2011 Oscar Predictions

This year with the help of the Official Oscar iPhone/iPod Touch app, I was able to quickly and conveniently make my Oscar predictions.

Here are my predictions imported directly from the app, with a few additional comments by me.

Best Picture: The King’s Speech , Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin 
A lot of people (especially critics) want The Social Network to win, however I don’t really get its Best Picture appeal (though I agree it’s a very good film).  I’m going with what is essentially the people’s choice, The King’s Speech, to win the big one.

Directing: The King’s Speech, Tom Hooper
If The Social Network wins any major Oscars, it would be for directing, since I believe the point of the film’s whole awards run was the coronation of David Fincher.  However, the only thing that throws a wrench into that plan is that Tom Hooper won the Director’s Guild award (and they are rarely ever wrong).

Writing (Original Screenplay): The King’s Speech, Screenplay by David Seidler
I think Inception might have a shot here as well, however I’m playing it safe and picking The King’s Speech.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay): The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
This one is pretty much guaranteed.

Actor in a Leading Role: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
Even when The Social Network took the early lead in the awards race, this was the constant win for The King’s Speech.  I see no change here.

Actor in a Supporting Role: Christian Bale, The Fighter
I would personally pick Geoffrey Rush for the win, however the academy likes to award method acting.

Actress in a Leading Role: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
This one is pretty much a shoe-in and the world can forget that Natalie Portman became famous through Star Wars.

Actress in a Supporting Role: Melissa Leo, The Fighter
From what I hear, this is not as much of a shoe-in as it used to be and there might be a surprise win in this category (Hailee Steinfeld perhaps).  However, I’m sticking with Leo for my prediction.

Well those are the major categories.  Here are the rest of my predictions:

• Short Film (Animated): Day & Night, Teddy Newton
• Documentary (Feature): Waste Land, Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley
• Short Film (Live Action): The Confession, Tanel Toom
• Documentary (Short Subject): Killing in the Name, 
• Film Editing: The Social Network, Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter
• Sound Editing: Inception, Richard King
• Foreign Language Film: Biutiful, Mexico
• Sound Mixing: Inception, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
• Makeup: The Wolfman, Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
• Visual Effects: Inception, Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
• Music (Original Score): The Social Network, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
• Animated Feature Film: Toy Story 3, Lee Unkrich
• Art Direction: Inception, Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas, Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
• Cinematography: Inception, Wally Pfister
• Music (Original Song): We Belong Together (from “Toy Story 3”), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman 
• Costume Design: Alice In Wonderland, Colleen Atwood