My 2010 Oscar Ballot: Nicolas Chartier wouldn't complain (too much)

After my initial snobbery at the idea of now having 10 films nominated for Best Picture, this past year actually is the first time I can say I've seen all the nominated films since the last time Sandra Bullock's embracing of minorities won Oscar gold. So really, who was I crapping by pretending that doubling the nominees would make it less likely I'd see every film? Actually, I'll attribute it to having spent more time with a gay friend interested in such movies than a girlfriend who only wants to drag me to see things like this. So what I lacked in getting laid this Oscar season, I figure I made up with being enlightened.

Additionally, I think my biggest surprise has to be that I had favorable opinions of nine out of the 10 films—although I would say that really just three earned the sort of enthusiastic endorsements from me that I feel will still hold up many years down the road.

Anyway, even though the Oscars were handed out nearly two months ago and I'm not an actual voting member of the Academy, here for the sake of posterity is how I would have filled out my ballot had I been given one and some brief final thoughts until I hopefully do this again next year:


1. Inglourious Basterds — I'm not entirely sold that it's Tarantino's best film (that would still be Pulp Fiction, in my mind), but it's the most flawless of the bunch and undoubtedly still the first I'd reach for if forced to choose.

2. The Hurt Locker — A Best Picture winner I won't take too much issue with and finally a much-needed view of the current American conflict that isn't a documentary.

3. District 9 — For myself, the most pleasant surprise of all the nominees. I'm still serious about being interested in a sequel.

4. A Serious Man — Not even close to being the best work from the Coens, but certainly had its share of laughs. Still not sure I like that ending though.

5. Up — Kinda like Wall-E for me in the sense that the magic started wearing off midway through, but that priceless scene still exemplifies that Pixar can move adults just as well as it can entertain kids.

6. An Education — The story's familiar yet still charming with strong performances all around.

7. Up in the Air — It's well-acted and has its moments, but I can't get over the forced timeliness by bookending the movie with real-life people recently put out of work.

8. Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire — Yes, Mo'Nique certainly deserved that Oscar of hers, but consider me to still be mildly put off by the excessive victimization of the main character.

9. Avatar — James Cameron still knows how to make a big-budget blockbuster that delivers the goods. While I can appreciate the conservationist message, I wish there were actually a little less recycling of things like plots and two-dimensional supporting characters.

10. The Blind Side — This face.