89th Oscar Picks and Predictions

I saw almost every single summer blockbuster in theaters before our son was born and then didn't see a single nominated movie until this month. This is extremely unusual for me, as the late fall/winter movies are always my favorite. Babies change things, or whatever. Anyway, even though I only got around to seeing 6/9 movies nominated for best picture prior to now, I'm still as stoked as ever for the movie Super Bowl and all the snacks I'm going to eat.

PICTURE: La La Land

Moonlight could sneak in here, honestly, but I still predict (and pick) this

DIRECTOR: Damien Chazelle - La La Land 

ACTOR: Denzel Washington - Fences

I haven't gotten around to Fences yet, and although Casey Affleck was getting the buzz for a while, I think Denzel is going to come out with his third statue. In other news, I think Tom Hanks should have been nominated for Sully.

ACTRESS: Emma Stone - La La Land

I so wish that Amy Adams would have been nominated for Arrival, but this is still my pick.

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Mahershala Ali - Moonlight

A short but very impressionable performance

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Viola Davis - Fences

It's about time

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Moonlight

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: La La Land

ANIMATED: Zootopia

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Moonlight

COSTUME DESIGN: La La Land

DOCUMENTARY: OJ: Made in America

DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Extremis

FILM EDITING: La La Land

FOREIGN LANGUAGE: The Salesman

MAKEUP AND HAIR: Suicide Squad

MUSIC: La La Land

SONG: "City of Stars" from La La Land

PRODUCTION DESIGN: La La Land

ANIMATED SHORT: Piper

LIVE SHORT: Ennemis Intérieurs

SOUND EDITING: Hacksaw Ridge

SOUND MIXING: Hacksaw Ridge

VISUAL EFFECTS: The Jungle Book

88th Oscar Predictions and Picks

PICTURE: Spotlight

It's a journalism movie. Of course this is my pick. But in all honesty, I think Room was my favorite movie of the year.

DIRECTOR: Tom McCarthy - Spotlight

ACTOR: Leonardo DiCaprio - The Revenant

It's about time for Leonardo, and the internet agrees with me

ACTRESS: Brie Larson - Room

No movie affected me more than this, and her performance was phenomenal

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Sylvester Stallone - Creed

This is my prediction, however, I want Mark Ruffalo to win and he was the best, imho

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Alicia Vikander - The Danish Girl

She was so elegant and was the best part of this movie.

ANIMATED: Inside Out

CINEMATOGRAPHY: The Revenant

COSTUME: The Revenant

DOCUMENTARY: Amy

DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Body Team 12

FILM EDITING: The Revenant

FOREIGN: Son of Saul

MAKEUP: Mad Max

MUSIC: Carol

SONG: "Earned It" from Fifty Shades of Grey

PRODUCTION DESIGN: Mad Max

ANIMATED SHORT: Can't Live Without Cosmos

LIVE SHORT: Stutterer

SOUND EDITING: The Revenant

SOUND MIXING: The Revenant

VISUAL EFFECTS: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Room

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Spotlight

87th Oscar Predictions and Picks

PICTURE: Boyhood

Birdman, maybe? I'm gonna swing for Boyhood on this one. But I have to say that Grand Budapest Hotel was my favorite from this year.

DIRECTOR: Richard Linklater - Boyhood

I love Inarritu, but just based on the 12-year thing ALONE, I think this should go to Linklater.

ACTOR: Michael Keaton - Birdman

This is a tough one (isn't actor always pretty tough?) it might swing to Redmayne, but Keaton was my favorite part of Birdman and should be acknowledged!

ACTRESS: Julianne Moore - Still Alice

Have you SEEN this movie??

SUPPORTING ACTOR: JK Simmons - Whiplash

There is literally no competition. Though I hope Mark Ruffalo gets his someday.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Patricia Arquette - Boyhood

I feel very solid in this pick. I never used to like Arquette, but she is great in this.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Birdman

COSTUME DESIGN: Grand Budapest Hotel

ANIMATED: Big Hero 6

DOCUMENTARY: Citizen Four

I know nothing about documentaries, I never do, so it's always a random pick in this category.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Crisis Hotline

Same

FILM EDITING: American Sniper

FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Ida

MAKEUP: Grand Budapest Hotel

MUSIC: Grand Budapest Hotel

SONG: "Glory" from Selma

PRODUCTION DESIGN: Grand Budapest Hotel

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED): Feast

SHORT FILM (LIVE): Boogaloo and Graham

Wtf is this anyway

SOUND EDITING: Birdman

SOUND MIXING: Birdman

VISUAL EFFECTS: Interstellar

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: American Sniper

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Boyhood

84th Oscar Predictions and Picks

PICTURE: Midnight in Paris

Honestly what I ~think will win is The Artist. But this is by far my favorite movie of the year.

DIRECTOR: Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris

As an avid Woody Allen fan, I really do think this is one of his best works. 

ACTOR: George Clooney - The Descendants

If I will it to happen, it will happen. I want him to beat Dujardin so bad.

ACTRESS: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

Go for 3! Go for 3!

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christopher Plummer - Beginners

A quaint, quirky movie with a good performance

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Octavia Spencer - The Help

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - Midnight in Paris

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - Moneyball

ANIMATED - Rango

FOREIGN - A Separation

DOCUMENTARY - Hell and Back Again

DOCUMENTARY SHORT - God is the Bigger Elvis

LIVE SHORT - The Shore

ANIMATED SHORT - Wild Life

SCORE - The Artist

SONG - "Man or Muppet" from The Muppets

SOUND EDITING - Hugo

SOUND MIXING - Hugo

ART DIRECTION - Hugo

CINEMATOGRAPHY - Hugo

FILM EDITING - Hugo

VISUAL EFFECTS - Hugo

oscars to the 83rd

It’s that time again guys.  I don’t know why I don’t get so excited for these.  But I do.  So don’t judge.

Some People Predict 2011. Go.

PICTURE: The Social Network

So King’s Speech has been getting the buzz lately, it took the SAG awards.  But I’m still sticking with the Facebook movie.  It’ll be close – this the toughest competition of the bunch.  Well, this and Director.

DIRECTOR: David Fincher – The Social Network.

And oh why wasn’t Christopher Nolan nominated for this??? Didn’t they add ten slots basically because of The Dark Knight’s omission in 2009? Sheesh.  That man better get his someday.

ACTOR: Colin Firth – The King’s Speech

I’m not as Mr. Darcy sick as many of my female friends… but I still love this man.  This is a crazy-great category though – I’d pull for Jessie Eisenberg, James Franco, Firth, AND Jeff Bridges if I could. I don’t know much about Biutiful, but Javier Bardem is always good too.

ACTRESS: Natalie Portman – Black Swan

Yeah, I don’t have anything to say about this category. Go Natalie.

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christian Bale – The Fighter

Love this guy, glad he’s getting some recognition.  I’m also glad Mark Ruffalo got a nom, I’ve liked him for a while.  I wish Andrew Garfield got somethin’ though!

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Melissa Leo – The Fighter

I’m probably plugging for Amy Adams, though I’m stoked Hailee Steinfeld got a nod even if it should have been Best Actress.

ANIMATED FEATURE: Toy Story 3
I wish Tangled had been nominated.  But this deserves it no doubt.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: David Seidler - The King’s Speech
I’m still plugging for Chris Nolan with Inception…
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Aaron Sorkin – The Social Network
I already obsess over Aaron Sorkin with his work on The West Wing.  That guy can write.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Inception
This is a tough one.  It’s this or True Grit.
ART DIRECTION: Alice in Wonderland
Yeah, I just said Alice in Wonderland. Though the night before the Oscars I may change that to King’s Speech.
COSTUME DESIGN: The King’s Speech
They always go for the period pieces.
DOCUMENTARY (feature): Inside Job
DOCUMENTARY (short): No freaking idea.  Killing in the Name?Because I’ve heard of it?  This also may change.  Because I just don’t know.
FILM EDITING: Social Network
I would have said Inception, sealed deal but oh wait it’s not nominated…
FOREIGN PICTURE: Incendies
This is another tough category because these guys never get famous until after they win.  Maybe I should be better and pay attention to foreign films all the way along but eh, not worth it.
MAKEUP: Barney’s Version
I guess? Anything but Wolfman right?
MUSICAL SCORE: The Social Network – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
I’m for Hans Zimmer with Inception. And I think it’d take second.
ORIGINAL SONG: “Coming Home” – Country Song
Because it’s a country song… But it should be Randy Newman for Toy Story 3
SHORT ANIMATED: Day and Night
I’m saying no contest?
SHORT LIVE ACTION: God of Love
Because I’ve heard of it?
SOUND EDITING: Inception
It. has. to. be.
SOUND MIXING: Inception
VISUAL EFFECTS: Inception

Looking forward to the 27th folks. See ya then.

82nd Oscar Picks and Predictions

Welcome to the 2010 Let’s-See-How-Predictable-We-Can-Be-Movie-Awards. AKA the Oscars. It’s not even fun anymore! You walk in and EVERYONE knows EXACTLY what is going to win. There is zero fun in that. Zero. Okay, maybe a little for the ones who win. But what’s life without a little surprise, huh? Not only is that totally messed up… but this year they eliminated song performances, they ALREADY presented the honorary awards, and don’t get me STARTED on ten nominees for Best Picture.. They’re messing with sacred stuff, here.

Here is what I would REALLY like to happen Sunday night…

1. Meryl Streep wins. Definitely number 1. She’s been nominated SIXTEEN times. For real. And she’s only won twice? That’s ridiculous. She should have won last year. She should have won for Out of Africa or Silkwood. She should win THIS YEAR! Sandra? Why the heck are you even nominated? You’re cool and all but… get out.

2. Up… wins Best Picture. Out of the blue. Up rocked. It should just win best picture. Beating Avatar… and Up in the Air… and all those others. Realistically? I’m pulling Up in the Air.

3. Kathryn Bigelow wins Best Director. This one actually could happen. She is the favorite lately. First woman director to win, that’d be the shiz.

4. Best Actor? Okay, so Jeff Bridges is going to win. Which is cool. He’s cool. Morgan Freeman rocks. And we all know that I love George Clooney… But honestly? I’m pulling for Colin Firth! It’s his first nomination. He’s incredibly underrated.

5. Harry Potter wins Best Cinematography. For kicks and giggles.

6. Stanley Tucci wins. Because he’s awesome, and I hope he wins someday, and I really liked him in Devil Wears Prada and Julie & Julia.

I’m sure Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will be hilarious. I like hilarious people. Too bad I can’t watch it huh?

For the record though. Here are my official (and not very original) predictions.

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

Best Actress: Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia (I have FAITH!)

Okay. Maybe Sandra Bullock.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique - Precious

Best Animated – Up
Best Adapted Screenplay – Up in the Air
Best Original Screenplay – The Hurt Locker
Best Score – Up
Best Original Song – The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)
Best Makeup – Star Trek
Best Visual Effects – Avatar
Best Art Direction – Avatar
Best Sound Editing – Avatar
Best Sound Mixing – Avatar