To my chagrin, the week’s new BFCA scores have given only one film a noticeable Oscar boost, while knocking down a few others I was anticipating. Still, I’m very pleased for Black Swan, which swoops in with a scintillating 93 to¬†feather not only¬†Natalie Portman’s nest for Best¬†Actress, but also Picture, Director, and any number of tech categories. This is looking more and more like the real deal.
Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist, for which I had high hopes, starts out with a 78, running behind Toy Story 3 (97), Tangled (85), How to Train Your Dragon (84) and even¬†Despicable Me (79) in this year’s highly competitive Animated Feature race. Maybe its score will go up? Maybe other critics will love it more? If not, the Oscar bunny might have escaped for good.¬†
Starting the week with a pretty good 83, Blue Valentine (78)¬†now sinks into low 3-star territory, while Mike Leigh’s Another Year (77)¬†enters the fray in that unenviable position. Neither looks like a BP candidate any longer unless the more indie-friendly critics’ groups¬†pick up the slack, which they seriously could for AY. Showing not many reviews yet, Another Year boasts a terrific 96 at RT, with an average rating of 8.1 to keep¬†its hopes¬†alive. In any case, the BFCA score¬†shouldn’t have much impact on Lesley Manville’s nomination, but an accompanying¬†BP nom could help her to win, if placed in supporting.¬†Blue Valentine is sitting on an early 85 at RT, with an average rating of 7.2. Probably a non-starter¬†in best picture, but again, the nom chances¬†for Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams¬†might not¬†be¬†affected by¬†BFCA’s tepid attitude toward the film as a whole.
The King’s Speech – 98
Toy Story 3 – 97
The Social Network – 95
Inception – 94
Black Swan – 93
127 Hours – 90
The Town – 87
The Kids Are All Right – 85
Tangled – 85
Winter’s Bone – 85How to Train Your Dragon – 84
Made in Dagenham – 84
Secretariat – 83
Animal Kingdom – 82
Get Low – 82
Fair Game – 81
The Ghost Writer – 81
Shutter Island – 81
Mother and Child – 80
Never Let Me Go – 80
Conviction – 79
Despicable Me – 79
Blue Valentine – 78
The Illusionist – 78
Another Year – 77
Megamind – 76
Morning Glory – 76The Company Men – 74
Love and Other Drugs – 74
Hereafter – 73
The Next Three Days – 73
For Colored Girls – 63
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