Categories: General, Opinion

Oscar Predictions for 2011 – HighTechDad’s Wife Makes the Call on the 2011 Academy Awards

So, every year, my wife has a mission. She tries to see each and every film that is nominated for the top categories in the Academy Awards. It’s pretty ambitious actually, but every year, she manages to see just about every film (with the exception of some of the smaller films or the documentaries). Then, prior to Oscar Night, she crafts an email with her predictions and sends it out to her friends. Last year, she also got 100% of her predictions right. Unfortunately, I didn’t document it (she only distributed it via email to her friends) so this year, I’m going to try to get ahead of the game by posting her email with her predictions on my blog.

I have gone through her email below and added what her choices are, what she thinks the Academy will do, and then a blank for who the actually winner is (which I will fill in later). The format will be:

Wife – what she hopes will win
Academy – what my wife thinks the Academy will do
Actual Winner – who won the Award

Leave a comment on who you think will win!

So, without any further ado, here are my wife’s predictions for the 2011 Academy Awards!

My Oscar Predictions

If any of you are wondering what happened to this year’s Oscar Club, you guessed it, I have been in a “hole.” No, not Nicole Kidman’s “Rabbit Hole,” – which by the way was the most depressing and perhaps the most uncomfortable film to watch this year- but what I am referring to is a “hole” where you can’t seem to escape out of no matter how many excuses you make to yourself that there is a life outside of your children as they continue to keep sucking you into that “hole” of driving, cooking, organizing yourself to an oblivion. So no, you have not been deleted off my list because you never showed up, I just decided figuring out a way to sneak a movie whenever humanly possible was going to save me from plunking down $132 a month on anti-anxiety meds, and so be it.

So without further due, here are my predictions for this year’s Oscars. And yes, you guessed it again. I did see almost every film on this list outside of the documentary and foreign nominees. I suppose I could have trekked over to Berkeley and San Francisco where some of those films were released, but wait, I don’t have a life remember? And where would I find time to “trek” over anywhere when I am locked into a moving metal box where loud whining sounds in the backseat overpower any Lady GaGa songs?

Here we go!

83^rd Academy Award Nominations

Actor in a Leading Role

Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”

Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”

Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”

Colin Firth in “The King’s Speech”

James Franco in “127 Hours”

My vote here goes to “uh, hello have you been in a rock lately?” answer. Considering he is currently the most popular guy in the room , maybe not the best looking – I give that one to Franco – the Academy and I are going to both agree on Colin Firth. Now if you have not seen this man with a wet white shirt for his rendition of Mr. Darcy in “Pride and Prejudice,” (let’s just erase the “Mamma Mia” role ladies) then you don’t deserve to see him as a stuttering, yet incredibly charismatic King George. Personally I wasn’t too keen on seeing my heart throb Javier Bardem in a diaper and James Franco cutting his own arm off didn’t do much magic for me in my fantasy room either. As for Jesse Eisenberg, not a bad performer but can’t seem to get past the constant monotone of his voice. I realize that was him playing Mark Zuckerberg, but not worthy of an Oscar. As for Jeff Bridges, well how different was he really than last year’s performance as a drunken has been country singer – Bad Blake in “Crazy Heart” – except this year, he didn’t get laid and he looked a little more haggard than usual. So I am screaming “Firth, Firth, Firth!” on this one.

Wife – Colin Firth in “The King’s Speech”
Academy – Colin Firth in “The King’s Speech”
Actual Winner – Colin Firth in “The King’s Speech”

Actor in a Supporting Role

Christian Bale in “The Fighter”

John Hawkes in “Winter’s Bone”

Jeremy Renner in “The Town”

Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”

Geoffrey Rush in “The King’s Speech”

This one is a little tricky considering, my pick may clash with the Academy’s inevitable choice. I am going to say Geoffrey Rush, but my guess for the winner is going to be Christian Bale. I do agree Bale is a superb actor and at times I would squint my eyes at the screen trying to remember him as batman, he was incredible as a heroin-addicted, emaciated former boxer training his buff brother Marky Mark. Oh wait, he doesn’t call himself that anymore. I also think Bale’s performance was too close to John Hawkes in “Winter’s Bone” which no one I know has managed to see. As for Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo, two good looking dudes who are playing, well, maybe themselves? No, I guess Renner’s Massachusetts accent was supposed to be impressive considering he is from Modesto? Ruffalo on the other hand was quite charming in “The Kids are All Right,” but aside from his side gig as a soft porn star (in the very graphic sex scene with Julianne Moore) no Oscar material here.

Wife – Geoffrey Rush in “The King’s Speech”
Academy – Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
Actual Winner – Christian Bale in “The Fighter”

Actress in a Leading Role

Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”

Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”

Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter’s Bone”

Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”

Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

Okay, this is also a no brainer. If you have seen the likely winner lately, you will understand why she deserves an Oscar. She is carrying around an extra sac that may turn into one of the monsters I seem to yell at from time to time, but actually, I have a strange feeling as soon as they yelled “wrap” on set, she rushed off to the nearest Taco Bell and had a few too many Chalupas. If you’re guessing Natalie Portman by now, you are correct. I think performance wise, she was “spot on” as the Brits would say, and even as a dancer, she did a pretty decent job. Nicole Kidman’s performance as a grieving mother wasn’t too bad, however, I can’t get over how bad she looks. As she cries in solitude in her car, her frown and mouth areas are creased in that creepy way only an overly Botox, Restylane filled face can have. Annette Bening on the other hand made you think twice if she really is straight and married to Warren Beatty. Her short cropped hair and attitude was stupendous as the butch-ier partner for “flex-sexual” Julianne Moore. Yes, people, I am hipping you out. This year’s “metrosexual” is “flex-sexual.” It means a straight person occasionally having sex with someone of the same gender. Okay, getting back to my picks, loved, loved, loved Michelle Williams and Jennifer Lawrence in “Blue Valentine” and “Winter’s Bone.” They both played young blondes trying to escape the miseries of a small-town (Lawrence in the hillbilly Ozarks). But that’s about where the similarity ends. Williams is quite an amazing actress considering her start as an actress is from the 90s teen fave “Dawson’s Creek.” She embodies the innocence and naiveté of the college student and brilliantly pulls off the “overly-tired-I-am-so-sick-of-your-lazy-ass” wife and mother. As for Lawrence, just watching her be beaten up by her relatives while searching for her father was pretty gruesome and definitely worthy of the Oscar nod. Side note: a nod should have gone to the funky looking cousins since I am not sure if they were actors or if they were really picked up in the local meth-labs.

Wife – Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
Academy – Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
Actual Winner – Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”

Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams in “The Fighter”

Helena Bonham Carter in “The King’s Speech”

Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”

Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”

Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”

Again, I think my choice is going to differ from the Academy’s. I am going with Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”; just a fantastic performance by this up and coming young actress. Playing a not so attractive tomboy, Steinfeld pulls off the “grittiness” of “True Grit” along with Jeff Bridges. My guess for the official winner will be Melissa Leo in “the Fighter,” which I have to say playing an overly bleached out mother using her children to get fame and money (a future glimpse of Dina Lohan here?) is not an unusual role to depict in Hollywood, but I would say her performance was definitely believable. She must have believed it too since she posted full page ads of herself for the Academy in the Variety (the industry mag).

Wife – Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
Academy – Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
Actual Winner – Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”

Animated Feature Film

“How to Train Your Dragon” Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois

“The Illusionist” Sylvain Chomet

“Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich

Is there such a thing as a non-Oscar winning season for Pixar? Enough said.

Wife – “Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich
Academy – “Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich
Actual Winner – “Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich

Cinematography

“Black Swan” Matthew Libatique

“Inception” Wally Pfister

“The King’s Speech” Danny Cohen

“The Social Network” Jeff Cronenweth

“True Grit” Roger Deakins

I am guessing the Academy will give this one to “Inception,” (which I agree) since they have to throw a bone to other nominated films other than “King’s Speech”. A little too video game like sequence for my taste and I am not even sure why “The Social Network” was even nominated since running a camera through dirty dingy dorm rooms and tacky decorated rental houses is not what I would qualify for Best Cinematography.

Wife – “Inception” Wally Pfister
Academy – “Inception” Wally Pfister
Actual Winner – “Inception” Wally Pfister

Costume Design

“Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood

“I Am Love” Antonella Cannarozzi

“The King’s Speech” Jenny Beavan

“The Tempest” Sandy Powell

“True Grit” Mary Zophres

This one is a toughy. I think “Alice in Wonderland” should get this one, but not sure if the Academy will agree. I think having the entire film cast dressed in Tim Burton’s hallucinogenic dreams was fantastic. “King’s Speech” was quite accurate in terms of period costumes, but still a little drab for my taste. I have a strange feeling it might win this award. I do have to say, I would die to have the low-cut-back dress worn by Eve Best playing Wallis Simpson.

Wife – “Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood
Academy – “The King’s Speech” Jenny Beavan
Actual Winner – “Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood

Directing

“Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky

“The Fighter” David O. Russell

“The King’s Speech” Tom Hooper

“The Social Network” David Fincher

“True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Okay folks, this is going to be unanimous. I am betting money on David Fincher getting the best director. Do I agree? Not sure, since I think all the directors listed aside from David O Russell (The Fighter) deserve it; a definite toss up for me.

Wife – “The Social Network” David Fincher
Academy – “The Social Network” David Fincher
Actual Winner – “The King’s Speech” Tom Hooper

Documentary (Feature)

“Exit through the Gift Shop” Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz

“Gasland” Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic

“Inside Job” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs

“Restrepo” Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger

“Waste Land” Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

I am sad to say I didn’t see a single film on this list so no commentary from me.

Wife – don’t know
Academy – don’t know
Actual Winner – “Inside Job” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs

Film Editing

“Black Swan” Andrew Weisblum

“The Fighter” Pamela Martin

“The King’s Speech” Tariq Anwar

“127 Hours” Jon Harris

“The Social Network” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Hmmm, I actually think this one will go to “Black Swan.” The quick shifts in the imagery to trick your mind along with some (I think) subliminal images thrown in to really spook the audience was quite brilliant. I am going to guess the Academy might agree.

Wife – “Black Swan” Andrew Weisblum
Academy – “Black Swan” Andrew Weisblum
Actual Winner – “The Social Network” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Foreign Language Film

“Biutiful” Mexico

“Dogtooth” Greece

“In a Better World” Denmark

“Incendies” Canada

“Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)” Algeria

I managed to see “Biutiful” with Javier Bardem since it was the only film released in my local Arts theater. I may have to judge this category later when all the films get released on Netflix.

*Okay, the rest of the list I am going to limit my comments since I don’t think anyone cares until the end – BEST PICTURE.

Wife – don’t know
Academy – don’t know
Actual Winner – “In a Better World” Denmark

Makeup

“Barney’s Version” Adrien Morot

“The Way Back” Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng

“The Wolfman” Rick Baker and Dave Elsey

My vote goes to Barney’s Version since it’s the only one I saw in this category. Have no idea what the Academy will pick.

Wife – “Barney’s Version” Adrien Morot
Academy – don’t know
Actual Winner – “The Wolfman” Rick Baker and Dave Elsey

Music (Original Score)

“How to Train Your Dragon” John Powell

“Inception” Hans Zimmer

“The King’s Speech” Alexandre Desplat

“127 Hours” A.R. Rahman

“The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

My vote goes to “127 Hours.” When I started squinting my eyes to blur the imagery in order to not see the graphic details of him severing his own arm, I ended up plugging my ears as well to cover the intense music. Good enough reason for me to give it to A.R. Rahman. Academy may end up giving it to “Social network” and I have to say I am impressed by Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor was able to tone down the ruckus and captivate the general theatergoers.

Wife – “127 Hours” A.R. Rahman
Academy – “The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Actual Winner – “The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Music (Original Song)

“Coming Home” from “Country Strong” Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey

“I See the Light” from “Tangled” Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater

“If I Rise” from “127 Hours” Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong

“We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3″ Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

They always seem to give Pixar this category too, so I am just going with it.

Wife – “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3″ Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
Academy – “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3″ Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
Actual Winner – “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3″ Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Short Film (Animated)

“Day & Night” Teddy Newton

“The Gruffalo” Jakob Schuh and Max Lang

“Let’s Pollute” Geefwee Boedoe

“The Lost Thing” Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann

“Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)” Bastien Dubois

Hmmm, shall we play “roll the dice?”

Wife – don’t know
Academy – don’t know
Actual Winner – “The Lost Thing” Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann

Short Film (Live Action)

“The Confession” Tanel Toom

“The Crush” Michael Creagh

“God of Love” Luke Matheny

“Na Wewe” Ivan Goldschmidt

“Wish 143” Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

Read my Short Film (Animated) answer.

Wife -don’t know
Academy -don’t know
Actual Winner – “God of Love” Luke Matheny

Sound Editing

“Inception” Richard King

“Toy Story 3” Tom Myers and Michael Silvers

“Tron: Legacy” Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague

“True Grit” Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey

“Unstoppable” Mark P. Stoeckinger

Me: Unstoppable. Academy: Inception.

Wife – “Unstoppable” Mark P. Stoeckinger
Academy – “Inception” Richard King
Actual Winner – “Inception” Richard King

Sound Mixing

“Inception” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick

“The King’s Speech” Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley

“Salt” Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin

“The Social Network” Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten

“True Grit” Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland

Me: The King’s Speech. Academy: same.

Wife – “The King’s Speech” Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
Academy – “The King’s Speech” Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
Actual Winner – “Inception” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick

Visual Effects

“Alice in Wonderland” Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi

“Hereafter” Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojansky and Joe Farrell

“Inception” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb

“Iron Man 2” Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick

Oh I love this category! My vote is for “Harry Potter.” Just LOVE the visual effects for all Potter movies. However the Oscar may go to “Inception.”

Wife – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
Academy – “Inception” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
Actual Winner – “Inception” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“127 Hours” Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy

“The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

“Toy Story 3” Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

“True Grit” Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

“Winter’s Bone” Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Aaron Sorkin is a genius! Were you a “West Wing” addict like me? Love the quick-witted dialogue Sorkin is famous for, and does not disappoint in “The Social Network.” I think the Academy will agree.

Wife – “The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
Academy – “The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
Actual Winner – “The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

Writing (Original Screenplay)

“Another Year” Written by Mike Leigh

“The Fighter” Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson

“Inception” Written by Christopher Nolan

“The Kids Are All Right” Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg

“The King’s Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler

My vote goes to “Another Year.” Most of you may never see this film, but Mike Leigh’s screenplay of a loving, supportive English family surrounded by their very dysfunctional family and friend members struck me as one of the most heartfelt enjoyable films of this year. Academy will most likely give this to “King’s Speech.”

Wife – “Another Year” Written by Mike Leigh
Academy – “The King’s Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler
Actual Winner – “The King’s Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler

Best Picture

“Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers

“The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers

“Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers

“The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers

“The King’s Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers

“127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers

“The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers

“Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer

“True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers

“Winter’s Bone” Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Wow, the 10 movies on this list could not be any more different than the next.

Short answer: Me and the Academy “The King’s Speech.”

Wife – “The King’s Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
Academy – “The King’s Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
Actual Winner – “The King’s Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers

I think seeing “King’s Speech” for the second time allowed me to see every brilliant nuance Tom Hooper tried to sink into his film. I am not exactly thrilled with the entire casting of the film aside from the two main actors –Firth and Rush – but overall one of the most brilliant films ever made. I suppose it will go on my list of overly played period film DVDs I collect and re-watch over and over until my husband asks “really, are you truly that dorky?” I especially loved how Hooper had casted Jennifer Ehle as Geoffrey Rush’s wife (Firth and Ehle were the very repressed lovers in one of the most classic romance movies of all time – Pride and Prejudice). As for “The Social Network,” if it wins this category, there might be a terrible upset with the populace. It is a great film, but not something you can see over and over like “King’s Speech.” One side note, “Winter’s Bone” was also one of my faves following the life a teenage girl searching for her meth-addicted father in the Ozark mountains. A friend recommended the documentary “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia,” an almost a real life depiction of the film (if the title doesn’t ignite your interest, just watch the trailer –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ysuG2O0zw ).

So there it is folks, my 2011 Oscar predictions!