
If it makes you feel any better, I do feel hypocritical after all my criticism about the Olympics. The Oscars are just as silly, though a few billion less costly. I sometimes think it is time to let it go, as taste is so subjective and unlike speed skating (but quite like figure skating), there really is no “best.” And yet…
I’m nostalgic for nights in my family’s TV room (that’s what we called the back den, complete with dark paneled walls), our ballots in hand, waiting in anticipation for a montage that would include an old favorite.
Just as the Olympics--- at its best--- celebrates human athleticism, the Oscars celebrates story-telling.
And, finally, it’s the 2nd anniversary of my little experiment with DOK Photography, so it is time for a week of giveaways! Let the party begin.
I’ve created a little ballot for your downloading/printing pleasure here, but it only includes the ten categories I’m using for our contest. You can find ballots with all the categories at oscar.go.com.
Regardless of how many movies you’ve seen (we never let that stop us), I want to know your vote.
Please leave a comment below with your picks, numbered 1-10. Comments will close at midnight on Saturday, March 1st. Whoever has the most correct picks will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card to purchase the DVD of their choice or a lot of Junior Mints---it’s up to you!
And the nominees are…
1. Best Picture: American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street
2. Best Director: David O. Russell for American Hustle; Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity, Alexander Payne for Nebraska, Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave, Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street
3. Best Actor: Christian Bale, Bruce Dern, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthew McConaughey
4. Best Actress: Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Judi Dench, Meryl Streep
5. Best Supporting Actress: Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong’o, Julia Roberts, June Squibb
6. Best Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Michael Fassbender, Jonah Hill, Jared Leto
7. Best Animated Feature Film: The Croods, Despicable Me 2, Ernest & Celestine, Frozen, The Wind Rises
8. Best Original Screenplay: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell for America Hustle, Woody Allen for Blue Jasmine, Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack for Dallas Buyers Club, Spike Jonze for Her, Bob Nelson for Nebraska
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke for Before Midnight, Billy Ray for Captain Phillips, Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope for Philomena, John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave, Terence Winter for The Wolf of Wall Street
10. Best Original Song: “Alone Yet Not Alone”; “Happy”; “Let It Go”; “The Moon Song”’; “Ordinary Love”
Download the Oscar Ballot pdf here to see the nominees with the title of their movie (I got lazy here). In case of a tie, whomever posted the most correct picks first will win. So post early! I’ll post my picks in the comments as well.
To Enter: leave a comment below (not on Facebook) with your 10 picks numbered in the order above by midnight on Saturday. I’ll announce the winner in this post on Monday, March 3rd. Thanks for playing!
Deirdre's Picks:
ReplyDelete1. Gravity
2. Alfonso Cuaron
3. Chiwetel Ejiofor
4. Sandra Bullock
5. Jennifer Lawrence
6. Barkhad Abdi
7. Frozen
8. Spike Jonze
9. 12 Years a Slave
10. Let It Go
5/10
DeleteMy Picks :) a little undesided on a couple but we will see:)
ReplyDelete1. 12 years of Slave
2. Alfonso Cuaron
3. Bruce Dern
4. Amy Adams
5.Lupita Nyong
6.Jared Leto
7. Frozen
8. Erick Warren & David RUssell for American Hustle
9.JOhn Ridley for 12 years of slave
10. Let it go
7 out of 10---way to go Karla!
Delete1. 12 years of Slave
ReplyDelete2. Alfonso Cuaron
3. Matthew McConaughey
4. Cate Blanchett
5. Lupita Nyong'o
6. Jared Leto
7. Frozen
8. American Hustle
9. 12 Years a Slave
10. Let It Go
9 out of 10...so far you're in the lead, Trish!
Delete1. Best Picture: Gravity
ReplyDelete2. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
3. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
4. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o
6. Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze for Her
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: “Happy”
8 out of 10---Good job, Liz...but, seriously, "Happy"?
DeleteHaha Pharrell is great!
DeleteScott wrote: "Can you post these picks for me:? 12 years of Slave 2. Alfonso Cuaron 3. Matthew McConaughey 4. Cate Blanchett 5. Lupita Nyong'o 6. Jared Leto 7. Frozen 8. Her 9. 12 Years a Slave 10. Let It Go"
ReplyDeleteDude, you won. I'm shocked, are you?
DeleteWe don't have TV, so I rarely know anything about movies until someone recommends them or I just find one to watch. All of the contenders for best picture looked so depressing. Isn't there a market for upbeat movies anymore? That being said, I made my picks based on other criteria, because I've only seen two of the movies on this list.....
ReplyDelete1. Best Picture: Dallas Buyers Club (I'm picking solely on subject matter)
American Hustle (I wanted to see this because it looked like it might have at least some good foreplay/sex scenes, but IMDB said no - now I just sound shallow, but I want to be entertained, not depressed)
Gravity (watched it, Sandra was good, but it was all just a bit too much. Made me claustrophobic and agoraphobic at the same time!)
2. Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave (again choosing based on subject matter)
3. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey (mainly due to his transformation to play the role. Hollywood loves that)
4. Best Actress: Sandra Bullock (she was the movie!)
5. Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (she's just so cute!)
6. Best Supporting Actor: Bradley Cooper (he's just so HOT!)
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Despicable Me 2 (the only other movie I've seen)
8. Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen for Blue Jasmine (he needs to redeem himself socially, maybe this would help)
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: “Ordinary Love” (again, subject matter)
Now I'll be interested in who wins!! Thanks Deirdre!
Rachel
Just to clarify, Rachel, your pick for best picture is the 1st one you mentioned, right?
DeleteAmerican Hustle was hilarious, but not enticing---well, at least not for women. As usual, the men were silly (Bradley in his perm) or gross (Bale with a gut and comb-over) but the women gorgeous.
Sorry, Rachel---2 out of 10.
DeleteElizabeth from Romeoville
ReplyDelete1. Best Picture: American Hustle
2. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
3. Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio
4. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence
6. Best Supporting Actor: Jonah Hill
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze for Her
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: Ordinary Love
Honestly, I think you might win it. It would be a surprise if Jared Leto doesn't take it home, but I love that there is always a surprise or two!
Delete5 outta 10, Eliza---same as me:(
Delete1. Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
ReplyDelete2. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
3. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
4. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o
6. Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze for Her
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: “Let It Go”
10 outta 10, but Scott entered first. Sorry!
Delete1. Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
ReplyDelete2. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
3. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
4. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o
6. Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Her
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: “Let It Go”
Third place---10/10 but third one to enter these choices.
DeleteThis is George Monkey, King of All Cinema. I drink banana daiquiris and tell all you lovely ladies about Hollywood and stuff. Listen to the Monkey Picks and you will never lose an Oscar Pool again! I will have to modify one of my picks for this year -- because someone has already duplicated them. I'll pick "American Hustle" as best original screenplay instead of "Her" because otherwise I would have the same total picks as someone who posted earlier.
ReplyDeleteWith that said -- here are the rest of the Monkey Picks ...
1) Best Picture : 12 Years a Slave
2) Best Director : Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)
3) Best Actor : Matthew McConaughey
4) Best Actress : Cate Blanchett
5) Best Supporting Actress : Lupita Nyong'o
6) Best Supporting Actor : Jared Leto
7) Best Animated Feature Film : Frozen
8) Best Original Screenplay : American Hustle
9) Best Adapted Screenplay : 12 Years a Slave
10) Best Original Song : "Let It Go" from "Frozen."
Hope everyone really enjoys their Oscar nights!
George Monkey---I need your real name before Saturday midnight for this to qualify as an entry:)
Delete9 outta 10 (though your real pick was correct--"Her").
Delete1. Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
ReplyDelete2. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
3. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
4. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o
6. Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze for Her
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: “Let It Go”
FYI...and for my own memory's sake, this Brian isn't my Brian...though his answers look very solid:)
Delete10 outta 10, but the 4th one to enter those picks. Sorry.
Delete1. 12 Years a Slave
ReplyDelete2. Alfonso Cuaron
3. Leonardo Dicaprio
4. Cate Blanchett
5. Jennifer Lawrence
6. Jared Leto
7. Frozen
8. Her
9. 12 Years a Slave
10. Happy
-Kevin O'Malley
7 outta 10. Not bad, but "Let It Go" is the best, cheesy Disney song ever so I should deduct 7 points just for getting that wrong. Thanks for playing, Kev.
Delete1--12 years a Slave
ReplyDelete2- Alfonso Cuaron
3- Matthew McConaughey
4- Cate Blanchett
5- Lupita Nyong'o
6- Jared Leto
7-Frozen
8- American Hustle
9- 12 Years a Slave
10- Let it Go
9 out of 10
Delete1. Best Picture: "12 Years a Slave"
ReplyDelete2. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, "Gravity"
3. Best Actor in a Leading Role: Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"
4. Best Actress in a Leading Role: Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"
5. Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club"
6. Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"
7. Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, "Her"
8. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, "12 Years a Slave"
9. Best Animated Feature: "Frozen"
10. Best Foreign Language Film: "The Great Beauty"
11. Best Documentary Feature: "20 Feet from Stardom"
12. Best Production Design: Catherine Martin & Beverley Dunn, "The Great Gatsby"
13. Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, "Gravity"
14. Best Costume Design: Michael Wilkinson, "American Hustle"
15. Best Film Editing: Christopher Rouse, "Captain Phillips"
16. Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Adruitha Lee & Robin Mathews, "Dallas Buyers Club"
17. Best Original Score: William Butler & Owen Pallett, "Her"
18. Best Original Song: "Ordinary Love" from "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" (Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen & Adam Clayton, Lyrics by Paul Hewson)
19. Best Sound Editing: Glenn Freemantle, "Gravity"
20. Best Sound Mixing: Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead & Chris Munro, "Gravity"
21. Best Visual Effects: Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk & Neil Corbould, "Gravity"
22. Best Animated Short Film: "Get a Horse!"
23. Best Documentary Short Subject: "The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life"
24. Best Live Action Short Film: "Helium"
8 outta 10.
Delete1. Best Picture: Gravity
ReplyDelete2. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
3. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
4. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence
6. Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze for Her
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: “Let It Go”
8/10
Delete1. Best Picture: Gravity
ReplyDelete2. Best Director:Alfonso Cuaron
3. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
4. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence
6. Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Her
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: Let It Go
8/10
Delete1. Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
ReplyDelete2. Best Director: Steve McQueen
3. Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor
4. Best Actress: Sandra Bullock
5. Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o
6. Best Supporting Actor: Michael Fassbender
7. Best Animated Feature: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell for America Hustle
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: Happy
4 outta 10...#10 is slightly unforgivable.
Delete1. 12 Years a Slave
ReplyDelete2. Alfonso Cuaron
3. Matthew McConaughey
4. Cate Blanchett
5. Lupita Nyong'o
6. Jared Leto
7. Frozen
8. Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell for American Hustle
9. John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. "Let it Go"
9/10
Delete1. Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
ReplyDelete2. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
3. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
4. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o
6. Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze for Her
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: “Let It Go”
10/10...but 5th or 6th person to make these selections.
Delete1. Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
ReplyDelete2. Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
3. Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
4. Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence
6. Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
7. Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
8. Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze for Her
9. Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10. Best Original Song: “Let It Go”
9/10
DeleteErin says:
ReplyDelete1. Philomena - Best Picture
2. Steve McQueen - Best Director
3. Christian Bale - Best Actor
(He is just so cute)
4. Judi Dench - Best Actress
5. Jennifer Lawrence - Supp Actress
6. Michael Fassbender - Supp Actor
7. The Wind Rises - Anim Feature
8. Woody Allen - Original Screenplay
9. Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope - Adapted Screenplay
10. Ordinary Love - Original Screenplay
0/10---you ought-ta get a prize for the worst guesses, Erin!
DeleteLara Says:
ReplyDelete1. Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
2. Best Director: Cuaron for Gravity
3. Actor: Matthew McConaughey
4. Actress: Cate Blanchett
5. Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence
6. Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
7. Animated Film: Frozen
8. Original Screenplay: Her
9: Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
10: Original Song: Ordinary Love by U2
8 out of 10...which is respectable (last year's winner only had 8 out of 10), and if you're gonna #10 wrong, at least you voted for U2.
DeleteOn safari and posting---just to see what problem people are having...
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never. Angie's picks:
ReplyDelete12 years a slave
Alexander Payne
Matthew McConaghey
Amy Adams
Sally Hawkins
Bradley Cooper
Frozen
Spike Jonze
Let it Go
Looks like you didn't pick one for adapted screenplay so we'll give you 5/10.
Delete