Posted by 
Here’s the latest installment in my series of predictions for the upcoming awards season. As we look towards the Academy Awards, the pinnacle of the season, here is one more chance for the critics to weigh in. That means I get to weigh in here, even if it’s an unofficial vote. Check out my picks for the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards to see how consistent (or inconsistent) my opinion can be.
BEST PICTURE
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
Life of Pi
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty
I’m picking this one based on limited knowledge since I’ve yet to see all the films nominated. I think that this year is going to be a huge one for Lincoln. That being said, I’m going with my favorite movie of the year, Lincoln.
BEST ACTOR
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Denzel Washington, Flight
The same disclaimer will be given for this award as well. I’m sticking with Daniel Day-Lewis for his amazing performance in Lincoln.
BEST ACTRESS
- Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts, The Impossible
I’m still waiting to see all of these movies. I know, I know, it’s a lot to do before Oscar time. Based on the reading I’ve done, as well as the opinions of trusted friends, I’m going with Jessica Chastain for her work in Zero Dark Thirty.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin, Argo
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike
Okay, a slight deviation from my all-Lincoln all the time aproach. I loved Bardem in Skyfall. I think he deserves the award, although I’m not wildly optimistic since Bond films aren’t known for major awards seasons. I did love Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln, so if it went to him I’d also be pretty happy.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, The Master
Judi Dench, Skyfall
Ann Dowd, Compliance
Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Here’s another coin flip award for me. I have heard great things about Hathaway, and I enjoyed both Dench and Field in their films this year. Based on the way the season looks to be headed, I’m picking Sally Field for this one.
BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Elle Fanning, Ginger & Rosa
Kara Hayward, Moonrise Kingdom
Tom Holland, The Impossible
Logan Lerman, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Suraj Sharma, Life of Pi
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
I’ve only seen one of these movies and I’m going to abstain from making a choice since a number of these actors have made waves with powerful performances this year.
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook
Lincoln, enough said.
BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck, Argo
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
Tom Hooper, Les Misérables
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
If you’re waiting for an explanation, just read the stuff from the choices above. I loved Lincoln and I think it’s bound for a huge trophy haul this year.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
John Gatins, Flight
Rian Johnson, Looper
Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master
Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola, Moonrise Kingdom
- Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty
This is another hard one to choose. I think that it will likely go to Zero Dark Thirty, especially since the critics are eating this one up in recent weeks.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Chris Terrio, Argo
Tony Kushner, Lincoln
Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
I loved Lincoln and I think it will win a lot of awards. This is one that I think it won’t win. Life of Pi is a great adaptation of a popular book that I think will take home a few awards of it’s own.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Les Misérables, Danny Cohen
Life of Pi, Claudio Miranda
Lincoln, Janusz Kaminski
The Master, Mihai Malaimare Jr.
Skyfall, Roger Deakins
I’ll give them this one. It looks pretty darn good from the clips I’ve seen.
BEST ART DIRECTION
Anna Karenina
The Hobbit
Les Misérables
I’ll have to admit, I think several of these movies were great. This time I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and going with Life of Pi.
BEST EDITING
Argo
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty
Once again, I haven’t seen all of these films, but I’ll do what I do best and speculate. After having done my homework, I think this one will go to Life of Pi.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Anna Karenina
Cloud Atlas
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Another interesting category. Given my options I’ll go with The Hobbit. It’s another example of the creative minds who are needed for a film like this to be made.
BEST MAKEUP
Cloud Atlas
Les Misérables
Lincoln
The Hobbit should take this one as well. It was a great visual feast.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Avengers
Cloud Atlas
The Dark Knight Rises
The Hobbit
Ah, so many good movies to choose from. Given the options and the way these things tend to go, I’ll go with Life of Pi.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Brave
- Frankenweenie
Madagascar 3
ParaNorman
Rise of the Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph
I have only seen one of these films, so I’d be making a wild guess. That being said, my wild guess is Frankenweenie. I think Disney will win this one with one of the films it has in the running.
BEST ACTION MOVIE
The Avengers
The Dark Knight Rises
Why do we have to pick one of these?! I loved them all for different reasons. Forcing myself to pick wasn’t easy, but I am going with Looper.
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Christian Bale, The Dark Knight Rises
Daniel Craig, Skyfall
Robert Downey Jr., The Avengers
Jake Gyllenhaal, End of Watch
By far the best individual performance from these movies was Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t take this one home.
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Emily Blunt, Looper
Gina Carano, Haywire
Anne Hathaway, The Dark Knight Rises
Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games
I don’t know that I understand the critics. Gina Carano gave one of the worst performances that any actress has ever given ever. I might sooner watch Gigli before I ever see Haywire again. With the remaining choices, I’ll go with Judi Dench, she’s a class act and closed a chapter in Bond with a great performance.
BEST COMEDY
Bernie
- Silver Linings Playbook
Ted
This Is 40
21 Jump Street
I’ve seen a couple of these, and my gut says Silver Linings Playbook will win this one easily. I haven’t seen it, but it has a lot of momentum heading into the season. I did love Ted and 21 Jump Street but I don’t think they’re award-winning types of films.
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Jack Black, Bernie
- Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Paul Rudd, This Is 40
Channing Tatum, 21 Jump Street
Mark Wahlberg, Ted
In line with my last pick, I’ll take Bradley Cooper in this popular film.
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Mila Kunis, Ted
- Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Shirley MacLaine, Bernie
Lesliel Mann, This Is 40
Rebel Wilson, Pitch Perfect
Once again, I’ll stick with Silver Linings Playbook and Jennifer Lawrence.
BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
The Cabin in the Woods
Prometheus
Looper is the only one I’ve seen and I loved it, so that’s my pick.
BEST SONG
“For You,” Keith Urban, Act of Valor
“Learn Me Right,” Mumford & Sons, Brave
“Still Alive,” Paul Williams, Paul Williams Still Alive
“Suddenly,” Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
Skyfall will take home this award unless the people voting have bad hearing. This was a great song for an awesome movie.
BEST SCORE
Argo, Alexandre Desplat
Life of Pi, Mychael Danna
The Master, Jonny Greenwood
Moonrise Kingdom, Alexandre Desplat
I’m going with Lincoln for a great score to go with the best movie I saw all year.
So there you have it. The awards are going to be announced on the 10th of January, so there isn’t much time left before we get to know how right (or wrong) I was this year. Let me know what your picks are.
Did You See That One? 