All right, guys. One way or another, the Oscar season will come to close Sunday night (and this blog will finally turn its attention back towards film in general rather than awards season babble). So it’s time for me to go on the record with my last round of predictions for the year.
Many of my readers will already be aware that every year I like to run a little Oscar pool, distributing ballots amongst friends and family. Normally, we just compete for bragging rights, but this year, I think circumstances require something extra. Obviously, I can’t just pass out ballots in the usual fashion, which is actually fine, since, with this being my first Oscars on the new blog and all, I’ve got the opportunity here to get way more people in on the pool, no matter where they are. And just to make sure that I do get some extra attention, I’m adding some incentive.
So here’s the rules: cast a ballot by commenting on this post, listing who you think will win each of the Academy’s 24 competitive categories (check out the “Nominations” page for the full list of categories and nominees). Include your name when you post, so I have you on the record (apologies to any random folk reading this blog, but I’m limiting the contest to friends for this trial run). Note that I use a WEIGHTED ballot – getting the most categories right might not get you the win; I’ll include the point distribution with my predictions. At the end of Oscar night, if one of you scores higher on your ballot than I do – congratulations, you’ve outguessed Ethan, and won a DVD of your choice (available for $15 or less on Amazon). If more than one person beats me, the person with the highest score wins. I’ll include a tie-breaker question at the end of my predictions, just in case two of you should both beat me and have the exact same score; include your answer to the tie-breaker along with your ballot.
So I guess you’ve got to ask yourself one question, dear reader: “do I feel lucky?”
Ethan’s Picks:
Short Film-Live Action (1 point): God of Love
Short Film-Animated (1): Madagascar, A Day Journey
Documentary-Short Subject (1): Poster Girl
Sound Editing (1): Inception
Sound Mixing (1): Inception
Film Editing (2): The Social Network
Makeup (2): The Wolfman
Costume Design (2): The King’s Speech
Art Direction (2): The King’s Speech
Cinematography (2): True Grit
Visual Effects (2): Inception
Original Song (2): “We Belong Together,” Randy Newman, “Toy Story 3”
Animated Feature (3): Toy Story 3
Documentary Feature (3): Inside Job
Foreign Language Film (3): In a Better Place (Denmark)
Original Score (3): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, “The Social Network”
Original Screenplay (3): David Seidler, “The King’s Speech”
Adapted Screenplay (3): Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network”
Supporting Actor (3): Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
Supporting Actress (3): Hailee Steinfeld, “True Grit”
Actor (4): Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
Actress (4): Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
Director (4): Tom Hooper, “The King’s Speech”
Picture (5): The King’s Speech
Tie-breaking question: Only one film in history racked up 12 total Oscar nominations, won the Director’s Guild prize, and still lost Best Picture. What was that film?
The Best Films of Our Lives 
Lack of Information Sets makes Simon a Happy Boy.
Gonna get Ethan to buy me Jackass 3D. w00t!
Oooo EXCITEMENT! A PRIZE! Upping the stakes… must go analyze…
Alright. Here we go:
Best Documentary Short: Poster Girl
Best Short Film (Animated): Madagascar, a Journey Diary
Best Short Film (Live Action): God of Love
Best Sound Mixing: Inception
Best Sound Editing: Inception
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story
Best Documentary Feature: Restrepo
Best Foreign Language Film: In a Better World
Best Original Song: “Coming Home”–Country Strong
Best Makeup: The Wolfman
Best Visual Effects: Inception
Best Film Editing: The Social Network
Best Costume Design: True Grit
Best Art Direction: The King’s Speech
Best Cinematography: The King’s Speech
Best Original Score: The Social Network
Best Original Screenplay: The King’s Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Best Actress: Natalie Portman
Best Actor: Colin Firth
Best Director: David Fincher
Best Picture: The Social Network
Yup. That’s right. I’m sticking to The Social Network. Even if it costs me David Tennant’s “Hamlet” on DVD. 😛
The toughest for me to decide was Cinematography… they’re all visually beautiful films, each different in that beauty. Ahh!
Animated Film: Toy Story 3
Best Picture: The King’s Speech
Director: David Fincher
Best Actor: Colin Firth
Best Actress: Natalie Portman
Visual Effects: Inception
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo
Best Support Actor: Christian Bale 🙂
Short Film (Live Action): Wish 143
Foreign Language Film: In A Better World
Documentary Feature: Inside Job
Sound Mixing: Inception
Film Editing: The Social Network
Original Screenplay: The King’s Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Short Film (Animated): The Gruffalo
Art Direction: The King’s Speech
Cinematography: True Grit
Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland
Documentary Short Subject: Poster Girl
Makeup: The Wolfman
Score: The King’s Speech
Original Song: We Belong Together (Toy Story 3)
Sound Editing: Inception
I’ll pick my movie after I win. 🙂
The answer to the tie-breaker is Reds. Russian Revolution, baby!
I did the picks with Shannon, so I’ll go in with her in this. Go Toy Story 3!!! (for best animated film, that is)
You mean Toy story 3D!!!!!!
Whoo!
Best Documentary Short: Warriors of Qiugang
Best Short Film (Animated): Madagascar, a Journey Diary
Best Short Film (Live Action): Wish 143
Best Sound Mixing: Inception
Best Sound Editing: Inception
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Documentary Feature: Restrepo
Best Foreign Language Film: In a Better World
Best Original Song: We Belong Together (Toy Story 3)
Best Makeup: The Wolfman
Best Visual Effects: Inception
Best Film Editing: The Social Network
Best Costume Design: The King’s Speech
Best Art Direction: The King’s Speech
Best Cinematography: True Grit
Best Original Score: The Social Network
Best Original Screenplay: The King’s Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Best Actress: Natalie Portman
Best Actor: Colin Firth
Best Director: David Fincher
Best Picture: The King’s Speech
Disclaimer: I have seen none of any part of the films listed above. =p
Short Film-Live Action (1 point): Wish 143
Short Film-Animated (1): Madagascar, A Day Journey
Documentary-Short Subject (1): Warriors of Quigang
Sound Editing (1): Inception
Sound Mixing (1): The King’s Speech
Film Editing (2): The Social Network
Makeup (2): The Wolfman
Costume Design (2): The King’s Speech
Art Direction (2): The King’s Speech
Cinematography (2): True Grit
Visual Effects (2): Inception
Original Song (2): “I will Rise” 127 Hours
Animated Feature (3): Toy Story 3
Documentary Feature (3): Inside Job
Foreign Language Film (3): In a Better World (Denmark)
Original Score (3): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, “The Social Network”
Original Screenplay (3): David Seidler, “The King’s Speech”
Adapted Screenplay (3): Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network”
Supporting Actor (3): Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
Supporting Actress (3): Melissa Leo
Actor (4): Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
Actress (4): Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
Director (4): David Fincher “The Social Network”
Picture (5): The King’s Speech
All I saw were Toy Story 3 and Alice in Wonderland… but here goes:
Best Documentary Short: Killing in the Name
Best Short Film (Animated): The Lost Thing
Best Short Film (Live Action): Wish 143
Best Sound Mixing: Inception
Best Sound Editing: Inception
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Documentary Feature: Restrepo
Best Foreign Language Film: Outside the Law
Best Original Song: “We Belong Together” (Toy Story 3)
Best Makeup: Barney’s Version
Best Visual Effects: Alice in Wonderland
Best Film Editing: The Social Network
Best Costume Design: The King’s Speech
Best Art Direction: Inception
Best Cinematography: The King’s Speech
Best Original Score: The Social Network
Best Original Screenplay: The King’s Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Best Supporting Actress: Helena Bonham Carter
Best Supporting Actor: Geoffrey Rush
Best Actress: Natalie Portman
Best Actor: Colin Firth
Best Director: David Fincher
Best Picture: The King’s Speech
Short Film-Live Action (1 point): Na Wewe
Short Film-Animated (1): Day & Night
Documentary-Short Subject (1): Strangers No More
Sound Editing (1): Inception
Sound Mixing (1): Inception
Film Editing (2): The Social Network
Makeup (2): The Wolfman
Costume Design (2): Alice in Wonderland
Art Direction (2): Alice in Wonderland
Cinematography (2): True Grit
Visual Effects (2): Inception
Original Song (2): “We Belong Together,” Randy Newman, “Toy Story 3″
Animated Feature (3): Toy Story 3
Documentary Feature (3): Inside Job
Foreign Language Film (3): Incendies (Canada)
Original Score (3): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, “The Social Network”
Original Screenplay (3): David Seidler, “The King’s Speech”
Adapted Screenplay (3): Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network”
Supporting Actor (3): Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
Supporting Actress (3): Melissa Leo, “The Fighter”
Actor (4): Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
Actress (4): Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
Director (4): David Fincher, “The Social Network”
Picture (5): The King’s Speech
Tie-breaking question: Only one film in history racked up 12 total Oscar nominations, won the Director’s Guild prize, and still lost Best Picture. What was that film?
P.S. I didn’t mean to include the tie-breaking question in my copy/paste.
18 predictions right!
I’ve just seen The Social Network and Inception but here goes…
Short Film-Live Action: Wish 143
Short Film-Animated: Gruffalo
Documentary-Short Subject: Poster Girl
Sound Editing: Inception
Sound Mixing: Inception
Film Editing: The Social Network
Makeup: The Wolfman
Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland
Art Direction: The King’s Speech
Cinematography: True Grit
Visual Effects: Inception
Original Song: “We Belong Together,” Randy Newman
Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Documentary Feature: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Foreign Language Film: Dogtooth
Original Score: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, The Social Network
Original Screenplay: David Seidler, The King’s Speech
Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo
Actor: Colin Firth
Actress: Natalie Portman
Director: David Fincher
Picture: The King’s Speech
Short Film-Live Action: Wish 143
Short Film-Animated: Madagascar, a Journey Diary
Documentary-Short Subject: Sun Come Up
Sound Editing: Inception
Sound Mixing: The Social Network
Film Editing: The King’s Speech
Makeup: The Way Back
Costume Design: True Grit
Art Direction: Inception
Cinematography: Wally Pfister, “Inception”
Visual Effects: Inception
Original Song: “We Belong Together,” from “Toy Story 3″
Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Documentary Feature: Waste Land
Foreign Language Film: Outside the Law (Algeria)
Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, “The King’s Speech”
Original Screenplay: Paul Tamasy, Scott Silver, Eric Johnson, The Fighter
Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin Social Network
Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo
Actor: Colin Firth
Actress: Natalie Portman
Director: Tom Hooper
Picture: The King’s Speech
Short Film-Live Action (1 point): First Scene of Jackass 3-D
Short Film-Animated (1): Second Scene of Jackass 3-D
Documentary-Short Subject (1): Jackass 3-D
Sound Editing (1): Jackass 3D
Sound Mixing (1): Jackass 3D
Film Editing (2): Jackass 3D
Makeup (2): Jackass 3D
Costume Design (2): The King’s Speech
Art Direction (2): Jackass 3D
Cinematography (2): Jackass 3D
Visual Effects (2): Jackass 3D
Original Song (2): “You Can’t Roller Skate In a Buffalo Herd,” Roger Miller, “Jackass 3D”
Animated Feature (3): Toy Story 3D
Documentary Feature (3): Jackass 3D
Foreign Language Film (3): Jacko-asso en tres-D (Spanish)
Original Score (3): Jackass 3D: Music from the Motion Picture , “Jackass 3-D”
Original Screenplay (3): Preston Lacy, “Jackass 3-D”
Adapted Screenplay (3): Preston Lacy, “Jackass 3-D” (adapted from Jackass 2-D)
Supporting Actor (3): Tony Hawk, “Jackass 3-D”
Supporting Actress (3): Wendy de Coito “Jackass 3-D”
Actor (4): Steve-O, “Jackass 3-D”
Actress (4): April Margera “Jackass 3-D”
Director (4): Jeff Tremaine, “Jackass 3-D”
Picture (5): The Social Network
Got this shit in the bag son
I have to say, I am actually impressed that you bothered to go to the IMDB page to make it fit into every category. Well played, sir.
If the Social Network wins best picture, Simon will get to say that he got one pick that you didn’t with this ballot.
Best Picture: The Social Network
Best Director: David Fincher, “The Social Network”
Best Actor: James Franco, “127 Hours”
Best Actress: Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, “True Grit”
Best Adapted Screenplay: Ethan and Joel Coen, “True Grit”
Best Original Screenplay: David Seidler, “The King’s Speech”
Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, “The King’s Speech”
Best Cinematography: Matthew Libatique, “Black Swan”
Best Art Director: True Grit
Best Costume Design: The King’s Speech
Best Film Editing: The Social Network
Best Visual Effects: Alice in Wonderland
Best Makeup: The Wolfman
Best Original Song: “We Belong Together,” from “Toy Story 3″
Best Foreign Language Film: Biutiful (Mexico)
Best Documentary Feature: Restrepo
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Sound Editing: True Grit
Best Sound Mixing: The Social Network
Best Short Film (Live Action): The Crush
Best Short Film (Animated): Day & Night
Best Documentary Short: Strangers No More
Cool beans
Short Film-Live Action (1 point): The Confession
Short Film-Animated (1): Day and Night
Documentary-Short Subject (1): Killing in the Name
Sound Editing (1): Tron: Legacy
Sound Mixing (1): The King’s Speech
Film Editing (2): 127 Hours
Makeup (2): The Wolfman
Costume Design (2): I Am Love
Art Direction (2): Alice in Wonderland
Cinematography (2): Black Swan
Visual Effects (2): Inception
Original Song (2): “If I Rise” from 127 Hours
Animated Feature (3): Toy Story 3
Documentary Feature (3): Gasland
Foreign Language Film (3): In a Better Place
Original Score (3): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, “The Social Network”
Original Screenplay (3): David Seidler, “The King’s Speech”
Adapted Screenplay (3): Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network”
Supporting Actor (3): Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
Supporting Actress (3): Jacki Weaver “Animal Kingdom”
Actor (4): Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
Actress (4): Michelle Williams “Blue Valentine”
Director (4): Tom Hooper, “The King’s Speech”
Picture (5): The King’s Speech