Posted 12:50 am Friday, January 27, 2012
Tyler Paper's Movie Guru Predicts ‘The Artist' To Sweep Major Oscars Awards
By STEWART SMITH
Entertainment Editor
Entertainment Editor
It's that time of the year again. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has once more named the contenders for its top awards.
Many critics hate the awards season as they feel that it reduces art to a contest, unfairly placing films in contention for awards that ultimately don't really matter. I'm inclined to agree to a certain degree, but I can't deny that it's nice when the Academy acknowledges films that fly under the radar of most folks. That hasn't necessarily happened this year, but it's still a solid crop of films that have garnered recognition.
Also, be sure to check out the Tyler Morning Telegraph 's Oscar contest, with a chance to win prizes.
Let's take a look at the major nominees and talk about predictions of who will win versus who should win.
Best Supporting Actor
Nominees:
Kenneth Branagh ("My Week with Marilyn"), Jonah Hill ("Moneyball"), Nick Nolte ("Warrior"), Christopher Plummer ("Beginners"), Max von Sydow ("Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close")
Who will win:
This is sort of a tough one, but early buzz has Christopher Plummer as the favorite to win. Plummer has only been nominated once before, in 2010, when he played Leo Tolstoy in "The Last Station," so I wouldn't be surprised to see the Academy take this opportunity to honor Plummer for a pretty distinguished body of work. That he's supposed to be genuinely great in "Beginners" only strengthens the case.
Who should win:
Jonah Hill has no business being on this list, especially when it means that Albert Brooks got snubbed for his villainous turn in "Drive." Hill's not bad, but it's hardly award-worthy material from him in "Moneyball." Brooks gave the most memorable supporting performance for my money, but I'll be just as happy if Nolte manages to walk away with a statue. His performance in "Warrior" remains one of the best parts of an already strong film.
Best Supporting Actress
Nominees:
Berenice Bejo ("The Artist"), Jessica Chastain ("The Help"), Melissa McCarthy ("Bridesmaids"), Janet McTeer ("Albert Nobbs"), Octavia Spencer ("The Help").
Who will win:
If Octavia Spencer doesn't win this, I'll eat my hat.
Who should win:
If a supporting cast member from "The Help" must win this, I'd prefer it be Jessica Chastain. That's not to say Spencer doesn't deserve to win, I just think Chastain had a more complex character to play and gave a performance that feels markedly different from many of the roles she headlined last year. (2011 really was a breakout year for her.) That said, why is Melissa McCarthy on here? She was undeniably one of the strengths of "Bridesmaids," but worthy of an Oscar? Not hardly.
Best Actor
Nominees:
Demian Bechir ("A Better Life"), George Clooney ("The Descendants"), Jean Dujardin ("The Artist"), Gary Oldman ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Brad Pitt ("Moneyball")
Who will win:
Part of me thinks that the Academy will split over Clooney versus Pitt, making way for Oldman to sneak in and steal the win. Given how much buzz "The Artist" is getting, however, don't' be surprised if Dujardin walks away with it. Dujardin might be the saftest bet, but I'm going to put my money on Clooney.
Who should win:
Clooney is certainly deserving as his work in "The Descendants" is among the best performances he's ever given. While I haven't seen "Tinker Tailor" (yet), Oldman is one of the most reliable actors in Hollywood and has never received an Oscar for his work, so if he manages a win here, I'll be happy.
Best Actress
Nominees:
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")
Who will win:
This is a tough one. Streep is a favorite because, well, she's Meryl Streep. And while she does good facsimile of Margaret Thatcher, it often feels like it could slide into an SNL parody performance at any moment. Davis gives strong work in "The Help" but not strong enough to merit a win, I think. From what I hear, Williams does a remarkable job with the unenviable task of playing Hollywood's most enduring female icon. But it's Mara who I think stands to bring the upset. She disappears inside the role of Lisbeth Salander and gives audiences the sort of immersive, transformative performance that Streep was going for.
Who should win:
Rooney Mara. I was mostly bored by David Fincher's English language remake of "Dragon Tattoo," but Mara's performance is one of the best justifications for its existence.
Best Director
Nominees:
Michael Hazanavicius ("The Artist"), Alexander Payne ("The Descendants"), Martin Scorsese ("Hugo"), Woody Allen ("Midnight in Paris"), Terrence Malick ("The Tree of Life")
Who will win:
Again, "The Artist" seems to be the rising favorite, so don't be surprised to see Hazanavicius walk away with this one. Malick's never won an Oscar before and is one of the most revered directors working so it wouldn't be a stretch to see the Academy finally give him some long-overdue honor (even if "The Tree of Life" is, personally speaking, one of his lesser films).
Who should win:
I'd love to see Scorsese walk away with this one. His work on "Hugo" is some of the most inspired work he's ever done, resulting in film that is simultaneously a wonderful family film, a love letter to a bygone era and just flat-out solid filmmaking that could only come from the hands of a master director.
Best Picture
Nominees:
"The Artist," "Hugo," "Moneyball," "The Descendants," "War Horse," "Midnight in Paris," "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," "The Help," "The Tree of Life."
Who will win:
"The Artist." I'm quite anxious to see this one as the critical reaction to it has been all over the place. Some call it the best of 2011, while others find it a competently made but overall slight film that will be quickly forgotten. Regardless, it remains the top favorite for the award after receiving the Producer's Guild of America's Darryl F. Zanuck award last weekend.
Who should win:
I've tried very hard to keep this piece from turning into a "'Drive' Was Robbed!" ranting screed, but I can't hold back any longer. "Drive" was robbed! On the realistic side of things, "Drive" was likely never going to be an awards darling even though it was much-loved by critics. That said, I'd be perfectly happy with either "Hugo," "War Horse" or "The Descendants" gets this, though "Midnight in Paris" is my obvious second choice. Woody Allen gave us a wonderful slice of cinema with that film, though I'm just happy to see it garner recognition.
Stewart Smith is the Entertainment Editor for the
Tyler Morning Telegraph
