A Reel Opinion: Oscar Picks, Episode I

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will hand out their 84th annual Oscars this coming Sunday. For movie-geeks and film buffs, this is their Super Bowl; where a year’s worth of screenings, reviews, and debates finally comes together in one, short little telecast.

Once again, Reel Speak will make a feeble attempt at predicting winners in the major categories. Considering this Blogger’s score from last year (12 of 24), consider these predictions to be a public service; whatever you read here, fill out your ballots the opposite.

In this first Episode of three, we’ll look at some of the technical categories.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Despite its vibrancy being dulled by the utter drek that is (goddamn) 3D, HUGO is by far the most technically proficient film of the year. Using its visuals as part of the storytelling as opposed to spectacle, it has to be the favorite. The dark horse is RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, which heavily utilized motion-capture technology to bring heart and soul to its main chimp-character. Despite the strides in technology APES made, the overall effectiveness of HUGO gives it an edge. Winner: HUGO

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

This is a three-way race between HUGO, THE ARTIST, and THE TREE OF LIFE. Although THE ARTIST is the odds-on favorite to win all the marbles, its silent-film structure calls for a very simplistic presentation; there’s only so much you can do if you want to be true to the period. HUGO is a marvel to look at, but the outstanding photography and manipulation of images of THE TREE OF LIFE has to be recognized. The film might be dense and vague enough that it may take 20 years to decipher, but LIFE has to be recognized for something. Winner: THE TREE OF LIFE.

BEST SOUND EDITING/SOUND MIXING

Nine times out of ten these two categories are won by the same film, which puts HUGO, WAR HORSE, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, and TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON in contention. As much as this Blogger loved WAR HORSE and TATTOO, it’s difficult to recall any outstanding tickling of the eardrums in those films. TRANSFORMERS put on the audio and visual spectacle of the decade in its holy-shit end-battle, but the Academy doesn’t seem to like giant robots smashing everything. That leaves HUGO. Which again, is the most technically sound film of the bunch. Winner: HUGO

What say you?