Just days before the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, it is no surprise that The Artist is the film to beat for best picture, as confirmed in The Hollywood Reporter’s Oscar predictions last Sunday.
With a long-winning streak of trophies to its credit, starting with Cannes and including critics’ and professional awards, the Golden Globes and the Baftas, The Artist’s silent, black and white homage to the early years of Hollywood cinema could sweep the Oscars.
The key to The Artist’s success may be the surprise of captivating audiences with a feature containing no dialogue, no special effects and no 3D. More than nostalgia, the film’s story of triumph over the odds with the help of love, loyalty and a clever dog has won hearts and minds.
This weekend’s prize for The Artist, starring Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, James Cromwell and John Goodman, was at the Goyas, Spain’s cinema awards, which gave it best European film.
Unless there are upsets, the challenge for the producers will be to present an exciting show despite the predictability of the winners.
Here are the main categories, with The Hollywood Reporter’s last forecast:
Best picture: The Artist, with The Help and Hugo as possibles.
Best actor: Jean Dujardin (The Artist) has the edge over previous frontrunner George Clooney (The Descendants) based on a SAG win, though Entertainment Weekly gives it to Clooney. Dujardin is the fourth Frenchman to be nominated (Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer and Gerard Depardieu), and would be the first to win.
Best actress: Viola Davis (The Help) is up against the likely contender, Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), who has previously won (although not in 29 years).
Best supporting actor: Christopher Plummer (Beginners), who has most, if not all, awards for this role, and at 82 years old would be the oldest recipient of an Oscar.
Best supporting actress: Octavia Spencer (The Help) won a series of awards, including from the Screen Actors Guild, which has agreed with 8 out of 10 Oscars in the category.
Best director: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist. This was the choice of the Directors Guild, which has chosen 57 winners over the last 63 years.
Best original screenplay: Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris) is the safe bet after winning the Writers Guild Award.
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants by Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne & Jim Rash, expected to take this category.
Best animated film: Rango has won most awards.
Best foreign language film: Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation (Iran) also keeps winning.
Some of the technical awards may be up in the air to create anticipation, including cinematography, art direction, costumes, special effects and makeup.