Oscar-nomics: Directors Guild Winners

Man, trying to find a new picture for each new Artist win  is getting tough

Well, ladies and gentlemen we have our big Oscar winner, and it seems with little competition. Michel Hazanavicius won the Directors Guild Award for the Artist, which most often than not wins the Oscar. Having already won the Producer's Guild, with the Screen Actors to follow, it seems to be unbeatable at this point. I was pulling for Scorcese, who won the Globe a week or so ago, posed a threat to the Artist, but it seems that is a long-shot at this point. On the Documentary side, a bit of a frustrating night since Project Nim, one of a few Documentaries I picked as a frontrunner, was snubbed from the Oscar Competition. While deserved, it does little to help with the predicting (neither did the producers guild, so we'll see what happens). I have my thoughts on the Documentary category, but I will save it for my Oscar-nomics predictions at a later time. For now, here are the winners, tonight will be the Screen Actors Guild Award, lets see how that goes:

Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film: Michel Hazanavicius The Artist

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary Feature: James Marsh Project Nim

Oscar-nomics: Screen Actors Guild Predictions

So tomorrow the Screen Actor's Guild will reveal their choices for best in acting, both individually and as an ensemble. They also have this for tv, but I think I will stick with the film side for now. Supporting Actor is pretty well set, Plummer should have no problem. However, I am not 100% on Spencer, and if she were to lose momentum it would be here. This award is pretty much the other nominee's last shot at an upset, as this award is the last major one before the Oscars, and it aligns pretty well most of the time. The lead categories are where most of the action will be, as the Clooney/Pitt and Davis/Streep competition will probably be settled. Clooney and Streep are the safe bets. However, I am pulling for Pitt and Davis because I think they are due and I think they deserve it (Fassbender deserves it more, honestly, but sadly was ignored). I would be happy with any of them winning, so we'll just have to wait and see. Ensemble is between the Help and the Artist. I think the Artist will take it cause it has the momentum, I just see the Help as a possible spoiler, so again we'll have to wait and see. Here is the list below:

Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer The Help
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer Beginners
Best Actress: Meryl Streep The Iron Lady
Best Actor: George Clooney The Descendants
Best Ensemble: The Artist

Oscar-nomics: Best Supporting Actor Predictions

Here comes, yet again, another category in which I am extremely upset about. There are less welcoming nominees than there are welcomed nominees. I overlooked SAG for snubbing Albert Brooks, I knew an actual Oscar win was a long shot. BUT TO NOT BE NOMINATED!!!! Argh. Oh well, I am going to contain my disdain for this category at that was my favorite category last year. This is also the category where while there maybe a race early on, we generally see one person take the "way out front" position and can't possibly lose (I thought Brooks had that for a little bit, but oh well). I like to take the stance that they are 90-95% probably going to win, mostly out of respect for the nominees. This one, however, I have no problem picking as the winner, but first the nominees:

Kenneth Brannagh- My Week with Marylin


He's only 1/2 people who have been consistently nominated on the awards circuit, so this was not all that surprising. Personally, I saw this coming the day I heard Brannagh would play Olivier (a match made in heaven). While I am glad to see him here, he has gained little to no momentum towards an actual win, so at least he got to enjoy the fun ride (unlike Brooks should've, sorry).




Jonah Hill-Moneyball
 

This nomination was a bit out of left field (sorry for the pun). My gut says this was a filler nominee, but I have nothing to back that up with (I am waiting to see it, one reason why I haven't released a top 10 yet). Its nice to see the film was liked so much that he got in, but he doesn't quite have the momentum to even come close, though its nice to see him here (even if Brooks is not).



Nick Nolte- Warrior



Here's a man that I have mixed feelings about. On the one side, his film did poor at the box office, so the prospects at a nomination was a long shot. He did get some awards nominations love, but it was still not certain. Now, here we are. While it is nice to see box office not being an issue here, the fact is he doesn't stand a chance. His film, while it got good reviews, the film never found an audience to gain further momentum for him. Another man where the nomination is the reward.







Christopher Plummer- Beginners

Here, ladies and gentlemen, is your winner, and I am completely happy with this. He has earned this beyond simply being an honorary award. He brings life to a character who, for 75 years, has contained his homosexuality and has chosen now to experience the life he never had but always wanted. Plummer is a seasoned vet who deserved this many years ago, but I am happy with him winning for this awesome film. He's been tearing up the awards circuit (save for Brooks of course), and come oscar night, its all his.


Max von Sydow- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Now this is a nominee I didn't see coming. I mean, I was thinking it was a possibility early on. The problem is the film was not liked by critics, its not doing well at the box, I thought this film was dead in the water. Seeing him here (over Brooks grrrr). While its a surprise to see him here, I would be even more surprised if he wins. The only plausible chance would be for honorary reasons, but Plummer debunks that. Oh well, I guess the nomination is, you guessed it, the reward.

Will Win: Christopher Plummer

Runner-Up: Kenneth Brannagh

Should Win: Christopher Plummer

Should be here: Albert Brooks "Drive" 

Tune in next Monday for more exciting Oscar predictions...

Oscar-nomics: Best Costume Design Prediction

Now, I am the first to admit that I am horrible when it comes to fashion sense. My style is if its clean, its good. So I may not be one of the best voters when it comes to Costume design, but I do have an understanding of how the Academy works. First, here are the nominees:

Anonymous- Lisy Cristl

The Artist- Mark Bridges

Hugo-Sandy Powell

Jane Eyre- Michael O'Connor

W.E.- Arianne Phillips

Now, many will point to the Artist or Hugo as the frontrunners in this category based on there Best Picture nominations, but I am not so convinced. Many thought the same about the King's Speech, which ended up losing to Alice in Wonderland. This only proved that the Academy cared less about the film itself, and more about the costumes within it. There is a rule of thumb, and the same goes for makeup, that the most noticeable and most extravagant win this (not saying Alice was the the latter, but definitely the former). As much as the Artist deserves to be here for its spot on designs of the 1920's/30's wear, I don't see it taking this. I see Anonymous or Jane Eyre taking this one, although if Hugo does pull off a win, you won't hear me complaining. However, I think Jane Eyre is the kind of film made to win this award, Anonymous as well but I give an edge to Jane Eyre mostly because the film was more liked than Anonymous and I just thought the costumes looked better in Jane Eyre. Though Anonymous was a little more flashy with the costumes, I still think Jane Eyre's pristine period costumes are more deserving.  If the Artist or Hugo do win in this category (which I think the latter does in some way), than it'll definitely be a big night for either film (though I don't think the Artist will need it at this point). Well that's it for now. Which category will I predict next, time will tell...

Predicted Winner: Jane Eyre

Runner-Up: Anonymous

Who I think Should Win: Hugo


Should've been Nominated: Midnight in Paris

Oscar-Nomics: Best Song Prediction

Hey Guys, I know I have been bad about posting, my computer crashed and I have to borrow my parent's computer in order to catch up on things. I was going to post a blog on my predictions/thoughts on the oscar nominations, but alas time got away from me. What I decided to do instead is march on with my predictions as the wise AwardsNazi has and offer my predictions one category at a time. I thought I would start off with a ridiculously light category, best song, and the nominees are:

Man or Muppet (The Muppets): Music and Lyrics by Bret McKenzie

Real in Rio (Rio): Sérgio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown & Siedah Garret

The fact that there were only two nominees is really, really weird and the choices they made were almost as weird. I have no problem with these songs making the list, I'm just surprised they were the only ones making the list. Personally, I would've had The Living Proof from The Help or Life's a Happy Song (my personal choice for the win in my opinion) from the Muppets. I am pulling for Mckenzie in this category for multiple reasons. First off, I am a huge fan of his work, and he truly brought his all to this film. Again, I don't know if I would've picked Man or Muppet, but everything is pointing towards it winning.
Real in Rio is a possible spoiler, and I am not just saying this because its the only other nominee. It is a truly colorful song, and really gave the film its spirit. This movie's been relatively quiet on the Awards front, so seeing it making the list was a rather surprise, though I do welcome it. It definitely has the feel of an Oscar nominee, unfortunately I think it lacks the ability to be a true Oscar winner. Really, I don't see either as a true Oscar winner, but I have been pulling for the Muppets to win this category, if any. That is why I am picking the Muppets, but I am so disappointed with this category I won't be surprised if I am wrong. I promise you this won't be the last time I will express disappointment with my other categories as I continue my predictions in the coming days and weeks.

Winner: Man or Muppet
Missing Nominee: Life's a Happy Song

Oscar-nomics: Best Foreign Film Shortlist

So, today we see yet another shortlist, this time from the foreign branch. They have narrowed it down from over 60 to 9, and my already presumed winner A Separation is still in it, so it's gotten past the hard part. I have no doubt it will be nominated, it was just a matter of making the shortlist. Am I 100% it will win, no, but that's mostly because I have started to question my thoughts on Cinematography, but thats for another discussion. Pina also made the list, but again I am not terribly surprised since it is also a favorite among the voters, and it may actually win since word is its been slowly gaining love amongst the voters, but I am still picking A Separation. Here is the list below:


Belgium: Bullhead 
Canada: Monsieur Lazhar 
Denmark:  Superclásico 
Germany: Pina 
Iran: A Separation 
Israel: Footnote 
Morocco: Omar Killed Me 
Poland: In Darkness 
Taiwan: Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale

Oscar-nomics: Bafta Nominations

So, the Golden Globes were announce and there were few surprises cause these were really obvious winners, with the surprises really just the alternate choices (ie Midnight in Paris for Screenplay over the Descendants or Meryl Streep over Viola Davis). Now, we have the BAFTA (British Oscars) nominations, and it is quite the list, both good and bad. The biggest omission that killed me a bit was Emmanuel Lubezki for cinematography is nowhere to be found. The list does show The Artist as the one to beat, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a well respected British film (though I doubt its chances here), and apparently The Iron Lady is respected beyond Streep's performance. Also, why just Carey Mulligan for Drive and no Albert Brooks? And for Jim Broadbent? I mean I respect the guy, but why not something like Nick Nolte or Stellan Skarsgaard. Now granted, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo got some love in technical categories and nowhere else, I think the film deserves a little more love especially since its major guild love. Finally, Hugo gets more nominations than the Help but the Help gets in for best picture over Hugo!?!?!? I can continue my ranting (not much love for Midnight in Paris?!?!?) but I will stop so this doesn't get terribly lengthy. We shall see what happens come Tuesday for the Oscar nominations, but don't count these as the best tell for things to come. Here are the nominations listed below:

Best Film
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Drive"
"The Help"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

Best British Film
"My Week With Marilyn"
"Senna"
"Shame"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"
"We Need to Talk About Kevin"

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Nicolas Winding Refn, "Drive"
Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"
Tomas Alfredson, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy"
Lynne Ramsay, "We Need to Talk About Kevin"

Best Actor
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Michael Fassbender, "Shame"
Gary Oldman. "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

Best Actress
Bérénice Bejo, "The Artist"
Viola Davis, "The Help"
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Tilda Swinton, "We Need to Talk About Kevin"
Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn"

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, "My Week With Marilyn"
Jim Broadbent, "The Iron Lady"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Ides of March"
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"

Best Supporting Actress
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Judi Dench, "My Week With Marilyn"
Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"
Carey Mulligan, "Drive"
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"

Best Original Screenplay
"The Artist"
"Bridesmaids"
"The Guard"
"The Iron Lady"
"Midnight in Paris"

Best Adapted Screenplay
"The Descendants"
"The Help"
"The Ides of March"
"Moneyball"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

Best Foreign Language Film
"Incendies"
"Pina"
"Potiche"
"A Separation"
"The Skin I Live In"

Best Documentary
"George Harrison: Living in the Material World"
"Project Nim"
"Senna"

Best Animated Feature
"The Adventures of Tintin"
"Arthur Christmas"
"Rango"

Best Art Direction
"The Artist"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Hugo"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"
"War Horse"

Best Cinematography
"The Artist"
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"
"War Horse"
Best Costume Design
"The Artist"
"Hugo"
"Jane Eyre"
"My Week With Marilyn"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

Best Film Editing
"The Artist"
"Drive"
"Hugo"
"Senna"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

Best Makeup & Hair
"The Artist"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Hugo"
"The Iron Lady"
"My Week With Marilyn"

Best Music
"The Artist"
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
"Hugo"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"
"War Horse"

Best Sound
"The Artist"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Hugo"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"
"War Horse"

Best Visual Effects
"The Adventures of Tintin"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
"Hugo"
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
"War Horse"

Best Debut by a British Director, Writer or Producer
Joe Cornish, "Attack the Block"
Will Sharpe, Tom Kingsley and Sarah Brocklehurst, "Black Pond"
Ralph Fiennes, "Coriolanus"
Richard Ayoade, "Submarine"
Paddy Considine, "Tyrannosaur"