Best Supporting Actor

Most likely nominees:
Matt Damon (“Invictus”), Woody Harrelson (“The Messenger”), Christopher Plummer (“The Last Station”), Stanley Tucci (“The Lovely Bones”), Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds”)

Please consider:
It is unclear to me why Peter Sarsgaard from “An Education” is not getting any attention. He is an entertaining and essential part of an extraordinary film. He perfectly embodies a carefree, selfish married man, who seduces a 16-year-old girl into falling in love with him.

Also consider:
Brian Geraghty and Anthony Mackie (“The Hurt Locker”), Matthew Goode (“A Single Man”)

Best Actor

Most likely nominees:
Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart”), George Clooney (“Up in the Air”), Colin Firth (“A Single Man”), Morgan Freeman (“Invictus”), Jeremy Renner (“The Hurt Locker”)

Please consider:
Fox Searchlight’s “Adam” went by fairly unnoticed this summer, most likely due to its very limited release. Unfortunately, this also meant that Hugh Dancy, who stars as the film’s eponymous main character, was passed by in the Oscar discussions. Dancy is phenomenal as a newly parentless man living with Asperger’s syndrome in Manhattan. He is emotional, riveting and Oscar-worthy.

Also consider:
Sam Rockwell (“Moon”), Ben Winshaw (“Bright Star”)

Best Supporting Actress

Most likely nominees:
Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air”), Anna Kendrick (“Up in the Air”), Diane Kruger (“Inglourious Basterds”), Mo’Nique (“Precious”), Julianne Moore (“A Single Man”)

Please consider:
In playing a recent widow of a soldier, Samantha Morton is absolutely riveting in “The Messenger.” She gives an emotionally charged performance that is undeniably one of the best of the year.

Also consider:
Sigourney Weaver (“Avatar”), Maggie Gyllenhaal (“Crazy Heart”)

Best Actress

Most likely nominees:
Sandra Bullock (“The Blind Side”), Helen Mirren (“The Last Station”), Carey Mulligan (“An Education”), Gabourey Sidibe (“Precious”), Meryl Streep (“Julie & Julia”)

Please consider:
Some may not consider Zoë Saldana’s performance in “Avatar” a real “performance.” It is true that the digitally produced Na’vi character, Neytiri, is not strictly Saldana. It is, however, her emotions, facial expressions and voice that bring Neytiri to life. Aside from the amazing visual effects, Neytiri is one of the best parts of this movie. She drives the plot and holds the audience’s attention. While many complain about the plot of this film, it is Zoë Saldana who really brings the whole movie together.

Also consider:
Abbie Cornish (“Bright Star”), Emily Blunt (“The Young Victoria”)

Best Picture

Most likely nominees:
“Avatar,” “District 9,” “An Education,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Invictus,” “Precious,” “Star Trek,” “Up,” “Up in the Air”

Please consider:
If I had to pick one film to be added to the category, it would have to be the indie comedy “(500) Days of Summer.” While it may not be the typical Oscar movie, considering its lighthearted tone and lack of prestige, it has won a place in the hearts of many. “Summer” is cleverly written, original, cute, funny, irresistible and perfect, and the list could go on. Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are captivating as the happily-never-after couple at the center of this jumbled not-so-romantic comedy. The movie shines as one of the gems of last year.

Also consider:
“Bright Star,” “A Single Man”

(Daniel A. Anderson | MCT Campus)

1. Is this your first time being robbed? You’re doing great. (“Out of Sight”)

2. This is why Superman works alone. (“Batman and Robin”)

3. There’s a 95-pound Chinese man with 160 million dollars behind this door. (“Ocean’s Eleven”)

4. I guess, something inside of me died, when I realized that you’d hired a goon to kill me. (“Intolerable Cruelty”)

5. There’s no news, boys, so go out there and make some news. Rob a bank, mug an old lady, whatever—just do something. (“Good Night, and Good Luck”)

(Courtesy of Overture Films)

Rating: 3/5 stars
Directed by: Grant Heslov
And starring: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor and Jeff Bridges

The pitch: Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is a journalist in over his head when he decides to go to Iraq during the earlier stages of the invasion. While waiting to cross the border, he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), who is also on his way to Iraq on a super-top-secret black ops mission. Cassady claims to have been part of the New Earth Army, created by army hippie Billy Djanjo (Jeff “The Dude” Bridges) 20 years earlier. This section of the Army was trained in mental combat to see if love and peace can win wars. The answer is no, but we see through multiple flashbacks that the group still tries to become “the first superpower to develop super powers.” The narrative then continues to showcase Cassady and Wilton floundering in the desert, constantly lost and getting captured multiple times. Cassady’s rival Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey) appears midway though the film, helping in its lack of conflict.

The good: Some moments showcase absurdity at its best. In the opening, for example, a commander runs full force into a wall in an attempt to go through it. Clooney is another high point, who, even when insane, is as smooth as ever and anchors the film. Being a dork could be the coolest thing ever. McGregor has some of the best lines, utilizing his innocent eyes for making lines like “What is a Jedi warrior?” almost go unnoticed. Because nothing he would know about that!

The bad and the ugly: The movie does not have enough steam to last its entirety, even though it comes in at only 93 minutes. The underhanded, deadpan jokes start off funny but are not enough to cover up the weak narrative, which tails off just when you expect it to finally culminate in something.

The bottom line: The film is powered by its actors and worth seeing for their battle of wits. The viewer is kept in good humor throughout, but nothing is accomplished or really happens. The satire could be pushed further, and the gags could be more outright funny instead of subtle. The film comes in as groovy but not far out.