The Tree of Life was nominated for Best Picture
UPDATE: Big news is Hugo received 11 nominations over The Artist‘s 10, making it an interesting race.
And what I’ve noticed this year was the Academy snubbing many potential contenders who seemed like front-runners at one point. Look at the Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Actress categories to see what I’m talking about.
But there were a few pleasant surprises, with The Tree of Life getting a Best Picture nomination and a Best Director nomination.
Scroll down for the nominees as I continue to process the phrase “Oscar Nominee Jonah Hill.”
ORIGINAL PREFACE: Here we go again…
Each year I try to throw my hat in and predict the Academy Award nominees and, eventually, the winners. It’s an fun process when there is a wide field of interesting films vying for Best Picture and every other prestigious award in the categories surrounding the exceptional filmmaking that the Academy has decided to honor. I also enjoy comparing the Academy’s picks to my favorites of the past year.
But it gets dull and predictable when the Best Picture winner has been decided long before the ballots get mailed out to Academy members. Last year it was The King’s Speech that was destined to be Best Picture months before even being nominated. It got interesting when The Social Network picked up several awards season top honors and when Inception was a viable contender, but everyone knew those films couldn’t contend with the Weinsteins-backed Oscar machine which backed The King’s Speech.
Well, it looks like we have a very similar situation this year. The Artist hit it big at Cannes last year and was immediately picked up by the Weinsteins. It’s been the front-runner of this awards season ever since. The only film I can see coming close to taking the Best Picture award from The Artist is Hugo. Scorsese’s loving tribute to cinema has picked up steam and could end up garnering more nominations overall, thanks to it being a bit more technically lavish.
Will Hugo shake things up in the upcoming weeks before the awards ceremony on February 26th? I hope so. Even though I believe The Artist is a worthy film for Best Picture, I’d still like to feel some suspense before they tear open the envelope and announce the winner.
Now for my humble predictions*:
*Remember, I’m no “expert.”
| Best Picture | |
| Predictions | Official Nominees |
| 1. The Artist | 1. The Artist |
| 2. Hugo | 2. Hugo |
| 3. The Help | 3. The Help |
| 4. The Descendants | 4. The Descendants |
| 5. Midnight in Paris | 5. Midnight in Paris |
| 6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | 6. Moneyball |
| 7. Moneyball | 7. War Horse |
| **War Horse | 8. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close |
| **Extremely Loud and Incredible Close | 9. The Tree of Life |
| **Bridesmaids | |
|
UPDATE: Woah, a much deserved Best Picture Nomination went to The Tree of Life! Also the field went to nine nominees, versus my guess of 7 or 8, with War Horse and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close also getting nominated. I liked War Horse, and I was just saying last week how I don’t ever want to see Extremely Loud… I guess I have to see it now. One more thing, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was locked out. I guess I overestimated their awards season comeback.
Original Prediction: In case you didn’t know, there will be a minimum of five and a maximum of ten Best Picture nominees. Why? I’m not sure.
I was fine with rule that was introduced a few years ago that allowed for ten nominees, which I called “The Dark Knight rule.” You see, the Academy wanted higher ratings for its Oscar telecast and after many felt that The Dark Knight was shafted back when the Best Picture nominees were limited to five, the rules were changed to allow for ten nominees.
Now they seem to be pulling back on that, slightly. They’re balancing the line between what they find prestigious and what the overall masses like. The true test this year is if Bridesmaids will be able to get a Best Pic nomination, as the film is the least “prestigious” of the viable contender, but one that has been racking up a lot of attention this awards season. I think Melissa McCarthy is surely a lock, but I’m not too certain it can get on the Best Pic list. Now, if there were ten solid nominee slots I’d be totally for it, but I think the number of nominees will be limited to seven or eight this year. It might squeeze in, but I think voters will be less than happy to include a film with an extended poop sequence. But, please Academy, surprise me! Nominate Bridesmaids to at least make the proceedings interesting.
Other contenders include The Tree of Life, Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy, The Ides of March, and the long shot of Drive, which are all great films that the Academy will surely neglect.
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| Best Director | |
| Predictions | Official Nominees |
| Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist | Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist |
| Martin Scorsese, Hugo | Martin Scorsese, Hugo |
| Alexander Payne, The Descendants | Alexander Payne, The Descendants |
| Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris | Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris |
| Steven Spielberg, War Horse | Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life |
|
UPDATE: Malick receiving a nomination really makes me happy. Like I said below, he’s the most deserving out of the group. Great selections, I say.
Original Prediction: Martin Scorsese’s win at the Golden Globes made Michel Hazanavicius’ inevitable win here a not-so-sure thing, even if only by a tiny bit.
Speaking of horse races, Spielberg (War Horse) may be kicked out of this category by David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Dragon Tattoo seems to be benefiting from a bump by the film’s outspoken defenders over the last few weeks. It didn’t please all the critics or the box office, but it’s been gathering nominations from various guilds.
The Tree of Life‘s Terrence Malick has a slim chance of getting in. But it’d be fantastic if he did, as he’s my favorite director of the past year. Tate Taylor (The Help) has a better shot of getting a slot…take that and do whatever you want with it.
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| Best Actor | |
| Predictions | Official Nominees |
| Jean Dujardin, The Artist | Jean Dujardin, The Artist |
| George Clooney, The Descendants | George Clooney, The Descendants |
| Michael Fassbender, Shame | Brad Pitt, Moneyball |
| Brad Pitt, Moneyball | Gary Oldman, Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy |
| Gary Oldman, Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy | Demián Bichir, A Better Life |
|
UPDATE: Congratulations to Demián Bichir for his nomination and a “hell yes!” to Gary Oldman. Okay, now that I have that out of the way…NO FASSBENDER? Ridiculous. I didn’t realize that the Academy still had that much of a stick up their ass over an NC-17 rating.
Original Prediction: It may be a four-way race between Dujardin, Clooney, Fassbender, and Pitt.
I’m being brave here and putting Gary Oldman for Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy. There’s a good chance he might make it in, but I expect Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) to be in that fifth slot.
The long shot here is Michael Shannon (Take Shelter).
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| Best Actress | |
| Predictions | Official Nominees |
| Viola Davis, The Help | Viola Davis, The Help |
| Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn | Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn |
| Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady | Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady |
| Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin | Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo |
| Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs |
|
UPDATE: No Tilda Swinton here as as shocking as no Michael Fassbender in the Best Actor category. I haven’t seen Albert Nobb but I hear it’s dreadful. We Need to Talk About Kevin was one of last year’s best, and Swinton was amazing in it.
And, Mara stays in the picture.
Original Prediction: Davis, Williams, and Streep are a lock. Swinton is very close to one. Mara can be replaced with Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) who’s film is apparently crappy Oscar Bait, but her performance is good enough to possibly be nominated. Charlize Theron (Young Adult) was a sure thing but Young Adult didn’t set the world on fire like everyone hoped.
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| Best Supporting Actor | |
| Predictions | Official Nominees |
| Christopher Plummer, Beginners | Christopher Plummer, Beginners |
| Albert Brooks, Drive | Nick Nolte, Warrior |
| Nick Nolte, Warrior | Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn |
| Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn | Jonah Hill, Moneyball |
| Ben Kingsley, Hugo | Max vod Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close |
|
UPDATE: You have got to be kidding me with no Albert Brooks. Academy, you’re tearing me apart.
Original Prediction: If a Hugo surge is happening then Kinglsey will be nominated here. Jonah Hill (Moneyball) may be the surprise, only because it would be a surprise if Jonah Hill would henceforth be known as “Oscar Nominee Jonah Hill.”
Patton Oswalt (Young Adult) and Andy Serkis (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) would be happy surprises in this category.
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| Best Supporting Actress | |
| Predictions | Official Nominees |
| Octavia Spencer, The Help | Octavia Spencer, The Help |
| Berenice Bejo, The Artist | Berenice Bejo, The Artist |
| Jessica Chastain, The Help | Jessica Chastain, The Help |
| Shaileen Woodley, The Descendants | Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids |
| Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids | Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs |
|
UPDATE: A non-shocker here. Everyone knew that Bridesmaids’ McCarthy would get a nomination.
Original Prediction: No surprise that The Help will dominate many of the acting categories. One thing I’ll say is The Help had great performances, especially from Spencer and Chastain.
Carey Mulligan (Shame) deserves a nomination for her fearless performance in Shame but it’s doubtful she’ll make it, unless McCarthy or Woodley lose out.
Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) is apparently getting attention, but I cannot comment on her performance as I’ve not seen the film (and am not planning on seeing it).
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| Adapted Screenplay | |
| Predictions | Official Nominees |
| Alexander Payne, Nat Faxton, Jim Rash,The Descendants | Alexander Payne, Nat Faxton, Jim Rash,The Descendants |
| Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian, Stan Chervin, Moneyball | Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian, Stan Chervin, Moneyball |
| John Logan, Hugo | John Logan, Hugo |
| Steve Zaillian, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March |
| George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March | Peter Straughan & Bridget O’Connor, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy |
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UPDATE: Yeah, I sort of knew Zaillian’s Dragon Tattoo script was too problematic to get a nomination. Great news is Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy got it instead.
Original Prediction: Steve Zaillian may be nomianted twice for Moneyball and Dragon Tattoo, respectfully. Although Dragon Tattoo may be pushed out due to many believing the script was…sub-par (hey, I thought it was good).
Peter Straughan & Bridget O’Connor for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy should and may be nominated if The Ides of March is left out.
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| Original Screenplay | |
| Predictions | Official Nominees |
| Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris | Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris |
| Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist | Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist |
| Will Reiser, 50/50 | Asghar Farhadi, A Separation |
| Asghar Farhadi, A Separation | Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Bridesmaids |
| Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Bridesmaids | J.C. Chandor, Margin Call |
|
UPDATE: Once again I’m dismayed by the Academy. I thought Margin Call was a brilliant film, but it couldn’t top the brilliance and the real-life story behind 50/50‘s script.
Original Prediction: It’s a fight between The Artist and Midnight in Paris here. I’m really hoping Will Reiser gets a nomination, as 50/50 was one of the most honest, heartfelt, original screenplays of the last year.
Potential nominees include Mike Mills (Beginners), Diablo Cody (Young Adult), and Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni (Win Win).
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And the here are the rest!
Animated Feature Film
A Cat in Paris Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
Chico & Rita Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
Kung Fu Panda 2 Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Puss in Boots Chris Miller
Rango Gore Verbinski
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Art Direction
The Artist
Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Hugo
Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
Midnight in Paris
Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
War Horse
Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
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Cinematography
The Artist Guillaume Schiffman
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Jeff Cronenweth
Hugo Robert Richardson
The Tree of Life Emmanuel Lubezki
War Horse Janusz Kaminski
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Costume Design
Anonymous Lisy Christl
The Artist Mark Bridges
Hugo Sandy Powell
Jane Eyre Michael O’Connor
W.E. Arianne Phillips
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Documentary (Feature)
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
Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
Pina
Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
Undefeated
TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas
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Documentary (Short Subject)
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
God Is the Bigger Elvis
Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
Incident in New Baghdad
James Spione
Saving Face
Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen
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Film Editing
The Artist Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants Kevin Tent
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
Hugo Thelma Schoonmaker
Moneyball Christopher Tellefsen
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Foreign Language Film
Bullhead Belgium
Footnote Israel
In Darkness Poland
Monsieur Lazhar Canada
A Separation Iran
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Makeup
Albert Nobbs
Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
The Iron Lady
Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland
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Music (Original Score)
The Adventures of Tintin John Williams
The Artist Ludovic Bource
Hugo Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Alberto Iglesias
War Horse John Williams
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Music (Original Song)
Man or Muppet from The Muppets Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
Real in Rio from Rio Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett
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Short Film (Animated)
Dimanche/Sunday Patrick Doyon
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
La Luna Enrico Casarosa
A Morning Stroll Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
Wild Life Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby
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Short Film (Live Action)
Pentecost Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
Raju Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
The Shore Terry George and Oorlagh George
Time Freak Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
Tuba Atlantic Hallvar Witzø
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Sound Editing
Drive Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Ren Klyce
Hugo Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
Transformers: Dark of the Moon Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
War Horse Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
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Sound Mixing
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
Hugo
Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
Moneyball
Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
War Horse
Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson
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Visual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
Hugo
Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
Real Steel
Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier
