Oscar Predictions: Best Actor
The Nominees
Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart
George Clooney for Up in the Air
Colin Firth for A Single Man
Morgan Freeman for Invictus
Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker
This one feels like it’s been complicated in recent weeks, too. I still don’t think Jeremy Renner will have the momentum to take the prize and I would be shocked if Clooney wins, even though I would cite Up in the Air as his finest performance. He should also, as argued by Stephanie Zacharek, be rewarded for his great role in Fantastic Mr Fox, but unfortunately that film, like Clooney, will go home empty-handed.
Other Oscar Nomination Predictions
I did predict a few little while ago, but much has changed in the interim and I feel it necessary to update my prediction season for the nominees, something I will do again in early February just before the nominations are announced.
The primary change is the fall of Nine, previously considered a shoe-in for most categories, which looks likely to win absolutely nothing outside of a possible couple of technicals. Add to that the rising popularity of Inglourious Basterds and the seemingly-unstoppable attention being given to The Hurt Locker, plus the apparently disastrous The Lovely Bones, and some things have to change.
Below then are my predictions for the top few categories, with some explanation as to why and, bold as it may be, my predictions for the likely winners in each category.
Chris’ Twenty Films of the Decade
Our brand new writer, Chris Inman, has not only provided the world with his top five movies of 2009, he now furnishes you lucky people with his top twenty movies of the decade. A couple of controversial more recent choices are included and should be debated immediately, but otherwise it’s a bloody strong list that will definitely find one followers amongst the existing MOD clan who will thoroughly agree with the winner.
Onwards then, and look our for more articles to come from Chris in the very near future as he kicks off his tenure with us in earnest.
Eastwood Meets Eastwood for Mandela Pic
Clint Eastwood has cast his son in his biopic of a portion of the life of Nelson Mandela, tentatively titled The Human Factor (based on facts gleaned by our friends at Cinema Spy from the IMDb). It’s not clear who he will play but the story follows Mandela’s support of the South African rugby team at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, a move which broke down the traditional barriers and stereotypes surrounding rugby in the country, primarily prevalent during apartheid, to unite the country behind its (ultimately successful) team. It’s based on the book, pictured above, by John Carlin called Playing the Enemy.
Morgan Freeman is playing Mandela with Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar. The younger Eastwood has joined his father’s films in the past, taking on roles in the likes of Gran Torino and Flags of our Father, both under the name Scott Reeves.
I spoke about the film itself in past posts so I won’t rehash too much, but it was included in blog post from the LA Times for movies to watch out for next Oscar season. Oh, the politics of the Oscars, folks. The films aren’t made yet and already, they’re favourites.
The Movie Overdose 
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