Today, in day two in the Oscar tête-à-tête between Chris Herrington and Greg Akers — Memphis’ version of Bernard-Henri Lévy and Michel Houellebecq — things simmer down now with three of the more minor categories.
Best Animated Feature
The Nominees: How to Train Your Dragon, The Illusionist, Toy Story 3
GREG AKERS: These are three excellent films. How to Train Your Dragon is a tons-of-fun actioner that’s actually a little thrilling at times. I’m not a huge fan of Jay Baruchel’s voice, but you’ve got to like any animated kid’s movie that doesn’t make pop-culture references ad nauseam. The Illusionist is a near-perfect little work that’s got the soul of a silent film in it. But Toy Story 3 Will Win by like 4 million votes.
Should Win: Toy Story 3 was really fantastic. It’s an enormous entertainment that’s about something (mortality) and is affecting (who didn’t tear up at the end?). It’s possible that Pixar has bought my soul from Beelzebub, and that’s why I cry at every Pixar movie they’ve made since Wall-E. That said, hands down The Illusionist should win. It’s every bit as enjoyable as Toy Story 3, and considering its cinematic pedigree, its budget, and its relatively slight marketplace footprint, The Illusionist is pound-for-pound the greater achievement.
What’s that third Best Animated Film nominee you haven’t heard of? It’s The Illusionist:
Got Robbed: These categories with less than five nominees ook me out. Like a goose walked over my grave. No one got robbed, but it’d be nice if they filled the category out with Tangled (which I liked) and Despicable Me (which I didn’t see but people like).
