Feature
Oscar Predictions
Marjorie Gallagher is off to the bookies ...
Well, it's that time of year again; after the presents have been opened, all the food eaten and the decorations put away, the most depressing part of the year is slightly alleviated by the endless award ceremonies and red carpets. The daddy of them all, the Oscars airs on February 26th and as usual here at LIFM we take a look at the main nominations, deserved or otherwise and decide who will win and who should win. It's a rather frivolous endeavour but what else is there to do on a cold, wet February day?
Best Actress in a supporting role
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Comedy never gets a look-in at the Oscars so it's not done too badly this year; two nominations are better than nothing. McCarthy was hilarious as the totally inappropriate yet lovable Megan, but Oscar voters do love an against-all-odds performance so it's unlikely she'll walk away with the trophy. Should win: Melissa McCarthy Will Win: Octavia Spencer.
Best 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
The Best Supporting category is so weighed down with gravitas it's hard to see how these heavyweights (well, bar Jonah Hill) can be separated. All the momentum has been going with Christopher Plummer, it looks likely to continue in his favour.
Should win: Christopher Plummer Will win: Christopher Plummer.
Best 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
There's only one woman in the running. It's not the best film but it is a fantastic performance. Part imitation, part instinct; utterly compelling. This one's a slam dunk.
Should win: Meryl Streep Will win: Meryl Streep
Best Actor in a leading role Demián Bichir, A Better Life George Clooney, The Descendants Jean Dujardin, The Artist Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Brad Pitt, Moneyball
For his smooth and sophisticated turn in The Artist is should be Jean Dujardin. He is so completely compelling without uttering a sound. But it seems as if it is Clooney's year. Rumblings suggest having been around the Oscar block a few times he is about to board the bus this time.
Should win: Jean Dujardin Will win: George Clooney
Best Director Michel Hazavanicius, The Artist Alexander Payne, The Descendants Martin Scorsese, Hugo Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
There is only one winner. If you have managed to bring silent cinema back to life it's no contest.
Should win: Michel Hazavanicius Will win: Michel Hazavanicius
Best Picture War Horse The Artist Moneyball The Descendants The Tree of Life Midnight in Paris The Help Hugo Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
It's a nice mix of films in the shortlist although having only nine seems either lazy or like the academy just couldn't find a tenth film deemed worthy enough to go on the list. It's a close call between War Horse, Hugo and The Artist, but the film that really deserves it is the one that took cinema right back to the beginning and proved that new isn't always better. Silence is sometimes better that noise and that 2D is always, always better than 3D.
Should win: The Artist Will win: The Artist
Marjorie Gallagher
