OSCAR RACE 2009
~ commentary by Nathaniel R


statistics: reflect this category only, # of films is approximate and excludes tv, docs, shorts
color code:
green (lock) yellow (safe bet) red (in the mix) blue (longshot)


Best Director Nominees
Your most diverse line up ever. Different ages, sexual orientations, ethnicity and even gender. I've included a few statistics below including their previous filmographies (must see films in red).

WINNER KATHRYN BIGELOW, The Hurt Locker
Only the fourth woman ever nominated in this category and the first to win.


Readers Choice: KATHRYN BIGELOW, The Hurt Locker
Nathaniel's Choice: KATHRYN BIGELOW, The Hurt Locker

discuss @ the blog

 

Kathryn Bigelow
The Hurt Locker

James Cameron
Avatar
Lee Daniels
Precious
Jason Reitman
Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino
Inglourious Basterds

58 years old
8 films
first nomination!

Why?
Her considerable achievement is within a genre Oscar understands and loves (war drama)

Awards
BFCA, DGA, LA and 12 minor critics groups
Release
June 26th
Box Office
$12,000,000
Company
Summit


More on...
Bigelow | Hurt Locker

55 years old
8 films
2 noms / 1 win

Why?
For ambitions of scale or technology. Plus: gripping complicated action

Awards
The Golden Globe
Release
Dec 18th
Box Office
$714,000,000
Company
Fox

More On...
Cameron | Avatar

50 years old
2 films
first nomination!

Why?
He gets credit for the two amazing central performances and the audacity of his film.

Awards
n/a
Release
November 6th
Box Office
$47,000,000
Company
Lionsgate

More on...
Daniels | Precious

32 years old
3 films
2 nominations

Why?
Some people find the film resonant and zeitgeisty and think he's the three-for-three new wonderful

Awards
2 minor critics groups
Release
Dec 4th
Box Office
$82,000,000
Company
Paramount

More On...
Up in the Air

46 years old
7 films
2 nominations
*in this category

Why?
He keeps cinephilia alive and accessible to younger generations. A born storyteller.

Awards
1 minor critics group
Release
Aug 21st
Box Office
$120,000,000
Company
Weinstein Co

More on...
Tarantino | Basterds

Previous Features
Loveless (1982)
Near Dark (1987)
Blue Steel (1989)
Point Break (1991)
Strange Days (1995)
WeightofWater (2000)
K-19 (2002)

Best Feature?
The Hurt Locker

Personal Trivia
Height: 5' 11"
Born: San Carlos, CA
Significant Other: Is it safe to assume it's _________? We think so though they're not public yet, are they? Previously married to James Cameron (3rd wife).
Children: none

Previous Features
Piranha Pt 2 (1981)
The Terminator (1984)
Aliens (1986)
The Abyss (1989)
T2 (1991)
True Lies (1994)
Titanic (1997)

Best Feature?
Aliens or maybe T2 (since it's more personal) ?

Personal Trivia
Height: 6' 2"
Born: Ontario, Canada
Significant Other: Suzy Amis, actress (5th wife). They've been married for 10 years. Previously married to Terminator star Linda Hamilton (4th wife)
Children: 4

Previous Features
Shadowboxer (2005)

Best Feature
Precious

Personal Trivia
Height: unknown
Born: Philadelphia, PA
Significant Other: unknown. Previously Billy Hopkins
Children: 2 (adopted his neice and nephew)

Previous Films
Thank You... (2005)
Juno (2007)

Best Feature
Juno?

Personal Trivia
Height: 5'11"
Born: Montreal, Canada
Significant Other: Michele Lee, his wife since 2004
Children: 1

Previous Features
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Jackie Brown (1997)
Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)
Death Proof (2007)

Best Feature
(early period) Pulp Fiction (late period) Kill Bill Vol. 1

Personal Trivia
Height: 6'1"
Born: Knoxville, TS
Significant Other: (fantasy) Uma (reality) Himself. I kid, I kid.
Children: none

 

 

Readers Choice: