig. Screenplay
    Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Actor
    Wally Pfister for Cinematography

    And nominations (possible wins) for:

    Art Direction
    Editing
    Score
    Sound Editing
    Sound Mixing
    Visual Effects

    And I’m predicting a Supporting Nomination for:
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt

    Ridiculous? Maybe. If it’s what we hope it is, that’s the type of Hollywood movies we look forward to. Big budget production, with low budget intelligence and creativity. Christopher Nolan knows how to make Hollywood look good.

  5. 5

    Z says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:18am

    This is my first post here, but I’ve been checking in here for some time now. Sasha, you do a wonderful job analyzing and covering the Oscar race, always a pleasure to read.

    The film I’m most looking forward to is
    Woody Allen’s “You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger”

  6. 6

    steandric says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:25am

    Mother and Child, Fair Game, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger – 3 Ms. Naomi Watts’ starrers that you’ve chosen to snub.

  7. 7

    wabbit says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:29am

    or maybe one of these?:

    Hereafter
    Director: Clint Eastwood
    Writer: Peter Morgan
    Starring: Matt Damon
    A supernatural thriller centered on three people – a blue-collar American, a French journalist and a London school boy – who are touched by death in different ways.
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212419

    Biutiful
    Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
    Writer: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Armando Bo
    Starring: Javier Bardem
    A man involved in illegal dealing is confronted by his childhood friend, who is now a policeman.
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1164999

  8. 8

    Bruce says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:37am

    Alejandro González Iñárritu makes recycled films. Funny this is his first feature that he is writing himself and not Arriaga. It will be interesting to see how “Biutiful” turns out!

  9. 9

    Katie says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:43am

    Where is Derek Cianfrance’s BLUE VALENTINE for Best Picture? Ryan Gosling for Best Actor and Michelle Williams for Best Actress.

  10. 10

    Todd says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:47am

    I love these prognostications about what movies are gonna be great and win Oscars, before the film has even been released. I have just three things to say:

    1. Nine
    2. The Lovely Bones
    3. Amelia

  11. 11

    a-mad says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:48am

    Sasha, where is Toy Story 3… or did I just miss it?

    With 1 and 2 being one of, if not the best, reviewed films in their respective years – I would think 3 would deserve to be included on your list.

  12. 12

    Bruce says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:50am

    It is just fun Todd. Wouldn’t it be cool if the leader “Inception” at this point did in fact win BP next year???

  13. 13

    Ryan Adams says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:53am

    added:
    The Company Men
    The Fighter
    Hereafter
    Somewhere
    Black Swan
    The Eagle of the Ninth
    Chloe
    Margaret
    The King’s Speech

    (The King’s Speech):
    “A chronicle of King George VI’s effort to overcome his nervous stammer with the assistance of speech therapist Lionel Logue”

    Helena Bonham Carter … Queen Elizabeth

    Colin Firth … King George VI

    Guy Pearce … Edward VIII

    Timothy Spall … Winston Churchill

    Michael Gambon … King George V

    Geoffrey Rush … Lionel Logue

    Jennifer Ehle … Myrtle Logue

    Derek Jacobi … Dr. Cosmo Lang

    Directed by Tom Hooper (The Damned United and all 7 episodes of the miniseries, John Adams)

  14. 14

    Will says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:54am

    Robert Redford’s The Conspirator?

  15. 15

    Craig says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:55am

    No Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?!?!

  16. 16

    Bruce says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11:55am

    Now I just hope “Inception” is good lol!!! Come on Ryan!

  17. 17

    Danny says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:00pm

    Inception
    Harry Potter
    Tron
    Toy Story 3

    Yeah, I’m a fanboy. So be it. These movies will be epic.

  18. 18

    Monkey says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:04pm

    Lubezki’s work on Malick’s Tree of Life and TRON Legacy/Inception/Iron Man 2 VFX nominations are the only prediction I’ve got. Keeping it safe for now.

  19. 19

    DCIJB says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:08pm

    What about The Way Back by Peter Weir???

  20. 20

    Afrika says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:24pm

    Now that Meryl Streep didn’t win I don’t give a damn about the Oscars anymore. They can suxxxxxx my hairy balls.

  21. 21

    SnowWhite00 says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:25pm

    Glaring omissions that aren’t “off the radar” either.

    Miral – Julian Schnabel
    Tall Dark Stranger – Woody Allen
    The Way Back – Peter Weir

  22. 22

    Alper says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:27pm

    Miral is a very strong contender.

  23. 23

    Rodrigo says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:32pm

    Of movies released so far this year … do you think A Prophet and/or Fish Tank have any chance?

  24. 24

    Joolz says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:34pm

    What about ‘The Kids are Alright’, the Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo film that got great reviews at Sundance and elsewhere?

  25. 25

    Matthew Starr says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:35pm

    You guys seriously think Inception will have a shot at winning BP next year? The Academy did not even nominate The Dark Knight.

    Maybe a best pic nod with the ten nominees….but a win I doubt it. When was the last time an action/psychological thriller won?

    Maybe Silence of the Lambs but Inception looks more action packed than Silence.

  26. 26

    Jonathan Jordan says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:36pm

    i agree with Peter Weir’s “The Way Back.” pretty much every time that man makes a movie it gets Oscar nominations…now if only he could win!

  27. 27

    Ziyad Abul Hawa says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:37pm

    My vote goes to Miral, of course

  28. 28

    Erik 815 says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:39pm

    “Margaret”? Really? Isn’t it time someone called that one so we can bury it and move on with our lives? Aren’t Matt Damon’s kids older than he was when he made that by now?

  29. 29

    Ken G says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:44pm

    This time, Chris Nolan’s movie is not based off a comic book superhero. I think that’s the biggest reason why it has a shot, at least, for a best picture nominee especially if there’s gonna be ten nominations. At least Nolan has a great chance of garnering a Best Director nod which he definitely deserves.

    I’m really excited about Tree of Life though if it turns out to be really good, we’ll have a whole lot of people accepting awards for Terrence Malick, since he’s never in public and apparently there’s only one stock photo available of him on the internet. It’d be nice if he showed his face more this time around, wishful thinking, I know. It’s all a part of his “mystique.”

  30. 30

    loyal says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:44pm

    Inception of course.

    Clearly I haven’t learned a lesson from the past 2 Oscar seasons, lmao.

  31. 31

    Ryan Adams says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:45pm

    Good call, Joolz. Though it didn’t win anything at Sundance, so that’s cause to pause. We’ll add it anyway because of the star wattage.

  32. 32

    Dominik says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:48pm

    I´m most looking forward to see “Miral”, because Julian Schnabels last movie “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is my favourite film of the last decade!

    And the new Woody Allen, of course. He has some misses in his filmography, but I´m a huge admirer since many years.

  33. 33

    Glenn says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:51pm

    2010 is going to be the year Annette Bening and Julianne Moore finally get their Oscars!!!! I can see The Kids are Alright being an actors film.

  34. 34

    Alper says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:52pm

    The Whistleblower or Rabbit Hole???.

  35. 35

    Uljanov says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:01pm

    Buried, the best movie of 2010, Awesome!

  36. 36

    Bill S. says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:05pm

    The one I’m looking forward to the most is Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood even though I don’t think it’s going to be anywhere near the Oscars this time next year — which is fine. I have a feeling the big winner isn’t even on our radar screen at the moment.

    Rodrigo (#23),

    I believe A Prophet isn’t eligible for anything this year because it was nominated for Foreign Language last year — IIRC, the Academy closed that loophole a couple of years back.

  37. 37

    Jesus Alonso says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:07pm

    John Cameron Mitchell’s Rabbitt Hole with Nicole Kidman. The guy DID both Hedwig & The Angry Inch and Shortbus. You can expect only great things from a man like this.

    Margaret: 4 years delayed already. Heard bipolar opinions: awesome and shit. Also on Anna Paquin’s performance, either is a 2nd Oscar locked or just meh. I bet this is going straight to video unless someone remembers Anna is now really famous thanks to True Blood and that Matt Damon is a big star. But it’s been into a shelf for too long (doesn’t this just remember me Jessica Lange’s Oscar for “Blue Sky”?). But Paquin’s stardom didn’t stop the wonderful Trick ‘r Treat to be a direct to DVD release even thought the great reception it had in Festival circuit.

  38. 38

    Ben M. says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:09pm

    I don’t buy Inception has having much of a shot to win, maybe getting one of the blockbuster slots with 10 films but I think it would be just as likely to completely tank. If any sci-fi film has a legit shot at winning it would probably have to be Tree of Life, but still a lot needs to happen for any film to be considered a serious cotender.

    My most anticipated film of the year is Toy Story 3 and I agree it should be considered a contender, with Up’s nomination and the love for Pixar films and the Toy Story series I feel it has a good shot to get in as long as it delivers.

  39. 39

    DAVID says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:17pm

    Where on EARTH is Never Let Me Go?

  40. 40

    Dr. Strangelove says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:21pm

    Toy Story 3.

  41. 41

    zazou says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:24pm

    #10 TODD…Good list Who knows what will succeed and most importantly just where Hollywood’s head will be come Oscar time.

  42. 42

    Ken G says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:24pm

    I don’t see why Inception doesn’t have a shot. Unless you count “Insomnia,” Nolan hasn’t really misfired so far and since everyone is anticipating the movie, I’d say it most certainly has a shot.

    Think of it this way, did you think (at this point last year) that Inglourious Basterds had a shot at being nominated? I sure as hell didn’t and it turned out to be one of my favorites. Sure, Inception could turn out to be a confusing mess like last year’s Public Enemies, but right now, I don’t see any reason why it doesn’t have a legitimate shot. It’s got a high risk/reward thing going on for itself, but that’s enough for me.

  43. 43

    Watermelons says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:25pm

    Strange to not see Alice in Wonderland on this list…

  44. 44

    jse33 says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:31pm

    If Paramount can make sure people don’t forget Shutter Island, I think Leo has a shot at being nominated. That was a pretty diverse performance with alot of different emotions involved. I hope it manages a few tech awards as well.

    I voted for True Grit. The Coens, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and Jeff Bridges = I’m there. Inception is also up there, but I’m a bit more excited for True Grit.

  45. 45

    zazou says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:31pm

    Having posted that comment I must say I am looking forward to Robin Hood…and of course whatever Peter Weir has directed.

  46. 46

    Ryan Adams says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:34pm

    DAVID,
    Kazuo Ishiguro wrote the novel Never Let Me Go. He also wrote The Remains of the Day, and the film adaptation was nominated for 8 Oscars. Ishiguro has won the Whitbread and Booker prizes in the UK. Never Let Me Go is the most recent addition to TIME magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest novels published since 1923. (thanks wiki)

    The adaptation of Never Let Me Go was written by Alex Garland (The Beach). It’s directed by Mark Romanek (music video stylishness). Cinematographer Adam Kimmel (Capote).

    Starring: Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield, Sally Hawkins, Charlotte Rampling

    Amazon.com synopsis:

    All children should believe they are special. But the students of Hailsham, an elite school in the English countryside, are so special that visitors shun them, and only by rumor and the occasional fleeting remark by a teacher do they discover their unconventional origins and strange destiny. Kazuo Ishiguro’s sixth novel, Never Let Me Go, is a masterpiece of indirection. Like the students of Hailsham, readers are “told but not told” what is going on and should be allowed to discover the secrets of Hailsham and the truth about these children on their own.

    Offsetting the bizarreness of these revelations is the placid, measured voice of the narrator, Kathy H., a 31-year-old Hailsham alumna who, at the close of the 1990s, is consciously ending one phase of her life and beginning another. She is in a reflective mood, and recounts not only her childhood memories, but her quest in adulthood to find out more about Hailsham and the idealistic women who ran it. Although often poignant, Kathy’s matter-of-fact narration blunts the sharper emotional effects you might expect in a novel that deals with illness, self-sacrifice, and the severe restriction of personal freedoms. As in Ishiguro’s best-known work, The Remains of the Day, only after closing the book do you absorb the magnitude of what his characters endure.

    Never Let Me Go is a Fox Searchlight project.

  47. 47

    Amanda says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:36pm

    My dark horse pick is Blue Valentine, with Gosling and Williams getting acting nods.

    and is Margaret finally coming out?

  48. 48

    lizzie says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:46pm

    I am really looking forward to The King’s Speech. Perhaps they will actually vote for the best actor for Colin this time. Of course they may think he is due now.

  49. 49

    Chris says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:49pm

    True Grit and The Tree of Life are the strongest contenders right now. Toy Story 3 is probably a safe bet for a nom with 10 Nominees at this point as well.

  50. 50

    THE Diego Ortiz says:
    Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 1:51pm

    Is IronMan 2 not a best pic contender?

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