Ronald WanProducing a Best Picture isn’t that hard. Just follow the rules of moviemaking conventions as seen in the nominees
Every year, there’s something contentious or arguable about the Best Picture category. But the diverse nominees this year are spot-on and well-loved by all, easily appearing in every critic’s top 10 lists and every movie buff’s to watch/download lists. There’s something for everyone from blockbusters (Toy Story 3, Inception), crowd pleasers (Black Swan, 127 Hours, The Social Network, The Fighter) to indie art films (Winter’s Bone, The Kids are All Right, True Grit).
And while they are different in genres, including revenue generated, these Best Picture nominees are based on universal themes and common subjects. We sift through the pictures, dreamscapes and competitive world of sports and decipher the meanings in between.
Against All Odds
The King stutters. James Franco is between a rock and a hard place. Mark Wahlberg is The Fighter on the verge of becoming champion. From The King’s Speech, The Fighter to 127 Hours, the narrative centres on the protagonists conquering personal demons and overcoming disabilities to rise in dark times to become heroes. Such uplifting and inspiring tales never fail to stir emotions and resonate with audiences.
Finding Father
The kids raised by a lesbian couple in The Kids are All Right search for their free-wheeling biological father while Jennifer Lawrence tries to find a missing father who is seemingly dead from drug overdose in Winter’s Bone. While patriarchal roles are often seen in positions of power, the fathers lately have seen the tables overturned. They are cheats, irresponsible and have a habit of running away, inciting their children to embark on self-discovery journeys to find them.
Mummy Issues
In Black Swan, Natalie Portman is the perfectionist ballet dancer who lives with her mother in a small apartment that feels claustrophobic and repressive. Her mom, a former dancer, watches over her like a hawk while developing her fledgling career. In The Fighter, Mark Wahlberg the sensible boxer has a manager who is actually his deranged mother. He struggles to walk away from his destructive mom in order to develop his career. Mommy issues are great narrative threads or bugbears that showcase character development and inner psychology, the twin pillars for (over) dramatic acting.
Going Home
Self-discovery journeys about the protagonist having an adventure of a lifetime before returning home to the ultimate destination of warmth, joy and love, always make a good story. And we see them in Inception, True Grit and 127 Hours. Leonardo DiCaprio wants to return to his family (did he, did he not?) after one last inception; Hailee Steinfeld avenges her father’s death before going home; and James Franco survives 127 dreaded hours of starvation, dehydration and a painful separation in a hole before heading back to civilisation.
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Oscars Predictions: Who will be King of Hollywood’s Social Network?
How the Oscars Nominees are Chosen