Thoughts on the Oscars

NOTE: I haven't seen all of the nominated films, so this list might seem a little, shall we say, incomplete. I'm also only doing the top awards because I don't know how to judge the technical or aesthetic categories.

Best Picture: Argo

I liked Argo, and after it and The Town, I think Ben Affleck’s established himself as a good director. But Best Picture? Of the five nominees I saw (the others being Django Unchained, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, and Zero Dark Thirty), I’d rank it fifth. Lincoln would be my number one of that group. MY pick for the best film of 2012, Skyfall, wasn’t even in the running. Seriously, they couldn’t even manage a token nod for the greatest entry in a storied franchise?

Best Director: Ang Lee, Life of Pi

I haven’t seen Life of Pi, so I can’t comment on the film, but I‘m not surprised that Lee won the award. The film is by all accounts a technical marvel, really showcasing how the newest technologies can be utilized to make a fully optimal visual experience. I thought James Cameron might win for directing Avatar three years ago for the same reason, but that didn’t come to pass (because let’s face it: for all its technical achievements, Avatar’s story was still a little weak; Life of Pi, being adapted from a bestseller, was more suited for one of the most prestigious awards).

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Can’t argue with this one.

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

This was between her and Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty. Both performances were very good, but it’s hard to compare them because the movies are so different. Film quality aside, I enjoyed Silver Linings Playbook more than the super grim Zero Dark Thirty, so I have no problem with Lawrence winning for the more enjoyable of the two.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Honestly, I was surprised he was even nominated, let alone won, because I thought his role was so similar to his role in Inglourious Basterds, which won him the same award three years ago (if I were to nominate anyone from Django, it would have been Samuel L. Jackson). I’ve actually seen all the movies in this category, and I found Phillip Seymour Hoffman in The Master to be the best of the five.  And Javier Bardem deserved a nod in this category for Skyfall more than a few who actually were nominated.

Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables

Haven’t seen Les Mis, but judging by her take on "I Dreamed a Dream," she certainly has the pipes.