WITH just twenty-six days to go until the world’s attention Descends on to the famous red carpet in front of the Kodak Theatre, it’s the time of year when fashionistas Help each other dissect who-wears-what and when film fans like myself discuss Hugo‘s into film folk law.
Neither of those results have yet been revealed but rest assure the post-Oscar talk will go way beyond Midnight in Paris. Whilst Hollywood’s Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are placing their votes over the coming weeks, cinema’s biggest Moneyball extravangza is galloping towards us like a War Horse. The 84th Academy Awards are approaching Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and here’s my reaction to The Artist‘s who have been nominated for little gold men. (Couldn’t think of Tree of Life pun)
BEST PICTURE: The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life & War Horse.
Over recent years, the Academy have opted for five nominees one year to ten nominees the other for its’ Best Picture category. It was never quite right was it? I’m pleased to see that this year the number of nominees for this particular category has been determined by the films that are actually good enough to win it. It was a little frustrating to see in recent years the likes of Toy Story 3 and Up rubbing shoulders with the likes of The King’s Speech and Up in the Air (no offence Pixar). Although I haven’t managed to see all of the films nominated, what pleases me about this category is that there is no clear favourite. Last year was a tussle between The King’s Speech & Social Network but there was always going to be one winner with the Academy. This year you don’t quite know who’s going to come out on top so I applaud the uncertainty of this year’s Best Picture category and I love the sub-plot of the fact that we’ve got a silent movie in there that could very well win. As a fan of nostalgia, I’d love to see The Artist bag the prize. It wouldn’t be the Oscars thought without disappointment though would there? It was a shame to see We Need to Talk About Kevin ignored by The Academy as well as David Fincher’s Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – really disappointed that this didn’t make the cut as for me it was the best film I’d seen at the cinema since The King’s Speech.
Prediction: The Descendants.
BEST DIRECTOR: Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist), Alexander Payne (The Descendants), Martin Scorsese (Hugo), Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris), Terrence Mallick (The Tree of Life)
It’s great to see three golden oldies in Scorsese, Allen & Mallick nominated for director in 2012. My nostalgic self would love to see either Marty or Woody pick up the award however I can’t help but think that another old great deserved to join those three. Surely one of the big snubs this year belongs to Steven Spielberg for his effort with War Horse. It seems like Speilberg doesn’t win an Oscar unless he gives the Academy no choice (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan). I think this category will be decided between Michael Hazanavicius and Alexander Payne with Scorsese next-favourite.
Prediction: Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
BEST ACTOR: Demian Bichir (A Better Life), George Clooney (The Descendants), Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
Despite turning their nose up at Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Gary Oldman receives his first Oscar nomination which I suppose was a small surprise in the nominations. Dujardin will be hoping to follow up with his success at Cannes by collecting the Oscar whilst old friends Clooney & Pitt go up against each other whilst Demian Bichir completes the category.
Prediction: George Clooney (The Descendants)
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)
A very strong category this year for the best actress however if anybody is going to topple Meryl Streep’s performance in The Iron Lady, then they will have fully deserved it. This is Streep’s 17th Oscar nomination. Rooney Mara fully deserves her nomination, the fresh-faced girl from The Social Network isn’t so fresh faced this time around as she delivers a performance with attitude in Fincher’s new flick. Glenn Close receives maybe a surprise recognition for her performance playing a male in Albert Nobbs with Michelle Williams and Viola Davis completing a competitive category.
Prediction: Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
It’s a very open awards this year with a number of surprises and snubs. Pleased to see Hugo do well, The Artist brings added interest, disappointed that Tilda Swinton and Senna failed to receive recognition and at least Rooney Mara is flying the flag for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
The 84th Annual Academy Awards take place on Sunday 26th February 2012 at The Kodak Theatre, Hollywood & Highland.
Alex M
Alex Mason On Film 