Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln
Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook
Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables
Joaquin Phoenix - The Master
Denzel Washington - Flight
All five performances nominated were top-class, although Daniel Day-Lewis is considered the big favorite, with Joaquin Phoenix maybe the most likely candidate if the 2-time winner (My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood) is snubbed. Daniel Day-Lewis´ performance in Lincoln is basically perfect. As a member of the audience you almost find it hard to believe that Day-Lewis has never met the real Lincoln for research. His mannerism, speech and voice is supposedly spot on, a fact that doesn´t surprise anyone who´s followed the career of the 55 year-old actor.
Joaquin Phoenix delivers a masterful performance in The Master, well helped by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Their scenes together are truly wonderful, especially their first scene together doing a "session" in the boat. Phoenix has had a short break from acting, but the 3-time Academy Awards-nominee really delivers in his "comeback". His posture, his attitude, his craziness... all very disturbing, yet intriguing. I consider Joaquin the most likely contender to Day-Lewis for the award.
Hugh Jackman is nominated for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in the classic story by Victor Hugo, Les Misérables. Tom Hooper directed the 2012-version of the story, and Jackman is impressive as the troubled man struggling to keep himself and his "daughter" safe from his past. His singing might not be good enough for a top-class stage-version of the story, but he does a very good job at it nevertheless. And his acting is top notch, although I do struggle to see how he can be considered above the previously mentioned nominees. Either way, it is a well deserved nomination for the Australian.
Bradley Cooper is another first time nominee, for his portrayal of Pat in Silver Linings Playbook. Arguably his best performance so far in his career, Bradley delivers a great deal of humor and hurt to his character. His character struggles with a bi-polar disorder, and after a stint at a mental institution he is brought home to his parents by his mother. Determined to get well and win back his ex-wife, he challenges himself in many areas, but is continuously challenged by his illness. Great job by "the guy from Hangover", and hopefully we´ll see more of this Bradley Cooper in the years to come. His co-stars (Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver) are also wonderful, and the chemistry between them are pretty much perfect.
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| Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook |
Denzel Washington has won 2 Academy Awards (Training Day, Glory) and is nominated for the 6th time this year. In Flight he plays an airline pilot who masterfully lands a flight destined for a crash-landing, saving many lives. However, he is still put under investigation due to the fact that there are rumours of him having been under the influence while doing so. Denzel Washington is no stranger to dramatic roles, and he is very believable (though not as likable as he usually is) in his role. His scenes with John Goodman are good comic relief, and his Kelly Reilly are both sad, tragic and at times tough to watch. I personally think he was better in Training Day (for which he won), and I do think the competition this year is a little too good for him to win it this year.
Best Actress
Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva - Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts - The Impossible
Jessica Chastain is very good in Zero Dark Thirty, but is very good enough? I doubt it. Jessica Chastain is a great actress, but I do feel she has to be considered an outsider this year. I have a feeling we´ll see her again amongst the nominees in years to come, however. Chastain reminds me of Cate Blanchett, and that is a compliment. This is her second nomination, as she was also nominated last year for her supporting role in The Help.
Naomi Watts is also nominated for the second time, having previously been nominated for her leading role in 21 Grams. This year, she plays Maria, the wife and mother of three, in The Impossible. Definitely a great contender for the award, her performance is a powerful one. As the desperate mother looking for her two kids and husband after the tsunami strikes Thailand, she is solid from start to finish. As the tsunami strikes, she is pretty banged up, but her perseverance is second to none. To me, Watts delivers one of her best performances to date, which is saying a lot.
Jennifer Lawrence has had a couple of great years, and is nominated for the second time in three years. Only 22 years old, Jennifer is definitely one of the brightest stars in her generation, and she is rightfully nominated for her job in Silver Linings Playbook. Her character, Tiffany, is struggling after her husbands death, with mischievous and erratic behaviour. Jennifer is both great at comedic timing, and very believable in her dramatic parts of the movie. You definitely feel for the girl, despite (or maybe because) of her craziness. A definite outsider to the award, having already won numerous awards her part in the movie (Golden Globe included).
Quvenzhané Wallis is the youngest person ever nominated for a best actress Academy Award, and is also the first nominee ever born in the 21st century. I did love her performance in Beast of the Southern Wild. It´s a very honest portrayal of a young girl facing her fears. She plays with a certain grit about her, and is definitely one to watch in the coming years. I wouldn´t be surprised if she wins tonight, though I do think she has to be considered an outsider, as I believe the biggest favorite is...
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| Quvanzhané Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild |
Emmanuelle Riva. Wow. Riva was born in 1927, two years prior to the first annual Academy Awards, and her performance in Amour is simply breathtaking. Anne and her husband live together, but after she suffers a stroke, she is left partly paralyzed and stuck in a wheel-chair. Riva is amazing, and it´s almost hard to believe that she is just acting. I wasn´t completely sold on the movie as a whole, but I do consider Riva the favorite for the award for best leading role. It would no doubt be a fully deserved gesture for the woman who actually turn 86 years today. Would be one helluva Birthday....
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Arkin - Argo
Robert De Niro - Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master
Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained
A very open category, with strong contenders all around. Christoph Waltz is thriving under Quentin Tarantino, and his Dr. King Schulz in Django Unchained is a brilliant character. One does however see a lot of Hans Landa (Inglorious Basterds) in the role, much due to his dialogue. Nonetheless, Waltz is once again marvelous, and could just as well land his second Oscar tonight.
Robert De Niro is back! In Silver Linings Playbook we can see the De Niro we have missed for the last decade. Although his part has a lot of comedy to it, it´s in the dramatic parts of the movie De Niro really shines. The fight in the attic and his talk with Pat (Bradley Cooper) on the side of his bed is very touching and heartbreaking. More of this again, please.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant in The Master. He has a certain aura, Seymour Hoffman, and it really shines through in this movie. His scenes with Phoenix is, as previously stated, pure class. As the charismatic leader of "The Cause", Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably, together with Waltz, the candidates with the most screen-time out of the nominees. And I consider him one of the big favorites, and a win would definitely not be undeserved for the 4 times nominated actor (1 win: Capote).
Alan Arkin is an amazing actor, and in Argo he is pure class as Lester Siegel. His scenes with John Goodman are at times hilarious, and you can´t help but love Arkin´s character in the movie. I do however think that his chances are a bit slim due to his screen time. Arkin has four nominations to his name, and his only win so far was in 2007 for Little Miss Sunshine.
Tommy Lee Jones is a one-time winner and four-time nominee at the Academy Awards. In Lincoln he plays Thaddeus Stevens, and he does a great job playing the politician hoping to better the slaves of the African-Americans. His scenes at the hearings are some of the highlights of the movies.
Robert De Niro is back! In Silver Linings Playbook we can see the De Niro we have missed for the last decade. Although his part has a lot of comedy to it, it´s in the dramatic parts of the movie De Niro really shines. The fight in the attic and his talk with Pat (Bradley Cooper) on the side of his bed is very touching and heartbreaking. More of this again, please.
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| Robert De Niro in Silver Linings Playbook |
Philip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant in The Master. He has a certain aura, Seymour Hoffman, and it really shines through in this movie. His scenes with Phoenix is, as previously stated, pure class. As the charismatic leader of "The Cause", Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably, together with Waltz, the candidates with the most screen-time out of the nominees. And I consider him one of the big favorites, and a win would definitely not be undeserved for the 4 times nominated actor (1 win: Capote).
Alan Arkin is an amazing actor, and in Argo he is pure class as Lester Siegel. His scenes with John Goodman are at times hilarious, and you can´t help but love Arkin´s character in the movie. I do however think that his chances are a bit slim due to his screen time. Arkin has four nominations to his name, and his only win so far was in 2007 for Little Miss Sunshine.
Tommy Lee Jones is a one-time winner and four-time nominee at the Academy Awards. In Lincoln he plays Thaddeus Stevens, and he does a great job playing the politician hoping to better the slaves of the African-Americans. His scenes at the hearings are some of the highlights of the movies.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams - The Master
Sally Field - Lincoln
Anne Hathaway - Les Miserablés
Helen Hunt - The Sessions
Jacki Weaver - Silver Linings Playbook
Helen Hunt strikes me as the odd one out in this category. She was good, no doubt, but was she really that good? The Sessions was a good movie, with a stellar perfomance by John Hawkes, but I do think Helen Hunt will have to be content with being amongst the nominees tonight.
Amy Adams, however, strikes me as one of the big favorites in this category. She is scary in The Master, as the wife of Philip Seymour Hoffman´s character. Her character seems to be in total control of her husband, as shown in a quite disturbing scene with him in the toilet. Amy Adams is a wonderful actress, and maybe four times is lucky for her? She has previously been nominated for her supporting roles in The Fighter, Doubt (also co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Junebug.
Sally Field was determined to land the role in Lincoln as Abraham Lincoln´s wife, Mary Todd. She got it, and with her track-record at the Oscars, she is setup for a win. She has won both of the times she has previously been nominated. However, I wasn´t completely convinced by her portrayal, though I won´t argue a nomination can´t be defended.
Jacki Weaver was amazing in Silver Linings Playbook. I really loved her part, and her facial expressions speaks volumes in a couple of the scenes. Especially in the dance-sequence, she really gives a lot to the scene only by her quirky smile. She also shows off her comic talent in a few of the scenes, especially when talking to Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence. I´d love to see her win it, although I do think she might have to be content with the nomination.
Anne Hathaway is nominated for the second time, this time for her portrayal of Fantine in Les Miserablés. Critics say that she is overacting, but I think she does a great job, and that her acting is spot on for the character she is playing. Her song-talent has been showed off at the Oscars before (while Hugh Jackman was hosting), and she really holds her own in the movie. She didn´t have too much screen time, but no doubt she won the nomination for the scene where she performs "I Dreamed a Dream".
I consider Amy Adams and Anne Hathaway as the favorites, with Jacki Weaver an outsider.
Only hours to go now. Enjoy the Oscars, and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
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