Has there ever been a film so clearly designed as Oscar-bait? Every year there seems to be a film specifically designed to win Best Picture, and in 2010, that film was The King's Speech. The film, which isn't very good at all, was nominated for a staggering twelve awards. It won four for Best Picture, Actor, Director and Original Screenplay. That is impressive, but especially so when you consider the competition that year. Winter's Bone, True Grit, Toy Story 3, The Social Network, Black Swan, The Fighter and Inception, who were all also nominated, were all more worthy winners for Best Picture. Can anyone believe that Tom Hooper, a man who before this was perhaps most famous for directing episodes of Byker Grove, has a Best Director statue? The less said about Colin Firth's blatant awards-baiting performance, the better. In the future everyone will all look back at the 83rd Academy Awards, look at the list of nominations and winners and let out a collective 'Huh?' when they see just how many The King's Speech received.
