By Zack Gill
Arts Editor
Awards season will culminate on Feb. 26 with the 84th annual Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will award Oscars to achievements in film, be it in writing, acting, directing or in a multitude of more technical categories, from editing to sound mixing.
There are only about 6,000 voting members in the Academy. Initially, ballots are sent out to individual branches of the Academy (ie: actors nominate the acting awards). When final nominations are achieved, the entire academy votes again.
Each year, there is a special batch of films created solely to pander to awards-season audiences. These films are often produced by the Weinstein Company (like this year’s “The Artist”) and usually receive numerous Academy Award nominations.
This year’s batch includes the overrated, silent film, “The Artist,” the insufferable “The Help,” and the 9/11 drama “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” At least this year, actual deserving films such as “Hugo,” our pick for Best Picture, and “Moneyball” received nominations.
“The Artist” will most likely win Best Picture. The Director’s Guild Award has close to 90% accuracy of choosing the Best Director award, which means that Michel Hazanavicius, director of “The Artist,” will likely take home the Oscar. “The Descendants” could possibly be the upset. George Clooney or Jean Dujardin will likely win Best Actor. Viola Davis will probably win the Best Actress Oscar for “The Help.”
Numerous exceptional films were completely snubbed by the Academy this year. Michael Fassbender’s fearless performance in “Shame,” probably the best acting job of 2011, goes unsung. Shailene Woodley, the best part about “The Descendants,” did not receive a supporting actress nomination.
Perhaps the most egregious snub is the complete dismissal of the masterful “Drive.” “Drive” easily deserves a best picture nomination, as wells as nominations for Ryan Gosling (Best Actor) and Albert Brooks (Best Supporting Actor). “Drive” received no nominations.
Still, a panoply of excellent films will receive Academy recognition this year. These are the films that we feel deserve awards.
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