So, it's been a while. I think I may have disappeared because the thrilling nature of Oscar season never truly took hold of me this year. My predictions for the nominations weren't great, but mostly because I didn't play it safe enough in the performance categories. Next time Tilda! I guess I have to work on thinking like an old, white man. 'The Artist' steam train on Sunday is inevitable. I guess I didn't really feel like my brain had much to the add to the conversation. Even in a seemingly predictable year, I have no doubt I will be just as excited as I always am on Oscar morning. Below are my final predictions and some of my favorite films of 2011. I'm not really going out on any crazy limbs this year, only if you think 'The Artist' will also take screenplay and cinematography home, which it very well could. My winner predictions are below. Bring on the upsets!
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| My favorite actress Kate Winslet winning Best Actress for the "The Reader" |
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Jim Rash, and Nat Faxon, The Descendants
Best Editing: The Artist
Best Cinematography: The Tree of Life
Best Costume Design: Jane Eyre
Best Art Direction: Hugo
Best Original Score: The Artist
Best Original Song: “Man or Muppet,” The Muppets
Best Makeup: The Iron Lady
Best Sound Editing: War Horse
Best Sound Mixing: Hugo
Best Visual Effects: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Best Foreign-Language Film: A Separation
Best Documentary Feature: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Best Animated Short: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Best Live-Action Short: Tuba Atlantic
Best Documentary Short: Saving Face
2011 offered a lot of great films, most which found themselves outside the scope of awards season. I'm disappointed that I did not get around to see 'Win Win' and 'A Separation' among others before this post. You're never going to get around to seeing everything and I will definitely catch up on Netflix, iTunes or on a movie channel down the road. I did a pretty good job this year though.
Favorite Films of 2011
50/50 - In another world, Joseph Gordon-Levitt would be at the Kodak...er now the Hollywood & Highland Center for the time being. Although I haven't numbered my favorites, this is probably my number one.
Drive - This one will be remembered in the years to come. So much can be said without words. It may be violent, but if you can get past that, there is truly exquisite filmmaking going on.
Drive - This one will be remembered in the years to come. So much can be said without words. It may be violent, but if you can get past that, there is truly exquisite filmmaking going on.
Weekend - The best gay film to come along in many years. Incredible performances.
My Week with Marilyn - Michelle Williams' performance has stayed with me. The backstage stories and the price of fame will always be fascinating to watch.
Jane Eyre - An incredible adaptation. Wasikowska was born to play this role and Fassbender nails it yet again.
Bridesmaids - Such great laughs and performances from Wiig, McCarthy and Byrne and the whole ensemble. My favorite comedy of the year.
Hugo - The history of cinema theme pops up once again and from one of my favorites directors. Just lovely.
The Help - The performances took this well known subject to new places. Team Viola Davis for life.
We Need To Talk About Kevin - Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller did wonders with this dark material. Difficult to watch but hard to shake that kind of intensity and commitment.
Poetry - An extraoridnary South Korean film I caught on Netflix Instant. Aside from being anchored by a incredibly raw central performance, the film manages to say so much about the beauty in the world that can help us through truly dark times and circumstances.
The Descendants - A interesting rumination on life and death and the connections between our past and our future. It's Clooney's best performance to date and features some of the most creative casting of the year.
