As the great and good of Hollywood descend upon LA’s Kodak Theatre this weekend for the biggest showbiz event of the year, Michael Doherty casts a cold eye over the contenders for this year’s Oscars.
Look up the word snub in the Oxford English Dictionary and you’ll see the following: ‘Snub (noun). An act or instance of snubbing; a remark or action intended to repress or rebuke a person.’ They could just as easily have included a photograph of Michael Fassbender, such is the abject failure of the Oscar Academy to recognise our German-born Kerryman for his searing performance in Steve McQueen’s Shame.
Michael Fassbender missed out on a nod
And the snubs don’t end there. Where’s Ryan Gosling (Drive) for Best Actor? Charlize Theron (Young Adult) for Best Actress? Albert Brooks (Drive) for Best Supporting Actor? (I’d also like to have seen Uggie the Dog get something for his scene-stealing performance in The Artist, but that might be pushing it).
In fairness to those who did make the cut, there’s a dazzling array of talent among this year’s line-up. Martin Scorsese’s superb Hugo leads the Oscar parade with 11 nods, closely followed by The Artist (10), Michel Hazanavicius’ delightful nod to the silent movie
era.
With so many fine film-makers up for gongs this year, it promises to be a fascinating evening. Mercifully, it won’t be marred by the hosts this time around. Anne Hathaway and James Franco have been put out of our misery and the stage is set for the return of the man. Billy Crystal has already hosted the Oscar eight times (scooping five Emmys in the process) and he’ll be back putting the great and good of Hollywood through their paces on the night. In typical fashion, Crystal announced his involvement via cyberspace: ‘Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions’, the funnyman tweeted. ‘Looking forward to the show.’
So are we, Billy.
Best performance by an actor in a leading role
Demián Bichir (A Better Life)
George Clooney (The Descendants)
Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
In the absence of Fassbender (don’t get me started), this looks a pretty cut-and-dried category. Bichir, Brad and Dujardion all deliver career-best performances in their respective films, and there’s still a lot of love out there for Gary Oldman’s restrained George Smiley, but this is another George’s year. Clooney has taken most of the awards to date and his unselfish portrayal of a man on the edge in Alexander Payne’s The Descendants comes complete with its own patented Oscar scene, in which George breaks down in front of his comatose wife. That’s the gong, right there.
Who should win: Michael Fassbender
Who will win: George Clooney
Best performance by an actor in a supporting role
Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)
Jonah Hill (Moneyball)
Nick Nolte (Warrior)
Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Max von Sydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)
Always a strong category, in another year you wouldn’t look further than Kenneth Branagh, who beautifully channelled the spirit of Laurence Olivier and managed not to be blown off the screen by Michelle Williams in Marilyn Monroe mode. But this is the year when the veterans landed. Max is terrific in an otherwise unmemorable film, so this has to be Christopher Plummer’s gong.
Who should win: Christopher Plummer
Who will win: Christopher Plummer
Best performance by an actress in a leading role
Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
Viola Davis (The Help)
Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)
Who’d have thought that Maggie Thatcher and Marilyn Monroe would be battling it out for an Oscar? Rooney Mara and Viola Davis both shone and Glenn Close was jaw-droppingly good in her dream project, Albert Nobbs. But this is a battle between Michelle and Meryl. Oscar nod number 17 (yes, that’s 17) for La Streep should deliver a third gong to the finest actress of her generation.
Who should win: Meryl Streep
Who will win: Meryl Streep
Best performance by an actress in a supporting role
Bérénice Bejo (The Artist)
Jessica Chastain (The Help)
Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids)
Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)
Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Bejo was delightful, McCarthy was hilarious, McTeer was memorable and Chastain eye-catching in everything she did this year (she could just as easily been nominated for Tree of Life), but all the indications would suggest that Octavia Spencer is in line for Oscar glory. The Academy loved The Help and Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer stole the show in that movie. With Davis unlikely to prevail against the force of nature that is Meryl Streep in the Lead Actress category, Octavia should come away with the acting gong for her excellent performance in Tate Taylor’s moving drama.
Who should win: Octavia Spencer
Who will win: Octavia Spencer
Best motion picture of the year
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Last year we had ten to choose from; this year, for some reason, it’s down to nine. Hugo leads the field in terms of nominations secured, but it would be a travesty if The Artist didn’t prevail on the night. It put a big goofy smile on all our faces; the least we can do in return is make it the Movie of the Year. I can already see the interplay between Uggie and Billy Crystal.
What should win: The Artist
What will win: The Artist
Irish interest
In terms of Irish interest at this year’s ceremony, Kenneth Branagh is obviously nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for My Week with Marilyn. But there is also Irish interest in the Best Short Film (Live Action) category. Peter McDonald and Eimear O'Kane's Pentecost is selected, alongside Terry George and Oorlagh George's The Shore. Meanwhile, Irish make-up artist Lynn Johnston is nominated in the Best Make Up category for Albert Nobbs. Fingers crossed all round.
Oscars 2012: The leading contenders
Hugo (11 nominations)
The Artist (10)
Moneyball (6)
War Horse (6)
The Descendants (5)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (5)
The Help (4)
Midnight in Paris (4)
Michael Doherty
