The 84th Annual Academy Awards
With the blessing of 
rezendi, I have nicked his format for this Academy Awards post. So without further ado...
Nominees for the 84th Academy Awards
Best Picture
"The Artist" Thomas Langmann, Producer
"The Descendants" Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" Scott Rudin, Producer
"The Help" Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
"Hugo" Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
"Midnight in Paris" Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
"Moneyball" Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
"The Tree of Life" Nominees to be determined
"War Horse" Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
Will win: The Artist
Should win: The Artist
Note: I don't understand how some of these got nominated, yet Hollywood couldn't find a tenth movie deserving of a nomination. -_- Fun fact: The Artist will be the first silent film to win an Academy Award since the very first Awards in 1929! Yeah, I said "will." Golden Globe AND the PGA? Please.
Best Actor
Demián Bichir in "A Better Life"
George Clooney in "The Descendants"
Jean Dujardin in "The Artist"
Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
Brad Pitt in "Moneyball"
Will win: Jean Dujardin
Should win: Jean Dujardin
Note: I have a sinking suspicion that George Clooney will actually take this one, but I'm refusing to give that idea credence. Jean Dujardin deserves every damn award they make and some they don't for his performance in The Artist.
Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh in "My Week with Marilyn"
Jonah Hill in "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte in "Warrior"
Christopher Plummer in "Beginners"
Max von Sydow in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
Will win: Christopher Plummer
Should win: Nick Nolte
Note: Seriously, you guys should see Warrior. Also, way to get a nom, Jonah Hill!
Best Actress
Glenn Close in "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis in "The Help"
Rooney Mara in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady"
Michelle Williams in "My Week with Marilyn"
Will win: Meryl Streep
Should win: Meryl Streep
Note: Will Michelle Williams please just go away already? She's never impressed me in anything, ever. But this is Meryl Streep's year, regardless of the dim critical opinion of the movie. She's the Susan Lucci of the Oscars, and hasn't won since Sophie's Choice, and she definitely deserves it.
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo in "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain in "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer in "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer in "The Help"
Will win: Octavia Spencer
Should win: Octavia Spencer, or maybe Janet McTeer
Note: Bérénice Bejo is kind of a dark horse, but I don't think she had a substantial enough role in The Artist to be thought of in the same category as Octavia, Janet, and Jessica. Melissa McCarthy, I would love it if you won, but you're not going to. Sorry.
Best Director
"The Artist" Michel Hazanavicius
"The Descendants" Alexander Payne
"Hugo" Martin Scorsese
"Midnight in Paris" Woody Allen
"The Tree of Life" Terrence Malick
Will win: Michel Hazanavicius
Should win: Michel Hazanavicius
Note: As far as I'm concerned, this is no-contest. I am surprised at the lack of a nom for Steve McQueen. Whatever you thought of the movie, Shame was beautifully, boldly, and uniquely directed. He wouldn't have beaten Hazanavicius, but it's an honor just to be nominated, you know.
Best Documentary
"Hell and Back Again" Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
"If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
"Pina" Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
"Undefeated" TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas
Will win: Hell and Back Again. Marines are hot this year, and it's a solid doc
Should win: Hell and Back Again.
Note: I'm just sad the documentary I helped work on didn't make it off the short list. ;_;
Best Foreign Film
"Bullhead" Belgium
"Footnote" Israel
"In Darkness" Poland
"Monsieur Lazhar" Canada
"A Separation" Iran
Will win: A Separation
Should win: I haven't seen enough to tell, but probably A Separation.
Note: No Almodovar love? What the hell, guys?
Best Adapted Screenplay
"The Descendants" Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
"Hugo" Screenplay by John Logan
"The Ides of March" Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
"Moneyball" Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Screenplay by Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan
Will win: The Descendants
Should win: The Ides of March or Moneyball
Note: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy might take this one, actually. I don't know if it's the cinematography and direction that ruined that whole film for me, or if the adaptation is actually as weak as I thought it was, but I don't think it deserves a win. Seriously, y'all, go watch the 1979 mini with Alec Guinness. You can see all the actors in this movie do WAY BETTER JOBS in other movies.
Best Original Screenplay
"The Artist" Written by Michel Hazanavicius
"Bridesmaids" Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
"Margin Call" Written by J.C. Chandor
"Midnight in Paris" Written by Woody Allen
"A Separation" Written by Asghar Farhadi
Will win: The Artist
Should win: The Artist
Note: I also enjoyed Margin Call and Midnight in Paris, and Bridesmaids (LOL, okay), but The Artist was brilliant in ways I have long despaired of Hollywood ever being again, and a lot of that was down to the script. I thought Shame would have gotten a nod here, too, but oh well. It wasn't going to win, anyway.
I think The Artist will take Oscars for Costume Design, Film Editing, and Music (Original Score) isn't even a contest. It might make off with Art Direction, but I think Hugo is going to be some pretty stiff competition in that category. Janusz Kaminski might take cinematography for War Horse, though Hugo made a strong showing there, as well. I'm surprised that there are only two nominees in the category Original Song, and neither is that haunting lullaby by Glenn Close and Sinead O'Connor from Albert Nobbs. I was looking forward to hearing that live.
For those concerned, my computer is still fubar, I'm even more furious than before, but that will be for another post at another time.
rezendi, I have nicked his format for this Academy Awards post. So without further ado...Nominees for the 84th Academy Awards
Best Picture
"The Artist" Thomas Langmann, Producer
"The Descendants" Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" Scott Rudin, Producer
"The Help" Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
"Hugo" Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
"Midnight in Paris" Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
"Moneyball" Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
"The Tree of Life" Nominees to be determined
"War Horse" Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
Will win: The Artist
Should win: The Artist
Note: I don't understand how some of these got nominated, yet Hollywood couldn't find a tenth movie deserving of a nomination. -_- Fun fact: The Artist will be the first silent film to win an Academy Award since the very first Awards in 1929! Yeah, I said "will." Golden Globe AND the PGA? Please.
Best Actor
Demián Bichir in "A Better Life"
George Clooney in "The Descendants"
Jean Dujardin in "The Artist"
Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
Brad Pitt in "Moneyball"
Will win: Jean Dujardin
Should win: Jean Dujardin
Note: I have a sinking suspicion that George Clooney will actually take this one, but I'm refusing to give that idea credence. Jean Dujardin deserves every damn award they make and some they don't for his performance in The Artist.
Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh in "My Week with Marilyn"
Jonah Hill in "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte in "Warrior"
Christopher Plummer in "Beginners"
Max von Sydow in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
Will win: Christopher Plummer
Should win: Nick Nolte
Note: Seriously, you guys should see Warrior. Also, way to get a nom, Jonah Hill!
Best Actress
Glenn Close in "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis in "The Help"
Rooney Mara in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady"
Michelle Williams in "My Week with Marilyn"
Will win: Meryl Streep
Should win: Meryl Streep
Note: Will Michelle Williams please just go away already? She's never impressed me in anything, ever. But this is Meryl Streep's year, regardless of the dim critical opinion of the movie. She's the Susan Lucci of the Oscars, and hasn't won since Sophie's Choice, and she definitely deserves it.
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo in "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain in "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer in "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer in "The Help"
Will win: Octavia Spencer
Should win: Octavia Spencer, or maybe Janet McTeer
Note: Bérénice Bejo is kind of a dark horse, but I don't think she had a substantial enough role in The Artist to be thought of in the same category as Octavia, Janet, and Jessica. Melissa McCarthy, I would love it if you won, but you're not going to. Sorry.
Best Director
"The Artist" Michel Hazanavicius
"The Descendants" Alexander Payne
"Hugo" Martin Scorsese
"Midnight in Paris" Woody Allen
"The Tree of Life" Terrence Malick
Will win: Michel Hazanavicius
Should win: Michel Hazanavicius
Note: As far as I'm concerned, this is no-contest. I am surprised at the lack of a nom for Steve McQueen. Whatever you thought of the movie, Shame was beautifully, boldly, and uniquely directed. He wouldn't have beaten Hazanavicius, but it's an honor just to be nominated, you know.
Best Documentary
"Hell and Back Again" Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
"If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
"Pina" Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
"Undefeated" TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas
Will win: Hell and Back Again. Marines are hot this year, and it's a solid doc
Should win: Hell and Back Again.
Note: I'm just sad the documentary I helped work on didn't make it off the short list. ;_;
Best Foreign Film
"Bullhead" Belgium
"Footnote" Israel
"In Darkness" Poland
"Monsieur Lazhar" Canada
"A Separation" Iran
Will win: A Separation
Should win: I haven't seen enough to tell, but probably A Separation.
Note: No Almodovar love? What the hell, guys?
Best Adapted Screenplay
"The Descendants" Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
"Hugo" Screenplay by John Logan
"The Ides of March" Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
"Moneyball" Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Screenplay by Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan
Will win: The Descendants
Should win: The Ides of March or Moneyball
Note: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy might take this one, actually. I don't know if it's the cinematography and direction that ruined that whole film for me, or if the adaptation is actually as weak as I thought it was, but I don't think it deserves a win. Seriously, y'all, go watch the 1979 mini with Alec Guinness. You can see all the actors in this movie do WAY BETTER JOBS in other movies.
Best Original Screenplay
"The Artist" Written by Michel Hazanavicius
"Bridesmaids" Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
"Margin Call" Written by J.C. Chandor
"Midnight in Paris" Written by Woody Allen
"A Separation" Written by Asghar Farhadi
Will win: The Artist
Should win: The Artist
Note: I also enjoyed Margin Call and Midnight in Paris, and Bridesmaids (LOL, okay), but The Artist was brilliant in ways I have long despaired of Hollywood ever being again, and a lot of that was down to the script. I thought Shame would have gotten a nod here, too, but oh well. It wasn't going to win, anyway.
I think The Artist will take Oscars for Costume Design, Film Editing, and Music (Original Score) isn't even a contest. It might make off with Art Direction, but I think Hugo is going to be some pretty stiff competition in that category. Janusz Kaminski might take cinematography for War Horse, though Hugo made a strong showing there, as well. I'm surprised that there are only two nominees in the category Original Song, and neither is that haunting lullaby by Glenn Close and Sinead O'Connor from Albert Nobbs. I was looking forward to hearing that live.
For those concerned, my computer is still fubar, I'm even more furious than before, but that will be for another post at another time.