I fell eight short of watching all of the nominated movies I intended to watch. Too little time, lag in OnDemand availability, and disinterest all played a part. Disinterest in watching any movie at all, aka burn-out, and disinterest in seeing a particular film.
I do poorly with violence in films, especially torturous kinds, so “Zero Dark Thirty” is on my nix list. “Argo,” “Flight,” and “Hitchcock,” came late to the OnDemand screen, so I must save them for post-Academy viewing. Also left unseen are “Amour,” “Chasing Ice,” and “The Master.” “Argo,” looked like a loads of fun; next up in the viewing queue. I could pick this film as a winner, based on the trailer alone. But, I won’t. That seems like cheating. Do you think the members of the Academy saw every single picture? Or do you think it’s more like in high school, just vote for their friends or because they want to be in the cool crowd and that’s who the cool people are voting for?
Enough mental meandering. Here are my picks.
Best Picture:
OH MY. This is a tough list. I loved every movie I watched on this list. I’m going with the one that made me think about it the most after viewing.And the nominees are:
“Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Lincoln,” “Les Miserables,” “Life of Pi,” “Django Unchained;”
“Zero Dark Thirty, “Amour,” “Argo” (unviewed)
The film I think should win is “Life of Pi.” Wait, no. “Silver Linings Playbook.” No, “Life of Pi,” No, “Django Unchained.” No, “Silver Linings Playbook.” No, “Life of Pi.” “Life of Pi” is where my coin flip falls.
Based on the number of TV incorporation, I think “Lincoln” will actually win. (That’s the one I’d pick if I wanted to be in with the cool crowd. But I’ve embraced my nerdiness; or is it geekiness? I’m not sure which category I fall into.)
Best Supporting Actor:
Please, not Robert De Niro, all he does, is shout and be angry. He’s really good in that role, but it’s the same thing over and over. I loved “Silver Linings Playbook,” but I must focus on the supporting actor.
And the nominees are:
Christoph Waltz, “Django Unchained,” Robert De Niro, “Silver Linings Playbook,” Tommy Lee Jones, “Lincoln.”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master,” Alan Arkin, “Argo” (unviewed)
The actor I think should win is: Christoph Waltz in “Django Unchained.”
My cool crowd prediction is Tommy Lee Jones. He is pretty cool.
Best Supporting Actress:
Sally Field is one terrific actress, but I have a problem watching her after her stint on “ER,” as poor Abby’s bi-polar mother. I almost stopped watching “ER” for fear Sally Field would show up. You guessed it, I have a problem with shouting. Helen Hunt could win, just for being so comfortable with her nakedness. How old is she anyways? She looks great. Plus, I loved the picture.
And the nominees are:
Sally Field, “Lincoln,” Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables,” Jacki Weaver, “Silver Linings Playbook, Helen Hunt, “The Sessions.”
Amy Adams, “The Master” (unseen)
The actress I think should win is: Ann Hathaway.
She can really sing, plus the emotion she brings to the story is phenomenal.
My cool crowd pick is Helen Hunt, if for no other reasons, than this film should have gotten a Best Picture nomination. Plus how gutsy can a 50-year-old actress be?
Best Director:
And the nominees are:
David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook,” Ang Lee, “Life of Pi,” Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln,” Benh Zeitlin, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Michael Haneke, “Amour” (unseen)
The director I think should win is: Steven Spielberg
I know nothing about directing, so I’m basing my pick on the complexity of the scenes and the story. The cool crowd will go with Steven Spielberg, too. Sometimes, me and cool are in agreement.
Best Actor:
Such different roles! Oh my, any of these actors could win. Except Hugh Jackman, his role required singing, too.
And the nominees are:
Daniel Day Lewis, “Lincoln,” Hugh Jackman, “Les Miserables,” Bradley Cooper, “Silver Linings Playbook.”
Denzel Washington, “Flight,” Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master” (unseen)
The actor I think should win is: Bradley Cooper.
If he doesn’t win, I cry foul. I fell in love with his character. Okay, yes, Daniel Day Lewis is superb, too. He can win without me crying foul, but I really, really want Bradley Cooper to win.
Best Actress:
Now that’s weird, in this category, I only saw two of the five pictures.
And the nominees are:
Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook,” Quvenzhané Wallis, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Naomi Watts, “The Impossible,” Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty,” Emmanuelle Riva, “Amour” (unseen)
The actor I think should win is: Jennifer Lawrence.
Jennifer Lawrence delivers just the right amount of crazy. Not over-the-top-we-know-you’re-crazy; the you-could-be-my-daughter-what-I-do kind of crazy. She really tugged at my heart. Yes, Quvenzhané Wallis is great. On the other hand, she spoke her part separate from acting the part, so if she was older, she might not even get nominated. She is a cutie though.
Best Original Screenplay:
Weird again: I only saw two of the five pictures. That said, this one is an easy pick for me.
And the nominees are:
“Django Unchained,” “Moonrise Kingdom”
“Amour,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Flight” (unseen)
The screenplay I think should win is: “Moonrise Kingdom.”
I recommended “Moonrise Kingdom” to everyone I knew before I even knew it was nominated. Such a sweet, quirky, fun, heartwarming story. I saw it during the summer, and it still sticks in my mind, as clear as yesterday. Besides that, none of cool actors in this movie that got nominated. Although Tarantino is super-cool and talented, I think the cool crowd will go with “Moonrise Kingdom,” too. I have come to appreciate Tarantino’s brand of over-the-top-graphic-novel brand of violence, but heart-warming still wins out for me.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
I admit, I don’t know what criteria is used for this category. Does it mean how well it sticks to the original story? Or does it boil down to another Best Screenplay, with the same criteria of Original? Well, at least I’ve seen all but one of these pictures.
And the nominees are:
“Lincoln,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Life of Pi,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
“Argo,” (unseen)
The screenplay I think should win is: “Life of Pi.”
My choice is based on reading the book, and loving how closely the story is portrayed on-screen. I loved the spiritual struggles and metaphors in the book. Seeing the story in 3-D provided insight I missed while reading. I know it’s a bit esoteric. I already admitted my nerdy-geekiness.
I have a feeling “Lincoln” will win in with the cool crowd. On the other hand, Hollywood does love an artsy movie, so maybe “Life of Pi will be popular. I know Ang Lee is cool.
Best Animated Feature:
I am a sucker for the animated films. Looky there: I saw every film in this category.
I love the artistry and I love a story that adults and children can both love. Nerd-geek alert, I consider the underlying message to children. For example, “Beauty and Beast,” oh yuck: Brilliant young woman with a yearning to travel, settles for a murderer with a library. No way.
And the nominees are:
“Frankenweenie,” “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Paranorman,” “Brave”
The animated feature I think should win is: “Brave.”
An independent princess with NO love interest and NO prince rescuing her or helping her. Yes, girls, happily ever after can come without a boy to love you. Plus, the article in Wired Magazine about the animation of those wild red-headed curls really made me sit up and pay attention to the animation.
Best Foreign Feature:
I did not see any of these features, so I will make no predictions.
Best Visual Effects:
Another category where I saw every single film. Wow! I must concentrate on only the visual effects, not the story. Right?
And the nominees are:
“Life of Pi,” “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “The Avengers,” “Prometheus,” “Snow White and the Huntsman”
The film I think should win for visual effects is: “Life of Pi,” no, “The Hobbit”
I’m torn on this one because I liked the overall effect in “Life of Pi” the best, but “The Hobbit” did something new with the 3D. People moved into the film, rather than things moving out. I almost said, ‘down in front,’ before I realized the back of the person was actually Bilbo walking into the scene. So “The Hobbit,” wins for me.
Best Cinematography:
Hey, I saw all of these films, too. I wonder what that says about me. I fewer nominated films with actor nominations than the nominees based on technical aspects of filmmaking. Which brings me to a technical question: Are movies still called films?
And the nominees are:
“Skyfall,” “Anna Karenina,” “Django Unchained,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln”
The film I think should win for Cinematography is: “Anna Karenina”
Hands down, this “Anna Karenina” is the winner for the novel, artsy approach to the cinematography.
Best Costume Design:
Yes, I saw them all. I know next to nothing about costume design. I can’t even dress myself in the latest fashion, and sometimes when I think I look the best, I catch a reflection of myself in a window and think… nevermind, back to the nominees.
And the nominees are:
“Anna Karenina,” “Les Miserables,” “Lincoln,” “Mirror Mirror,” “Snow White and the Huntsman”
The film I think should win for Costume Design is: “Anna Karenina.”
I don’t know, usually, a period film wins. I’m going with my gut, entirely. I can’t even guess what the cool crowd will pick; probably “Lincoln.”
Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, Best Short Film, Animated,BestShort Film, Live Action:
No guesses, I didn’t even try to view these.
Best Film Editing:
Guesses again, since I have no idea what was edited.
And the nominees are:
“Lincoln,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Life of Pi”
“Argo,” “Zero Dark Thirty” (unseen)
The film I think should win for Film Editing is: “Silver Linings Playbook”
I picked this film because I want to know more about the characters, even after the film is over. Every scene seemed necessary, and I was never left scratching my head thinking, wondering why something happened.
The cool crowd might go for “Lincoln.” There must have been a lot to edit, and there’s surely a lot of coolness in and around that movie.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling:
And the nominees are:
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Les Miserables”
“Hitchcock” (unseen)
The film I think should win for Best Makeup and Hairstyling is: “Hitchcock”
Okay, okay, I only saw the trailer. Still, the period costumes and hairstyles are spot-on. Besides, Hitchcock was a mastermind, and the cool crowd are sure to give him a nod. I want to be cool.
Best Music (Original Score):
Some Music Scores are as memorable as the movie. Think “Snow Falling on Cedar.” None of the movies nominated strike me this way.
And the nominees are:
“Anna Karenina,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Skyfall”
“Argo” (unseen)
The Music (Original Score) I think should win is: I don’t even care enough to guess.
Best Music (Original Song):
I based my decision on the song itself and how it supported the movie. In my mind, there’s no competition.
And the nominees are:
“Everybody Needs A Best Friend” from “Ted,” “Pi’s Lullaby” from “Life of Pi,” “Skyfall” from “Skyfall,” “Suddenly” from “Les Misérables”
“Before My Time” from “Chasing Ice” (unseen)
The Song I think should win is: Of course, “Skyfall.”
Adele wins, hands down. There’s something about the James Bond theme songs. They stand on their own, and they immediately conjure up the movie. The cool crowd will agree with me on this one.
Best Production Design:
Again, I saw all of these films. And, again, I have no idea what the criteria are for determining the winner. So, I’ll just go with what appealed to my mind and heart.
And the nominees are:
“Anna Karenina,” “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Les Misérables,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln”
The film I think should win for Production Design is: “Anna Karenina.”
The design and the story go hand in hand in a way that no other film did. That said, the coolness factor goes to “Lincoln,” or maybe “Les Mis.”
Best Sound Editing:
I have no idea how these sound editing is considered. I’ll just go with my gut, letting my head concentrate on sound.
And the nominees are:
“Django Unchained,” “Life of Pi,” “Skyfall”
“Argo”Zero Dark Thirty” (unseen)
The film I think should win for Best Sound Editing is: “Django Unchained.”
I closed my eyes through some of this movie, and the sound still told me what was going on. That’s my sole reason for picking “Django.”
Best Sound Mixing:
Same thing as for Sound Editing, except I have some prejudice based on the trailor of Les Misérables.”
And the nominees are:
“Les Misérables,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Skyfall
“Argo” (unseen)
The film I think should win for Best Sound Mixing is: Les Misérables”
Since I know nothing about this category, I’m giving it to Les Misérables,” because it’s the first (?) musical where the actors sing as they’re acting. Usually, the singing is recorded and then the actors fit their acting to the music.
Whew! That’s all. For those of you who stuck with me through it all. Thank you. This is my longest post ever, and even I am tired of thinking and writing about the Oscar nominees.
I’ll check back with you Monday with a short post with my statistics.
Related articles
- Oscars 2013 : Who Should Win and Who Will Win (sabbylovesfilm.wordpress.com)
- List of Oscar Nominees 2013 (emarshy.wordpress.com)
- Unpredictable Oscar race holds promise (cnn.com)
