Awards: Oscar Predictions

It’s that time of year again for my fearless Oscar predictions. This year, The Artist has quite the advantage in a lot of categories. I’m glad I saw it before the show so I can vote with ease. However, remember that I’m not predicting who I want to win but who I think the Academy will vote for. From smaller to bigger, here we go:

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
TIME FREAK
(Funny short about a chance meeting with a girl)

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF
MR.MORRIS LESSERMORE
(The wonder of reading seems award worthy)

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
SAVING FACE
(Reconstructive surgery and acid violence. Sure)

SOUND EDITING
HUGO
(Tech stuff winner this year.)

SOUND MIXING
HUGO
(Hear the ticking of the clocks?)

ORIGINAL SCORE
THE ARTIST
(The music is essential in a silent film like this)

ORIGINAL SONG
MAN OR MUPPET [THE MUPPETS]
(It’s got a 50/50 chance. It’s also funnier)

VISUAL EFFECTS
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
(It’s kind of like rewarding Andy Serkis)

MAKE-UP
THE IRON LADY
(Meryl Streep does quite the transformation)

COSTUME DESIGN
HUGO
(Love the colours and textures in this film)

ART DIRECTION
HUGO
(Visually stunning film. Vibrant and fun.)

FILM EDITING
THE ARTIST
(Usually accompanies the Best Picture winner)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE TREE OF LIFE
(One the most beautifully shot films ever!)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
UNDEFEATED
(Underprivileged kids playing football. Why not?)

ANIMATED FEATURE
RANGO
(Familiarity beats artsy . . . I hope)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
A SEPARATION
(Everyone is predicting this one to win)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
THE DESCENDANTS
(It’s gotta win something. Sorry Aaron Sorkin)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
(It’s about time Woody Allen got another award)

BEST DIRECTOR
MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS [THE ARTIST]
(What a daring project to direct and succeed)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
OCTAVIA SPENCER [THE HELP]
(She’s the highlight of the film)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER [BEGINNERS]
(Old and gay character? It’s a shoo in)

BEST ACTRESS
VIOLA DAVIS [THE HELP]
(The last scene alone is worthy of this award)

BEST ACTOR
JEAN DUJARDIN [THE ARTIST]
(Remember Roberto Benigni beating Tom Hanks?)

BEST PICTURE
THE ARTIST
(Artsy beats out emotional)

Let’s see how I do on Oscar night this Sunday.

Film: The Artist

GENRE: Romance/Comedy/Drama
RATING: G for mild thematic material
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 40 minutes
STARRING: Jean Dujardin (bunch of French films)
Berenice Bejo (A Knight’s Tale) John Goodman (Big Lebowski)
DIRECTOR: Michel Hazanavicius (some French films)
WRITER: Michel Hazanavicius (some French films)
PLOT: A silent movie star fades into the background as talkies are introduced and the women he once helped becomes a star.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 This film is just so darn charming. It has this mix of fun and panache. You’re watching a silent film made in the style of classic 1920 movies but it still has a present day kick to it. I was pretty impressed.
2 Great acting in this film. Of course, without much dialogue, so much depends on facial expressions and actions. Dujardin is wonderful as a Douglas Fairbanks-like ladies man; so suave yet emotional. Bejo is full of pizzazz. Goodman is fun to watch as the silent film director. A simply amazing cast.
3 Bejo reminds me of Mary Tyler Moore. When she arrives at the studio lot I half expected her to throw her hat in the air.
4 There is this fantastic scene that makes sudden use of foley sound effects. It is so fun to watch and hear. Beautifully done.
5 Amazing but true, Uggie the Dog (Water for Elephants) almost steals the entire picture. Way to play dead. Eat your heart out Eddie (Frasier)

RECOMMENDATION: Theatre for the experience
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Oscar Predictions

Film: Hugo

GENRE: Adventure/Family/Drama
RATING: PG for mild thematic material
RUNTIME: 2 hour and 6 minutes
STARRING: Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)
Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) Ben Kingsley (Schindler’s List)
DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese (The Aviator, Gangs of New York)
WRITER: John Logan (The Aviator, Gladiator, Rango)
PLOT: An orphan who lives in a train station finds a key that will not only start an invention but also reveal a filmmaker’s past.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 The cinematography in this film is magical. The opening scene is mesmerizing as the camera winds its way through the train station. Scorsese captures so much on the screen, even the dust in the air.
2 This film should win for best art direction. The train station is practically a character with all its depth. The beautiful art direction is nicely shown in the bookstore alone. The stacks of colourful books are so carefully strewn about it’s a work of art. I also have always loved seeing gears turn inside a clock.
3 As a media teacher, the early movie references were a treat. The making of A Trip to the Moon and clips of Safety Last tie in perfectly to my class discussions. You can tell that Scorsese loves the history of film and film restoration.
4 Scorsese finally made a film his grandkids can enjoy. Unfortunately, he didn’t take their attention spans into account. As beautiful as this film is, the pace is really slow and the running time is thirty minutes too long even with all the Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Sweeny Todd) comic relief.
5 While talking to my wife after the film, we were trying to pin down why we didn’t find it as magical as it could be. We realized it was the music. It didn’t grab us like it should. Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings) has done so much better.

RECOMMENDATION: It's on DVD soon
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Artist

Film: The Help

GENRE: Drama
RATING: PG-13 for thematic material
RUNTIME: 2 hour and 26 minutes
STARRING: Emma Stone (Easy A, Crazy Stupid Love)
Viola Davis (Doubt) Octavia Spencer (Dinner for Schmucks)
DIRECTOR: Tate Taylor (newcomer)
WRITER: Tate Taylor (newcomer)
PLOT: A1960s writer decides to write a book from the African-American maid’s point of view of the white families they work for.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 The story was interesting but not totally engrossing. I’m sure the book is better but I haven’t read it. I thought there were a lot of things just thrown in there. Minny’s abusive husband? We didn’t really see him at all so why reference it unless you think we need even more sympathy for her character?
2 I was watching this film to see if these actresses truly deserved to win Oscars. Viola Davis did a great job but I was thinking Meryl Streep was going to run away with the award. Then the last scene happened. Davis is amazing in the last scene. Davis deserves the Oscar.
3 Octavia Spencer also deserves an Oscar for her amazing performance. I felt she stole the show. She has the perfect blend of sass and sympathy. I was blown away by her performance.
4 The Pie. How could she not know? How much was in there?
5 Definitely a film for women. Glad I watched it at home and not the theatre. I wonder how many men saw this in the theatre?

RECOMMENDATION: DVD-for women TBS-for men
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Hugo