In Contention

POLL: Predict the 2010 Best Picture nominees

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Also by request, I’ve updated this week’s sidebar poll.  It’s October and I know a number of you haven’t been able to see most of the contenders, but it’s good to get an early gauge of what the readership thinks will be nominated come January.  And it dovetails nicely with our new Calling All Predictions feature.

In the left sidebar I have listed what I think are the 27 films with a legitimate shot at a Best Picture nomination this year.  Granted, things can change.  Something could jump up and surprise.  And we all know there are films that will fall out of contention.  So perhaps we’ll update with another poll later in the season.  But for now, I’d say 27 is a beefy enough number, and in case someone wants to go out onto a limb, the requisite “other” selection has been included.  Just be sure to let us know in the comments section here what you’re thinking.

So have at it.  You can select no more than 10 so just crank out your predictions and we’ll see how right (and wrong) you all are in a few months time.

Comments

51 responses to “POLL: Predict the 2010 Best Picture nominees”

  1. Mike Ward Avatar

    Winter’s Bone for my other…

  2. Corey Avatar
    Corey

    My predictions weren’t far off from yours, Kris, but take out THE FIGHTER and THE WAY BACK and replace them with THE TOWN and WINTER’S BONE (my “other” prediction).

  3. JJ1 Avatar
    JJ1

    I agree with 9 out of Kris’ 10 for now. The only exception is that I still have Shutter Island in, and The Fighter out.

  4. Dean Avatar
    Dean

    Winter’s Bone?

  5. Kristopher Tapley Avatar

    Winter’s Bone is actually on the list. I moved your vote there, Mike.

  6. Dylan Avatar
    Dylan

    I try to be free-thinking and everything…..but then I look up and see that I match Kris 10/10.

    I think it might be neat to do a “10 most wanted BP nominations” and see how it differs.

  7. Chad Hartigan Avatar

    Forced to choose right now, I think Shutter Island will get in before Inception does.

  8. americanrequiem Avatar
    americanrequiem

    i still dont see inception as the slam dunk everyone seems to think it is, we’ll see. Im still rooting for shutter island

  9. Loyal Avatar
    Loyal

    My 10 hasn’t really changed much over the past month or so.

    127 Hours
    Another Year
    The Fighter
    Inception
    The Kids Are All Right
    The King’s Speech
    The Social Network
    Toy Story 3
    True Grit
    The Way Back

    For Colored Girls is tracking well at the box office. If it can make $100m, I think it’ll get in despite any lack of critical support (assuming it’s crap), “The Blind Side Spot” if you will.

  10. John Avatar
    John

    No way for Shutter Island.

    Swap The Way Back with The Town and Another Year with Black Swan.

  11. Loyal Avatar
    Loyal

    My 10 are more or less unchanged for quite some time now.

    127 Hours
    Another Year
    The Fighter
    Inception
    The Kids Are All Right
    The King’s Speech
    The Social Network
    Toy Story 3
    True Grit
    The Way Back

    IF For Colored Girls manages $100m, I think it’ll break into the 10 despite any lack of critical support (assuming the film is a mess). The “Blind Side Spot” if you will.

  12. James Avatar
    James

    My predictions were identical to Kris. I didn’t really leave myself up for any surprises, but that could change in the next month or so.

    I guess the only ones I’m not confident on and two of which haven’t been seen is
    True Grit
    The Fighter
    The Way Back

    I’d be surprised if the Coens misfired on this one, but its certainly possible. Is the Academy in love with Westerns? I’m not so sure. Do they respect and admire the Coens? Thankfully yes they do.

    The Way Back. Glad to see this back in the oscar discussion. Very interested in seeing this, but while Weir is certainly admired, will the film receive tons of love?

    The Fighter. Honestly I’m not sure where to place this, but that ad last night jacked my excitment back up. I mean its tough to say. This could be a potential character drama that will hit the right notes with the Academy or it will be a fell good story that will hit those same notes either way.

  13. Loyal Avatar
    Loyal

    My 10 are more or less unchanged for quite some time now

    127 Hours, Another Year, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The King’s Speech, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit, The Way Back.

    IF For Colored Girls manages $100m, I think it’ll break into the 10 despite any lack of critical support (assuming the film is a mess). The “Blind Side Spot” if you will.

  14. matsunaga Avatar
    matsunaga

    I doubt about the chances of “The Fighter”…

    “Inception” is holding at the tenth spot for me…

  15. Andrew M Avatar
    Andrew M

    Right now, I’m going back and forth on Rabbit Hole and Winters Bone. I don’t know, but I think Rabbit Hole could be a big surprise.

  16. Duncan Houst Avatar

    My opinion is old news at this point, but what I put down for Other: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1”

  17. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    My two others:

    Matt Reeves’s : “Let Me In”
    Alexander Payne’s : “The Descendants”

  18. tony rock Avatar
    tony rock

    Inception is in. Deal with it.

  19. ann Avatar
    ann

    Right on tony rock, i don’t understand why people are against inception getting nominated, i want the oscar to embrace more popular film, not exclude the public. And plus there is ten spots for a reason, so it deserves a spot as much as the others.

  20. Kristopher Tapley Avatar

    Ed: The Descendants is confirmed for 2011.

  21. W.J. Avatar

    127 Hours, Another Year, The Fighter, Hereafter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit, Winter’s Bone

    I’ve been feeling all along that The King’s Speech has no clothes. Carter and Rush may be good picks in the weak supporting fields. Firth’s a possibility, although he’s coming off a recent nod in a more competitive field. It looks like it’s trying too hard to be Oscar bait, and those kind of films (Memoirs of a Geisha, Dreamgirls, Invictus) sometimes miss completely even if they pick up multiple nominations elsewhere.

    I think a lighter comedy/drama (Country Strong, How Do You Know, Love & Other Drugs) will make it in, but who knows which one–if any–will be the kind of populist champ that Oscar voters respond to.

  22. Ángel Ramos Avatar
    Ángel Ramos

    My predix:

    1. The Social Network
    2. The King’s Speech
    3. True Grit
    4. Inception
    5. 127 Hours
    6. Toy Story 3
    7. The Kids Are All Right
    8. Another Year
    9. Winter’s Bone
    10. Black Swan

  23. Derek B. Avatar
    Derek B.

    I went with pretty much the obvious, the top 9 on the poll as of right now, and swiveled between How Do You Know and For Colored Girls as my final choice, because I think something more unexpected could sweep in.

    1. The Social Network
    2. The King’s Speech
    3. The Kids Are All Right
    4. Inception
    5. Toy Story 3
    6. Another Year
    7. True Grit
    8. 127 Hours
    9. Black Swan
    10. How Do You Know

    Close behind: For Colored Girls, The Town, Rabbit Hole

  24. The Dude Avatar
    The Dude

    I match up with Kris in everything except I have “Black Swan” in instead of “The Fighter.” I would love to see “Somewhere” nail a nomination (I’m a Coppola fans and early reviews suggest it’s my type of movie), but I don’t think it’ll happen sans some massive critical movement for the film.

  25. Angry Shark Avatar
    Angry Shark

    In order of most likely to get nominated:
    1. Toy Story 3
    2. The Social Network
    3. The King’s Speech
    4. 127 Hours
    5. Inception
    6. The Kids Are All Right
    7. True Grit
    8. Another Year
    9. The Way Back
    10. The Fighter

    I think Black Swan may find love elsewhere, but come up short in Best Picture.

  26. Michael Dalton Avatar

    I predicted

    127 Hours
    Another Year
    Black Swan
    Inception
    Toy Story 3
    The Fighter
    The Kids Are All Right
    The Social Network
    The Kings Speech
    True Grit

    Would love to see Shutter Island get in though

  27. Edwin Drood Avatar
    Edwin Drood

    alphabetical order:

    127 Hours
    Another Year
    For Colored Girls
    Inception
    The Kids Are All Right
    The King’s Speech
    Love and Other Drugs
    The Social Network
    Toy Story 3

    and either “The Fighter” or “Shutter Island”

  28. Mike_M Avatar

    Didn’t put Black Swan or Shutter Island in, but would love for them both to be there… need to see how things are looking later on.

  29. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Put it this way: I think Shutter Island would have difficult time getting in in the year of 15, let alone five or ten. Too many factors are against this happening.

    My list (I feel pretty good about the first seven):

    The Social Network
    The King’s Speech
    Toy Story 3
    Inception
    127 Hours
    True Grit
    Another Year
    The Kids are Alright
    Black Swan
    The Way Back

    The other five possibilities:
    The Rabbit Hole, Winter’s Bone, Love & Other Drugs, The Town (before The Fighter), Made In Duggenhiem

  30. Sawyer Avatar
    Sawyer

    The Fighter seems like the kind of movie I will like, but the critics will punch holes through it. A lot like The Lovely Bones last year. I think Bale will receive most of the acclaim, like Tucci last year, and that will be it.

  31. Ivan Avatar
    Ivan

    ANOTHER YEAR pic/supporting actress/o. screenplay
    INCEPTION pic/director/cinematography/film editing/art direction/visual effects/sound mixing
    THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT pic/actress/actress/ o. screenplay
    THE KING´S SPEECH pic/director/actor/supp. actor/supp. actress/o. screenplay/art direction/costume design/o. score
    127 HOURS pic/actor/cinematography/film editing/sound mixing/sound editing
    THE SOCIAL NETWORK pic/director/actor/supporting actor/adapted screenplay/film editing
    TOY STORY 3 pic/adapted screenplay/animated feature/o. song/sound editing
    TRUE GRIT pic/directors/adapted screenplay/cinematography/film editing/art direction/costume design
    THE WAY BACK pic/director/supporting actor/adapted screenplay/cinematography/film editing/sound mixing/o. score
    WINTER´S BONE pic/actress/adapted screenplay

  32. Cameron Avatar
    Cameron

    BEST PICTURE:
    1. The Social Network
    2. True Grit
    3. The King’s Speech
    4. Inception
    5. Toy Story 3
    6. 127 Hours
    7. Another Year
    8. Black Swan
    9. The Kids Are Alright
    10. The Way Back

  33. Pepe Avatar

    Never Let Me Go is not on the list

  34. THE Diego Ortiz Avatar
    THE Diego Ortiz

    ORDER BASESD ON CURRENT POLL PERCENTAGES

    Social Network (for the kids)
    King’s Speech (cause it’s british)
    Inception (for the snub)
    Toy Story (cause it’s pixar)
    127 Hours (it just is)
    True Grit (cause it’s coens)
    Kids Are Alright (indy comedy slot)
    Fighter (cause it’s boxing)
    Colored Girls (it’s racist if it’s not nominated)
    Shutter Island (martin and leo sitting in a tree…)

  35. Kristopher Tapley Avatar

    Pete: What factors? There is only one: lack of critical approval. That’s not “too many factors.”

  36. Red Avatar

    Pretty much the same as you have on the sidebar, except I have “Made in Dagenham” and “Winter’s Bone” instead of “The Kids Are All Right” and “The Fighter”.

  37. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Tapley, lack of criticial acclaim is the big one but there are other ones I can name:

    I’d say that an early release date can genuinly count as a big factor in the race too. I don’t think you can argue with that. (Here I am tempted to bring up the fact that the movie’s original release date got moved and how to me it signaled that the studio itself viewed (correctly, I might add) “Shutter Island” as more of a commercial movie than an Oscar movie but this is a sore point for some and I don’t want to be occused of overanalyzing things).

    In addition, there’s my subjective notion that Scorsese, having won an Oscar is no longer looked at as the overdue director he’s been considered for so much of the last couple of decades. As the result he might no longer be given as much slack by the voters. And to put it bluntly, Scorsese’s latest might be the victim of not measuring up with his previous. And as Eastwood has proven recently, even esteemed directors who seem to have a hot Oscar streak are not automatically guaranteed another nomination.

    I can continue. Scorsese’s most visible star DiCaprio has had a far bigger success in another movie, and with a character thats while different also shares certain similarities. Again, the movie will not benefit from such comparisons.
    Moreover, in a year of Black Swan and Inception, I really don’t think there is much of a room for a weaker contender for a brilliant “weird movie slot”.

    There is more I can say but I think this should be enough. You may not fully agree with all of my points but it should be clear that I try to choose words with care when I used plural “factors” I meant just that. And in a thread that asks for user input that should be good enough.

  38. Matthew Starr Avatar

    Anchor Bay is showing City Island as part of the Variety series for guild members in LA and NY. Is that movie supposed to be a contender?

  39. Matthew Starr Avatar

    By the way. Jacki Weaver’s face is totally dominating this site right now.

    Hopefully FS, Roadside and Lionsgate start advertising/promoting Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lawrence and Nicole Kidman ten fold.

  40. Jeremy Avatar
    Jeremy

    1.The Social Network
    2.The King’s Speech
    3.127 Hours
    4.True Grit
    5.Toy Story 3
    6.The Kids Are All Right
    7.Another Year
    8.The Way Back
    9.Inception
    10.Black Swan

    I would love to see Winter’s Bone make it!

    I’m not sure about The Fighter. It looks really good, and with amazing performances. But, i don’t think it will be nominated for Best Picture. I think it will only get acting nominations… And, from the look of the trailer, Melissa Leo and Christian Bale look amazing in it!

  41. Thomas Sentina Avatar
    Thomas Sentina

    – The King’s Speech
    – The Social Network
    – The Kids Are Alright
    – Toy Story 3
    – Black Swan
    – Fair Game
    – For Colored Girls
    – 127 Hours
    – Inception
    – The Way Back

  42. KB Avatar
    KB

    1. The King’s Speech
    2. The Social Network
    3. 127 Hours
    4. Toy Story 3
    5. Black Swan
    6. The Kids Are All Right
    7. True Grit
    8. Inception
    9. Another Year
    10. The Fighter

  43. Laurie Buffington Avatar
    Laurie Buffington

    My predictions

    Toy Story 3
    Inception
    The Social Network
    The Kids Are All Right
    The King’s Speech
    127 Hours
    The Fighter
    Another Year
    Black Swan
    True Grit

  44. Shaun Ellis Avatar
    Shaun Ellis

    No one’s mentioned I Love You Phillip Morris, to be released Dec 3, which I saw and loved at Melbourne Film Festival. I think this list of paint-by-numbers dramatic shoo-ins could well make room for a breath of fresh air like ILYPM – in director, actor and sup actor too. So, with this long-shot in, we have:

    1. I Love You Phillip Morris
    2. The Social Network
    3. The King’s Speech
    4. True Grit
    5. Inception
    6. 127 Hours
    7. The Kids Are All Right
    8. Made in Dahenham
    9. Never Let Me Go
    10. Black Swan

    King’s Speech might be too plaid but I’ll still put it in lieu of Winter’s Bone for now. Reckon Dagenham will trump Another Year – Hollywood never seems to actually understand Mike Leigh.

  45. Dillon Avatar
    Dillon

    The Ghost Writer as my other…

  46. mikhael Avatar

    never let me go.

  47. SilverHollywood Avatar
    SilverHollywood

    My predictions Best Pictures race 2010 are:

    1.Get Low.
    2.Conviction.
    3.Black Swan.
    4.The Fighter.
    5.The King’s Speech.
    6.Inception.
    7.The Social Network.
    8.The Kids Are Allrightc.
    9.127 Hours.
    10.Toy Story 3.

  48. SilverHollywood Avatar
    SilverHollywood

    UPS!!I forgot to put in my list the magnificent Shutter Island!!

  49. Sean D Avatar
    Sean D

    People are racist here who are suggesting that ‘For Colored Girls’ is going to get nominated on some sort of white liberal guilt/political correctness bandwagon. A black person can make a movie and have it just be a movie, okay? Not everyone puts films by black directors instantly in another category of charity cases or affirmative action.

    I for the record, am excited to see the film due to the strength of its cast and excellent source material. I have never seen anything by Tyler Perry in the past, and have never felt the need to since all have been slaughtered by critics and have looked trite and unappetizing.

  50. jk Avatar

    1. The Kings Speech
    2. the social network
    3. Black Swan
    4. The Fighter
    5. Inception
    6. 127 hours
    7. toy story 3
    8. the kids are alright
    9. Shutter Island
    10. Another Year
    thats what it should be