Poles officially
closed on Friday for Academy Award nominations. While the accountants
at Price Waterhouse Coopers crunch the numbers, we're left to ponder
and anticipate. My predictions are likely to shift and slide during
the next few days. What will stay consistent are my personal rooting
interests. There are certain contenders in several categories who
feel like they're on the cusp of a nomination -- contenders who I'd love to see make good on that possibility -- but who could just as
easily miss the cut. Here you go, Academy; you have ten chances to
make me smile on Thursday morning.
10. Matthew McConaughey for Best Supporting Actor
Confession time: I
haven't seen Magic Mike yet. Truth be told, it hasn't interested me.
But I'd be lying if I said the thought of McConaughey earning Oscar
recognition for such a saucy film didn't intrigue and amuse me. He's
a hard working actor who's due for some love (and I don't mean of the
male stripper variety). It would at least give me a reason to finally
catch up with the film.
9. Skyfall for Best Original
Song
Some out there
would think me crazy for not predicting what should be a slam dunk
nomination, but even if the Academy ends up going for 007 in a big
way, we must remember that the music branch is notoriously out of
touch when it comes to Best Original Song. Not only would Adele's
ballin' Bond theme make a worthy nominee, but it would provide the
show with a killer musical moment.
8. Django Unchained for Best
Cinematography
It's odd to
imagine that a Western as stylishly mounted as this, by one of the
industry's greatest DPs no less, would be on the outside looking in
on the Best Cinematography race. I'm hoping that Django's Best
Picture buzz might push Richardson through in this field, but it's looking
like all those slots are filled. Shame. His work here is much more
interesting than his work on Hugo, for which he won last year.
7. The Master for Best
Original Score
The distinct and
wavering strings of The Master may not even crack my own top
five when I begin putting together my own awards ballot after this
year's Oscars. But I'd be thrilled just to see Johnny Greenwood
nominated anyway, if only as atonement for his shameful snub five
years ago for There Will Be Blood. This category needs an interesting score like this to mix things up.
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower for Best Adapted Screenplay
Despite BFCA and
WGA nominations under his belt for adapting his own novel, Stephen
Chbosky's wonderful high school movie may just skew too young for the
Academy's more aged tastes. But the field is looking thin; even Best
Picture heavyweights Les Mis and Life of Pi aren't
especially loved for their screenwriting, so Chbosky's sensitive
script is hopefully primed to squeak in.
5. Joaquin Phoenix for Best Actor
He seemed like a
lock when it first opened to ecstatic reviews, but Joaquin Phoenix
appears to be getting dragged down with the sinking ship that is The
Master's Best Picture
chances. His miss with the Screen Actors Guild certainly looms like a
bad omen. I'll be pleased if he manages to grab one of those
oh-so-competitive slots, even if it must come at the expense of
another deserving actor.
4. Looper for Best Original
Screenplay
Rian Johnson has a
healthy reserve of critics citations (plus a BFCA and WGA nom) for
his inventive sci-fi, but genre films often struggle in the major
categories. With a couple of spots likely to be occupied by WGA
disqualifications Amour and Django Unchained, I fear
this may be one of the casualties. Fingers crossed it hangs in there!
3. Moonrise Kingdom for Best
Costume and/or Production Design
The world of New
Penzance is one of the most meticulously crafted of the year, but as
one might expect, it is all too easily overshadowed by fancier period
efforts. The design team face an uphill battle, but if either Adam
Stockhausen or Kasia Walicka-Maimone can pull off a nomination, I'll
be most pleased. If they can both pull it off, I'll faint.
2. Quvenzhane Wallis for Best
Actress
Early in the year,
when pundits annually gripe about the “thinness” of the Best
Actress race, it looked like little Quvenzhane Wallis might make
Oscar history as the youngest lead acting nominee ever. Naturally,
the slate filled out with more Oscary performances, and now there
might not be enough room for this powerful tour-de-force.
1. Paperman for
Best Animated Short
It's
been a while since I've had a horse to passionately root for in this
category, but I have one this year in John Kahrs' Paperman.
I fell immediately and unconditionally in love with its hopelessly
romantic story, and its technical innovations make it one of the most
breathtaking bits of filmmaking I've seen all year. Studio efforts
never win this category anymore, so a nomination is the best I can
hope for, and I really
hope for it.