In Contention

Predict the NSFC Awards

Written by

in

Tomorrow my personal favorite precursor body, the National Society of Film Critics, will announce their 2009 winners.

Regular awards-watchers will know that the NSFC is generally the most highbrow of the critics’ groups, as well as the most independent-minded — last year, they went wholly against the Oscar grain, giving Best Picture to “Waltz With Bashir” and four major awards to “Happy-Go-Lucky.” They can, however, be ahead of the curve when it comes to late-breaking Oscar heavies — think “The Pianist” or “Million Dollar Baby.”

This year, however, I’m guessing they’ll stick to the status quo: with such modest box-office, it seems critics want to give “The Hurt Locker” all the help it can get in the race. With that in mind, Kathryn Bigelow’s film could become the first to sweep the big three critics’ prizes since “L.A. Confidential” in 1997.

My predictions after the cut. What are yours?

Best Picture: “The Hurt Locker”
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
Best Actor: Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”
Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, “Julia”
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds”
Best Supporting Actress: Edith Scob, “Summer Hours”
Best Screenplay: Michael Haneke and Jean-Claude Carriere, “The White Ribbon”
Best Foreign Language Film: “Summer Hours”
Best Non-Fiction Film: “The Beaches of Agnes”
Best Cinematography: Greig Fraser, “Bright Star”

Comments

24 responses to “Predict the NSFC Awards”

  1. Brooke Avatar

    Oh, how would I love it if Edith Scob won at least one thing this year. She was so brilliant in that film; way more canny and intelligent than so many other older actresses would have played it. I can only imagine that a potential (gurk) English remake would cast somebody like Joan Plowright in it and they would dodder around for half an hour.

  2. red_wine Avatar
    red_wine

    I think The White Ribbon might make a clean sweep of the cinematography with the Top critics if it wins here. They’ll definitely like The White Ribbon. I just want Summer Hours to atleast win 1 Best Picture and it could only happen here. But more Hurt Locker love would be great as well. In Best Actor Bridges & Clooney have 1 each from the other 2, so maybe Firth or Renner could take one here.

  3. Pablo (Col) Avatar
    Pablo (Col)

    I really doubt Mo’Nique doesnt grab it. She is unstoppable at this time.

    Cant believe they choose Waltz with Bashir last year. That is one of the slowest films ever.

    I think Up in the Air will win big here.

  4. Speaking English Avatar
    Speaking English

    “Waltz with Bashir” one of the slowest films ever? What are the kinds of films you usually watch!?! Jesus. I can hardly think of a more absorbing fusion of aesthetic and substance, every frame a piece of art, stunningly animated.

  5. AmericanRequiem Avatar
    AmericanRequiem

    inglourious or hurt locker seem like the only of the top 4 with a chance getting in here

  6. AmericanRequiem Avatar
    AmericanRequiem

    maybe a serious man suprise or a single one at that?

  7. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    Picture: A Serious Man
    Director: Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
    Actor: Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man)
    Actress: Streep (Julia and Julia)
    Supporting Actor: Harrelson (The Messenger)
    Supporting Actress: Morton (The Messenger)
    Screenplay: A Serious Man

  8. Kevin Avatar
    Kevin

    While I don’t quite share the reservations of Pablo, I’m inclined to disagree with you (Speaking English) on Waltz’s merits. I’ve watched it a good three times and found it to be highly atmospheric, very well crafted and stunningly animated as you say but ultimately, a tad hollow and confused about its message and tone.

  9. Lev Lewis Avatar

    Wow, if your predictions pan out …

  10. Mr. Milich Avatar
    Mr. Milich

    I’ll take NSFW over NSFC…

  11. Paul Outlaw Avatar
    Paul Outlaw

    Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
    Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
    Best Actor: Viggo Mortensen, The Road
    Best Actress: Helen Mirren, The Last Station
    Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
    Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
    Best Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
    Best Foreign Language Film: Summer Hours
    Best Non-Fiction Film: Mugabe and the White African
    Best Cinematography: Greig Fraser, Bright Star

  12. Dean Avatar
    Dean

    Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
    Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
    Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix, Two Lovers
    Best Actress: Gabby Sidibe, Precious
    Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
    Best Supporting Actress: Julianne Moore, A Single Man
    Best Screenplay: A Single Man
    Best Cinematography: The White Ribbon
    Best Non-Fiction Film: The Cove
    Best Foreign Film: The White Ribbon

  13. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Best Picture: A Serious Man
    Best Director: Michael Haneke, The White Ribbon
    Best Actor: Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
    Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, Julia
    Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
    Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, Precious
    Best Screenplay: Inglourious Basterds
    Best Foreign Language Film: Summer Hours
    Best Non-Fiction Film: The Beaches of Agnes
    Best Cinematography: The White Ribbon

  14. Glenn Avatar

    Oh god, if Tilda Swinton wins I think I’d cry.

  15. Andrew2 Avatar
    Andrew2

    Sasha at Awards Daily has gone out on a limb and predicted Bright Star in Director, Actress and Picture (if not THL). Gosh I hope she is right!!!

  16. kel Avatar
    kel

    Best Picture…The White Ribbon
    Best Director…
    Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
    Best Screenplay…
    Joel & Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
    Best Actor…Colin Firth, A Single Man
    Best Actress…Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
    Best Supp Actor…
    Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
    Best Supp Actress…Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
    Best Documentary…Food Inc.
    Best Cinematography…The Hurt Locker

  17. aspect ratio Avatar
    aspect ratio

    I’d imagine The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds or A Serious Man if they pick an English-language film, and The White Ribbon or Summer Hours if they go foreign-language.

  18. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    why can’t your predictions be the eventual Oscar winners too? seriously, this will be the year that everyone remembers when Tilda Swinton was robbed and all of the best actress performances will never live up to.

  19. valious Avatar
    valious

    Best Picture: “An Education”
    Best Director: Jason Reitman
    “Up in the Air”
    Best Actor: Colin Firth
    “A Single Man”
    Best Actress: Carey Mulligan
    “An Education”
    Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer
    “The Last Station”
    Best Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick
    “Up in the Air”
    Best Screenplay: A serious man
    Best Foreign Language Film: A prophet
    Best Non-Fiction Film: The Beaches of Agnes
    Best Cinematography: Nine

  20. Zak Avatar

    Best Pic – Up in the Air
    Best Director – Bigelow
    Best Actor – George Clooney
    Best Actress – Meryl Streep
    Best S. Actor – Christoph Waltz
    Best S. Actress – Mo’Nique

  21. Andrew Avatar
    Andrew

    Picture: Hurt Locker
    Actress: Streep
    Actor: Stuhlbarg
    Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique or Kendrick
    Supporting Actor: Harrelson
    Screenplay: Up in the Air

  22. Patryk Avatar
    Patryk

    Picture: “The Hurt Locker”
    Actor: Christoph Waltz “Inglourious Basterds”
    Actress: Tilda Swinton “Julia”
    Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson “The Messenger
    Supporting Actress: Meryl Streep “Julie and Julia”
    Screenplay: “Inglourious Basterds”
    Cinematography: “Bright Star”
    Foreign Language Film: “The Maid”
    Non Fiction Film: “Food, Inc.”

  23. Patryk Avatar
    Patryk

    Forgot the biggest one of all: Best Director – Kathryn Bigelow “The Hurt Locker.”

  24. Me. Avatar
    Me.

    I’m going to predict out of gut instead of logic. :D

    Best Picture: Bright Star
    Best Directing: Jane Campion, Bright Star
    Best Actor: Ben Whishaw, Bright Star
    Best Actress: Abbie Cornish, Bright Star
    Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
    Best Supporting Actress: Mélanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds
    Best Screenplay: A Serious Man
    Best Foreign Language Film: The White Ribbon
    Best Non-Fiction Film: The Beaches of Agnes
    Best Cinematography: a tie between White Ribbon and Bright Star

    Most of these will be wrong but I have my hopes. =D