Bryson’s best guess: Predictions for the Oscars

It’s that time of the year again. The men put on their tuxedos and the women adorn themselves in their lavish ballgowns. Yes, it’s awards season.
With this year’s awards season already underway, it is almost time for the most prestigious awards show in film, The Academy Awards.
This year’s awards ceremony is sure to be promising. The field seems to be extremely competitive as there was no set front-runner at The Academy Awards’ warm-up, the Golden Globes.
I’m going to give you a comprehensive look on the nominees, who should win, and who will win.
Best Picture
“Amour”
“Argo”
“Beasts of the Southern Wild”
“Django Unchained”
“Les Miserables”
“Life of Pi”
“Lincoln”
“Silver Linings Playbook”
“Zero Dark Thirty”
Who should win? “Argo”. Ben Affleck did a phenomenal job starring in and directing this picture. The story alone is captivating, but through Affleck’s directing, the film turns into a cinematic masterpiece that is sure to entice crowds for years to come.
Who will win? “Lincoln”. Although a phenomenal movie in and of itself, it is not as well done as “Argo”. “Lincoln” will most likely take home Best Picture because of the historical context, the subject matter and flawless acting from Daniel Day-Lewis, even though “Argo” took the prize away from “Lincoln” at the Golden Globes.

Best Actor
Bradley Cooper, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
Hugh Jackman, “Les Miserables”
Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master”
Denzel Washington, “Flight”
Who should win? Hugh Jackman. Jean Valjean is the role Hugh Jackman was born to play. While being a part of the first movie musical to not utilize pre-recorded tracks, Jackman was able to play the part flawlessly, taking his character from the slums, to a lavish life, to hiding, to death. If this movie was made in another year, Hugh Jackman would be taking the prize.
Who will win? Daniel Day-Lewis. Daniel Day-Lewis also flawlessly played historical figure Abraham Lincoln. Like Jackman, Day-Lewis was born to play this role. He is worthy of winning the prize, but I think there was a better actor this year.

Best Actress
Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty”
Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Emmanuelle Rivera, “Amour”
Quevenzhane Wallis, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Naomi Watts, “The Impossible”
Who should win? Quevenzhane Wallis. Just six years old when they started filming “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, Wallis proved that she is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. Portraying Hushpuppy, a Louisiana girl who lives below the levee, Wallis gives a real performance at an age at which it is hard to achieve perfection. Wallis did just that and was perfect in the role.

Who will win? Jennifer Lawrence. Stepping out of the role of Katniss, Lawrence plays the foul-mouthed and crazy Tiffany who has some serious issues. Her portrayal was also a great one, but this year the grown Lawrence was out-acted by a child.

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin, “Argo”
Robert DeNiro, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”
Tommy Lee Jones, “Lincoln”
Christoph Waltz, “Django Unchained”
Who should win and who will win? Christoph Waltz. The German actor has done it yet again, playing a German. Waltz previously won for playing a Nazi general in Quentin Tarentino’s “Inglorious Bastards” and will win again in another Tarentino film, this time playing King Schultz, a German dentist turned bounty hunter. Waltz gave an indescribably phenomenal performance that will have people talking for years to come.

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, “The Master”
Sally Field, “Lincoln”
Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”
Helen Hunt, “The Sessions”
Jacki Weaver, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Who should win and who will win? Anne Hathaway. Hathaway and only Anne Hathaway should be nominated for this award. While only on screen for maybe 30 minutes combined, Hathaway gave the performance of a lifetime as Fantine, the seamstress who turns to prostitution to pay for her daughter’s care. Hathaway probably gave the best performance of anyone nominated for anything this year.