StaticBlog Live Coverage of 84th Annual Academy Awards Begins 7 p.m. Sunday
Join me at 7 p.m. Sunday for my live-blogging of the 84rd Annual Academy Awards — broadcast on ABC, analyzed, digested and extruded on StaticBlog. This and the Grammy Awards are the big live-blogging events every year on StaticBlog, and I encourage you to join in, comment, discuss, grouse, wax rhapsodic and chide. This is always fun, and just so you know where my head is at going into the ceremony, here are my picks — who should win, who will win.
BEST PICTURE
It is standard for Oscar to snub a great film every year, but I guess I was hoping for the deluxe version and get a Best Picture nomination for “Drive.” Instead, the Academy made room for “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” a film with a 45 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Bitter? Me? You bet.
Personally, if I had to throw this category to any film on the list, it would go to either “The Descendants” or “Moneyball” in a heartbeat, but this is the year of “The Artist.” The only way it loses is if “Hugo,” the other love letter to the silent era, siphons off some votes.
Should win: “The Descendants.”
Will win: “The Artist.”
BEST ACTOR
Compared to the fats and extenders in the Best Picture category, this is one lean, mean group. Every single one is worthy — especially Pitt, who gave the best and most human performance of his career in “Moneyball” — but Clooney gets an edge for dealing with a complex and relatable set of emotions in “The Descendants” and letting the audience feel the full weight on his character’s shoulders. Of course, I would be overjoyed at a dark-horse win for Gary Oldman in the spectacular “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” but Clooney deserves this.
Should and will win: George Clooney.
BEST ACTRESS
In terms of the complete films, neither “The Iron Lady” nor “My Week with Marilyn” were as good as the performances at their centers, which likely hampers chances for both Meryl Streep and Michelle Williams, and Close is miles away from a win for the utterly unconvincing “Albert Nobbs.” Viola Davis deserves a win not just for “The Help,” but for a career of extraordinary work, and it will be hers on Sunday. My personal choice, however is Rooney Mara, whose Lisbeth Salander in “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” radiated intelligence, toughness, vulnerability and a feral streak. She had to transcend Noomi Rapace’s performance in the Swedish version, and she did it handily.
Should win: Rooney Mara.
Will win: Viola Davis.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Without Albert Brooks in the category, this feels like a sham. Having said that, it is nice to see Jonah Hill get noticed for a great non-comedic turn in “Moneyball” and Nick Nolte given a nod for the otherwise overlooked “Warrior,” but this was always going to be Christopher Plummer’s award. Of course, Plummer has been overlooked many, many times, including his should-have-been-nominated performance as Mike Wallace in “The Insider,” but this is not one of those awful “making up for lost time” awards like Al Pacino’s win for “Scent of a Woman.” Plummer’s Hal Fields in “Beginners” is just a beautiful performance, fully deserving of the statuette.
Should and will win: Christopher Plummer.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Both Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer spent lengthy careers doing great supporting work before “Bridesmaids” and “The Help,” respectively, gave these actresses the roles they richly deserved. McCarthy’s performance as the rough-edged, sexually aggressive Megan is unlike any other character McCarthy played before and stood out as a work of true, immersive acting. But in “The Help,” Spencer’s serving of just desserts resulted in one of the most talked-out scenes in the film, and it was a fine showcase for what the best casting agents have known for years.
Should and will win: Octavia Spencer.
BEST DIRECTOR
“The Descendants” is not an especially unusual story, and perhaps that is why Alexander Payne’s direction resonates with me. The director of “Sideways” and “About Schmidt” is pitted against three of the greatest filmmakers of our time and a relative newcomer poised for an upset victory, but Payne’s film takes family issues of death, betrayal and grief and makes them all feel new, original and freshly experienced. Much of it has to do with the great performances by George Clooney and Shailene Woodley, but Payne’s storytelling anchors the entire enterprise.
Should win: Alexander Payne.
Will win: Michel Hazanavicius.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris.”
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
John Logan, “Hugo.”
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“Rango”
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory.”
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Who is the female violinist that was playing solo in orchestra?