Useless Clatter...2016 Best Picture- Whys and Why Nots

As the Oscar date fast approaches, our Best Picture prediction is growing foggier by the day. Golden Globes and Guild Awards have been spread out amongst the contenders. With no single frontrunner, 2016’s Best Picture race is one of the closest in recent memory. A few weeks ago, Las Vegas released their odds for all of the nominees in the major Oscar categories. With the likes of Leo and Brie Larson dominating the awards season, it seems that most of the categories will offer few surprises. But the granddaddy of them all will be a photo finish.

Posted below are the potential winning odds for each of the eight Best Picture nominees, along with some thoughts as to why they could win and why they might not.

Spotlight 4 to 5

Why: If any film has a lead, no matter how small, Spotlight might claim it- at least according to Vegas. This delicately paced yet unnerving thriller has received nothing but praise since its release, picking up top prizes from the LA Film Critics and the Critics’ Choice. A –listers abound, Spotlight boasts an excellent ensemble cast and a wickedly tight-knit screenplay, two of the Academy’s favorite ingredients. Underdogs searching for truth against the immoralities of an institution...is this not the very reason we tell stories and go to movies?

Why Not: Said story deals with sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Accolades aside, it’s hard to predict how the conservative Academy voters will react to such abhorrent material. Also, from a purely cinematic standpoint, Spotlight does not exactly dazzle. One critic cleverly compared the movie’s simple and muted style to that of Michael Keaton’s khakis. In the celebration of filmmaking, and with such a dynamic movie like The Revenant hot on its heels, can Spotlight’s substance trump The Revenant’s style?

Notable Victories thus far: Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Critic’s Choice Awards

Reel News...2012 Academy Award Results

 

Best Picture

"The Artist" Thomas Langmann, Producer

"The Descendants" Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers

"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" Scott Rudin, Producer

"The Help" Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers

"Hugo" Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers

"Midnight in Paris" Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers

"Moneyball" Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers

"The Tree of Life" Nominees to be determined

"War Horse" Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Directing

"The Artist" Michel Hazanavicius

"The Descendants" Alexander Payne

"Hugo" Martin Scorsese

"Midnight in Paris" Woody Allen

"The Tree of Life" Terrence Malick

Useless Clatter...My Oscar Guesses 2.0- The Dilemma of The Artist

    Why The Artist is making this year so difficult.

       I know this is totally illegal but like I said before I can't stand having to publicly make these predictions. Last week I finally posted my predictions for the Oscars but that isn't enough to get me through til Sunday. As much as I want to think The Descendants is most deserving, the whole world seems set on The Artist for Best Picture. The way I see it, you have two options when making any sort of prediction. One, you do your research, find out what most people are saying and go with that. Its a conservative approach but in the end, you'll probably get most picks right. The second option then is to go with the dark horses.  Picking The Tree of Life for Best Picture, is quite rebellious, but maybe too extreme. In this case where the obvious front runner is The Artist, anything besides that would work.

Why See This...Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy [2011]

      I read about one blogger’s experience of going to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and how showing up a few minutes late cost him dearly.  On screen, he didn’t miss anything important arriving before the beginning credits finished, but what he missed was the cheat sheet.  This particular theater gave its Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy viewers info packets to look over before the movie began.  It included keywords, character descriptions and important, unexplained spy slang (known on Wikipedia as “Tradecraft jargon”).  Where I went to see the movie, we were not offered that kind of luxury, but then again, I’m not sure how much it would have helped anyways. 

      Before I go any further, I would like to direct your eyes to the picture below, because this, more than anything can help describe what this movie is all about.  Its shows the most important part of the movie-

Reel News...Official Nominations for the 84th Oscars have been released

The time for speculation is now over and we can rest assured or stare in disbelief at the Official Nominations for this years Academy Awards.  Depending on how you look at it, every year a certain discussion arises toward the notable films or acting performances that bet left off the list or as the article in U.S. Weekly put is- snubbed.
After comparing my own speculative list of this year's noms in a post written a few weeks ago, I came to the realization that, much like every other year in recent memory, the nominations offer few surprises as the rumors are never few and far.

Actor in a Leading Role

Demián Bichir in "A Better Life"

George Clooney in "The Descendants"

Jean Dujardin in "The Artist"

Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"

Brad Pitt in "Moneyball"

Actor in a Supporting Role

Kenneth Branagh in "My Week with Marilyn"

Jonah Hill in "Moneyball"

Nick Nolte in "Warrior"

Christopher Plummer in "Beginners"

Max von Sydow in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Useless Clatter...Oscar Predictions 2012

With the Academy Awards looming (Feb 26th) and most of the big hitters out by now, I decided to post some predictions for the major categories. Not that sound-mixing and make up are not important,  I just can't differentiate explosions or eyebrows as easily.  As we near the date and the official nominations come out, I will post those and then make my final predictions.

+ these are in no particular.

+ designates additional nomination beyond allowed five

Best Picture

The Artist

The Descendants

The Ides of March

The Help

J. Edgar

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

The Tree of Life

War Horse

Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius The Artist

Tomas Alfredson Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Alexander Payne The Descendants

Terrence Malick The Tree of Life

Martin Scorsese Hugo

+ Sean Durkin Martha Marcy May Marlene

Actor In A Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio J. Edgar

Jean Dujardin The Artist

Gary Oldman Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Brad Pitt Moneyball

Demian Bichir A Better Life
+ Michael Fassbender Shame

Actress In A Leading Role

Viola Davis The Help

Michelle Williams My Week With Marilyn

Glenn Close Albert Noobs

Charlize Theron Young Adult

Meryl Streep The Iron Lady

+ Elizabeth Olsen Martha Marcy May Marlene

 

Best Supporting Actor

Christopher Plummer Beginners

Patton Oswalt Young Adult

Nick Nolte Warrior

Jonah Hill Moneyball

Kenneth Branagh My Week With Marilyn

+ Armie Hammer J. Edgar

Best Supporting Actress

Octavia Spencer The Help

Bérénice Bejo The Artist

Shailene Woodley The Descendants

Jessica Chastain The Help

Carey Mulligan Shame

+ Melissa McCarthy Bridesmaids

Best Original Screenplay

Woody Allen Midnight in Paris

Tom McCarthy and Joe Tibani Win Win

Diablo Cody Young Adult

Mike Mills Beginners

Jeff Nichols Take Shelter

+ Dustin Lance Black J. Edgar

Best Adapted Screenplay

Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan Tinker, Tailor Soldier Spy

Tate Taylor The Help

John Logan Hugo

Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zaillian Moneyball

Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne & Jim Rash The Descendants

+ Steven Zaillian The Girl With The Dragon Tattooo

I decided to stop after the main eight categories.  Like I said, I don't know enough to make guesses on each and every category, and these eight are always the most talked about.  The selections above seem to be the general consensus around the web, with a few of my own particular hopes thrown in the mix.
By the way, here's a short little trailer for the upcoming ceremony hosted by Billy Crystal.  Its a bit goofy, but I think their off to a better start than last year.