This is my 4th annual Oscar Predictions, and it was another snoozer of a year. I had a hard time coming up with a top 10, but like last year I predict what I think will win not what I want to win.
Beat Picture- The Artist. I think the Weinstein Machine is in full effect on this one, and mixed with the Hollywood nostalgia, I think this is a shoe in. I haven't seen Midnight In Paris or War Horse, and have no interest in The Help & Extremely Corny. I also realized that now that the Academy went to 5+ films for Best Picture format, a Sandra Bullock film has been nominated in consecutive years. I liked The Artist and the only other nominations I liked more were Moneyball and Tree of Life. Ignored: I can name 10 films I liked better than Hugo but the top two films ignored are A Separation and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Best Actor- Jean Dujardin. This was hard to pick and I think he does a phenomenal job in The Artist. I think Clooney and Pitt cancel each other out and Dujardin's performance will come off as more of a challenge to the voters. I wouldn't be shocked if the dark horse Gary Oldman walked away with it. Ignored: Michael Fassbender for Shame. I still don't understand why he was left out. Brad Pitt for Tree of Life.
Best Actress- Meryl Streep. Why not, but hefty competition with a woman playing a man, a famous starlet, and a maid in the 60's. I really hope Rooney Mara wins. Ignored: Michelle Williams for Meeks Cutoff, she plays a better frontier wife than Marilyn Monroe.
Supporting Actor- Christopher Plummer. They have been trying to give this guy an Oscar for 10 years now, and without any stiff competition, he grandfathers this one. This is usually the strongest category, but weak this year because of all the omissions. I did like Kenneth Branagh in My Week With Marilyn Ignored: Albert Brooks for Drive (The best part of the film) John Lithgow for Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Hunter McCracken for Tree of Life and Alan Rickman for Harry Potter.
Supporting Actress- Octavia Spencer. This movie has to win something I guess. Ignored: Carey Mulligan for Shame.
Directing- Michel Hazanavicius. Hard category this year and I think they give it to the new guy. I really wish Malick would win this, but the Academy likes to give awards to people who show up, this goes for Woody too. Remember I haven't seen Midnight In Paris, so besides Tree of Life, the Artist is the best film nominated. Ignored: I think Hugo is Marty's worst film since New York, New York and all of the attention this film is getting is baffling to me. Bennet Miller for Moneyball and Tomas Alfredson for Tinker Tailor not getting nod is a crime.
Original Screenplay- Michel Hazanavicius. I am worried that he wins for this they may not give him the Best Director award. I really hope Asghar Farhadi wins for A Separation. It is one of the best screenplay's I have seen in years, and I will jump for joy if he wins. Ignored: Terry for Tree of Life.
Adapted Screenplay- Alexander Payne. This is a shame because I liked the film, but thought it is Paynes worst film, he needs Jim Taylor back. I am pulling for Moneyball and Tinker Tailor, but Sorkin won his last year. Ignored: Dragon Tattoo, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Harry Potter, Carnage
Cinematography- The Artist. It's Black and White!, but that hasn't made much of a difference recently. Tattoo and Hugo looked great, but I'm really pulling for Tree of Life. Ignored: The Way Back, Meeks, Drive,Tinker Tailor.
Editing- The Artist. I think it will win best picture, so I automatically choose it for editing. Ignored: Tinker, Apes,Harry Potter, Tree of Life and most of all A Separation.
Foreign Film- A Separation. This was one of the best films of the year and if it doesn't win, then I will hurt people. Great acting all around and the Screenplay is so convoluted that it has a thriller aspect to it. A Must see!!!!
Best Animated- Rango. I haven't seen any of these and now that I'm a father this may be the last year this happens.
Documentary Feature- Paradise Lost 3. This is a personal pick(which I try and stay away from) but this trilogy helped free three innocent men and I hope the Academy takes that into consideration. Ignored: Bill Cunningham New York.
Doc. Short- The Barber of Birmingham. It's about Civil Rights
Animated Short- The Fantastic Flying Books. Clever title.
Live Action Short- Tuba Atlantic. It's about death.
Art Direction, Costume Design, and Make-Up- The Artist, Jane Eyre, and Albert Nobbs. 1920's Hollywood, Period Piece, women looking like men.
Sound Editing, Mixing and Visual Effects- Hugo and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Only wins for Hugo and Apes looked pretty good.
Best Song and Score- Muppets and The Artist. Muppets win because they aren't exactly a Mop or a Puppet. The Artist would be a guaranteed win if they didn't sample the great Bernard Herrmann's Vertigo soundtrack, but not sure if the Academy cares,but it really pissed me off that they did it. John Williams probably cancels himself out with two nominations.
That's it! The above picture is from an exhibit celebrating the Great Stanley Kubrick in Paris I went to last year. Let's hope Terrance Malick can have one too this year.
