The Third Annual Fangirl Awards - Nominations

These nominations do not reflect the opinions of the editors at All Things Fangirl, but rather the Fangirl Academy, made up of over 100 lovely ladies who follow us on Twitter, read the blog, or know us in real life. In the case of a tie for the final slot in a category, the ATFG editors acted as the tie-breaker. Some ladies couldn't get their ballots in on time, but the everyone in the Academy will be allowed to vote on the winners.

Ballots to pick the winners will go out this week & the results will be announced February 24th!

* - Editor's Choice - Certain categories have an extra nomination. These additions represent something one of the editors at ATFG feels passionately about that we want to encourage you to check out! Often, the editor's choice was in 6th place for the nomination.

Enjoy!

Best Picture

The Artist

Bridesmaids

Drive

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

The Help

Hugo

Midnight in Paris

Shame

Tree of Life

Honorable Mentions: We Need To Talk About Kevin, Captain America, 50/50

Best Actor

Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldider spy

Jean Dujardin - The Artist

Joseph Gordon Levitt - 50/50

Michael Fassbender - Shame

Ryan Gosling - Drive

Honorable Mentions: George Clooney - The Descendants, Brad Pitt - Moneyball, Tom Hardy - Warrior, Leonardo DiCaprio - J Edgar

Best Actress

Kristin Wiig - Bridesmaids

Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn

Rooney Mara - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Tilda Swinton - We Need To Talk About Kevin

Viola Davis - The Help

Honorable Mentions: Meryl Steep - The Iron Lady, Charlize Theron - Young Adult, Elizabeth Olsen - Martha Marcy May Marlene, Kirsten Dunst - Melancholia

Best Supporting Actor

Alan Rickman - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Albert Brooks - Drive

Andy Serkis - Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Ben Kingsley - Hugo

Christopher Plummer - Beginners

Honorable Mentions: Benedict Cumberbatch - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Patton Oswalt - Young Adult, Tom Hiddleston - Thor

Best Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo - The Artist

Carey Mulligan - Shame

Jessica Chastain - The Help

Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids

Octavia Spencer - The Help

Honorable Mentions: Helen McCrory - Hugo, Shailene Woodley - The Descendants, Marion Cotillard - Midnight in Paris

Best Director

David Fincher - Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Martin Scorsese - Hugo

Nicolas Winding Refn - Drive

Steve McQueen - Shame

Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris

Honorable Mentions: Terrance Malick - Tree of Life, Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist

The rest after the jump!

Best Adapted Screenplay

Hoissein Amini, Drive

Tate Taylor, The Help

John Logan, Hugo

Aaron Sorkin & Steve Zaillian, Moneyball

Steve Zaillian, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Honorable Mentions: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Best Original Screenplay

Will Reiser. 50/50

Mike Mills, Beginners

Kristin Wiig & Annie Mumolo, Bridesmaids

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Diablo Cody, Young Adult

Honorable Mentions: The Artist, Shame

Best Score

Cliff Martinez, Drive

Chemical Brothers, Hanna

Alexandre Desplat, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Howard Shore, Hugo

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Honorable Mentions: Jane Eyre, The Artist, War Horse

World I Most Want To Visit

The Wizarding World - Harry Potter: DHP2

The Train Station - Hugo

1920s Paris - Midnight in Paris

Asgard - Thor

Xavier Mansion in the 1960s - X-Men: First Class

Honorable Mentions: 1920s Hollywood - The Artist, Level 3 - Sucker Punch, Muppets Studio - The Muppets, Dirt - Rango

Best On Screen Animal

Snowy - The Adventures of Tintin

Uggie - The Artist

Cosmo - Beginners

Puss in Boots - Puss in Boots

Joey - War Horse

Honorable Mentions: Rango - Rango, Winter, Dolphins's Tale

Best Chemistry - Romantic - Film

Rooney Mara & Daniel Craig - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Kristin Wiig & Chris O'Dowd - Bridesmaids

Haley Atwell & Chris Evans - Captain America

Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling - Crazy Stupid Love

Anton Yelchin & Felicity Jones - Like Crazy

Carey Mulligan & Ryan Gosling - Drive

Mia Wasikowska & Michael Fassbender - Jane Eyre

Leonardo DiCaprio & Armie Hammer - J Edgar

Rupert Grint & Emma Watson - Harry Potter: DHP2

Emily Blunt & Matt Damon - The Adjustment Bureau

Honorable Mention: Ewan McGregor & Melanie Laurent - Beginners

Best Chemistry - Platonic - Film

Seth Rogen & Joseph Gordon Levitt - 50/59

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint - Harry Potter DHP2

Jude Law & Robert Downey Jr - Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

The Bridesmaids - Bridesmaids

Hugo & Isabelle - Hugo

Erik & Xavier - X-Men: First Class

Simon Pegg & Nick Frost - Paul

Steve Carrell & Ryan Gosling - Crazy Stupid Love

Brad Pitt & Jonah Hill - Moneyball

Tom Hardy & Joel Edgerton - Warrior

Voiceover Performance

Antonio Bandares as Puss - Puss in Boots

Johnny Depp as Rango - Rango

Jamie Bell as Tintin - The Adventures of Tintin

James McAvoy as Arthur - Arthur Christmas

Steve Whitmire as Kermit, Beaker, Statler, etc - The Muppets

Honorable Mentions: Eric Jacobson - The Muppets, Dave Goelz - The Muppets

Epic Fail Movie

Breaking Dawn Part One

Green Lantern

The Hangover II

New Years Eve

Sucker Punch

Best Characterization of an Established Figure

Marilyn Monroe - My Week With Marilyn

Margaret Thatcher - The Iron Lady

Magneto - X-Men: First Class

Lisbeth Salander - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Sherlock Holmes - Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

Daenerys Targaryen- Game of Thrones*

Honorable Mentions: J Edgar Hoover - J Edgar, Dr Watson - Sherlock: Game of Shadows, Tyrion Lannister - Game of Thrones, Zelda Fitzgerald - Midnight in Paris, Ernest Hemmingway - Midnight in Paris

Best Fight/Battle Sequence

The Rainbow Bridge - Thor

Dom v. Luke - Fast Five

Battle of Hogwarts - Harry Potter: DHP2

Sherlock v. Moriarty - Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

Hanna Escapes - Hanna

Honorable Mentions: Championship Fight - Warrior, Red Skull v. Captain America - Captain America, Jane v. Sabine - Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Best Animated Film

The Adventures of Tintin

Arthur Christmas

Kung Fu Panda

Puss in Boots

Rango

Best TV Show - Drama

Dr. Who

Downton Abbey

Fringe

Game of Thrones

Homeland

Honorable Mentions: Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, American Horror Story, Once Upon a Time, Walking Dead

Best TV Show - Comedy

30 Rock

Community

Modern Family

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Parks & Recreation

Honorable Mentions: How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, Happy Endings, Cougar Town

Best Actor - Drama TV

Matt Smith- Dr Who

Sean Bean - Game of Thrones

Peter Dinklage - Game of Thrones

John Noble - Fringe

Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad

Honorable Mentions: Damien Lewis - Homeland, Steve Bushemi - Boardwalk Empire, Evan Peters - American Horror Story

Best Actor - Comedy TV

Nick Offerman - Parks & Recreation

Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother

Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory

Ty Burrell - Modern Family

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock

Danny Pudi - Community*

Honorable Mentions: Don Glover - Community, Joel McHale - Community, Elijah Wood - Wilfred

Best Actress - Drama TV

Jessica Lange - American Horror Story

Anna Torv - Fringe

Emilia Clarke - Game of Thrones

Michelle Fairly - Game of Thrones

Claire Danes - Homeland

Honorable Mentions: Lena Heady - Game of Thrones

Best Actress - Comedy TV

Alison Brie - Community

Sofia Vergara - Modern Family

Amy Poehler - Parks & Rec

Tina Fey - 30 Rock

Zooey Deschanel - New Girl
Casey Wilson - Happy Endings*

Honorable Mentions: Alyson Hannigan - HIMYM

Best Chemistry - Romantic TV

Eric/Sookie - True Blood

Chuck/Sarah - Chuck

Beckett/Castle - Castle

Tate/Violet - America Horror Story

Olivia/Peter - Fringe

Mary Margaret/David - Once Upon a Time

The Doctor/River Song - Dr. Who

Amy/Rory - Dr. Who

Mary/Matthew - Downton Abbey

Daenerys/Khal Drogo - Game of Thrones

Best Chemistry - Platonic TV

Abed/Troy - Community

Sam/Dean - Supernatural

Walter/Astrid - Fringe

Walter/Peter- Fringe

Amy/The Doctor/Rory - Dr. Who

Carrie/Saul - Homeland

Leslie/Ann - Parks & Recreation

The Boys/Jess - New Girl

Pete/Myka - Warehouse 13

Shawn/Gus - Psych

Best Guilty Pleasure

Revenge

The Secret Circle

True Blood

Glee

Sucker Punch

Honorable Mentions: American Horror Story, Fast Five

Actor I Most Want To Marry 2010

Joseph Gordon Levitt

Ryan Gosling

Chris Evans

Chris Hemsworth

Dan Stevens

Michael Fassbender

Tom Hiddleston

Benedict Cumberbatch

James McAvoy

David Tennant

Honorable Mentions: Nathan Fillion, Matt Smith

Woman I Most Want To Marry 2010

Emma Stone

Michelle Williams

Carey Mulligan

Tina Fey

Jennifer Lawrence

Marion Cotillard

Kate Winslet

Rooney Mara

Jessica Brown Findlay

Alex Kingston

Most Underrated

Community

Fringe

Jane Eyre

Happy Endings

Hanna

Honorable Mentions: Eureka

Best Graphic Novel

Hark! A Vagrant

One Soul

Batman: Knight & Squire

Love & Rockets: New Stories

Habibi

Best Comic Series

Buffy Season 9

Justice League

The Walking Dead

Batgirl

The Unwritten

Honorable Mentions: Angel & Faith, American Vampire, Uncanny X-Force

Best Video Game

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Uncharted 3

Skyrim

Arkham City

Portal 2

Honorable Mentions: LA Noire

Best Villain

Loki - Thor

Voldemort - Harry Potter DHP1

Evil Queen/Regina - Once Upon A Time

Lannister Twins - Game of Thrones

Kevin - We Need To Talk About Kevin

Bernie - Drive

Moriarty - Sherlock: Game of Shadows

Victoria Grayson - Revenge

Thomas - Downton Abbey

Melancholia - Melancholia

Honorable Mentions: Rumpelstiltskin - Once Upon A Time, Red Skull - Captain America, Klaus - Vampire Diaries

Best Musician/Band

Florence & The Machine

Bon Iver

Foster The People

Adele

Childish Gambino

Best Book

Dance with Dragons - George RR Martin

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? - Mindy Kaling

Bossypants - Tiny Fey

11/22/63 - Stephen King

Ready Player One - Ernest Cline

The Marriage Plot* - Jeffrey Eugenides


Most Anticipated Movie of 2012
The Amazing Spiderman
The Avengers
Brave
Cabin in the Woods
The Dark Knight Rises
Django Unchained
The Hobbit
Hunger Games
Much Ado About Nothing (Joss Whedon)
Prometheus

Honorable Mentions: Les Mis, The Great Gatsby, Dark Shadows

Most Romantic Line EVAR 2011

"What would you do if you knew you only had one minute to live?...I'd kiss you again." - Colter Stevens, Source Code

"Steve Rogers: You know, I still don't know how to dance. Peggy Carter: I'll show you how. Just be there." - Captain America

"Stay with me. Okay? Kate, I love you…I Love you, Kate." - Rick Castle, Castle

"I'm so mad at you. I'm really mad at you for what you did. But I'm mad at myself too. Because I should have jumped out of that car - I should have fought for you. Because you fight for your soulmates." - Cal, Crazy Stupid Love

"I offer you my hand, my heart. Jane, I ask you to pass through life at my side. You are my equal and my likeness. Will you marry me?" - Rochester, Jane Eyre

“I won't keep you long. I have to go somewhere now. I don't think I can come back. I just wanted you to know, just gettin' to be around you, that was the best that ever happened to me”. - Driver, Drive

“Let the record state that I, Leslie Knope, love Ben Wyatt. I love him with all of my heart. Did you get that?” - Parks and Recreation

“I can go through this door alone. You'll never see me or the people chasing us again, or you can come with me, and I don't know what's on the other side, but you'd be next to me and that's all I've wanted since the minute I met you.” The Adjustment Bureau

“I will never stop trying. Because when you find the one… you never give up.” - Cal, Crazy, Stupid, Love

"That's my girlfriend, you nipties!" - Ron, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Best Fan Outreach

Game of Thrones Food Truck

Nerd HQ at Comic-Con

Harry Potter 3D Glasses For HP:DHP2 Midnight Shows

Adventure Time at Comic-Con

@TheLarmy

"Join SHIELD" Booths/Viral

Boardwalk Empire Cruise

Andrew Garfield's Speech at Comic-Con

Team Erik/Team Xavier X-Men Shirt Giveaway at Comic-Con

Hunger Games Mockingjay Pin Giveaway at Comic-Con

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What's Joseph Gordon Levitt Been Up To Lately?

Commissioned by and cross-posted on Film.com

Since reappearing on the film scene big time, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been one of the most prolific and beloved actors around, rocking six projects in 2009, and five in 2010 (and winning the Fangirl Award for Actor I Most Want To Marry two years running, his crush-worthiness inspiring this article). But with only one 2011 release, 50/50, which hit theaters back in September, we can’t help but wonder, what has he been up to since? We took a look at his last few months and broke it down.

Shooting His Five 2012 Projects

From May to November, Levitt found himself shooting scenes for Chris Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. I’m sure lots of people know who he is playing, or at least have an idea, but not me! After an initial casting rumor that he was stepping in as Alberto Falcone, most notably from The Long Halloween, I removed myself from speculation and have stayed safe from any and all news and rumors since. But in addition to that, he shot or began shooting Premium Rush, Looper, Lincoln, and Django Unchained. For those keeping track at home, that means in 2011 he worked with Chris Nolan, Steven Spielberg *and* Quentin Tarantino, just to name a few. Damn, boy.

Tweeting (though he hates that phrase)

Whenever you find yourself wondering what JGL might be doing with himself, you can always take to his verified Twitter account and/or tumblr. Mostly what he says is themed to hitRECord, his collaborative production company, with announcements about artists or shows, but every so often we also get treated to personal photos, musings (including a favorite tweet where he admits to being a bad Jew by eating latkes with ham and cheese) and favorite links, including this one which, if you like music at all, you should click on right now, recommendations (Movies: La Strada, Pizza: Antonio’s in the Valley), and pimping out his friends (see below), like any other Twitter account. This is easily the best way to stay connected to JGL during those long months when you can’t catch him on the big screen or on the red carpet.

Supporting Zooey Deschanel

JGL has tons of equally well known friends, but the one that by far gets the most love on his Twitter account and sparks the imagination of his fans the strongest, is Zooey Deschanel. He regularly posts about or in support  of her. Join me over here for Exhibit A, Exhibit B,  Exhibit C, and of course Exhibit D, which leads me to...

Singing

So much singing. Swoon.

-Thriller, with a full band including Sean Lennon on bass

-Doing a cover of Redneck Woman by Gretchen Wilson

-With Anne Hathaway

-An original song!

hitRECord – Website & Shows

The main focus of JGL’s 2011 was his website and arts collective of sorts, hitRECord. I’ve been a fan of hitRECord since its inception (see what I did there?) and seriously regret not participating more before it became as huge as it is now. The idea is simple – contribute your art. That’s it. A writer posts a poem. An actor submits a recording of himself reading the poem. An illustrator submits a series of illustrations. An animator animated them. A composer adds a score. Suddenly, a short film is created, the product of artists from all over the world, brought together thanks to one mister Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Ever seen theMorgan M. Morgensen shorts? All started (and ended) with hitRECord. Furthermore, hitRECord hosted a creative center called the RECroom at Sundance and is returning this year with a show, and JGL regularly puts on similar events where collaborative projects are screened and created, always featuring a few surprise guests and at least one musical number from JGL himself. I’ve been to two, one in New York and one LA, and have always had a great time. The Fall Formal, which boasted Anne Hathaway singing, also had Gary Oldman stepping in to do a reading (an activity that famous friends and audience members get to partake in from time to time) and a foray into scripted work done live, filmed, and later edited, like this scene with Neil Patrick Harris, written by Rian Johnson.

Occupying Wall Street

In November, Levitt spent some time Occupying Wall Street in NYC, and went on to turn the footage into a hitRECord project. The result will screen on January 26th at Sundance.

Releasing RECollection and the new edition of  The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories

The Tiny Book Of Tiny Stories is a compilation of multiple stories made up of only a couple sentences, each written by a hitRECord member and illustrated by another. RECollection is  a 64 page book, DVD and CD collection, comprised of work from 471 hitRECord artists. Badass.

All in all, the coolest thing about Joseph Gordon-Levitt is how active he is – CONSTANTLY – and it all stems from his true passion for art. I know people who have gone to hitRECord shows and found the whole thing a little self important, but frankly, the reason why thousands of people go to these shows across the world (yes, he had a show in London and Toronto for TIFF in 2011) is mostly because of *him*, and yet it exposes them to the art of people who aren’t famous and normally don’t get a showcase like this. And if JGL has an air of “what I’m doing is awesome”, well, that’s because it is. I recently had the chance to chat with Pete Forester, a filmmaker based in New York, whose piece Find the Sun was turned into a short film with hitRECord and played at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, who was able to speak brilliantly to this,

At the heart of all this is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, or as anyone from hitRECord knows him: Joe. Joe created the original website with his incredible brother, Dan, and has ushered it into the gigantic force it’s become. The way that he’s done this, though, has not been through talking about his indie accolades or the long list on imdb. He’s done this by caring about content and quality. Joe goes by “Joe” – sometimes “Regular Joe” – to make a point, I think. That when you sit down with him as a hitRECorder, you sit down with a fellow hitRECorder. Sure that fellow hitRECorder happens to be in the next Batman movie, but the discussion is about the short film you’re going to make together, not some study in celebrity. In 2010, anyone who came into the RECroom would have to take a second to find Joe – as we were all at our computers working as hard as we could to get done what we could. And Joe was there, in the trenches working with us – he blended right in: falling asleep at his computer and taking showers whenever there was a free minute. But what’s funny, from someone who was there, is that this isn’t remarkable at all to me – or to anyone else who was in that room. Because to me, to us, to the hitRECord community: Joe is Joe. He’s a worker, a curator, a fellow artist who is eking out the best that he can from us. He definitely acts as a shepherd to his flock, but he’s as elbow deep as anyone else.

I should say that Joe does use his celebrity in the hitRECord community. He uses it to inspire and to add volume to voices that would otherwise go unheard. He’s quick to mention that his career started because of a great number of variables that leaned beautifully in his favor. But he doesn’t think creative enterprise should be hampered by visibility. And the only way to change the system is from within – he’s our ace in the hole; he’s the mole. But it’s not a secret. You can see that when he has a mic in his hand: he speaks into it so more people can hear what others are saying. That’s Joe: turning up the volume on what he sees as beautiful.

So, to answer the question, what has Joseph Gordon Levitt been up to lately? A LOT more than anyone might have expected.

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ARCHER GIVEAWAY CONTEST!

You know you want this on your wall.

All Things Fangirl is happy to present the opportunity for you to own a jumbo sized edition of this poster from our friends over at FX. Two- that's right, TWO- lucky winners will be plastering this beauty all over their personal space.

Here's what ya gotta do to win.

1. follow our writers on Twitter
@Eruditechick
@Loquaciousmuse
@Castling
@TooAdorkable

2. Shoot an email to allthingsfangirl at gmail.com, containing your name and shipping address, with your favorite quote from Archer in the subject followed by #ArcherATF. Example:


"I'm gonna be a pirate king. - #ArcherATF"

3. Comment to this post with who your favorite member of ISIS is and why. This may or may not sway our judgement, as we'll be pulling names out of a hat. It may just make us happy because we love Archer so damn much.

In closing, look at this hot rolling slab of man:

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Predicting The Top Line Oscar Winners: Six Week Mark

Cross-posted on and commissioned by Film.com

Oh Oscars. Here you are, a mere six weeks away! This time last year I was writing epic pieces on how The King's Speech didn't have a chance in hell of winning, and why The Social Network was the best ever and would easily walk away with the trophy. How quickly things turned around. This year no category is set in stone, though the Critic's Choice Awards would certainly like us to think otherwise. For those of you that aren't plugged into the scene, here's a look at what the safe bet predictions are at this time. Though, between you and me, I hope most of these drastically change by February 26th and below you'll also catch my two cents on the upset front. I should note: These were all the safe bet predictions BEFORE the Critics Choice Awards aired so….yeah. Let's just hope some of these are wrong and this year doesn't become another snoozefest.


Supporting Actress

Six Weeks Out Safe Bet: Octavia Spencer, The Help


Everyone loves The Help and Spencer was fantastic, providing a lot of the films comedy where Davis provided the heart, but still managed to be completely sympathetic in her…questionable practices. Personally, I think Chastain's role was a bit more of an acting challenge, but nailing a role simply is not something to be discounted either. Still, I wonder if a flashier role will end up upsetting come Oscar night. Something's got to be slightly unpredictable. Will this be the category to fulfill that duty?


But Don't Be Surprised If: Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids


A lot of people are arguing that Melissa McCarthy has the potential to upset here, and while I think that is valid and possible, it also strikes me as just SO bizarre. Comedic performances should be appreciated and acknowledged more, yes, and McCarthy stole Bridesmaids out from under the whole rest of the cast. But to win? An Oscar? Seems more about riding the Melissa McCarthy train than really awarding her performance, and I would hate to see her reach the pique of praise in one year and than have everyone forget about her or call her overrated. Let's just calm down here a little bit, I think. Still, I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't seriously acknowledge her dark horse potential. Assuming she even gets a nomination, I can see more passion behind Academy voters checking the box for McCarthy than for the other favorite to upset and critics prize leader, Jessica Chastain.


My Hope: A category where I doubt my two favorites will be nominated, so I don't really have much at stake, but both Spencer and Chastain were fantastic, I'm happy to root for The Help picking up an award here, especially if Davis ends up not getting Actress.


For Your Consideration: Vanessa Redgrave in Coriolanus gives one of the top five performances of the year, hands down. The fact that she isn't making most short lists is absurd, and every actor should be somewhere between ashamed and offended. I find it hard to believe that ANYONE would watch Coriolanus and think Redgrave doesn't deserve a nomination. If she doesn't make the cut, mark my words, it's because no one bothered to put on the screener. Carey Mulligan also deserves a nomination here for breaking out of the box so triumphantly in Shame. She defied all expectations of what she is and can do, thanks to this fearless performance. The fact that she isn't being more seriously considered is baffling. I never thought Janet McTeer was a man for a SECOND! Berenice Bejo didn't even have to memorize lines! (Okay, that's a cheap shot, cause she was top notch at what she did do, but STILL.) Fingers crossed the actors branch doesn't go the obvious route with nominations here.


More after the jump!







Supporting Actor

Six Weeks Out Safe Bet: Christopher Plummer, Beginners


A wonderful performance in a gem of a movie, Christopher Plummer completely vanishes and brings his recently out of the closet, dying, yet never allowing himself to not live life to the fullest Hal Fields alive in a touching, vibrant way. Every inch of his performance is grounded in reality, not remotely a stereotype, and he is a joy to watch. Plus, Plummer has never won an Oscar, only ever nominated for the recent The Last Station, and his speech at the Critics Choice Awards was aces.


But Don't Be Surprised If: Albert Brooks, Drive


Practically sweeping the critics picks, Albert Brooks is the clear upset choice here. I personally think most of the praise is coming from the fact that no one knew Brooks would or could play evil and he did it with such a surprisingly vigorous aplomb, for a lot of folks, he is the favorite to win.


My Hope: Christopher Plummer, Beginners


It's his year. Give the man an Oscar.


FYC: Nick Nolte deserves a nomination in this slot, easily over Jonah Hill, who was great in Moneyball, yes, but not Oscar great. If I had my druthers, Andy Serkis for Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Viggo Mortenson for a Dangerous Method would end up in this category as well, but pipe dreams, pipe dreams all!


Actress

Six Weeks Out Safe Bet: Viola Davis, The Help


I have a small issue with this. Viola Davis is a BRILLIANT actress who should and will win an Oscar at some point, but her role in The Help, while expertly executed, doesn't feel like a lead performance by any stretch of the imagination. If my memory serves correct, didn't Octavia Spencer have more lines and screen time? Were Davis being nominated for Supporting, I would be rooting for her, but as a lead, the whole thing rings of that "put someone in the wrong category just so he or she can win" BS, which seriously rubs me the wrong way. Still, Davis is wonderful and not gonna lie, her speech at Critics Choice swayed me significantly. Oops. She has definitely become the one to beat.


But Don't Be Surprised If: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady


I hate saying this, cause I want to predict Michelle as an upset over Meryl, since My Week With Marilyn was tolerable and The Iron Lady was IN NO WAY TOLERABLE, but alas, I must face the facts. Even though I actually am tempted to use the word "hate" here to describe The Iron Lady. Meryl was fantastic, but can we not finally give her another Oscar for a movie that really no one should be recommending to anyone? Come on. Meanwhile, Michelle Williams lives and breathes Marilyn Monroe and dares you not to fall in love with her. She has been sweeping the critics prizes, so I think she may have more of a chance than others do, though we'll see if that probability holds up. It's most likely Meryl's to lose. Sigh.


My Hope: This is another strange category for me. None of my actual favorites are nominated except Tilda Swinton, but she already has an Oscar, and I feel weird rooting for Williams, as much as I loved her, to beat Davis, when such a groundswell is beginning to form around the latter. I may just have to calmly let whatever happens happen here.


FYC: Glenn Close was great, and sure, it would totally suck for her to not get nominated for her passion project, but Charlize Theron, who I normally don't even LIKE, absolutely blew me away in Young Adult. The movie wouldn't have worked without her pitch perfect performance and I hate how much she is being over looked. My ideal Best Actress category would include Theron, Rooney Mara for her balls out portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Elizabeth Olsen for maintaining a steady quiet bubbling fear, confusion, sadness, and desperation underneath the surface for all of Martha Marcy May Marlene and Kirsten Dunst's career defining role as Justine in Melancholia, easily the best she's ever done, and if we get right down to it, probably the best of this year too, illustrating a descent into a depression the character thought she had controlled, in a heartbreaking and all too visceral way. If you don't feel like you've suffered a relapse into manic depression yourself while watching Melancholia, you're doing it wrong. I'm told I'd put Anna Paquin in this category for Margaret if I'd seen it…but alas.


Actor

Six Weeks Out Safe Bet: George Clooney, The Descendants


I'm not as big of a fan of Clooney's performance in this as others are. Matt Patches from Hollywood.com said it really well in a recent episode of the Operation Kino podcast - Alexander Payne managed to make Jack Nicholson completely disappear in About Schmidt, which is a big reason why the movie worked and why Nicholson's performance was so astounding. But Clooney didn't disappear here. For me, at least. He almost did, he was so close, and he really did try his damnedest, but ultimately, I saw Clooney in shlubby clothing, and I'm not sure that deserves an Oscar.


But Don't Be Surprised If: Brad Pitt, Moneyball


Whether or not the film gets a Best Picture nod may change the race here, in terms  of the one who has the potential to overtake Clooney, but it could be possible the Academy goes another way with Adapted Screenplay (who am I kidding, no they won't, Aaron Sorkin doesn't not win awards) yet still wants to reward Moneyball, and this this could be how.  On that note, if The Artist wasn't being overpraised and presumed to win everything else, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jean DuJardin take the prize here, a la Roberto Benigni. But Pitt's been around a while and gives a lovely, subtle, no frills, spot on performance as Billy Beane and definitely has a shot at the prize. And if my hope doesn't get nominated? Pitt's easily my hope to win.


My Hope: Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy


Could this be the repeat of the Nicholson/Day Lewis/Brody year we've all been dying for?! I sure hope so. I love surprises and someone not even considered in the running taking out the two front runners would be fun and fitting in this strange awards season. Plus, if George Clooney has two Oscars before Gary Oldman, it's gonna make me feel really awkward inside.


FYC: Michael Shannon (Take Shelter) and I repeat, Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), deserve nominations over almost everyone else currently fighting it out for a nomination in this category. Frankly, I think Tom Hardy deserves a little bit of consideration for Warrior as well, but I know there isn't a shot in hell on that front. But as stated, my secret hope is that Oldman not only gets nominated, but wins the sucker!


Director


Six Weeks Out Safe Bet: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist


He won the Critic's Choice, predictable yet still somewhat shocking considering it came almost immediately after the impressive Scorsese tribute. Hazanavicius, whose name Jason Segel pronounced so hilariously, I've giggled every single time I've replayed it, and for all I know, it's the actual correct pronunciation, seems like a great guy, even acknowledging himself how "stupid" it is that he won Best Director, but the thing is, he's right. He brought a gimmick to life, which is cool, but I think his place as a "visionary" is being a bit overstated.


But Don't Be Surprised If: Martin Scorsese, Hugo


Hugo tackled pretty much the same subject matter as The Artist, but did it SO much better. Hugo is made by a true master and it feels that way. It's use of 3D becomes integral to the message of the story itself in a brilliantly subliminal way. It speaks of the love of film and filmmaking in a way that looks forward while looking back, instead of simply looking back. It takes the past and roots it in the future, shows how far we have come, and yet how at its center, film can and has amazed as long as it's been around. Masters have always innovated and that innovation has always touched its audiences, has made people dream, has made the world a brighter place. If you want to be reminded of the greatness of burgeouning talkies, go watch an actual burgeoning talkie. The Artist is lovely, but a pale imitation of the real thing and it teaches us nothing, though does a handy job of making us think it did. Hugo and Scorsese's specific vision goes above and beyond to teach us about George Melieus' films, the power of his innovation in a time where black and white/silent was the standard, and the BEAUTY of that innovation by letting the audiences of today feel the wave of magic through the best on screen 3D yet, that Melieus' audiences themselves felt in the early 20th century through his experiments with stretching the boundaries of what movies could be. THIS is the true film for film lovers to come out of 2011 and Scorsese, fittingly, is the one who brought it to life.


My Hope: Martin Scorsese, Hugo


See above.


FYC: Lars Von Trier will never happen, I know, but it would be nice to honor one of the auteurs who made a film this year, especially because there were so many. A surprise nomination for Nicolas Winding-Refn for Drive or a slightly less of a surprise nomination for Fincher for Dragon Tattoo would definitely be welcome.


Picture

Six Weeks Out Safe Bet: The Artist


Ugh. The presumed victor, thanks to crafty Harvey and all the charm that could be possibly be stuffed into 100 minutes, The Artist is easily the correct bet at this time. It's easy, safe and friendly, disguised as new, interesting, and edgy. I found the film to be a delight, but a little cutesy for the sake of cute, gimmicky for the sake of gimmickry. I'm not sure what it said that Hugo didn't say 1000x better and in a much more relevant way, but The Artist is capturing the hearts of critics in that rare, indescribable way. I don't want to discount the love for it, as people I highly respect have named it their favorite movie of the year, it is just another case of a slight, irrelevant film drowning out something a lot better, mostly because of Harvey Weinstein.


But Don't Be Surprised If: The Descendants


Yes, The Artist was ineligible for WGA, but in any event, The Descendants is the only film to get nominated across the board by the guilds. It's beloved on a very personal level and would be a very cool win. War Horse was considered the favorite to potentially overtake The Artist a few weeks ago, but was then shut out by both the DGA and ASC awards, so it's no longer looking good.


My Hope: Hugo


A girl can dream can't she?


FYC: You know what would be *really* cool? If somehow Warrior or Melancholia made it on to the BP list. Will it happen? Never. Same with Harry Potter, which I hoped would take the genre slot in a 10 picture year, but seems so unlikely now, especially with the new rules, that I'll just have a sad about it. The way things are going in terms of guilds however, makes me feel very positive about Girl with the Dragon Tattoo nabbing a slot. But can the academy really feel guilty about not giving it to Fincher/Social Network last year by rewarding Dragon Tattoo this year, and still not realize they are repeating their mistake if they give BP to The Artist?


To stay tapped in to the Oscar pulse, I highly encourage you to follow the Oscar list I created on Twitter, which features major experts including Sasha Stone, Dave Karger, Nathaniel Rogers, Mark Harris and more. Keep in mind, some of this might change after Sunday's Globes, despite the fact that the Globes are nothing more than sycophants and celebrities drinking together in a room, but for now, this is a fairly accurate portrayal of the state of the race.

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