‘The Artist’ a sure Academy Award contender
Best Picture Nominees:
“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“The Help”
“Moneyball”
“War Horse”
“The Tree of Life”
It still baffles me that “The Help” made this list and “My Week with Marilyn” didn’t. “The Help” was a clunky book-to-movie adaptation that didn’t really do anything for me, except remind me that I want to grow up to be Emma Stone.
Fortunately, I don’t think “The Help” has a shot. The two most powerful contenders for this statue are “The Artist” and “The Descendants,” both of which took top honors at the Golden Globes. Both are solid films, but “The Artist” is not only incredibly well made, but also an artistic — no pun intended — and downright beautiful movie. The Academy Awards are meant to celebrate the best in cinema. Hopefully a movie this unique and creative will not go unrecognized.
Who Should Win: “The Artist”
Who Will Win: “The Artist”
Best Actor:
Demian Bichir, “A Better Life”
George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
Gary Oldman, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt, “Moneyball”
George Clooney was fine in “The Descendants.” He was his usual Clooney-ish self: solid and smoking. It was his performance alongside the supporting cast that really made this movie shine. If we want to give him an Oscar, why didn’t we do it for “Up in the Air”? Jean Dujardin, on the other hand, needs to be commended for his knock-out performance in a film with zero dialogue. I was glad to see Gary Oldman got a little love, and the nomination for Demian Bichir was one of this year’s completely left-field oddballs. Really, it’s a race between Clooney and Dujardin. Clooney is great, but we’ve seen him before. Let’s celebrate something — and someone — new.
Who Should Win: Jean Dujardin for “The Artist”
Who Will Win: George Clooney for “The Descendants”
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”
I still can’t look at this category without being absolutely floored by the fact that it doesn’t include Tilda Swinton for “We Need to Talk About Kevin.” And Glenn Close — where did she come from? I am crossing my fingers for Michelle Williams, who is on her third nomination without a win. She was absolutely stunning as Marilyn Monroe, but I’m preparing for Meryl to add another statue to her collection. “The Iron Lady” may have been a snoozer, but Meryl Streep was phenomenal as Margaret Thatcher. It’s been long enough since “Sophie’s Choice.” I think we’re starting to take her awesomeness for granted.
Who Should Win: Michelle Williams for “My Week with Marilyn”
Who Will Win: Meryl Streep for “The Iron Lady”
Best Supporting Actor:
Kenneth Branagh, “My Week With Marilyn”
Jonah Hill, “Moneyball”
Nick Nolte, “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
Max Von Sydow, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
This is the only category that really isn’t a race. It’s going to be Christopher Plummer, though it’s less of an Oscar for this particular film and more just to recognize his incredible 40-plus-year career that has gone without a nod from the Academy. It’s a giant pat on the back for everything that’s happened since he strapped on his guitar and broke out the “Edelweiss” with Julie Andrews.
Who Should Win: Christopher Plummer for “Beginners”
Who Will Win: Christopher Plummer for “Beginners”
Best Supporting Actress:
Berenice Bejo, “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain, “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer, “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer, “The Help”
I don’t feel great about anyone in this c
ategory. Berenice Bejo is cute, Janet McTeer is consistent and I still have no idea what Melissa McCarthy is doing here. At least one of the winners is probably going to come from “The Help,” and I’d rather it be Jessica Chastain, even though her Southern trophy wife role is probably the least important thing she did this year. If we can’t give her the Oscar, can we at least find a “you had an awesome year” statue?
Who Should Win: Jessica Chastain, “The Help”
Who Will Win: Octavia Spencer, “The Help”
Best Director:
Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”
Alexander Payne, “The Descendants”
Martin Scorsese, “Hugo”
The best director statue and best picture typically go hand in hand, and I stand by what I said with best picture: Hazanavicius deserves it in recognition of his creative and flawless throwback to the Golden Age of Cinema.
Who Should Win: Michel Hazanavicius for “The Artist”
Who Will Win: Michel Hazanavicius for “The Artist”
Best Original Screenplay
Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
J.C. Chandor, “Margin Call”
Asghar Farhadi, “A Separation”
Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, “Bridesmaids”
“Bridesmaids” was not my cup of tea, but the fact that it even got a nomination from an Academy that doesn’t approve of laughter in movies is a triumph for the comedy genre. Women, love it or hate it, “Bridesmaids” was a groundbreaking and stereotype-shattering film, and I’d love to see Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo get a little recognition for that. Best screenplay would be a perfect Oscar for them, because “Bridesmaids” isn’t best picture material, but deserves a nod. Even though it’s strange to think of a silent movie winning best screenplay, I’m going with “The Artist.”
Who Should Win: “Bridesmaids”
Who Will Win: “The Artist”
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxton and Jim Rash, “The Descendants”
John Logan, “Hugo”
George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, “The Ides of March”
Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian, “Moneyball”
Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughn, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”
I can’t imagine there will be much of a competition in this category, especially if “The Descendants” gets shafted for best picture. The screenplay of the film is very well done, and an Oscar in this category would be a nice “good for you” nod for the film.
Who Should Win: “The Descendants”
Who Will Win: “The Descendants”
Best Animated Feature
“A Cat In Paris”
“Chico and Rita”
“Kung Fu Panda 2″
“Puss in Boots”
“Rango”
Can we talk about how strange it is that “War Horse” got a best picture nomination, but Spielberg’s far superior film “Adventures of Tintin” is notably absent from this category? Can we also talk about how weird it is to not have a Pixar movie dominating this category as per usual? Without a Pixar presence — understandably after the fiasco that was “Cars 2” — I’m feeling like it’s slim pickings. Also, can we talk about how weird it is to have “A Cat in Paris” and “Chico and Rita” on this list, because they’re both foreign language films, and because I’m pretty sure no one knew those movies existed until the day the nominations came out? I’m hoping for some panda love, but not holding my breath.
Who Should Win: “Kung Fu Panda 2″
Who Will Win: “Rango”
– m.van911@aggiemail.usu.edu