Oscars' best pix predix: Six pundits pick 'Up in the Air'
December 14, 2009 | 9:26
pm
Over this past weekend — before the unveiling of Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations and winners of New York and L.A. film critics' awards — I recruited more Oscar predix from prominent pundits, including these: Thelma Adams (Us Weekly), Mark Harris (Entertainment Weekly), Peter Howell (Toronto Star), Harry Medved (Fandango), Sam Rubin (KTLA), Sasha Stone (AwardsDaily). Notice that all of these gurus believe "Up in the Air" will soar off with the best-picture laurels. Compare these predix to the forecasts of additional Oscar gurus here, here and here.
| BEST PICTURE | Adams | Harris | Howell | Medved | Rubin | Stone |
| "Avatar" |
3 |
5 |
9 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
| "District 9" |
9 |
|||||
| "An Education" |
7 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
| "(500) Days of Summer" |
10 |
|||||
| "Hurt Locker" |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
| "Inglourious Basterds" |
5 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
|
6 |
| "Invictus" |
4 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
10 |
4 |
| "The Last Station" |
|
9 |
||||
| "The Messenger" |
9 |
|||||
| "Nine" |
9 |
|
8 |
|
|
7 |
| "Precious" |
8 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
5 |
| "The Road" |
|
7 |
||||
| "A Serious Man" |
|
8 |
|
|
10 | |
| "Star Trek" |
10 |
|
|
5 |
||
| "This Is It" |
6 |
|||||
| "Up" |
6 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
| "Up in the Air" |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Photo: "Up in the Air" (Paramount)
You know after the Globe nominations, the only movie people are talking about, as almost a lock, is 'Up in the Air.'
What about 'The Hurt Locker?' It swept LA, NY, and the Gothams if I remember correctly, and is nominated for Best Drama at the Globes as well.
Posted by: Ben K | December 15, 2009 at 07:11 AM
I know everyone is genuflecting at the Clooney altar and I get that, but there's one problem with his movie. Vera Farmiga's character. It is simply not believable that a woman who travels so extensively, even spending an entire weekend with Ryan and his family, would not check in at home--once!--with her children. I just didn't buy it. I'm not surprised that none of the male movie critics at the Clooney altar mentioned this, but the women? And the women who are mothers? There isn't a mother who's an executive with small children in another city who doesn't check in with them. The camera spent too much time with Vera Farmiga not to have her sneak in one phone call in two hours.
Posted by: Robert rorke | December 15, 2009 at 05:27 AM