THE OSCAR ISSUE / HUFFINGTON / 02.10-17.13
v
o
i
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tom o’neil
still give Spielberg the director’s gold and
apple often wins in an upset. Riva has
take good care of him too.
other things going for her (art house apPersonally, I’m betting on Argo to
peal, respect for her venerable career)
win Best Picture. I think voters like
and so does Wallis. Voters adore little
its back story of Hollywood saving the
girls and have showered Oscars on them
world (or at least saving the U.S. durin the past (Anna Paquin, Tatum O’Neal,
ing the Iran conflict back in the 1970s)
Patty Duke) despite their youth.
and it is, arguably, the best movie of
The battle over Best Supporting Ac2012 according to film critics. Of all
tor is a toss-up. If Lincoln, Argo or SilBest Picture nominees, it’s
ver Linings Playbook wins
got the highest score at
Best Picture, Tommy Lee
Rotten Tomatoes (97). But
Jones, Alan Arkin or Robdon’t rule out a surprise
ert De Niro may go along
YOU COULD
by Silver Linings Playfor the ride. Curiously,
ARGUE THAT
book. It’s bursting with
this category is filled with
SPIELBERG
heart and look who’s drivfive past winners — that’s
’
HASN
T
BEEN
ing its Oscar campaign —
never happened before.
SUFFICIENTLY
Harvey Weinstein — who
Those three chaps are
APPRECIATED
won Best Picture the past
beloved veterans, which
two years (The Artist and
helps. Voters often turn
BY OSCAR
The King’s Speech).
this category into a VeterVOTERS.
Nobody can trip up Danans’ Achievement Award.
iel Day-Lewis in the Best
Personally, I think De Niro
Actor race or Anne Hathawill take it this year.
way in the Supporting Actress contest,
But Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Masbut upsets are possible for Best Actress
ter) and Christoph Waltz (Django Unand Supporting Actor. I agree that Jenchained) are serious rivals. Arguably, they
nifer Lawrence or Jessica Chastain will
have lead roles secretly slumming it in
probably snag the ladies’ laurels, but
Oscar’s supporting contest. Size matters,
watch out for Emmanuelle Riva (Amour)
especially in Hollywood. Other factors:
and Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the
Hoffman has the support of snooty cineasSouthern Wild). Their ages make them
tes; Waltz has the backing of wags
extremely different from other contendwho like to vote for other rascals.
ers and being different is often key to
victory. If there’s one apple in a bag of
Tom O’Neil is is the founder of GoldDerby.
oranges at any award’s competition, the
com, an awards-show prediction site.
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