Best of 2011 - Film (Better Late Than Never)

Jessica Chastain in Terrence Malick's THE TREE OF LIFE (aka the best film of all time)

2011 = The Year of Chastain. 

Jessica Chastain in THE TREE OF LIFE
who takes up 4 spots in the
Best Supporting Actress list

TOP FILMS OF 2011

1. THE TREE OF LIFE
2. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
3. MELANCHOLIA
4. THE ARTIST
5. DRIVE
6. SHAME
7. HUGO
8. THE HELP
9. BRIDESMAIDS
10. 50/50

Michael Fassbender in SHAME

TOP 10 BEST ACTORS

1.     Michael Fassbender in SHAME

2.     Jean Dujardin in THE ARTIST

3.     Michael Shannon in TAKE SHELTER

4.     Ryan Gosling in DRIVE

5.     George Clooney in THE DESCENDANTS

6.     Brad Pitt in MONEYBALL

7.     Michael Fassbender in A DANGEROUS METHOD

8.     Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 50/50

9.     Ryan Gosling in THE IDES OF MARCH

10.  Leonardo DiCaprio in J. EDGAR

TOP 10 BEST ACTRESSES

Glenn Close in ALBERT NOBBS

1.     Glenn Close in ALBERT NOBBS

2.     Kirsten Dunst in MELANCHOLIA

3.     Charlize Theron in YOUNG ADULT

4.     Viola Davis in THE HELP

5.     Keira Knightley in A DANGEROUS METHOD

6.     Rooney Mara in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

7.     Michelle Williams in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

8.     Tilda Swinton in WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

9.     Elizabeth Olsen in MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

10.  Berenice Bejo in THE ARTIST

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING ACTORS

Christopher Plummer in
BEGINNERS

1. Christopher Plummer in BEGINNERS
2. Patton Oswalt in YOUNG ADULT
3. Armie Hammer in J. EDGAR
4. Brad Pitt in THE TREE OF LIFE
5. Albert Brooks in DRIVE
6. Nick Nolte in WARRIOR
7. Corey Stoll in MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
8. Ben Kingsley in HUGO
9. Hunter McCracken in THE TREE OF LIFE
10. Tom Hardy in TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

Jessica Chastain in
THE HELP

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSES

1. Jessica Chastain in THE HELP
2. Jessica Chastain in THE TREE OF LIFE
3. Octavia Spencer in THE HELP
4. Janet McTeer in ALBERT NOBBS
5. Carey Mulligan in SHAME
6. Shailene Woodley in THE DESCENDANTS
7. Jessica Chastain in TAKE SHELTER
8. Marion Cotillard in MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
9. Jessica Chastain in THE DEBT
10. Melanie Laurent in BEGINNERS

TOP 10 BEST DIRECTORS

1. Terrence Malick for THE TREE OF LIFE
2. Michel Hazavinacius for THE ARTIST
3. Steve McQueen for SHAME
4. Lars von Trier for MELANCHOLIA
5. Nicolas Winding Refn for DRIVE
6. Woody Allen for MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
7. Martin Scorcese for HUGO
8. Jason Reitman for YOUNG ADULT
9. David Fincher for THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
10. J.J. Abrams for SUPER 8

Marion Cotillard, Alison Pill, Owen Wilson,
and writer/director Woody Allen from
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

TOP 10 BEST ORGINAL SCREENPLAYS

1. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
2. YOUNG ADULT
3. MELANCHOLIA
4. THE ARTIST
5. BEGINNERS
6. BRIDESMAIDS
7. THE TREE OF LIFE
8. 50/50
9. WIN WIN
10. SHAME

TOP 10 BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAYS

1. DRIVE
2. THE HELP
3. THE IDES OF MARCH
4. HUGO
5. MONEYBALL
6. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
7. THE DEBT
8. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART TWO
9. A DANGEROUS METHOD
10. ALBERT NOBBS

TOP 10 BEST ENSEMBLES

1. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
2. THE HELP
3. BRIDESMAIDS
4. THE ARTIST
5. TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
6. WIN WIN
7. CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE
8. THE IDES OF MARCH
9. THE TREE OF LIFE
10. DRIVE

TOP 10 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHERS

1. THE TREE OF LIFE
2. THE ARTIST
3. MELANCHOLIA
4. DRIVE
5. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
6. SHAME
7. HUGO
8. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
9. WAR HORSE
10. CONTAGION

Jessica Chastain & Sam Worthington
in THE DEBT

TOP 10 BEST COSTUME DESIGNERS

1. A DANGEROUS METHOD
2. THE ARTIST
3. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
4. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
5. WAR HORSE
6. HUGO
7. ALBERT NOBBS
8. TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
9. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES
10. MEEK’S CUTOFF

TOP 10 BEST SCORES/SOUNDTRACKS

1. DRIVE
2. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
3. THE ARTIST
4. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
5. THE TREE OF LIFE
6. HUGO
7. THE DESCENDANTS
8. MELANCHOLIA
9. SUPER 8



Jessica Chastain
in TAKE SHELTER

10. WAR HORSE

TOP 10 BEST VISUAL/SPECIAL EFFECTS

1. SUPER 8
2. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
3. HUGO
4. WAR HORSE
5. CAPTAIN AMERICA
6. MELANCHOLIA
7. THOR
8. TAKE SHELTER
9. DRIVE
10. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Oscar Predictons: Who Will Win?

Tonight the Oscars are on and here are my annual predictions. Also, I include who I would have voted for had I been an Oscar voter.

Best Motion Picture of the Year: THE ARTIST
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius for THE ARTIST
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin in THE ARTIST
Best Actress: Viola Davis in THE HELP
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer in BEGINNERS
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer in THE HELP
Best Original Screenplay: MIDNIGHT IN PARIS by Woody Allen
Best Adapted Screenplay: THE DESCENDANTS by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Best Animated Picture: RANGO
Best Foreign Language Film: A SEPARATION
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for THE TREE OF LIFE
Best Editing: THE ARTIST
Best Art Direction: HUGO
Best Makeup: THE IRON LADY
Best Original Score: THE ARTIST
Best Original Song: THE MUPPETS
Best Sound Mixing: HUGO
Best Sound Editing: HUGO
Best Visual Effects: RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Best Documentary: PINA
Best Short Documentary: THE TSUNAMI AND THE CHERRY BLOSSOM
Best Short Animated Film: THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE
Best Short Live Action Film: THE SHORE

* * *

Now, for my fake Oscar Ballot:

Best Picture: THE TREE OF LIFE
Best Director: Terrence Malick for THE TREE OF LIFE
Best Actor: Gary Oldman for TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
Best Actress: Glenn Close for ALBERT NOBBS
Best Supporting Actor: Nick Nolte in WARRIOR
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain in THE HELP
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen for MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Best Adapted Screenplay: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon for THE IDES OF MARCH
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for THE TREE OF LIFE

Oscar Nominee Day: Last Year's Predictions, Yesterday's Predictions, & Thoughts

So today marks the best day of the year: the day the Academy releases their nominated films, actors, and filmmakers! It's better than the Oscars themselves. Too predictable. Here, I'm going to revisit my early predictions last March, who I predicted yesterday on my Twitter account, and who actually got the nominations.

BEST PICTURE
So last year, out of the 10 films I foresaw, only 2 were nominated today: War Horse and The Tree of Life. I actually don't think that's so bad! Yesterday, however, I predicted that the Academy would name 8 films (The Artist, The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, Hugo, The Tree of Life, The Help, War Horse, and Moneyball) - which they did - but they added Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close to the list as well.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm really happy about this group (and the new voting system). All are deserving films, but I am especially happy the Academy gave a nod to The Tree of Life which has been snubbed from several awards in the last weeks.

BEST DIRECTOR
From last year, the only director I predicted is Terrence Malick (thank God) and from yesterday, I predicted all five nominees: Terry, Alexander Payne, Michel Hazavinacius (I spelled that without key-studdering), Martin Scorcese, and Woody Allen. I'm really happy, once again, that The Tree of Life and it's uncanny visionary has some recognition coming from the Academy. It's also great to see so much love for Midnight in Paris, which has been building a great run in the last weeks before the announcement.

BEST ACTOR
Umm, so you know that guy that no one knows? That guy from the movie no one's seen? That guy that got NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR TODAY? Yeah, I went all OakStreet on Oscar's ass and predicted Damian Bichir in A Better Life - WHAT. It's a damn shame (pun) Michael Fassbender was snubbed for this upset, and I'm not too sure Gary Oldman should be in the top 5, but that's how these things go.

From last March, I'd give myself a 1/2 point for predicting Brad Pitt, but for the wrong movie (I said The Tree of Life instead of Moneyball). The other nominees include the leading contenders for the race: George Clooney for The Descendants and Jean Dujardin for The Artist. I'm really hoping Dujardin gets it and he's really gotta hope for a miracle competing against the ever-popular Clooney.

BEST ACTRESS
While I am 4/5 in this category from yesterday's predictions, I was 3/5 from March! I foresaw Rooney Mara, Meryl Streep, and Michelle Williams all to be getting the happy phone calls this morning. TEN MONTHS AGO. That's pretty effing incredible.

Viola Davis for The Help and my favorite, Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs, round off the pack. Like Meryl said at the Globes, this year has had so many great performances by females that anyone, in a different year, would've won. Tilda (for the third year in a row, in my opinion) was snubbed a nomination, but Rooney made her way in, which I'm fine with.

Hold it! I'm calling a 3.5/5 prediction from last March! I thought Viola Davis would be in the Supporting Category for The Help. I was on it.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Yeah, so last year I have no wins to proclaim in this category, and I did pretty bad last night with only 3/5 (Christopher Plummer, Kenneth Branagh, and Jonah Hill). A slight surprise goes to Nick Nolte for Warrior and an extremely suprising arrival for Max von Sydow in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.

But please, please, please check out the recent tweets of snubbee's Albert Brooks and Patton Oswalt. Oswalt devotes nearly 10 tweets to an imaginary bar hop in which he invites Brooks to join him and other snubbees to drink and be debaucherous.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
What was I thinking predicting two actresses who can't even drive legally? That was last March, but yesterday I scored a perfect 5/5 for the supporting ladies: Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain for The Help, Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids, Janet McTeer in Albert Nobbs and Berenice Bejo in The Artist. I'm liking this list, but I'll LOVE it if Chastain takes home the naked man in a month.

Golden Globes - Oak Street Predicts the Winners

The Globes are really just for fun. And Ricky Gervais. Sure, they're a meaty precursor to the Oscars, but its really the Guild Awards that lock in votes for the Academy. Tonight, enjoy the booze, but here are my predicted winners nevertheless:

BEST MOTION PICUTRE - DRAMA

The Descendants

The Help

Hugo

The Ides of March

Moneyball

War Horse

Who will win? THE DESCENDANTS

But I want HUGO to win.

BEST MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY

The Artist

Bridesmaids

50/50

Midnight in Paris

My Week with Marilyn

Who will win? THE ARTIST

But I want MIDNIGHT IN PARIS to win.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR - DRAMA

George Clooney in THE DESCENDANTS

Leonardo DiCaprio in J. EDGAR

Michael Fassbender in SHAME

Ryan Goslin in THE IDES OF MARCH

Brad Pitt in MONEYBALL

Who will win? GEORGE CLOONEY

But I want MICHAEL FASSBENDER to win.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS - DRAMA

Glenn Close in ALBERT DOBBS

Viola Davis in THE HELP

Rooney Mara in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Meryl Streep in THE IRON LADY

Tilda Swinton in WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Who will win? VIOLA DAVIS

But I want GLENN CLOSE to win.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR - MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Jean Dujardin in THE ARTIST

Brendan Gleeson in THE GUARD

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 50/50

Ryan Gosling in CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE

Owen Wilson in MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

Who will win? JEAN DUJARDIN

But I want RYAN GOSLING to win.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS - MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Jodie Foster in CARNAGE

Charlize Theron in YOUNG ADULT

Kristen Wiig in BRIDESMAIDS

Michelle Williams in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

Kate Winslet in CARNAGE

Who will win? MICHELLE WILLIAMS

But I want CHARLIZE THERON to win.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Kenneth Branagh in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

Albert Brooks in DRIVE

Jonah Hill in MONEYBALL

Viggo Mortensen in A DANGEROUS METHOD

Christopher Plummer BEGINNERS

Who will win? CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER

And, yeah, I'm good with this.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Berenice Bejo in THE ARTIST

Jessica Chastain in THE HELP

Janet McTeer in ALBERT BROOKS

Octavia Spencer in THE HELP

Shailene Woodley in THE DESCENDANTS

Who will win? JESSICA CHASTAIN

Going risky here - and I want her to win. Badly.

BEST DIRECTOR

Woody Allen for MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

George Clooney for THE IDES OF MARCH

Michel Hazanavicius for THE ARTIST

Alexander Payne for THE DESCENDANTS

Martin Scorcese for HUGO

Who will win? MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS

But I want WOODY ALLEN to win.

BEST SCREENPLAY

The Artist

The Descendants

The Ides of March

Midnght in Paris

Moneyball

Who will win? MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

And I definitely want Woody to win and not be there to accept. As usual.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG - ALBERT DOBBS

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

BEST ANIMATED PICTURE - RANGO

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM - A SEPARATION

BEST TELEVISION SERIES (DRAMA) - BOARDWALK EMPIRE

BEST TELEVISION SERIES (COMEDY) - MODERN FAMILY

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV - DOWNTON ABBEY

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TV SERIES (DRAMA) - STEVE BUSCEMI

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES (DRAMA) - MADELEINE STOWE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TV SERIES (COMEDY) - JONNY GALECKI

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES (COMEDY) - ZOOEY DESCHANEL

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE - DOMINIC WEST

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE - KATE WINSLET

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR (TV) - PETER DINKLAGE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS (TV) - JESSICA LANGE

Screen Actors Guild Awards - Predictions!

It's been a long time, bloggers!

I'm updating to predict the nominations that will be released for the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Here are my picks:

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A CAST ENSEMBLE
THE ARTIST
BRIDESMAIDS
THE DESCENDANTS
THE HELP
THE TREE OF LIFE

BEST ACTOR
George Clooney in THE DESCENDANTS
Jean Dujardin in THE ARTIST
Michael Fassbender in SHAME
Gary Oldman in TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
Brad Pitt in MONEYBALL

BEST ACTRESS
Glenn Close in ALBERT DOBBS
Viola Davis in THE HELP
Meryl Streep in THE IRON LADY
Tilda Swinton in WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
Michelle Williams in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kenneth Branagh in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

Albert Brooks in DRIVE
Christopher Plummer in BEGINNERS

Andy Serkis in RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Max Von Sydow in EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo in THE ARTIST
Jessica Chastain in THE HELP
Janet McTeer in ALBERT DOBBS
Octavia Spencer in THE HELP
Shailene Woodley in THE DESCENDANTS