Oscar Predictions

2012 was an excellent year for movies. Definitely better than 2012 in my opinion. Though the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tries their best, they usually come up short in nominating the worthiest films of the year. However, this year they mostly succeeded in picking their nominations (Except for leaving out The Master). The only Best Picture nominee I did not like was Les Miserable but given the scores of fervent fans it has, I understand it being included.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my 2013 Oscar Predictions, including who I would've voted for.

BEST PICTURE
Although it’s almost a foregone conclusion which film will win best picture this year, I’m yet to find a person whose favorite movie of 2012 was actually Argo. Although Argo is a excellent movie, I’ll be quietly rooting for an upset.

Should Win: Django Unchained
Will Win: Argo

BEST DIRECTOR
Without Ben Affleck, Quentin Tarantino, and Katheryn Bigelow in the running, I’m betting the voters will throw a curveball and go with Haneke. Though honestly I wouldn’t be surprised by anyone but Zeitlin winning this category.

Should Win: David O. Russell – Silver Lingings Playbook
Will Win: Michael Haneke – Amour

BEST ACTOR

My love for The Master knows no bounds, and Phoenix’s animalistic performance blew me away. Of course Daniel Day-Lewis will win, and yes, he’s the greatest actor alive, but my vote goes to Phoenix.

Should Win: Joaquin Phoenix - The Master

Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln

BEST ACTRESS

Some people are predicting an upset by Emmanuelle Riva for Amour, but I don’t buy it. Riva didn’t even have the best performance in the movie! Here's looking at you Jean-Louis Trintignant.

Should Win: Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

An absolute crapshoot full of old sentimental favorites (and Christoph Waltz). Tommy Lee Jones seems like a safer bet than the others.

Should Win: Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln
Will Win: Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

No question. If you pick anyone else in your Oscar pool, you will lose.

Should Win: Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables
Will Win: Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

One of my personal favorite categories. Voters tend to use this category to vote for a favorite outside their Best Picture pick.

Should Win: Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained
Will Win: Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

If Argo is going to win cleanly like most information suggests, it’ll also win here.

Should Win: David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
Will Win: Chris Terrio – Argo

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEATURE

Rule of Thumb: if a foreign language film is nominated for Best Picture, it will win the Best Foreign Language award.

Should Win: Amour – Austria
Will Win: Amour – Austria

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

My bet is Oscar voters will pick the Pixar flick out of habit, even though it wasn’t this years best animated picture.

Should Win: Pirates! Band of Misfits
Will Win: Brave

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Searching for Sugar Man is a phenomenal piece of filmmaking. Check out my review here.

Should Win: Searching for Sugar Man
Will Win: Searching for Sugar Man

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Roger Deakins fails yet again to win the award he should own five-times-over. Seriously, this man doesn’t have an Oscar yet? No shame in voting for Claudio Miranda though. Life of Pi is a seriously beautiful film.

Should Win: Roger Deakins – Skyfall
Will Win: Claudio Miranda – Life of Pi

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Should Win: Anna Karenina
Will Win: Anna Karenina

BEST FILM EDITING

As goes Best Editing, so goes Best Picture.

Should Win: William Goldenberg – Argo
Will Win: William Goldenberg – Argo

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

What a lackluster list of nominees. As per usual, the Academy failed to nominate many of the best and most inventive scores (See Beasts of the Southern Wild and The Master)

Should Win: Beasts of the Southern Wild (Not Nominated)
Will Win: John Williams – Lincoln

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Easiest pick of the night.

Should Win: “Skyfall” – Skyfall
Will Win: “Skyfall” – Skyfall

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Should Win: Life of Pi
Will Win: Life of Pi

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Should Win: Anna Karenina
Will Win: Les Miserables

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Should Win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Will Win: Les Miserables

BEST SOUND EDITING & BEST SOUND MIXING

Argo will win these two categories in their run-up to Best Picture. Not that they should necessarily, but they will.