Best Original Song (click to listen on Youtube)
"Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog - Randy Newman
"Down in New Orleans" from The Princess and the Frog - Randy Newman
"Loin de Paname" from Paris 36 - Reinhardt Wagner and Frank Thomas
"Take It All" from Nine - Maury Yeston
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from Crazy Heart - Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett - Should/Will Win
Essentially, both of the music categories are locked up this year. My prediction for this category already won the Golden Globe and has recieved critical acclaim year round. Plus, the Newman vote (which actually exists, considering he's won before) would be split by the two songs from The Princess and the Frog.
Best Original Score (click to listen on Youtube)
Avatar - James Horner
Fantastic Mr. Fox - Alexandre Desplat
The Hurt Locker - Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
Sherlock Holmes - Hans Zimmer
Up - Michael Giacchino - Should/Will Win
Before I explain, let me just state this: Yes, I know that Michael Giacchino is probably my utmost favorite composer, but this is based more off of other predictions and reviews than it is based off of others.
My vote goes for Giacchino. He's been the front-runner since the soundtrack was released, due to the old Hollywood feel and the emotion that emanated through his music. The clip given is the perfect example: it plays during the silent montage at the beginning and manages to flow through each feeling and theme necessary for that scene. However, I must say that there is not one bad egg in this bunch. Although I believe Up is the superior one, in another year I would put any of these films as my pick.
Best Foreign Language Film
Ajami - Israel
El Secreto de Sus Ojos - Argentina
The Milk of Sorrow - Peru
Un Prophète - France
The White Ribbon - Germany - Should/Will Win
I have not seen any of these, but the Golden Globe winner of this category usually becomes the Academy Award winner, so I wouldn't be shocked if The White Ribbon takes it.
Best Adapted Screenplay
District 9 - Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
An Education - Nick Hornby
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Up in the Air - Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner - Should/Will Win
Yes, unfortunately this is the year of the supposedly predictable Oscars. Reitman has had this in the bag for so long, considering that his film probably won't garner any other big awards. I've heard of quite a bit of support for In the Loop, however, so there is the small possibility of an upset.
Best Original Screenplay
The Hurt Locker - Mark Boal
Inglourious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino - Should/Will Win
Up - Peter Docter, Bob Peterson, and Tom McCarthy
This is probably Tarantino's only chance at a big award at these Oscars. I also hear that the screenplay is probably one of the most significant parts of Basterds as a whole.
For the last couple of awards, I'll be adding on an "upset" category because these ones tend to become a bit erratic and unpredictable the night of the Oscars.
Best Animated Feature
Coraline - Upset
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up - Should/Will Win
You can essentially pull Kells out of the race because nobody has seen it. Many votes will go to Coraline for its repeated "artistic achievements," but it's completely agreeable that Pixar has done it yet again.
Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz in Nine
Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal in Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air - Upset
Mo'Nique in Precious - Should/Will Win
Mo'Nique has been the ultimate lock since Precious was announced. Another major draw may be the fact that her speeches are some of the most emotional and best during this awards season. However, newcomer Anna Kendrick could pull an "Adrien Brody" (named for the actor's surprise win in 2003 for The Pianist).
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon in Invictus
Woody Harrelson in The Messenger
Christopher Plummer in The Last Staion
Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones - Upset
Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds - Should/Will Win
This is yet another lock a la Mo'Nique. Waltz has recieved universal praise for his performance as Colonel Hans "Jew Hunter" Landa and is expected to pick up an award tomorrow night. However, there is a group of people (including myself) who are strong proponents fro a Tucci win instead. Both roles are dark, disturbing, and murderous, so an upset or win by either would not be a surprise.
Best Actress
Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side - Toss Up
Helen Mirren in The Last Station
Carey Mulligan in An Education - Upset
Gabourey Sidibe in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia - Toss Up
In one of the tightest categories this year, it's been a non-stop race between Bullock and Streep. Both have won numerous awards and recieved critical praise, but Sandra did recieve the Screen Actors Guild award, giving her the slight edge. However, if the vote is possibly split between those two, Carey Mulligan would most likely take the award. Her performance is considered a break-through and she did win the BAFTA for it.
Best Actor
Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart - Should/Will Win
George Clooney in Up in the Air
Colin Firth in A Single Man
Morgan Freeman in Invictus
Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker - Upset
Bridges has won most of the awards over this season and is one of the definite locks. I would argue he deserves it, especially for such a demanding role (and after many previous nominations). However, if there was any possible chance of dark horse, Renner would most likely take it. His film has picked up steam since the nominations were announced and he has been singled out many times as one of the best aspects of it. Plus, he's considered the baby of the group at 39 and the Academy likes to vote for the "newbie" every once in a while.
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker - Should/Will Win
James Cameron for Avatar
Lee Daniels for Precious - Upset
Jason Reitman for Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino for Inglorious Basterds
This race is essentially a battle between the ex-wife and ex-husband, Bigelow and Cameron, respectively. If Kathryn Bigelow wins, these Oscars will be historic for recognizing the first female director to win an Academy Award in this category. If Cameron wins, it's most likely going to be 1998 all over again (he goes up on the podium, says something irrationally, everybody gets mad) with a huge Avatar sweep. I loved Bigelow's work yet felt indifferent about Cameron's, so I'm hoping that she can pull it off. In terms of an upset, it's unlikely to happen, but Daniels has been talked about with a possible win.
Best Picture
Avatar - Toss Up
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker - Toss Up
Inglorious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
Basically, any of the films not bolded would be considered an "upset" by the standards of this year's nominees. To be honest, though, there are really only three films that could be considered upsets (there's a top rung and bottom rung of the ten nominees). Basterds, Up in the Air, and Precious all got massive amounts of buzz before awards season began, so there is always the distinct possibility of a semi-surprise win. The Hurt Locker once again gets a slight edge due to increased media exposure as awards season has gone on, but Avatar could repeat Titanic's success and walk off with an award. However, I'm going to take the risk and stick it solely on Hurt Locker.
There you have it, folks. I hope you enjoyed/differed/agreed on my predictions, and I certainly hope you are creating your own. Watch "The 82nd Academy Awards" this Sunday on ABC.
(Sorry for any formatting errors, Blogger is being very buggy currently.)
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