The 2009 Oscar Race is Behind Us
WINNER: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
This great American actor was first nominated way back in 1971 for The Last Picture Show when he was only 22 (trivia: that's the film that also brought Ellen Burstyn her first nomination). Nearly four decades later he finally picked up the gold man. Well done.
READER'S PREFERENCE POLLING: Colin Firth, A Single Man
NATHANIEL'S VOTE: Colin Firth, A Single Man (Jeff Bridges has won my gold medal before -- I didn't keep him waiting as long as Oscar. I owe him nothing but love him long time.)
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Jeff Bridges
"Bad Blake" CRAZY HEART 60 years old 57 films 5th nom | 1st win! |
George Clooney
"Ryan Bingham" UP IN THE AIR 48 years old 31 films 3 noms / 1 win |
Colin Firth
"George" A SINGLE MAN 49 years old 40 films 1st nomination! |
Morgan Freeman
"Nelson Mandela" INVICTUS 72 years old 58 films 5 noms / 1 win |
Jeremy Renner
"Sgt. William James" THE HURT LOCKER 39 years old 18 films 1st nomination! |
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Other Awards Globe, SAG, BFCA, LA and 2 minor critics More On... |
Other Awards NBR and 6 minor critics More On... |
Other Awards BAFTA and 4 minor critics awards More On... |
Other Awards NBR |
Other Awards 3 minor critics awards |
| How'd They Get Nominated? | ||||
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27% Fast spreading viral mood proclaimed "It's His Time!" So overdue for gold
27% Performance: lived-in, vanity free... typically excellent 27% Role: Alcoholics and entertainers are prime Oscar Bait 17% He's Jeff Bridges, Great American Actor 1% Does his own strumming / singing! 1% Popular movie with actors branch |
29% Performance: über charming without being offputting. In short... 29% He's George Clooney 25% in Christmas hit and Best Pic nominee 9% Role: a good Clooneyist fit with just enough depth to impress 7% Chemistry with Vera & Anna 1% Populist leaning Oscar year |
41% Role: Oscar has always loved mourning characters and actors who go gay-for-pay 30% Performance 12% Timing: Venice win really kicked off slow starting race and won hearts of precursors 9% Awesome Oscar clip: that phone call... Those leaky eyes 8% Pride & Prejudice, Bridget Jones and new personal best! |
50% Role: They love a noble biopic 26% He's Morgan Freeman and year-long assumption that he would be in = traction 17% Performance: he's dependable 4% Topical: Obama era 'bring divided nation together!' story and safely past-tense racial harmony plea 2% That famous voice... with an accent! 1% Clint Eastwood |
44% The Hurt Locker's strength as Best Pic lent coattails 27% Performance: quite terrific 13% Role: A good one for deep digging actor 9% 'If I'm going to die, I'm gonna die comfortable' convincingly acted bravery is a turn-on 6% rare fumble from Daniel Day-Lewis (Nine) 1% Welcome to club! |
| Will Win / Should Win | ||||
| Jeff Bridges for "Bad Blake" and all of his other indelible performances. It's about time. Though I do slightly prefer Colin Firth's Single Man if you're talking just about 2009 | ||||
| Who Got Robbed? | ||||
| Considering how the precursors were playing out this was the best possible outcome of five me. Though there were handfuls of devout fans of Viggo Mortensen, Sam Rockwell, Sharlito Copley, Tobey Maguire and Joaquin Phoenix. | ||||