Loading ...With the Academy Awards just around the corner, it’s about time to look at the stars of the silver screen and analyze which one will take home Oscar gold this month. On Jan. 24, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled the nominees for the major Oscar categories. While some of the nominees were to be expected, the Academy is always known for throwing in a few surprises. Before the ceremony on Feb. 26, I decided to give a list of nominees in a few categories, and throw in a few predictions of my own.
Best Picture
– The Artist (produced by Thomas Langmann)
– The Descendants (produced by Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor)
– Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (produced by Scott Rudin)
– The Help (produced by Bunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan)
– Hugo (produced by Graham King, Martin Scorsese)
– Midnight in Paris (produced by Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum)
– Moneyball (produced by Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz, Brad Pitt)
– The Tree of Life (Nominees to be announced)
– War Horse (produced by Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy)
The best picture category always has its fair share of surprises. Newcomer Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, while receiving only lukewarm reviews from critics, has been a tearjerker among Academy members and moviegoers alike, and has picked up some steam in the last few weeks before the nomination deadline. Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year, and presents an interesting storyline, along with a cast of A-list actors. However, 2012 seems to belong to one film in particular.
What should and will win: The Artist. There are many elderly members of the Academy. Because The Artist takes place in 1920’s Hollywood, and will make it a favorite of those members who remember the old days of moving pictures. In addition, the idea of a black-and-white silent film is a technique that hasn’t won a Best Picture since 1928 (Wings, the first winner of that award.), but it is well executed and incredibly unique. Director Michel Hazanavicius is unknown to the Academy, but will likely turn the heads of its members. Keep an eye out for the powerful acting of Jean Dujardin, who is up for Best Actor, as he won the same award at the Cannes Film Festival this year. He also won Best Actor at the Golden Globes. While other films like The Descendants and The Help have received much acclaim from critics, they may not have the uniqueness and heart to match The Artist for Oscar’s top prize this year.
Best Achievement in Directing
– Michel Hazanivicius for The Artist
– Alexander Payne for The Descendants
– Martin Scorsese for Hugo
– Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris
– Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life
Unfortunately, there’s no Steven Spielberg this year in the direction category. Not only did War Horse not receive a director nod, Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar failed to receive a nomination this year as well. However, the category is comprised of five wonderful filmmakers, all of who deserve to be called the year’s best director.
Who should win: Martin Scorsese. I have to admit that I was skeptical of Hugo when it first came out. It’s no Raging Bull, that’s for sure. But it’s still a wonderful film, and sends a touching message to the members of the Academy. Scorsese does a wonderful job with the art direction of this film, and even won the Golden Globe for his work on Hugo. Though it is very uncommon to see two different films win Best Picture and Director, Scorsese could be the one man to break the trend this year.
Who will win: Michel Hazanavicius. He’s the man with the un-pronounceable name. He is an unknown to the Academy, but he shouldn’t be counted out because of it. The Artist is a well-directed film, with a uniqueness that cannot be matched. Hazanavicius takes a silent film of the 1920’s and blends it with modern film styles of 2012 effortlessly. With little competition, it’s time for a newcomer to take the Oscars by storm. Enter Michel Hazanavicius this February.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
– Demian Bichir for A Better Life
– George Clooney for The Descendants
– Jean Dujardin for The Artist
– Gary Oldman for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
– Brad Pitt for Moneyball
This is an interesting category, to say the least. It was surprising to not see Leonardo DiCaprio nominated for J. Edgar this year, as well as Michael Fassbender in Shame. Both of these men were nominated for Golden Globes. A major shock is the addition of Damien Bichir, who plays an illegal immigrant father in A Better Life. There are, however, three no-brainer nominations from the Academy in George Clooney, Jean Dujardin, and Brad Pitt.
Who should and will win: George Clooney. While The Artist’s Jean Dujardin steps into a demanding role and delivers, Clooney is a safe bet to win the Best Actor prize this year, after winning best actor at the Golden Globes. He’s also nominated for a BAFTA in the same category. Clooney is an academy favorite as an actor, writer, and director, and there should be little doubt that anyone can knock him off his perch. Don’t count out Jean Dujardin of The Artist, though. The rising French star could the one to steal the Oscar from Clooney later this month.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
– Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs
– Viola Davis for The Help
– Rooney Mara for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
– Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady
– Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn
This category is a toss-up. There are five wonderful actresses here, all of whom have a shot of taking home Oscar gold. It’s exciting to see Rooney Mara nominated, as well as Glenn Close. Of course, there’s Meryl Streep (nominated for a record 17th time!), Michelle Williams, and Viola Davis. It’s anybody’s game at the Oscars this month.
Who could win: It’s too early to tell who the front runner is in the race for best actress. Meryl Streep delivered a stellar performance in The Iron Lady, and has received countless nominations for it, including a Golden Globe. Then there’s Viola Davis, who won the SAG award for best actress, and has received many other nominations for The Help. Finally, Michelle Williams, who’s coming off a nomination last year for Blue Valentine, shouldn’t be overlooked for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe.
Who will win: While I can see any of these actresses winning, I’ll pick Meryl Streep. It seems like her hard work for all these years will finally come to fruition.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
– Kenneth Branagh for My Week with Marilyn
– Jonah Hill for Moneyball
– Nick Nolte for Warrior
– Christopher Plummer for Beginners
– Max von Sydow for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The best supporting categories are basically races for second place. However, the five talented actors nominated all deliver great performances in their respective films. Jonah Hill (yes, that Jonah Hill, the same one from Superbad) received his first Oscar nod for his work in Moneyball. I’m very excited to see him recognized as an Oscar-caliber actor. Nick Nolte and Kenneth Branagh also preformed beautifully in Warrior and My Week With Marilyn. However, there’s one actor that shines twice as brightly as the rest.
Who should and will win: Christopher Plummer. In Beginners, Plummer plays Hal, a terminally ill father in his seventies, who comes out to his son following his wife’s death. His touching performance has earned him a best supporting actor Golden Globe. He’s also been nominated in 2009 for The Last Station. While the other nominees give great performances of their own, Plummer’s stands out above the rest. He has the award locked this year.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
– Berenice Bejo for The Artist
– Jessica Chastain for The Help
– Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids
– Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs
– Octavia Spencer for The Help
The best supporting actress category is shaped very similarly to the best supporting actor category. Melissa McCarthy’s hilarious performance in Bridesmaids, and Berenice Bejo’s subtle but important role in The Artist have both yielded Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. In addition, Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer deliver very different, but equally impactful performances in The Help. Again, there is one actress that stands out from the field.
Who should and will win: Octavia Spencer. Before writing the book, author Kathryn Stockett based the character Minny on Spencer. Therefore, the role is tailor made for her, and it should result in an Oscar this year. Spencer’s performance has also gotten her a Golden Globe and SAG award for supporting actress. It would be a shame for another actress in this category to take the prize over her.
