The Oscars 2013

The Oscars, formally known as the 85th Academy Awards, will be held tonight and I for one am very excited.  The show is going to be hosted by Seth MacFarlane who, if the nominations announcement was anything to go by, will be hilarious.  He discussed Amour being a better collaboration between Austria and Germany than their last co-production, Hitler.  Having the guts to make such a comment in a room full of Hollywood Jews, you have to give him props.  I loved the banter between him and Emma Stone and I think he had a good mix of satirical humour without crossing the line too far.  If Family Guy and Ted are any indication he is no stranger from making fun of celebrities and movies so I am looking forward to him hosting tonight.


I will be staying up till the early hours to watch it and my brothers and myself as usual have predicted who we think will win.  After the ceremony has aired I will update the post with the winners and we can see how many we got correct.  I think that everyone will be surprised if Argo does not take home Best Picture and if Daniel Day-Lewis does not get another Best Actor Oscar.  That said I think the Best Actress is more open than usual with the two main contenders being Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence with Emmanuelle Riva coming up from behind with her recent Bafta win.  Personally I like all three and think they all deserve it but I have been so impressed with Jessica Chastain over the past few years and she gave everything in her performance of Maya in Zero Dark Thirty.  Similarly it would be a crime if Anne Hathaway did not walk away with the Best Supporting Actress Oscar as she blew me away in Les Miserables.  I'd love to see Quentin Tarantino win another Oscar as he hasn't won since Pulp Fiction and based on past award shows he looks like the front runner.  A less likely desire of mine to come true is for John Williams to win again for Best Original Score but come on the man is a genius and has given us such iconic film music, there is a reason why he was nominated almost every single year in the 70s and 80s.

I do find it sad that all the controversy surrounding Zero Dark Thirty has taken the steam out of its Oscar hopes.  When the film was first released it was being praised and winning all sort of critic awards then the controversy regarding the scenes of torture have made it virtually impossible for it to be another success for Kathryn Bigelow at this years Oscars.  Having seen the film I do not really understand what the big deal is as I have seen more shocking scenes in other movies.  That said, the torture scenes are hard to watch and horrifying, as they should be, as torture is horrifying and therefore filmic representations of torture should reflect that.  I do not pretend to know much about American politics regarding these issues but I do find it hypocritical for the people involved to have the nerve to condemn Bigelow.  I may not know much but I am not an idiot, what do the Senators think was happening in Guantanamo Bay all those years, it was not exactly a holiday camp.  I have yet to see Argo but I do wonder if the film would have had such success if all the controversy had not drowned out any hope for Zero Dark Thirty.  It may not have made any difference in the long run as although I thought Zero Dark Thirty was great I did think The Hurt Locker (2008) was a better movie and Argo was Roger Ebert's film of the year.  I am looking forward to seeing Argo and I am sure I will love it and if it does win it will be a well deserved victory but I do wonder if things would be different if Zero Dark Thirty had not been overcome with controversy.    

Read on after the jump to check out the nominations and our predictions for who we think will take home the Oscar and be forever introduced as Academy Award Winner...

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Amour

Argo

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Django Unchained

Les Miserables

Life of Pi

Lincoln

Silver Linings Playbook

Zero Dark Thirty

My Predicted Winner: Argo
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Lincoln
James' Predicted Winner: Lincoln

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook

Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln

Hugh Jackman for Les Miserables

Joaquin Pheonix for The Master

Denzel Washington for Flight

My Predicted Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln
James' Predicted Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty

Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook

Emmanuelle Riva or Amour

Quvenzhane Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild

Naomi Watts for The Impossible

My Predicted Winner: Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook
James' Predicted Winner: Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Alan Arkin for Argo

Robert De Niro for Silver Linings Playbook

Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Master

Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln

Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained

My Predicted Winner: Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained
James' Predicted Winner: Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams for The Master

Sally Field for Lincoln

Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables

Helen Hunt for The Sessions

Jacki Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook

My Predicted Winner: Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables
James' Predicted Winner: Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables

Best Achievement in Directing

Michael Haneke for Amour

Ang Lee for Life of Pi

David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook

Steven Spielberg for Lincoln

Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild

My Predicted Winner: Ang Lee for Life of Pi
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Ang Lee for Life of Pi
James' Predicted Winner: Steven Spielberg for Lincoln

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Michael Haneke for Amour

Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained

John Gatins for Flight

Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola for Moonrise Kingdom

Mark Boal for Zero Dark Thirty

My Predicted Winner: Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Mark Boal for Zero Dark Thirty
James' Predicted Winner: Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Chris Terrio for Argo

Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild

David Magee for Life of Pi

Tony Kushner for Lincoln

David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook

My Predicted Winner: David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook
Matthew's Predicted Winner: David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook
James' Predicted Winner: Tony Kushner for Lincoln

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Brave

Frankeweenie

ParaNorman

The Pirates!  In an Adventure with Scientists!

Wreck-It Ralph

My Predicted Winner: Brave
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Frankenweenie
James' Predicted Winner: Brave

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Amour (Austria)

War Witch (Canada)

No (Chile)

A Royal Affair (Denmark)

Kon-Tiki (Norway)

My Predicted Winner: Amour (Austria)
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Amour (Austria) 
James' Predicted Winner: Amour (Austria)

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Anna Karenina; Seamus McGarvey

Django Unchained; Robert Richardson 

Life of Pi; Claudio Miranda 

Lincoln; Janusz Kaminski 

Skyfall; Roger Deakins

My Predicted Winner: Life of Pi; Claudio Miranda
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Life of Pi; Claudio Miranda
James' Predicted Winner: Skyfall; Roger Deakins

Best Achievement in Editing

Argo; William Goldenberg 

Life of Pi; Tim Squyres 

Lincoln; Michael Kahn 

Silver Linings Playbook; Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers 

Zero Dark Thirty; William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor

My Predicted Winner: Argo; William Goldenberg
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Zero Dark Thirty; William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor
James' Predicted Winner: Zero Dark Thirty; William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor

Best Achievement in Production Design

Anna Karenina; Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Dan Hennah, Ra Vincent and Simon Bright

Les Miserables; Eve Stewart and Anna Lynch-Robinson 

Life of Pi; David Gropman and Anna Pinnock 

Lincoln; Rick Carter and Jim Erickson

My Predicted Winner: Les Miserables; Eve Stewart and Anna Lynch-Robinson
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Les Miserables; Eve Stewart and Anna Lynch-Robinson
James' Predicted Winner: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Dan Hennah, Ra Vincent and Simon Bright

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Anna Karenina; Jacqueline Durran  

Les Miserables; Paco Delgado 

Lincoln; Joanna Johnston 

Mirror Mirror: The Untold Adventures of Snow White; Eiko Ishioka 

Snow White and the Huntsman; Colleen Atwood

My Predicted Winner: Anna Karenina; Jacqueline Durran
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Les Miserables; Paco Delgado
James' Predicted Winner: Les Miserables; Paco Delgado

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

Hitchcock; Howard Berger, Peter Montagna and Martin Samuel 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Peter King, Rick Findlater and Tami Lane 

Les Miserables; Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell

My Predicted Winner: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Peter King, Rick Findlater and Tami Lane
Matthew's Predicted Winner: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Peter King, Rick Findlater and Tami Lane.
James' Predicted Winner: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Peter King, Rick Findlater and Tami Lane.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Anna Karenina; Dario Marianelli 

Argo; Alexandre Desplat 

Life of Pi; Mychael Danna 

Lincoln; John Williams 

Skyfall; Thomas Newman

My Predicted Winner: Life of Pi; Mychael Danna
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Lincoln; John Williams
James' Predicted Winner: Skyfall; Thomas Newman

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Chasing Ice; J. Ralph "Before My Time" 

Les Miserables; Alain Boubil, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer "Suddenly" 

Life of Pi; Mychael Danna and Bombay Jayshree "Pi's Lullaby" 

Skyfall; Adele and Paul Epworth "Skyfall" 

Ted; Walter Murphy and Seth MacFarlane "Everybody Needs a Best Friend

My Predicted Winner: Skyfall; Adele and Paul Epworth "Skyfall"
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Skyfall; Adele and Paul Epworth "Skyfall"
James' Predicted Winner: Skyfall; Adele and Paul Epworth "Skyfall"

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

Argo; John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Jose Antonio Garcia 

Les Miserables; Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes 

Life of Pi; Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill and Drew Kunin 

Lincoln; Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Ron Judkins 

Skyfall; Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell and Stuart Wilson

My Predicted Winner: Les Miserables; Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Les Miserables; Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes
James' Predicted Winner: Les Miserables; Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Argo; Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn 

Django Unchained; Wylie Stateman 

Life of Pi; Eugene Gearty and Philip Stockton 

Skyfall; Per Hallberg and Karen M. Baker 

Zero Dark Thirty; Paul N.J. Ottosson

My Predicted Winner: Skyfall; Per Hallberg and Karen M. Baker
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Argo; Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
James' Predicted Winner: Argo; Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

The Avengers; Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Daniel Sudick 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Christopher White 

Life of Pi; Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik De Boer and Donald Elliott 

Prometheus; Richard Stammers, Trevor Wood, Charley Henley and Martin Hill

Snow White and the Huntsman; Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Phil Brennan, Neil Corbould and Michael Dawson

My Predicted Winner: Life of Pi; Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik De Boer and Donald Elliott
Matthew's Predicted Winner: The Avengers; Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Daniel Sudick
James' Predicted Winner: Life of Pi; Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik De Boer and Donald Elliott.

Best Documentary, Feature

5 Broken Cameras

The Gatekeepers

How to Survive a Plague

The Invisible War

Searching for Sugar Man

My Predicted Winner: Searching for Sugar Man
Matthew's Predicted Winner: The Invisible War
James' Predicted Winner: Searching for Sugar Man

Best Documentary, Short Subject

Inocente

Kings Point

Mondays at Racine

Open Heart

Redemption

My Predicted Winner: Open Heart
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Mondays at Racine
James' Predicted Winner: Redemption

Best Short Film, Animated

Adam and Dog

Fresh Guacamole

Head Over Heels

Paperman

The Simpsons: The Longest Daycare

My Predicted Winner: Paperman
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Fresh Guacamole
James' Predicted Winner: The Simpsons: The Longest Daycare 

Best Short Film, Live Action

Asad

Buzkashi Boys

Curfew

Death of a Shadow

Henry

My Predicted Winner: Asad
Matthew's Predicted Winner: Curfew
James' Predicted Winner: Asad