hippie_chick | Oscar time fast approaches! (Reply)

As I try to do each year, I pop in here with the nominees and my picks for the wins.

This year's awards is on Sunday February 26 at 7 pm ET.

Best Picture:

The Artist
Hugo
The Descendants
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Help
Midnight In Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

My pick: Of these I did pretty poorly viewing... I've only seen Midnight In Paris, The Help, and The Artist. I really enjoyed Midnight in Paris and The Artist and I want to see The Descendants as well as Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The rest to be honest don't really grab me. As far as what will win, I'm thinking The Artist.

Actor In A Leading Role

Demián Bichir - A Better Life
George Clooney - The Descendants
Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Brad Pitt - Moneyball
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

My pick: I'll go with Jean Dujardin. I have a feeling that The Artist is going to be this years Oscar "it" film. However I haven't seen Moneyball so I can't say what I think about Brad, and lots of people think he has this, so I don't know.

Actress In A Leading Role

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

My pick: Queen Meryl, baby. I haven't seen The Iron Lady yet, but what I have seen of it she nails it as usual. I just adore her. I like Michelle a whole lot, too, so we'll see here. Viola was great in The Help, too. This is tough. Not crazy about Rooney... I think Noomi Rapace is superior in that role, but meh. And I still think Tilda Swinton should be in here for We Need To Talk About Kevin. Were she in there that would change things entirely for me.

Actor In A Supporting Role

Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Nick Nolte - Warrior
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Max Von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

My pick: I'm going to put it in for Christopher Plummer. But from what I'm seeing, Max Von Sydow could upset this. And may I say it's just strange to see Jonah Hill up there as an Oscar Nominee. Again, though I haven't seen Moneyball so I don't even know. It's just... weird. LOL

Actress In A Supporting Role

Bérénice Bejo - The Artist
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer - The Help

My pick: I always think that if two actresses are up for the same award in the same film as Jessica and Octavia are, they cancel each other out. But both were great. And do comedy roles often win any major acting awards (Melissa)? I'll have to put in my bet here for Bérénice Bejo in The Artist.

Animated Feature Film

A Cat In Paris
Chico and Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Rango

My pick: Rango. Because, well, JOHNNY DEPP. Really surprised Tintin isn't here.

Cinematography

The Artist
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse

My pick: I have no idea. I'm just going to go with Hugo, but I think it might even go to The Artist.

Director

Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Alexander Payne - The Descendants
Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Woody Allen - Midnight In Paris
Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life

My pick: I want to see Woody get this one.

A word about the nominated songs!

I can't get over that there are only TWO SONGS nominated for Best Original Song? What is THAT? I just think that the music branch of the Academy makes it WAY TOO DIFFICULT to even get a nomination in this category any more. Ridiculous, totally.

As for the two nominated songs, we have "Man or Muppet" from "The Muppet Movie" and "Real In Rio" from "Rio". By the way you probably won't even be seeing either one of them performed on the telecast. Of the two I think that "Real In Rio" might get this one, I think it's cute and fun.

Why isn't "Masterpiece" by Madonna in there? I mean hello, GOLDEN GLOBE! Or her competition at the Globes, Elton John and Lady Gaga's "Hello Hello" from "Gnomeo and Juliet"? Jónsi had a gorgeous entire SOUNDTRACK for "We Bought A Zoo"! Mary J. Blige's song in "The Help"? Come on Academy there were more to choose from than just two, and two from children's movies at that!

Jónsi - Gathering Stories (from "We Bought A Zoo")

"I Like Dreamin' - Kenny Nolan 1977" (Watch on YouTube)

Madonna - Masterpiece (From W.E.)

Mary J. Blige - The Living Proof (From "The Help")

"Michael Martin Murphey - Wildfire" (Watch on YouTube)

As far as Best Original Score, I always love me some John Williams (War Horse), but I think The Artist will get that one, because well, it's a silent film and RELIED on a great score, right?