The 85'th Academy Awards (A.K.A Oscars) are coming up this Sunday and I've decided that as a movie blogger, I really ought to make a post about my picks for this year. I would have done this earlier but I wanted to wait until I could get a chance to see "Lincoln" as I wanted to at least see the movie that had the most nominations. Now I can make my picks. As usual I'd like to give a shoutout to the Free Gamer's Alliance YouTube channel. Their videos cover everything from walkthroughs, glitches, easter eggs, and various amusing video game related content, all of which is delivered with some colorful commentary while they have buckets of fun doing it. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/FreeGamersAlliance/.
Before I begin, I would like to make a couple disclaimers. Firstly, I have not seen every movie that has been nominated as it is not humanly possibly. I cannot pick something that I haven't seen as a potential winner. Secondly, these are my picks for who I would like to see win and not necessarily who I think will win (which in the case of the Academy Awards generally tend to be two different things). Without further ado, let's begin!!
Best Original Screenplay:
The Nominees:
-Amour
-Django Unchained
-Flight
-Moonrise Kingdom
-Zero Dark Thirty
My Thoughts: This one is a bit of a tough one for me as I have only seen two of the nominees, therefore, my pick will come down to either "Django Unchained" or "Zero Dark Thirty." It's a bit tricky because I thought both were very well written.
My Pick: I'd have to give this one to "Django Unchained." Quentin Tarantino is the master of writing something that is horribly distasteful and offensive and turning it into something meaningful and hilarious. It was witty, funny, and enjoyable.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Nominees:
-Argo
-Beasts of the Southern Wild
-Life of Pi
-Lincoln
-Silver Linings Playbook
My Thoughts: Yet another tough one for me. I loved "Argo," "Silver Linings Playbook," and "Lincoln." I have not seen "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and I was not a fan of "Life of Pi."
My Pick: I think I'd give this one to "Argo." The writing was so strong that the tension was incredibly high throughout the entire film despite the fact that I knew how it would end due to the fact that it was based on a true event. It had appropriate moments of comic relief when it needed to and when it didn't the audience feels almost like they are actually there.
Best Visual Effects:
The Nominees:
-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
-Life of Pi
-The Avengers
-Prometheus
-Snow White and the Huntsman
My Thoughts: This one is an interesting one for me as there are three movies that I did not love (Hobbit, Life of Pi, Prometheus), one movie that I loved (The Avengers), and one movie that I liked (Snow White). Interestingly enough, this one comes down to the three movies that I didn't love as the visuals in these were unparalleled. I had other issues with them but it would be silly to deny that they were not stunning to look at.
My Pick: For me, this one should obviously go to "Prometheus." While I had issues with the plot, character development, plot holes, and other things, it has what are easily the most stunning visuals in film this year. This was one of the few cases where I would say that the 3D actually enhanced the experience. I felt all too close to some of the horrific things that were happening. The visuals really brought the audience into this world more than any other film this year.
Best Sound Mixing:
The Nominees:
-Argo
-Les Miserables
-Life of Pi
-Lincoln
-Skyfall
My Thoughts: I think all of these are really good choices for this category.
My Pick: Even though I think all of these nominees had great sound mixing, my pick feels really obvious. I would give this one to "Les Miserables." Like the other films, the sound was done in an excellent way that made the film feel real. On top of that, you have the live singing and music mixed with that. This could have been horribly awkward if done incorrectly but it all flowed together so perfectly.
Best Sound Editing:
The Nominees:
-Argo
-Django Unchained
-Life of Pi
-Skyfall
-Zero Dark Thirty
My Thoughts: Again, all great choices.
My Pick: Even though I didn't love the movie as a whole, I think I would give this one to "Life of Pi." The sound was phenomenal and it added something special to a movie that was otherwise not that special.
Best Short Film-Live Action:
The Nominees:
-Asad
-Buzkashi Boys
-Curfew
-Death of a Shadow
-Henry
My Thoughts: I haven't seen any of them so I can't make a pick.
My Pick: see above.
Best Short Film-Animated:
The Nominees:
-Adam and Dog
-Fresh Guacamole
-Head Over Heels
-Maggie Simpson in the Longest Daycare
-Paperman
My Thoughts: I have only seen two of these. I have seen "Paperman" and "Maggie Simpson in the Longest Daycare." Both of these proved that 2D animation can be every bit as expressive as computer generated 3D animation. I saw these films in theaters as "Paperman" was before "Wreck it Ralph" and "The Longest Daycare" was before "Ice Age: Continental Drift." Both of these short films wowed me way more than the actual feature film that they came before.
My Pick: This one is tough for me and I would be thrilled to see either of the above mentioned win. I gotta pick "Maggie Simpson in the Longest Daycare." I didn't think something coming from "The Simpsons" could be so artsy and beautiful. The animation was top notch, the narrative was heart wrenching, and it was accompanied by a score done by Hans Zimmer who is one of my absolute favorites. I loved it from start to finish.
Best Production Design:
The Nominees:
-Anna Karenina
-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
-Les Miserables
-Life of Pi
-Lincoln
My Thoughts: All of these clearly had amazing sets that production have put their heart and souls into. (note that while I have not seen Anna Karenina, this is obvious from the trailer). It's another tough one.
My Pick: I would have to give this one to "Lincoln." The sets were an incredible interpretation of what everything would have looked like in the Civil War era. I was very impressed.
Best Original Song:
The Nominees:
-"Before My Time" from "Chasing Ice"
-"Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from "Ted"
-"Pi's Lullaby" from "Life of Pi"
-"Skyfall" from "Skyfall"
-"Suddenly" from "Les Miserables"
My Thoughts: Definitely some interesting choices here. I've heard all of them but "Before My Time." "Skyfall" felt like a great classic Bond theme song, "Pi's Lullaby" was one of the better aspects of the film, "Suddenly" is one of the ballsiest moves made in film recently, and "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" fits the movie so perfectly.
My Pick: I would give this to "Everybody Needs a Best Friend." I know that you're probably thinking "A song in a Seth MacFarlane movie, have you lost your mind?" I think that firstly, the song fits the movie so well. It's lyrics are great. It's a great Jazz tune sung by the beautiful and insanely talented Norah Jones. I can't help but love it to death.
At this point, I am going to give "quick picks" for the rest of the technical awards. I would love to give explanations for the rest but I don't want to be writing for another ten million hours.
Best Original Score: Lincoln
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Les Miserables
Best Foreign Language Film: Didn't see any of the nominees, can't make a pick.
Best Film Editing: Silver Linings Playbook
Best Documentary Short: Didn't see any of the nominees, can't make a pick
Best Documentary Feature: The Invisible War
Best Cinematography: Skyfall
Best Costume Design: Snow White and the Huntsman
Ok, time to get to the big awards and for these I will be going back to doing the full format for these!
Best Director:
The Nominees:
-Micheal Haneke (Amour)
-Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild)
-Ang Lee (Life of Pi)
-Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)
-David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook)
My Thoughts: There were some very good nominees in this category but I feel like we are missing a few names. Just off the top of my head, I think we are missing Ben Affleck (Argo), Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained), Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Rises), Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty), Tom Hooper (Les Miserables). So many snubs!!
My Pick: For me, the obvious pick is David O. Russell for "Silver Linings Playbook." He did a masterful job of adapting this story to the big screen, treating such a sensitive topic with respect, and bringing out the best in the cast.
Best Animated Feature Film:
The Nominees:
-Brave
-Frankenweenie
-Paranorman
-The Pirates! Band of Misfits
-Wreck it Ralph
My Thoughts: I think this one should come down to "Frankenweenie" and "Paranorman." Both exemplified excellent uses of stop motion animation. Both of them had a fantastic and moving story. Both had terrific voice acting. I think that "Brave" will win it because it was done by Pixar although I feel like aside from "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," that it is by far the most undeserving of being nominated in this category.
My Pick: I would love to see "Paranorman" take this one. It had one of the most compelling stories of the year, told artfully with excellent stop motion.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
-The Nominees:
-Amy Adams (The Master)
-Sally Field (Lincoln)
-Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)
-Helen Hunt (The Sessions)
-Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook)
My Thoughts: We have a great selection for this award. Amy Adams was terrifying in "The Master," Sally Field brought a ton of heart to "Lincoln," Anne Hathaway nearly reduced me to tears in "Les Miserables," Jacki Weaver was very compelling in "Silver Linings Playbook," and I didn't see "The Sessions" but Helen Hunt tends to be awesome in everything.
My Pick: The obvious pick for me is Anne Hathaway for a haunting performance in "Les Miserables." She made that role hers by bringing enormous amounts of emotion to her character and it shows both in her acting and singing. This is the most obvious pick this year.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
The Nominees:
-Alan Arkin (Argo)
-Robert De Niro (Silver Linings Playbook)
-Phillip Seymour Hoffman (The Master)
-Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln)
-Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)
My Thoughts: I think I would be thrilled to see any of these people win. They were all excellent in their roles and brought a lot to the movies they were in
My Pick: As it was the last time he was nominated for this, my pick is Christoph Waltz. He stole the show in "Inglorious Basterds" and he did it again in "Django Unchained." This man commits to his roles in a way that is rare these days. This is another no-brainer for me.
Best Actress in a Leading Role:
The Nominees:
-Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild)
-Naomi Watts (The Impossible)
-Emanuelle Riva (Amour)
-Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook)
-Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty)
My Thoughts: We have a lot of very strong nominees here, but for me, it comes down to Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence. Both of these ladies proved in these roles that they have mastered the acting craft and have proven to be some of the best in the business.
My Pick: It's a tough call but I would give this one to Jessica Chastain. She embodied this no-nonsense
Best Actor in a Leading Role:
The Nominees:
-Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook)
-Joaquin Phoenix (The Master)
-Denzel Washington (Flight)
-Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)
-Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables)
My Thoughts: Again, another strong batch of nominees. It's going to be tough. I'm torn between Bradley Cooper and Daniel Day-Lewis.
My Pick: I'd give this one to Bradley Cooper. I think that Daniel Day-Lewis embodied Abraham Lincoln very well but Cooper portrayed such a complex character with the proper emotion shown both physically and verbally. It was a masterful portrayal.
Best Picture:
The Nominees:
-Amour
-Life of Pi
-Argo
-Lincoln
-Beasts of the Southern Wild
-Silver Linings Playbook
-Django Unchained
-Les Miserables
-Zero Dark Thirty
My Thoughts: Many strong choices are present here. I can't speak for "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and "Amour" as I did not see them. Again, I didn't care for "Life of Pi" but other than that I feel like all of the choices are worthy.
My Pick: I am torn between "Les Miserables," "Silver Linings Playbook," and "Zero Dark Thirty." Any of those three are my ideal picks for this. (I know it's 3 picks but I can't decide)
So there you have it, we will find out on Sunday how much of this comes true! Thanks for reading!!