My Oscar Picks
The 85th Academy Awards are to be presented this coming Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. With a list of respectable nominees, some of the categories may come down to very narrow wins. Here is my full list of which films I predict to win, and also which films I think deserve to win each respective award.
Best Picture
Who Will Win: While it will be a very close race with Spielberg’s grandiose biopic Lincoln, I think that Argo will capture Best Picture this year. Not only is it a fantastic movie, but it has already won the Best Picture category from the Golden Globes, the SAGs, Critics Choice, PGA, and the DGA awards, making it an almost unstoppable force in pursuit of Best Picture.
Who Should Win: While my personal favorite film of the year was Django Unchained, Argo is a close second, so I’m happy to see it win in this category too. It’s a little surprising that Moonrise Kingdom or The Master were not nominated in this category’s extra place, but neither could have stopped Argo (or Lincoln) anyway.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Who Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis for his encapsulating performance as Abraham Lincoln.
Who Should Win: While Joaquin Phoenix was terrific in The Master, Bradley Cooper was electrifying in Silver Linings Playbook, and Denzel Washington was ferociously emotive in Flight, this year’s Oscar belongs to one of the most talented actors alive today. In my opinion Day-Lewis deserves this award, potentially propelling him to the elite circle of humans who have won three acting awards from the Oscars.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Who Will Win: While Jessica Chastain was considered a favorite several weeks ago, and some are predicting a surprise win for Emmanuelle Riva, it seems like Jennifer Lawrence has pulled ahead and I think she’ll win this year’s Best Actress statuette.
Who Should Win: I haven’t actually seen all of the nominated actresses films this year, but there’s no doubt that Jennifer Lawrence’s captivating performance helped propel Silver Linings Playbook, leading me to conclude that she deserves this award (this is her second nomination).
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Who Will Win: Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln, although there has been speculation that both Christoph Waltz and Phillip Seymour Hoffman may go home with the Oscar instead.
Who Should Win: The relationship Waltz has found with Tarantino is inspiring, and his performance as the German-born bounty hunter in Django Unchained is certainly memorable. While Tommy Lee Jones gave a structured and captivating performance, I think that either Waltz, Hoffman or De Niro all deserve this award just as much.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Who Will Win: Despite a short amount of time on screen, Anne Hathaway will snag her first Oscar following a magical performance in Les Misérables.
Who Should Win: Her song “I Dreamed A Dream” was enough to propel Anne Hathaway to Oscar gold, and I think she deserves the statuette for her performance as Fantine.
Best Director
Who Will Win: Steven Spielberg
Who Should Win: While Spielberg is an iconic director with immense talent, I may give this award to Ang Lee (if it was up to me), that being said Spielberg still did a masterful job on Lincoln.
Best Original Screenplay
Who Will Win: Quentin Tarantino has been one of the greatest writers in Hollywood for years, and I think that this year he can beat out his fellow nominees like Mark Boal for his second Oscar in this category.
Who Should Win: Hands-down Tarantino, his screenplay for Django Unchained is a truly original piece, it has humor and action, while at the same time facing the hard-hitting truths of slavery head-on.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Who Will Win: Tony Kushner for Lincoln.
Who Should Win: While Day-Lewis’ performance is what makes the film shine the most, Kushner’s intelligent screenplay is what holds it all together, his contribution to the film should not be underestimated.
Best Cinematography
Who Will Win: With outstanding visual imagery, Life of Pi will most likely take home the award for cinematography.
Who Should Win: All of the nominees would have been fine choices, particularly Skyfall and Django, Ang Lee’s majestic version of the classic novel deserves this award the most for Claudio Miranda’s outstanding cinematography.
Best Visual Effects
Who Will Win: Life of Pi will probably take home this award for its immersive and stunning visuals.
Who Should Win: Life of Pi.
Best Film Editing
Who Will Win: Argo
Who Should Win: Despite my prediction that it will win Best Picture, Argo isn’t favoured for too much else, yet it certainly deserves an award for its wonderful editing.
Best Animated Feature
Who Will Win: Brave
Who Should Win: I haven’t seen many of the animated features this year, and while Brave is no where near as good as other Disney-Pixar greats like Toy Story 3 or Wall-E, it’s still worthy of this award – although Wreck It Ralph was more original and I enjoyed it for its kickback to older gaming.
Best Foreign Language Film
Who Will Win: Amour is a certain win.
Who Should Win: Amour is a wonderful film, and deserving of this Oscar recognition.
Best Production Design
Who Will Win: Most likely Life of Pi, because its going to lose in the director and picture categories, it will probably pick up many of the awards left over.
Who Should Win: Either Life of Pi or Anna Karenina.
Best Costume Design
Who Will Win: Anna Karenina
Who Should Win: Anna Karenina
Best Make Up and Hairstyling
Who Will Win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Who Should Win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journeey
Best Original Score
Who Will Win: I’m going with Life of Pi.
Who Should Win: Either Life of Pi or Lincoln.
Best Original Song
Who Will Win: If anyone takes this award away from Adele and her amazing James Bond title song Skyfall, I’ll be surprised.
Who Should Win: Adele for “Skyfall”.
Best Sounds Mixing
Who Will Win: Most likely Les Misérables.
Who Should Win: While Les Misérables was a fantastic musical, I think that Skyfall had better sound mixing.
Best Sound Editing
Who Will Win: Zero Dark Thirty
Who Should Win: Zero Dark Thirty
Best Documentary Feature
Who Will Win: Searching for Sugar Man.
Who Should Win: I’m not a big watcher of documentaries, but from what I’ve heard Searching for Sugar Man more than deserves this award.
Best Documentary Short
Who Will Win: Open Heart
Who Should Win: Innocente
Best Short Film – Live Action
Who Will Win: Curfew
Who Should Win: Curfew
Best Short Film - Animated
Who Will Win: Paperman
Who Should Win: Paperman
The 85th Academy Awards are to be presented this coming Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. With a list of respectable nominees, some of the categories may come down to very narrow wins. Here is my full list of which films I predict to win, and also which films I think deserve to win each respective award.
Best Picture
Who Will Win: While it will be a very close race with Spielberg’s grandiose biopic Lincoln, I think that Argo will capture Best Picture this year. Not only is it a fantastic movie, but it has already won the Best Picture category from the Golden Globes, the SAGs, Critics Choice, PGA, and the DGA awards, making it an almost unstoppable force in pursuit of Best Picture.
Who Should Win: While my personal favorite film of the year was Django Unchained, Argo is a close second, so I’m happy to see it win in this category too. It’s a little surprising that Moonrise Kingdom or The Master were not nominated in this category’s extra place, but neither could have stopped Argo (or Lincoln) anyway.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Who Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis for his encapsulating performance as Abraham Lincoln.
Who Should Win: While Joaquin Phoenix was terrific in The Master, Bradley Cooper was electrifying in Silver Linings Playbook, and Denzel Washington was ferociously emotive in Flight, this year’s Oscar belongs to one of the most talented actors alive today. In my opinion Day-Lewis deserves this award, potentially propelling him to the elite circle of humans who have won three acting awards from the Oscars.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Who Will Win: While Jessica Chastain was considered a favorite several weeks ago, and some are predicting a surprise win for Emmanuelle Riva, it seems like Jennifer Lawrence has pulled ahead and I think she’ll win this year’s Best Actress statuette.
Who Should Win: I haven’t actually seen all of the nominated actresses films this year, but there’s no doubt that Jennifer Lawrence’s captivating performance helped propel Silver Linings Playbook, leading me to conclude that she deserves this award (this is her second nomination).
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Who Will Win: Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln, although there has been speculation that both Christoph Waltz and Phillip Seymour Hoffman may go home with the Oscar instead.
Who Should Win: The relationship Waltz has found with Tarantino is inspiring, and his performance as the German-born bounty hunter in Django Unchained is certainly memorable. While Tommy Lee Jones gave a structured and captivating performance, I think that either Waltz, Hoffman or De Niro all deserve this award just as much.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Who Will Win: Despite a short amount of time on screen, Anne Hathaway will snag her first Oscar following a magical performance in Les Misérables.
Who Should Win: Her song “I Dreamed A Dream” was enough to propel Anne Hathaway to Oscar gold, and I think she deserves the statuette for her performance as Fantine.
Best Director
Who Will Win: Steven Spielberg
Who Should Win: While Spielberg is an iconic director with immense talent, I may give this award to Ang Lee (if it was up to me), that being said Spielberg still did a masterful job on Lincoln.
Best Original Screenplay
Who Will Win: Quentin Tarantino has been one of the greatest writers in Hollywood for years, and I think that this year he can beat out his fellow nominees like Mark Boal for his second Oscar in this category.
Who Should Win: Hands-down Tarantino, his screenplay for Django Unchained is a truly original piece, it has humor and action, while at the same time facing the hard-hitting truths of slavery head-on.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Who Will Win: Tony Kushner for Lincoln.
Who Should Win: While Day-Lewis’ performance is what makes the film shine the most, Kushner’s intelligent screenplay is what holds it all together, his contribution to the film should not be underestimated.
Best Cinematography
Who Will Win: With outstanding visual imagery, Life of Pi will most likely take home the award for cinematography.
Who Should Win: All of the nominees would have been fine choices, particularly Skyfall and Django, Ang Lee’s majestic version of the classic novel deserves this award the most for Claudio Miranda’s outstanding cinematography.
Best Visual Effects
Who Will Win: Life of Pi will probably take home this award for its immersive and stunning visuals.
Who Should Win: Life of Pi.
Best Film Editing
Who Will Win: Argo
Who Should Win: Despite my prediction that it will win Best Picture, Argo isn’t favoured for too much else, yet it certainly deserves an award for its wonderful editing.
Best Animated Feature
Who Will Win: Brave
Who Should Win: I haven’t seen many of the animated features this year, and while Brave is no where near as good as other Disney-Pixar greats like Toy Story 3 or Wall-E, it’s still worthy of this award – although Wreck It Ralph was more original and I enjoyed it for its kickback to older gaming.
Best Foreign Language Film
Who Will Win: Amour is a certain win.
Who Should Win: Amour is a wonderful film, and deserving of this Oscar recognition.
Best Production Design
Who Will Win: Most likely Life of Pi, because its going to lose in the director and picture categories, it will probably pick up many of the awards left over.
Who Should Win: Either Life of Pi or Anna Karenina.
Best Costume Design
Who Will Win: Anna Karenina
Who Should Win: Anna Karenina
Best Make Up and Hairstyling
Who Will Win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Who Should Win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journeey
Best Original Score
Who Will Win: I’m going with Life of Pi.
Who Should Win: Either Life of Pi or Lincoln.
Best Original Song
Who Will Win: If anyone takes this award away from Adele and her amazing James Bond title song Skyfall, I’ll be surprised.
Who Should Win: Adele for “Skyfall”.
Best Sounds Mixing
Who Will Win: Most likely Les Misérables.
Who Should Win: While Les Misérables was a fantastic musical, I think that Skyfall had better sound mixing.
Best Sound Editing
Who Will Win: Zero Dark Thirty
Who Should Win: Zero Dark Thirty
Best Documentary Feature
Who Will Win: Searching for Sugar Man.
Who Should Win: I’m not a big watcher of documentaries, but from what I’ve heard Searching for Sugar Man more than deserves this award.
Best Documentary Short
Who Will Win: Open Heart
Who Should Win: Innocente
Best Short Film – Live Action
Who Will Win: Curfew
Who Should Win: Curfew
Best Short Film - Animated
Who Will Win: Paperman
Who Should Win: Paperman