85th Academy Awards-Best Actress(predictions)

1.Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook(Predicted Winner)

- Jennifer Lawrence is no stranger to the Oscars.She got her first nomination at the age of 20 for Winter's Bone  two years back. and remains one the youngest actress to earn an Oscar nod .In the Silver Linings Playbook,Lawrence portrayal of the promiscuous Tiffany  who has some issues to sort of.Critics had been raving  her performance as very matured and honest and commended her onscreen chemistry opposite Bradley Cooper.Besides ,she also has a solid  year  playing the lead in the Hunger Games which is a commercial and critical success and her performance as Katniss Everdeen  which was also critically acclaimed. Lawrence definitely has a better chance to win if campaigned as a lead instead of supporting category as that category is quite saturated this year with strong performances from Amy Adams and Anne Hathaway as the frontrunners.

2.Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty

- She appeared in numerous films last year in distinct roles with different looks and accent and gain critical acclaimed for each role.This year in just one film,Jessica Chastain manages to gain Oscar buzz again in her role as the ambitious and fierce CIA agent Maya.She is so far tied with Emmanuelle Riva for the critics awards and truly for being snubbed last year  for her body of work,she definitely deserves a nomination and even a first win.

3.Emmanuelle Riva for Amour

- Emmanuelle Riva spends most of the film on bed as the paralysed Anne and manages to do justice for the role with her realistic performance ,body language and facial expression.She manages to convey both the physical and mental pain ,the determination to no longer live,the shame of her ego shattering for being totally dependant to someone else and happiness in some scene without speaking much.Not to forget her superb chemistry with her co-star who played her husband.

4.Keira Knightley for Anna Karenina

- Based on the Russian classics novel,Joe Wrights adaptation of Anna Karenina is a visual feast packed with memorable performance  from the cast especially Keira Knightley as the titular character.Anna Karenina is a multidimensional character where Knightley has  to embody all side of the Countess,a  doting mother,a young bride in a loveless political marriage,a highborn lady with  expectations and a finally a women in love.That's a huge task and  based on most critics she seemed to succeeded  pulling it off.I know many are not a fan of Knightley's work but I do find her interesting especially in these period  costume flicks where she seem to fit really well.If you had seen Pride and Prejudice,Atonement,A Dangerous Method and Never Let Me Go  ,you will get me.

5.Mary Elizabeth Winstead for Smashed

-The Sundance hit Smashed  chronicles on the relationship of  couple whose relationship is built after their love for alcohol and what happens when one of them try to get sober.Just filmed in 19 days,Mary Elizabeth Winstead performance as the alcoholic teacher is described as raw,perfect and the best of her careers.

Other possible contenders:

6.Marion Cotillard for Rust and Bone

-Marion Cotillard is well known for her  bold choices of films both in french and English. Her portrayal as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose was one of the best performance in a biopic genre film and earned her an Oscar.This year,her portrayal of  the whale trainer Stephanie  who looses both of her leg in the french film Rust and Bone received positive reviews and created major Oscar buzz for Cotillard and her co-star Matthias Schoenaerts

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7.Quvenzhané Wallis for Beast of the Southern Wild

-Quvenzhane basically carried the film  by herself and was so  charismatic and engaging despite being so young .Her age could be the factor for her getting a nod and also working against her as younger actors are usually seen as a  part of a supporting category.

8.Michelle Williams for Take This Waltz

-The talented Michelle Williams playing a women who starts an extra-marital affair only to find out that its doesn't bring her much happiness that she hoped for.A film about monogamy by Sarah Polley packed with strong performance by Seth Rogen and Williams.The only problem is that this  film is released  early of the year and most of the buzz right now is focused on Sarah Polley's documentary  film which is most likely to win the category.

85th Academy Awards-Best Cinematography(predictions)

A category that requires less description and where the pictures/screencaps speaks louder than words.Here are my prediction on the Best Cinematography

1)Anna Karenina(predicted winner)

2)Life of Pi

3)Skyfall

4)Les Miserables

5)On the Road

6)Lincoln

7)Moonrise Kingdom

8) The Master

85th Academy Awards-Best Costume Designs(predictions)

1) Anna Karenina(predicted winner)

-Joe Wright previous  collabration with costume designer Jacqueline Durran  was evidently a feast for the eyes and Anna Karenina is no different.The costumes in this movie looks gorgeus and Durran inspiration to portay the character sitiuation externally defintiely is clever.For instance most of Keira Knightley's costume are inspired  by a caged bird theme reflecting her marriage while the multilayers of clothes reflects comlexity of these character.Then you have Durran trying a different direction on Kitty's costume as free, young and bubly.

2) A Royal Affair

-I have raved the beatiful costumes of A Royal Affair enough in my review.I feel this particular film is the only strong cottender for Anna Karenina.I dont have ample knowledge on historical costumes but based on the many costumes dramas I've watched,the costumes in this film does look different from the british period costumes especially  what the Danish women wore in this film.Their gowns with the cape-like-back does look fresh and the number of different uniforms featured in this  film definitely deserves a nod.

3)The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

-The costumes of the dwarves which all twelve have their own look based on their roles in the journey,the Elves and of course the titular Baggins with their sunny clothes.Dont forget the Orcs,trolls the wood Elves

4)Les Miserables

-The costumes of 1800's will be featured in this film depicting the different classes and occupation of that particular era.We have the men's featured in uniforms while Cossete which will be played by the talented and beautiful Amanda Seyfried will be wearing the beautiful gowns compared to the other female characters.

5)Mirror Mirror

- The costumes of Mirror Mirror by the late Eiko Ishioka who had previously won for her costume design in  Bram Stoker's Dracula ,was colourful and vibrant with subtle Asian influences.The choices of bold colours made the fairy tale film fresh and strikingly different from the other Snow White film.In addition,I also felt Eiko Ishioka was snubbed for her brilliant  work in Immortals last year,so a posthumous nomination would be the right thing to do.

Other possible cottenders:
6)Cloud Atlas

7)Snow White And The Huntsman

8)Moonrise Kingdom

85th Academy Awards -Best Actor(predictions)

1.Joaquin Phoenix for The Master(Predicted Winner)

-Joaquin  had been a part of many critically acclaimed films in his career and many of the actor that worked with him had won(Reese Winterspoon,Russel Crowe) or got a nod but him.The Master is said to be completely his film with his performance as the drifter who questions his faith  receiving unanimous positive reviews and is  often highlighted as the best thing of the film.The only thing that could take the win from him is his recent ridiculous interview about the Oscars.

2.Daniel Day Lewis for Lincoln

-The best actor of our generation playing one of American most iconic President,Abraham Lincoln.The makeup,the costumes,his mannerism and body language all screams the beloved president.So
far,all the reviews are positive and unanimously praising Daniel Day Lewis performance in the film.It looks like he is gonna pull a Meryl Streep and become the only actor to have won three Best Actor.

3.John Hawkes for The Sessions

-John Hawkes was truly snubbed for his creepy turn in Martha Marcy  May Marlene as the cult leader last year.This year he returns with a bang(no pun intended) as a paralyzed men wanting to lose his virginity with help of a sex surrogate.While he rarely moves in the film,his facial experience is what does justice to film.A role with intense scenes with some comedic elements infuse to with,John Hawkes definitely needs another nomination.

4.Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook

-Bradley Cooper has been a consistent performer in both dramatic and comedy department  and his role Pat Solitano  is the right role to showcase his skills in both the genres.His performance in the movie is said to be the best of his career.He just recieved an Indie Spirit Best Actor nomination  and other nominations are set to come.

5.Hugh Jackman for Les Miserables

There's  nothing shocking with Hugh Jackman singing.Infact,I felt he is a better stage actor than in films.In the big screen adaptation of the beloved musical Les Miserables,Hugh Jackman will be portaying Jean Valjean a prisonner, who wants to have a new life as new good person but with his past in the form of Inspector Javert keeps interupting that notion.The only problem for Jackman is that even before the film is released,most buzz had been for Anne Hatthaway and the other two ladies Amanda Seyfried and Samantha Barks even though they are only playing small role.

Other possible cottenders:

6.Denzel Washington for Flight

7.Anthony Hopkins for Hitchcock

8.Logan Lerman for Perks of Being A Wallflower

Do let me know about your  own predictions and if you felt there are other more deserving actors  that should get nominated?

85th Academy Awards-Best Actress(round 2)

1.Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook(Predicted Winner)

- Jennifer Lawrence is no stranger to the Oscars.She got her first nomination at the age of 20 for Winter's Bone  two years back. and remains one the youngest actress to earn an Oscar nod .In the Silver Linings Playbook,Lawrence portrayal of the promiscuous Tiffany  who has some issues to sort of.Critics had been raving  her performance as very matured and honest and commended her oncscreen chemistry opposite Bradley Cooper.Besides ,she also has a solid  year  playing the lead in the Hunger Games which is a commercial and critical success and her performance as Katniss Everdeen  which was also critically acclaimed. Lawrence definitely has a better chance to win if campaigned as a lead instead of supporting category as that category is quite saturated this year with strong performances from Amy Adams and Anne Hathaway as the frontrunners.

2.Marion Cotillard for Rust and Bone

-Marion Cotillard is well known for her  bold choices of films both in french and English. Her portrayal as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose was one of the best performance in a biopic genre film and earned her an Oscar.This year,her portrayal of  the whale trainer Stephanie  who looses both of her leg in the french film Rust and Bone received positive reviews and created major Oscar buzz for Cotillard and her co-star Matthias Schoenaerts.

3.Keira Knightley for Anna Karenina

- Based on the Russian classics novel,Joe Wrights adaptation of Anna Karenina is a visual feast packed with memorable performance  from the cast especially Keira Knightley as the titular character.Anna Karenina is a multidimensional character where Knightley has  to embody all side of the Countess,a  doting mother,a young bride in a loveless political marriage,a highborn lady with  expectations and a finally a women in love.That's a huge task and  based on most critics she seemed to succeeded  pulling it off.I know many are not a fan of Knightley's work but I do find her interesting especially in these period  costume flicks where she seem to fit really well.If you had seen Pride and Prejudice,Atonement,A Dangerous Method and Never Let Me Go  ,you will get me.

4.Meryl Streep for Hope Springs

-Meryl Streep playing a women whose marriage is failing  due to the sexless marriage.Do I need to say more?Meryl Streep had played wider range of roles and still manages to keep the audience interested to her work.Some of the stuff she done in this film is definitely soemthing one would never thought Meryl Streep doing.

5.Mary Elizabeth Winstead for Smashed

-The Sundance hit Smashed  chronicles on the relationship of  couple whose relationship is built after their love for alcohol and what happens when one of them try to get sober.Just filmed in 19 days,Mary Elizabeth Winstead performance as the alcoholic teacher is described as raw,perfect and the best of her careers.

6.Ann Dowd for Compliance

-Another indie film that made a big splash in the festival circuit mostly for its controversial subject and scenes.I have never heard of Ann Dowd before but after watching this film I wanted more.It was a layered character that raises many doubts and Ann Dowd performance is definitely award worthy.Though the sensitive theme and her being quite unknown could affect her chance of getting a nod.

7.Quvenzhané Wallis for Beast of the Southern Wild

-Quvenzhane basically carried the film  by herself and was so  charismatic and engaging despite being so young .Her age could be the factor for her getting a nod and also working against her as younger actors are usually seen as a  part of a supporting category.

8.Michelle Williams for Take This Waltz

-The talented Michelle Williams playing a women who starts an extra-marital affair only to find out that its doesn't bring her much happiness that she hoped for.A film about monogamy by Sarah Polley packed with strong performance by Seth Rogen and Williams.The only problem is that this  film is released  early of the year and most of the buzz right now is focused on Sarah Polley's documentary  film which is most likely to win the category.

85th Academy Awards-Best Supporting Actress(predictions)

1.Amy Adams,The Master(predicted winner)

-Three times Oscar nominee,Amy Adams will  be joining her Doubt co-star Phillip Seymour Hoffman,playing  Mary Sue Dodd,the wife of the master who is about to start a new religion.Less is known about this film but based on the director Paul Thomas Anderson and the cast involved,this is a Oscar bait role.

2.Anne Hathaway,Les Miserables

-Playing the dying prostitute Fantine in Les Miserables,Anne Hathaway is probably going to earn her second Oscar nod for this film after Rachel Getting Married.She had physically transformed into the character by losing lots of weight and cutting her hair.In addition,she is also have a nice  singing voice.And by the look of the leaked trailer,I wouldn't be surprised if she wins.

3.Sally Field,Lincoln

-Sally Field had impressed me in all her movies and television roles.In this biopic of the famous US president,Sally Field will be playing Mary Todd Lincoln ,the supportive wife of Abraham Lincoln despite of her health conditions.This film is probably gonna get nominated for most of the category just because the big and amazing names attached to it .

4.Marion Cotillard,Rust and Bone

-The french beauty will be playing a very vulnerable role of a killer whale trainer who loses her two legs.Based on the reviews from the Cannes,critics have been praising her take on the character.

5.Olivia Williams,Hyde Park On Hudson

-Have you seen her in Ghost Writer and An Education?She was beyond great in those films.Two very distinct roles and yet  succeeded with ease.In Hyde Park On Hudson,Williams plays Eleanor Roosevelt the  First Lady and the film explore her husbands infidelity

Other Possible contenders

6.Samantha Barks,Les Miserables

-Samantha will be playing the role Eponine,the daughter of Thenardiers who is falling for Marius which will be played by Eddie Redmayne.Its a sympathetic role and since Barks is already familiar to the role I'm pretty sure she would nail it.
7.Kerry Washington,Django Unchained

-In this Quentin Taratino film,Kerry Washington plays Broomhilda  ,a slave who is captured by a plantation owner(Leonardo DiCaprio) .Her Character is the focal point of the plot as the movie is about how the freed husband played by Jamie Foxx saves the wife.
8.Tabu, Life Of Pi

-One of India's boldest and best actress,Tabu would be playing Pi's mother in this Ang Lee adaptation.If you have seen some of her Indian films, you would realise that she superb in all the films she is in.To many,I reckon you would recognise her in Mira Nair's The Namesake.