If I Picked the Best Picture Oscar....

Out of the gate, I have to admit that I only saw 8 of the 10 nominations for best picture this year but seriously - 10 different movies? That's ridiculous. Still, here is how I would have ranked the 8 movies that were nominated this year for Best Picture.

This excluding "Precious" and "A Serious Man" and I apologize to you if you loved those films. I can't see that many movies! :)

8. District 9 - I saw this movie most recently and was impressed by Peter Jackson's political spin on an alien movie. It was really wild to see the special effects and an interesting look into human behavior. I don't like horror flicks and this isn't one. This is major-league Sci-Fi.

7. Inglourious Bastards - If this movie was a true story, I would have liked it much better. I couldn't help but remember that it wasn't a true story while I was watching it and thus, I was pulled out of the fictional world. Brad Pitt was ok in this - not his best role. It got a little nutty at times. Not Quentin's best work but worth seeing.

6. Avatar - This was a visual explosion of color. The 3-D film is the highest grossing movie ever for a reason. It was a wild, wild ride. However, the story line wasn't amazing and the acting was ok. It was a good movie but not an amazing movie. Must see in 3-D however...but you probably did.

5. The Blind Side - I read the book so I was really excited to see the film. I have to say, Sandra Bullock was AMAZING. She deserved the best actress award. She is from Alabama so I think she was the perfect fit for the role of the southern belle mom. Hell, that's her!

4. UP - This movie was just so sweet and deep at the same time. I took my 10-year old sister to see it and I thought it was such a wonderful message about never being too old to go on an adventure. One of my favorite Pixar movies of all time. Great family film. Buy this movie, seriously.

3. Up In The Air - George Clooney was outstanding in this film. At times I felt like I was watching a movie that was based on the places I've lived! Des Moines, Omaha, Alabama, Wichita, etc...all played a big part in this "flying" movie. I related this to movie's theme of movement and asking larger life questions as you get older.

2. The Hurt Locker - I know this movie won the Oscar and I have no problem with it. It was a gritty, real, and moving film. Visually amazing and wonderfully directed. It deserved all the awards that it won...but I have it as number 2. War movies are cool but I'm never huge into them.

1. An Education - I'm probably in the minority here but I fell for this tale of love, lies, and dreaming in England. It was really, really well done and the perfect length. The acting was wonderful (best overall), the accents which were really fun (great retro outfits too) and the trip back to a time that we all remember as teenagers did what a movie is suppose to do - make you think. This movie was my favorite of the year.