Final 2012 Oscar Predictions and Your Turn to Vote

COMMENTS: Rango is the front-runner in this world where we believe we know what the front-runner is, but I think the two foreign language contenders in this category could easily take the top prize. The only problem is that I haven’t seen either of them.

COMMENTS: This is a tough one, over the last couple of weeks you could feel a surge for Undefeated as the Weinstein Co. began the marketing blitz for its limited release. The front-runner in many circles is “The West Memphis 3” doc Paradise Lost 3 and you’ll find supporters for the other three films as well. As far as I’m concerned, Undefeated has the emotional gut punch and the backing of the Weinsteins, which I am predicting will put it over the top.

COMMENTS: I’m not sure anyone out there in the Oscar prediction sect that is voting against A Separation winning. If there is, I don’t know who they are.

COMMENTS: Another tough one and the only reason I went with The Tree of Life over Hugo is due to its win with the American Society of Cinematographers, which isn’t the best predictor when it comes to deciding the winner, but I had to hang my hat on something. That said, if this award goes to The Artist or Hugo I won’t be in the least bit surprised.

COMMENTS: With The Artist as the front-runner for Best Picture it’s only right to assume it’s the front-runner for editing, not to forget it won with the Cinema Editors as well. On top of that, it’s a silent film and so much depends on the editing that I think this is one of the technical awards the Academy will be certain to recognize it for, right there with score.

COMMENTS: And speaking of score, here we are. While I could see War Horse or Hugo winning, for the same reasons I mentioned in Editing, I see The Artist taking it.

COMMENTS: Ugh, two nominees? Who really cares? I’m going with The Muppets and only one guess as to who is my runner-up.

COMMENTS: Hugo was recognized by both the Cinema Audio Society and the Motion Picture Sound Editors and as such I am going with it in both categories. Combine the fact it won those precursor awards along with the love and support it has been shown and the sound categories are two places the Academy can safely make sure it doesn’t go home empty handed.

COMMENTS: See above.

COMMENTS: Very tough all the way down the line. I am going with Hugo and Dante Ferretti with what would be his third Oscar win.

COMMENTS: I have been wobbling on my choice for Rise of the Apes recently, but I still can’t imagine the Academy going with any other pick.

COMMENTS: Last night W.E. won with the Costume Designers Guild, an organization that has predicted the Oscar winner each of the last three years and last night I said I was 90% sure W.E. would end up on the top of my predictions today. Well, thank God I left myself that 10%.

After a little thought the biggest difference between this year and previous years is that previous CDG winners that went on to win the Oscar were always expected to win the Oscar before the CDG even voted, the same can’t be said for W.E. After getting roasted by critics I even have to wonder how many Academy members actually watched Madonna’s film seeing how it is nominated in only one category and dind’t receive positive reviews.

For these reasons I was left with Hugo and The Artist once again and I went with Hugo, which would be Sandy Powell’s fourth Oscar win.

COMMENTS: Margaret Thatcher vs. Voldemort and I am going with Thatcher.

COMMENTS: I wrote up my thoughts on the live-action shorts recently after watching all five contenders (read those thoughts here) and came to the conclusion that The Shore from Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) would be the winner.

It’s hard to point to any kind of rhyme or reason one film would win over another considering shorts are a different beast. All five contenders tell a story, but some seem clearly larger than others so how does the shorts branch decide? I can’t figure it out, but The Shore is an emotionally affecting, well acted piece of cinema and it’s my pick.

COMMENTS: While Pixar was not nominated in the feature animation category it does have La Luna in the shorts category, but I really don’t see anything beating the magical story told in The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. I also wrote further on my animated shorts picks right here if you’d like a deeper dissection.

COMMENTS: I have nothing to say. This is the only category where I haven’t seen a single nominee. My picks were based on the support I’ve seen from other Oscar prognosticators around the Internet and it would seem Saving Face and God is the Bigger Elvis are the two most are deciding between. I went with Saving Face.

And there you have it. Here are my Oscar counts per film (excluding the shorts):

1. The Artist – 5 Oscars
2. Hugo – 4 Oscars
3. The Help – 2 Oscars
4. Beginners – 1 Oscar
5. The Descendants – 1 Oscar
6. The Iron Lady – 1 Oscar
7. Midnight in Paris – 1 Oscar
8. The Muppets – 1 Oscar
9. Rango – 1 Oscar
10. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – 1 Oscar
11. A Separation – 1 Oscar
12. The Tree of Life – 1 Oscar
13. Undefeated – 1 Oscar

Where do you believe I have gone wrong? Do you see any other films having a legitimate shot at Best Picture? Have you watched the shorts? Vote in the polls and discuss below and be sure to return this Sunday to join us for our live blog. I promise, we’ll do our best to keep you entertained… after all, you now already know the winners…