Every year the Oscars try their damnedest to tap the pulse of American moviegoers and every year they cock it up. Some years ago, Crash won Best Picture and we head-desked until the only thing left on our necks was bloody pulp. Renée Zellweger won one of those gold statuettes for talking in a southern drawl in Cold Mountain and we asked the universe what we had done to have such mediocrity rewarded. Sometimes the Oscars do nice things do, too. Like tossing a win to David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive for Best Director or giving a nod to Babel‘s Rinko Kikuchi. If the Grammys’ fault lies in trying too hard to appeal to Joe Plumber, the Oscars’ fault may lie in trying too hard to appeal to Joe Plumber’s gender-queer niece who’s hopping beds around Vassar. So it’s a cause for celebration that this morning, when the 2010 Oscar nominees were announced, more than snubs, there were some real gems on the list. Nine of the very best, after the break
● Jeremy Renner as Best Actor. It seems like this is Jeff Bridges’ year to take home the statue, but Renner’s performance in The Hurt Locker was the best thing about an incredible, gut-churning movie, and that’s saying quite a bit. The actor wasn’t a sure thing for a nod, and it’s nice to see him get what he deserves.
● All Nominees for Best Art Direction. Art direction is one of those technical categories that everyone pretends to know all about (“Why yes, the color contrast between Beyoncé’s hair and her dress in Obsessed–why wasn’t that nominated?”) but few actually do. Alternately, it provides a look into films that the Academy wanted to give the big prizes to, but couldn’t on good faith–even Penélope Cruz’s nomination for Nine in Best Supporting Actress seems like a mercy give by a panel that probably forgot to watch Broken Embraces. Also, Avatar won’t win Best Picture, but it could win this particular award! Besides those two, other contenders include Sherlock Holmes, The Young Victoria, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
● Mo’Nique as Best Supporting Actress. This highlight and the next were all but guaranteed. Regardless, this particular nomination marks a revolutionary breakthrough–because it means a generation of us who grew up watching Ms. Parker sexually harass Professor Oglevee on The Parkers can now revel in our icon making it into the mainstream–and because she did it on her own terms, too. Well done, Mo’Nique. You rock.
● Christophe Waltz as Best Supporting Actor. This nomination was a sure-bet for Waltz. But it’s worth reiterating as no one else turned in a more engrossing performance this year. And if the Oscars follow the precedent set by most awards previously, both Waltz and Mo’Nique will have the Supporting categories sewn up.
● Gabourey Sidibe as Best Actress. Yes, yes, yes. Despite being snubbed from Vanity Fair‘s ill-conceived Hollywood issue, Sidibe is one of the brightest new talents to emerge. And the stark contrast between Sidibe’s own bubbliness and the down-trodden nature of Precious Jones prove that Sidibe has a long, promising career ahead of her. Even better, this nomination answers a question that Jezebel asked back in December with a resounding, “Yes, there’s definitely a place in Hollywood for Sidibe after Precious.” Although it’d be for the best if she lost this Oscar to one of the vets nominated in her category, like Meryl Streep or Sandra Bullock. If only because the last time such promising young talent was rewarded, we barely heard a word from her in the years after.
● Coraline for Best Animated Feature. Y’all remember the Golden Globes and how Amanda Palmer made it fun again as Neil Gaiman’s plus-one? Well, they’re getting married. So in addition to a solid entry making this category’s shortlist, this also holds the promise of more red carpet amusement.
● Avatar for Best Motion Picture. Oh, come on. Don’t be a curmudgeon. This almost word-for-word rip-off of eco-fantasy polemics like this, this, and this made stony cynics the world over weep. Also, should it win, it still won’t be the most manipulative film to have ensnared an Oscar–that honor will always go to Crash.
● Inglourious Basterds for Best Motion Picture. Truth be told, this film should pick up the Best Picture prize if only because for the flood of trend pieces that will be issued in the weeks following along the lines of “Has the War on Terror Desensitized America?” This will also make good on the Diane Kruger oversight in the Best Supporting Actress category.
● Up for Best Motion Picture. In 1992, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast scored a nomination for Best Picture and this infuriated many sore losers among Hollywood. So the following year, the ghetto of Best Animated Feature was created, to safely prevent animated films from overtaking non-animated features. Which makes Up‘s nomination in the big category a pleasant surprise. And well-deserved, too, as few films this year were as heartfelt or airtight with storytelling.