The 82nd Annual Academy Awards are this Sunday night. If you’re like us, you can’t wait to root for all of the movies you didn’t see this year!
Just kidding, our staff tries to get out to the movies as much as we can, but with a crazy production schedule, it makes it hard sometimes.
We thought we would do something different with our Oscar predictions this year. We asked a few of SolidLine’s youngest members to pick some of the categories, because after all, our toddlers know about as much of the SLM staff!
Here we go – I’ll label each category with who picked it and a short reason why. Then, I’ll give a long-winded “Thank You” speech for reading the entire blog. Feel free to cue the “Get Off The Stage Music” whenever you like!
BEST PICTURE: Up (Picked by Spencer Vass, son of Executive Producer Greg Vass)
Sure, “Avatar” and “The Hurt Locker” are heavy favorites, but Spencer is going for the upset. Why? Greg Vass explains…
Spencer was asked multiple times about his favorite movie and each
time he responded with “Cars.” When asked if he liked Up, he said
“How ya doin?” Then we asked him “Do you like the movie with the
balloons?” and he pointed up in the sky, so I guess it could be Up In
The Sky or just Up…I think given the fact that he is 2 we will go
with Up…
BEST DIRECTOR - James Cameron for "Avatar" (Picked by Hayden Kromm, son of SLM Creative Director Michael Kromm)
It’s the biggest moneymaker of all-time. “Avatar” is sure to rack up some Oscars over the weekend. Hayden Kromm thinks James Cameron will be King of the show again. How did he come up with it? His father Michael explains…
I just read them off and that is what he picked. He also mentioned something about big blockbusters – not sure what he meant.
Good enough for me!
BEST ACTOR - George Clooney "Up in the Air" (Picked by SLM Executive Producer Greg Vass)
Jeff Bridges appears to be a lock to win the award, but Greg is putting his brains to work and picking the Clooney upset. Why is this?
I am a bit perplexed as I have seen none of the movies.
But I feel that its going to go to George Clooney…mainly because he
used to be on the show Roseanne. I also cannot pick Morgan Freeman
because we asked him once to narrate a video, but he wanted (Marcus note: I have removed the financial figure out of respect for Mr. Freeman. Let’s just say it you would need a VISA card with no-limit to afford him).
BEST ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock "The Blind Side" (Picked by Creative Director Michael Kromm)
Sandy Bullock is the favorite to win, especially after taking home the Screen Actors Guild award. Michael never gave me a reason for picking Sandra, but rumors around the office indicate he was pretty burned “All About Steve” wasn’t nominated for anything. Maybe his dream will finally come true.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Maggie Gyllenhaal "Crazy Heart" (Picked by SLM Art Director Mike Petrik)
Never mind Mo’Nique has won every award out there, Petrik is going for the total upset and picking Maggie Gyllenhaal. But don’t worry, he has a great reason for doing so.
I didnt see any of these movies this year. Isn’t Mo’Nique a washed up R&B artist from the late 80’s? I guess I missed the boat on who Anna Kendrick is. Vera Farmiga should get some sort of award for her role in Orphan. Did Orphan get any Oscar nods? I’ll have to check TMZ’s back log. But I’m gonna go with Maggie Gyllenhaal, because she was good in Donnie Darko.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christoph Waltz "Inglorious Basterds" (Picked by SLM Production Coordinator Ed Boe)
Ed didn’t have to elaborate on his pick. Christoph Waltz was eerily delicious in “Inglorious Basterds.” It’s his year to take home the trophy. Fellow nominees, we hope you enjoy your gift basket. Thanks for playing.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: "The Princess and the Frog" (Picked by Molly Petrik, daughter of SLM Art Director Mike Petrik)
We have a war among the toddlers. Spencer Vass likes “Up” for Best Picture, but Molly Petrik doesn’t even think it will win Best Animated Feature. In fact, she’s going with a 2-D winner! Why is that? Mike explains…
I decided to Google the title of the flick, and show her the first image that related to the title on Google images. Keep in mind she hasn’t seen any of these. I started at the top of the list with “Up.” The first image I came up with was that chubby boyscout character floating away, but you couldn’t see the balloons. Molly seemed bored and asked to see Elmo instead. Next, I Googled “The Princess and the Frog.” As I was saying it out loud, she said “ribbit ribbit,” which probably means, “The Princess and the Frog should win best animated feature. It really is a renaissance type of film for Disney.”
Good pick, Molly!
Now, to the boring stuff. I pick the rest of the technical categories. CUE MUSIC!
BEST ART DIRECTION: “Avatar”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “The White Ribbon”
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: “The Young Victoria”
BEST DOCUMENTARY: “The Cove”
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT: “Last Truck: The Closing of a GM Plant”
BEST EDITING: “The Hurt Locker”
BEST FOREIGN FILM: “A Prophet”
BEST MAKEUP: “Star Trek”
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: “Up”
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: “Crazy Heart”
BEST ANIMATED SHORT: “French Roast”
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT: “Miracle Fish”
BEST SOUND EDITING: “Inglorious Basterds”
BEST SOUND MIXING: “Avatar”
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: “Avatar”
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: “Up in the Air”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: “Inglorious Basterds”
Having an Oscar party? Download your own printable ballot HERE.
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