Washington, DC Area Film Critics Nominations

I know what you're thinking. First, why does this matter? Because I'm going to barrage you with almost every conceivable year-end film award, whether you like it or not (actually, its because I like it, and its my blog, so there). You're probably also wondering where the Grammy nominations I promised are. Well, there's 107 categories, and even the ones I focus on number over 30. So they'll be coming in regular installments between now and the ceremony on February 13. If you can't wait, here's the full list.

This isn't necessarily a major prize, but I do think its noteworthy because it looks like a realistic Oscar field, as opposed to the independent-film prizes, the no-nominations NBRs, and that joke of an awards show that is the Golden Satellites (The Other Guys for Best Picture? Really?). Here are this year's nominees.

BEST PICTURE

Black Swan

Inception

127 Hours

The Social Network

Toy Story 3

Isn't it odd that The Kids Are All Right didn't make the top five? Not really, since the buzz has somewhat quieted since the summer. And a five-wide field here can hardly be indicative of all 10 Oscar nominees. I am starting to think I underestimated Black Swan; maybe it really will be an Oscar contender.

BEST DIRECTOR

Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan

Danny Boyle, 127 Hours

Joel and Ethan Coen, True Grit

David Fincher, The Social Network

Christopher Nolan, Inception

BEST ACTOR

Jeff Bridges, True Grit

Robert Duvall, Get Low

Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

Colin Firth, The King's Speech

James Franco, 127 Hours

I guess I underestimated Eisenberg too. He's starting to develop into a real challenger to Firth's supposed sure-thing.

BEST ACTRESS

Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right

Anne Hathaway, Love & Other Drugs

Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone

Natalie Portman, Black Swan

This is a very real possibilty for the the Oscar category, though I think Lesley Manville has a better chance than Hathaway.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christian Bale, The Fighter

Andrew Garfield, The Social Network

John Hawkes, Winter's Bone

Sam Rockwell, Conviction

Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech

I'm glad to see Hawkes pick up a nomination here, but the omission of Mark Ruffalo worries me about his chances. I liked his performance better than Rockwell's, in terms of the long-overdue actors.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams, The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech

Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Weaver is becoming a real force in the precursors, which makes me glad I saw the film and became a convert to her talents.

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

The Fighter

Inception

The Kids Are All Right

The Social Network

The Town

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy, 127 Hours

Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Michael Ardnt, Toy Story 3

Joel and Ethan Coen, True Grit

Debra Granik and Anne Rossellini, Winter's Bone

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Mike Leigh, Another Year

Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin, Black Swan

Christopher Nolan, Inception

Stuart Blumberg and Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right

David Seidler, The King's Speech

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Despicable Me

How to Train Your Dragon

Megamind

Tangled

Toy Story 3

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SONG

Biutiful

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I Am Love

Mother

White Material

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Exit Through the Gift Shop

Inside Job

Restrepo

The Tillman Story

Waiting for "Superman"

BEST ART DIRECTION

Alice in Wonderful

Black Swan

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1

Inception

True Grit

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Black Swan

Inception

127 Hours

The Social Network

True Grit

BEST SCORE

Black Swan

Inception

127 Hours

The Social Network

True Grit