Academy Award Predictions

Best Picture: "The King's Speech"
Best Director: David Fincher - "The Social Network"
Best Actor: Colin Firth - "The King's Speech"
Best Actress: Natalie Portman - "Black Swan"
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale - "The Fighter"
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo - "The Fighter"
Best Original Screenplay: "The King's Speech"
Best Adapted Screenplay: "The Social Network"
Best Art Direction: "Inception"
Best Cinematography: "True Grit"
Best Costume Design: "The King's Speech"
Best Film Editing: "The Social Network"
Best Makeup: "The Wolfman"
Best Original Score: "The Social Network"
Best Song: "Toy Story 3"
Best Sound Editing: "Inception"
Best Sound Mixing: "Inception"
Best Visual Effects: "Inception"
Best Animated Film: "Toy Story 3"
Best Foreign Language Film: "In A Better World"
Best Documentary: "Inside Job"
Best Documentary Short Subject: "Sun Come Up"
Best Animated Short: "Madagascar, a Journey Diary"
Best Live Action Short: "Na Wewe"

Best of 2010 (Part 2/2 - Soup Bowl Awards)

Since I see a good chunk of movies every year, I guess I'm allowed to have my own awards show. Unfortunately, there's no movie stars, no red carpet, and not golden statuettes. It's actually just text on a screen.

Well, now that I've successfully lowered everyone's expectations, here are the winners of the First Annual Soup Bowl Awards.

Best Film: Black Swan
Runner-Up: Somewhere

Best Director: Darren Aronofsky - "Black Swan"
Runner-Up: Sofia Coppola - "Somewhere"

Best Actor: Ryan Gosling - "Blue Valentine"
Runner-Up: Stephen Dorff

Best Actress: Nicole Kidman - "Rabbit Hole"
Runner-Up: TIE - Natalie Portman ("Black Swan") and Michelle Williams ("Blue Valentine")

Best Supporting Actor: Mark Ruffalo - "The Kids Are All Right"
Runner-Up: Christian Bale - "The Fighter"

Best Original Screenplay: "Please Give"
Runner-Up: "Blue Valentine"

Best Adapted Screenplay: "The Social Network:
Runner-Up: "Rabbit Hole"

Best Art Direction: "Black Swan"
Runner-Up: "True Grit"

Best Cinematography: "True Grit"
Runner-Up: "Black Swan"

Best Editing: "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World"
Runner-Up: "The Social Network"

Best Score: "The Social Network"
Runner-Up: "Inception"

Best of 2010 (Part 1/2 - Top Ten)

Without further ado, here are my Top Ten Favorite Films of 2010:

1. Black Swan (d. Darren Aronofsky)

A work of art that's just as brilliant (and insane) as its main character.


2. Somewhere (d. Sophia Coppola)

Quiet, moving story of an emotionally deadened movie star's relationship with his daughter.



3. Please Give (d. Nicole Holofcener)

A funny, complicated examination of generosity. Aided by smart, subtle performances.

4. Rabbit Hole (d. John Cameron Mitchell)

Effective, multi-layered portrait of grief. Anchored by Nicole Kidman's brilliant performance.

5. The Social Network (d. David Fincher)

A modern story of friendship and ambition. Fincher and Sorkin effectively put classical themes in a modern context.


6. Blue Valentine (d. Derek Cianfrance)

Realistic, bittersweet portrayal of a dying relationship. Extremely well-acted.

7. Another Year (d. Mike Leigh)

An unsentimental look at loneliness, age, and inadequacy. Manages to lighten its harsh blows with well-balanced humor.


8. The Kids Are All Right (d. Lisa Cholodenko)

Loving portrait of a modern family. Directed and acted with great warmth and sincerity.


9. Winter's Bone (d. Debra Granik)

Chilling thriller that makes superb use of its rural setting.

10. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (d. Edgar Wright)

Super funny love story that brilliantly utilizes its video game aesthetics.