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

Best of 2011 - Theater (Better Late Than Never)

The Book of Mormon

Down below you'll find my top 10s of 2011 in Theater. Some names/titles have links to YouTube videos of performances and clips. Enjoy even though it's 6 months late!

Top 10 in Theater of 2011

1. THE BOOK OF MORMON – Broadway, NYC*
2. UNCLE VANYA – Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
3. VENUS IN FUR – Broadway, NYC**
4. OTHER DESERT CITIES – Broadway, NYC**
5. SONS OF THE PROPHET - Off-Broadway, NYC
6. HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING – Broadway, NYC**
7. FOLLIES - Broadway, NYC**
8. NEWSIES - Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ**
9. JERUSALEM – Broadway, NYC**
10. BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO – Broadway, NYC**

Best Performances by an Actor of 2011

Mark Rylance in
JERUSALEM

1. Mark Rylance as Johnny "Rooster" Bryon in JERUSALEM*
2. Andrew Rannells as Elder Price in THE BOOK OF MORMON**
3. Josh Gad as Elder Cunningham in THE BOOK OF MORMON**
4. John Larroquette as J.B. Biggley in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING*
5. Arian Moayed as Musa in BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO**
6. Bobby Canavale as Jackie in THE MOTHERFUCKER WITH THE HAT**
7. Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
8. Thomas Sadowski as Trip Wyeth in OTHER DESERT CITIES
9. Hugo Weaving as Astrov in UNCLE VANYA
10. Stacy Keach as Lyman Wyeth in OTHER DESERT CITIES

Best Performances by an Actress of 2011

Nina Arianda in
VENUS IN FUR

1. Nina Arianda as Vanda in VENUS IN FUR*
2. Cate Blanchett as Yelena in UNCLE VANYA
3. Judith Light as Silda Grauman in OTHER DESERT CITIES*
4. Stockard Channing as Polly Wyeth in OTHER DESERT CITIES**
5. Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney in ANYTHING GOES*
6. Jan Maxwell as Phyllis in FOLLIES**
7. Nikki M. James as Nabulungi in THE BOOK OF MORMON*
8. Elizabeth Rodriguez as Veronica in THE MOTHERFUCKER WITH THE HAT**
9. Rachel Griffiths as Brooke Wyeth in OTHER DESERT CITIES
10. Tammy Blanchard as Hedy LaRue in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING**

Worst of 2011

1. WILD ANIMALS YOU SHOULD KNOW – Off-Broadway, NYC
2. ALL NEW PEOPLE – Off-Broadway, NYC
3. SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK 1.5 – Broadway, NYC
4. A CHRISTMAS STORY – National Tour, Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA
5. SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK 2.0 – Broadway, NYC**

* Tony Winner

** Tony Nominee

Early Oscar Predictions: Nominees and Winners for the 85th Academy Awards

So here are my early predictions for next year's Oscar race. I'd like to see Moonrise Kingdom, but I think it will get by on a Best Original Screenplay nod.

BEST PICTURE

ANNA KARENINA

BRAVE

DJANGO UNCHAINED

THE GREAT GATSBY

THE HOBBIT

LES MISERABLES

LIFE OF PI

LINCOLN

THE MASTER (Winner)

THE SURROGATE

BEST DIRECTOR

Paul Thomas Anderson for THE MASTER (Winner)

Tom Hooper for LES MISERABLES

Baz Lurhman for THE GREAT GATSBY

Steven Spielberg for LINCOLN

Quentin Tarantino for DJANGO UNCHAINED

BEST ACTOR

Daniel Day-Lewis in LINCOLN

Leonardo DiCaprio in THE GREAT GATSBY

John Hawkes in THE SURROGATE (Winner)

Philip Seymour Hoffman in THE MASTER

Hugh Jackman in LES MISERABLES

BEST ACTRESS

Marion Cotillard in LOWLIFE

Helen Hunt in THE SURROGATE (Winner)

Keira Knightley in ANNA KARENINA

Carey Mulligan in THE GREAT GATSBY

Andrea Riseborough in SHADOW DANCER

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Russell Crowe in LES MISERABLES

Leonardo DiCaprio in DJANGO UNCHAINED (Winner)

William H. Macy in THE SURROGATE

Joaquin Phoenix in THE MASTER

Aaron Tveit in LES MISERABLES

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams in THE MASTER (Winner)

Samantha Barks in LES MISERABLES

Annette Bening in IMOGENE

Sally Field in LINCOLN

Anne Hathaway in LES MISERABLES

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

Best of 2011 in Theater: Top 10 Performances by an Actor

Before late fall, I had actually seen more theatrical productions than films, which is very strange. I think I simply chose not to see all the films I could logically guess would be bad, or not worth seeing - this can be a problem, since I didn't see 50/50 (I really wanted to, just never did), but I just watched it now and bawled. It was excellent. Anyways, I figured since I see so much theater, I'd comprise some Top 10s of 2011.

The following list comprises any noteworthy performance from an actor either on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-, or any large regional production. What's cool and different from comprising theatrical end-of-the-year lists from cinematic is that awards season for Broadway doesn't happen until June, so it feels like this list is from two different years, and it is: well, different competing years. These actors are both leads and supporting roles, and are from both plays and musicals.

So, here are my Top 10 Performances of 2011 by an Actor in a Theatrical Production:

10. Stacy Keach as Lyman Wyeth in OTHER DESERT CITIES (November 3-present at the Booth Theatre, Broadway)

Still on Broadway, Keach plays the conservative/Republican father of his opposing liberal daughter. An ex-Hollywood actor, Lyman relies on harshness and his wife to prevent his daughter from ruining the family. Keach captures the fall of his character with perfect precision and slope, never allowing the shocks to feel like shocks, but real events and true emotions.

09. Hugo Weaving as Astrov in UNCLE VANYA (August 4-27 at The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.)

Weaving simply has that voice. That voice that is great for The Matrix or The Lord of the Rings, but he hardly ever has the opportunity to use it in a smart, gripping role (Okay, V for Vendetta was gripping and smart). To see this Australian actor go head to head with a force like Cate Blanchett in an Anton Chekov masterpiece is something one can't forget.

08. Thomas Sadowski as Trip Wyeth in OTHER DESERT CITIES (November 3-January 8, 2012 at the Booth Theatre, Broadway)

As the middleman brother in the Wyeth family, Sadowski delivers his lines and his reactions with a precision one might not expect from a "let's-get-high"/California dude/reality TV creator kind of guy. He demands your attention as he strives to break through to both his battling parents against his sister. He's philosophical, but not cliche or general, and Sadowski proves his role in the drama of the play.

07. Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (March 27-January 1, 2012 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway)

These days, it's extremely difficult to have a successful Broadway musical without it either being an adaptation of a movie or without it including a major Hollywood star. For this revival, it's the latter with Radcliffe at the helm. However, unlike many Hollywood-hopefuls, the Harry Potter star stepped away from the wand (and the British accent) and into his dancing shoes. Shocking is an understatement at how good this guy is: a true triple threat and an actor who understands chemistry on all levels, with every other actor his role crosses paths with.

06. Bobby Cannavale as Jackie in THE MOTHERFUCKER WITH THE HAT (April 11-July 17 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Broadway)

Cannavale, usually a comedic, oddly optimistic character actor, enters the stage with a one-two punch while he played the ex-addict Jackie who is trying to get through the steps of his rehabilitation program. Cannavale breaks himself each scene, between the ferocious battles with his girlfriend, to his deceiving sponsor (played by Chris Rock), his loyal cousin, and his sponsor's unhappy wife, and he does so in a perfect agression that you'd expect from a play with such a censored title.

05. Arian Moayed as Musa in BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO (March 31-July 3 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway)

Somewhat unstable, somewhat dark, and somehow heroic, Moayed brings to life Musa in a play that can be engulfed by legendary dictators, terrorists, the egos of Americans, and a tiger (played genially by Robin Williams). Moayed is truly the character we follow and is heartbreaking in the ways that a nerdy 7th grader might be amongst the roughest bullies. However, he finds courage, and it comes with a price. (Arian Moayed is to the left in picture.)

04. John Larroquette as J.B. Biggley in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (March 27-January 1, 2012 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway)

You think you're going to see this musical for Daniel Radcliffe, but you come out searching for this man and his autograph. The comedy of John Larroquette is undeniable, outright, and dangerous like a natural disaster, lunging you into an uncontrollable wave of laughter. Every moment he designed for us highlights the strengths of Biggley and his hilarious soft sides. And the truly remarkable thing that Larroqette does is that while he's that supporting character you always want on stage, he never upstages. His timing is impeccable and I can't wait to see him in his upcoming play this spring.

03. Josh Gad as Elder Cunningham in THE BOOK OF MORMON (March 24-present at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway)

A little bit Jack Black, a little bit Jonah Hill, this guy brings home most of the laughs in Trey Parker and Matt Stone's insane-hit musical, but one may wonder how much is just Josh being Josh. Is he really acting? Can he actually sing? As the show progesses, the answer is most certainly "yes". Gad brings the ridiculous out, ruffles the feathers, and puts a whole lot of humanity behind the ever-so-perfect Mormon background. Or, does he link the African world with the Mormons? In either case, he is hilarious and very talented.

02. Andrew Rannells as Elder Price in THE BOOK OF MORMON (March 24-present at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway)

The difference between Gad and Rannells is that Rannells has to work more strategically and theatrically to get the laughs. His put together, perfect missionary Elder Price reminds me a lot of Mandy Moore in the movie Saved!, except Price is far from evil. He holds himself to a very high standard, but is ridiculous in a less obvious way than Elder Cunningham. Cunningham rises as Price falls, and this fall has some of the biggest laughs of the night, to the point where I was literally the only one still laughing, stalling the show from continuing, and in which the actors began to laugh too and look at me, like "this guy gets it". Or maybe it was "who the fuck is this guy and what is he on?" Oh, did I mention he sings like an archangel, which is way better than the regular angels in heaven. A Mormon archangel. Yeah.

01. Mark Rylance as Johnny "Rooster" Byron in JERUSALEM (April 21-August 21 at the Music Box Theatre, Broadway)

Unstoppable. Mark Rylance is an element of theater that Broadway has no idea what to do with except hand him his Tony, proclaim him as one of the greatest actors to step onto its stage, and wait around for what he has coming next. I've truly never witnessed a man embody another so truthfully, so profoundly, and so perfectly in my life. For three long, exhilarating acts, Rylance conquers the stage.

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