CCMA 2013 - 2 Days to the Awards

The Critics' Choice Movie Awards have always had a couple of unique awards that some organizations haven't and this year we've added even more. As a fan of ALL movies, and not just the few that get in the mix at the end of the year, I'm ecstatic that we have included a number of new categories. Let's take a look...some have had some of these categories, but here is our look ahead at Thursday night's awards on The CW.

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS 
Elle Fanning – Ginger and Rosa
Kara Hayward – Moonrise Kingdom
Tom Holland – The Impossible
Logan Lerman – The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Suraj Sharma – Life of Pi
Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild

SHOULD - Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild
WILL - Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild

The first real new brainer in this group. Such a good performance that it is talked about in the grand scheme for an acting award period. Though really solid performances abound here, it is Quvenzhane's to take home. I was particualry fond of Logan Lerman in The Perks of Being a Wildflower and Tom Holland in The Impossible. Hold the film on their shoulders type of performances that just worked.

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook

WILL - Les Miserables
SHOULD - Argo

Look, Argo was an ensemble film. Without all of the small roles working at their peak, this wouldn't be such a great film. There are a lot of people who wan to get some awards the way of Les Miz, so I thinik that they may carry the category...but it SHOULD be Argo.

BEST ACTION MOVIE
The Avengers
The Dark Knight Rises
Looper
Skyfall

WILL - The Dark Knight Rises
SHOULD - The Dark Knight Rises

There are a number of films that this group will want to award this to. I see a camp heavy behind Skyfall and there are the amazing fans of The Avengers. I think from start to finish The Dark Knight Rises is the favorite here. (Looper will win in the Sci/Fi Horror cat).

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Christian Bale – The Dark Knight Rises
Daniel Craig – Skyfall
Robert Downey Jr. – The Avengers
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Looper
Jake Gyllenhaal – End of Watch

WILL - Daniel Craig, Skyfall
SHOULD - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Looper

I really like Looper and it gets even better with every thought I make about it. The story is out of sight amazing and the performances sell it like nothing else. I also REally REALLY like End of Watch. Personally I liked Michael Pena there, but Jake is really good as well.

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Emily Blunt – Looper
Gina Carano – Haywire
Judi Dench – Skyfall
Anne Hathaway – The Dark Knight Rises
Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games

Will -- Who knows? Anne Hathaway
Should - Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence

Ok, so I'm torn here. I think our group will go Hathaway's way as a combined award here and with Les Miz. It's not the way it should go, but I think that will be it. Lawrence really worked in The Hunger Games and Gina Carano was a revelation in Haywire (though obviously raw). Plus -- Emily Blunt ... well I've already professed my love for Looper....so she's got that going for her.

BEST COMEDY
Bernie
Silver Linings Playbook
Ted
This Is 40
21 Jump Street

WILL - Silver Linings Playbook
SHOULD - Ted/21 Jump Street

Look...true comedy is really hard -- Comedies, when they miss, end up on worst of the year lists. And when they hit, they should be rewarded as well. I think the group goes Silver Linings Playbook...even though I wouldn't really call that a comedy per se. Funny at times, yes,... but there is more drama there than anything. To me, Ted and 21 Jump Street brought the belly laughs out of me. Those two films are both very deserving, and I hope one of them pull an upset.

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Jack Black – Bernie
Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook
Paul Rudd – This Is 40
Channing Tatum – 21 Jump Street
Mark Wahlberg – Ted

WILL - Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook
SHOULD - Bradley Cooper / Channing Tatum

Bradley Cooper had the best performance in this category. But Tatum may be a winner because of his popularity in the category. I've got to believe that Cooper is the winner though.

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Mila Kunis – Ted
Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
Shirley MacLaine – Bernie
Leslie Mann – This Is 40
Rebel Wilson – Pitch Perfect

WILL - Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
SHOULD - Jennifer Lawrence / Rebel Wilson

I just rewatched Pitch Perfect and Rebel Wilson will win this award someday if she continues. She's absolutely hysterical in her role as "Fat Amy". But it is consinderably smaller than the role of Jennifer Lawrence and Lawrence's role is really career changing. I love them both PLUS -- Leslie Man, Mila Kunis and Shirley MacLaine -- if I attended this year I'd want to search these actresses out!

BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
Cabin in the Woods
Looper
Prometheus

WILL - Looper
SHOULD - Looper

Looper was just a crazy good Sci-Fi ride. The film is pulled together by a tight script - hence the nomination for Rian Johnson in the screenplay category. To me, there is one standout film here. Cabin in the Woods is a fun treatment...and a fun film. But I don't think it's as good as Looper. And Prometheus seems to have a love/hate relationship out there...so much so that I can't see it winning.

And there are some of the fun things that we have to offer...TUNE IN to The CW on Thursday night to see who wins, and who is excited after being nominated for Oscar that morning.

Tomorrow: The Biggies!