Best Supporting Actor/Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Christian Bale, The Fighter

John Hawkes, Winter's Bone

Jeremy Renner, The Town

Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right

Geoffery Rush, The King's Speech

Who SHOULD win: Christian Bale

Who WILL win: Christian Bale

Eh, Bale will probably get it, and he probably deserves it. Nobody else on the list was outstanding (not even Geoffery Rush's performance was incredibly demanding or extraordinary) but these spots have to be filled by someone. He was good, but the whole movie just seemed kind of bland which makes me want to give this award to him as a sort of apology for all of the mistakes that have been made by the Academy in previous years, namely American Psycho, The Machinist, The Prestige, and Rescue Dawn. And where’s Andrew Garfield, possibly the only truly great thing about The Social Network? Jeremy Renner's name on this list was a nice choice, and The Town in general didn't really get the love I thought it deserved.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech

Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Who SHOULD win: Hailee Steinfeld

Who WILL win: Melissa Leo

Hailee Steinfeld did not get nearly enough recognition for her performance in True Grit (her first role, and one of the very few things holding that movie together). She did the whole “country girl looking to protect her family from her father’s problems” bit much better than Jennifer Lawrence, and at a much younger age. I’d argue that the title has just as much to do with her as it does Jeff Bridges (who shouldn’t even have gotten a nomination because I said so, that’s why.) Being placed in the Supporting Actress category instead of Lead Actress is a terrible insult to her ability, and I would hope she walks out of these awards with some recognition, if not a few future movie offers. 

Otherwise, Melissa Leo is really the only person that should even get a nomination. Amy Adams did the whole “Boston white trash” thing well, but not nearly as well as Leo. I honestly don’t even know why Helena Bonham Carter got nominated.

 

Best Actor/Actress

Best Actor

Javier Bardem, Biutiful

Jeff Bridges, True Grit

Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

Colin Firth, The King's Speech

James Franco, 127 Hours

Who SHOULD win: Colin Firth

Who WILL win: Colin Firth

Nobody deserves this more than Colin Firth. His performance in The King's Speech was a complete transformation. James Franco also put up a great performance, but overall it was not dynamic enough to justify a win. The presence of Javier Bardem and Jeff Bridges on this list just proves how inept and gullible the Academy really is; If not for the threat of Julia Roberts' hoofprints all over their faces, the Academy would not have even thought about nominating Bardem. And Jesse Eisenberg just needs to go away already. His nomination is a slap in the face of Ryan Gosling, who deserved a nomination every bit as much as his Blue Valentine counterpart.

Best Actress

Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right

Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone

Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Who SHOULD win: Annette Bening
Who WILL win: Natalie Portman

 

Bening deserves this WAY more than Natalie. Their film performances were equally powerful, in different ways, but Bening’s career should have netted her at least one Oscar by now. Knowing the Academy, she’ll get snubbed again. I was both surprised and very excited to see Michelle William's name on this list, and if I had my way I would probably give it to her. But overall, Bening's performance was the best, with Michelle Williams and Nicole Kidman coming in at a close second and third. Kidman was actually excellent in Rabbit Hole, a film I was initially not looking forward to but which was a happy surprise. I'm surprise it did not receive more nominations.

Best Picture

Best Picture

Black Swan

The Fighter

Inception

The Kids Are All Right

The King's Speech

127 Hours

The Social Network

Toy Story 3

True Grit

Winter's Bone

What SHOULD win: The King's Speech

What WILL win: The King's Speech

The King's Speech really does deserve this, although I have a sneaking suspicion that The Social Network might steal the award out from under it. Knowing how the Oscars work, this would not come as a huge surprise. Hopefully this year they decide to change things up and stop throwing away awards on the movies that Peter Travers got paid to love the most.

Also, Toy Story 3 does not deserve to be in the Best Picture category as long as there is also a Best Animated Feature award. That spot should have gone to either Rabbit Hole or Blue Valentine. If they want to start putting animated films in the Best Picture category, they should make Best Animated Picture a technical award or just get rid of it altogether.