2013 Oscar Nominations: Best Actor Nomination Predictions!

This is the year's most packed category. Maybe this could be like the Emmys, where there were seven Best Actress nominees.

1. Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Geez this guy is great. He's great in the movie, he has Mud on his resume, ran away with the first ten minutes of The Wolf of Wall Street, and also is incredible in the first episode of True Detective. God he's on a hot streak. And the best way to reward Matthew McConaughey is with an Oscar. Nomination, at least.

2. Chiwetel Ejiofer, 12 Years a Slave
What a triumphant performance. Really. This movie is great, and Ejiofer owns it.

3. Bruce Dern, Nebraska 
Yo. The movie's good, and Dern was probably the best part of it. It's funny on paper, and right below it is withering humanity and regret. And Dern, a well-liked Academy member, might get his nomination almost like a lifetime achievement sort of deal.

4. Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Quality film, and DiCaprio being an actor that tends to overact, totally owns this role that is so unhinged and so damn crazy. Also winning the Golden Globe doesn't hurt.

5. Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
He's Tom Hanks. Two-time Oscar winner in two years. Also the movie's based off a true story, that doesn't hurt.

Also don't forget about Robert Redford (All is Lost) and Christian Bale (American Hustle), two performances that would easily slide in if it was less crowded.

The Wolf of Wall Street screens, and some thoughts trickle in.

Good news: Scorsese is still fresh with his latest (and longest) picture! Based on an article from Hitfix, performances were things that most took notes on. Last Golden Globes, DiCaprio remarked that he thought that his work in Wolf was his best yet. Apparently Kris Tapley disagrees, but he says its strong work. Jonah Hill shows off his best work yet, allegedly, and looks to be a strong contender in the Supporting Actor category. Newbie Margot Robie is also a contender in the Supporting Actress category.

Bad News: The chances at Oscar are fuzzy. Performances are good, but it might be too crowded of a year. Kris Tapley's words, not mine. Tapley however states that the film is at a major advantage because "it almost feels like what the 2013 film awards season needs is a nice prestige-level dose of the outrageous, something bonkers, something to take the edge off", in a season with somber films, including 12 Years a Slave, Gravity, and Captain Phillips.

More reactions will come out tonight from LA, since according to Paramount's FYC site, there will be an official screening at 2:00. Expect more reactions from more people soon.

New poster for The Wolf of Wall Street

First posters and clip for The Wolf of Wall Street!

With the film coming out in nearly a month, the marketing for The Wolf of Wall Street is now kicking into high gear. We have two new posters, a TV spot, and a clip from the movie. Christmas cannot come sooner!

Second poster, and videos after the jump.

New trailer for The Wolf of Wall Street!

Looks excellent. My thoughts on the trailer below.

2014 Oscars: Best Actor predictions (7/6/2013)

Oscar season's begin is just more than a month away, with Venice starting in late August. Still, there is a certain amount of time to still do Oscar prognostication!

1. Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Leo has been consistently snubbed for nominations, including his most recent work in Django Unchained. Again, he has Scorsese directing him, and I think this time he might win.

2. Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Tom Hanks is pure Oscar-gold. This film has a distinct advantage due to him being the distinct star of the film, and his likability will be guarantee value on the campaign trail. Then again, he has won two time before, so... I have him as second most likely.

3. Steve Carrell, Foxcatcher
Steve Carrell is one of recent comedy's shining stars, but that will only make his portrayal of schizophrenic John DuPont only more surprising. Bennett Miller, the director, is also 2-for-2 when it comes to Best Actor nominations, and even leading to a win for Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Capote.

4. Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Matt McConaughey is having an extremely incredible hot streak in films lately. He was in Jeff Nichols' Mud, and was the best part. He hasn't done a rom-com since 2009! Either way, this film is already recieving publicity due to McConaughey's extreme weight-loss as AIDS activist Ron Woodruff.

5. Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Oscar Isaac is a true character actor, and this will be a guaranteed breakout role for the actor. The trailer portrays his growly singing and his poor condition. It is a guaranteed contender for CBS Films. I think this film will make a big impact on the campaign trail, so Oscar Isaac will be swept up with the film.

I also would like to mention Bruce Dern's work in Nebraska, a role that might fare better in the Supporting Actor category.

Oscar Opinions: Django Unchained (2012)

DJANGO!

QUICK OPINION:
What fun. Django Unchained is a supreme entertainment, brought to you by QT. I had this as my favorite film of the year, until the 1-2 punch of Zero Dark Thirty and The Master. Still, the film is great. The first half is the best thing Tarantino has done, by far. It was always funny, always witty, and left a big goofy grin on my face right when the 70's Columbia logo popped on screen. The second half, despite Leo DicCaprio's supreme sly performance, was oddly paced and a bit choppy compared to the first half. It had the same tone, but was somehow... different. The film got back on its feet in the last 10 minutes, and I feel good knowing that Tarantino ended one of his best films. I did feel bad ranking this as my favorite of 2012 at first because I KNEW there was a better (shorter) film in there.

BEST PERFORMANCE:
Christoph Waltz was extremely awesome, and so likable as the dentist-turned-bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz. Despite being like Hans Landa from his Oscar winning Inglourious Basterds, it was just SO ENTERTAINING!

BEST MOMENT:
The KKK scene with Jonah Hill brought tears to my eyes. I mean, that guy's wife spent hours making those bags, and they neglected her work! He went home in frustration!

Next I will (forcibly) talk about the miserable Les Miserables.

Oscar Nomination thoughts.

YOU'LL WIN AGAIN
SOMEDAY

YOU'LL WIN AGAIN
SOMEDAY, TOO

Most Americans go to school, especially in the teenage years. I am currently a teenage school lad, so I have to work from 7:00-3:00. The nominations were announced at 7:30, so I chose to listen to the YouTube livestream in the library. When you only listen to audio, your mind can play tricks on you. You can mistake words. Like Benh and Ben.

A simple explanation: I was listening to the nominations, and the last nominee announced was Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild. I, of course, first heard the word Ben, so I assumed "Oh, Ben Affleck, Argo." But Zeitlin was added on to the name, and all became clear: THE BENH ZEITLIN, THE KID WITH A CAMERA THAT MADE A FILM FOR $180K. Wow. I was more shocked by the inclusions than the exclusions. I then realized Bigelow and Affleck were snubbed for their political thrillers, and instead two independent films with little known actresses made it in.

BEST PICTURE:

LIKE A BOSS #YOLO

I really, really wanted The Master to get in. Alas, it didn't, but the nominees this year were very good. Amour and Beasts of the Southern Wild both were on my top 10, albeit, the bottom. I pined for Les Miserables not getting not nominated, and I wish Moonrise was nominated. Moonrise was picking up steam toward the end of the race, and so was Skyfall.

BEST ACTOR:
Joaquin made it in. It was a good lineup.

BEST ACTRESS:
No real shocks, unless you count Marion Cotillard not making it in as a 'shock'.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
It's a bummer Leo DiCaprio didn't get in, but the Academy did nominated the better Django performance: Christoph Waltz. There were no real surprises, but I wish Bardem got one for Skyfall.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
There were only really 4 contenders for this one, so Jacki Weaver making it in didn't come with too much surprise. Again, no real surprises.

BEST DIRECTOR: 
Where as the acting categories were not that surprising, the directing category was the bulk of all surprises. I really wish Bigelow got nominated for her masterpiece Zero Dark Thirty over Benh Zeitlin's Beasts.

THE SCREENPLAYS:
In the beginning of the season, I thought The Master would win Best Original Screenplay. Instead, it failed to get nominated, being cut out by Flight. Bummer, but that was probably the only surprise in the whole category. Adapted was predictable, unless you consider The Perks of Being a Wallflower as a lock.

Golden Globe predictions!

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 out Ben 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...)

Django Unchained (2012)- That's entertainment! (3.5/4 Stars)

In one of the best movies of all time, Raging Bull, the old Jake LaMotta recalls his boxing life. He says, about his standup gig, "That's entertainment." The scene flashes back as he repeats "That's entertainment.", and you (the audience) see the young Jake in a boxing match.

What does this have to do with Tarantino's Django Unchained? Halfway through the movie, we (the audience, again) meet Calvin Candie, a despicable plantation owner who finds brutal and always fatal 'mandango fighting' as 'entertaining'. A similar mindset to the young Jake LaMotta. "THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!"

Two new awesome posters from 'Django Unchained'.

Best Supporting Actor predictions.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
1. Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained
Leo, one of the most popular actors in Hollywood has yet to win an Oscar. This time, though, he's got everything he needs. A meaty, controversial role, Weinstein, Tarantino, and Star Power.

2. Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
When reading reviews of Lincoln, the praise is aimed always at Lee Jones and Day-Lewis. He's won before, been nominated multiple times. Expect him to be nominated again.

3. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
PSH is probably the best character actor working today, along with Tilda Swinton. He's got Weinstein,but his performance be overshadowed by Phoenix, and Harvey might be busy getting the win in for Leo.

4. Alan Arkin, Argo
Alan Arkin was probably given the Oscar in 2006 because it was assumed he would 'kick the bucket'. Nope, he's still around and at his deadpan best in Argo, a film that will get double-digit nominations, guaranteed.

5. Robert DeNiro, Silver Linings Playbook
The older members are going to love this. Rob, in a downhill recently, has just got the right film to bring him to the top. He has his best part and performance of the past decade, and the Academy will love him for it. Also expect the nominations for this film to be in the double-digits.

Best Actress predictions due tomorrow.

84th Oscars: Best Actor

People consider Best Actress a tight race. That's true, as always, but Best Actor has tightened up since last year. I would've put Wahlberg in The Fighter over Bardem's little-seen Biutiful, but that's me.

This year there are 3 locks: George Clooney, Jean Dujardin, and Brad Pitt. All of the movies they are representing are all predicted to get a BP nomination, compared to one strong contender: Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar. You can ask any critic, and I have yet to see a ★★★★ review. Gary Oldman was one of my top 5 in Nov., but he is having the strongest of collapses. No SAG, no Golden Globes, hardly any critics award noms, and no wins to my knowledge.