Shout Out to the Longshots

With the Oscar nominations being announced tomorrow morning, it’s time to do my usual list of films and performances for the top eight categories that I wish will get nominated but have little to no chance at all to being called. But I love them so much that I have to make one last shout out to the longshots.

Best Picture: (500) Days of Summer

A purely delightful film that always had me smiling and appreciating its unique storytelling. Director Marc Webb showcases a strong showing of talent in the creation of this film, and the performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are marvelous. A screenplay nomination seems assured, but I would be very delighted if the film is recognized on the whole.

Best Director: Spike Jonze - Where the Wild Things Are

Nearly all the credit for this wildly inventive, surprisingly emotional journey taken throughout the film is deserved to Jonze. I was absolutely amazed at how Jonze was able to take admittedly thin material and create a world that was so rich in emotion and complexity. Too few have been singing praises for Jonze’s work, which is a shame, because his achievement with this film is precisely what great filmmakers are able to do.

Best Actor: Sam Rockwell - Moon

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was also a performance that I loved and wish would get nominated, but the one guy that everyone seems to love, rightfully so, is Rockwell. One-man-shows on film are difficult to pull off successfully, but Rockwell manages it in a performance that strikes the right amount of energy and emotion to not feel gimmicky. Too bad his minimal campaign, along with five solid picks for Best Actor slots already, means he’ll probably be left out. But it would be a great success story if he managed to unexpectedly sneak in.

Best Actress: Maya Rudolph - Away We Go

Not everyone responded so warmly to this film as I did, and I recognize some issues with it. Even still, her performance is the key for anything in this film working at all. After seeing her comedic run on SNL, I was completely amazed at how well she was able to translate so much emotion by conveying so little in her performance. By the end, she was the one guiding reason to see this film, wonderfully balancing humor and pathos.

Best Supporting Actor: Alden Ehrenreich - Tetro

I could go with either him or Peter Capaldi from In the Loop, but since this is about the longshots, Ehrenreich is a longer one than Capaldi. Which is a shame, since about five people actually saw Tetro in theatres and missed out on a great breakthrough performance from an actor who delivered a complex character on all the right notes. Fortunately, this is a great start to his resumé, but I wished more could have enjoyed it like I did.

Best Supporting Actress: Bailee Madison - Brothers

I admit that Brothers isn’t without its issues, but the performance from little Madison, who plays Magurie’s eldest daughter, was so good it’s almost scary. She manages to outact nearly everyone in her scenes, and her performance would rival even some pretty good adult ones out there. I see a long, great career for her, and the best showcase for it is here.

Best Original Screenplay: Bright Star

I’m not going to say much since this longshot is actually impossible (the Academy incorrectly declared it an adapted work, so it can only seek contention in the Adapted Screenplay category). I just want to say that true fans know this is an original work and how the stylish flare of Jane Campion should be recognized in this category.

Best Adapted Screenplay: In the Loop

Peter Capaldi is hilarious in his deliveries, but it’s also the screenplay as a whole that makes the film work so well. Every line is delivered in a quick bout and the situations that are set up demand an intellectual ear that will keep you laughing all the way through. It’s one of those films that’s easy to slip through the cracks, but a great team of writers allows the pace and energy to always remain at the right spot.

That’s it until tomorrow morning. Can’t wait to see who the actual nominees will be!