Overture to Oscar: Final Entry – The Ballot

  

 This week’s entry will be short and sweet – my official Oscar ballot.  Keep in mind that my ballot is more of  a prediction than a wish list.  There are a few categories I am still unsure of as far as which way the winds will blow…

Best Actress:  Who do I think WILL win?  Natalie Portman.  Who probably SHOULD win?  The more I debate, the more I go back to Annette Bening’s fantastic performance in The Kids Are All Right.  It’s a tough call.

Best Supporting Actress:  Who WILL win?  Probably Melissa Leo, but she’s had better roles that are much more deserving and may have shot herself in the foot with some pretty heavy-handed self-promotion.  Who SHOULD win?  Hailee Steinfeld, who was fantastic in True Grit (although it is a lead and not a supporting performance) or Jacki Weaver, who was mesmerizing in Animal Kingdom (a fantastic Aussie film you should rent if you haven’t already).  Still, that movie has no other nominations, and her performance is probably too subtle for the Academy.  

Best Supporting Actor:  Who WILL win?  Christian Bale.  He’s unstoppable and he gave a great performance.  In any other year, I would offer no argument.  EXCEPT…  that I would be happy to see either Geoffrey Rush OR John Hawkes win this award this year.  Rush was astounding as Lionel Logue, but once again, probably too subtle for the Academy’s tastes.  Hawkes was equally incredible in Winter’s Bone, but I’m willing to be there are quite a few voters who have no idea who he is…My picks in their respective categories.  Good Luck and have fun!

  

 

 Best Picture  – The King’s Speech

Director– Tom Hooper

Actress – Natalie Portman

Actor – Colin Firth

Supporting Actress  – Melissa Leo

Supporting Actor – Christian Bale

Original Screenplay –  The King’s Speech

Adapted Screenplay  – The Social Network

Animated Feature  – Toy Story 3

Art Direction  –  The King’s Speech

Cinematography  –  Inception

Costume Design  – Alice in Wonderland

Documentary (Feature) –  Exit Through the Gift Shop

Documentary (Short Subject)  –  Poster Girl

Film Editing  –  Black Swan

Foreign-Language Film  –  Incendies

Makeup  – The Wolfman

Music (Original Score)  – The Social Network

Music (Original Song)  –We Belong Together

Short Film (Animated)  – The Gruffalo

Short Film (Live Action)  –  The Crush

Sound Editing  –  Inception

Sound Mixing  – Inception

Visual Effects   –  Inception

Check out your own customizable ballot at:  http://theenvelope.latimes.com/awards/oscars/ballot/.