My Oscar Reactions!

I apologize that they're coming so late, but here are my reactions to the big winners on Sunday night! For the most part, I guessed very well (I won my family's pool!). There were some surprises, obviously, but I'd say overall, most of the winners were expected. Below is a summary of my thoughts.....

Best Picture: Argo

After Affleck was snubbed of a Best Director nomination, Argo gained considerable steam, and dethroned the film considered to be the frontrunner all season: Lincoln. Though I would have been happy to see either film win, Argo was a truly exceptional film. The victory was well-deserved.

Best Director: Ang Lee

This was the biggest surprise of the night, and the only major category that I missed. I thought that Spielberg was going to take home his first Oscar in many, many years, but the Academy chose to honor the filmmaker who not only made an "unfilmable" film, but also did so very well. It is a curious thing that Steven Spielberg, widely considered to be one of the finest filmmakers of all time, could be underrated (only 2 Directing Oscars?). I was pulling for his win, but I was also happy for Lee.

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis

This one was a given. Day-Lewis's performance was nothing short of dazzling, and no one else should have won.

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence

I think Jennifer Lawrence is a great actress, and her performance in Silver Linings Playbook was impressive, but I did not think it was Oscar-worthy. Unfortunately, Harvey Weinstein bought this Oscar for her. Emmanuelle Riva, on her 86th birthday, deserved it more. Her performance was mesmerizing, while Lawrence's was, unfortunately, conventional. I was disappointed with this one.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz

In a category filled with worthy contenders, it was Waltz who came out on top, and for good reason: his portrayal of Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained was spectacular. I really think he should have been nominated in the Lead Actor category because he was pretty much the entire film, but I can understand why his chances of winning monumentally escalated in the Supporting category. Plus, Waltz is such a class act, so it was great seeing him win!

Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway

This category was as much a lock as Best Actor. Hathaway nabbed her first Oscar for her portrayal as the sick prostitute Fantine in Les Mis. I think her performance was the best of the five, and so her win was well-deserved.

Other Musings

• Pixar did it again, winning Best Animated Feature for Brave. A very charming film, I'm glad it won!
• There was a tie! The exceedingly rare outcome came in the Sound Editing category, with Oscars going to both Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall. Congrats!
• Adele is unstoppable: She is halfway to EGOT with her Oscar win. Maybe she'll look into that Emmy or Tony sometime soon?
• Searching For Sugarman won for Best Documentary, which absolutely delighted me. It was one of the best films of the year, and it completely deserved the win.
• Chris Terrio (Argo) and Quentin Tarantino Django Unchained) won the Adapted and Original Screenplay categories, respectively. They were very worthy winners, although Tarantino's win was bittersweet, because it means that Mark Boal was not honored for his superb work in developing Zero Dark Thirty.

My 2013 Academy Awards Predictions and Commentary!

The Oscars are almost here! One of my favorite nights of the year is FINALLY arriving, and I can't help but join the millions of people trying to predict this year's winners. If anyone is participating in an Oscar pool, look no further for some inspiration! After the ceremony, I will update the list with the winners and see how many categories I correctly predicted!


** UPDATE ** Winners are in red. 

Best Picture

"Argo"
"Django Unchained"
"Les Miserables"
"Life of Pi"
"Amour"
"Lincoln"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Winner: Argo

Possibility: Lincoln

After Ben Affleck was inexplicably snubbed of a Best Director nomination, I thought that Lincoln was poised to win the top prize behind its director Steven Spielberg, But that was before all of the other awards shows. Argo seemed to sweep every one of them, and is now firmly on track to become just the fifth film in Oscar history to win Best Picture without a nomination for its director. On the other hand, Lincoln could pull off an upset, and it would be deserving as well. To me, nothing screams "Academy bait" more than a film about America's greatest president directed by the adored Steven Spielberg and starring gold mine Daniel-Day Lewis.

Actor in a Leading Role
Bradley Cooper - "Silver Linings Playbook"
Daniel Day-Lewis - "Lincoln"
Hugh Jackman - "Les Miserables"
Joaquin Phoenix - "The Master"
Denzel Washington - "Flight"

Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis

Possibility: None

This has been Day-Lewis's category from the beginning, and his uncanny portrayal of the 16th President makes him a shoo-in for his third Leading Actor Oscar. Even more incredible is that he also happens to completely deserve this one.

Actress in a Leading Role
Jessica Chastain - "Zero Dark Thirty"
Jennifer Lawrence - "Silver Linings Playbook"
Emmanuelle Riva - "Amour"
Quvenzhané Wallis - "Beasts of Southern Wild"
Naomi Watts - "The Impossible"

Winner: Jennifer Lawrence

Possibility: Emmanuelle Riva

This has been a tough category to predict all season. Chastain was the early frontrunner, but the controversy around ZDT''s appartently pro-torture stance has all but eliminated her chances of winning. Jennifer Lawrence won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award, a pretty solid indicator of Oscar gold, and she is currently the frontrunner. However, I can't help but feel that BAFTA winner Riva has a great chance of winning this award. It would be an opportunity for the Academy to honor the veteran actress on her 86th birthday. Plus, the Academy's average age is way up there, so they might be drawn to a performance like Riva's more than one like Lawrence's. I'm personally rooting for Riva, but realistically expecting Lawrence.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Arkin - "Argo"
Robert De Niro - "Silver Linings Playbook"
Philip Seymour Hoffman - "The Master"
Tommy Lee Jones - "Lincoln"
Christoph Waltz - "Django Unchained"

Winner: Christoph Waltz

(Strong) Possibility: Tommy Lee Jones

Hands-down the hardest acting category to call. The awards shows have been all over the place: Waltz won the Golden Globe and BAFTA, Jones won the SAG, Hoffman won the Critic's Choice. I'm going with Waltz purely because he seems to have last-minute momentum. His performance in Django is undoubtedly great, but he is practically in the entire film, so its almost not fair to the likes of Jones and De Niro, who have considerably less screen time. I loved Jones's performance, and Hoffman's performance was fantastic, too (he was the early frontrunner, but has since run out of steam). The Academy loves Waltz but he won just three years ago, for a similar performance in a film by the same director. Jones is part of a highly-lauded, much more Academy-friendly film, so any of these two men could win it tonight.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams - "The Master"
Sally Field - "Lincoln"
Anne Hathaway - "Les Miserables"
Helen Hunt - "The Sessions"
Jackie Weaver - "Silver Linings Playbook"

Winner: Anne Hathaway

Possibility: None

This has been Hathaway's category from the beginning, and expect no other actress walking up to the stage to accept her award tonight. She delivered a short but very powerful performance as factory worker-turned-prostitute Fantine, and I think her win will be well deserved.

Animated Feature Film
"Brave"
"Frankenweenie"
"ParaNorman"
"The Pirates! Band of Misfits"
"Wreck-It Ralph"

Winner: Brave

Possibility: Wreck-It Ralph

This is a battle between the Disney films. Pixar is almost unbeatable, so I'm going with the very charming Brave to take home the Oscar. It faces stiff competition, however, from the also-cute Ralph. I think that the majesty of the Scotland-set Brave will appeal more to Academy voters, though.

Directing
"Amour" - Michael Haneke
"Beasts of the Southern Wild" - Benh Zeitlin
"Life of Pi" - Ang Lee
"Lincoln" - Steven Spielberg
"Silver Linings Playbook" - David O. Russell

Winner: Steven Spielberg

Possibility: Ang Lee

Spielberg is the solid front-runner here, and I think that the Academy will choose to honor Lincoln with the Director trophy instead of the Picture one. Close behind is Lee, who filmed an "unfilmable' story, and did an outstanding job. I believe that the Academy will honor Spielberg with his third (only third?) Best Director Oscar, as Lincoln is along the lines of the films that have won Spielberg Oscars before, and perhaps its too soon to honor Lee with another Directing prize.

Writing - Original Screenplay
"Amour" - Michael Haneke
"Django Unchained" - Quentin Tarantino
"Flight" - John Gatins
"Moonrise Kingdom" - Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola
"Zero Dark Thirty" - Mark Boal

Winner: Quentin Tarantino

(Strong) Possibility: Mark Boal

This is also a tough race to call. Tarantino won a slew of precursor awards, including the Golden Globe and the BAFTA, but Boal won the WGA Award. I think that, in the end, it will be Tarantino; he wins major points for originality. He was able to write a satire that was both wildly funny and strongly critical of Antebellum society. Boal, on the other hand, was able to accomplish something spectacular: write an incredibly intense and suspenseful film about a fairly recent event that everyone remembers and remembers the outcome. So who is it going to be? I'm giving the ever-so-slight edge to Tarantino, as perhaps the Academy might feel it too soon to give Mark Boal another Screenplay Oscar.And The 

Writing - Adapted Screenplay
"Argo" - Chris Terrio
"Beasts of the Southern Wild" - Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin
"Life of Pi" - David Magee
"Lincoln" - Tony Kushner
"Silver Linings Playbook" - David O. Russell

Winner: Chis Terrio

Possibility: Tony Kushner

The screenplay races are close this year. Here, Kushner had the early momentum for his impressive screenplay about the struggle to pass the 13th Amendment. However, Terrio has won most of the precursor awards, and he acheived a similar feat to Mark Boal: write a screenplay that is based on true events but still manages to be egde-of-your-seat suspenseful. I think he will ride Argo's momentum all the way to the podium.

Music - Original Song
"Before My Time" from "Chasing Ice," music and lyrics by J. Ralph
"Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from "Ted," music by Walter Murphy, lyrics by Seth MacFarlane
"Pi's Lullaby" from "Life of Pi," music by Mychael Danna, lyrics by Bombay Jayashri
"Skyfall" from "Skyfall," music and lyrics by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth
"Suddenly" from "Les Miserables," music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil

Winner: "Skyfall"

(Distant) Possibility: "Suddenly"

Is there anything that Adele cannot do? When it comes to winning awards, the answer is "no," so look for her to be halfway to EGOT after tonight.

Foreign Language Film
"Amour" (Austria)
"Kon-Tiki" (Norway)
"No" (Chile)
"A Royal Affair" (Denmark)
"War Witch" (Canada)

Winner: Amour

Possibility: Who knows?

The Academy is notorious for surprises in this category. The incredible showing of Amour in the mainstream categories makes the film's win here almost a sure thing. It also won pretty much all of the precursor awards. With this category and the Academy you just never know though, so while you mark Amour on your ballots with confidence, don't be chin-on-floor flabbergasted if some other film winds up accepting the prize.

Cinematography
"Anna Karenina"
"Django Unchained"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"

Winner: Life of Pi

Possibility: Lincoln, Skyfall

I think Pi is a safe bet here. The film is visually stunning, and I believe that perfect simplicity will win it for the film.

Costume Design
"Anna Karenina""Les Miserables"
"Lincoln"
"Mirror Mirror"
"Snow White and the Huntsman"

Winner: Anna Karenina

Possibility: Lincoln, Les Miserables

The two Snow White films will probably cancel each other out, and this category tends to go to the pouffiest and fluffiest dresses, so look for period drama Anna to pull out the win.

Documentary - Feature
"5 Broken Cameras"
"The Gatekeepers"
"How to Survive a Plague"
"The Invisible War"
"Searching for Sugar Man"

Winner: Searching for Sugar Man

Possibility: How to Survive a Plague

Sugar Man was not only an outstanding documentary, but it was also one of my favorite films of the year. I now have Rodriguez's music on repeat on my iPhone. This great film will almost certainly walk home with the prize tonight.

Documentary - Short
"Inocente"
"Kings Point"
"Mondays at Racine"
"Open Heart"
"Redemption"

Winner: Open Heart

Possibility: Inocente

I haven't seen any of these, but from what I've heard, Open Heart has a pretty solid lead in this category. I read the heartwarming story of Inocente and that she'll be present at the ceremony, so it would also be nice to see Inocente win.

Film Editing
"Argo"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Zero Dark Thirty"

Winner: Argo

Possibility: Zero Dark Thirty

Usually a good indicator of the Best Picture winner, I'm betting that Argo takes this one. However, both of these films are very deserving. They're impeccably edited, to the point where they're so incredibly suspenseful even though they're based on true events. The momentum is with Argo, but I'd be pleased if any of the two wins.

Makeup And Hairstyling
"Hitchcock"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Les Miserables"

Winner: Les Miserables

Possibility: The Hobbit

I think that the Academy will honor Les Mis here. While the work on The Hobbit is definitely stunning, the makeup of every Les Mis cast member was virtually perfect. 

Music - Original Score
"Anna Karenina"
"Argo"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"

Winner: Life of Pi

Possibility: Lincoln

Pi's score was absolutely beautiful, full of exotic tunes. Even though Lincoln soundtracked by the great John Williams, but I expect Mychal Danna to take this one.

Production Design
"Anna Karenina"

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Les Miserables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"

Winner: Les Miserables

Possibility: Anna Karenina

If Les Miserables failed at being a truly great film, one thing is clear -- it was visually stunning. I hope it takes home this award, its closest competition being period piece Anna.

Short Film - Animated
"Adam and Dog"
"Fresh Guacamole"
"Head over Heels"
"Maggie Simpson in 'The Longest Daycare'"
"Paperman"

Winner: Paperman

Possibility: Any of the others.

The only of these that I've seen was Maggie Simpson, but I've heard great things about Paperman, so that's where my money is.

Short Film - Live Action
"Asad"
"Buzkashi Boys"
"Curfew"
"Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw)"
"Henry"

Winner: Curfew

Possibility: Any of the others.

Like the previous category, I haven't seen any of these, but I've heard great things about Curfew. Again, that's who I'm betting on.

Sound Editing
"Argo"
"Django Unchained"
"Life of Pi"
"Skyfall"
"Zero Dark Thirty"

Winner: Skyfall

Possibility: Zero Dark Thirty, Life of Pi

Sound Editing refers to the process of adding sound effects in post-production. Usually, this award goes to the blockbuster with the loudest explosions. That's why my guess is Skyfall. But, if the Academy decides to venture away from the usual direction, it might choose to honor the perfectly understated and edited sound of ZDT or the pure lyricism of LoP.

Sound Mixing
"Argo"
"Les Miserables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"

Winner: Les Miserables

Possibility: Skyfall, Lincoln

Sound Mixing refers to the sounds recorded on set, so it is pretty hard to bet against Les Mis here. The actors unprecedentedly sung all of their songs live on set instead of lip-synching to pre-recorded tracks, so I cannot think of a film more tailor-made for this award. 

Visual Effects
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

"Life of Pi"
"Marvel's The Avengers"
"Prometheus"
"Snow White and the Huntsman"

Winner: Life of Pi

Possibility: The Hobbit

A 3-D CGI tiger. Enough said.

2013 Independent Spirit Awards Winners

Here is the complete list of the nominees and winners of the 2o13 Independent Spirit Awards, which honors the achievements of independent filmmakers. The ceremony took place on Feb. 23 in Santa Monica.

BEST FEATURE

Beasts of the Southern Wild -- Producers: Michael Gottwald, Dan Janvey and Josh Penn

Bernie -- Producers: Liz Glotzer, Richard Linklater, David McFadzean, Dete Meserve, Judd Payne, Celine Rattray, Martin Shafer, Ginger Sledge, Matt Williams

Keep the Lights On -- Producers: Marie Therese Guirgis, Lucas Joaquin, Ira Sachs

Moonrise Kingdom -- Producers: Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, Steven Rales, Scott Rudin 

WINNER: Silver Linings Playbook -- Producers: Bruce Cohen, Donna Gigliotti, Jonathan Gordon

BEST DIRECTOR

Wes Anderson -- Moonrise Kingdom 

WINNER: David O. Russell -- Silver Linings Playbook

Julia Loktev -- The Loneliest Planet

Ira Sachs -- Keep the Lights On

Benh Zeitlin -- Beasts of the Southern Wild

BEST SCREENPLAY

Wes Anderson -- Moonrise Kingdom  

WINNER: David O. Russell -- Silver Linings Playbook

Ira Sachs -- Keep the Lights On

Zoe Kazan -- Ruby Sparks

Martin McDonagh -- Seven Psychopaths

BEST FIRST FEATURE

Fill the Void -- Director: Rama Burshtein; Producer: Assaf Amir

Gimme the Loot -- Director: Adam Leon; Producers: Dominic Buchanan, Natalie Difford, Jamund Washington

Safety Not Guaranteed -- Director: Colin Trevorrow; Producer: Derek Connolly, Stephanie Langhoff, Peter Saraf, Colin Trevorrow,MarcTurtletaub

Sound of My Voice -- Director: Zal Batmanglij; Producers: Brit Marling, Hans Ritter, Shelley Surpin

WINNER: The Perks of Being a Wallfower -- Director: Stephen Chbosky; Producers: Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY 

WINNER:  Derek Connolly -- Safety Not Guaranteed

Rama Burshstein -- Fill the Void

Christopher Ford -- Robot & Frank

Rashida Jones and Will McCormack -- Celeste and Jesse Forever

Jonathan Lisecki -- Gayby

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD

Breakfast with Curtis -- Writer/Director/Producer: Laura Colella 

WINNER:  Middle of Nowhere -- Writer/Director/Producer: Ava DuVernay; Producers: Howard Barish, Paul Garnes

Mosquita y Mari -- Writer/Director:  Aurora Guerrero; Producer: Chad Burris

Starlet -- Writer/Director: Sean Baker; Producers: Blake Ashman-Kipervaser, Kevin Chinoy, Patrick Cunningham, Chris Maybach,FrancescaSilvestri

The Color Wheel -- Writer/Director/Producer: Alex Ross Perry; Writer: Carlen Altman Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Linda Cardinelli -- Return

Emayatzy Corinealdi -- Middle of Nowhere  

WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence -- Silver Linings Playbook

Quvenzhane Wallis -- Beasts of the Southern Wild

Mary Elizabeth Winstead -- Smashed

BEST MALE LEAD

Jack Black -- Bernie

Bradley Cooper -- Silver Linings Playbook  

WINNER: John Hawkes -- The Sessions

Matthew McConaughey -- Killer Joe

Wendell Pierce -- Four

Thure Lindhardt -- Keep the Lights On

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE 

Rosemarie DeWitt -- Your Sister's Sister

Ann Dowd -- Compliance  

WINNER: Helen Hunt -- The Sessions

Brit Marling -- Sound of My Voice

Lorraine Toussaint -- Middle of Nowhere

BEST SUPPORTING MALE   

WINNER: Matthew McConaughey -- Magic Mike

David Oyelowo -- Middle of Nowhere

Michael Pena -- End of Watch

Sam Rockwell -- Seven Psychopaths

Bruce Willis -- Moonrise Kingdom

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 

Yoni Brook -- Valley of Saints

Lol Crawley -- Here  

WINNER: Ben Richardson -- Beasts of the Southern Wild

Roman Vasyanov -- End of Watch

Robert Yeoman -- Moonrise Kingdom

BEST DOCUMENTARY 

How to Survive a Plague -- Director: David France; Producers: David France, Howard Gertler

Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present -- Director: Matthew Akers; Producers: Maro Chermayeff, Jeff Dupre

The Central Park Five -- Directors/Producers: Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon

WINNER: The Invisible War -- Director: Kirby Dick; Producers: Tanner King Barklow, Amy Ziering

The Waiting Room -- Director/Producer: Peter Nicks; Producers: Linda Davis, William B. Hirsch

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM 

WINNER: Amour -- Director: Michael Haneke

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia -- Director:  Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Rust and Bone -- Director: Jacques Audiard

Sister -- Director: Ursula Meier

War Witch -- Director: Kim Nguyen

PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD 

Nobody Walks -- Producer: Alicia Van Couvering

Prince Avalanche -- Producer: Derrick Tseng  

WINNER: Stones in the Sun -- Producer: Mynette Louie

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD 

Pincus -- Director: David Fenster

WINNER: Gimme the Loot -- Director: Adam Leon

Electrick Children -- Director: Rebecca Thomas

 TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD  

Leviathan -- Directors: Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel

WINNER:  The Waiting Room -- Director: Peter Nicks

Only the Young -- Directors: Jason Tippet & Elizabeth Mims 

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD  

WINNER:   Starlet -- Director: Sean Baker; Casting Director: Julia Kim; Ensemble Cast: Dree Hemingway, Besedka Johnson, Karren Karagulian, Stella Maeve, James Ransone

2013 BAFTA Winners

Here is the complete list of the nominees and winners at the 2013 British Academy of FIlm and Television Arts Awards. The ceremony took place on Feb. 10 in London.

BEST FILM
ARGO Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney
LES MISÉRABLES Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Cameron Mackintosh
LIFE OF PI Gil Netter, Ang Lee, David Womark
LINCOLN Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy
ZERO DARK THIRTY Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow, Megan Ellison

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
ANNA KARENINA Joe Wright, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster, Tom Stoppard
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL John Madden, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Ol Parker
LES MISÉRABLES Tom Hooper, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Cameron Mackintosh, William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Herbert Kretzmer
SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS Martin McDonagh, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin
SKYFALL Sam Mendes, Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
BART LAYTON (Director), DIMITRI DOGANIS (Producer) The Imposter
DAVID MORRIS (Director), JACQUI MORRIS (Director/Producer) McCullin
DEXTER FLETCHER (Director/Writer), DANNY KING (Writer) Wild Bill
JAMES BOBIN (Director) The Muppets
TINA GHARAVI (Director/Writer) I Am Nasrine

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
AMOUR Michael Haneke, Margaret Ménégoz
HEADHUNTERS Morten Tyldum, Marianne Gray, Asle Vatn
THE HUNT Thomas Vinterberg, Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Morten Kaufmann
RUST AND BONE Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux
UNTOUCHABLE Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache, Nicolas Duval Adassovsky, Yann Zenou, Laurent Zeitoun

DOCUMENTARY
THE IMPOSTER Bart Layton, Dimitri Doganis
MARLEY Kevin Macdonald, Steve Bing, Charles Steel
McCULLIN David Morris, Jacqui Morris
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN Malik Bendjelloul, Simon Chinn
WEST OF MEMPHIS Amy Berg

ANIMATED FILM
BRAVE Mark Andrews, Brenda ChapmanFRANKENWEENIE Tim Burton
PARANORMAN Sam Fell, Chris Butler

DIRECTOR
AMOUR Michael Haneke
ARGO Ben Affleck
DJANGO UNCHAINED Quentin Tarantino
LIFE OF PI Ang Lee
ZERO DARK THIRTY Kathryn Bigelow

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
AMOUR Michael Haneke
DJANGO UNCHAINED Quentin Tarantino
THE MASTER Paul Thomas Anderson
MOONRISE KINGDOM Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola
ZERO DARK THIRTY Mark Boal

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ARGO Chris Terrio
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin
LIFE OF PI David Magee
LINCOLN Tony Kushner
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK David O. Russell

LEADING ACTOR
BEN AFFLECK Argo
BRADLEY COOPER Silver Linings Playbook
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS Lincoln
HUGH JACKMAN Les Misérables
JOAQUIN PHOENIX The Master

LEADING ACTRESS
EMMANUELLE RIVA Amour
HELEN MIRREN Hitchcock
JENNIFER LAWRENCE Silver Linings Playbook
JESSICA CHASTAIN Zero Dark Thirty
MARION COTILLARD Rust and Bone

SUPPORTING ACTOR
ALAN ARKIN Argo
CHRISTOPH WALTZ Django Unchained
JAVIER BARDEM Skyfall
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN The Master
TOMMY LEE JONES Lincoln

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AMY ADAMS The Master
ANNE HATHAWAY Les Misérables
HELEN HUNT The Sessions
JUDI DENCH Skyfall
SALLY FIELD Lincoln

ORIGINAL MUSIC
ANNA KARENINA Dario Marianelli
ARGO Alexandre Desplat
LIFE OF PI Mychael Danna
LINCOLN John Williams
SKYFALL Thomas Newman

CINEMATOGRAPHY
ANNA KARENINA Seamus McGarvey
LES MISÉRABLES Danny Cohen
LIFE OF PI Claudio Miranda
LINCOLN Janusz Kaminski
SKYFALL Roger Deakins

EDITING
ARGO William Goldenberg
DJANGO UNCHAINED Fred Raskin
LIFE OF PI Tim Squyres
SKYFALL Stuart Baird
ZERO DARK THIRTY Dylan Tichenor, William Goldenberg

PRODUCTION DESIGN
ANNA KARENINA Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer
LES MISÉRABLES Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson
LIFE OF PI David Gropman, Anna Pinnock
LINCOLN Rick Carter, Jim Erickson
SKYFALL Dennis Gassner, Anna Pinnock

COSTUME DESIGN
ANNA KARENINA Jacqueline Durran
GREAT EXPECTATIONS Beatrix Aruna Pasztor
LES MISÉRABLES Paco Delgado
LINCOLN Joanna Johnston
SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN Colleen Atwood

MAKE UP & HAIR
ANNA KARENINA Ivana Primorac
HITCHCOCK Julie Hewett, Martin Samuel, Howard Berger
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Rick Findlater
LES MISÉRABLES Lisa Westcott
LINCOLN Lois Burwell, Kay Georgiou

SOUND
DJANGO UNCHAINED Mark Ulano, Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti, Wylie Stateman
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Tony Johnson, Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, Brent Burge, Chris Ward
LES MISÉRABLES Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Jonathan Allen, Lee Walpole, John Warhurst
LIFE OF PI Drew Kunin, Eugene Gearty, Philip Stockton, Ron Bartlett, D. M. Hemphill
SKYFALL Stuart Wilson, Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell, Per Hallberg, Karen Baker Landers

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Peter Bebb, Andrew Lockley
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White
LIFE OF PI Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer
MARVEL AVENGERS ASSEMBLE Nominees TBC
PROMETHEUS Richard Stammers, Charley Henley, Trevor Wood, Paul Butterworth

SHORT ANIMATION
HERE TO FALL Kris Kelly, Evelyn McGrath
I’M FINE THANKS Eamonn O'Neill
THE MAKING OF LONGBIRD Will Anderson, Ainslie Henderson

SHORT FILM
THE CURSE Fyzal Boulifa, Gavin Humphries
GOOD NIGHT Muriel d'Ansembourg, Eva Sigurdardottir
SWIMMER Lynne Ramsay, Peter Carlton, Diarmid Scrimshaw
TUMULT Johnny Barrington, Rhianna Andrews
THE VOORMAN PROBLEM Mark Gill, Baldwin Li

THE EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
ELIZABETH OLSEN
ANDREA RISEBOROUGH
SURAJ SHARMA
JUNO TEMPLE
ALICIA VIKANDER

Film Review -- Searching for Sugar Man

The debut feature of Swedish filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul, Sugar Man tells the incredible story of a 1970's American musician who, unbeknownst to him and the rest of America, was a superstar halfway around the world. Two South Africans -- record store owner Stephen "Sugar" Segerman and music journalist Craig Bartholomew-Strydom -- set out on separate missions in the 1990s to discover what has become of their childhood hero, the mysterious bluesy rocker Rodriguez. Rumor has it that he gruesomely committed suicide on stage, but it turns out that Rodriguez is alive and well, still living in the modest Detroit house that he has called home for over forty years. Shortly after, he is invited to play some concerts in South Africa, and all six sold out. Now, Rodriguez is experiencing something of a career revival -- and for those of you in the L.A. area, he will be at Coachella as part of the Sunday lineup! If this story was fiction, no one would believe it, because it's just too mind-blowing to be true. How can an artist be more popular than Elvis and The Beatles in another country and not even know it? It is truly a shame that he went virtually unrecognized almost everywhere else for all this time, because his music is truly fantastic; I can't believe I had never heard any of it before I saw this documentary. The film itself is absolutely fascinating; I could not take my eyes off of the screen at any point. Bendjelloul supposedly shot most of it on the Super 8 app of his iPhone 4, which makes it an even more impressive feat if it's true. I hope it wins the Best Documentary Oscar, because it is just one of those stories that needed to be told. 
Highlights of the documentary's soundtrack include "Sugar Man," "Crucify Your Mind," "I Wonder," and "Cause." Look these songs up -- I guarantee that you will be amazed.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A

Ranking the Best Picture Contenders!

Here are my ratings for the nine films that are nominated for Best Picture at the 2013 Academy Awards (if more than one picture received the same grade, they are listed in the order of their chances of winning).

1. Argo.....A

2. Lincoln.....A-

3. Zero Dark Thirty.....A-

4. Silver Linings Playbook.....B+

5. Django Unchained.....B+

6. Amour.....B+

7. Life of Pi.....B

8. Les Miserables.....B

9. Beasts of the Southern Wild.....B-

Film Review -- Beasts of the Southern Wild

The surprise hit of the Oscars, this tiny indie made a huge splash at last year's Sundance Festival. Directed by newcomer Benh Zeitlin and starring Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry. Set in the Louisiana bayou, in a community practically cut off from the rest of the world by a levee, the film tells the story of the "Bathtub's" youngest residents Hushpuppy (Wallis), and her daily struggle to survive with her hot-tempered, alcoholic father, Wink (Henry). One day, another resident of Bathtub tells Hushpuppy about the Aurochs, strong and powerful pre-historic beasts. When a fierce storm hits their community, Hushpuppy decides go searching for her mother, who "swam away" many years before, and to save her father, who is dying from a mysterious illness. She is guided by the spirit of the Aurochs, which serve as the foil of the protagonist: dominant and commanding while she and her community are helpless in defending their isolated world. It is not a film that I thought I would enjoy, as excessively off-beat and quirky pictures don't impress me (hello, Moonrise Kingdom!), but this one is an exception. It is lyrical, whimsical, almost fantastical, and indeed enjoyable. It is not by any means a masterpiece, but I thought it was a very honest and raw look at an entirely plausible struggle (minus the beasts, of course!). Nine-year-old Wallis is charming -- though maybe not Academy-Award nomination worthy...but she's so cute that I can see why voters perhaps put her through, and the same goes to director Zeitlin, who did a fine job for his first feature but was far and away inferior to Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow, who got unexplainably snubbed.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B-