Movies of a Petite Aspie

The Screen Actors Guild awards is similar to the Golden Globes, in that you never truly know who's going to win, and therefore, we can't use these winners as a guide to who will take the ultimate prize at the Academy Awards on February 26th.  I'm especially ignorant when it comes to predicting the winners in the TV categories, but I will give it my best shot.   Jean Dujardin and Uggie the dog in The Artist       George Clooney in The Descendants Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis in The Help Christopher Plummer in Beginners Best Cast in a Motion Picture Winner: The Artist Possible Spoiler: The Help Best Actor in a Leading Role Winner: George Clooney -- The Descendants Possible Spoiler: Jean Dujardin -- The Artist Best Actress in a Leading Role Winner: Viola Davis -- The Help Possible Spoiler: Meryl Streep -- The Iron Lady Best Supporting Actor Winner: Christopher Plummer -- Beginners Long-Shot Spoiler: Kenneth Branagh -- My Week with Mari...

I've seen a few more movies since I ranked what were, in my opinion, the best movies of 2011.  Surprisingly, for the first time in a long time, I will agree with the Academy Award winner for Best Picture.  Who knew?   1. The Artist 2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II 4. War Horse 5. The Help 6. The Descendants 7. The Tree of Life 8. A Separation 9. Bridesmaids 10. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

So, the Academy Award nominees were announced this morning at 8:30 (well, shortly after, for they were of course running late).  Most were expected, such as front-runners Viola Davis, George Clooney, Christopher Plummer, and Octavia Spencer in the acting categories, but there were numerous surprises and significant snubs (in my [movie snobby] opinion).  Surprises -Demian Bichir, Best Actor -- A Better Life - 2 fairly unknown nominees for Best Animated Film -- A Cat in Paris & Chico & Rita -Max von Sydow, Best Supporting Actor -- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Rooney Mara, Best Actress -- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -George Clooney, etc., Best Adapted Screenplay -- The Ides of March -Asghar Farhadi, Best Original Screenplay -- A Separation - J.C. Chandor, Best Original Screenplay -- Margin Call -Gary Oldman, Best Actor -- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy -Nick Nolte, Best Supporting Actor -- Warrior -Terrence Malick, Best Director -- The Tree of Life -Bridget O'Co...

Best Picture 1. The Artist 2. The Descendants 3.The Help 4. Hugo 5. Midnight in Paris 6. War Horse 7. Bridesmaids Best Actor 1. George Clooney -- The Descendants 2. Jean Dujardin -- The Artist 3. Brad Pitt -- Moneyball 4. Leonardo DiCaprio -- J. Edgar 5. Michael Fassbender -- Shame Best Actress 1. Viola Davis -- The Help 2. Meryl Streep -- The Iron Lady 3. Michelle Williams -- My Week with Marilyn 4. Tilda Swinton -- We Need to Talk About Kevin 5. Glenn Close -- Albert Nobbs Best Supporting Actor 1. Christopher Plummer -- Beginners 2. Kenneth Branagh -- My Week with Marilyn 3. Jonah Hill -- Moneyball 4. Albert Brooks -- Drive 5. Andy Serkis -- Rise of the Planet of the Apes Best Supporting Actress 1. Octavia Spencer -- The Help 2. Berenice Bejo -- The Artist 3. Jessica Chastain -- The Help 4. Melissa McCarthy -- Bridesmaids 5. Janet McTeer -- Albert Nobbs Best Director 1. Michel Hazanavicius -- The Artist 2. Martin Scorcese -- Hugo 3. Alexander Payne -- The Descendants 4. Woody A...

 Ladies and gents, my fearless Golden Globes predictions.... Best Picture, Drama: -Winner: The Descendants -Runner-Up: Hugo Best Actress, Drama: -Winner: Viola Davis -- The Help -Runner-Up: Meryl Streep -- The Iron Lady Best Actor, Drama: -Winner: George Clooney -- The Descendants -Runner-Up: Brad Pitt -- Moneyball Best Picture, Comedy/Musical: -Winner: The Artist -Runner-Up: Bridesmaids Best Actress, Comedy/Musical: -Winner: Michelle Williams -- My Week with Marilyn -Runner-Up: Charlize Theron -- Young Adult Best Actor, Comedy/Musical: -Winner: Jean Dujardin -- The Artist -Runner-Up: Ryan Gosling -- Crazy, Stupid, Love Best Animated Film: -Winner: Rango -Runner-Up: Puss in Boots Best Foreign Film: -Winner: A Separation -Runner-Up: The Skin I Live In Best Supporting Actress: -Winner: Octavia Spencer -- The Help -Runner-Up: Janet McTeer -- Albert Nobbs Best Supporting Actor: -Winner: Christopher Plummer -- Beginners -Runner-Up: Albert Brooks -...

The Academy Award nominees won't be announced until the 24th, which gives critics and movie snobs like myself enough time to attempt to guess who will be preparing speeches to accept the penultimate award in cinema. This year, there is truly only front-runner in the major categories, in my opinion. I'm basing my nominations predictions on who/what has received the most number of nominations/wins from various film festivals, critics circles, and other film-related awards. Best Picture 1. The Artist 2. The Descendants 3. Hugo 4. Midnight in Paris 5. The Tree of Life 6. Drive 7. The Help 8. Moneyball 9. War Horse 10. Bridesmaids 11. Shame 12. Melancholia 13. The Ides of March 14. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 15. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II 17. Take Shelter 18. Martha Marcy Marlene 19. Super 8 20. 50/50 Best Actor 1. George Clooney -- The Descendants 2. Jean Dujardin -- The Artist 3. Brad Pitt -- Moneyball 4. Michae...

Can you believe it's already 2012?  Weird.  What's even crazier is that the Oscars are only [fewer than] 56 days away!  I'm actually thinking of having an Oscar party this year -- what do you think?  Anyway, here are, in my opinion, the best and worst movies of 2011, that I've seen.  Granted, there are a number of movies I have yet to see, and plan on doing it before the Academy Awards on February 26th, which include: The Artist, Hugo, The Iron Lady, Moneyball, My Week with Marilyn, A Separation, and We Need to Talk About Kevin .   Best Movies of 2011 1. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo 2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II 3. The Help 4. War Horse 5. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol 6. The Descendants 7. 50/50 8. Bridesmaids 9. Martha Marcy May Marlene 10. Kung Fu Panda 2 Worst Movies of 2011 1. The Smurfs 2. Hesher 3. The Roommate 4. Green Lantern 5. Abduction 6. Cowboys & Aliens 7. Bad Teacher 8. J. Edgar 9. Unknown 10. The Beaver...