This Sunday is Hollywood’s biggest night, so ere are my picks for Sunday’s Oscars. And, just because I can’t help it, I’m also including whom I really would have voted for if the nominations were better. I’ve skipped the animated short, live action short, foreign, and documentary categories since I know nothing about anything in those categories.
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
My pick: Bridesmaids
Who I would have picked if I could have: Source Code
I honestly didn’t see any of these movies, but from what I have heard and seen in previews, Bridesmaids is well worth seeing, so it would have my vote. However, Source should have been nominated and won easily. Most of the best movies I saw this year were adapted in some form, but Source Code was one of the most original movies I’ve seen in a long time.
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 and Story by Stan Chervin
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan
My pick: Moneyball
Who I would have picked if I could have: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Moneyball was a great movie. I love sports movies, even if this one was less about sports than the business of sports. The dialogue and jokes were great beginning to end. I think this is as good a time as any to point out what a complete sham the Oscars are. That Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 was not nominated for a single award is proof that these awards really mean nothing. I will try not to say that over and over again.
BEST 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
My pick: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Well, this proves that occasionally they get the nominations right (though Hugo shouldn’t have been nominated over Thor). Transformers has been robbed twice before, in 2007 by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and in 2009 by Avatar (though 2009 is much less a travesty than 2007). This is the year. Aside from Hugo the other nominees all had excellent affects, but none of the scale of Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
BEST 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
My pick: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
This one doesn’t need any explanation.
BEST 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
My pick: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Again, this one doesn’t need any explanation.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Man or Muppet – The Muppets, Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
Real in Rio – Rio, Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos and Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett
My pick: Man or Muppet
I think there were some other worthy songs from the Muppets, but this is the one I remember most. I can’t think of any others songs that stand out from last year, and although I just saw Rio recently, I don’t even remember Real in Rio. Apparently Iridescent by Linkin Park isn’t considered original.
BEST 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
My pick: The Adventures of Tintin
Who I would have picked if I could have: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
John Williams is always going to be nominated for these awards, and since I hated War Horse, I’d have to vote for The Adventures of Tintin. Of course, Transformers: Dark of the Moon had a wonderful soundtrack, but then nobody cares about the really good movies.
MAKEUP
Albert Nobbs – Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
The Iron Lady – Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland
My pick: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
The makeup in the Harry Potter movies has always been amazing, and they have never won in this category. They have been so badly snubbed by the Academy, at least give them this long overdue and highly deserved award.
BEST 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
My pick: Moneyball
Who I would have picked if I could have: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
One of the great things about Moneyball is how well they cut together actual game footage with new footage shot for the movie. Of course, Transformers: Dark of the Moon was better.
DIRECTING
The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants – Alexander Payne
Hugo – Martin Scorsese
Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen
The Tree of Life – Terrence Malick
My pick: I have no idea.
Who I would have picked if I could have: Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Michael Bay
Lets face it. No matter how good these movies he makes are, no one is ever going to give Michael Bay an Oscar because he makes movies that people love and not ones that people vote for. Nonetheless, I’d vote for him.
COSTUME DESIGN
Anonymous – Lisy Christl
The Artist – Mark Bridges
Hugo – Sandy Powell
Jane Eyre – Michael O’Connor
W.E. – Arianne Phillips
My pick: I have no idea.
Who I would have picked if I could have: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
If you’ve seen any Harry Potter movie, you don’t need me to explain this one.
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
My pick: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Who I would have picked if I could have: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was absolutely amazing in every way, and got snubbed in some key categories, most notably, Best Picture. I really hope it wins.
ART DIRECTION
The Artist – Production Design: Laurence Bennett and Set Decoration: Robert Gould
Harry Potter and the Deat hly Hallows, Part 2 – Production Design: Stuart Craig and Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Hugo – Production Design: Dante Ferretti and Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
Midnight in Paris – Production Design: Anne Seibel and Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
War Horse – Production Design: Rick Carter and Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
My pick: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
There was simply no part of this movie I would change (accept maybe the scene on the bridge at the end). This movie was brilliant, and this one it has a real chance to win.
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
My pick: Puss in Boots
I think Puss in Boots winning this award is a foregone conclusion. However, Shrek won Best Animated Feature and then Shrek 2 was nominated for the award. Neither of the last two Shrek movies was even nominated. I can see some voters looking at this as an extension of those and thus not being worthy of their votes. I hope I’m wrong about this.
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Bérénice Bejo – The Artist
Jessica Chastain – The Help
Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer – The Help
My pick: I don’t even recognize any of the names.
Who I would have picked if I could have: Evanna Lynch – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Luna Lovegood’s part in this movie may not have been as big as some others, but it was of key importance, and Evanna Lynch played her perfectly in each and every scene for the past four movies. I would vote for her, but sadly, I think few others would.
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
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
My pick: Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Who I would have picked if I could have: Emma Watson – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
I would vote for Emma Watson if she were nominated, but it would have to be for the amazing work in eight movies. Rooney Mara gave the performance of the year in The Girl with the Draggon Tattoo. Sadly, either Meryl Streep or Glenn Close is going to win, because they always do. Since Meryl Streep has won before, and Glenn Close has never won, my guess is she will, but she is the wrong choice.
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Kenneth Branagh – My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill – Moneyball
Nick Nolte – Warrior
Christopher Plummer – Beginners
Max von Sydow – Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
My pick: Jonah Hill – Moneyball
Who I would have picked if I could have: Alan Rickman – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
First let me say that Jonah Hill was amazing in Moneyball, and I really hope he wins. Having said that, the lack of at least a nomination for Alan Rickman’s performance as Severus Snape is perhaps the most egregious snub in the history of awards. The Oscars truly are a joke, and such horrible decisions detract from every deserving win and nomination.
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Demián Bichir – A Better Life
George Clooney – The Descendants
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt – Moneyball
My pick: Brad Pitt – Moneyball
Who I would have picked if I could have: Dan Radcliffe – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Let’s face it. This one is either going to Clooney or Oldman. I can’t really argue against Gary Oldman, though I didn’t really like the movie. Brad Pitt would have my vote. Perhaps it’s not as egregious as Alan Rickman’s snub, but Dan Radcliffe deserved at least a nomination.
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
My pick: Moneyball
Who I would have picked if I could have: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Moneyball was a great movie and deserving, but clearly the Academy missed the boat on the most deserving movie. Deathly Hallows, Part 2 was deserving in it’s own right, but having previously given the final Lord of the Rings film the awards when all three deserved it, the Academy was clearly showing their bias. The Academy Awards become less relevant with each passing year.
Thanks for reading!