Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Our Votes for the 2012 Academy Awards

DEXTER'S PREDICTIONS
I actually saw some of the nominees this year on Movies on Demand.  They were mostly for performances though.  Congrats to Uggie, Blackie, and Cosmo (and their agents) for keeping the canine profile out there.  Maybe there'll be more feline roles next year.  I think The Artist will be the big winner, and I like the fact that it's mostly silent.  Something that I'm not
used to around our house.  The black & white didn't really bother me since I don't see that much color anyway.  Plus, it seemed like the most creative of all the movies.  I like that!

Best Picture: The Artist
Actor: George Clooney
Actress: Viola Davis
Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer
Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer
Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Film Editing: The Artist
Cinematography: The Tree of Life
Art Direction: Hugo
Costume Design: The Artist
                                                                                                            

NEIL'S FAVORITES
I found three of the nominees for best picture to be worthy of winning.  The Artist was innovative storytelling, but I was a little bored the first 20 minutes and wasn't sure if it would recover.  The other two were really perfect productions in my opinion.  Hugo was fantasy at its finest…not a kids' movie, but rather another inventive homage to silent moviemaking.  However, The Help moved me in a way that no other nominated movie did this year.  It was inspirational, funny, and all too glaring about a past that we would rather forget.  It also introduced me to the unbelievably talented Jessica Chastain, for which I will forever be thankful.  My very favorite movie of the year was Melancholia, which unfortunately was not nominated nor my favorite laugh movie Bridesmaids.

Best Picture: The Help
Actor: Brad Pitt
Actress: Viola Davis
Supporting Actor: Jonah Hill
Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain
Director: Martin Scorsese
Original Screenplay: Bridesmaids
Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Film Editing: The Artist
Cinematography: Hugo
Art Direction: Hugo
Costume Design: Hugo
                                                                                                            

ERIC'S PICKS
Too many movies were nominated for Best Picture.  Those that received Best Director nominations are the ones that the Academy is taking most seriously for Best Picture and, once and for all, it should just be honest about it. The Help didn't get a Best Director nod, but it should be up anyway, so nominate six this year, rather than the idiotic nine.  Melancholia should have been nominated along with Lars von Trier, Kirsten Dunst, and Charlotte Gainsbourg.  Back in the '30s, special juvenile awards were given and I wish that still happened because the kids in Super 8 deserved greater acclaim.  I also would have liked to see Armie Hammer nominated for J. Edgar

Best Picture: Hugo
Actor: Brad Pitt
Actress: Viola Davis
Supporting Actor: Kenneth Branagh
Supporting Actress: Melissa McCarthy
Director: Martin Scorsese
Original Screenplay: Bridesmaids
Adapted Screenplay: Moneyball
Film Editing: The Artist
Cinematography: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Art Direction: Hugo
Costume Design: Hugo
                                                                                                            

POSSIBLE UPSETS
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin 
      (he's won several awards already)
Best Actress: Meryl Streep 
      (she was impeccable as ever and she hasn't won in a long time)

CHECK BACK ON MONDAY for Dexter's After Oscar Recap of how we all fared, but don't be surprised when Dexter wins this race.  Don't forget the Independent Spirit Awards show on IFC. It premieres Saturday night at 10 p.m. (and then repeats ad infinitum).  Many of the Oscar nominees are also their nominees.  The Academy Awards can be seen on ABC starting at 8 p.m. on Sunday, February 26.

Please leave us a comment with your favorite Oscar pics!

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