So yesterday I creeped you all out by saying I work at a job where I
brush doll hair and watch men strip. I phrased it that way on purpose
for laughs, but just so you know, the context behind that is that I work
as a production assistant and I was describing shoots for clients from a
toy company, and a safety gear company, respectively. Nothing foul is
actually going on, just in case you looked at me weird after last blog
lol.
Oh, and the Playstation 4 was announced. I literally only know that
because of GH and asrealasitgets' blogs; I realized it was an
announcement reading GH's blog, and asrealasitgets had a good recap with
some pretty pictures and said they were trying some facebook style
social networking thing with gaming. I'm not opposed to pretty graphics
or facebook (though I know a lot of you are), but I've not heard
anything about attempts to essentially ban used copies of games which
has been a real hot-button topic around here lately. Hopefully, that's
cause they're not dumb enough to try it.
Anyway, I work with people who have worked on movies (at lunch yesterday a coworker was discussing her work on Beautiful Creatures and Olympus,
which comes out this month and was filmed in New Orleans she said), and
I love movies, and the Oscars are this Sunday, and "Things Thursdays"
are my "list blogs," so here is my current facebook Oscar ballot.
It's supposed to be a game in which you try to guess the winners, but
I decided to mark what I want to win instead, and just use it as an
updating tool on Oscar night. Here goes:
Best Picture - Silver Linings Playbook
Why it's my choice: As someone who's had experience with
psychological issues and people who have them, wants nothing more than
to find the relationship he's been searching for all his life, and who's
favorite stories, especially in movies, are redemption stories, this
film hit every personal chord a movie can strike with me. Simply put, it
was my favorite of 2012, and it left the biggest emotional impact on
me.
What I think will win: Honestly, I think it will win for Best Picture. My next best bet would be Argo,
since it's been sweeping up every other awards ceremony, but they
didn't nominate Affleck for director, and usually director is a
predictor for best picture.
Best Lead Actor - Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Why it's my choice: While I respect Daniel Day Lewis a great deal, he
had some makeup help. With none of that, Phoenix convinced me he was a
horny retard in the most captivating way a person can convince you
they're a horny retard. That sounds funny, but this isn't a joke, I
really do feel Joaquin acted most convincingly unlike himself, without
the help of external things like makeup, out of the nominees.
Who I think will win: Daniel Day Lewis, who pretty much became what
we understand Lincoln to be; but again, through method and makeup; not
criticizing this, he deserves it, but I just found Phoenix's performance
more captivating.
Best Lead Actress - Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Why it's my choice: Again, personal choice based on emotion, I was
drawn to her character's broken and flawed, troubled, but ultimately
great personality, and her performace is why it worked. However, in
terms of being technically impressive, I'd say Quvenzhane Wallis, as a
child actor having to act against special effects, being totally
convincing in her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild, and
being the youngest actress to ever be nominated, is far and away most
deserving. But you know, personal preference. I liked Jessica Chastain a
lot as well in Zero Dark Thirty, never saw The Impossible, so can't judge Naomi Watts.
Who I think will win: Jennifer Lawrence has the most buzz as well, so I think she'll win.
Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
Why it's my choice: Pretty much every nominee, from DiNero to Tommy
Lee Jones to Alan Arkin, is just playing themselves again, except Philip
Seymour Hoffman. I wanted to choose based on who never won an Oscar
before, but they all have. Waltz actually won recently for his portrayal
of basically the same character in that Jewish revenge movie. So why
pick him over Hoffman? Personal preference, I was drawn the most to his
performance out of any of the nominees. He's great at what he does.
Who I think will win: I want to say Tommy Lee Jones, as the character he was playing had the greatest arc, but we'll see.
Best Supporting Actress - Amy Adams, The Master
Why it's my choice: She went from Office sweetheart to terrifying
wife of a cult starter in no time flat. Her performance is both quiet
and vicious, and it was the best thing in the movie for me. Easy choice
for me. Never saw The Sessions, so can't judge Helen Hunt.
Who I think will win: either Anne Hatheaway who's gotten much buzz
about her 15 minutes of hair cutting and breaking down while singing, or
Sally Field's amazing portrayal of Lincoln's wife, which she fought to
get in spite of her older age. I hope Fields, but could easily be
Hatheaway.
Best Animated Film - Wreck-it Ralph
Why it's my choice: I saw all five nominees, cause I happen to like
animated movies, and while I like them all on some level, I just loved
the way this threw out game references in a way that didn't interfere
with the story, and personally I both laughed and almost cried the
hardest at this one, particularly at a certain character backstory scene
and one involving the smashing of candy, respectively.
What I think will win: Brave, which I'm kind of annoyed by,
even though I thought its music and graphics were gorgeous, cause
they'll probably only do it cause it's a Pixar movie, and only Pixar
movies get awards. Blech. I hope I'm surprised, but not holding my
breath.
Best Cinematography - Skyfall
Why it's my choice: The Shanghai (or wherever they were on that river
with the orange lights) and Tokyo shots alone make this an easy choice
for what I found to be the most visually awesome movie of the nominees.
What I think will win: Life of Pi or Lincoln, which are both also great.
Costume Design - Anna Keranina
Why it's my choice: Never saw it, but of the trailers and movies of
nominees I watched, it looked like by far the most elaborately designed
costume.
What I think will win: Same movie ... I guess? Not a costume design expert.
Best Director - Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Why it's my choice: I'm ... not explaining this, you know why
Who I think will win: David O. Russel, to match with Best Picture Silver Linings Playbook
Best Documentary Feature - Searching for Sugar Man
Why it's my choice: Only doc I saw of the nominees, plus iit
introduced me to some great music, and one hell of an interesting,
humble, and genuine mystery guitar man.
What I think will win: The Invisible War, which actually got
legislation passed to further efforts to reduce military rape crimes
against U.S. women soldiers, and is the only documentary I heard any
buzz about. I'd probably like it if I saw it, and want it to win given
that accomplishment. What an achievement.
Best Documentary Short - Inocente
Why it's my choice: This is based entirely on trailers, as I've seen
none of the nominees, but this tale of a homeless young girl finding a
new path through art reminded me of someone close to me and thus pulled
those heart strings. Runner up for me would be Open Heart about a doctor that performs the surgery in Africa.
What I think will win: No idea, never knew these movies existed before filling out ballot.
Best Film Editing - Zero Dark Thirty
Why it's my choice: It's hard to explain, but the editing helps a
great deal in the pacing, and keeps this quiet movie chugging along
while maintaining a certain sterile quality that helps set up surprises
and keeps the viewer focused.
What I think will win: pretty much this. It's a damn well edited film.
Best Foreign Language Film - No
Why it's my choice: Again, based wholly on trailers, this looked like the Chilean version of Argo,
but replace the CIA with some ad agency men and a hostage situation
with a revolution; it's about how some men revolutionized the country by
using advertising techniques to get to the people, and seems to share
that same balancing act of humor and seriousness with Argo. Close runner-up would be Canadian film War Witch, about a child soldier in Africa accused of being a witch for surviving a firefight. Both films look great.
What I think will win: No idea, again didn't know of these movies before seeing them on ballot.
Makeup and Hairstyling - Hitchcock
Why it's my choice: Peter Jackson already won for LotR and is doing
the same stuff now, Les Mis didn't have out there noticeable makeup
jobs, but the guy playing Hitchcock looks just like him thanks to weight
and makeup.
What I think will win: same as my pick
Best Original Score - John Williams, Lincoln
Why: Like with Spielberg, you know why
What I think will win: Same as my pick
Best Original Song - "Skyfall" by Adele
Why: Thank fucking Christ we got back to letting a woman sing a Bond
theme. Not only that, it's so good in its own right it's right up there
with "Goldfinger."
What I think will win: same as my pick
Best Production Design - Anna Keranina
Why: Again, looked by far the most elaborate of the nominees
What I think will win: This or Lincoln... probably Lincoln.
Best Animated Short - Paperman
Why: Only one I saw, as it was the short that played before Wreck-it Ralph,
plus it was a great, heartwarming and simple short with a cool mix of
3D and 2D art, plus the other nominees except Maggie's Daycare didn't
look that interesting.
What I think will win: No idea, so I'll go with my pick lol.
Best Live-Action Short - Death of a Shadow
Why: Trailer looked coolest of the nominees
What I think will win: No clue
Best Sound Editing - Skyfall
Why: I thought the music and sound effects and everything was edited together quite seamlessly
What'll win: No clue
Sound Mixing - Les Miserables
Why: it's a musical, it needs good sound mixing and has it
What'll win: I'll guess my pick
Visual Effects - Life of Pi
Why: That CGI tiger looked convincing as hell, as did everything else. Close runner-up for me was Avengers.
What will win: probably my pick, but Avengers winning an Oscar would be awesome, and for this particular award, it's not out of the question.
Best Adapted Screenplay - Argo
Why: The script is the biggest reason this balancing act between somber and hilarious works so damn well.
What'll win: I guess my pick
Best Original Screenplay - Moonrise Kingdom
Why: I felt the script helped a great deal with defining the quirky
Wes Anderson town and characters, provide laughs and romance, and all
scripts do that, but this with a little more pizzaz than other nominees.
What'll win: I think Django Unchained, and hey, well-deserved, it's a great script that mixes revenge, comedy, tragedy, and action masterfully.
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