Oscar Season Begins

Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo in The Artist.

Another year in film has come and gone and now it's time for that little golden guy to get some screen time. On Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. central time, Academy President Tom Sherak and, Best Actress Nominee from last year's Winter's Bone, Jennifer Lawrence will unveil the Oscar nominations for the year 2011. The Awards will be presented on Feb. 26 with Billy Crystal hosting for the ninth time.
Was it a good year for the movies? I'd say no. First off, it was a year loaded with an obscene amount of sequels (Sherlock 2, Transformers 3, Pirates 4, Fast Five, etc.), prequels (X-Men: First Class, Paranormal Activity 3), remakes (Footloose, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) and adaptations (Thor, The Smurfs, etc.). Secondly, the year had the highest ticket price average ever at $7.96, but still failed to gross more money than the two previous years. On top of that, 2011 sold the fewest amount of tickets since 1995.
But in the midst of all the reboots and rehashes and 3D being further jammed down our throats, a little film from France emerged, which will set 2011 apart. The film is called The Artist and if you haven't heard of it yet, you soon will. The Artist is black and white and silent. Yes, you heard me. And it's amazing and as of right now I'd say it's the favorite to take home the top honor at this year's Academy Awards. A silent Best Picture in 2011? It sure looks that way.
But who knows really? There's still more than a month left before the big day and a heck of a lot can happen in that time.
So, allow me, if you will, to make some predictions about the nominations to be announced Tuesday morning.
Hugo and The Artist take the lead
Martin Scorsese's Hugo and Michel Hazanvicius' The Artist will lead the way with 10 nominations apiece.
Workhorses achieve first nominations

Chastain in The Help.

Fast-rising stars Jessica Chastain  and Michael Fassbender will both earn an acting nomination after appearing in four Oscar contenders this year. Chastain will likely get nominated for her excellent work in The Help and Fassbender for his devastating performance in Shame. Chastain's other films this year included The Debt, The Tree of Life and Take Shelter. Fassbender's other films included X-Men: First Class, Jane Eyre and A Dangerous Method.
The Streeper makes it 17
The living legend Meryl Streep will pick up her record-breaking 17th career Oscar nomination (no one else has more than 13) for her turn as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Yes, she already has two wins (Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie's Choice), but she hasn't won since 1983. A win this year would land her in exclusive company joining only Katharine Hepburn, Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman and Walter Brennan with at least three acting wins. Not too shabby.
Glenn Close is close once again
The exceptional Glenn Close looks to nab her sixth nomination this year for Albert Nobbs. If she doesn't win this year, she'll tie Deborah Kerr for third on the list of actors with the most nominations without a win. They trail Peter O'Toole, who has eight, and Richard Burton, who has seven.
Gary Oldman is snubbed once again
Mr. Oldman was excellent in the good, but mega-confusing Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy this year. I believe he is the best actor to never have been nominated for an Oscar. While he does have a shot, I think he'll fall short once again. Stay tuned because some time soon I plan on writing a post about the best non-Oscar nominated actors, and you can bet to read all about Oldman there. Unless, of course, he gets nominated on Tuesday.
There won't be 10 Movies nominated for Best Picture

Marion Cotillard and Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris.

The last two years has seen the Academy nominate 10 movies for Best Picture. This year will be different. There has been a change in the voting rules, which allows anywhere from five to 10 movies getting the nod for the top prize. I think there will only be seven films nominated.
Here they are in order of likelihood of being nominated:
1. The Artist
2. Hugo
3. The Descendants
4. The Help
5. Midnight in Paris
6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
7. War Horse
If 10 films do make it, these three will round out the list.
8. Moneyball
9. Drive
10. The Tree of Life


So, there you have it. Tuesday morning should be quite interesting, and I'm sure there will be one or two surprises.
Stay tuned because in the next few weeks leading up to the big award show, I plan on writing posts about legendary directors Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen as well as my 2011 Movie Achievement Awards and my Favorite Movies of 2011. Come back soon.