And the Oscar Goes to…
PDF Anthony Lyen, Tempo Editor
Image courtesy of sxc.hu.
What do a tiger, French convict and the sixteenth president of the United States have in common? They’re all in the running for Best Picture at the 85th Academy Awards.
When the nominees were announced Jan. 10 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif., by actress Emma Stone and Oscar’s host Seth McFarlane, there were a few surprises.
Kathryn Bigelow’s Osama bin Laden manhunt film “Zero Dark Thirty” was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The shocker is that Bigelow, who won Best Director for “The Hurt Locker” in 2009, got snubbed.
Popular actor Leonardo DiCaprio was left out yet again too. DiCaprio’s portrayal of vicious slave-owner Calvin Candie in Quentin Tarantino’s ultra-violent “Django Unchained” won praise from audiences and critics alike. That wasn’t enough to persuade the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, though, and DiCaprio was once again left off the final nominee ballot.
Film icon Steven Spielberg and his presidential film “Lincoln” led all pictures with 12 nominations. Ang Lee’s book-turned-movie “Life of Pi” is next up with 11, while “Les Misérables” and “Silver Linings Playbook” both earned eight nominations to take home the Oscar.
Many people sit through the agonizing speeches for seemingly unnecessary categories (I’m looking at you, Best Sound Mixing) just to see the winners of Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
Want a head’s up on who has the best shot at this year’s Academy Awards? Here are The Flyer’s predictions for the big night.
Best Supporting Actress
At first, it seemed as if Sally Field was the front runner to win the Oscar for her portrayal of Honest Abe’s wife, Mary Todd, in “Lincoln.” Now, Anne Hathaway has emerged as the new potential winner because of her incredible performance in the musical “Les Misérables.” Helen Hunt (“The Sessions”), Amy Adams (“The Master”) and Jacki Weaver (“Silver Linings Playbook”) are also nominated.
Flyer Pick: Anne Hathaway
Best Supporting Actor
One of the stronger categories at the Oscars talent-wise, this Oscar could be a toss-up. All five of the nominees are superb, legendary actors, including Tommy Lee Jones (“Lincoln”), Philip Seymour Hoffman (“The Master”), Robert De Niro (“Silver Linings Playbook”), Alan Arka (“Argo”) and Christoph Waltz (“Django Unchained”). All five actors have already won an Oscar at some point in their illustrious careers, but only one can go home with it this year. Despite the incredible performances from everyone, Tommy Lee Jones has been deemed a favorite for his portrayal of Thaddeus Stevens in “Lincoln.”
Flyer Pick: Tommy Lee Jones
Best Actress
At 85 years old, Emmanuelle Riva (“Amour”) is the oldest actress ever to have been nominated for an Academy Award. And this year’s youngest nominee? A mere nine-year-old (Quvenzhané Wallis for “Beasts of the Southern Wild”). And while Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain are considered frontrunners for their films “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Zero Dark Thirty,” respectively, it may be down to Chastain and Riva.
Flyer Pick: Emmanuelle Riva
Best Actor
Five A-list actors. Only one golden statue. Denzel Washington (“Flight”) and Joaquin Phonix (“The Master”) gave astounding performances that seemed impossible to top. Daniel Day-Lewis, however, is considered by many to be one of the greatest actors of all time, and he truly displayed his talents as the sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln in “Lincoln.” And although “Silver Linings Playbook” seems to be the big surprise this awards season (Bradley Cooper was also nominated for Best Actor), I have to go with my gut on this one.
Flyer Pick: Daniel Day-Lewis
Best Director
This is one heck of a category. While Steven Spielberg (“Lincoln”) will go down in history as one of the most successful directors of all time, he has some interesting competition this year. David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” has stolen the show, while Benh Zeitlin led the incredibly creative “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” And don’t forget Ang Lee, who turned the well-known book into a visual and creative masterpiece in “Life of Pi.”
Flyer Pick: Steven Spielberg
Best Picture
So what did “the Academy” think was the absolute best film of the year? There sure are plenty of movies worthy of the coveted Best Picture Oscar. A couple of months ago, it seemed like a three-way tie between “Lincoln,” “Les Misérables” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” It was anyone’s guess as to who might win it between the three. “Life of Pi” and “Amour” appeared to be respectable challengers, while “Django Unchained,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild” and “Silver Linings Playbook” all were considered possible underdogs with a decent shot at winning the prize. It seems like as of late, however, “Argo” could take the prize. But director/star Ben Affleck was not nominated in the Best Director category, and and only three films in the Academy Awards’ 85 year history have won best picture without a nomination for best director. Sometimes, however, tradition is made to be broken.
Flyer Pick: “Argo”
Don’t miss the 85th Academy Awards, when they air Sunday, Feb. 24 on ABC.
About the Author
Anthony Lyen is a senior double majoring in Multimedia Journalism and Elementary Education. Lyen is from Chicago, IL, and is the Tempo Editor for the print edition of The Flyer. His hobbies include hanging out with friends, watching his beloved Chicago Blackhawks and of course, writing.
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