The 85th Academy Awards are held tonight so I figured I’d throw in my predictions as to who will win and who should win some major categories. It’s not Oscar night without a few predictions to go wrong, am I right?
I’m glad this year’s Oscars fall on the unpredictable side – there’s no absolute frontrunner in most of the categories so the night should be interesting to say the least.
Without further ado, let’s begin.
- Who Will Win: Argo
- Who Should Win: Amour
Amour (review) is, hands-down, the best movie of the year. It won’t win because of the way the Oscars are run. So we are left with the movie that has been picking up best picture awards here and there: Argo (review). I don’t get it really. There are two other movies on that list that I believe are more deserving (Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook) but you cannot underestimate momentum.
- Who Will Win: Steven Spielberg
- Who Should Win: Michael Haneke
Out of all the nominated directors in this category, Haneke managed to turn a simple story of old age into a spellbinding movie that captured everyone’s heart and mind. With little special effects, a Parisian apartment, his camera and two great leads, Haneke created Amour. But seeing as his nomination was a surprise by itself, expecting him to win what he deserves is far-fetched. So Academy Award-darling Spielberg with what is arguably his best movie in years will take it.
- Who Will Win: Daniel Day Lewis
- Who Should Win: Daniel Day Lewis
I don’t believe this needs any explanation. What a brilliant performance.
- Who Will Win: Emmanuelle Riva
- Who Should Win: Emmanuelle Riva
Next to the Best Picture race, this will be the night’s most interesting. What started out as a two-horse race with Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence battling it out for coveted awards soon turned into a three-way race as veteran actress Emmanuelle Riva took the BAFTA and later on the French César. At an age of 85, many voters will probably go for Riva because it’s now or never for her. Chastain and Lawrence will get their shot one day. The mere fact that Emmanuelle Riva is present on that list means there are enough Academy members who want her. It’s also her birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMANUELLE!
- Who Will Win: Tommy Lee Jones
- Who Should Win: Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones gave what is, in my opinion, the best performance out of the bunch. Pre-Oscar awards have been spread around this bunch of nominees in a balanced way so no clear frontrunner has emerged but I think Lincoln‘s (review) momentum will help Jones take another Oscar. Every single nominee in this list has won before.
- Who Will Win: Anne Hathaway
- Who Should Win: Anne Hathaway
There’s no denying Hathaway deserves this. She owned the entire Les Misérables (review) with her chilling performance of “I Dreamed A Dream.” The movie starts dying when her character dies. No one else in this category is as deserving and she has basically won every single pre-Oscar award there is.
- Who Will Win: Quentin Tarantino
- Who Should Win: Michael Haneke
There’s something understated about turning a simple story into a work of art, which is what Haneke did with his story in Amour. But unfortunately, that’s not the kind that usually triumphs. I expect Tarantino to come out triumphant for Django Unchained (review).
- Who Will Win: Argo
- Who Should Win: Silver Linings Playbook
Argo has the momentum. Silver Linings Playbook (review) has the superior quality and the charm. Momentum wins.
Who Will Win: Frankenweenie
Who Should Win: Wreck-It Ralph
I found Wreck-It Ralph to be one of the most charming – and best – movies of the year. It is what I expect from an animated movie to be. Frankenweenie, on the other hand, is what plays on the Academy’s strings: homage to classics, daring technique, etc. It’s obvious who’d win in such a match-up.
- Who Will Win: Adele
- Who Should Win: Adele
I can’t wait to hear her acceptance speech.
- Who Will Win: Amour
- Who Should Win: Amour
The fact that it’s nominated for best picture, best actress, best director and best original screenplay is hint enough.
Filed under: Movies Tagged: Academy Awards, movies, Oscars, Predictions
