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.

My Top 20 Movies of 2011

With box office grosses down and a ton of lackluster films in the marketplace, you’d think it might be hard to find 20 good movies from the past year. But I did. In fact, there were a lot of good movies released in 2011. They just tended to be smaller indie films like Martha Marcy May Marlene or Beginners. However, there were some big studio films that were hits with critics, audiences and me like The Help and the final Harry Potter. So, just what made my end of the year list? … Take a look below.

* First, I have to say there are a few that I haven’t seen yet. I know, bad me… Those films are:  Shame, Rango and We need to Talk About Kevin…
now, the list…

My Top 20 Movies of 2011:
1. The Help
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
3. War Horse
4. 50/50
5. The Artist

6. Drive
7. Beginners
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2
9. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
10. Bridesmaids
11. Crazy Stupid Love
12. Martha Marcy May Marlene
13. Albert Nobbs
14. The Iron Lady
15. The Muppets
16. My Week with Marilyn
17. We Were Here
18. Super 8
19. The Ides of March
20 TIE:  Margin Call  & Midnight in Paris

Honorable Mention: The Whistleblower, Jane Eyre, Gun Hill Road, Warrior, Moneyball

Best Acting Performance of 2011: Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Best Movie that I saw at Festival: The Green
Best Comedy: Bridesmaids
Best Family Film: The Muppets
Best Super Hero Movie: Thor

Worst 5 Movies I saw:
1. Paul
2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
3. Cowboys & Aliens
4. Limitless
5. Larry Crowne

There is my list. I may be changing it as I catch up with a few more Oscar contenders, but heck it’s January 3rd. I had to post it already. What are your thoughts? What are your faves? Sound off below.

The PGA Nominations honor the Usual Suspects but still offer a couple of Surprises

The Producers Guild of America is the latest industry heavyweight to announce its nominations for the best of the year. The PGA honors 10 films in the Best Picture category and the front-runners The Artist, War Horse and The Descendants were all included, but so was the hilarious comedy Bridesmaids. Could this be a sleeper Oscar Best Picture nominee? I, for one, hope so…. Take a look at the full list below and the animation and the TV Movie/Miniseries categories as well. Watch for the winners to be announced on Jan. 21st.

2012 Producers Guild Award Nominations:

Best Motion Picture:
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
War Horse

Best Animated Film:
The Adventures of Tin Tin
Cars 2
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Best TV Movie/Miniseries:
Cinema Verite
Downton Abbey
The Kennedys
Mildred Pierce
Too Big To Fail

Tom Cruise Welcomes 2012 at the Top of the Box Office Again while Meryl Streep makes her Move

Perhaps the comeback of the year for 2012 is already a done deal with Mr. Tom Cruise. The previously polarizing, and formerly loved, actor seems to be getting back into everyone’s good graces on account of his smash box office hit, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocal. The fourth film in the series lead the weekend again with another $31.2 million for a total of $134 million. Watch this one to cruise, pun intended, to somewhere over $200 million when all is said and done. Landing in second over the new year weekend was Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows with another $22 million for a total of $132 million. Both films were up big over the past weekend as was every movie with War Horse gaining the most up 25%. Take a look at all the films and their strong grosses below… One more note belongs to Meryl Streep who should win an Oscar for her new film The Iron Lady. The drama opened in limited release over the weekend in just 4 theaters with a gigantic per screen average of $55,450. Meryl can do no wrong! … For more on all the numbers, head to Box Office Mojo here.
TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 1 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol Par. $31,250,000 +5.9% 3,455 +7 $9,045 $134,139,000 $145 3
2 2 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows WB $22,095,000 +9.1% 3,703 – $5,967 $132,100,000 – 3
3 4 Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Fox $18,250,000 +45.0% 3,724 +41 $4,901 $94,609,000 $75 3
4 7 War Horse BV $16,940,000 +125.4% 2,547 +171 $6,651 $42,969,000 – 2
5 3 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) Sony $16,300,000 +27.8% 2,914 – $5,594 $57,100,000 $90 2
6 6 We Bought a Zoo Fox $14,300,000 +52.8% 3,163 +46 $4,521 $41,787,000 – 2
7 5 The Adventures of Tintin Par. $12,000,000 +23.6% 3,087 – $3,887 $47,841,000 – 2
8 8 New Year’s Eve WB (NL) $6,741,000 +103.7% 2,225 – $3,030 $46,372,000 $56 4
9 9 The Darkest Hour Sum. $4,300,000 +43.3% 2,327 +3 $1,848 $13,200,000 $30 2
10 13 The Descendants FoxS $3,650,000 +76.0% 758 +5 $4,815 $39,675,000 – 7

It’s Mission Accomplished as Ghost Protocal controls the Christmas Box Office

If you had asked most Hollywood executives who would rule the Christmas box office this year, most would have said Robert Downey Jr’s Sherlock Holmes. But lo and behold a rejuvenated Tom Cruise destroyed the competition with his four-quel Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol which took in $46 million over the 4 day holiday weekend. That makes for a $78 million total take for the film which is headed to blockbuster status which would be a first for Cruise since 2005’s War of the Worlds. (And let me add, that the latest Mission is actually pretty darn good. It’s a very solid and entertaining if a tad ludicrous action film. Grade: B+) Holding up decently in second was Sherlock Homes with another $31 million while Alvin and the Chipmunks took third with $20 million just barely beating the $19 million for the awesome new R rated action drama The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Opening modestly with $16 million was Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tin Tin which barely edged Spielberg’s War Horse and Matt Damon’s We Bought a Zoo. All of the aforementioned films should have a nice week ahead with children out of school and many people off of work. One film that is DOA though was the final opener, the horror film The Darkest Hour which tanked with just $5 million. For more on all these numbers, head to Box Office Mojo here 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 3 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol Par. $46,210,000 +261.4% 3,448 +3,023 $13,402 $78,645,000 $145 2
2 1 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows WB $31,810,000 -19.7% 3,703 – $8,590 $90,564,000 – 2
3 2 Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Fox $20,000,000 -14.0% 3,734 +11 $5,356 $56,940,000 $75 2
4 N The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) Sony $19,400,000 – 2,914 – $6,658 $27,776,000 $90 1
5 N The Adventures of Tintin Par. $16,100,000 – 3,087 – $5,215 $24,107,000 – 1
6 N We Bought a Zoo Fox $15,600,000 – 3,117 – $5,005 $15,600,000 – 1
7 N War Horse BV $15,025,000 – 2,376 – $6,324 $15,025,000 – 1
8 N The Darkest Hour Sum. $5,500,000 – 2,324 – $2,367 $5,500,000 $30 1
9 4 New Year’s Eve WB (NL) $4,950,000 -32.3% 2,225 -1,280 $2,225 $34,287,000 $56 3
10 11 The Descendants FoxS $3,425,000 +4.8% 813 -65 $4,213 $33,717,000 – 6

My Still Very Early November Oscar Predictions…

It’s almost Thanksgiving and the Oscar race is in full swing. Several big contenders are currently in theatres (Moneyball, The Descendants, The Help) and a couple open this week (The Artist, My Week with Marilyn). In fact all but three of the biggies (War Horse, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) have screened at festivals or for critics and media and those final ponies have such strong pedigrees that have to be considered front-runners nonetheless. With that said, check out my new predictions, my Oct predix and let me know what you think will grab the gold early next year. Also note, I have ranked them in order of likelihood of getting a nomination and watch for big changes as the critics awards and SAG and Golden Globe nominations start to come in. (Heck, J. Edgar is pretty much out of all the races now after a poor opening and rough critical reception. At least Leo still stands a chance)…

Best Picture:
1. The Artist
2. The Descendants
3. War Horse
4. The Help
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
6. Moneyball
7. Midnight in Paris
8. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
~spoilers: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2, My Week with Marilyn, The Adventures of Tin Tin, The Ides of March
*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:
1. George Clooney (The Descendants)
2. Jean Dujardin (The Artist)~ new to the list
3. Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
4. Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar)
5. Woody Harrelson (Rampart)
~spoilers: Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Michael Fassbender (Shame), Ryan Gosling (Drive)

Best Actress:
1. Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
2. Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)
3. Viola Davis (The Help)
4. Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
5. Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
~spoilers: Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Charlize Theron (Young Adult), Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin), Keira Knightley (A Dangerous Method)

Best Supporting Actor:
1. Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
2. Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)
3. Max VonSydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)
4. John Hawkes (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
5. Albert Brooks (Drive) ~ new
~spoilers: Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady), George Clooney (The Ides of March), Alan Rickman (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2), Patton Oswalt (Young Adult), Armie Hammer (J. Edgar), Nick Nolte (Warrior), Jonah Hill (Moneyball)
* this category remains very crowded and unclear with only Plummer a serious lock right now

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Octavia Spencer (The Help)
2. Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) ~ new
3. Vanessa Redgrave (Corolianus)~ new
4. Jessica Chastain (The Help)
5. Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) ~new
~spoilers:  Berncie Bejo (The Artist), Shailene Woodley (The Descendants), Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life), Robin Wright (Rampart), Sandra Bullock (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), Angelica Huston (50/50), Judy Greer (The Descendants)

* This is the next category that is most up in the air with so many worthy contenders

Best Director:
1. Steven Speilberg (War Horse)
2. Michael Havinicius (The Artist) ~ new
3. Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
4. David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
5. Tate Taylor (The Help)~ new
~spoilers: Stephen Daldry (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris), Bennett Miller (Moneyball)

Best Original Screenplay:
1. The Artist
2. Midnight in Paris
3. Beginners
4. Young Adult ~ new
5. Bridesmaids (oh yes I said it!) ~ new
~spoilers: J. Edgar, Rampart, Rango, Martha Marcy May Marlene

Best Adapted Screenplay:
1. The Descendants
2. The Help
3. War Horse
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
5. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
~spoilers: My Week with Marilyn, Albert Nobbs, The Ides of March, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

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

Will a Horse going to War bring Spielberg back to the Oscars?

Steven Speilberg and war movies mean serious Oscar business. He won Best Director for both Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, both films dealing with the atrocities of war. Now, he could be headed back for another go round at the Academy Awards with his latest the eagerly anticipated film War Horse based on the popular novel about a horse that is sold into the British army during World War I and his adventures trying to re-unite with his young former owner. Looking at the trailer, I’m already putting this at the top of the Oscar nom list for 2011 (that was after I dried my eyes~ it’s a tear-jerker!). In fact, I’m making bold predictions right now that it will contend for Picture, Director, Cinematography, Score, Adapted Screenplay and more…. And the source material has already been the basis for the recent Tony winning smash play of the same name currently wowing audiences on Broadway. It looks like all signs could be aligned for another sweep at the Kodak theatre. Check out the trailer below and see if you think it could go the distance and for more on the film starring newcomer Jeremy Irvine, David Thewlis (the Harry Potter films), Tom Hiddleston (Thor) and two-time Oscar nominee Emily Watson (Hilary & Jackie) head here.

War Horse

Mormons, A Horse and Neil Patrick Harris make for one Awesome Tony Awards!

Attention future Oscar and Emmy Award producers~ I sure hope you were watching last night’s Tony Awards because that is how you put on a show! It was efficient, moving, hilarious and kinda amazing. It helps that you had one of the most talented hosts around in Neil Patrick Harris who was simply perfection in his second turn as master of ceremonies. (In fact, he won an Emmy for his first go round and I’m pretty sure Neil and the show will be in the running again next year for this great show). Along with Neil’s amazing singing, dancing and hysterical bits (how great was the number with Hugh Jackman?!!), you also had wonderful performances from Daniel Radcliffe, Sutton Foster and the cast of Anything Goes, plus all the other musical nominees, a potty mouth Brooke Shields, and a crazy Frances McDormand in a jean jacket accepting Best Actress in a Play. While Frances gave a nice speech (as did a very emotional and wonderful Ellen Barkin and John Benjamin Hickey, plus a wonderfully jovial Foster), the best speech came from newcomer Nikki M. James who won for The Book of Mormon in a speech that’s up there with the greats of all time like Cuba Gooding Jr’s Oscar speech… Speaking of Mormon, the show dominated pulling in 9 awards including Best Musical (kudos to those crazy South Park kids and Momon creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone). Also trampling the competition was the play War Horse which nabbed 5 awards. The revivals of the brilliant The Normal Heart and the incredibly entertaining Anything Goes both took home 3 trophies. For more info on the show and Broadway’s best, head to the Tony site here. And for tix to your favorite Broadway show, head here. Also, check out all the winners below and my favorite NPH moments from this wonderful program.

2011 Tony Award Winners:
Best Musical: The Book of Mormon
Best Play: War Horse
Best Revival of a Musical: Anything Goes
Best Revival of a Play: The Normal Heart
Best Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical: Norbert Leo Butz (Catch Me if You Can)
Best Actress in a Lead Role in a Musical: Sutton Foster (Anything Goes)
Best Actor in a Play: Mark Rylance (Jerusalem)
Best Actress in a Play: Frances McDormand (Good People)
Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: John Laroquette (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)
Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon)
Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: John Benjamin Hickey (The Normal Heart)
Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Ellen Barkin
Best Director of a Musical: The Book of Mormon
Best Director of a Play: War Horse
Best Book of a Musical: The Book of Mormon
Best Orchestrations: The Book of Mormon
Best Choreography: Anything Goes
Best Sound Design of a Musical: The Book of Mormon
Best Sound Design of a Play: War Horse
Best Costume Design of a Musical: The Adventures of Priscilla~ Queen of the Desert
Best Costume Design of Play: The Importance of Being Earnest
Best Scenic Design of a Musical: The Book of Mormon
Best Scenic Design of a Play: War Horse
Best Lighting Design of a Musical: The Book of Mormon
Best Lighting Design of a Play: War Horse

Neil Patrick Harris’s opening number~ “Broadway isn’t Just for Gays Anymore”

Neil Patrick Harris v. Hugh Jackman

Neil Patrick Harris’s closing rap:

The Book of Mormon preaches at the Tony Award Nominations

The incredibly funny and totally awesome new musical from the creators of South Park, The Book of Mormon, led the Tony Award nominations this morning with a big 14 nods including Best Musical. The big surprise though was the now closed musical The Scottsboro Boys which came close behind with 12 nominations. Those two shows will compete against Catch Me if You Can and Sister Act for Best Musical while Good People, Jerusalem, The Motherfucker with the Hat and War Horse will square off for Best Play…. This year the acting nominees were a little less starry than last year when movie stars Scarlett Johanson, Viola Davis, Alfred Molina and Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Catharine Zeta Jones were among the winners. Instead we have only one three big  movie stars, Oscar winners Al Pacino, Vanessa Redgrave and Frances McDormand in the running, but several notable TV vets are up for awards including Emmy winners John Laroquette (Night Court), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Bobby Cannavale (Will & Grace) plus John Benjamin Hickey (The Big C), Judith Light (Ugly Betty) and screen vets Ellen Barkin and Billy Crudup…. Some big surprises were the omission of Priscilla Queen of the Desert in the Best Musical category and no Harry Potter, ahem, Daniel Radcliffe (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) in Best Actor Musical…. Check out the full list of nominations below… and head to Broadway in NYC before June 5th to see all the nominees.

Best Play
“Good People”
“Jerusalem”
“The Motherf**ker With the Hat”
“War Horse”

Best Musical
“The Book of Mormon”
“Catch Me If You Can”
“The Scottsboro Boys”
“Sister Act”

Best Book of a Musical
Alex Timbers, “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone, “The Book of Mormon”
David Thompson, “The Scottsboro Boys”
Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner, and Douglas Carter Beane, “Sister Act”

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
“The Book of Mormon,” music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone
“The Scottsboro Boys,” music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb
“Sister Act,” music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater
“Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” music and lyrics by David Yazbek

Best Revival of a Play
“Arcadia”
“The Importance of Being Earnest”
“The Merchant of Venice”
“The Normal Heart”

Best Revival of a Musical
“Anything Goes”
“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Brian Bedford, “The Importance of Being Earnest”
Bobby Cannavale, “The Motherf**ker With the Hat”
Joe Mantello, “The Normal Heart”
Al Pacino, “The Merchant of Venice”
Mark Rylance, “Jerusalem”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Nina Arianda, “Born Yesterday”
Frances McDormand, “Good People”
Lily Rabe, “The Merchant of Venice”
Vanessa Redgrave, “Driving Miss Daisy”
Hannah Yelland, “Brief Encounter”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Norbert Leo Butz, “Catch Me If You Can”
Josh Gad, “The Book of Mormon”
Joshua Henry, “The Scottsboro Boys”
Andrew Rannells, “The Book of Mormon”
Tony Sheldon, “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sutton Foster, “Anything Goes”
Beth Leavel, “Baby It’s You!”
Patina Miller, “Sister Act”
Donna Murphy, “The People in the Picture”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Mackenzie Crook, “Jerusalem”
Billy Crudup, “Arcadia”
John Benjamin Hickey, “The Normal Heart”
Arian Moayed, “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo”
Yul Vázquez, “The Motherf**ker With the Hat”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Ellen Barkin, “The Normal Heart”
Edie Falco, “The House of Blue Leaves”
Judith Light, “Lombardi”
Joanna Lumley, “La Bête”
Elizabeth Rodriguez, “The Motherf**ker With the Hat”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Colman Domingo, “The Scottsboro Boys”
Adam Godley, “Anything Goes”
John Larroquette, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Forrest McClendon, “The Scottsboro Boys”
Rory O’Malley, “The Book of Mormon”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Laura Benanti, “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”
Tammy Blanchard, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Victoria Clark, “Sister Act”
Nikki M. James, “The Book of Mormon”
Patti LuPone, “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Todd Rosenthal, “The Motherf**ker With the Hat”
Rae Smith, “War Horse”
Ultz, “Jerusalem”
Mark Wendland, “The Merchant of Venice”

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt, “The Scottsboro Boys”
Derek McLane, “Anything Goes”
Scott Pask, “The Book of Mormon”
Donyale Werle, “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”

Best Costume Design of a Play
Jess Goldstein, “The Merchant of Venice”
Desmond Heeley, “The Importance of Being Earnest”
Mark Thompson, “La Bête”
Catherine Zuber, “Born Yesterday”

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”
Martin Pakledinaz, “Anything Goes”
Ann Roth, “The Book of Mormon”
Catherine Zuber, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Paule Constable, “War Horse”
David Lander, “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo”
Kenneth Posner, “The Merchant of Venice”
Mimi Jordan Sherin, “Jerusalem”

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington, “The Scottsboro Boys”
Howell Binkley, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Peter Kaczorowski, “Anything Goes”
Brian MacDevitt, “The Book of Mormon”

Best Sound Design of a Play
Acme Sound Partners and Cricket S. Myers, “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo”
Simon Baker, “Brief Encounter”
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, “Jerusalem”
Christopher Shutt, “War Horse”

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Peter Hylenski, “The Scottsboro Boys”
Steve Canyon Kennedy, “Catch Me If You Can”
Brian Ronan, “Anything Goes”
Brian Ronan, “The Book of Mormon”

Best Direction of a Play
Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, “War Horse”
Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe, “The Normal Heart”
Anna D. Shapiro, “The Motherf**ker With the Hat”
Daniel Sullivan, “The Merchant of Venice”

Best Direction of a Musical
Rob Ashford, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Kathleen Marshall, “Anything Goes”
Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, “The Book of Mormon”
Susan Stroman, “The Scottsboro Boys”

Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Kathleen Marshall, “Anything Goes”
Casey Nicholaw, “The Book of Mormon”
Susan Stroman, “The Scottsboro Boys”

Best Orchestrations
Doug Besterman, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Larry Hochman, “The Scottsboro Boys”
Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus, “The Book of Mormon”
Marc Shaiman and Larry Blank, “Catch Me If You Can”

Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-Competitive Categories

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Athol Fugard
Philip J. Smith

Regional Theatre Tony Award
Lookingglass Theatre Company (Chicago)

Isabelle Stevenson Award
Eve Ensler

Special Tony Award
Handspring Puppet Company

Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre
William Berloni
The Drama Book Shop
Sharon Jensen and Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts