Oscar 2012 Predictions & Thoughts

Best Picture
“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“The Help”
“Moneyball”
“War Horse”
“The Tree of Life”

Who Will Win – The Artist
Who Might Win – Hugo
Who Should Win – The Artist

Commentary – This is the hardest category of them all since this year, each and every one of the movies nominated are not only from widely different genres but are great movies in their own right. But we bet on ‘The Artist’ taking the golden statue for Best Picture because it’s not only an excellent film, it hearkens back memories of a golden time in Hollywood and has been made with finesse and passion that Oscars love to reward. It’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane that’s charming and delights at the same time. ‘Hugo’ is one strong dark horse that could win instead because a) it’s a Martin Scorsese film which instantly gives it an edge b) it’s also about a golden time and deals with the magic of movies in itself. Oscars are anyway partial to themes like these, so it’s a toss-up between these two movies.

Best Director
Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”
Alexander Payne, “The Descendants”
Martin Scorsese, “Hugo”

Who Will Win – Martin Scorsese, “Hugo”
Who Might Win – Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”
Who Should Win – Martin Scorsese, “Hugo”

Commentary – Whether or not ‘Hugo’ wins Best Picture and regardless of some flaws with that film, there’s one thing no one can deny – Martin Scorsese stood out as the best director out of the winners and handled his first 3-D as well as first children’s movie with such expertise and charm that it made the experience even more magical. The 3-D was thought out, the performances were top-notch and it instantly nailed the tone that it was going for. This one is a pretty sure lock for Best Director. However, Terrence Malick could make an upset and win for his thought-provoking and ambitious work on ‘The Tree of Life’ which lost award steam but could end up being a surprise winner in this category.

Best Actor
Demian Bichir, “A Better Life”
George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
Gary Oldman, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt, “Moneyball”

Who Will Win – Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
Who Might Win – George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Who Should Win – Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”

Commentary – The hardest kind of acting is when you do it with only your expressions and that’s exactly what Jean Dujardin achieved with his career-best performance in ‘The Artist’. It’s a silent film that completely relies on his skills where he plays a silent movie actor threatened with the arrival of talkies in 1920’s Hollywood. It’s a nuanced and emotional performance without a single word spoken, and ultimately deserves the win more than any other. But George Clooney is a competitor here and already won the Golden Globes earlier, so it could still turn around that way.

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”

Who Will Win – Viola Davis, “The Help”
Who Might Win – Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”
Who Should Win – Viola Davis, “The Help”

Commentary – The Academy loves an underdog story and ‘The Help’ may not win Best Picture awards but was filled with so many potential award-winners that this is one category that the film will own. Viola Davis was brilliant in the portrayal of an oppressed black housemaid and it’s a performance that not only deserves the win but will most likely get it. However, one force we’ve been neglecting and it’s name is Meryl Streep. She has a strong award history and is a favorite by the voters, so she could very well take the gold instead. Lucky for Davis, ‘The Iron Lady’ is hampered by middling reviews.