And The Oscar Goes To......

[huntergrayson]

I think Kenneth actually set a record with that (the first actor to be nominated in 5 categories).

Trivia: composer Thomas Newman is the Susan Lucci of the Oscars and the most nominating living composer to not have won. He's been nominated 10 times. I actually thought he had a shot for Best Original Song this year for The Help.

John Williams first nomination was for Valley of the Dolls.

[Mugsy]

Regarding the Oscars, I find it interesting that there is always talk that Actor A is due for an Oscar or that Actress B doesn't have one so the voters may give her one this year. As if all A-listers deserve to eventually win an Oscar.

I mean, I love Sandra Bullock, she can do no wrong in my book, but in what universe what that an Oscar-worthy performance? Choosing one performance over four others (and choosing those five over hundreds) is pretty subjective anyway, more of a popularity contest than anything. Or, it's reflective of who's hot right now, so let's make sure they're nominated.

Like Brad Pitt. I think he's usually the weak link in most of his movies. Some people praised his work in Inglourious Basterds, but I thought he was worse than the lead in a badly-directed high school play. So hammy. Yet, he's a big name, so people figure he should get an Oscar some time, that maybe this is his year.

Lots of actors work their entire lives producing entertaining and memorable work and never see an Oscar. Harrison Ford, for example. When will it be his year? Or does he have to wait for a Lifetime Achievement Award?

I don't even know if this rant makes sense. I guess my main point is that Oscar seems less based on performance and often based on popularity.

[Deleted]

Totally agree with your entire post, Mugsy, though I am guilty of sometimes hoping for certain actors to get nominated because I like their overall work (like DiCaprio or Winslet). But yeah, Oscars are a popularity contest (even for dead people, as their annual In Memoriam montage shows).

[canuckcutie]

Well The Artist was the big winner at The BAfTA's. Wonder if that foretells an Oscar sweep. Plummer & Soencer picked up best supporting actor & actress but Meryl & Jean Dujardin won best actress & actor.

[forever1267]

BAFTA Award Winners Link


BEST FILM
THE ARTIST

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
TYRANNOSAUR -- Paddy Considine (Director), Diarmid Scrimshaw (Producer)

DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius, THE ARTIST

LEADING ACTOR
Jean Dujardin, THE ARTIST

LEADING ACTRESS
Meryl Streep, THE IRON LADY

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christopher Plummer, BEGINNERS

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Octavia Spencer, THE HELP

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
THE SKIN I LIVE IN

DOCUMENTARY
SENNA

ANIMATED FILM
RANGO

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Michel Hazanavicius, THE ARTIST

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

ORIGINAL MUSIC
Ludovic Bource, THE ARTIST

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guillaume Schiffman, THE ARTIST

EDITING
Gregers Sall and Chris King, SENNA

PRODUCTION DESIGN
Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo, HUGO

COSTUME DESIGN
Mark Bridges, THE ARTIST

MAKE UP & HAIR
Marese Langan, Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland, THE IRON LADY

SOUND
Philip Stockton, Eugene Gearty, Tom Fleischman, John Midgley, HUGO

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
Tim Burke, John Richardson, Greg Butler and David Vickery, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2

SHORT ANIMATION
A MORNING STROLL

SHORT FILM
PITCH BLACK HEIST

THE ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
ADAM DEACON

So we can pretty much ink in Octavia and Christopher, but Actor and Actress really are up in the air. That's good news.

[Atreides]

So it's looking like the only true nailbiter category on Oscar night will be for Best Actress between Meryl and Viola. Everything else looks all sewn up.

[afterglow]

I think or I’d like to think the best actor race is a nail biter too. It’s really between Clooney and that Artist guy but I feel like there’s a slight chance of an Adrian Brody moment when the leading contenders split votes and the Oscar goes to the underdog (Oldman or Bichir). I remember everyone thought Nicholson or Day Lewis was for sure going to win and Brody came out of nowhere.

[Deleted]

I don't think that there will ever be another Adrien Brody moment. I remember it too and was so happy when he won because that performance was one of the best I had ever seen. But even in 2002/2003 there weren't as many awards as there are now and if someone sweeps the entire season and wins all the big ones, it's almost impossible for them to lose the Oscar. Dujardin has now won the Globe, SAG, Bafta, and a whole bunch of critics awards. The only somewhat bigger award he didn't win was the Critics Choice Award. That would be one hell of an upset if Oldman or Bichir won.

Meryl has won the Globe and a Bafta which means she has the support of the British voters within AMPAS. I still think though that Viola will win.

[huntergrayson]

So, they aren't doing the best song nominees (of which there are only two this year, including a chance for Muppets!) but fracking Cirque du Soleil is performing. Ugh.

[Deleted]

For real? WTF guys?