Final 2013 Oscar predictions

I would have the same amount of confidence in picking "Open Heart" as I would if I had picked any of the five nominees out of a hat. Hopefully one of these days I'll be able to actually know whats going on in these categories.The exception to the usual trends of nominated short films is Disney's "Paperman", who got a wide audience as it played in front of "Wreck-it-Ralph". That exposure, and the fact that it is one of the best films of any kind this year, will earn it the Oscar.The short film categories are often the real wild cards in predicting the Oscars, as many people aren't able to find them before the awards. So, with a stab in the dark, I'm going with "Curfew", a sweet little film about a deadbeat uncle connecting with his niece for the first time.View the list »
Ben Affleck's "Argo" is the likely Best Picture winner at the 85th Academy Awards

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Film’s biggest night arrives on Sunday when the 85th Academy Awards get underway, and after months of campaigning and pundit predictions, everything will be put sorted out as we learn who will take home the title of year’s best in all 24 categories. No more analyzing, no more connecting the dots, its time to take one last shot at who will win. Below are my predictions, but check out the list as well to get my final thoughts for all the categories.

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Best Short Film (Live Action): Curfew
Best Short Film (Animated): Paperman
Best Documentary Short: Open Heart
Best Sound Mixing: Les Miserables
Best Sound Editing: Skyfall
Best Visual Effects: Life of Pi
Best Makeup and Hairstyle: Les Miserables
Best Costume Design: Mirror Mirror
Best Production Design: Anna Karenina
Best Song: “Skyfall” from Skyfall
Best Score: Life of Pi
Best Cinematography: Life of Pi
Best Editing: Argo
Best Animated Film: Wreck-it-Ralph
Best Documentary Feature: Searching for Sugar Man
Best Foreign Film: Amour
Best Adapted Screenplay: Argo
Best Original Screenplay: Django Unchained
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
Best Director: Ang Lee – Life of Pi
Best Picture: Argo

The top winners break down like this:
Life of Pi – 4
Argo – 3
Django Unchained – 2
Les Miserables – 2
Skyfall – 2

There should be a real spreading of the wealth at this year’s affair, and there isn’t anything wrong with that. So come Sunday, sit back, relax, and let’s put the slate of 2012 films to rest. Enjoy the show.

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  • The short film categories are often the real wild cards in predicting the Oscars, as many people aren't able to find them before the awards. So, with a stab in the dark, I'm going with "Curfew", a sweet little film about a deadbeat uncle connecting with his niece for the first time.
  • The exception to the usual trends of nominated short films is Disney's "Paperman", who got a wide audience as it played in front of "Wreck-it-Ralph". That exposure, and the fact that it is one of the best films of any kind this year, will earn it the Oscar.
  • I would have the same amount of confidence in picking "Open Heart" as I would if I had picked any of the five nominees out of a hat. Hopefully one of these days I'll be able to actually know whats going on in these categories.
  • "Les Miserables" took a huge risk in having all their actors sing the songs live on set, and despite what you thought of the film, it's hard to argue that it didn't pay off. That feat will be rewarded with the award for Best Sound Mixing.
  • Big, epic, action films have a strong advantage when it comes to the sound categories, and while this year's slate of nominees is full of action films that could easily take this, "Skyfall" gets the edge in Bond's 50th year on the big screen.
  • "Life of Pi" was a wonder of visual effects, and the chief example is the CGI created Richard Parker, the bengal tiger who shares the screen with the titular character. "Life of Pi" will take this award with ease.
  • There is a difference this year with this award then in the past, and that is the addition of hairstyling to its name. That likely will put "Les Miserables" over the edge as the work on the entire cast, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter especially, is superb.
  • The award for Best Costume is usually dominated by period pieces, so "Anna Karenina" is a strong possibility to win. However, "Mirror Mirror" gives the Academy a final chance to honor legendary costume designer Eiko Ishioka, who passed away last year, so gut feeling suggests they'll go in that direction.
  • Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina" took an interesting risk telling Leo Tolstoy's famous story in the setting of a theatre, and constructing the world within it. It added a unique flair to the production, and it will be recognized for it on Sunday.
  • James Bond will be honored with a tribute during the broadcast, but the Academy is certain to honor it with only its third Oscar ever (possibly fourth if "Skyfall" wins Sound Editing as predicted, though not a lock) for Adele's brilliant Bond theme, which she will perform on the show. This award is one of the few locks in the show.
  • The beautiful score for "Life of Pi" has been a surprising dominant force on the circuit that includes the legendary John Williams and his score for "Lincoln". It will continue its roll and take the prize for composer Mychael Danna.
  • It is so tempting to go with Roger Deakins for his brilliant work in "Skyfall", and sentiment could swing that when they open the ballot, but Deakins will likely be a bridesmaid again as the 3D cinematography for "Pi" wins out.
  • William Goldenberg is the only man going into the Dolby theatre on Sunday guaranteed to lose, but he is also the favorite to win for Editing. Confused? Goldenberg is a double nominee in this category for his work on both "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Argo". The "Argo" train will pick up its first trophy of the night in this category.
  • "Wreck-it-Ralph" was the big animated hit of the year and should take the Oscar, but it is not safe. Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" could sweep in and give the director his first ever Oscar, and Pixar may be able to steal the award away from their sister company if "Brave" gets it done with its late surge.
  • In a strong year for documentaries, "Searching for Sugar Man" has been a consistent winner in the category. Perhaps not as vital, or informative, as some of its fellow nominees, there isn't likely to be another one as enjoyable a watch as "Sugar Man", and sometimes that's all it takes to win.
  • It received five total nominations, including Best Picture, Director, Actress, and Original Screenplay. If "Amour" does not win Best Foreign Language Film then the Academy needs a serious overhaul of how the winner is decided.
  • With competition like Tony Kushner for "Lincoln" and David O. Russell for "Silver Linings Playbook", Chris Terrio may still sweat a little when the time comes to award Best Adapted Screenplay. Though in the end he is the likely man to be called up to the stage after he bested both of his top competitors at the WGA awards.
  • Tarantino looks to get revenge on Mark Boal after he won this category back in 2009 for "The Hurt Locker" when Tarantino was up for "Inglourious Basterds" (the better Tarantino movie in my opinion). But it isn't Boal's "Zero Dark Thirty" script that is probably the likeliest to knock Tarantino off at this point, it very well might be Michael Haneke for "Amour".
  • Christoph Waltz has found his niche in Tarantino movies and could very easily be rewarded for the second time as part of one. This pick is made with only the slightest of confidence though, as Robert De Niro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Tommy Lee Jones could all be likely and deserved winners. Apologies to the Alan Arkin, good performance in "Argo", but you're not beating those other four.
  • As soon as the first screening of "Les Miserables" ended back in November the Best Supporting Actress race was over. Anne Hathaway will win this award for her breathtaking performance of "I Dreamed a Dream", all of which was performed in a single take.
  • There are five great performances nominated for Best Actor, but one man has been dominating them all. Daniel Day-Lewis will join a very special club as a three time acting winner, and the only one to win every award for lead actor.
  • Emmanuelle Riva has taken the place of Jessica Chastain as Lawrence's rival in this category, but in the end the result will be the same. Hollywood's biggest young actress will take home her first Oscar and complete the unbelievable year that she had in 2012.
  • So the Academy kind of screwed up when they didn't nominate Ben Affleck as he has won every other major award for Best Director. Oh well, that at least gives the opportunity to recognize another great director's work and in this case it should be Ang Lee. Spielberg may be the mainstream favorite, but Lee achieved something visually spectacular with "Life of Pi" and that will likely be rewarded.
  • It is a bit of a forgone conclusion now, but that shouldn't make anyone think that this hasn't been a close race. "Argo" was left for dead by many (myself included) after the nominations were announced, only to mount a spectacular comeback. A last minute surprise isn't outside the real of possibility, but don't hold your breath, "Argo" will be the Academy Awards choice for Best Picture of 2012.
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, LA Film Examiner

I am a recent college graduate from Elon University where I majored in film and minored in creative writing. Movies have been my passion for as long as I can remember and I have been known to get into some heated debates over it. I have a wide taste in movies from the classics to today's...

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