February 13, 2012
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Oscar Buzz

The Oscars are coming up on Sunday, February 26th, and many of us are looking forward to this star-studded night of red-carpet fashion, inspiring speeches, and golden awards. If you haven’t had the chance to see all of this year’s “must-see” movies, below are brief summaries of those that have been nominated in some of the main Oscar categories, along with the critics’ predictions of who will win in each category.

Enjoy the show!

Actor in a Leading Role

  • Demian Bichir, A Better Life:  Demián Bichir portrays Carlos Galindo, an undocumented Mexican gardener in East L.A. who struggles to give his son the opportunities he never had.
  • George Clooney, The Descendants:  George Clooney plays Matt King, a husband and father who steps into the unfamiliar role of caregiver to his daughters while coping with the approaching death of his wife.
  • Jean Dujardin, The Artist:  Jean Dujardin takes on the role of George Valentin, a silent movie star who worries that the arrival of talking pictures will signal the end of his career.
  • Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy:  Gary Oldman plays George Smiley, a former member of the British intelligence agent who is called out of retirement to find a double agent.
  • Brad Pitt, Moneyball:  Brad Pitt portrays Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane as he rebuilds his baseball team using a highly unusual method.

Critics’ Pick:  The race for Best Leading Actor is a tight one again this year, with the critics torn between Dujardin and Clooney. Aside from the scene-stealing dog, Jean Dujardin is the heart and soul of Best Picture nominee, The Artist, and he took home the SAG Award, which could make him a favorite for the Oscar.  George Clooney, who recently earned the Golden Globe for his role as Matt King, has been nominated for an Academy Award multiple times and won just once for Best Supporting Actor for Syriana. In The Descendants he plays a family man, a shift in character that could swing Oscar voters.

Actress in a Leading Role

  • Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs:  Glenn Close plays Albert Nobbs, a woman passing as a man in 19th century Ireland in order to work and survive.  After decades of donning men’s clothing, she finds herself trapped in a life of loneliness and isolation.
  • Viola Davis, The Help: Viola Davis plays Aibileen Clark, an African-American woman who courageously shares the story of her life as a maid working for a white family in Jackson, Mississippi.
  • Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo:  Rooney Mara plays Lisbeth Salander, a troubled young woman who assists a journalist in investigating a 40-year-old murder mystery.
  • Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady:  Meryl Streep portrays Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister and one of the 20th century’s most famous and influential women.
  • Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn:  Michelle Williams plays legendary film star Marilyn Monroe as she spends an idyllic week exploring the pleasures of British life.

Critics’ Pick:  When it comes to the category of Best Leading Actress, there seems to be little doubt in the critics’ minds that Viola Davis will take home the golden statue for her powerful performance as Aibileen Clark.  Still, some are saying that, after decades without an Oscar, Meryl Streep’s performance as Margaret Thatcher may be good enough to end her Oscar dry spell.  (Streep has been nominated a record 17 times, but has not won an Academy Award since 1983.)

Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn:  Kenneth Branagh portrays celebrated English actor-director Sir Laurence Olivier, as his patience is tested by his co-star, Marilyn Monroe.
  • Jonah Hill, Moneyball:  Jonah Hill plays Peter Brand, the assistant general manager for the Oakland Athletics’ who helps his boss implement a controversial plan for rebuilding the team.
  • Nick Nolte, Warrior:  Nick Nolte plays Paddy Conlon, a recovering alcoholic who trains his resentful son for a competition in mixed martial arts.
  • Christopher Plummer, The Beginners:  Christopher Plummer plays Hal, a man who, at the age of 75, decides to come to terms with his sexuality and live an openly gay life.
  • Max von Sydow, Extremely Close & Incredibly Loud: Max von Sydow plays “The Renter,” a mute older man who accompanies a young boy on his journey to uncover a family mystery.

Critics’ Pick:  Christopher Plummer has won every major precursor award for his performance in The Beginners, so critics believe it will be tough for any of the other nominees to put up a strong fight in this category.
Actress in a Supporting Role

  • Bérénice Bejo, The Artist:  Bérénice Bejo plays Peppy Miller, an up-and-coming starlet who falls in love with a famed silent film star.
  • Jessica Chastain, The Help:  Jessica Chastain plays Celia Foote, a woman who fails to fit in with the “society ladies” of Jackson and instead forms an unlikely friendship with her African-American maid.
  • Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids:  Melissa McCarthy plays Meghan, a talkative, sexually aggressive woman who is one of the bridesmaids in her brother’s upcoming wedding.
  • Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs:  Janet McTeer plays Hubert Page, a painter whose willingness to embrace her own nature proves a revelation to her new acquaintance.
  • Octavia Spencer, The Help:  Octavia Spencer portrays Minny Jackson, a strong and spirited African-American maid who forms an unlikely friendship with a white woman from the wrong side of the tracks.

Critics’ Pick:  This is another category that’s keeping the critics guessing, though the race seems to be between Octavia Spencer and Bérénice Bejo.  Spencer is favored, after taking home both the Golden Globe and the SAG for her feisty performance as Minny, but Bejo has a decent chance in this category, especially if The Artist has as much love as it seems to leading up to the Academy Awards.


Best Picture

  • The Artist: Set in Hollywood in 1927, The Artist tells the story of George Valentin, a celebrated silent film idol who resists the transition to talking pictures, and Peppy Miller, a young actress who is ready for her big break.  As the era of silent films draws to an end, Peppy’s star is on the rise, while George wonders if the modern age of movies will leave him behind.  This “stylistically daring, dialogue-free comedy-drama “ follows the careers and relationship of these two actors during a time of major transition in the movie industry.
  • The Descendants: The complexities of life, death and family relations challenge Matt King when his wife, Elizabeth, is left comatose following a boating accident.  Matt, a middle-aged Hawaiian land baron, struggles to re-connect with his daughters, as he takes a hard look at his life and makes decisions that may put him at odds with the rest of his family.
  • Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close:  When nine-year-old Oskar discovers a key among his late father’s possessions, he becomes convinced that finding the lock it opens will help him understand the tragedy of his father’s death in the World Trade Center.  This post-9/11 drama follows the young boy’s journey as he attempts to solve a family mystery and cope with the loss of his father.
  • The Help:  In 1963, a young, white, aspiring author decides to write a book depicting the point of view of African-American maids working for white families in racially charged Jackson, Missippi.  The stories of two courageous women in particular, Aibilene and Minny, reflect the devastating racial and social inequalities governing every aspect of life in Jackson.
  • Hugo: Hugo Cabret is a young Parisian orphan who lives in the walls of a Paris train station.  He spends his days keeping its many clocks running and observing the lives of the people who work in the station.  Hugo’s secretive way of life is jeopardized when he uncovers a mystery involving his late father.
  • Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen’s romantic comedy follows an American family as they travel to the City of Light for business and pleasure.  Among the traveling group is Gil, a screenwriter who is filled with nostalgia for the Paris of the 1920’s, when artists and writers flocked to the city in a celebration of art and creativity.  Gil’s magical experiences in Paris, which begin each night at midnight, force him to confront the shortcomings of his relationship with his often impatient, unimaginative fiancé.
  • Moneyball: In this film adaptation of the non-fiction best seller, Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane and his assistant, Peter Brand, devise a statistics-based formula for choosing potential players.  Following an acquisition plan that goes against conventional baseball wisdom, Beane successfully rebuilds his team on a tight budget.
  • The Tree of Life:  A middle-aged man contemplates the pattern and meaning of his life in this evocative drama from director Terrence Malick.  Jack O’Brian is the eldest son of a 1950’s-era Midwestern family Moments from Jack O’Brien’s childhood in a small Texas town are interwoven throughout the film, revealing how his life was shaped by both the nurturing love of his mother and the demanding discipline of his father.  His existential journey leads him to question his faith while seeking the answers to life’s mysteries.
  • War Horse: The horrors of the First World War are seen through the eyes of a valiant horse in this epic adventure.  A young man named Albert enlists in the military after his beloved horse, Joey, is sold to the cavalry. The journey that follows tells a tale of joy, sorrow, and passionate friendship during WWI in this film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg.

Critics’ Pick: The critics’ consensus seems to be that The Artist will narrowly edge out The Descendants for Best Picture. It’s interesting to note, however, that The Help picked up three SAG awards, including Best Ensemble. The last two films to do that—Chicago and American Beauty—won Best Picture.


Who do you think will take home an Oscar this year? Which films do you think are the most deserving of an Academy Award? Share your thoughts on all-things-Oscars by adding a comment below.