Features
Headlines
Search
Archives
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”
24 responses so far
1 1-02-2010 at 7:11 pm
Brooke said...
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 1-02-2010 at 8:08 pm
red_wine said...
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 1-02-2010 at 8:26 pm
Pablo (Col) said...
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 1-02-2010 at 8:29 pm
Speaking English said...
“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 1-02-2010 at 8:30 pm
AmericanRequiem said...
inglourious or hurt locker seem like the only of the top 4 with a chance getting in here
6 1-02-2010 at 8:31 pm
AmericanRequiem said...
maybe a serious man suprise or a single one at that?
7 1-02-2010 at 8:50 pm
Andy said...
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 1-02-2010 at 8:50 pm
Kevin said...
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 1-02-2010 at 9:06 pm
Lev Lewis said...
Wow, if your predictions pan out …
10 1-02-2010 at 9:32 pm
Mr. Milich said...
I’ll take NSFW over NSFC…
11 1-02-2010 at 10:14 pm
Paul Outlaw said...
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 1-02-2010 at 10:38 pm
Dean said...
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 1-02-2010 at 11:54 pm
Rob said...
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 1-03-2010 at 12:46 am
Glenn said...
Oh god, if Tilda Swinton wins I think I’d cry.
15 1-03-2010 at 12:54 am
Andrew2 said...
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 1-03-2010 at 1:20 am
kel said...
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 1-03-2010 at 3:33 am
aspect ratio said...
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 1-03-2010 at 5:46 am
Michael said...
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 1-03-2010 at 5:47 am
valious said...
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 1-03-2010 at 10:09 am
Zak said...
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 1-03-2010 at 12:06 pm
Andrew said...
Picture: Hurt Locker
Actress: Streep
Actor: Stuhlbarg
Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique or Kendrick
Supporting Actor: Harrelson
Screenplay: Up in the Air
22 1-03-2010 at 12:39 pm
Patryk said...
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 1-03-2010 at 12:40 pm
Patryk said...
Forgot the biggest one of all: Best Director – Kathryn Bigelow “The Hurt Locker.”
24 1-03-2010 at 12:41 pm
Me. said...
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