Nonstop Movies: Predicting the Oscars
In all honesty, the Academy Awards has lost credibility with me, with its history of rewarding safe and conservative films, instead of pioneering and daring ones. “Dances with Wolves” over “Goodfellas,” “Shakespeare in Love” over “Saving Private Ryan,” “Forrest Gump” over “Pulp Fiction.” These are just a few examples of Oscar choices that made me shake my head. Also, with the abundance of other film awards handed out prior to the Oscar telecast, it’s become significantly easier to guess who will win. As a result, TV ratings have declined, along with the interest and hype leading to the big show.
Still, winning an Oscar is the highest honor in film. No matter how many Golden Globes or SAG awards a film wins, its legacy will be measured by the number of Oscars it garners. Thus, movie fans will watch closely as the winners are announced this Sunday. I’ve been following Oscar trends and results for a few decades and have established a good track record for predicting the winners each year. So if you want to win your office Oscar pool, here are my picks below.
Best Original Screenplay
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“The Artist”
“Bridesmaids”
“Margin Call”
“Midnight in Paris”
“A Separation”
While “The Artist” has been gaining momentum this awards season, it’s not likely to be rewarded the winner in this category with its limited dialogue and simplistic storyline. So in a relatively weak field, look for Woody Allen to pick up his fourth Oscar for his sweet, romantic film, “Midnight in Paris.” Just don’t expect him to be at the ceremony. He never shows.
