The Annual ‘Amazing Oscar Overview’ is Finally Here!

The time has come. The highlight of the movie industry is here: THE ACADEMY AWARDS! After months of watching, predicting, GoldDerby-ing, Rotten Tomato-ing, and getting up at 5:30 AM to hear the Oscar nominees, the time has come to cast my votes.

Nothing is more prestigious than the Oscar. Why do we even care what the Golden Globe turnout is, or who won a Critic’s Choice Award? We don’t. This just gives us an insight into who will have a chance at Oscar gold. So with that, let the festivities commence! But first, the snubs and surprises.

SURPRISE: We all know it: Jonah Hill. People are quite outraged about this rookie obtaining a spot with all the pros. But you know what? I thought his work in Moneyball was actually nomination worthy. Not Oscar worthy, but definitely deserving a nod.

SNUB: Oh dear, it seems the Academy does not enjoy David Fincher. Why didn’t he get a nod for Girl With the Dragon Tattoo!? He deserved to win for The Social Network last year, they could have at least given him a nomination here.

SURPRISE: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close for getting any nominations at all, let alone best picture. Some say its the ‘worst movie to be nominated for best picture’. I don’t know if it’s that great or not, but a 9/11 movie has got to be a tear-jerker.

SNUB: Only 1 nomination for Drive!? Please, just throw out Extremely Loud and put Drive in! I know the Academy is in love with happy movies and doesn’t care for the dark type (as we can see from the lack of Dragon Tattoo nominations) , but come on, Drive was beautiful, and Ryan Gosling’s ‘Driver’ is a hero in his own way.

SURPRISE: Only 2 nominations for best original song? Huh.

SNUB: In my opinion, this is the biggest: no best animated picture nomination for The Adventures of Tintin! I am a HUGE Tintin fan, I have the comics! I think people just need to get over themselves and accept that motion capture is animation.

Finally, here is the key for the nominations:

“Will Win”- Who the Academy probably picked

“Should Win”- Who I think should actually win

Highlighted name/movie– My pick to win

I will be predicting in 20 out of the 24 categories. Here we go!

BEST ACTOR

• Demiàn Bichir, A Better Life
• George Clooney, The Descendants
• Jean Dujardin, The Artist
• Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
• Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Will Win: George Clooney or Jean Dujardin… It’s a toss-up

Should Win: Jean Dujardin or Gary Oldman

Really, this race is a two-man race (like most of the acting categories). Demiàn Bichir is one of those random nominees, so he’s out, along with Brad Pitt. His performance didn’t really wow me or anything. Now, Gary Oldman was awesome, and deserves this category hands down BUT, Jean Dujardin is nominated, and well, he was in a silent movie, which is much more difficult to perform in than a ‘talkie’. As for George Clooney, he’s the favorite. But was he really that good? No. It’s a performance worth a nomination, not a win. So, my pick is Jean Dujardin. I personally LOVED him, and he deserves this win.

BEST ACTRESS 

• Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
• Viola Davis, The Help
• Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
• Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
• Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Will Win: Viola Davis

Should Win: Meryl Streep

Again, another two person race. Glenn Close was one of those random nominees, so she is out, and so is Rooney Mara, because the Academy does not favor dark movies like Dragon Tattoo. Michelle Williams COULD be a surprise win for playing Marilyn Monroe, but really, this is between Viola Davis and Meryl Streep. I do think the Academy will go for Davis because her role is a powerful one, and this is her first nominated role. But what about Oscar heavyweight Streep? Her performance in Iron Lady carried the movie, and I have a very, very strong feeling that this is her year to win.

BEST SUPPORING ACTOR

• Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
• Jonah Hill, Moneyball
• Nick Nolte, Warrior
• Christopher Plummer, Beginners
• Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Will Win: Christopher Plummer

Should Win: Christopher Plummer (though Jonah Hill was great)

This is a one man race. Christopher Plummer is 82 and has never won an Oscar. That’s  it. But, if the pros weren’t clogging this category, Jonah Hill would have a pretty good chance.

BEST SUPPPORTING ACTRESS

• Bèrènice Bejo, The Artist
• Jessica Chastain, The Help
• Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
• Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
• Octavia Spencer, The Help

Will Win: Octavia Spencer

Should Win: Octavia Spencer or Bèrènice Bejo

This is a great category with lots of talent. Janet McTeer is out for Albert Nobbs, and so is Jessica Chastain, who was great but just doesn’t make the cut for an award. Everyone is rooting for Melissa McCarthy. I mean, she really was FUNNY! She should be honored that she was even nominated for a role in a comedy movie. Bèrènice Bejo was wonderful in the Artist, and for a while, I thought she would win. But Octavia Spencer’s performance really grew on me, and I realized that she really has the potential to win this. So even though Bejo was amazing, Spencer stole all our hearts.

BEST DIRECTOR

• Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
• Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
• Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
• Alexander Payne, The Descendants
• Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Will Win: Michel Hazanavicius

Should Win: Michel Hazanavicius or Martin Scorsese

Everyone in this category deserves to win. Period. But only one can win. Tree of Life was very different, and took a lot of skill, but I feel like Malick’s technique is a little too artsy for the Academy. Everyone (including me) loves Midnight in Paris, but Allen’s movie isn’t as powerful as the other movies nominated. I love Alexander Payne, and The Descendants seemed like the movie to win until The Artist came on the scene. But he doesn’t stand up to the legend, Martin Scorsese. Hugo was a really good movie, and it was very complicated. I would pick him to win, but he just won this category a few years ago for The Departed, and he’s one of those ‘he’ll have another Oscar chance’ types. Who really, really deserves it? Michel Hazanavicius. Making movies without dialogue is extremely hard, but making silent movies that move you is harder. His skill and unique movie wins the race. He took a risk, and it paid off, big time!

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen
• Margin Call by JC Chandor
• A Separation by Asghar Farhadi
• The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius
• Bridesmaids by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo

Will Win: Midnight in Paris

Should Win: Midnight in Paris or The Artist

Margin Call is one of those random ones, so that’s out. A Separation is just lucky to be nominated, foreign films getting nominated in other categories other than best foreign film is very rare. Bridesmaids was pretty great, but a comedy movie winning this category is slim to none. The Artist should win just for being a silent film, but I have a really strong hunch that Midnight in Paris could take this one. It’s charming, and very well written.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• The Descendants by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxton, and Jim Rash
• Hugo by John Logan
• The Ides of March by George Clooney and Grant Heslov
• Moneyball by Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by Bridget O’Conner and Peter Straughn

Will Win: The Descendants

Should Win: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Many, many great nominees here. Hugo was good, but nothing special. I didn’t like how Ides of March ended, so that pretty much ruined it for me. I really loved Tinker Tailor. I mean, the entire movie is dialogue yet it’s so suspenseful! But, since it’s British, I don’t think it will win. I was torn between Moneyball and The Descendants to win. Moneyball flowed no nicely, even if it was a film about baseball, and I love Aaron Sorkin. But I’m going with The Descendants. If the Academy is going to deprive Alexander Payne of a possible best picture and a possible best director, they have to give him best adapted screenplay.

BEST ART DIRECTION 

• The Artist
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Hugo
• Midnight in Paris
• War Horse

Will Win: Hugo

Should Win: Hugo

Though sets in The Artist were nostalgically charming, and Midnight in Paris was unique, Hugo was a complex, beautiful movie. The sets were gorgeous, so this award has Hugo written all over it.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 

• The Artist
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
• Hugo
• The Tree of Life
• War Horse

Will Win: The Tree of Life

Should Win: The Tree of Life (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Drive)

I don’t even think there is any competition here. Hugo and War Horse are close, but Tree of Life had some amazing shots which were executed perfectly. The lighting was perfect as well. But, there are two films where are not nominated and should be: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Drive. Both had AMAZING cinematography, and could have had a shot at winning.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

• Anonymous
• The Artist
• Hugo
• Jane Eyre
• W.E.

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: The Artist or Hugo

This is a category with two major competitors: The Artist and Hugo. Neither really blew me away, but I’ll go with The Artist. The 20s era costumes were nice, and they stood out over the black and white color. Hugo is a possible win, but I doubt it.

BEST MAKEUP

• Albert Nobbs
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• The Iron Lady

Will Win: The Iron Lady

Should Win: The Iron Lady

All I can say is wow. How did they make Meryl Streep look so old?!

BEST FILM EDITING

• The Artist
• The Descendants
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
• Hugo
• Moneyball

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: The Artist or The Descendants

This is one of the hardest categories to predict since editing is supposed to be the invisible art. So, I think back to what I think flowed the best, like which movie I watched effortlessly. The two which pop up first are The Artist and The Descendants. Both were smooth and well cut, but I’ll go with The Artist since it used so many old-fashioned techniques.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Hugo
• Real Steel
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Will Win: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Should Win: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I didn’t see Planet of the Apes, but I know that it is motion capture, which is very complicated and very innovative, so that’s my choice. Also, I am mad that Tintin wasn’t nominated for best animated picture, because some people don’t think motion capture is animation. So I’m going for motion capture.

BEST SOUND EDITING 

• Drive
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
• Hugo
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• War Horse

Will Win: Hugo

Should Win: Drive

This is the ONLY category Drive is nominated in, so it gets my vote no matter what.

BEST SOUND MIXING 

• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
• Hugo
• Moneyball
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• War Horse

Will Win: Hugo

Should Win: Hugo

These sound categories confuse me. So I usually just go with the most complicated film nominated (Inception won this and sound editing last year). Hugo seems like a safe pick.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

• The Adventures of Tintin by John Williams
• The Artist by Ludovic Bource
• Hugo by Howard Shore
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by Alberto Iglesias
• War Horse by John Williams

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: The Artist or The Adventures of Tintin

With two nominations for genius John Williams, he’s bound to win, right? Wrong. Newcomer Alberto Iglesias is out, along with Howard Shore. It’s John Williams vs John Williams vs Ludovic Bource, who is pretty much unknown. John Williams deserves a win for his epic soundtracks, but The Artist is a silent movie, and whats the only thing you have to listen to in a silent movie? Music. And the music in The Artist was exceptionally good.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

• “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets
• “Real in Rio” from Rio

Will Win: The Muppets

Should Win: The Muppets

Anything from The Muppets will win in the sound category. Also, this is my favorite song from that movie, because when Jim Parsons shows up and starts singing it, I laughed so hard I cried!

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

• A Cat in Paris
• Chico and Rita
• Kung Fu Panda 2
• Puss in Boots
• Rango

Will Win: Rango

Should Win: The Adventures of Tintin

This category makes me mad. I love Tintin. I have the comics (yes, I do). And it was a movie packed full of action like the books. And apparently, motion capture isn’t animation. Tintin should have been nominated, and should have won.

BEST PICTURE

• The Artist
• The Descendants
• Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
• The Help
• Hugo
• Midnight in Paris
• Moneyball
• The Tree of Life
• War Horse

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: The Artist

Lets work our way up to the top. Extremely Loud is the lowest rated, and some consider it the worst best picture nominated movie ever, so that’s out (did I mention it’s ‘rotten’ on Rotten Tomatoes?). Along with that will go War Horse, which was sentimental, but seems like it was nominated just for being a Spielberg film. Next will go Tree of Life, which was very cool, but the Academy is not quite ready for something so artsy. Moneyball is eliminated next, because many people didn’t get it, and it’s not as strong as the other ones in this category. After that is Midnight in Paris, which was a wonderful movie, but again, not powerful enough to pull through. We’re down to the four that are the strongest: The Help, Hugo, The Descendants, and The Artist. Next off is The Help, which was a fan favorite, but only acclaimed for its acting. After that is Hugo, which was a very complicated movie done by Martin Scorsese, and has that big, hollywood movie feel that the Academy loves, but it’s not his best. Finally, I will eliminate The Descendants. It’s a cozy movie with strong themes, and if it weren’t for The Artist, this would have been Alexander Payne’s year to win. The Artist has won me over. It’s charming: the play on silent films, the amazing acting, and the fact that it moves you so much without saying a word. Add in the fact that it is a silent black and white film, and very unique, this has the Academy won over, the Oscar in its hand, and even I am in love with it.

A Much Needed Winter Break

So my honors English class has us post a massive blog every week, so by the time I actually have time to blog, I just want to sleep.

I really have no clue how I’m going to make it out of here alive.

Anyways, a few great developments have happened. One, I ranted to my principal (this was the first time I met him) about how OHS NEEDS a film club, and how disappointed I was that we didn’t have one. He looked at me and said “You are right. When can we get started?” and well…. I am now going to be the new leader and founder of the OHS Film Committee, and organize the annual OHS Film Festival. Heck, I’m only a Freshman, and they’re letting me do this? I feel awesome.

Another development: film festivals. I have kind of slacked, and not entered my film into them via withoutabox. So the other night, I had a horrible nightmare that woke me up from my lazy state, and I entered into 10 (not counting NFFTY or Reel 2 Real, so that makes 12 overall). Frankly, if I don’t get into any, that was a total waste of $100. But if I only get into one, that was $100 well spent. One of the festivals is grades 1-9, so I am 98% sure I have that one as a confirmation, and possibly a win.

On the topic of what I’ve been watching, well, there’s quite a bit. I’ve watched some lesser-known Spielberg, like Minority Report and Catch Me if you Can. Minority Report was a little sketchy, just on the border of my sci-fi limit, but Catch Me if You Can was really good! John Williams’ score was quirky and added so much more to it as well. But the overall story was engaging and interesting, and like in all Spielberg movies, heartwarming.

Then I saw There Will Be Blood. Oh my. That is one intense movie. I saw a little over half at film camp, and now I wonder why I waited so long to finish it! That movie keeps you on edge the entire time, with the fluid cinematography and the distorted music. The new ‘modern western’ genre has really proved its worth. Basically, Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview, the misanthropic oil man, scared the… Everything, out of me. He won that Oscar HANDS DOWN. I have no clue why critics only gave it 3 stars.

And finally, I made my Oscar nominee list. Not only will I be predicting the winners this year, but I will also be predicting the nominations. I’m currently at school, so I can copy+paste the list, but I will do so soon. And give some commentary on it. But off of that list I’ve seen two movies: The Muppets and The Tree of Life.

I would just like to say that The Muppets was awesome. I knew it would be funny, and convinced my friends to go. Within the first five minutes, they all almost left the theater. But, in the end, they all came out LOVING the movie, just LOVING it.  It was refreshing to see humor that wasn’t all Adam Sandler-y (like his newest fail Jack and Jill proves). It was just so… Funny! DEFINITELY a fresh new movie to go see.

Now The Tree of Life… I really don’t know what to say. I didn’t hate it, yet I didn’t love it. It was… Different? I’ll just stay neutral on that one. It was cool watching something a little outside my comfort zone though. And it kind of hypnotized me. It’s like you want to shut off the TV and say “Stupid abstract movie. Why do I waste my time?” but you really can’t.

So, I have no school blog posts for 4 weeks, so get ready for lots of posting. Upcoming topics: Oscar Nominees, and Drinking Other People’s Milkshakes.