As a new annual feature, shortly before the Academy Award nominations are released, I will post my own ballot: if I were an Academy member, these would receive my votes. In an ideal world, as many of these selections would be nominated as possible. These do NOT reflect my predictions for the actual Academy Award nominations. Hopefully, this list of nominees will make you smile and think of a better world, full of joy and happiness. Also of note: I haven’t seen close to every foreign film or documentary available, so I will be forced to choose only three films in each of those categories. Without further ado, my nominees:
Best Picture:
The Avengers
Beasts of the Southern Wild
The Cabin in the Woods
Cosmopolis
Holy Motors
Lincoln
Middle of Nowhere
Moonrise Kingdom
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Seven Psychopaths
Best Director:
Leos Carax, Holy Motors
Peter Jackson, The Hobbit
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Joe Wright, Anna Karenina
Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Denis Lavant, Holy Motors
Logan Lerman, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Robert Pattinson, Cosmopolis
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Best Actress:
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Emayatzy Corinealdi, Middle of Nowhere
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Best Supporting Actor:
Dwight Henry, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths
Mark Ruffalo, The Avengers
Christopher Walken, Seven Psychopaths
Best Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams, The Master
Emily Blunt, Looper
Sally Field, Lincoln
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Lorraine Toussaint, Middle of Nowhere
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Michael Bacall, 21 Jump Street
Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
David Cronenberg, Cosmopolis
Tony Kushner, Lincoln
Tom Stoppard, Anna Karenina
Best Original Screenplay:
Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola, Moonrise Kingdom
Leos Carax, Holy Motors
Ava DuVernay, Middle of Nowhere
Martin McDonagh, Seven Psychopaths
Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods
Best Animated Feature:
Brave
Ice Age: Continental Drift
ParaNorman
The Pirates: Band of Misfits
Wreck-It Ralph
Best Cinematography:
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
Prometheus
Skyfall
Best Editing:
Argo
Cloud Atlas
Holy Motors
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
Best Costumes:
Anna Karenina
Argo
Holy Motors
Moonrise Kingdom
Lincoln
Best Makeup and Hairstyling:
Cloud Atlas
The Hobbit
Holy Motors
Best Foreign Film:
Amour
Headhunters
Holy Motors
Best Documentary:
Central Park Five
The Imposter
Queen of Versailles
Best Production Design:
Anna Karenina
Holy Motors
Lincoln
Prometheus
Skyfall
Best Original Score:
The Avengers
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Lawless
ParaNorman
Sound of Noise
Best Original Song:
“Yo No Se”, Casa De Mi Padre
“Ancora Qui”, Django Unchained
“Who Were We”, Holy Motors
“Suddenly”, Les Miserables
“Skyfall”, Skyfall
Best Sound Editing:
The Avengers
Life of Pi
Prometheus
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty
Best Sound Mixing:
The Avengers
Life of Pi
Prometheus
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty
Best Visual Effects:
The Avengers
The Hobbit
John Carter
Life of Pi
Prometheus
NOMINATION LEADERS:
Holy Motors- 10
Lincoln- 10
The Avengers- 6
Moonrise Kingdom- 5
Life of Pi- 5
Prometheus- 5
Anna Karenina- 4
Beasts of the Southern Wild- 4
Seven Psychopaths- 4
Middle of Nowhere- 4