Ben Brugler: I’ve Ben Thinking...

I'm preparing to watch the Oscars for the 21st year. It's a sacred event to me, you know, right up there with your Bachelor and American Idol parties.

 

Here, in short, are who I think should win and who I think will win:

 

It's hard for me to pick against Sandra Bullock here as I think without her 'The Blind Side' is just another Lifetime movie. However, if only because the Academy robbed her last year for what I feel was a once-in-a-lifetime role/character in 'Doubt', I think Streep should win. But beyond that, she was brilliant as Julia Child in 'Julie and Julia'

 

 

I can't pick Jeff Bridges because I didn't see 'Crazy Heart'; so, that being said, with all due respect to George Clooney who makes every performance look like he's playing himself, I have to go with Renner in 'The Hurt Locker'. I thought as a film it was a little overrated, but the acting was not. Renner captured the essence of someone who recognizes he loves his job - and not much else - but struggles with living with it.

 

 

I can't pick who I think will win, Mo'nique, as Precious was out of the theaters by the time I was able to see it. So, I have to go with Vera Farmiga, who I love in just about anything. She stole 'Up in the Air' in my opinion.

 

 

Finally my pick for should win and will win are in synch. I didn't see every performance in the 'best' categories, but of the ones I did see, Waltz's turn as the Nazi, Colonel Hans, nicknamed The Jew Hunter is the best by far. He freezes you out in every scene - you feel like you can't move, can't breath, can't wait to see what word comes out of his mouth next. While this is another amazing character created and versed by Quentin Tarantino, it's Waltz that truly creates Hans.

 

 

There's not much to say about James Cameron that I didn't say in my Avatar review - the movie experience was amazing, but for the first time in my lifetime, one man was responsible for literally every aspect of that experience. To manage 14 years of expectations and bring every moving piece together to create what will be the Best Picture, you have to hand it to him.

 

I feel this is a little bit of a political move as the Academy may not get a better chance to award a woman for the first time. Ask yourself, if 'Hurt Locker' was directed by a man, do you still think it would win?

 

One of the easiest decisions to make, in my opinion. It stings to not be able to pull for one of my Hollywood heros, Quentn Tarantino, for his creation of what I feel is the second best movie of the year, but Avatar is one of the most complete movies I have ever seen and as I've detailed many times since I saw it in January, as a total movie, the best of 2009.

3/6/2010 11:42:15 PM