The 83rd annual Academy Awards will take place on February 26th, hosted by Anne Hathaway and James Franco, the nominations were streamed live at 8:30am ET this morning.
When it comes to these predictions there are two factors. Taking into consideration the Golden Globes as they serve as a premeditated guideline and second being the Academy and their previous “voting history.” Immediately following the nominations, the first thing that caught my eye after reading the critics initial reactions was a lot of talks of “we-owe-you” Oscars.
Mainly in the category of Actress in a Leading Role. It is my belief that this award belongs to Natalie Portman and there is not an ounce of an argument one can make to sway my opinion. Portman delivers the performance of her career, and I’ve said it multiple times now, she delivers the female acting equivalent of Heath Ledger as The Joker in “The Dark Knight,” it was that type of transformation.
That being said, many feel the Academy will give the award to Annette Bening for her performance in “The Kids are Alright” and frankly this is a load of bull. Bening’s performance was good but not Oscar worthy, I don’t even know if it deserves a nomination, but the whole “playing a lesbian in a movie but you are straight in real life” could be getting her added kudos. The Academy may give her the award for not giving it to her when she was nominated for “American Beauty,” like I said, this is Portman’s award, end of story.
————- ON TO THE PREDICTIONS
Actor in a Supporting Role = Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
Actress in a Leading Role = Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
Actress in a Supporting Role = Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
Best Picture = “The King’s Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin
Music (Original Score) = “The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Animated Feature Film = “Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich
Art Direction = “Inception” Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
Cinematography = “Inception” Wally Pfister
Costume Design = “The Tempest” Sandy Powell
Directing = “Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky
Documentary (Feature) = “Restrepo” Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
Film Editing = “The Social Network” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter
Foreign Language Film = “Biutiful” Mexico
Makeup = “Barney’s Version” Adrien Morot
Sound Editing = “Inception” Richard King
Sound Mixing = “Inception” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
Visual Effects = “Inception” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) =“The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
Writing (Original Screenplay) = “The King’s Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler
Some Explanations
– There is a difference with voting on who you think will win, and who you think SHOULD win. I voted with my heart two times, in which I believe an award should go to someone who deserves it more than who I believe really WILL win.
– Actor in a leading role is a no contest. Colin Firth who was robbed last year for “A Single Man” will get his Oscar this year as he played the stammering King George VI brilliantly.
– How did Ryan Gosling who was unreal in “Blue Valentine” not get a nomination for Best Actor? Terrible snub.
– Actor in Supporting Role is a two horse race. If Bale doesn’t win, Rush will. Be weary of the Academy giving the edge to the older actor like they seemingly always do, plus they love British time pieces.
– This could be the strongest year ever for Actress in a Leading Role. Portman wins in my book, but I rank them Michelle Williams 2nd for her mesmerizing performance in “Blue Valentine,” Jennifer Lawrence 3rd for “Winters Bone” the other two are interchangeable. (as you can see I don’t believe Bening should win, at all. But the movie was great)
– Actress in a Supporting Role, Leo took the award down at the Golden Globes, but it wouldn’t shock me if the Academy throws the world a curveball and gives it to the 14 year old Hailee Steinfeld who carried “True Grit” on her little back, that’s right…eat that Jeff Bridges. (This 99.9% won’t happen)
– Best Picture, “The Social Network” took this at the Globes, but I don’t see how the Academy gives it to them again over “The Kings Speech” it doesn’t make much sense. Both were great films, though.
– Directing – HOW IN THE WORLD WAS CHRISTOPHER NOLAN LEFT OUT OF THIS CATEGORY?!!?
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Well there you have it, I hope I’m right. Can’t wait for February 26th!
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