Best Picture
The Artist
Drive
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
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Boy was I torn between The Artist and Hugo, two films that remind audiences of the magic of movies and the richness of their history. Hugo is a masterfully directed film that is epic in nature, beautiful to look at and experience. The Artist is a vibrant reminder of what a feel-good movie should be. That it is silent ultimately makes no difference, and for that alone it deserves to be seen. So I chose The Artist in the end.
Best Director
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Bennett Miller, Moneyball
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
As I said above, Hugo is masterfully directed. The passion of Martin Scorsese to bring home the message that the magic and history of movies should be preserved is well integrated into a terrific family adventure. Woody Allen has been nominated for Criddic (BKM) awards in this category for Bullets Over Broadway (1994) and Match Point (2005). It is a first for Miller and Refn. Scorsese won it once before, in another split decision when I gave him my award for GoodFellas (1990). I picked the more sentimental Awakenings for Best Picture.
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Ryan Gosling, Drive
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Michael Shannon, Take Shelter
Dujardin is a joy to watch in The Artist, and he is the first French actor to win. Pitt won in my supporting category for 12 Monkeys (1995). Everyone else is nominated for the first time.
Best Actress
Viola Davis, The Help
Elisabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Davis won in support for Doubt (2008), while Streep won twice in a row for Doubt (2008) and Julie & Julia (2009). Swinton was up for lead a decade ago for The Deep End (2001). Olsen is on her first. Williams got a nod in support for Brokeback Mountain (2005). Her unexpectedly fine turn as Marilyn Monroe is the deserving winner.
Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Corey Stoll, Midnight in Paris
Having given Christopher Plummer Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for his work as Leo Tolstoy in The Last Station and nominated him twice before that (Star Trek VI, 1991; The Insider, 1999), I did not feel the need to place him here again for a pleasant but lesser role in Beginners. Five people were better: Branagh returning for the first time since winning directing and writing honors for Hamlet (1996). Nolte was up for The Prince of Tides (1991) in lead. Hill and Stoll are debuting. Albert Brooks has only been up previously for the screenplays of Defending Your Life (1991) and Mother (1996). His against-type performance as a crime boss is jaw-dropping. How he was not nominated for an Oscar is a mystery.
Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Carey Mulligan, Shame
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Many good performances by supporting actresses. Chastain was in several interesting projects (and is nominated for the Oscar for her work in The Help). McTeer is debuting here, as is Spencer. Mulligan was up in lead for An Education (2009). I almost gave it to her, partly due to an unforgettably sad rendition of "New York, New York." But I decided to go with the most entertaining performance, which was Bejo in The Artist.
Best Original Screenplay
50/50
The Artist
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Midnight in Paris
Take Shelter
Woody's third win, after Crimes & Misdemeanors (1989) and Match Point (2005).
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Drive
Hugo
Moneyball
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Oooh close call. Tinker Tailor was intricate and absorbing, but Moneyball interested me in the behind-the-scenes story of a baseball manager trying to save his team from obscurity.
Best Animated Film
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Arthur Christmas
Rango
I liked all three very much. Spielberg's Tintin was a rousing adventure and Arthur Christmas was a jolly time. Rango was different and fun. I went for adventure over comedy.
Best Art Direction
The Artist
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse
Hugo had the most eye-popping sets and, especially in 3-D, was amazing to look at.
Best Cinematography
The Artist
Drive
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse
I loved the old-fashioned feel of War Horse, but Emmanuel Lubezki's work on Tree of Life was undeniably beautiful.
Best Costume Design
Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Immortals
My Week with Marilyn
Best Film Editing
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
The Artist
Drive
Hugo
Super 8
Best Makeup
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
The Iron Lady
Best Original Score
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
The Artist
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse
Best Original Song
"Star Spangled Man" from Captain America
"Hello Hello" from Gnomeo & Juliet
"Coeur Volant" from Hugo
"Life's a Happy Song" from The Muppets
"Shelter" from Take Shelter
This should be a lesson to the Academy...I found 5 solid songs to nominate and they couldn't! Hmmm.
Best Sound Editing
Drive
Hugo
Super 8
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse
Best Sound Mixing
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
War Horse
Best Visual Effects
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Tally:
The Artist 10 Noms 4 Wins
Hugo 12 Noms 3 Wins
Drive 8 Noms 3 Wins
Moneyball 6 Noms 1 Win
War Horse 5 Noms 1 Win
Midnight in Paris 4 Noms 1 Win
Take Shelter 3 Noms 0 Wins
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