So bearing in mind that I bring no official accreditation, nor impressive success rate, I herby submit my humble predictions*… *Note: not personal preferences!
Best Picture
The nominees: Amour, Argo, Beast of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook and Zero Dark Thirty
Winner: Argo
Actual Winner: Argo
Every Oscar predictions year brings its own unique surprises and head-scratchers to the Best Picture table, particularly since the category was opened to a possible ten contenders. The biggest “WTF?” this year is the snub of Ben Affleck for Best Director, which threw shade on Argo’s shot at top prize. Since its premiere at TIFF, Argo was arguably a contender for Best Picture; but with Affleck’s absence, Argo seemed a goner. But like the true 11th-hour covert operation of the film, advance awards have smuggled it back out and above the pack… How do you like them apples? Its biggest obstacle is Lincoln, which has a nominated director to back it up – by the name of Spielberg. If the Academy votes Abe over Argo, in my opinion it will be to suppress its embarrassment over the Argo issue, and to keep things conservative.
Best Director
The Nominees: Michael Haneke (Amour), Ang Lee (Life of Pi), David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook), Steven Spielberg (Lincoln) and Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild)
Winner: Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)
Actual Winner: Ang Lee (Life of Pi)
My primary pet peeve with nominations/wins is when Best Picture is divorced from Best Director. It seems to fly in the face of logic: How can a film be considered the best, if its direction wasn’t (and vice versa)? Just as in your Oscar pool you may want to split these picks in order to hedge your bets, so too may the awards go to two different pictures in order to spread the love, right some wrongs, maximize ratings…. If Argo is going to win Best Picture, its director cannot win. So logic dictates that its closest competition’s director will. That said person -- the living legend, beloved and immeasurably successful Steven Spielberg -- makes this more obvious and appealing than in other circumstances. Just as the infamous Oscar incident of 1998 with Saving Private Ryan, Steven may again the bridesmaid be.
Best Actor
The Nominees: Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln), Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables), Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) and Denzel Washington (Flight)
Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)
Actual Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)
One of the few no-brainers this year. Praise for his uncanny and inspiring embodiment of Abraham Lincoln is universal, the viewer believing they are witnessing a historical figure in action which we could otherwise only imagine. Any of the other nominees would readily bow in Day-Lewis’s wake. The closest runner-up is probably Hugh Jackman, but loved as he is, I just don’t see the Academy tossing him the crust of bread for song and dance up against Honest Abe.
Best Actress
The Nominees: Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), Emmanuelle Riva (Amour), Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) and Naomi Watts (The Impossible)
Winner: Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook)
Actual Winner: Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook)
Seemingly a sure-thing, if the lead-up awards are any indicator. Lawrence has been lauded as the stand-out performance in a much-loved film, particularly impressive considering all her cast-mates are nominated as well. Any young actress who can go toe-to-toe with De Niro deserves her day. She may say ‘You talkin’ to me?’ to Jessica Chastain, who carries the thinking-woman’s action thriller with fascinating fire, but political controversy should squelch that spark.
Best Supporting Actor
The Nominees: Alan Arkin (Argo), Robert De Niro (Silver Linings Playbook), Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master), Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln) and Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)
Winner: Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln)
Actual Winner: Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)
This category seems a dead heat between two living legends, Jones and De Niro. Both are nominated for much-loved films that have additional acting nominations, both are past winners, both have surly reputations which are scary/tempting to invite onto the stage. De Niro seems to have campaigned in his own way, while Jones is attached to the stronger bet; the Academy also loves biographical portrayals. Ok, I guess I’m Jones-ing.
Best Supporting Actress
The Nominees: Amy Adams (The Master), Sally Field (Lincoln), Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables), Helen Hunt (The Sessions) and Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook)
Winner: Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables)
Actual Winner: Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables)
I had a dream that Anne DOESN’T win, but that ain’t gonna happen… I think she’s already on the stage as I write this. As with J-Law, pre-Oscar awards have left Anne grinning like a cheshire cat-woman. Along with her hair, it’s hers to lose. The only possible cat-fight could be with Sally Field, because the Academy likes her, they really like her. But Lincoln was a man’s movie, and her Mrs. Lincoln cray-cray can’t out-wail Hathaway.
Best Original Song
The Nominees: "Before My Time" (Chasing Ice), "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" (Ted), "Pi's Lullaby" (Life of Pi), "Skyfall" (Skyfall) and "Suddenly" (Les Misérables)
Winner: "Skyfall" Music and Lyric by Adele and Paul Epworth (Skyfall)
Actual Winner: "Skyfall" Music and Lyric by Adele and Paul Epworth (Skyfall)
"This is the end." The first time we heard the haunting lyrics and grandiose melody on the radio prior to the film's release, or accompanying the poetic and dramatic opening credit imagery, these four words summed up the Best Song category. The perfect pairing of capturing tone (and even plot) of a film, with belt-it-out-in-your-car popular playability, "Skyfall" and Adele go together like Bond and M. On Oscar night, she will stand tall.
Best Animated Feature
The Nominees: The Brave, Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, The Pirates! Band of Misfits and Wreck-It Ralph
Winner: Wreck-It Ralph
Actual Winner: The Brave
Power up! Loved by the Disney and Gen-Y fan-bases alike, and dominating pre-Oscar awards in this field (such as the ‘Annies’), Ralph is sure to get wreck-ognized as being top of the game in this relatively new category.
Best Documentary
The Nominees: 5 Broken Cameras, The Gatekeepers, How to Survive a Plague, The Invisible War and Searching for Sugar Man
Winner: Searching for Sugar Man
Actual Winner: Searching for Sugar Man
Look no further for the sweet spot in this category… Lauded with many early awards, (including Best Doc by the International Documentary Assoc.), and the biggest box office success in its category, Sixto Rodriguez is the man.
Best Foreign Language Film
The Nominees: Amour (Austria), Kon-Tiki (Norway), No (Chile), A Royal Affair (Denmark) and War Witch aka Rebelle (Canada)
Winner: Amour (Austria)
Actual Winner: Amour (Austria)
While patriotism makes me inclined to root for Canada’s War Witch, it would be très fou to not show Amour love in this category. It boasts four additional nominations, including Best Picture, so how could it not win for Best Foreign?
A special thank you to Gabrielle Domingues for sharing her Oscar predictions with us.
- TorontoVerve
If you can't wait to watch the 85th Academy Awards this Sunday at 8:30pm EST on ABC/CTV, hit play below to check out Gab & Dad's 2013 Oscar Special!
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