OSCAR 2011 PREDICTIONS: Foreign Language Film

I have as little an understanding of the Foreign Language race this year as just about anybody could. I know that I absolutely love "A Separation", and it's everyone's favorite to win. I also know that the best choice is so rarely the one that's chosen. People don't really know what goes on in the minds of the people who vote in that category. I hold as testament: "In A Better World", "The Secret in Their Eyes", "Departures", "The Counterfeiters", and many others in the past. This is ultimately nothing more than a crap shoot, and it's often total crap. I can only find myself swinging sympathy under one fighter, and that's "A Separation". If things go as they should, it'll happen. I just have a sinking feeling it will go to something random and pointless that nobody is even going to try to see.

TELLURIDE BY THE SEA: Titles Announced!

I was worried I'd have to wait another three excruciating hours just to find out what's playing, but was happy to find out at 9 a.m. this morning. So what exactly is so exciting right now? The titles for the Portsmouth, NH mini-festival, Telluride by the Sea, have been announced and narrowed down from the list we were handed yesterday. Which title am I most disappointed about? Steve McQueen's "Shame" is not on the list to appear this year. It's such a shame, no pun intended, as it's the one I've been most eager to see from the festival. On the other hand, I'm not surprised that it isn't here. It doesn't quite fit the mold that the Portsmouth Music Hall has built over the past few years.

So what am I going to be able to see come September 23-25? For one thing "Albert Nobbs", directed by Rodrigo Garcia of last year's "Mother and Child". It's a typical choice, with period influence as well as an Oscar-bait performance from Glenn Close. Can't say I'm surprised, and can't say I'm too interested either. Last year, the weekend kicked off with "Tamara Drewe", and I steered clear of that one. Depending on how critics react to the film this weekend, I might skip out on "Albert Nobbs" as well.