Oscars 2011: What My Ballot Would Look Like

We're less than 30 hours away from the big awards ceremony tomorrow night. All of the ballots are in, so at this point, the Oscar season is all but over. No more campaigns, no more lobbying, no more analysis. It's just a matter of waiting for the envelops to be open.

I was hoping to be able to have more in depth analysis of the awards before tomorrow night, with essays and such, but my ineffective timing in starting the blog, and the annoyance of school work and actual work has made it difficult. I'm hoping that this time next year I'll be able to have delivered some great insight into the awards.

For today, however, I wanted to post what my Oscar ballot would look like, if I in fact had the honor of having one. Please note this is not my predictions for tomorrow night, but how I would vote based on what is nominated, and what I saw from 2010. Comments are provided for the bigger categories. I won't bother listing each nominee in every category, but instead just list my vote. Enjoy!

Best Actor: Javier Bardem, Biutiful
Where films were overall down this year, one are where they really shined was in acting. All of the performances nominated this year are well deserving, and there are even some that didn't get nominated that deserved recognition as well. My pick for best actor is perhaps a bit of a shock, but Bardem gives such a moving performance in this Innaritu picture that I simply could not get it out of my head. He says so much throughout the film by just his expressions. There is so much emotion happening with this character, and Bardem is able to bring it all to the surface.

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
This was a difficult one for me to decide on, as John Hawkes is just as great in Winter's Bone. However, it's hard to ignore just how in tune Bale becomes with the washed up fighter Dicky Eklund. His Boston accent is pitch perfect. Easily his greatest scene is his viewing of the documentary, and his revelation at what the filmmakers were actually there for. Such powerful performance.

Best Actress: Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
The best part of this indie gem, and a performance that did not have one false note. Although Natalie Portman is deserving as well (and in the better film in my opinion), Bening gives such a moving and real performance as Nic, the control-obsessed mother of her family. Her methods may not be always right, but her means are, evidenced in the film's final few scenes.

Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
The Coen brothers were skeptical that they could even find a pre-teen girl to play the role of Mattie Ross, then in stepped Steinfeld. In her debut role, Steinfeld shares the screen with acting greats such as Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin. She holds her own against them all, and steals most every scene. Her charm can't be understated, and to be honest, I still do not understand why she is nominated in Supporting Actress. Her character is the center of the film's story, and she is in almost every scene of the film. She should be in lead actress. Perhaps the Academy placed her here figuring she'd have the better shot at winning the award. It wouldn't be a shock, or the first time it's happened.

Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
This is a no brainier.

Best Art Direction: Inception
Although Alice in Wonderland had some very imaginative set pieces, Inception was able to pull off the "less is more" look. So many times I was engaged in various scenes just by the way they looked. The opening shoot out is a great example.

Best Cinematography: True Grit
Again, a lock for me. Deakins did such a terrific job being the Coen Brother's eyes for their western retelling.

Best Costume Design: The Kings Speech

Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network
Unfortunately, Christopher Nolan, who was my favorite director credit of the year, was not nominated. However, Fincher is just as deserving. He does a terrific job of letting this be the character-driven story that it is, while still able to mesmerize us with interesting angles and character reactions that complete the film.
 
Best Documentary: Inside Job
The most important film of the year. One that needs to be recognized so that more people will see and understand its impact on society.

Best Film Editing: 127 Hours
Lately, Best Editing has come to mean, "most cuts". In that case, this is The Social Network's to lose. However, 127 Hours does a terrific job of drawing us into Ralston's story, and keeping us engaged for just over 90 minutes. The highlight of the film is without a doubt the amputation scene.

Best Foreign Language Film: Biutiful
This gets my vote by default, as it is the only film I saw out of the five nominated. I feel that will be the case with plenty of voters, as the star power of Javier Bardem will drive many to see this before the other films. However, that does not mean it is undeserving of the award. This is a powerfully emotional film, driven by Bardem's brilliant performance.

Best Makeup: The Wolfman
Ugh. I hate to vote for this, but it's makeup was the only redeeming factor.

Best Original Score: The Social Network
What drives The Social Network to be the gripping drama that it is, besides its script and casting, is the terrific score. It is extremely haunting, especially in its opening moments, as Zuckerberg jogs through Harvard.

Best Original Song: "We Belong Together", Toy Story 3
Randy Newman won back in 1996 for "You've Got A Friend in Me" from the original Toy Story. What better way to honor the series than hand it it's second award of the night for a terrific parallel to Newman's original classic?

Best Sound Editing: Inception
Best Sound Mixing: Inception
Inception is the best technical film of the year, and so it makes sense to award it many of the technical awards that it is up for, no?

Best Visual Effects: Inception
Again, it had the best eye candy of the year. It's hard to argue against the street raising scene. Or the water collapse. Or...basically any scene.

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Aaron Sorkin creates a masterfully executed script. So much happens in this film that two views are needed just to appreciate anything that you missed the first time around.

Best Original Screenplay: The Kids Are All Right
Lisa Cholodenko's script tackles so many issues of today's society, and brings rich characters to life in an amazing way. Such an unforgettable film, that begins with the script.

Best Picture: The Social Network
Although not a life changing film, or even perhaps the generation defining film, The Social Network is the best film in a somewhat weak year. We may look back on this year a decade from now and realize that, in fact, The Social Network was the generation definer that so many have made it out to be, but for now, it's just a great film about how no one is immune to the idea of power.

There you have it, my Oscar ballot, if I had one. Check back tomorrow for my final Oscar picks, and watch the Oscars tomorrow night!