Oscar predictions: 10 movies that may be nominated for best picture | Fox News
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Oscar predictions: 10 movies that may be nominated for best picture
Bryan Cranston, left, as Jack O’Donnell and Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in "Argo."&(AP)
Daniel Day Lewis in "Lincoln."&(AP)
A scene from "Django Unchained."&(Columbia Pictures)
When the nominations for the 85th annual Academy Awards are announced this week, there are a few things that are certain. A two-time winner for Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) will receive his fifth nomination for playing the 16th president of the United States. The first woman to ever receive the Best Director Oscar (Kathryn Bigelow) will be given the chance to repeat her victory. And a lavish adaptation of a beloved Broadway musical (“Les Miserables”) will receive several major nominations, hoping to capture awards glory the same way that “Chicago” did exactly ten years ago.
But there are a number of questions to which we won’t know the answer until the moment the nominees are revealed. Will the Academy recognize a James Bond film (“Skyfall”) in a major category for the first time ever? Will an extremely violent spaghetti western revolving around slavery (“Django Unchained”) be nominated for Best Picture? And will a nine-year-old girl (Quvenzhane Wallis in “Beast of the Southern Wild”) become the youngest Best Actress nominee in history for her film debut?ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT
But the biggest question of all may be as to how many films are included in the Best Picture category. Like last year, the rules state that any film that receives at least 5% of the first-place votes on the nominating ballots will reap a bid. There will be at least five and as many as ten, or any number in between. The 2011 derby recognized nine contenders. This year, due to a seemingly divided Academy electorate, there may in fact be the maximum ten.
Here’s a look at the ten films most likely to make the Oscar shortlist, in order of probability.
1. “Argo” – Ben Affleck’s tale of the “Canadian Caper” during the Iran hostage crisis has received both rapturous reviews and enthusiastic audience reaction since its release in October. It’s still drawing crowds, and recently crossed the $100 million mark at the US box office. “Argo” has been recognized with major nominations by the Golden Globe Awards, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, the Critics Choice Awards and the Producers Guild Awards. A one-time Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay (“Good Will Hunting,”) Affleck is now virtually assured of a directing nomination. With everything it has in its favor, “Argo” could very well go all the way on Oscar night next month.
2. “Lincoln” – Historical drama has long been a popular genre with the Academy, meaning that this film about Abe could turn into Oscar. In the starring performance, Daniel Day-Lewis appears to be unstoppable in his bid for a third Best Actor trophy. Previous winners Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field will find themselves in contention once again for their supporting turns. With its superb craftsmanship, watch for “Lincoln” to earn the most nominations of the year in everything from production and costume design to cinematography, makeup and score. If the Academy decides to go the traditional route, it’s “Lincoln” that gets inaugurated as Best Picture of 2012.
3. “Zero Dark Thirty” – Director Kathryn Bigelow made history three years ago when she accepted the Oscar for helming “The Hurt Locker.” Her follow-up film has earned an almost equally positive reception from critics, despite some questions about its presentation of torture tactics. Nominations for picture and director seem guaranteed, and star Jessica Chastain will surely figure into the Best Actress race. Can Bigelow and her film prevail again so soon? It’s too early to say, but there’s “Zero” chance that “Dark Thirty” won’t be in the running.
4. “Life of Pi” – Many said that bringing the acclaimed novel to the screen would be impossible, but director Ang Lee has proven them wrong. Undoubtedly the most visually stunning movie of the year, “Life of Pi” will bring Lee this third directing nomination (he won for 2005’s “Brokeback Mountain”) and nods for cinematography, sound mixing and visual effects. With no acting citations expected, it probably can’t win the top prize. But by the end of the awards season, expect “Life” to snag at least a piece of the golden Oscar pie.
5. “Les Miserables” – The most anticipated film of the year, it was hailed as a surefire awards contender the moment the trailer was unveiled back in June. With Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (“The King’s Speech”) in charge and a superb cast of actors, it looked like it might repeat the success of previous Best Picture musicals like “My Fair Lady,” “The Sound of Music” and “Oliver.”  It now appears that “Les Miz” hasn’t quite lived up to the high expectations. Still, nominations for Best Picture and Hugh Jackman for Best Actor appear to be probable, and Anne Hathaway is widely regarded as the frontrunner for Best Supporting Actress. With its lavish staging, look for nominations in production and costume design, as well as sound mixing and perhaps cinematography. All of this potential Oscar recognition should leave the film’s makers anything but miserable.
6. “Silver Linings Playbook” – Arguably the biggest crowd-pleaser among this year’s Oscar hopefuls, the picture has been generating major awards buzz since it won the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival last September. Unlike most of the other films in contention, it’s a contemporary and dialogue-driven work which will garner few technical nods. On the other hand, it’s expected to score an impressive three acting nominations:  Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence for Best Actor and Actress, and Robert De Niro for Best Supporting Actor. If onscreen wife and mother Jacki Weaver sneaks in to the supporting actress field, “Silver” could become the first film to garner recognition in all four acting categories since 1981’s “Reds.” All in all, it’s a pretty strong Oscar playbook.
7. “Moonrise Kingdom” – Director Wes Anderson’s quirky but delightful indie comedy debuted last May and enjoyed a long summer run in theatres, grossing a healthy $45 million in the US. Despite its early release, it hasn’t been forgotten, winning Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical and a Producers Guild nod for best film of the year. The Oscar-friendly cast (including Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton) further improves its chances. Frequently mentioned by many people as their favorite movie of the year, “Moonrise” may well have enough support to earn a place in this year’s Oscar kingdom.
8. “The Master” – There’s no question that the latest effort from Paul Thomas Anderson (“There Will Be Blood” “Magnolia,” “Boogie Nights”) has left both critics and audiences deeply divided. The subject matter (a fictionalized account of the creation of what appears to be Scientology) is controversial, and there are numerous scenes which have left viewers uncomfortable and even disgusted. However, Anderson’s direction is superb and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams will likely earn acting nominations. While far from a sure thing, voters could find the film masterful enough to give it a place in the Best Picture race.
9. “Django Unchained” – As with “The Master,” Quentin Tarantino’s recent release is a most polarizing picture. Its illustration of slavery, graphic violence and nearly three-hour running time make it a difficult film to truly enjoy. But its inclusion in the Golden Globes and Producers Guild Awards plus Tarantino’s small but passionate group of Academy supporters bode well for it. Both Leonardo DiCaprio and previous winner Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds”) could receive acting nominations, and the “Pulp Fiction” creator will probably be cited for original screenplay. Another wild card in the awards game, its admirers might get “Django” unchained and into Oscar’s most prestigious category.
10. “Amour” – This tiny French-language film is Austria’s official entry in the foreign film contest. The critics have been dazzled, with a number of major groups naming it the top picture of the year. Star Emmanuelle Riva may have been snubbed by the Golden Globe and SAG voters, but watch for her to land a surprise Best Actress nomination for her portrayal of an elderly woman slowly dying after suffering a stroke. Also expect recognition for screenwriting and perhaps even directing. If enough Academy members admire “Amour” as much as they seem to, Best Picture love can’t be too far away."
There are a handful of other serious prospects. The indie sensation “Beasts of the Southern Wild” generated major buzz when released last summer, but it lacks big-name stars and grabbed few of the top critics’ prizes. While “Skyfall” is the best-reviewed film of the long-running James Bond franchise, how many voters will really rank this as their number one film of the year? The same goes for the popular “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” a most original British comedy which may seem too light and exotic for the heavyweight Best Picture Oscar race.
You’ve now had your Academy Awards preview. Let the games begin.
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&2014 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All market data delayed 20 minutes.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the . Also called Oscars, the Academy Awards are given to people working in the
industry by the
(AMPAS). The name of the award has changed over time. It was first Outstanding Picture in 1927. In 1930, the name was changed to Best Picture. It is still called that today.
In the list below are the winners of the award for each year. A list of the winners and other nominees is in the main article for each decade.
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Famous Lasky -
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studio head
- Selznick,
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- Selznick,
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer -
- Warner Bros. -
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- Paramount -
- Goldwyn, RKO Radio -
- 20th Century-Fox -
- J. Arthur Rank-Two Cities Films, U-I (British) -
- Rossen, Columbia -
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- 20th Century-Fox -
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - Arthur Freed
- DeMille, Paramount -
- Columbia -
- Horizon-American, Columbia -
- Hecht-Lancaster, United Artists -
- Todd, United Artists -
- Horizon, Columbia -
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer -
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer -
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- Mirisch, United Artists -
- Mirisch-B&P Enterprises, United Artists -
- Horizon-Spiegel-Lean,
- Woodfall, United Artists-Lopert (British) -
- Warner Bros. -
- Argyle, 20th Century-Fox -
- Highland, Columbia -
- Mirisch, United Artists -
- Romulus, Columbia -
Hellman-Schlesinger, United Artists -
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- 20th Century-Fox -
- D'Antoni-Schine-Moore, 20th Century-Fox -
- Ruddy, Paramount -
- Bill/Phillips-Hill, Zanuck/Brown, Universal - , ,
- Coppola Company, Paramount - , ,
- Fantasy Films, United Artists - ,
- Chartoff-Winkler, United Artists - ,
- Rollins-Joffe, United Artists -
- EMI Films/Cimino, Universal - , , ,
- Jaffe, Columbia -
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- Wildwood, Paramount -
- Enigma, The Ladd Company/Warner Bros. -
- Indo-British Films, Columbia -
- Brooks, Paramount -
- Barrandov Studios - Zaentz, Orion -
- Universal -
- Hemdale, Orion -
- Hemdale, Columbia -
- Mirage Entertainment, Star Partners II, United Artists -
- Majestic Films International, Zanuck Company., Warner Bros. - ,
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- Tig Productions, Majestic Films International - ,
- Orion Pictures Corp. - , ,
- Malpaso Productions, Warner Bros. -
- Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures - , ,
- Paramount Pictures - , ,
- 20th Century Fox, B. H. Finance C. V., Icon Entertainment International, Paramount Pictures, The Ladd Company - , ,
- J&M Entertainment, Miramax Films, Tiger Moth Productions -
- 20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Entertainment, Paramount Pictures - ,
- Bedford Falls Productions, Miramax Films, Universal Pictures - , , , ,
- DreamWorks SKG, Jinks/Cohen Company - ,
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- Universal & DreamWorks -
- Miramax -
- New Line - , , &
- Warner Brothers - , , &
- Lions Gate Films -
- Warner Brothers -
- , Paramount Vantage - Scott Rudin, ,
- Fox Searchlight -
- Summit Entertainment -
- The Wienstein Co. , , &
- La Petite Reine, ARP Sélection, Weinstein Co..
- Warner Bros - , ,
- Fox Searchlight - , , , , and
(official Academy site)
(official ceremony promotional site)
(official site)
(Internet Movie Database site)‘Hurt Locker’ wins best picture, director - today > entertainment - today > entertainment > movies -
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&Hurt Locker& director Kathryn Bigelow, left, won the best director Oscar and became the first woman ever to win the award. The film also won best picture.
< staff and news service reports
“The Hurt Locker” won the top two prizes at Sunday's Academy Awards, taking home the best picture trophy and the best director honor for Kathryn Bigelow.
Bigelow is the first woman in the 82-year history of the Oscars to earn Hollywood's top prize for filmmakers.
"There's no other way to describe it. It's the moment of a lifetime," Bigelow said. "It's so extraordinary to be in the company of my fellow nominees, such powerful filmmakers, who have inspired me and I have admired, some of them for decades."
She dedicated the award to the military men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world: "May they come home safe."
Bigelow's film, which also won best picture, follows the dangerous daily existence of an Army bomb defusal team. It earned six Oscars, including one for Mark Boal's original screenplay, based on his time as a journalist embedded with such a unit.
Bigelow was the fourth woman nominated for the prize, following Sofia Coppola for 2003's "Lost in Translation," Jane Campion for 1993's "The Piano" and Lina Wertmuller for 1975's "Seven Beauties." Bigelow was the front-runner heading into the Academy Awards.
Barbra Streisand, director of films including "Yentl" and "The Prince of Tides," walked out on stage to present the category.
"Well, the time has come," Streisand said before announcing Bigelow's win.
Among those Bigelow and "The Hurt Locker" beat are ex-husband James Cameron and his sci-fi spectacle, "Avatar." Bigelow and Cameron were married from 1989 to 1991.
Cameron was seated right behind Bigelow at the Oscars and joined a standing ovation for her, clapping vigorously and saying, "Yes, yes," after she won.
No surprises with acting honors
The four main acting Oscars were handed out as most had predicted, all to first-time winners.
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Sandra Bullock won best actress for her role as a tough-talking Southern belle in "The Blind Side," and Jeff Bridges won the best actor award for his role as past-his-prime country singer Bad Blake in "Crazy Heart."
The Oscar marks a career peak for Bridges, a beloved Hollywood veteran who had been nominated four times in the previous 38 years without winning.
Bridges held his Oscar aloft and thanked his late parents, actor Lloyd Bridges and poet Dorothy Bridges.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad, for turning me on to such a groovy profession," said Bridges, recalling how his mother would get her children to entertain at parties, and his father would sit on the bed teaching him the basics of acting for an early role he landed on his dad's TV show "Sea Hunt."
"I feel an extension of them. This is honoring them as much as it is me," Bridges said.
Villains rule the day
Villainous roles snatched the supporting-acting prizes.
"Precious" star Mo'Nique startled fans with dramatic depths previously unsuspected in the actress known for lowbrow comedy, and Austrian-born Christoph Waltz leapt to fame with his first big Hollywood role as a sociable Nazi fiend in "Inglourious Basterds."
"I would like to thank the academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics," said Mo'Nique, who plays the heartless, abusive welfare mother of an illiterate teen (Gabourey Sidibe, a best-actress nominee in her screen debut) in the Harlem drama "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire."
Mo'Nique added her gratitude to the first black actress to win an Oscar, Hattie McDaniel, the 1939 supporting-actress winner for "Gone With the Wind."
"I want to thank Miss Hattie McDaniel for enduring all that she had to so that I would not have to," she said, adding thanks to Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, who signed on as executive producers to spread the word on "Precious" after it premiered at last year's Sundance Film Festival.
"Precious" also won the adapted-screenplay Oscar for Geoffrey Fletcher.
"This is for everybody who works on a dream every day. Precious boys and girls everywhere," Fletcher said.
‘Uber-bingo’
Waltz's award was presented by last season's supporting-actress winner, Penelope Cruz, who gave Waltz a kiss as he took the stage.
"Oscar and Penelope. That's an uber-bingo," Waltz said, playing off a line from his film.
Though a veteran stage and TV actor in Europe, Waltz had been a virtual unknown in Hollywood before Quentin Tarantino cast him as the prattling, ruthless Jew-hunter Hans Landa in the World War II saga.
"Quentin with his unorthodox methods of navigation, this fearless explorer, took this ship across and brought it in with flying colors, and that's why I'm here," Waltz said. "This is your welcoming embrace, and there's no way I can ever thank you enough."
The science-fiction blockbuster "Avatar" won for art direction, best visual effects and cinematography.
"Up" earned the third-straight Oscar award for Disney's Pixar Animation, which now has won five of the nine awards since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences added a category for animated features. The film also won for best original score.
The film features Ed Asner providing the voice of a crabby widower who flies off on a grand adventure by lashing thousands of helium balloons to his house.
"Never did I dream that making a flip-book out of my third-grade math book would lead to this," said "Up" director Pete Docter.
Pixar has a likely contender in the wings for next Oscar season with this summer's "Toy Story 3," reuniting voice stars Tom Hanks and Tim Allen.
"The Weary Kind," from "Crazy Heart," won for best original song.
"Star Trek" won for best makeup. "The Young Victoria" won for best costume design.
"The Cove," the much-praised film about the slaughter of dolphins, won for best documentary feature.
Argentina's "El Secreto de sus Ojos" won for best foreign film.
"Logorama" won for best animated short. Producer Nicolas Schmerkin joked, "No logos were harmed during the making of the project."
"Music by Prudence," about disabled Zimbabwean singer Prudence Mabhena, won for best documentary short. Danish film "The New Tenants" won for best live-action short.
Show kicks off Hollywood style
The awards got under way with some playful ribbing of Hollywood stars by hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.
Martin and Baldwin, the first dual emcees at the Oscars since 1987, made light fun of nominees including Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, Woody Harrelson, James Cameron, Mo'Nique and Kathryn Bigelow.
"There's that damn Helen Mirren," Martin said.
"No Steve, that's Dame Helen Mirren," Baldwin came back.
Before Baldwin and Martin appeared, the show began with an introduction of lead-acting nominees and a song-and-dance number by Neil Patrick Harris.
Sunday's ABC Oscar broadcast looked to have several million fewer viewers after the network switched off its signal to 3.1 million Cablevision subscribers in the greater New York area in a dispute over fees. But the
shortly after the awards ceremony began.
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