Best Picture:
And the nominees are...
127 Hours
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone
I myself love the expansion of the field to 10 nominees, but one must admit that it does look like an awfully high number of them have not a chance at all. 127 Hours, The Kids Are All Right, and Toy Story 3 all seem to have reached their campaign goal just by being nominated, and are now content to just hear their names called out a few times at the big event. Inception and Black Swan are big fan favorites, both among the highest grossing movies on the list, but neither had a good enough showing on nomination morning (Inception missing on Best Director and all acting categories, Black Swan only managing five nominations) to merit serious consideration for the night's top prize.Winter's Bone has plenty of people who will give it a first place vote, which keeps it more in the race than people realize, but it's a pretty small flick, which normally don't come out on top. The Fighter has several nods in major categories, but it doesn't seem like it will be anyone's top choice. That leaves three movies, The King's Speech, The Social Network, and True Grit, with a real chance at nabbing the most treasured golden man.
True Grit doesn't seem like it would be a real contender, but the movie's ten nominations, the second most of any film, show that it really resonated with the Academy. It's an underdog in every major category it's in, so picking True Grit is a bit too risky for my blood, but if we're looking for a big upset, I'm taking Rooster Cogburn and Mattie Ross. The Social Network was the critical darling of the season, which has really meant something to Oscar over the last few years (The Hurt Locker, No Country for Old Men). That being said, it did come home empty handed at the Directors, Producers, and Screen Actors Guilds. It lost all of those awards to The King's Speech, which would seem to indicate that the flick will be named the top movie, but the Academy hasn't been as into that flavor lately as in years past. The last film of the clichéd British-Period-Piece genre to win Best Picture was Shakespeare in Love eleven ceremonies ago. What followed, besides a bunch of hate for choosing Love over Saving Private Ryan, has been over a decade of gritty, rated R choices. King's Speech might have the precursors, but it's going against the grain of recent winners in a pretty obvious way.
Projected Winner: The King's Speech
In the end, I believe the agreement of all of those guilds, as well as the movie's feel-good vibe, will push this one over the top.
Next in Line: The Social Network
The Dark Horse: True Grit
Best Director:
And the nominees are...
Darren Aronofsky---Black Swan
Joel and Ethan Coen---True Grit
David Fincher---The Social Network
Tom Hooper---The King's Speech
David O. Russell---The Fighter
The thunderous hype surrounding Black Swan wouldn't allow Darren Aronofsky to miss out on a nomination, but a win for him would come as quite the shocker. Same goes for Russell, who guided some amazing performances, and was likely awarded just by being in the five. The Coen brothers, while the helmers of the night's big dark horse, were a surprise when they were nominated, and having just won a few years ago, have little to no chance of doing it again. So the showdown between The King's Speech and The Social Network continues. Hooper won the Director's Guild, a precursor that has predicted the Oscar winner a whopping 57 times during it's 63 year existence. That being said, the DGA was just about the only award that Hooper won all season, even the BAFTAs (essentially the British Oscars) opting to go with Fincher in the end.
Projected Winner: David Fincher---The Social Network
The combination of Fincher's far more extensive resume, along with the Academy's need to make The Social Network feel special without giving it the top prize, should clear the way.
Next in Line: Tom Hooper---The King's Speech
The Dark Horse: Darren Aronofsky---Black Swan
Best Actress:
And the nominees are...
Annette Bening---The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman---Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence---Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman---Black Swan
Michelle Williams---Blue Valentine
As great as all these performances are, at least two of them stand no chance at all. Williams and Kidman, both previous nominees and the latter a former winner, received the only nominations bestowed upon their respective movie, a kiss of death for two actresses that you have to think will have more chances down the road. Lawrence also seems unlikely, but the love for her movie surprised everyone on nomination morning, so she'll slide into the dark horse slot. There's plenty of love in the Academy for Bening, and the desire to give the actress her first Oscar may prove too much for some to resist, though an Oscar for Kids would look an awful lot like a Lifetime Achievement award for an actress who has tackled much more difficult material in the past. Then there's Portman, who gives the year's wildest and most eye-catching performance in a movie that the crowds flocked towards despite its endless oddity.
Projected Winner: Natalie Portman---Black Swan
Hollywood's new 'it' girl simply cannot be denied for what will likely prove the role of a lifetime.
Next in Line: Annette Bening---The Kid's Are All Right
The Dark Horse: Jennifer Lawrence---Winter's Bone
Best Actor:
And the nominees are...
Javier Bardem---Biutiful
Jeff Bridges---True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg---The Social Network
Colin Firth---The King's Speech
James Franco---127 Hours
In terms of Oscar predictions, I usually don't like to work in absolutes, but even to me, this one seems completely over. Bridges, having won his Oscar last year, has virtually no chance of a repeat. Bardem pulled off the surprise by being nominated, but I can't imagine enough Academy members have seen his movie. Giving it to Franco would make for a fun moment, as he is also hosting the show, but with no precursors in hand, it seems like a long shot. If The Social Network were to have a far greater showing than people anticipate, Eisenberg could be swept in with it, but that's not looking too likely. The obvious pick is Firth, whose never won despite being an extremely respected thespian, and who should have won for last year's A Single Man.
Projected Winner: Colin Firth---The King's Speech
The biggest favorite of the night happens to anchor the likely Best Picture winner. I'm not betting against him.
Next in Line: Jesse Eisenberg---The Social Network
The Dark Horse: James Franco---127 Hours
Best Supporting Actress:
And the nominees are...
Amy Adams---The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter---The King's Speech
Melissa Leo---The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld---True Grit
Jacki Weaver---Animal Kingdom
Without a doubt one of the year's hardest categories to predict. Leo has racked up one precursor after another, but the fact that she still doesn't seem to have it locked up makes one question her strength as a front-runner. She also has to worry about a voter split between her and fellow cast-mate Amy Adams, who might be the least likely to take it. The other longest shot is Weaver, who will likely get a few first place votes from her movie's avid fans, but general lack of awareness will likely be the end of her. Steinfeld has the advantage of being her movie's real main character, as well as being a fresh and exciting face. Carter, who took home the BAFTA, won't win unless The King's Speech starts to really clean up, but that's not the least bit out of the question.
Projected Winner: Hailee Steinfeld---True Grit
Giving the award to young Steinfeld would make for a great moment at ceremony, as well as providing an excuse to hand a major award to True Grit, a movie that the voters obviously loved.
Next in Line: Melissa Leo---The Fighter
The Dark Horse: Helena Bonham Carter---The King's Speech
Best Supporting Actor:
And the nominees are...
Christian Bale---The Fighter
John Hawkes---Winter's Bone
Jeremy Renner---The Town
Mark Ruffalo---The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush---The King's Speech
Not as up in the air as Supporting Actress, but just about as likely to feature an upset. Bale has been the victor all season, but his questionable reputation might get in the way. The opposite could be said for Ruffalo, who had somehow never previously been nominated, an oversight that might force the hand of an apologetic Academy member or two. The invite looks to be the reward for both Hawkes and Renner, the latter receiving his movie's only nod. Rush took home the BAFTA, and has been on Bale's heels all season. Just as with Carter, it all depends on how in love the Academy really is with The King's Speech.
Projected Winner: Christian Bale---The Figher
He's been in the lead all season, and if Oscar doesn't reward Leo, you have to think he'll look for another way to pat The Fighter on the back.
Next in Line: Geoffrey Rush---The King's Speech
The Dark Horse: Mark Ruffalo---The Kids Are Alright
Best Adapted Screenplay:
And the nominees are...
Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy---127 Hours
Aaron Sorkin---The Social Network
Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich---Toy Story 3
Joel and Ethan Coen---True Grit
Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini---Winter's Bone
First and foremost, 127 Hours has no chance here, as it is surrounded by four movies who all have a better chance at taking home the top prize. The same could almost be said of both Toy Story 3 and Winter's Bone, but the fact that both of those films have their real advocates keeps their chances from being quite so dead in the water. The Social Network seems like the obvious choice, as many people consider it the best movie of the year, and its script is the primary reason for the belief. But don't count out True Grit, whose archaic language is the exact kind of fun-with-words that led Juno to the prize. If Social Network finds itself stumbling on Oscar night, Grit will be there to pick up the pieces.
Projected Winner: Aaron Sorkin---The Social Network
The best aspect of a pretty amazing movie, I think Oscar has to hand the computer geeks this one.
Next in Line: Joel and Ethan Coen---True Grit
The Dark Horse: Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich---Toy Story 3
Best Original Screenplay:
And the nominees are...
Mike Leigh---Another Year
Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, and Keith Dorrington---The Fighter
Christopher Nolan---Inception
Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg---The Kids Are All Right
David Seidler---The King's Speech
As the only film nominated in either screenplay category without a Best Picture nod to boot, Another Year seems pretty outmatched here. Same goes for The Fighter, as the success of the movie comes thanks to its actors, not its script. Inception doesn't really seem like the Academy's sort of movie, but Nolan's win at the Writers Guild gives him hope. Seidler's screenplay, for some reason I've thus far failed to look into, was disqualified from that event, though it's worth noting that the Best Picture winner hasn't failed to win in its respective writing category since 2005. The Kids script had all kinds of early-year buzz swirling around it, but the king will likely reign here.
Projected Winner: David Seidler---The King's Speech
It's probably Oscar's favorite movie, why wouldn't it win here?
Next in Line: Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg---The Kids Are All Right
The Dark Horse: Christopher Nolan---Inception
Best Documentary
And the nominees are...
Exit Through the Gift Shop
GasLand
Inside Job
Restrepo
Waste Land
In terms both commercial and critical, Inside Job is the documentary of the year.
Next in Line: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Best Documentary is one of the categories that Oscar sometimes likes to have a little fun with (Man on Wire, March of the Penguins). If he's in a playful mood come Sunday, watch out for Banksy.
The Dark Horse: Restrepo
It's about war, and if that weren't enough, plenty of people think it's the best of the bunch.
Best Foreign Language Feature:
And the nominees are...
Biutiful
Dogtooth
In a Better World
Incendies
Outside the Law
Projected Winner: Incendies
The Academy loves nothing more than to surprise its viewers with a left-field pick in this category, and the fact that my Next in Line and Dark Horse are bigger names is the exact reason why I'm picking this serious-minded Canadian import.
Next in Line: In a Better World
From a director that Oscar is familiar with comes a movie that has been lavished with praise. This is the real front-runner, but like I said, I think the only logic in this category is picking an upset.
The Dark Horse: Biutiful
It's here for the same reasons as In a Better World, minus the fantastic reviews, but plus Javier Bardem.
Best Animated Feature:
And the nominees are...
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3
Projected Winner: Toy Story 3
The Pixar entry into this category has only lost once, and TS3 is the only nominee also competing in the Best Picture race. This one seems obvious.
Next in Line: How to Train Your Dragon
Sure, it has a better chance than The Illusionist, but that's not saying much.
The Dark Horse: The Illusionist
This horse is so dark that no one in America has seen it.
Best Cinematography:
And the nominees are...
Danny Cohen---The King's Speech
Jeff Cronenweth---The Social Network
Roger Deakins---True Grit
Matthew Libatique---Black Swan
Wally Pfister---Inception
Pojected Winner: Roger Deakins---True Grit
Deakins has shot countless beautiful movies through-out his career, and the fact that True Grit is no exception makes this the perfect time to reward the man for all his accomplishments over the years.
Next in Line: Wally Pfister---Inception
Inception looks to hear its name on several occasions when it comes to tech awards, and Pfister's Cinematographer's Guild win has him right on Deakins' tail.
The Dark Horse: Danny Cohen---The King's Speech
Count out the Best Picture front-runner in any category at your own peril.
Best Editing:
And the nominees are...
Tariq Anwar---The King's Speech
Jon Harris---127 Hours
Pamela Martin---The Fighter
Andrew Weisblum---Black Swan
Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall---The Social Network
Projected Winner: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall---The Social Network
The winner of the Editors Guild wins this one every time, even when it's not the Best Picture champ. This years winners were named Baxter and Wall.
Next in Line: The King's Speech
Repeat after me: Never count out the Best Picture front-runner
The Dark Horse: Jon Harris---127 Hours
There really aren't any dark horses, but I'll let Harris and his flashy, stylized editing fill the slot.
Best Art Direction:
And the nominees are...
Robert Stromberg and Karen O'Hara---Alice in Wonderland
Stuart Craig and Stephenie McMillan---Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias, and Douglas A. Mowat---Inception
Eve Stewart and Judy Farr---The King's Speech
Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh---True Grit
Projected Winner: Robert Stromberg and Karen O'Hara---Alice in Wonderland
Unlike literally every other category at the show, Oscar tends to recognize the fantastical in this one, which gives guild winner Alice the upper hand.
Next in Line: Eve Stewart and Judy Farr---The King's Speech
Same reason as every time before.
The Dark Horse: Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias, and Douglas A. Mowat---Inception
Really, all three of these movies have a great chance of taking the prize, as it's one of the most unpredictable of the night, but I give the other two a leg up because of my assumption that the Academy didn't really like Inception as much as the rest of the planet.
Best Original Score:
And the nominees are...
Alexandre Desplat---The King's Speech
John Powell---How to Train Your Dragon
A.R. Rahman---127 Hours
Hans Zimmer---Inception
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross---The Social Network
Projected Winner: Alexandre Desplat---The King's Speech
The guy has never won before despite being nominated four times in the last five years... and his score is attached to The King's Speech.
Next in Line: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross---The Social Network
Oscar's more progressive music taste tends to show itself in the Song category more often than Score, but Reznor and Ross have won plenty of precursors, and have more than a fighting chance here.
The Dark Horse: Hans Zimmer---Inception
I'm feeling pretty certain about this one going to one of the two movies listed above, but it sure as hell isn't going to How to Train Your Dragon, and my money is against 127 Hours, so I might as well put Zimmer here.
Best Original Song:
And the nominees are...
"Coming Home"---Country Strong
"I See a Light"---Tangled
"If I Rise"---127 Hours
"We Belong Together"---Toy Story 3
Projected Winner: "We Belong Together"---Toy Story 3
Not only is this one of the most difficult categories to care about on Oscar night, it's also one of the hardest to predict. The honor usually goes to a song that is either featured in a movie with a shot at winning the top prize, or goes against the grain in some way. As no nominees fit into either of these categories, I might as well go with Randy Newman, who has been nominated countless times and has somehow only won once, his losses including a song nominated from each of the first two Toy Story movies.
Next in Line: "If I Rise"---127 Hours
The only other song to be part of a Best Picture nominee, and the only tune to truly enhance its respective movie.
The Dark Horse: "I See a Light"---Tangled
Because no one wants to see Country Strong win an Oscar.
Best Visual Effects:
And the nominees are...
Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas, and Sean Phillips---Alice in Wonderland
Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz, and Nicolas Aithadi---Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojansky, and Joe Farrell---Hereafter
Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb, Paul J. Franklin---Inception
Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright, Daniel Sudick---Iron Man 2
Projected Winner: Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb, Paul J. Franklin---Inception
The only one of the bunch featured in the big race also happens to be the one with the best effects, shying away from CGI as often as possible, a fact that I imagine the Academy will be impressed by.
Next in Line: Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas, and Sean Phillips---Alice in Wonderland
It seems to be Oscar's second favorite movie of the group, and limitless CGI is featured in just about every scene.
The Dark Horse: Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz, and Nicolas Aithadi---Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
The Harry Potter series has found its way into this category on a number of occasions, so it seems only fitting that one would eventually win.
Best Costume Design:
And the nominees are...
Colleen Atwood---Alice in Wonderland
Jenny Beaven---The King's Speech
Antonella Cannarrozzi---I Am Love
Sandy Powell---The Tempest
Mary Zophers---True Grit
Projected Winner: Jenny Beaven---The King's Speech
A British period piece has won this award four years running, and with all the love surrounding The King's Speech, that trend seems unlikely to change.
Next in Line: Colleen Atwood---Alice in Wonderland
Just because her movie has the most outlandish costumes in the category, along with...
The Dark Horse: Sandy Powell---The Tempest
But seriously, this one belongs to The King's Speech.
Best Make-Up:
And the nominees are...
Adrien Morot---Barney's Version
Edouard F. Henriques, Greg Funk, and Yolanda Toussieng---The Way Back
Rick Baker and Dave Elsey---The Wolfman
Projected Winner: Rick Baker and Dave Elsey---The Wolfman
The Academy tends to love a creature-feature in this category.
Next in Line: Adrien Morot---Barney's Version
When it's not a monster movie, Oscar usually sides with aging as opposed to war gore.
The Dark Horse: Edouard F. Henriques, Greg Funk, and Yolanda Toussieng---The Way Back
Because there were no other options for Dark Horse
Best Sound Editing:
And the nominees are...
Richard King---Inception
Tom Myers and Michael Silvers---Toy Story 3
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague---Tron: Legacy
Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey---True Grit
Mark P. Stoeckinger---Unstoppable
Projected Winner: Richard King---Inception
It was the winner of the guild, and does anyone know enough about what this category entails to question them? I sure don't.
Next in Line: Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey---True Grit
As with all Coen movies, the sound in True Grit appears extremely fussed over and exacting, so it's still alive in the race.
The Dark Horse: Tom Myers and Michael Silvers---Toy Story 3
Because am I really going to pick Unstoppable or Tron: Legacy?
Best Sound Mixing:
And the nominees are...
Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, and Ed Novick---Inception
Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen, and John Midgley---The King's Speech
Jeffrey J. Haboush, William Sarokin, Scott Millan, and Greg P. Russell---Salt
Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick, and Mark Weingarten---The Social Network
Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, and Peter F. Kurland---True Grit
Projected Winner: Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, and Peter F. Kurland---True Grit
Yet again, winner of the guild, and that's enough for me.
Next in Line: Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, and Ed Novick---Inception
They seem to be the two juggernauts of the Sound categories.
The Dark Horse: Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick, and Mark Weingarten---The Social Network
Because even the Academy must find The King's Speech's inclusion here a little humorous, and Salt isn't really Oscar material.
Best Animated Short:
And the nominees are...
Day and Knight
The Gruffalo
Let's Pollute
The Lost Thing
Madagascar, a Journey Diary
Projected Winner: Madagascar, a Journey Diary
Oscar might like its foreign flavor and innovative mixture of animation styles.
Next in Line: Day and Night
As the short playing in front of Toy Story 3, it's the only one the majority of America has seen, and you can't think the Academy is above pandering in a category like this. That said, Pixar has had a rough run in this group in the past.
The Dark Horse: The Gruffalo
Another visual dazzler with celebrity voices to boot.
Best Live Action Short:
And the nominees are...
The Confession
The Crush
God of Love
Na Wewe
Wish 143
Projected Winner: Na Wewe
A trend is difficult to detect in the Academy's Live Action Short section, but serious-mindedness and ambition seem important. Genocide chronicle Na Wewe has both.
Next in Line: Wish 143
It looks to be both the second most serious and the second most ambitious in the category.
The Dark Horse: God of Love
Stylish, sleek, and most certainly has the funny vote in its favor.
Best Short Documentary:
And the nominees are...
Poster Girl
Killing in the Name
Strangers No More
Sun Come Up
The Warriors of Qiugang
Projected Winner: Strangers No More
This story of a wildly diverse public school in Tel Aviv is likely to warm the hearts of the voters.
Next in Line: The Warriors of Qiugang
If not heartwarming, then why not extremely serious/heavy?
The Dark Horse: Killing in the Name
Ditto above.
Complete List of Projected Winners:
Best Picture: The King's Speech
Best Director: David Fincher---The Social Network
Best Actress: Natalie Portman---Black Swan
Best Actor: Colin Firth---The King's Speech
Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld---True Grit
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale---The Fighter
Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin---The Social Network
Best Original Screenplay: David Seidler---The King's Speech
Best Documentary: Inside Job
Best Foreign Language Feature: Incendies
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins---True Grit
Best Editing: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall---The Social Network
Best Art Direction: Robert Stromberg and Karen O'Hara---Alice in Wonderland
Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat---The King's Speech
Best Original Song: "We Belong Together"---Toy Story 3
Best Visual Effects: Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb, Paul J. Franklin---Inception
Best Costume Design: Jenny Beaven---The King's Speech
Best Make-Up: Rick Baker and Dave Elsey---The Wolfman
Best Sound Editing: Richard King---Inception
Best Sound Mixing: Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, and Peter F. Kurland---True Grit
Best Animated Short: Madagascar, a Journey Diary
Best Live Action Short: Na Wewe
Best Short Documentary: Strangers No More
Projected Wins per Feature:
The King's Speech: 5
The Social Network: 3
True Grit: 3
Inception: 2
Toy Story 3: 2
Alice in Wonderland: 1
Black Swan: 1
The Fighter: 1
Incendies: 1
Inside Job: 1
The Wolfman: 1
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