CU Independent lays out who is best-suited for and most-likely to win each of the six major Oscar awards.
Best Picture
Who should win: “Zero Dark Thirty” provided Hollywood with a brutally honest film that framed the powerfully raw performance of Jessica Chastain, who is also up for Best Actress. The film’s content is more gripping than the predicted winner, but its controversial depictions of torture are likely to turn the Academy’s mind elsewhere.
Who will win: Despite earlier predictions, “Argo”’s success at the Golden Globes has made it look to be the future winner for Best Picture, despite close competition with “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Lincoln.” This underdog film would overtake its competitors with its unique plot-line and abundant talent.
Best Director
Who should win: Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi” left viewers breathless with its stunning visual effects and cinematography. The director’s impressive handling of adapting a classic into a film ought to be recognized for having done it so beautifully and seamlessly. However, Lee’s masterpiece will likely fall short behind hard-hitting, political films.
Who will win: Best Director looks to fall into Steven Spielberg’s hands for “Lincoln.” As a well-executed historical adaptation paired with yet another undeniably masterful performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, this movie was made with the sole purpose of nabbing an Oscar, and the Academy is unlikely to disappoint. Other strong contenders, however, include “Argo” and “Zero Dark Thirty.”
Best Actor
Who should and will win: Daniel Day-Lewis is likely to snag this Oscar after his role as President Abraham Lincoln in Speilberg’s film “Lincoln.” Day-Lewis has seen his fair share of complex roles and partakes in the technique of “method acting,” through which he takes on a role in everyday life in hopes to produce the most believable, realistic character.
Best Actress
Who should win: Love for Jennifer Lawrence aside, Jessica Chastain’s performance as Maya in “Zero Dark Thirty” required her to imitate a real person, asking much more of Chastain than Lawrence’s fictional character. Chastain had to portray a real person with honestly and, arguably, did her justice. Her performance ought to have earned her the Oscar, but it will likely go to another.
Who will win: Jennifer Lawrence is the obvious choice in this race, for her role as Tiffany in “Silver Linings Playbook” forced her to become an intense, complex character and still keep her likability. Portraying a mentally unstable character can often force actors to lose themselves, but Lawrence pulled it off.
Best Supporting Actor
Who should win: Christoph Waltz and his performance in “Django Unchained” proved clever and powerful and came away from the set deserving the Supporting Actor Oscar. There are, however, many excellent contenders amongst his ranks.
Who will win: It’s difficult to say, but Robert De Niro’s performance as the troubled father of a recently released mental patient in “Silver Linings Playbook” gave people laughs as well as tears through his well-delivered lines and own personal mental health issues.
Best Supporting Actress
Who should win: Sally Field gave audiences an honest and tragic performance in “Lincoln,” and she ought to have the upper hand on this Oscar. She may be outshone, though, by even more dramatic characters.
Who will win: Anne Hathaway managed to stun audiences with a surprising and evoking singing voice in “Les Misérables.” That talent paired with an undeniably beautiful portrayal of the classic and tragic Fantine will win her the Oscar. It just seems a bit unfair that fellow contenders like Field actually spent more than twenty minutes on screen.
Check out a full list of nominees here!
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Megan Curry at Megan.l.curry@colorado.edu.
