2012 Oscar Nominees in Most Likely Bad 2013 Movies

Next stop, Razzies? You decide.

Best Actor 

Bradley Cooper- You knew a third Hangover was coming...

Denzel Washington- 2 Guns. Another Denzel taking-down-the-bad-guys-with-lots-of-guns movie that probably includes some sort of emotional core that has no a pay out. Also starring Mark Wahlberg so that's pretty hit or miss.

Hugh Jackman- It already happened with Movie 43. He. Had. Testicles. On. His. Chin.

Best Actress
Sorry people, I refuse to put The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on this list out of sheer blind hope that my favorite book out of the series won't be ruined.

Jessica Chastain- Mama was not bad... but it really wasn't great.

Naomi Watts- Another Movie 43 victim. She makes out with her son in an effort to make his homeschooling experience more like real high school.
Two Mothers- who knows if this Motherlover: The Movie will be great or terrible. Even Kyle Buchanan from Vulture couldn't decide when the film premiered at Sundance. 

Best Supporting Actor 

Alan Arkin- As much as I hate to say anything bad about Steve Buscemi, Alan Arkin and Steve Carell, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone really doesn't look great.

Robert De Niro- The Big Wedding. Any "Comedy" movie that includes Katherine Heigl is automatically a candidate for worst picture. We'll see if this is a turning point now that she is surrounding herself with people like De Niro, Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton. But Robin Williams is also in it so...

Best Supporting Actress

Jacki Weaver- Weaver will be going to TV this fall in CBS' The McCarthy's but she's also co-starring in a horror movie called Haunt. Synopsis: An introverted teen sparks with his new neighbor, and together the couple begins to explore the haunted house that is family has unknowingly just purchased. 

Note to all Oscar nominees: most of the time the comedy and horror movies you star in after your Oscar-nominated film will be bad choices (House At The End Of The Street, Bride Wars, No Strings Attached, etc.). We know you need a break after the intensity of the good movie's shoot, but still. You've been warned. 

So there you have it. Let's hope some of these movies are better than they appear. But most of these guys have great movies coming out this year too. Silver Linings! 

Best and Worst Surprises: The Golden Globe Nominations 2013

Here are my quick two cents on this morning's Golden Globe nominations (more to come later on in the day):

Television first:

Best:

1. Thank goodness Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for Sherlock. The Hollywood Foreign Press was definitely smarter than SAG in that category.

2. Congratulations to Connie Britton and Hayden Panetierre for cracking the tough drama ladies' lists for Nashville. In such a difficult field, it's really great to see a wonderful new show get recognized.

3. Another nice addition to the Drama ladies list: Michelle Dockery for Downton Abbey. Easily the best lady on that show (besides Maggie Smith of course)

4. Mandy Patinkin for Homeland- HOLLA!

Worst: 

1. Smash?! Really HFPA? Unbelievably bad choice

2. Mad Men was snubbed from the Best Drama list in favor of The Newsroom. Sure, some people didn't enjoy this season of Mad Men but far more people were polarized by Aaron Sorkin's new show. I enjoyed both but felt Mad Men was a better quality season. But, it's Aaron Sorkin so enough said, I guess.

3. No Best Comedy nominations for Parks and Recreation OR 30 Rock is an outrage.


Movies next:

Best: 

1. Ewan MacGregor and Emily Blunt were recognized for their sweet, little-seen film Salmon Fishing in the Yemen which is a really nice surprise. Both actors were wonderful in that film.

2. Leonardo DiCaprio cracked the Best Supporting Actor list for his villainous turn in Django Unchained. While the movie hasn't yet been released, critics are praising DiCaprio for such a change in character.

3. Congrats to Adele for getting a Best Song nomination for Skyfall. And I can't believe I'm going to say this, but congrats to Taylor Swift as well for her Hunger Games song "Safe and Sound" which I actually really enjoy.

Worst: 

There are a lot of worsts for this list but I'll just narrow down to the biggies:

1. No nominations once again for Beasts of the Southern Wild. If I'm not mistaken, the film was not banned from the Golden Globes but only the SAG Awards, right?

2. No directing nominations for Tom Hooper or David O. Russell? Crazy!

3. Nothing for This Is 40? The movie can't be that bad! It's getting great reviews!

4. Where was Robert De Niro's nomination for Silver Linings Playbook?

5. Nicole Kidman? Really? Her? Is it really that impressive that she urinates on Zac Effron in The Paperboy? 

Golden Globe Nominations

Here they are folks! The biggest pre-cursor to the Oscars: The Golden Globe nominations. 

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series, or TV Movie 

Hayden Panetierre- Nashville
Archie Panjabi- The Good Wife
Sarah Paulson- Game Change
Maggie Smith- Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara- Modern Family

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series, or TV Movie 

Max Greenfield- New Girl
Ed Harris- Game Change
Danny Huston- Magic City
Mandy Patinkin- Homeland
Eric Stonestreet- Modern Family

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie 

Nicole Kidman- Hemingway & Gelhorn 
Jessica Lange- American Horror Story: Asylum
Sienna Miller- The Girl
Julianne Moore- Game Change
Sigourney Weaver- Political Animals

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie 

Kevin Costner- Hatfields & McCoys
Benedict Cumberbatch- Sherlock (Brilliant) 
Woody Harrelson- Game Change
Toby Jones- The Girl
Clive Owen- Hemingway & Gelhorn

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie 

Game Change
The Girl
Hatfields & McCoys
The Hour 
Political Animals

Best Actress in a Comedy Series 

Zooey Deschanel- New Girl
Julia Louis Dreyfus- Veep
Lena Dunham- Girls
Tina Fey- 30 Rock
Amy Poehler- Parks and Recreation

Best Actor in a Comedy Series 

Alec Baldwin- 30 Rock
Don Cheadle- House of Lies
Louis CK- Louie
Matt LeBlanc- Episodes
Jim Parsons- The Big Bang Theory

Best Comedy Series 

Smash
Girls
Episodes
The Big Bang Theory
Modern Family

Best Actress in a Drama Series 

Claire Danes- Homeland 
Glenn Close- Damages 
Connie Britton- Nashville
Michelle Dockery- Downton Abbey
Julianna Marguiles- The Good Wife

Best Actor in a Drama Series 

Steve Buscemi- Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston- Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels- The Newsroom
Jon Hamm- Mad Men
Damien Lewis- Homeland

Best Drama Series 

Breaking Bad
Boardwalk Empire
Downton Abbey
Homeland
The Newsroom 

Best Original Song 

For You- Act of Valor 
Not Running Anymore- Stand Up Guys 
Safe and Sound- The Hunger Games (Taylor Swift?!) 
Skyfall- Skyfall (Adele!!)
Suddenly- Les Miserables

Best Original Score

Mychael Danna- Life of Pi
Alexndre Desplat- Argo
Dario Marianelli- Anna Karenina 
Tom Twyker, Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek - Cloud Atlas
John Williams- Lincoln

Best Foreign Language Film 


Amour
A Royal Affair
Intouchables
Rust and Bone
Kon-Tiki

Best Animated Feature

Brave
Hotel Transylvania
Wreck it Ralph
Rise of the Guardians
Frankenweenie

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 

Amy Adams- The Master
Sally Field- Lincoln 
Anne Hathaway- Les Miserables
Helen Hunt- The Sessions
Nicole Kidman- The Paperboy

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture 

Alan Arkin- Argo
Leonardo DiCaprio- Django Unchained
Phillip Seymour Hoffman- The Master
Tommy Lee Jones- Lincoln 
Christoph Waltz- Django Unchained

Best Actress in a Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy 

Emily Blunt- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen 
Judi Dench- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 
Jennifer Lawrence- Silver Linings Playbook
Maggie Smith- Quartet 
Meryl Streep- Hope Springs

Best Actor in a Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy 

Jack Black- Bernie
Bradley Cooper- Silver Linings Playbook 
Hugh Jackman- Les Miserables
Ewan McGregor- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Bill Murray- Hyde Park on Hudson

Best Actress in a Motion Picture- Drama 

Jessica Chastain- Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard- Rust and Bone
Helen Mirren- Hitchcock
Naomi Watts- The Impossible
Rachel Weisz- The Deep Blue Sea

Best Actor in a Motion Picture- Drama 

Daniel Day-Lewis- Lincoln 
Richard Gere- Arbitrage
John Hawkes- The Sessions
Joaquin Phoenix- The Master
Denzel Washington- Flight

Best Screenplay

Mark Boal- Zero Dark Thirty
Tony Kushner- Lincoln
David O. Russell- Silver Linings Playbook
Quentin Tarantino- Django Unchained
Chris Terrio- Argo

Best Director- Motion Picture 

Ben Affleck- Argo
Kathryn Bigelow- Zero Dark Thirty
Ang Lee- Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg- Lincoln 
Quentin Tarantino- Django Unchained

Best Picture- Musical or Comedy 

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Miserables
Moonrise Kingdom
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Silver Linings Playbook

Best Picture- Drama 

Argo
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Lincoln 
Zero Dark Thirty

Best & Worst Surprises and Snubs from the SAG Awards Nominations

Source

The SAG Awards are always tricky to figure out. Picked by actors and voted by actors, this actor show is always filled with the most confusing choices, but the movie categories always effect the Oscar race in important. Here are some of the biggest surprises of this year's list.

Let's start with Television:

The Best: 

1. A well-deserved FIRST nomination for Amy Poehler (crazy that she was not nominated last year, right?)

2. SAG-Aftra, great work on nomination Louis CK for Louie. You could have gone with a terrible choice like, say, Jon Cryer or something, but you went classy. Smart move guys.

3. Way to go Alfre Woodard for squeezing past the other Game Change or Hemingway & Gelhorn possible nominees to score one for Steel Magnolias.

4. It's not unusual that Maggie Smith has been nominated for Downton Abbey, but it's great to see Michelle Dockery was able to crack the list over her own co-stars. I definitely think in this situation Dockery's Lady Mary is the best choice.

5. I think I may end up being the only one who says this but I'm pretty happy with the addition of Jeff Daniels to the Best Actor list for Drama Series. While The Newsroom was certainly VERY flawed, Daniels was always fascinating to watch, even as his character goes completely insane one hour and is the voice of reason the next.

The Worst: 

1. Listen, I know how blasphemous this is going to sound, but Betty White again? Really actors? You have to give an award every year don't you? If Hot in Cleveland was not on TV, would you create a new category so you could give her an award for Betty White's Off Their Rockers? You would, wouldn't you? Ridiculous...

2. When Busy Phillips and Taye Diggs announced a tie for the Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series, I was sure of the six nominees would be Parks and Recreation. Sadly, the SAG voters decided to honor Glee again even though the show has become mediocre at best and terrible at worst. But honoring The Office for its final season? I can get behind that.

Biggest, Most Egregious Error:

Where in God's name is the love for Sherlock? It's easily one of the best shows on TV right now with a fantastic cast who has fantastic chemistry. Benedict Cumberbatch and/or Martin Freeman should have made this list. I know it's difficult to include everyone who should be recognized because there are no supporting actor or actress SAG awards categories for TV, but Sherlock should not have gone unnoticed.

Film: 

The Best: 

1. I'm actually quite pleased to see Javier Bardem crack the Supporting Actor list with Skyfall. It's a strange movie to make the list for but it's less strange than seeing, oh, I don't know, Matthew McConaughey up there for Magic Mike*. However, I don't think we'll be seeing Bardem on the Oscar list unless he gets nominated for a Golden Globe tomorrow.

2. Maggie Smith is having a great day. She's not only cracked the Drama Series list but has also won a nod for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. This definitely gives her a boost for the Oscar race.

3. Same goes for Nicole Kidman in Hemingway & Gelhorn and The Paperboy. The Paperboy nod, while a very cool move by SAG, may end up being a congratulatory nod more than anything else. Unless she is nominated for a Golden Globe and wins the SAG for the Lee Daniels film, there's no way she's making that final Oscar list.

 4. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel beats out Zero Dark Thirty, The Master and more for the last slot in the Best Ensemble category (aka SAG's version of Best Picture). While this is not the worst thing in the world for Zero Dark Thirty, it is a big boost for The Best Exotic... 

The Worst: 

1. I understand SAG voters, Joaquin Phoenix doesn't want to win awards. But seriously, did you SEE his performance in The Master? Awards recognition should be inevitable.

2. And just because Phoenix doesn't want one doesn't mean you should deprive Amy Adams of hers. One of the most ferocious performances I've seen this year, Adams completely breaks type and does an extraordinary job playing a doting wife who can still overpower her cult-leader husband if necessary.

Biggest, Most Egregious Error: 

The fact that Beasts of the Southern Wild and Moonrise Kingdom were snubbed is terrible. Both films are beautiful and sweet and filled with brilliant performances, especially Quvenzhane Wallis from Beasts... I know the film was deemed not eligible for SAG but still. Come on actors, you know better.


Come back tomorrow for reactions to the Golden Globe nominations!!


*I'd like to take the time to mention that I have no problems with Magic Mike. Not only was I entertained with the particular subject matter, I found the acting and direction to be really top notch. But for one to suggest Matthew McConaughey should be nominated for an Oscar for the role is really quite insane in my mind. For Killer Joe? Maybe. But not Magic Mike. 

SAG Awards Nominations

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries

Nicole Kidman- Hemingway & Gelhorn

Julianne Moore- Game Change

Charlotte Rampling- Restless

SIgourney Weaver- Political Animals

Alfre Woodard- Steel Magnolias

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries

Kevin Costner- Hatfields & McCoys

Woody Harrelson- Game Change 

Ed Harris- Game Change

Clive Owen- Hemingway & Gelhorn

Bill Paxton- Hatfields & McCoys

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin- 30 Rock

Ty Burrell- Modern Family

Louis CK- Louie

Jim Parsons- The Big Bang Theory

Eric Stonestreet- Modern Family

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Comedy Series

Edie Falco- Nurse Jackie

Tina Fey- 30 Rock 

Amy Poehler- Parks and Recreation

Sofia Vergara- Modern Family

Betty White- Hot in Cleveland

Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series

30 Rock 

The Big Bang Theory 

Glee

Modern Family

Nurse Jackie

The Office

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Drama Series

Claire Danes- Homeland

Michelle Dockery- Downton Abbey

Jessica Lange- American Horror Story: Asylum

Julianna Marguiles- The Good Wife

Maggie Smith- Downton Abbey

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Drama Series

Steve Buscemi- Boardwalk Empire

Bryan Cranston- Breaking Bad

Jeff Daniels- The Newsroom

Jon Hamm- Mad Men

Damien Lewis- Homeland

Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire

Breaking Bad

Downton Abbey

Homeland

Mad Men

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role

Alan Arkin- Argo

Javier Bardem- Skyfall

Robert De Niro- Silver Linings Playbook

Phillip Seymour Hoffman- The Master

Tommy Lee Jones- Lincoln

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role

Sally Field- Lincoln

Anne Hathaway- Les Miserables

Helen Hunt- The Sessions

Nicole Kidman- The Paperboy

Maggie Smith- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role

Bradley Cooper- Silver Linings Playbook

Daniel Day-Lewis- Lincoln

John Hawkes- The Sessions

Hugh Jackman- Les Miserables 

Denzel Washington- Flight

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role

Jessica Chastain- Zero Dark Thirty

Marion Cotillard- Rust and Bone

Jennifer Lawrence- Silver Linings Playbook

Helen Mirren- Hitchcock

Naomi Watts- The Impossible

Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture

Argo

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Les Miserables

Lincoln 

Silver Linings Playbook

Awards Season: Updated Assessment on Oscars 2013

Ah December. Sure we get to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah and New Year's this month, but it's really only the third best month when it comes to what's really important: awards season.

We're inching closer and closer to awards season and a few films are already starting to distance themselves from the pack. There are only one day before the SAG nominations and two days before the Golden Globe nominations. And this morning, the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) gave out their nominations as well. Now is definitely the time to see which films are most likely to snatch the few coveted spots on those lists.

Best Picture
1. Zero Dark Thirty:
In Its Favor: New York Film Critics, the National Board of Review and the Boston Society Film Critics have all spoken: Zero Dark Thirty is their pick for the movie to beat. Nabbing not just Best Film but also important awards for Director and Actress, the "hunt for Bin Laden" film is crushing the competition in critics' eyes.
Against It: The subject matter may still be a bit hard to swallow for some people- not the killing Osama part, but the scenes of torture. So far, that doesn't seem to be stopping the film from dominating critics awards.

2. Les Misérables: 

In Its Favor: The stars (especially Anne Hathaway) and the brave new directing-style are consistently getting raves as the release date for the film creeps upf. But if a musical is done right, the Academy seems to have no problem rewarding it (see: Chicago, Moulin Rouge, etc.)
Against It: Haven't heard much buzz for the actors besides Hathaway (and, surprisingly, a few rumblings for Eddie Redmayne). And critics aren't flocking to it as the studio would probably hope. The best way to gauge Les Misérables' Oscar chances will have to be through the Golden Globes and whether or not it grabs that "Best Ensemble" nod for the SAG awards.

3. Lincoln:
In Its Favor: Another film raking in prestige is Spielberg's biopic. Obviously, the biggest praise is for Daniel Day-Lewis' fierce portrayal but the script by Tony Kushner and other technical aspects have also been noticed. It also helps that "Lincoln" just received a record-breaking 13 nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
Against It: Biopics are usually a pretty easy sell, especially with Spielberg at the helm on this one. But there's always doubts that the film does not say anything special about Lincoln when compared to other films about him. But most likely we'll be seeing this movie at the top of many nomination categories.

4. Argo:
In Its Favor: Ben Affleck's Iran film that could continues to silently stand its ground in the Oscar race from a possible screenwriting prediction to this Best Picture nod. It's a stellar film and a crowd-pleaser and Oscar voters should certainly recognize that...
Against It: Then again, this may be yet another case where the Academy doesn't see what's right in front of them. (Case in point: 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight... I can go on and on)

5. Beasts of the Southern Wild:
In Its Favor: Awards love and being a breakout at film festivals are still providing this little film a great platform to be the token Indie film of the Best Picture bunch. Plus the support for lead actress Quvenzhane Wallis and for director Ben Zeitlin helps the overall chances also.
Against It: There's also Moonrise Kingdom to compete with. Both film scored big at the BFCA nominations. Who can take that coveted small-budget spot? Can the Academy make room for both? 

6. Silver Linings Playbook:
In Its Favor: Even as it seems Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty are taking over as frontrunners, this charming film continues to gain support. Like Argo, the movie boasts great direction but also has the added factor of possible nominations for Best Actor, Actress and Supporting Actor. 
Against It: A film about emotional/psychological struggle, medication and dancing... Is the film too random to be fully embraced?

7. Life of Pi:
In Its Favor: Arguably the most visually stunning of the Best Picture lot, Life of Pi was thought to be one of those books that could never properly made into a movie. But unlike books-turned-movie predecessors (let's just come out and say it: "The Lovely Bones"), this film has been quite the success among critics.
Against It: No real acting nominations here. It'll be all about the technical awards. Is it too technical and not enough overall brilliant to be placed in the Best Picture slot?

8. The Master:
In Its Favor: No matter what Joaquin Phoenix says about not wanting an Oscar, this film continues to fight for spots on awards lists. While the accolades have died down since the film festival circuit, the BFCAs took interest in the film and all the actors.
Against It: No BFCA nod for Paul Thomas Anderson does hurt and the film may not have had a clear enough narrative structure for most.

9. Moonrise Kingdom:
In Its Favor: One of the sweetest films of the year, Moonrise definitely impressed critics and even managed to grab a spot on the BFCA Best Picture nomination list. The film even scored a Best Acting Ensemble nod.
Against It: Beasts of the Southern Wild. Period.

10. Amour:
In Its Favor: This foreign-language film continues to get big support from critics. Don't count it out come Oscar time.
Against It: Most of the love seems to be for lead actress Emmanuelle Riva. Doesn't necessarily mean the love will translate to a Best Picture nod.

Possible Alternatives: 
Django Unchained
Skyfall (Just earned several BFCA nominations)
Promised Land
Flight


Best Director
1. Kathryn Bigelow: Zero Dark Thirty
2. Steven Spielberg: Lincoln
3. Ben Affleck: Argo
4. Tom Hooper: Les Miserables
5. David O. Russell: Silver Linings Playbook

Possible Alternatives: 
Ang Lee: Life of Pi
Paul Thomas Anderson: The Master
Quentin Tarantino: Django Unchained
Michael Haneke: Amour


Best Actor: 
1. Daniel Day-Lewis: Lincoln
2. Bradley Cooper: Silver Linings Playbook
3. Joaquin Phoenix: The Master
4. Hugh Jackman: Les Miserables
5. Denzel Washington: Flight

Possible Alternatives: 
John Hawkes: The Sessions
Jamie Foxx: Django Unchained
Richard Gere: Arbitrage
Matt Damon: Promised Land
Ben Affleck: Argo


Best Actress: 
1. Jessica Chastain: Zero Dark Thirty
2. Jennifer Lawrence: Silver Linings Playbook
3. Emmanuelle Riva: Amour
4.Rachel Weisz: The Deep Blue Sea
5. Naomi Watts: The Impossible

Possible Alternatives:
Marion Cotillard: Rust and Bone
Quvenzhane Wallis: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Helen Mirren: Hitchcock
Keira Knightley: Anna Karenina
Judi Dench: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel


Best Supporting Actor:
1. Alan Arkin: Argo
2. Robert De Niro: Silver Linings Playbook
3. Phillip Seymour Hoffman: The Master
4. Tommy Lee Jones: Lincoln
5. Matthew McConaughey: Magic Mike

Possible Alternatives: 
Leonardo DiCaprio: Django Unchained
Dwight Henry: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Eddie Redmayne: Les Miserables
Javier Bardem: Skyfall


Best Supporting Actress: 
1. Anne Hathaway: Les Miserables
2. Amy Adams: The Master
3. Sally Field: Lincoln
4. Helen Hunt: The Sessions
5. Ann Dowd: Compliance

Possible Alternatives: 
Judi Dench: Skyfall
Maggie Smith: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Jacki Weaver: Silver Linings Playbook
Samantha Barks: Les Miserables


Best Original Screenplay: 
1.  Mark Boal: Zero Dark Thirty
2. Paul Thomas Anderson: The Master
3. Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola: Moonrise Kingdom
4. Quentin Tarantino: Django Unchained
5. Rian Johnson: Looper

Possible Alternatives: 
Michael Haneke: Amour
John Gatins: Flight 
Matt Damon & John Krasinski: Promised Land


Best Adapted Screenplay: 
1. Chris Terrio: Argo
2. Tony Kushner: Lincoln
3. David Magee: Life of Pi
4. David O. Russell: Silver Linings Playbook
5. Lucy Alibar & Ben Zeitlin: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Possible Alternatives: 
Stephen Chbosky: Perks of Being a Wallflower
William Nicholson: Les Miserables
Ben Lewin: The Sessions


Best Animated Feature:
1. Wreck-It Ralph
2. Brave
3. Paranorman
4. Frankenweenie

Possible Alternatives: 
Madagascar 3
Rise of the Guardians
The Pirates! Band of Misfits


Best Original Score: 
1. Dan Romer & Ben Zeitlin: Beasts of the Southern Wild
2. Johnny Greenwood: The Master
3. Mychael Danna: Life of Pi
4. John Williams: Lincoln
5. Alexandre Desplat: Argo

Possible Alternatives: 
Alexandre Desplat: Moonrise Kingdom
Howard Shore: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Mary Ramos: Django Unchained
Dario Marianelli: Anna Karenina
Alexandre Desplat: Zero Dark Thirty

As usual, there are always big surprises that come out of the critics and BFCAs. I mean, I get Rian Johnson getting a nomination for his stellar "Looper" but this growing momentum for Matthew McConaughey is completely silly, right? Anyway, stay tuned for another edition next week where I asses the effect the Golden Globe nominations will have on the Oscar race.

Sources: Indiewire, Vulture, The Hollywood Reporter & Entertainment Weekly

Awards Season Is Coming: Which Movies Have The Greatest Oscar Momentum?

October is here and with it brings fall, Halloween, pumpkins and Oscar watch. Now that those pesky TV awards are out of the way, it's time to really start prepping for the heart of movie awards season.

We've seen film festivals upon festivals give us tons of choices for all the award categories from Best Score to Best Picture so let's a take a look at the possible movies headed towards that Oscar stage, starting with the big ticket category: Best Picture

Best Picture
Depending on how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences voters are feeling this year, we could have anywhere from five to 10 nominees. Last year the AMPAS members seemed to hate the idea of choosing less nominees so much that they picked nine... even though only four or so actually had a shot. I'll pick out 10 for now and hopefully whittle down to a nice six or seven by the time nominations are announced.

Source

1. "Argo"
In its favor: 
-Massive crowd pleaser
-Extremely positive reviews after release and at Toronto Film Festival (95% on Rotten Tomatoes)
-Ensemble Acting Award at Hollywood Film Awards
Against it:
-Some small controversy with Canadians but the nomination is pretty much a done deal

Source

2. "The Master"
In its favor: 
-Wonderful reception and two awards from Venice Film Festival (Best Director & Co-Best Actors)
-Supporting Actress for Amy Adams from Hollywood Film Awards
-Great reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes)
-Surprisingly good box-office results so far for a limited release
Against it: 
-Difficult subject matter and directing style; not easy for mainstream enjoyment
-Scientology rumors/prone to controversy

Source

3. The Silver Linings Playbook (Releases November 21st)
In its favor:
-People's Choice Award from the Toronto Film Festival
-Rave early reviews (100% on Rotten Tomatoes SO FAR)
-Good pedigree with David O. Russell as director (The Fighter, Three Kings)
-Best Actor, Director and Supporting Actor honors from Hollywood Film Awards
Against it:
-Touchy subject with mental illness

Source

4. Lincoln (Releases November 9th)
In its favor: 
-Good reviews out of New York Film Festival
-Steven Spielberg (come on, who doesn't know Spielberg)
Against it:
-May be too traditional and not unique enough for some voters

Source

5. Les Miserables (Releases December 25th)
In its favor: 
-New style for musical-movies (actors sing while being filmed rather than lip-syncing)
-Pedigree of cast with Tom Hooper as director (The King's Speech)
-Classic and celebrated musical
-Fantastic reception to the trailer and "making of" featurette
Against it:
-Musicals aren't always awards friendly (see: Nine)
-When something is classic, it's hard to do it better than the original

Source

6. Life of Pi (Releases November 16th)
In its favor:
-Pedigree of Ang Lee as director (Brokeback Mountain; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
-Beautiful, sweeping imagery
-Revered story as source material (see: book by Yann Martel)
-Good reviews (93% on Rotten Tomatoes SO FAR)
Against it: 
-Difficult story to tell
-No well-known actors (all Indian/European cast)
-Worries that it will only be good in terms of cinematography and other technical aspects but not film as a whole (aka The "Lovely Bones" Effect)

Source

7. Zero Dark Thirty (Releases December 19th)
In its favor:
-Great action sequences
-Patriotic and lauded material (if handled correctly)
-Pedigree of Kathryn Bigelow as director (The Hurt Locker, Point Break)
-Getting a Film Editing honor at Hollywood Film Awards
-All-star cast of great acting chameleons (no one sticks out for being too famous)
Against it: 
-Controversial/difficult material (if handled poorly)
-Concern that the movie is too quick a turnaround from the actual operation
-Scandal surrounding whether or not the government gave filmmakers classified information to make the movie more realistic

Source

8. Amour
In its favor:
-Won the Palme d'Or (Best Film) at Cannes Film Festival
-Pedigree of Michael Haneke as director (Funny Games, The White Ribbon)
-Rave reviews for film and main actors
Against it: 
-Foreign film
-About elderly people with nude scenes and all

Source

9. Moonrise Kingdom (Out on DVD)
In its favor: 
-Very favorable reviews (94% on Rotten Tomatoes)
-Sweet/lovable story that is sure to warm voters' hearts
-Brilliant cast
-Great director pedigree with Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Against it: 
-Released in the summer, may not be fresh enough in people's minds
-May be a little too weird a style for some voters (same problem with Royal Tenenbaums)

Source

10. Beasts of the Southern Wild
In its favor:
-Big winner at Sundance
-Sterling reviews for film and cast (especially young star Quvenzhane Wallis)
Against it: 
-Really low-budget film that hasn't been seen by many
-Controversy with SAG awards: it doesn't meet the terms of the SAG low-budget feature agreement of having to use a few professional actors, which the film does not










Possible Alternatives:
Promised Land
Flight
Hyde Park on Hudson
The Impossible
Anna Karenina
Cloud Atlas
Django Unchained


Best Director
1. Ben Affleck: Argo
2. Paul Thomas Anderson: The Master
3. Steven Spielberg: Lincoln
4. David O. Russell: The Silver Linings Playbook
5. Tom Hooper: Les Miserables

Possible Alternatives:
Ang Lee: Life of Pi
Kathryn Bigelow: Zero Dark Thirty
Michael Heneke: Amour
Quentin Tarantino: Django Unchained
Robert Zemeckis: Flight
Gus Van Sant: Promised Land
Ben Zeitlin: Beasts of the Southern Wild


Best Actor
1. Joaquin Phoenix: The Master
2. Daniel Day-Lewis: Lincoln
3. John Hawkes: The Sessions
4. Denzel Washington: Flight
5. Anthony Hopkins: Hitchcock

Possible Alternatives:
Bradley Cooper: The Silver Linings Playbook
Bill Murray: Hyde Park on Hudson
Hugh Jackman: Les Miserables
Matt Damon: Promised Land
Jean-Louis Trintignant: Amour


Best Actress
1. Jennifer Lawrence: The Silver Linings Playbook
2. Naomi Watts: The Impossible
3. Helen Mirren: Hitchcock
4. Marion Cotillard: Rust and Bone
5. Keira Knightley: Anna Karenina

Possible Alternatives:
Quvenzhane Wallis: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Michelle Williams: Take this Waltz
Emmanuelle Riva: Amour
Laura Linney: Hyde Park on Hudson


Best Supporting Actor
1. Phillip Seymour Hoffman: The Master
2. Robert De Niro: The Silver Linings Playbook
3. Alan Arkin: Argo
4. Leonardo DiCaprio: Django Unchained
5. Tommy Lee Jones: Lincoln

Possible Alternatives:
Russell Crowe: Les Miserables
William H. Macy: The Sessions
Matthew McConaughey: Magic Mike
Dwight Henry: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Ewan McGregor: The Impossible


Best Supporting Actress
1. Amy Adams: The Master
2. Anne Hathaway: Les Miserables
3. Sally Field: Lincoln
4. Helen Hunt: The Sessions
5. Maggie Smith: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Possible Alternatives:
Nicole Kidman: The Paperboy
Jessica Chastain: Zero Dark Thirty
Francis McDorman: Promised Land
Scarlett Johansson: Hitchcock



Best Original Screenplay
1. Paul Thomas Anderson: The Master
2. Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola: Moonrise Kingdom
3. Mark Boal: Zero Dark Thirty
4. Quentin Tarantino: Django Unchained
5. Matt Damon & John Krasinski: Promised Land

Possible Alternatives: 
Michael Heneke: Amour
John Gatins: Flight
Martin McDonaugh: Seven Psycopaths
Rian Johnson: Looper


Best Adapted Screenplay
1. Chris Terrio: Argo
2. David O. Russell: The Silver Linings Playbook
3. Tony Kushner, John Logan & Paul Webb: Lincoln
4. David Magee: Life of Pi
5. Tom Stoppard: Anna Karenina

Possible Alternatives: 
William Nicholson: Les Miserables
Stephen Chbosky: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Ben Zeitlin & Lucy Alibar: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Ben Lewin: The Sessions
Judd Apatow: This Is 40


Best Animated Film
1. Brave
2. Wreck-It-Ralph
3. Frankenweenie
4. Paranorman

Possible Alternatives: 
Rise of the Guardians
Hotel Transylvania
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
The Lorax
A foreign animated feature that will surprise everyone


Best Score
1. Alexandre Desplat: Argo
2. Dario Marianelli: Anna Karenina
3. John Williams: Lincoln
4. Dan Romer & Ben Zeitlin: Beasts of the Southern Wild
5. Johnny Greenwood**: The Master
Other possible 5th: Howard Shore: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Possible Alternatives: 
Alexandre Desplat: Moonrise Kingdom
Danny Elfman: The Silver Linings Playbook
Reinold Hell, Johnny Kilmek & Tom Tyker: Cloud Atlas
Gustavo Santoallalo: On the Road
Mychael Danna: Life of Pi

**Jonny Greenwood may end up being deemed ineligible for using some of his already pre-recorded music for the score which is not allowed by Oscar standards.

So as this is the first week for predictions, anything can change. We won't get big hints until end of November and early December which is when the Critics Choice, The SAG awards and the Golden Globes will announce their nominations. See you then!


Sources: Indiewire, Vulture, The Hollywood Reporter & Entertainment Weekly