The biggest night in Hollywood is almost here! Tomorrow night, the best members of the film industry will be acknowledged at the 85th Academy Awards. Unfortunately, I did not have time to watch every nominated movie or performance, but I still feel like I have enough insight to make educated predictions on how tomorrow night will unfold. Let's look at the Best Supporting actor categories.
In both the female and male Best Supporting actor categories, I feel like there are clear front runners. However, this is the Academy Awards and there are always surprises. In the male category, the front runner seems to be Robert DeNiro, with his portrayal of a father with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Silver Lining's Playbook. DeNiro has been in a slump for many years now, choosing bad movies, bad roles, and just not acting well. Silver Lining's Playbook was a complete turnaround for him, with emotion and sincerity that has been missing in his film of late. As for the females, Anne Hathaway looks to be the one to beat for this years Oscar. Hathaway also got her nomination for an emotional performance in the end of the year blockbuster, Les Miserables. Hathaway is following up another high caliber performance, from the Dark Knight Rises, where she was was thought by many to be a poor choice to play Catwoman, until they saw the movie.
Next we have best director, which is a very controversial list this year. While there are still some great names on this year's list, it is missing two top contenders: Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow. These two were at the helm for the two favorites for best picture this year, so it shocked almost everyone when their names were left off of the list. However, even if they were nominated, I feel like the favorite would be Ang Lee for his take of the novel, Life of Pi, which was thought to be almost impossible to bring to the big screen. Critically acclaimed and undeniably beautiful, Life of Pi was a commercial and personal success for Lee, by taking on the toughest screenplay, and turning it into a great movie.
Best Actor in a leading role is a much closer category than the supporting counter-part, for both sexes. Starting with the women again, there doesn't seem to be any clear favorites this year, but if I were to pick the top two, I would say Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty, and Emmanuelle Riva in Amour. Chastain performance appeals to the academy due to the grit and ferocity that her character shows, but also the subtle passion and emotion that she show's throughout. Zero Dark Thirty is a favorite for best picture, which will make a difference when choosing this years winner. While Chastain seems to be the logical choice to win, Riva will be the emotional favorite, as she is 86 years old. The only aspect that I feel will hinder her chances to win, is that Amour is a foreign film, so not many people will have seen her performance.
Best Actor for the males could be a historic one. Daniel Day-Lewis has the chance to be the first ever actor to win this category three times, and could easily be called the best actor of all time. Trying to make this historic event wait, Joaquin Phoenix from The Master has a great chance to win. The Master was released early in the year, and while not being a complete critical success, Phoenix's performance was the early favorite to win this year. I predict that the Academy will save Day-Lewis' record breaking Oscar for a more breathtaking performance, and will award it to Phoenix for his performance in The Master.
The last, and most prestigeous award this year, will be for Best Picture, where there are 9 nominees hoping to take this award home. In what I feel like is a fairly talented year, there are three movies that stand out: Zero Dark Thirty, Argo, and Silver Lining's Playbook. Argo was a favorite fairly recently, but there has been some controversy about the factual legitimacy leading up to the awards, so I don't think that Argo will win. Silver Lining's Playbook is the dark horse this year, with continued consumer support and critical feedback. With a fairly good chance to win, it would have to upset the indefinite favorite, Zero Dark Thirty, which is just made too well, too compelling, and too well received, to not win this year.
There are my predictions! The awards are starting in a few minutes and cannot wait! Sit back and enjoy.
Sunday 24 February 2013
Sunday 10 February 2013
Academy Awards Preview
The 85th Academy Awards will soon be upon us! On February 24th, the biggest stars in Hollywood will be acknowledged for their excellence. As always, most of the focus will be on the best picture nominees which include: Amour, Django Unchained, Argo, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Silver Lining's Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln, and Beasts of the Southern Wild.
The two leaders for Best Picture this year seem to be Argo, and Zero Dark Thirty. In the early stages of awards from film festivals, it looked as if Zero Dark Thirty would run away with the win. Despite this early start, once the movie hit the big screens, audiences weren't as blown away with it as critics were. Leading up the Academy Awards, Argo has been the winner of some major film awards, including Best Picture at the Golden Globes.
Despite these two film being the front-runners, I have a feeling that we may see an upset this year. Silver Lining's Playbook received early critical acclaim, and has continued to do well at the box office. Along with the fact that it has very funny moments and is an overall feel-good movie, I believe that it has a chance to upset the two, more serious and less grossing films at the top.
Also on the list, we have some other interesting, high grossing movies, that could have a chance at top stop depending on what the Academy is looking for this year. Django Unchained, did very well at the box office, grossing 154m in the U.S. so far. This movie would be the favorite if the Academy was made up of men under the age of 25. Les Miserables was released along side Django, and also did well at the box office grossing 144m. With some hesitation from critics and audiences alike, look for this to get a pass for best picture, but could take home some acting awards. The Pultzer prize winning novel, Life of Pi, was thought to be impossible to adapt to the big screen. For this reason alone, Life of Pi has a chance at winning best picture. Rounding out the blockbuster hopefuls, is Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. With Spielberg at the helm of this one, it was almost a shoe-in for a best picture nomination. Grossing over 170m in the U.S alone, Lincoln has a strong case to be at the top of the list.
Rounding out the 9 nominees are Beast of the Southern Wind, and Amour. These two will be the the definite underdogs, having no big names attached to them, and no public support. To me, the only awards that these will be winning will be those in the acting categories.
Until the night of the awards, I will take an in-depth look at each of the nominees and finally, make my final predictions before the big night. Next post I will look at one of the favorites, Argo.
The two leaders for Best Picture this year seem to be Argo, and Zero Dark Thirty. In the early stages of awards from film festivals, it looked as if Zero Dark Thirty would run away with the win. Despite this early start, once the movie hit the big screens, audiences weren't as blown away with it as critics were. Leading up the Academy Awards, Argo has been the winner of some major film awards, including Best Picture at the Golden Globes.
Despite these two film being the front-runners, I have a feeling that we may see an upset this year. Silver Lining's Playbook received early critical acclaim, and has continued to do well at the box office. Along with the fact that it has very funny moments and is an overall feel-good movie, I believe that it has a chance to upset the two, more serious and less grossing films at the top.
Also on the list, we have some other interesting, high grossing movies, that could have a chance at top stop depending on what the Academy is looking for this year. Django Unchained, did very well at the box office, grossing 154m in the U.S. so far. This movie would be the favorite if the Academy was made up of men under the age of 25. Les Miserables was released along side Django, and also did well at the box office grossing 144m. With some hesitation from critics and audiences alike, look for this to get a pass for best picture, but could take home some acting awards. The Pultzer prize winning novel, Life of Pi, was thought to be impossible to adapt to the big screen. For this reason alone, Life of Pi has a chance at winning best picture. Rounding out the blockbuster hopefuls, is Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. With Spielberg at the helm of this one, it was almost a shoe-in for a best picture nomination. Grossing over 170m in the U.S alone, Lincoln has a strong case to be at the top of the list.
Rounding out the 9 nominees are Beast of the Southern Wind, and Amour. These two will be the the definite underdogs, having no big names attached to them, and no public support. To me, the only awards that these will be winning will be those in the acting categories.
Until the night of the awards, I will take an in-depth look at each of the nominees and finally, make my final predictions before the big night. Next post I will look at one of the favorites, Argo.
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