2011 Academy Awards: Ranking the 10 Best Picture Nominees

Obviously there is one film listed that is an obvious lock on winning Best Picture. However, since the beginning decade of the 21^st century a number of shocking wins have occurred at the Academy Awards, though none have been in the Best Picture category as of yet. Here is a rank of the 10 nominated films for Best Picture starting with the most likely ones to win to the least likely. All in all each and every one of these films truly deserves their Oscar nominations. Now, may the Best Picture win.

1.) The King's Speech

It's only loss for Best Film was at the Golden Globes. Otherwise, "The King's Speech" has won virtually every major award, including the Producers Guild Award and two BAFTAS in the film categories for Best Film and Best British Film. A renowned speech pathologist hails this film as accurately portraying adult stutterers. There is no way this film can lose in this coveted category.

2.) The Social Network

By chance if there was an upset in the Best Picture category, this contemporary film would then and only then, win. "The Social Network" won big at the Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture - Drama. Since that time it has remained quiet with the other awards. It faces the same dilemma as last year's "Avatar." That film was considered too modern and sci-fi by Academy standards to win.

3.) True Grit

Westerns are a rarity, yet a couple has won Best Picture in the last 20 years. Even though "True Grit" received 10 Oscar nominations doesn't mean it will win. Films in the past with multiple nominations have gone empty-handed such as the period film "The Color Purple." It is in the Best Supporting Actress category where the film has a chance to take home a golden statuette.

4.) Black Swan

A film exclusively about ballet has never won Best Picture, though "Turning Point" was nominated for a number of Oscars back in the 1970s. The strength of "Black Swan" lies in its leading actress, Natalie Portman. It has no track record of winning any major film awards, except the recent Independent Spirit Awards.

5.) The Kids Are All Right

Here's a very non-traditional film that was a big winner at the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. It has a very remote chance of winning, because it is too contemporary for the Academy to consider. It's one thing to be nominated, yet it's entirely different in winning. "The Kids Are All Right" is truly a film that will open doors in the future.

6.) The Fighter

Only a couple of sports films have won Best Picture, "Rocky" and one of the biggest surprises in the history of the Best Picture category, "Chariots of Fire." "The Fighter" may have little to no chance of winning, but it has three actors nominated in the supporting actor categories. Even though it's a boxing film it is unlike any of its predecessors.

7.) Inception

This film was a huge phenomenon in 2010. Summer box office hits and those in the science fiction genre generally don't win Best Picture. Either you loved "Inception" or you didn't. It is too polarizing to win in this category, period.

8.) 127 Hours

One of a few films this year based on a true story. The Academy loves these types of films. It's about a man trapped in a canyon and the extreme measures he must take to get out. Some consider the amputation so realistic filmgoers actually passed out. Most likely "127 Hours" is too grisly for the Academy to award an Oscar to.

9.) Winter Bone

Once again here is another film with strong actors in the cast. Many people may not have heard of "Winter Bone" since it 's been mostly under the radar. This small indie film's subject matter deals with an issue no one wants to ever encounter, losing their home. The father skips town while on bail and puts the family home up as collateral.

10.) Toy Story 3

Last but definitely not least is this sweet and adorable animation film. "Toy Story 3" is a lock to win the Best Animated Film category. Never in the history of the Academy Awards has an animated film won Best Picture. That is why they devised the animation picture category a few years ago.

We'll never know what order these films came in as the final result. Perhaps the Academy voters had this same type of criteria in mind. It is good to see the Academy honor these 10 films and not limit it to five like they do with the other categories.

SOURCES:

Oscar - The official 2011 site for the 83^rd Academy Awards, Oscar.go.com

Yahoo! Movies, Yahoo!

Maxine Nelson, "The Film 'The King's Speech' and a Professional Who Works with Adults Stutterers", Associated Content from Yahoo!

Jeff May, "Ten Best - Academy Award Nominees 2011", Hub Pages