Oscars Coverage 2012: Jacob’s Oscar Predictions

Tonight, Billy Crystal will host the 84^th Academy Awards on ABC.   Before the results are revealed to the world, jacobelyacharjournalist.com predicts six major awards including the show’s signature Best Picture and Best Acting awards.

Best Picture:

Nominees- The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life and War Horse

 

Will Win/Should Win: The Artist

 

While all of these nominated films are all so different, only one has stood out to both movie lovers and critics alike: The Artist.   This black-and-white silent film is a joy to watch and it is also a love letter to Hollywood’s Golden Age.     What also helps the Artist is that it snagged a lot of important precursor awards including The Golden Globes’ Best Motion Picture for a Musical or Comedy and a BAFTA for Best Film.

Best Director:

Nominees-Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris), Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist), Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life), Alexander Payne (The Descendants) and Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

 

Will Win/Should Win: Michel Hazanavicius

 

All of these directors brought incredible films to life.  While Allen and Scorsese are both Oscar winners for their legendary films, the Best Director award almost always aligns with the Best Picture award and this year’s award could belong to Michel Hazanavicius.

Best Actor:

Nominees-Demain Bichir (A Better Life), George Clooney (The Descendants), Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Brad Pitt (Moneyball)

 

Will Win/Should Win: Jean Dujardin

 

This year’s Best Actor race has been narrowed down to a two-man horse race as critics and movie lovers picked either George Clooney or Jean Dujardin to receive the Best Actor award.   While Clooney delivered a strong performance in the Descendants, Dujardin provided his film with an astonishing performance as silent film star George Valentin in the Artist.   His win could be key if the Artist will sweep the Oscars.

Best Actress:

Nominees-Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Viola Davis (The Help), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) and Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

 

Will Win/Should Win: Viola Davis

 

What makes Viola Davis stand out in the crowded field of impeccable performances was the ability to make the audience connect with her character, Aibileen Clark.   Davis’s key scenes that would make her receive an Oscar could be the scenes where Aibileen opened up to Skeeter about her son’s death and her intense final showdown with the town’s racist.

Best Supporting Actor:

Nominees-Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn), Jonah Hill (Moneyball), Nick Nolte (Warrior), Christopher Plummer (Beginners) and Max von Sydow (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)

 

Will Win: Christopher Plummer

Should Win: Max von Sydow

 

Both men are acting veterans with solid performances in each of their movies.   While the Oscar could go to Plummer because he received numerous precursor awards for his performance as Hal in Beginners, the Academy should consider giving Max von Sydow the Oscar for his work as the mute Renter in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close because of his superb ability to communicate using a notepad and body language.

Best Supporting Actress:

Nominees- Bérénice Bejo (The Artist),  Jessica Chastain (The Help), Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) and Octavia Spencer (The Help)

 

Will Win/Should Win: Octavia Spencer

 

Octavia Spencer delivered an extraordinary performance as Minny Jackson.   She stole every scene that she was in The Help.   What might also help her gain an Oscar is the fact that she received several crucial precursor awards including a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, a Screen Actors Guild award and a BAFTA award too.

To find out who will win, watch the Oscars on ABC tonight starting at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST.  

 

For more information about the Oscars, visit their site at: http://oscar.go.com/