Every Oscar year, there is just one shoddy nominee.
QUICK OPINION:
Last year showed off Extremely Loud and Incredibly Gross Close, and somehow Les Mis was just such a clunker. Right from the get-go, something was off. The opening shot is a long shot, but not every long shot is not a good one. Hugh Jackman is prevalent throughout almost every scene, and I do have to admit his performance was good, but it was inconsistent. To be honest, the whole movie was inconsistent and messy. It nails a tone/mood, but since the songs are intercut throughout the story, diversions between the individual songs/scenes can lead to severe messiness. Forget it, the whole movie is a mess.
BEST PERFORMANCE:
Easy: Anne Hathaway's emotive work was Fantine. The shot was a bit too tight, but she devastated everyone in the audience. Great stuff.
The Golden Globes announce today, and I feel today is going to be a very good show (Poehler + Fey). I hope the winners are also surprising too, especially Breaking Bad for TV drama. That show better win tonight.
Anyways....
BEST MOTION PICTURE- DRAMA
All 5 nominees in this category have gone on to be Best Picture nominees. I'm going to have to say Lincoln will win this one because it is the current frontrunner. I won't be surprised by an Argo upset, and I would be delighted by a Zero Dark Thirty win.
BEST MOTION PICTURE- COMEDY/MUSICAL
The Golden Globes bring welcome surprises. I feel that the force with Silver Linings Playbook is strong, but any musical in this category is usually a strong contender. In 2007, Sweeny Todd beat out Juno. Still, I'm going with Silver Linings.
BEST DIRECTOR
It's weird what Oscar did. They left outBen Affleck for Argo, and yet, I think he is going to win Best Director. (Golden Globes hardly predict the Oscar winner. Scorsese won last year, then Fincher, Cameron, Boyle won the Oscar, but then before was Schnabel, Inarritu...)
Les Miserables has been in the Oscar conversation ever since the idea of a movie adaptation has ever been though of. Once Tom Hooper signed on, the buzz got as fierce as a bumblebee. But after viewing the film, I was puzzled. Why does this even exist as a movie?
BEST ACTOR:
1. Hugh Jackman for Les Miserables
This is another very bold prediction. No, I do not think Day-Lewis will win an unprecedented third Oscar for Best Actor, and I'm pretty sure the Academy loves Hugh. Nor do I think Les Miserables will go home empty handed.
2. Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook The weird thing is that I'm starting to like Bradley Cooper as an actor now. He is doing more challenging roles, later seen in The Place Beyond the Pines and David O'Rusell's previously titled American Bulls***. When Silver Linings takes the top prize, it's going to take more than that. Also, Bradley's got Harvey with him.
3. Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln
For the greatest actor of our generation, the academy might feel inclined to give some love to Danny. They probably won't give him a third Oscar, no man has ever won three Oscars for Best Actor in the first place. He will definitely be nominated, though.
4. Joaquin Phoenix for The Master
This is a very obvious nomination. After winning Best Actor in Venice, and only receiving love for this challenging role, he will be nominated. For those who don't like the film, however, they won't give him the boost for the win.
5. Anthony Hopkins for Hitchcock Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor in 1991 for his terrifying work in The Silence of the Lambs. He is almost synonymous with horror (and Merchant-Ivory,), and if he does even OK as the Master of Suspense, he will be nominated.
I hate to leave Ben Affleck off for Argo (being in Daredevil and Gigli kills, man,), but something inside me tells me he has a better shot than Spielberg for Argo. Something also tells me that Lincoln might be ignored, a la Amistad.
Check back tomorrow for Best Supporting Actress predictions. While your at it, admire Joaquin Phoenix's performance by watching a trailer for The Master.
BEST ACTOR:
2. Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook
The weird thing is that I'm starting to like Bradley Cooper as an actor now. He is doing more challenging roles, later seen in The Place Beyond the Pines and David O'Rusell's previously titled American Bulls***. When Silver Linings takes the top prize, it's going to take more than that. Also, Bradley's got Harvey with him.
Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor in 1991 for his terrifying work in The Silence of the Lambs. He is almost synonymous with horror (and Merchant-Ivory,), and if he does even OK as the Master of Suspense, he will be nominated.
