I used to do Oscar Night Live... well, live, but I don't anymore since we have a huge party every year now. Last year, I got a new high score with getting 16 out of 24 categories right. I thought this year was going to be easier, it turned out to go way different than I expected. It's mostly Hugo that surprised me with as many wins as it got, but the big categories were fairly predictable. Let's see how I did this year.
Performance by an actor in a leading role
My prediction: Jean Dujardin
Winner: Jean Dujardin
Thoughts: No surprise here. It was either going to be Dujardin or Clooney, and I would have been happy with either winning, but Dujardin's performance was unique and creative.
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
My prediction: Christopher Plummer
Winner: Christopher Plummer
Thoughts: His first Oscar ever! So happy that he won in a great role for a great movie.
Performance by an actress in a leading role
My prediction: Viola Davis
Winner: Meryl Streep
Thoughts: Probably the biggest shocker of the night. Many expected Davis to win because of the SAG Awards, but sadly it went to Streep, who I'm sure had a fine performance.
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
My prediction: Octavia Spencer
Winner: Octavia Spencer
Thoughts: She swept all the major award shows, so this was to be expected.
Best animated feature film of the year
My prediction: Rango
Winner: Rango
Thoughts: Really sad to not see Tintin nominated. I liked Rango, but don't think it deserves an Academy Award.
Achievement in art direction
My prediction: Hugo
Winner: Hugo
Thoughts: It's actually pretty funny because at the prediction contest at our home, I mistaken predicted that The Artist would win this. But looking back at my predictions article, I did indeed pick Hugo.
Achievement in cinematography
My prediction: The Tree of Life
Winner: Hugo
Thoughts: Pretty disappointed in the Academy on this one. I imagine that Malick's obscureness caused a no win here, but Hugo? For cinematography? Really? No.
Achievement in costume design
My prediction: Jane Eyre
Winner: The Artist
Thoughts: Well, the Academy went off the beaten path and didn't pick a period piece this time. Well, I guess technically The Artist can be considered a period piece, but whatever.
Achievement in directing
My prediction: Michel Hazanavicius
Winner: Michel Hazanavicius
Thoughts: I figured that it was going to be The Artist's night and so Hazanavicius winning made sense.
Best documentary feature
My prediction: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Winner: Undefeated
Thoughts: The Academy chose a sports documentary this year which is very unlike them. However, if you look at their other favorites, there is a common theme going on. All of the films have to do with the lowly rising up to win. When you think about it this way, this film seems rather appropriate to win.
Best documentary short subject
My prediction: The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
Winner: Saving Face
Thoughts: I knew it would come down to the two movies. Saving Face is all about reconstructive surgery on some women who had acid thrown on their faces. It's a brutal attack, but Hollywood loves the underdog stories.
Achievement in film editing
My prediction: The Artist
Winner: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Thoughts: Um... what!? Did anyone get this one right? Definitely another one of the biggest surprises of the night.
Best foreign language film of the year
My prediction: A Separation
Winner: A Separation
Thoughts: Even if you barely followed the bigger foreign films last year, you should have known that this was going to win. Great flick.
Achievement in makeup
My prediction: The Iron Lady
Winner: The Iron Lady
Thoughts: The transformation of Meryl Streep is spectacular. Yes, Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs was also good and Harry Potter people should have gotten one Oscar somewhere out of the eight films, but at least J. Edgar didn't get nominated.
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
My prediction: Ludovic Bource
Winner: Ludovic Bource
Thoughts: The music is very important in a silent film. It needs to be expressive without directing the audience how to feel. Bource did that brilliantly.
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
My prediction: "Man or Muppet"
Winner: "Man or Muppet"
Thoughts: Muppets.
Best motion picture of the year
My prediction: The Artist
Winner: The Artist
Thoughts: Despite Hugo winning just as many awards as The Artist in the long run, I didn't have much doubt that The Artist would still take home the big prize. My favorite film out of the Best Picture noms. I'm happy.
Best animated short film
My prediction: La Luna
Winner: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Thoughts: I played it safe with Pixar. Should have known better.
Best live action short film
My prediction: The Shore
Winner: The Shore
Thoughts: I actually did some research into this category, so I'm glad it was worth something.
Achievement in sound editing
My prediction: War Horse
Winner: Hugo
Thoughts: Okay, that's just silly. Even Transformers was better.
Achievement in sound mixing
My prediction: War Horse
Winner: Hugo
Thoughts: Well, I was right about them doubling up on this category again, but man did they pick wrong. I mean, the sound is good, but nothing close to War Horse or Transformers.
Achievement in visual effects
My prediction: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Winner: Hugo
Thoughts: Even though I didn't really care for the film that much, I thought the Academy was going to go with Apes on this one. Guess not. Hugo again.
Adapted screenplay
My prediction: The Descendants
Winner: The Descendants
Thoughts: Yay! Definitely my favorite out of the bunch. Love Alexander Payne.
Original screenplay
My prediction: Midnight in Paris
Winner: Midnight in Paris
Thoughts: So glad that Midnight in Paris won something! I would have chosen this, too.
Prediction rate: 14 for 24 (58%) Two worse than last year, but still decent.
Final thoughts: Billy Crystal was hilarious! Great to have him back on stage. Loved his little side comments in between awards. There are few who will ever be better than him. Most of the speeches weren't very noteworthy, but I loved all the stage design. Especially the film reel one. Still trying to figure out how they did that. Cirque du Soleil was really good and I don't know why we are ever think they'll be otherwise. Chris Rock was funny. Overall, a good production that felt a little like old times. I ended up winning our little Oscar prediction pool at our party again, but gave the prize to the runner-up who was my cousin, Shannon. I'll post some pictures in the next Foto Friday. It was a good time and everyone seemed to have fun. Can't wait to do it again next year!
P.S. To see my original Oscar blog with prediction explanations, click here.
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