Critics' Choice Movie Awards Preview / Predictions - Part 1

Let’s start the week off with the non-acting and picture awards. This could be a very good indicator of what will be some of the best films of the year. Categories here that can be the best indicators of the rest of the night include, Best Cinematography and both of the Screenplays.  I’m going to give you a little analysis along with who WILL win and who SHOULD win.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“The Artist” – Guillaume Schiffman
“Drive” – Newton Thomas Sigel
“Hugo” – Robert Richardson
“The Tree of Life” – Emmanuel Lubezki
“War Horse” – Janusz Kaminski

Cinematography is a category that is given to beautifully shot films. And while all of the films in this category are absolutely special to look at, to me, Emmanuel Lubezki’s visuals in The Tree of Life are second to none. That said…The Artist, if it wins here, could be in line for a big evening.

WILL WIN: The Tree of Life, Emmanuel Lubezki

SHOULD WIN: The Tree of Life, Emmanuel Lubezki

BEST ART DIRECTION
“The Artist” – Production Designer: Laurence Bennett, Art Director: Gregory S. Hooper
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” – Production Designer: Stuart Craig, Set Decorator: Stephenie McMillan
“Hugo” – Production Designer: Dante Ferretti, Set Decorator: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“The Tree of Life” – Production Designer: Jack Fisk, Art Director: David Crank
“War Horse” – Production Designer: Rick Carter, Set Decorator: Lee Sandales

Can I push for Harry Potter to at least win some awards, please? The film is great to look at and the production and sets  made you feel like you were at Hogwarts. Although that is where I may want it to go, these nominees all have the look of winners.

WILL WIN: The Artist

SHOULD WIN: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

BEST EDITING
“The Artist” – Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion
“Drive” – Matthew Newman
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” – Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
“Hugo” – Thelma Schoonmaker
“War Horse” – Michael Kahn

Editing to me is harder than ever with a good action film. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be amazing on a much subtler film. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo should win every category possible, but I don’t see it being a winner with this group. My colleagues REALLY liked Drive so who knows if this award finds its way there. And Thelma Schoonmaker, well, a legend can I say anything else?

WILL WIN: ????
SHOULD WIN: Thelma Schoonmaker

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
“The Artist” – Mark Bridges
“The Help” – Sharen Davis
“Hugo” – Sandy Powell
“Jane Eyre” – Michael O’Connor
“My Week With Marilyn” – Jill Taylor

Costumes can make a film and in the nominees for this award this year we were transported to different eras in a flash. It would be interesting to see The Help win here as it really deserves some awards on this evening. I’m also a big fan of Hugo for this award.

WILL WIN: The Artist
SHOULD WIN: Hugo

BEST MAKEUP
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Iron Lady
J. Edgar
My Week With Marilyn

I should mention at this point – should win DOES NOT necessarily mean I voted for that.  Just that I think it SHOULD win. On to Makeup! Really nice job throughout the category. Meryl Streep BECOMES Margaret Thatcher, Leo looking like J. Edgar and Glen Close. Those three together with Marilyn Monroe AND Harry Potter. Well who wins????

WILL WIN: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Though….The Iron Lady could win)

SHOULD WIN: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8
The Tree of Life

Visually these are five stunning films in each of their own ways. I know our group really likes Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Super 8. Plus Hugo reigned with a slew of nominations…so don’t coulnt it out.

WILL WIN: Hugo

SHOULD WIN: Super 8 or Harry Potter

BEST SOUND

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Super 8
The Tree of Life
War Horse

How about Super 8? Can we give it something…please? Although a beautiful set of statues for Harry Potter would be nice as well.

WILL WIN: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

SHOULD WIN: Super 8

BEST SONG
“Hello Hello” – performed by Elton John and Lady Gaga/written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin – Gnomeo & Juliet
“Life’s a Happy Song” – performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets
“The Living Proof” – performed by Mary J. Blige/written by Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman and Harvey Mason, Jr. – The Help
“Man or Muppet” – performed by Jason Segel and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets
“Pictures in My Head” – performed by Kermit and the Muppets/written by Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis and Chen Neeman – The Muppets

Ok…sure there are other songs nominated – but is there anyone who thinks The Muppets don’t win? The only question is which one.

WILL WIN: Life’s a Happy Song, The Muppets

SHOULD WIN: Man or Muppet, The Muppets

BEST SCORE
“The Artist” – Ludovic Bource
“Drive” – Cliff Martinez
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
“Hugo” – Howard Shore
“War Horse” – John Williams

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are amazing! And we have some different competition in here this year. I could see our group going for Drive as well. And of course veterans like Howard Shore and John Williams are alongside Ludovic Bource, whose score really set the tone for the otherwise silent, The Artist.

SHOULD WIN: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

WILL WIN: Ludovic Bource, The Artist

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“The Artist” – Michel Hazanavicius
“50/50” – Will Reiser
“Midnight in Paris” – Woody Allen
“Win Win” – Screenplay by Tom McCarthy, Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni
“Young Adult” – Diablo Cody

Ahh…screenplays…One of my favorite categories in the awards. The Original Screenplay seems loaded, much as adapted is this year. The original idea behind the Artist is solid..but personally I love Diablo Cody’s tone in Young Adult and 50/50 is something truly special and personal.

SHOULD WIN: Diablo Cody, Young Adult or Wil Reiser, 50/50

WILL WIN: Michel Hazanvicius, The Artist

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“The Descendants” – Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” – Eric Roth
“The Help” – Tate Taylor
“Hugo” – John Logan
“Moneyball” – Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin

Man I like all these films. And part of the reason I like this set of movies…great screenplays. I could see any of thee films walking home a winner.

SHOULD WIN: The Descendants

WILL WIN: The Help

Totally unscientific, and really out there...but some things I feel confident of...others are WIDE open.

Tomorrow – a look at all the acting and directing categories.