Academy Awards Picks – Who Will Win and Who Should Win

This year I made a concerted effort to see as many nominated films as possible; therefore, for the first time in many years I am going to make my picks. This is based on my own personal opinion, and obviously I am choosing films I enjoyed very much. I am also skipping categories in which I did not see every movie only to be fair.

I think this was a pretty exciting year in the movies. We had films with historic elements or based on real events like Django Unchained, Lincoln, The Impossible, and Zero Dark Thirty. This caused somewhat of an uproar from purists who questioned the accuracy of the history or events portrayed; however, since none of these films are documentaries, I had no problem with any of them.

We also saw the return of great actors and actresses in top form: Alan Arkin (Argo), Sally Field (Lincoln), Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln), Helen Hunt (The Sessions), Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln), and Robert De Niro (Silver Linings Playbook).

Above all I think there were some really great stories told. When I go to the movies, I think the stars and the directors are ancillary and the story is the thing. If I cannot commit to the tale and it does not reel me in, I do not care whose face is on the screen or who is behind the camera. Thankfully, there were a lot of fine stories at the movies this year.

So here is my completely subjective list of who will win and who should win tonight at the Oscars. Please use the comments section to tell me how wrong (or right?) I am. Oh, and enjoy the show!

BEST PICTURE
Will Win: Lincoln
Should Win: Life of Pi

BEST DIRECTOR
Will Win: Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)
Should Win: Ang Lee (Life of Pi)

BEST ACTOR
Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)
Should Win: Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables)

BEST ACTRESS
Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook)
Should Win: Naomi Watts (The Impossible)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Will Win: Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln)
Should Win: Alan Arkin (Argo)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Will Win: Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)
Should Win: Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Will Win: Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained)
Should Win: Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Will Win: Tony Kushner (Lincoln)
Should Win: Chris Terrio (Argo)

ANIMATED FEATURE
Will Win: Brave
Should Win: Wreck-It Ralph

PRODUCTION DESIGN
Will Win: Lincoln
Should Win: Life of Pi

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Will Win: Life of Pi
Should Win: Life of Pi

COSTUME DESIGN
Will Win: Lincoln
Should Win: Les Miserables

FILM EDITING
Will Win: Lincoln
Should Win: Life of Pi

ORIGINAL SONG
Will Win: Skyfall
Should Win: Skyfall

ORIGINAL SCORE
Will Win: Lincoln
Should Win: Life of Pi

VISUAL EFFECTS
Will Win: Life of Pi
Should Win: Life of Pi

SOUND MIXING
Will Win: Lincoln
Should Win: Life of Pi

Photo Credit: hollywoodreporter.com