Vote: Who Should Win at the 2012 Oscars?
(Photos: Pacific Coast News | Getty Images)With awards season coming to a close, the film industry is looking toward its biggest event – Oscar night. But before the Academy hands out its trophies, we turn to you, Zimbio readers, to weigh in on who you think should take home Oscars in the six major categories.
Best Actor
Favorite: George Clooney. Few actors are as well-liked in the industry as George Clooney, which, coupled with his vulnerable departure in The Descendants, should sway Academy voters.
Underdog: Gary Oldman. Despite an incredibly eclectic resume that includes some powerful performances, this is Oldman's first Oscar nomination. Since he hasn't even been nominated until 2012, it's a safe bet he'll be forgotten by the time the Academy votes.
Wild Card: Jean Dujardin. The Artist is this year's breakout charmer, thanks in large part to the charismatic Dujardin. Plus, the Academy likes to show how in touch they are with the international crowd, which could bode well for Dujardin's chances.
Click to vote:
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Gary Oldman, 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' -
Brad Pitt, 'Moneyball' -
George Clooney, "The Descendants' -
Demián Bichir, 'A Better Life' -
Jean Dujardin, 'The Artist'
Best Actress
Favorite: Meryl Streep. Doesn't it seem like Streep is the favorite every year? Despite having 17 nominations under her belt, she's only won twice. Chances are the Academy will look to better her win percentage this year.
Underdog: Rooney Mara. Mara was a surprise when the nominations were announced because the Academy typically avoids films as dark as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. So despite completely investing herself in her character, a nomination is likely where the Academy will leave it.
Wild Card: Michelle Williams. The Academy has a thing for Williams, who was nominated last year in the same category. Add to the fact that she played a Hollywood icon in My Week with Marilyn, and this could be her year to win.
Click to vote:
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Meryl Streep, 'The Iron Lady' -
Michelle Williams, 'My Week With Marilyn' -
Rooney Mara, 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' -
Viola Davis, 'The Help' -
Glenn Close, 'Albert Nobbs'
Best Supporting Actor
Favorite: Christopher Plummer. Thanks to his authentic and heartfelt performance in Beginners, Plummer has been sweeping the Supporting Actor categories across the board this awards season. This shouldn't change come Oscar time.
Underdog: Jonah Hill. Hill's up against a group of nominees who have been in the acting game for a lot longer, and while it shouldn't matter, his lack of reputation diminishes his chances.
Wild Card: Max von Sydow. There's always a chance that the oldest dude in the bunch will get the Oscar as a thinly veiled lifetime achievement honor.
Click to vote:
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Kenneth Branagh, 'My Week with Marilyn' -
Jonah Hill, 'Moneyball' -
Nick Nolte, 'Warrior' -
Christopher Plummer, 'Beginners' -
Max von Sydow, 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close'
Best Supporting Actress
Favorite: Octavia Spencer. Given the Academy's tastes, there's no way The Help walks away empty handed, and after her Golden Globe win, Spencer stands the best chance to represent The Help in the winner's circle.
Underdog: Janet McTeer. If there's an Oscar-nominated film that people still have no idea what it's about, it's Albert Nobbs. It's a quiet period piece that's running on reputation more than content. But, hey, King's Speech won Best Picture last year, so there's still hope.
Wild Card: Melissa McCarthy. In recent years, the Academy has always had a "shocker" in one of the acting categories, and being the only comedic role in the bunch, this could go to McCarthy. On the other hand, the stuffy segments of the Academy probably don't want to reward a role in which sink diarrhea played such a prominent part.
Click to vote:
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Octavia Spencer, 'The Help' -
Berenice Bejo, 'The Artist' -
Janet Mcteer, 'Albert Nobbs' -
Jessica Chastain, 'The Help' -
Melissa McCarthy, 'Bridesmaids'
Best Director
Favorite: Michel Hazanavicius. Not only has The Artist almost universally delighted cinephiles, but it reinvigorated a genre that was left for dead decades ago. Hazanavicius could walk away with the trophy just for having the balls to make a silent film in the 21st century.
Underdog: Terrence Malick. Although enigmatic and a bit of a recluse, Malick is one of the most respected directors in the biz. However his existential masterpiece polarized critics audiences alike.
Wild Card: Alexander Payne. Based on years past, it's likely that The Artist and The Descendants will split the Best Picture/Best Director categories. So, if The Artist takes home the Best Picture honor, look for Payne to scoop up the directing Oscar.
Click to vote:
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Woody Allen, 'Midnight In Paris' -
Alexander Payne, 'The Descendants' -
Michel Hazanavicius, 'The Artist' -
Terrence Malick, 'The Tree Of Life' -
Martin Scorsese, 'Hugo'
Best Picture
Favorite: (Tie) The Descendants, The Artist. These two films split the Best Picture awards at this year's Golden Globes (The Artist winning in the Musical/Comedy category, Descendants in Drama). Traditionally, the Globes is a telling barometer for how the Academy will vote.
Underdog: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. The Academy took a beating from many critics when they nominated EL&IC for Best Picture, especially after leaving off films like Drive and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's unlikely they'll want to stir up controversy by giving a film that's been compared to a Hallmark made-for-TV movie the biggest award of the night.
Wild Card: The Help. The Academy loves a heartwarming tale of redemption and social justice, even if it's delivered in a self-indulgent, ham-handed manner.
Click to vote:
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'The Artist' -
'The Descendants' -
'Hugo' -
'Moneyball' -
'The Tree Of Life' -
'The Help' -
'Midnight In Paris' -
'War Horse' -
'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close'
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