Branden del Rio
News Editor
This year there are 10 films up for the Best Picture Award including “Toy Story 3,” “127 Hours,” “The Kids Are All Right,” “Inception,” “True Grit,” “The King’s Speech,” “Black Swan,” “The Social Network,” “ The Fighter “ and “Winter’s Bone.”
Each film is deserving of an award in its own respect, but there are a few standouts.
“Inception” deserves the award because it is a film like no other. The combination of plot, cast and the special effects create an entire experience for the audience. Seeing Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page in the dream worlds that defy the laws of physics and reality is worthy of an award itself.
“Black Swan” is a thriller set in the intense world of professional ballet. This film too boasts a unique story, superb acting and disturbingly gorgeous special effects. But real driving force behind this film is Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Nina, the naïve and child-like ballerina.
Over the course of the film we see Nina lose her sanity as she struggles to portray the seductive Black Swan. Portman trained in classical ballet for six months and does an excellent job of portraying Nina’s descent into madness.
No film nominee does a better job of capturing a snapshot of the present better than “The Social Network.” The highly fictionalized tale about the founding of Facebook has a cast of young actors including Jesse Eisenburg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake. The ensemble cast was led by the brilliant team of screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and director David Fincher.
These films are all worthy of the Best Picture Award. However, the non-commercial film, “The King’s Speech” could be the surprise winner.
Colin Firth should win Best Actor in a Leading Role for his stellar performance in “Speech.”
Nicole Kidman should take Best Actress because of her emotional portrayal of a mother in mourning in “Rabbit Hole.”
It is a no-brainer that “Toy Story 3” will win Best Animated Feature.
Geoffrey Rush should win Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the King George VI’s speech therapist in “The King’s Speech.”
Hailee Steinfield deserves to win Best Supporting Actress but the award may go to someone with more seniority as Amy Adams or Helena Bonham Carter.
To see the results tune in to ABC on Sunday at 8 p.m.
Branden del Rio can be reached at branden.delrio@laverne.edu.
