Breaking Down the 2013 Best Actress Race

This Oscar season has been one of the most exciting and unpredictable races in recent history. While it seems that Argo, Daniel Day-Lewis and Anne Hathaway now look like sure things in their respective categories, there are a few races that remain a serious horse race. The two biggest question marks are the Best Supporting Actor race where a different contender has won in each of the precursors (Tommy Lee Jones, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Christoph Waltz) and the Best Actress Race which has been a serious catfight between Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence. Today, I will take a look at the latter race which could end up with a truly surprising winner.
When the race began in earnest last fall, the word was that Jennifer Lawrence would win hands down for her wonderful, emotionally naked work in Silver Linings Playbook. However, that was before the very secretive Zero Dark Thirty finally began screening and Jessica Chastain’s fierce, intelligent and controlled performance wowed critics and audiences. Both women have won a number of pre-cursors that have put them squarely in a duel for the Oscar win. Among the biggest wins, Lawrence took home the Golden Globe (Musical/Comedy), Critic’s Choice (Actress in a Comedy Film) and the all-important SAG Award while Chastain grabbed a Golden Globe (Drama) and the overall Critic’s Choice Award for Best Actress.
They are both up for the BAFTA Award this evening as well. I’d say Chastain has the edge there as her film received more nominations from the British Academy and they tend to honor more “important” films and performances. For example, last year Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) took home the Best Actress BAFTA over Viola Davis (The Help) after Davis had just won the SAG Award… I could see the same turnover happen here for Chastain. If that happens, then Chastain could follow Streep’s path to an Oscar victory.
Both Chastain and Lawrence have several factors working in their favor. Both women are attractive young actresses with a “babe factor” that the Academy loves, reaching a peak in their careers which has helped actresses like Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman to take home the big prize in the past. Both are also previous nominees. Chastain was nominated last year for Supporting Actress for The Help while Lawrence was nominated for Best Actress two years ago for Winter’s Bone. Plus, both have worked the awards circuit like a pro this season.
Where they differ is in their “industry status”. While Lawrence is now a bona-fide box office star with The Hunger Games franchise, Chastain is seen as the more serious actress with a bigger body of lauded work. She could’ve received Oscar noms for practically all of her seven films released in 2011 and Chastain is also building box office clout with hits ZD30, The Help and Mama. It just seems like it may be too “early” in Lawrence’s career to give her Hollywood’s highest honor while Chastain seems to have “earned” it more. So, with all of that said, I’m going out on a limb and giving the edge to Chastain for the win.
However there remains one big obstacle in their way. They both will have to fend off another critical favorite, French icon Emmanuelle Riva for her harrowing and physically demanding work as a woman suffering from Dementia at the end of her life in Amour. This performance could be the real key to this Oscar race. Riva could easily usurp both of them at the BAFTAs and set the stage for a crazy three-way fight on Oscar night.
As for the final two nominees, Quevanzhane Wallis should be thrilled she got a nomination in the first place for her debut performance in Beasts of the Southern Wild over more deserving heavy weights like Marion Cotillard (Rust & Bone) and Helen Mirren (Hitchcock), and while she was amazing in The Impossible, and I’d love to see her win, Naomi Watts will probably be an also ran. (No worries though Naomi, you should be back in the race next year for playing Princess Diana!)
To sum up, it’s a serious race this year. Lawrence and Chastain are in the best position to win with Riva as a potential spoiler. And if there is crazy vote splitting, maybe Watts can sneak in. Yet, I’m still betting on Chastain. See if I’m right Sunday night February 24th when the Oscars air on ABC.

The Box Office is Back on “Pitch”!

Hollywood has to be happy with this weekend’s business as things picked up with three strong new openings. Taking the top spot was the new animated comedy Hotel Transylvania featuring the voice of Adam Sandler whose fans clearly prefer not seeing his actual mug these days as the movie took in a big $43 million. That outgrosses the TOTAL amount his June stinker That’s My Boy tallied. Hmmm… Opening in second was the well reviewed action film Looper starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt with a good $21.2 million. (That one weekend also beats the entire gross of Levitt’s last film Premium Rush.)…. The final new film to open well and when, I say, well, I mean incredibly well was the hilarious a capella singing comedy Pitch Perfect starring Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick and the hysterical scene-stealer Rebel Wilson. In a limited release of only 335 theaters, compared to most films in over 3000 theaters, Perfect pulled in $5.2 million with a big $15,522 average which is a good sign for the movie which goes nationwide on Friday. (I also gave this wonderful and immensely entertaining comedy an “A” grade)… Unfortunately, after all that good news, there was a little bad news with the terrible opening for the school teacher drama Won’t Back Down which tanked with only $2.7 million despite the great talents of its Oscar nominated stars Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal…. For more on all these numbers, head to Box Office Mojo and check out the new top ten below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N Hotel Transylvania Sony $43,000,000 – 3,349 – $12,840 $43,000,000 $85 1
2 N Looper TriS $21,200,000 – 2,992 – $7,086 $21,200,000 $30 1
3 1 End of Watch ORF $8,000,000 -39.2% 2,780 +50 $2,878 $26,169,000 $7 2
4 3 Trouble with the Curve WB $7,530,000 -38.1% 3,212 – $2,344 $23,726,000 – 2
5 2 House at the End of The Street Rela. $7,154,000 -41.8% 3,083 – $2,320 $22,225,000 $10 2
6 N Pitch Perfect Uni. $5,200,000 – 335 – $15,522 $5,200,000 $17 1
7 4 Finding Nemo (3D) BV $4,066,000 -57.8% 2,639 -265 $1,541 $36,475,000 – 3
8 5 Resident Evil: Retribution SGem $3,000,000 -55.2% 2,381 -635 $1,260 $38,700,000 $65 3
9 7 The Master Wein. $2,745,000 -37.5% 856 +68 $3,207 $9,633,000 – 3
10 N Won’t Back Down Fox $2,700,000 – 2,515 – $1,074 $2,700,000 – 1

It’s all about Hollywood as The Artist, Hugo and Meryl dominate the Oscars

It was a clear message heard round the Kodak (what will they change the name to?) theatre in Hollywood tonight as Hollywood honored the movies at the Oscars:  if it was about movie-making or starred our very own movie queen, it won. The Artist and Hugo, both films that are essentially love letters to movie-making, each won 5 awards while Meryl Streep, the most lauded and iconic actress of our time finally won her 3rd Oscar for her amazing work in The Iron Lady. Yes, she only has three! Despite 17 nominations, she hadn’t won since Sophie’s Choice 29 years ago, and she was arguably the most deserving winner of the night. (No disrespect to the tremendously lovely Viola Davis by the way. I swear you will get your Oscar one day!)… Speaking of deserving winners, Christopher Plummer and Ocatvia Spencer finished their dominated awards season runs picking up the Supporting Actor honors for Beginners and The Help. WIth his win, Plummer became the oldest acting winner in history at the tender age of 82!… Best Actor went to Jean Dujardin (over heavily favored George Clooney) whose film The Artist also picked up Best Picture, Director, Costume Design and Score. Hugo’s 5 wins were in the technical categories while one big surprise was the Best Editing win for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. For more on all the winners and the delightful if a bit subdued broadcast hosted by Billy Crystal, head here. (Big props to the ladies of Bridesmaids and Tina Fey for bringing us the funniest moments by the way). And check out all the winners below… And let me just say I am so incredibly happy for Streep! She gave the best, classiest speech of the night and I’m just thrilled she finally won. Congrats Meryl!!!!

2012 Academy Award Winners:

Best Picture: The Artist
Best Director: Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Best Actress: Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
Best Cinematography: Hugo
Best Editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Art Direction: Hugo
Best Costume Design: The Artist
Best Makeup: The Iron Lady
Best Original Score: The Artist     
Best Original Song: “Man or a Muppet” (The Muppets)
Best Sound Editing: Hugo
Best Sound Mixing: Hugo
Best Visual Effects: Hugo

Best Documentary: Undefeated
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Best Animated Film: Rango
Best Animated Short Film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Best Live Action Short Film: The Shore
Best Documentary Short Subject: Saving Face

Most Wins~
The Artist: 5
Hugo: 5
The Iron Lady: 2

My Big Bold 2012 Oscar Winner Predictions

Ok, enough with the Grammys, Globes and SAG Awards, the grand daddy of them all is here: the Academy Awards. This Sunday is the big day with the supreme Oscar host Billy Crystal returning to preside over the big day. With Crystal in command, we know the show will be hilarious, but will there be any surprises? Well, the top two acting races are just that, races between two deserving candidates. So, we could have upsets and some serious excitement. With that said, can anyone stop The Artist from sweeping? Well, take a look at my big bold Oscar winner predictions below and see.

My Big Bold 2012 Oscar Winner Predictions:

Best Picture:
The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, War Horse
Will & Should win: The Artist
spoiler: Hugo
~ my sentimental fave: The Help

Best Director:
Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris), Michael Hazanvicius (The Artist), Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life), Alexander Payne (The Descendants), Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Will & Should win: Michael Hazanavicius
~spoiler: Martin Scorsese

Best Actor:
Demian Bichir (A Better Life), George Clooney (The Descendants), Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
Will & Should win: Jean Dujardin
~spoiler: George Clooney
* This is a super tight race and it will be close between Clooney and Dujardin. How neat would it be if the wonderful and truly deserving Bichir pulled a surprise upset here? It’s not gonna happen, but it would be lovely to see.

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)
Will & Should win: Meryl Streep
~spoiler: Viola Davis
* ok, I’m going out on a big limb here. Conventional wisdom and smart money is on Davis (who was wonderful and would be a deserving winner). However, if you’ve seen The Iron Lady, you can’t deny Streep should win. She also hasn’t won in 30 years. Hello people!

Best Supporting Actor:
Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn), Jonah Hill (Moneyball), Nick Nolte (Warrior), Christopher Plummer (Beginners), Max Von Sydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)
Will & Should win: Christopher Plummer
~spoiler: Max Von Sydow

Best Supporting Actress:
Berenice Bejo (The Artist), Jessica Chastain (The Help), Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs), Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Will & Should win: Octavia Spencer
~spoiler: Melissa McCarthy

Best Original Screenplay:
The Artist, Bridesmaids, Margin Call, Midnight in Paris, A Separation
Will win: Midnight in Paris
Should win: Bridesmaids
~spoiler: The Artist

Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Descendants, Hugo, The Ides of March, Moneyball, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Will Win: Moneyball
~spoiler: The Descendants
* This one will be close. I feel like they may throw a bone to The Descendants here, but I’m keeping my money on the better screenplay for Moneyball. Plus it has more overall nominations indicating wider support within the academy.

Best Cinematography:
The Artist, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, The Tree of Life, War Horse
Will win: The Tree of Life
Should win: War Horse (yes, I loved the movie, what of it?)
~spoiler: The Artist (they love some black and white)

Best Editing:
The Artist, The Descendants, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Moneyball
Will win: The Artist
Should win: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
~Spoiler: Hugo

Best Animated Film:
A Cat in Paris, Chico and Rita, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots, Rango
Will & Should win: Rango

Best Foreign Film:
Bullhead, Footnote, In Darkness, Monsieur Lahzar, A Separation
Will & Should win: A Separation
~spoiler: In Darkness

Best Original Score:
The Adventures of Tin Tin, The Artist, Hugo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse
Will & Should win: The Artist

Best Original Song:
“Man or a Muppet” (The Muppets), “Real in Rio” (Rio)
Will & Should win: “Man or a Muppet” (this would be the first ever win for a Muppet movie!)
* PS- this category is a disaster. Due to their strict rules, a ton of great and deserving songs by Mary J. Blige (The Help), Elton John (Gnomeo & Juliet), Madonna (W.E.), Pink (Happy Feet 2) and more didn’t make the cut. Blargh!

Best Art Direction:
The Artist, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, War Horse
Will win: Hugo
Should win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2
~spoiler: The Artist

Best Costume Design:
Anonymous, The Artist, Hugo, Jane Eyre, W.E.
Will win: The Artist
Should win: W.E.
~spoiler: W.E.

Best Makeup:
Albert Nobbs, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2, The Iron Lady
Will & Should win: The Iron Lady
~spoiler: Harry Potter

Best Sound Editing:
Drive, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, War Horse
Will win: Hugo
Should win: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Sound Mixing:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Moneyball, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, War Horse
Will win: Hugo
Should win: War Horse
~spoiler: Transformers

Visual Effects:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2, Hugo, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Real Steel, Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Will win: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Should win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 (hello the Harry Potter franchise has never won an Oscar!)
~spoiler: Harry Potter

Best Documentary:
Hell and Back Again, If a Tree Falls, Paradise Lost 3, Pina, Undefeated
Will win: Undefeated
Should win: Pina
~spoiler: Paradise Lost 3
* this one is a super tight race… My first instinct is for Pina to win (and it’s the most interesting, but also the most experimental). Then, I was thinking Undefeated plays into the emotions of the academy and has a bigger profile, so it may win. It’s a real tossup with the well-known Paradise Lost series in the mix as well.

* for the shorts, shoot me an email.

Let’s Rank the Oscar Nominees

The Oscar race is really heating up. While The Artist seems to be the best bet for the big award, we have some serious horse races in the Acting categories. Will it be George or Brad or Jean? Will Meryl be able to stop Viola? Can anyone stop Christopher Plummer? Well, with all of that in mind (and Sunday’s BAFTA awards looming), I’ve decided to rank who I think SHOULD win the Academy Awards. Yes, these are my rankings of this year’s contenders. (Remember, it’s not who I think will win, it’s who should). Take a look and give me your two cents. Then, check back in a couple of weeks for my official predictions of the winners.

My Rankings of this year’s Oscar Nominees~

Picture:
1. The Help
2. The Artist
3. War Horse
4. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
5. Midnight in Paris
6. Moneyball
7. Hugo
8. The Descendants
9. The Tree of Life

Best Director:
1. Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist
2. Martin Scorcesse, Hugo
3. Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
4. Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
5. Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Best Actor:
1. Jean Dujardin, The Artist
2. Demian Bichir, A Better Life
3. Brad Pitt, Moneyball
4. George Clooney, The Descendants
5. Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Best Actress:
1. Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
2. Viola Davis, The Help
3. Michelle Wiliams, My Week with Marilyn
4. Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
5. Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Sup. Actor:
1. Christopher Plummer, Beginners
2. Nick Nolte, Warrior
3. Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn
4. Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
5. Jonah Hill, Moneyball

Best Sup Actress:
1. Octavia Spencer, The Help
2. Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
3. Jessica Chastain, The Help
4. Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
5. Berenice Bejo, The Artist

Original Screenplay:
1. The Artist
2. Bridesmaids
3. Midnight in Paris
4. Margin Call
5. A Separation

Adapted Screenplay:
1. Moneyball
2. The Ides of March
3. Hugo
4. The Descendants
5. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The Actors Love “The Help” at tonight’s SAG Awards

Dominating the SAG Awards with a definitive 3 wins, The Help got some more Oscar juice. The wonderful film took home awards for Best Ensemble, Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer) and, in a little bit of an upset, Best Actress (Viola Davis). With her win, Davis is making a serious bid for the Oscar and now has to be considered the front-runner to her dear friend Meryl Streep (who I think should have won, but that’s bygones, because Davis is extraordinary regardless)… The other big surprise was Jean Dujardin taking out George Clooney in the Best Actor race. The Oscars look like they will have some serious battles ahead… Winning Supporting Actor was Christopher Plummer for Beginners... The TV races saw some really boring repeats with Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi and Boardwalk Empire, but at least Jessica Lange was a new winner in the Drama Actress category defeating last year’s victor Juliana Marguiles. For more on the show, head to TNT and check out all the winners below.
(Oh and props to everyone for stepping it up with some great fashion tonight~ much better than the Golden Globes.)

2012 SAG AWARD WINNERS:

Movies~
Best Ensemble: The Help
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Stunt Ensemble: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2

TV~

Drama Ensemble: Boardwalk Empire
Drama Actor: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Drama Actress: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Comedy Ensemble: Modern Family
Comedy Actress: Betty White, Hot in Clevleand
Comedy Actor: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
TV Movie/Miniseries Actress: Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
TV Movie/Miniseries Actor: Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail
Stunt Ensemble: Game of Thrones

The Artist, The Descendants, Meryl and Madonna win Big at the Golden Globes

Well, Madonna sure did piss off Elton John at tonight’s Golden Globe Awards… No, not because of anything she said, but because she won the award for Best Original song for her gorgeous track from W.E.,”Masterpiece”. It beat Elton’s track from Gnomeo and Juliet and boy, did he have a disgruntled face if I’ve ever seen one. That was just one fun highlight from a night that saw few surprises, but was rather entertaining as a whole. Ricky Gervais returned as host and was quite funny but not as controversial as last year and was only bleeped once I think. Heck, Meryl Streep was bleeped too! Speaking of Streep, she won her 8th Globe for Lead Actress in a Drama for The Iron Lady while Michelle Williams won for Lead Actress in a Musical or Comedy. These wins, along with Viola Davis’s win at the Critics Choice Awards on Thursday, are making it a real horse race for the Best Actress race… Best Actor could be tight between tonight’s two winners as well, George Clooney for Drama and Jean Dujardin for Musical or Comedy. Both of their films won as well with The Descendants taking Drama and The Artist nabbing the trophy for Musical or Comedy. The latter film won the most awards with a third for Best Score…. Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer continued their winning runs in the supporting category while Martin Scorsese pulled out a surprise win for Director for Hugo.

On the TV front, Modern Family and Homeland won the series awards while Downton Abbey won TV Movie/Miniseries. There were several acting surprises though, both good (Matt LeBlanc) and bad (Kelsey Grammar~ no offense to his work, but how on Earth did he beat Bryan Cranston and Damian Lewis, argh!!!) Also, Laura Dern pulled out a little bit of a shocker for Lead actress in a Comedy over front runners Zooey Deschanel, Amy Poehler and last year’s winner Laura Linney. For more on the show, head to the Globes site here and take a look at all the winners below.

 

2012 Golden Globe Winners:
Best Picture (Drama): The Descendants
Best Actor in a Movie (Drama): George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Picture (Comedy or Musical): The Artist
Best Actress in a Movie (Drama): Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Actor in a Movie (Comedy or Musical): Jean Dujardin, The Artist
 Best TV Series (Comedy or Musical): Modern Family
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Actor in a TV Series (Comedy or Musical): Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Best Actress in a TV Series (Drama): Claire Danes, Homeland
Best Foreign Language Movie: A Separation (Iran)
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Best Screenplay: Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen
Best Animated Movie: The Adventures of Tintin
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Best Actress in a Movie (Comedy or Musical): Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Idris Elba, Luther
Best Original Song: “Masterpiece,” W.E.
Best Original Score: Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Best TV Series (Drama): Homeland
Best Actor in a TV Series (Drama): Kelsey Grammer, Boss
Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
Best Miniseries or TV Movie: Downton Abbey
Best Actress in a TV Series (Comedy or Musical): Laura Dern, Enlightened
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

And here’s the song that made Elton so mad. (Mary J. Blige didn’t look too happy either when she lost the category as well by the way)… Madonna’s “Masterpiece” from W.E.

The Artist and The Help win big at the Critics Choice Awards

The Artist and The Help just picked up some serious ammunition as they continue their Oscar march with both films winning big at tonight’s Critics Choice Awards. The Artist won four awards including Best Picture and Director (Michael Hazanavicus) while The Help took home three: Best Acting Ensemble, Best Actress (Viola Davis) and Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer). I have to say Davis easily had the best speech of the night and now has to be seen as the biggest threat to take the Academy Award from Meryl Streep. Both ladies will be competing at Sunday’s Golden Globes too where I think Streep may prevail. (And to make things interesting Michelle Williams who lost here tonight should win at the Globes since she’s in the Musical/Comedy category not Drama like her peers. This is a serious race!)… The other big honors went to George Clooney for Best Actor and Christopher Plummer for Best Supporting Actor. Take a look at all the winners including Bridesmaids for Best Comedy and Thomas Horn (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close) for best Younger Actor/Actress below and head to the BFCA website for more info here.

2012 Critics Choice Award Winners:

Best Picture The Artist
Best Director Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Best Actor George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Actress Viola Davis, The Help
Best Supporting Actor Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Original Screenplay Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Best Adapted Screenplay Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zaillain, Moneyball
Best Acting Ensemble The Help
Best Animated Film Rango
Best Foreign Language Film A Separation
Best Documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Best Comedy Bridesmaids
Best Action Movie Drive
Best Young Actor/Actress Thomas Horn, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Best Makeup Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 2
Best Song “Life’s A Happy Song,” The Muppets
Best Costume Design The Artist
Best Score The Artist
Best Editing The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Best Sound Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Best Visual Effects Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Best Art Direction Hugo
Best Cinematography (tie) War Horse and The Tree of Life

Is Michelle Williams the Front-Runner for Best Actress Now?

Two-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams is getting tons of awards buzz for her fantastic turn in My Week with Marilyn where she plays the iconic legend Marilyn Monroe. All signs are pointing to a nomination (as I mentioned in a previous blog here), but now it seems like she may be the front-runner. With Meryl Streep’s The Iron Lady not opening until 12/30, Williams will have months of advanced buzz to make her case and currently she is on top of everyone’s predictions lists alongside Viola Davis from The Help. So, can Williams pull off a win against these two venerable contenders? … Well, here’s some proof that it might just happen. Check out this new clip of Williams dancing and singing as Marilyn. Hello triple threat! And see for yourself if she has what it takes to win when the film opens on November 23rd.

Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe singing “Heatwave” in My Week with Marilyn

My Ridiculously Early October Oscar Predictions

Every year the Oscar race really revs up with the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals in late August/early September and then the forecasting begins in earnest. So, as we’re already into the middle of October, I feel like it’s time to weigh in. Sure, it seems ridiculously early to predict who’s gonna get nominated, but there are a few obvious front-runners for nods from films that have already hit theatres including The Help, Brad Pitt and Moneyball and Christopher Plummer in Beginners. So who else might be joining them? Take a look below and give me your thoughts. Then watch for my updated predictions in the weeks ahead.

My Ridiculously Early October Oscar Predictions~

Best Picture:
The Artist
The Descendents
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
J. Edgar
Moneyball
War Horse
~spoilers: The Adventures of Tin Tin, The Ides of March, Midnight in Paris, The Iron Lady, My Week with Marilyn

*Note : this year the rules have changed again and the Best Picture nominees will vary from 5-10 films depending on the amount of support they get. (There’s a whole lot of weird math mumbojumbo involved). I feel like it will end up with 7 or 8.

Best Actor:
George Clooney (The Descendants)
Leonardo DiCaprio ( J. Edgar)
Woody Harrelson (Rampart)
Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
~spoilers: Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March), Michael Shannon (Take Shelter), Michael Fassbender (Shame), Joseph Gordon Levitt (50/50), Matt Damon (We Bought A Zoo)

Best Actress:
Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
Viola Davis (The Help)
Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)
~spoilers: Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Charlize Theron (Young Adult), Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin), Felicity Jones (Like Crazy)

Best Supporting Actor:
Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)
Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (The Ides of March)
Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Max Von Sydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)
~spoilers: Christoph Waltz (Carnage), Nick Nolte (Warrior), Jonah Hill (Moneyball), David Thewliss (War Horse), Albert Brooks (Drive), Armie Hammer (J. Edgar)

Best Supporting Actress:
Sandra Bullock (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)
Jessica Chastain (The Help)
Judi Dench (J. Edgar)
Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Robin Wright (Rampart)
~spoilers: Evan Rachel Wood (The Ides of March), Kate Winslet (Carnage), Vanessa Redgrave (Coriolanus), Emily Watson (War Horse), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs), Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life), Sissy Spacek (The Help), Robin Wright (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)

Best Director:
Stephen Daldry (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)
Clint Eastwood (J. Edgar)
David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
Steven Speilberg (War Horse)
~spoilers: Bennett Miller (Moneyball), George Clooney (The Ides of March), Michel Hazanvicius (The Artist), Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)

Adapted Screenplay:
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Moneyball
War Horse
~spoilers: The Ides of March, Coriolanus, My Week with Marilyn, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Original Screenplay:
The Artist
Beginners
The Descendants
J. Edgar
Midnight in Paris
~spoilers: Young Adult, The Iron Lady, Rampart, Martha Marcy May Marlene, We Bought a Zoo