As
the Academy is voting for those lucky actors, producers, directors, et al who
get to pick up a golden statue, we decided that the zcomm staff should do the
same and make a few predictions before they roll out the red carpet. And,
just to keep things on the up and up, we asked our accounting firm of RSMI
McGladrey to oversee our balloting process.
And
now for our results:
Best
Picture
- Avatar
- The Blind Side
- District 9
- The Hurt Locker
- An Education
- Inglourious Basterds
- Precious
- A Serious Man
- Up
- Up in the Air
@risezcomm: Hurt Locker. Kept
me on the edge of my seat!
@kimblelayne: I think Up in
the Air should win. Avatar is new and exciting (which everyone loves; no other
movie came out in IMAX 3D-it’s not just a movie, but an experience) but UITA
tells such a real story. It’s one of the most relatable movies of the year.
@mindofmcn: Avatar seems
like the safest pick, biggest movie ever and Academy loves Cameron
@robinhlane: They should
just re-name the category cool and shiny movie of the year because Avatar is
going to win. I haven’t even seen it but
the commercials alone… anything this flashy, and blue, will win. For the
record, I really liked District 9, though I doubt anything will break through
the shiny that is Avatar.
@P_C_M: I almost never get a chance to go to see
“the moving picture show.” I’ve heard “the talkies” are quite popular
nowadays but.. Avatar – I actually saw this flick. And, given James
Cameron’s track record, I’m thinking he’s got a good shot at it. Blue
folks are always a winner…didn’t you love the Smurfs as a child?
@nicolesoufi: Avatar has
won everything so far, so I expect it’ll win this as well. I’d love to see it
go to Inglourious Basterds though!
Best
Actor
- Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
- George Clooney, Up In The Air
- Colin Firth, A Single Man
- Morgan Freeman, Invictus
- Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
@mindofmcn: Jeff Bridges,
Crazy Heart – probably the best category, I think it comes down to Bridges and
Clooney, but I think Bridges has gotten more Buzz lately
@risezcomm: Jeff Bridges.
Who knew the guy could sing?
@nicolesoufi: Jeff Bridges. Again, he’s
won everything else already so I think he’s a safe pick. George Clooney would
be a close 2nd though.
@P_C_M: George Clooney, Up In The Air – Does it
count if the role was written specifically for you? I mean, he does a
great job, but it’s not like it was a huge stretch
Best
Actress
- Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
- Helen Mirren, The Last Station
- Carey Mulligan, An Education
- Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based
on the Novel Push by Sapphire
- Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
@mindofmcn: Gabourey
Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire – Seems like it
could be anyone from this category except Streep who is always nominated but
never wins anymore, Sidibe seems like the best story
@robinhlane: I’d really
like to see Sandra Bullock win. Oh come on, she’s come a long way since Speed.
I can say I wasn’t a huge fan of Streep in Julie & Julia- could have been
because I was on a plane for 8 hours and cranky. That said, I have no idea who
will actually win maybe Helen Mirren
@risezcomm: Carey
Mulligan. This Audrey Hepburn lookalike has star power.
@nicolesoufi: I think Gabourey has been overlooked! She
was spectacular in this movie and really deserves to win!
@P_C_M: Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire – Given
that I saw none of these movies, I'd thought I'd go with the
independent flick. Plus, a little bit of diversity never hurt anyone.
And, for the record, "blue" doesn't count as diverse no matter what I
said earlier.
Best
Supporting Actor
- Matt Damon, Invictus
- Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
- Christopher Plummer, The Last
Station
- Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
- Christoph Waltz, Inglourious
Basterds
@mindofmcn: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
– this award has been going to the best villain
(Ledger in Dark Knight, Bardem
in No Country), and the Nazi’s are the best villains ever
@risezcomm: Christoph Waltz. Brilliant!!
@nicolesoufi: Christoph Waltz. No contest. He speaks
about 5 languages in the movie, how can he NOT win?!
@kimblelayne: Waltz!
@P_C_M: Matt Damon,
Invictus – he’s hot and apartheid sucks. I got nothing else…
Best
Supporting Actress
- Penélope Cruz, Nine
- Vera Farmiga, Up In The Air
- Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
- Anna Kendrick, Up In The Air
- Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the
Novel Push by Sapphire
@mindofmcn: Anna
Kendrick, Up In The Air – No idea who to pick here, but I think they’ll want to
honor Up In The Air so it will either be screen play or one of the actresses
(if they don’t split the vote).
@robinhlane: Is it bad that I’m voting Maggie Gyllenhal
to win, because I think she’s cool? Hope not, because she gets my vote!
@risezcomm: Vera Farmiga.
@nicolesoufi: – Mo’Nique should win it. She made me gasp
and cry more times than I remember with her performance.
@P_C_M: Vera Farmiga,
Up In The Air – As an adulterous workaholic who gets “turned on by elite
status” Vera rocks out. She’s open, she’s out there, and she’s in the
only movie I saw in the category.
I’d like to thank our panelists. And
don’t forget to follow us @zcommunications and each of our esteemed panel of
judges on Twitter for more thoughts on this year’s Oscars …and I guess we’ll
throw in some PR thoughts too.
Risë Birnbaum & The Buzz 