"String theory. You wouldn't understand."

Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards officially came out today, with few surprises (except, perhaps, for The Blind Side‘s Best Picture nomination–what’s with that?). Come Oscar night, these are the films to bet on.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Will win: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
Should win: Wes Anderson, Fantastic Mr. Fox

I realize it wasn’t nominated, but damnit, it should have been. The best of George Clooney’s three movies this year, Fantastic Mr. Fox impressed me far more than I expected it to. Wes Anderson adapted the Roald Dahl book into a funny, intelligent film with exceptionally smart dialogue and strange, memorable characters. Even so, the Oscar will go to Up in the Air, Jason Reitman’s good-but-not-great film that owes its success  more to its performances than its screenplay. The real-life testimonies from men and women who have actually lost their jobs go on for too long, and they make Air‘s message obvious. That won’t stop it from winning, though. Fox also has zero chance at Best Animated Feature, which will go to Up. Better luck next year, Wes. Continue reading →