Jack Speaks v.2011

This is the 6th time I've been on the panel that comments on the Oscars for our local newspaper, and the 4th time for Jack. We pick our favorites, not our predictions, and sometimes something we write gets printed. Today's the day, and you get to read everything we wrote--what was printed is in quotation marks. Links are to my posts on each movie (yes, of course we've seen them all).

Jack gets to go first.

Best Picture: The King's Speech
The King’s Speech made us sympathetic to people of wealth and privilege, not an easy feat these days. Elegant and authentic sets, perfectly framed interior shots, and a story line that transcends the historical implications combine for a compelling flashback to Britain’s impending darkest hours.

Directing: True Grit, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Joel and Ethan Coen coax layered performances from newcomer Hailee Steinfeld and grizzled vet Jeff Bridges while evoking an unromanticized American West. They resisted character stereotypes and kept the audience from expecting Bridges to break into a Bad Blake song around the camp fire.

Actor: Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
Colin Firth somehow manages to portray temperamental, protected, privileged-beyond-belief, weak-willed, reluctant heir Bertie as the underdog and makes us buy it. Beside the difficulty in playing a seemingly incurable stutterer, he shows humility and humor in his verbal jousting with speech coach Lionel Logue.

Supporting Actor: Christian Bale (The Fighter)
Most of the tension in The Fighter emanates from Christian Bale’s portrayal of Dicky Eklund. He shows us that the title character wasn’t the eventual champion brother, but the crackhead ex-pug who was the real Pride of Lowell.

Actress: Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Portman’s well-publicized commitment to her role included striking weight loss and intensive ballet training. She compels us to watch the train-wreck of Nina’s life as she dwells on the dark side of big-time ballet, buffeted by a predatory director, cunning competitors, and a mother scarier than Mrs. Bates, Norman’s mom.

Supporting actress: Amy Adams (The Fighter)
"While standing up to formidable foes is standard fare in boxing movies, Amy Adams extends the concept. She is completely believable in taking on the dominating mother and seven hyena-like sisters" of the guy she loves. She demonstrates all the characteristics of a championship fighter— determination, dexterity, agility, and stamina.

And my ballot.

Best Picture: The Kids Are All Right
The family story with humor, conflict, sex, luscious lesbians (the straight guy and his girlfriend aren't bad, either), gorgeous southern California locations, and no gore gets my vote.

Director: Ethan and Joel Coen for True Grit
Less bloody than their usual fare, this sweeping western with old-fashioned grammar is a masterpiece for the brothers Coen.

Best Actress: Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole
From her nervous laughter to her inappropriate outbursts, she had me convinced she was torn up inside from the greatest tragedy any mother can endure.

Best Actor: Colin Firth (The King's Speech) hands down
"Only one guy could be regal while struggling to speak, and that would be Mister Darcy, er, Firth."

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo in The Fighter
Don’t cross Leo the mother lion who is capable of eating her young.

Best Supporting Actor: Geoffrey Rush in The King's Speech
Rush is thoroughly entertaining every minute he’s on the screen.

Here are our ballots for last year.