It's Day 4 of Oscar Prediction week, and though previous installments have focused on technical prizes-- click the links for Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3-- today we're getting into the really glamorous stuff: the actors! OK, we're also doing screenplays, but if you're a writer like me, you think those are glamorous too. Get your ballots ready, decide whether or not you want to take my advice, and let's prepare for Sunday's awards together!
BEST ACTOR
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
And the winner is: Jean Dujardin. This really is still a race between Dujardin and his closest competition in Pitt and Clooney, but the buddy-buddy Hollywood actors risk splitting votes between them, and none have been on the charm offensive like Dujardin has the last few weeks of voting. The Artist is the sweetheart of this Oscar season, and Dujardin is its smiling face.
BEST ACTRESS
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
And the winner is: Viola Davis. More Oscar years than not lately, Best Actress has come down to Meryl Streep vs. someone else with a more compelling story-- and the more compelling story has always won. That won't change this year, with Viola Davis picking up a much-deserved reward for years of great work.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
And the winner is: Christopher Plummer. Plummer has raced ahead of all his competition throughout the awards season, and though some argue Max von Sydow poses a real threat, it's not enough to make up for the mounds of goodwill Plummer has.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
And the winner is: Octavia Spencer. This race could have become a real competition if anyone managed to come up with a decent campaign-- and Melissa McCarthy has come the closest-- but Spencer continues to be the dominant force here, and ought to take home the prize for her efforts. Like her co-star Davis, she'll be taking home a well-deserved reward for a strong supporting career.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Margin Call
Midnight in Paris
A Separation
And the winner is: Midnight in Paris. In another year the much-loved Midnight in Paris might have been a real Best Picture contender, but Woody Allen will have to settle for-- and not show up to accept, of course-- a Best Original Screenplay statue, his third.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Descendants
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
And the winner is: The Descendants. Once upon a time Alexander Payne's film looked like a strong Best PIcture option, until The Artist came along and drowned out all the competition. But the Adapted Screenplay prize ought to be a great reward for the film-- and since one of the fin's writers is Jim Rash, who plays Dean Pelton on Community, fans of that show can rejoice at the unlikely sight of The Dean holding an Oscar.
