So I can claim credit afterwards, or get pilloried for being so wrong, here are my predictions / preferences for the Oscar Awards, being held later tonight.  I’m not big on awarding prizes for artistic endeavour, but for as long as they will have them, the industry will make a big deal of it.  Suffice to say, I watch a lot of movies (and TV) and have seen almost all the nominated films this year.  I don’t think it’s been a stellar 12 months for outstanding movies, compared with previous years, and several of the nominated films are not much more than made-for-TV quality.

So here goes:

Best Picture: “Les Misérables”
Contender: “Django Unchained” or “Life of Pi”
Not worthy: “Argo”, “Silver Linings Playbook,” – TV-movie quality films
Winner: ARGO. I should have remembered that a Hollywood-versus-the-Ayatollah movie would always win.
Best Director: Ang Lee, “Life of Pi”  CORRECT
Contender: Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln”
Where are they?: Not nominated were the bizarrely popular Ben Affleck (can’t really see why) and my favourite Quentin Tarantino.
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”. Great acting in a dull movie.  CORRECT
Contender: Hugh Jackman, “Les Misérables”
Neither of these is as barnstorming as I’d expect for an Oscar.
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook” – I reckon she’ll win this, despite the movie being only so-so CORRECT
Contender: Naomi Watts, “The Impossible”
Again no overwhelmingly great performances, worthy of an Oscar in any other stronger year.
Best Supporting Actor: Robert De Niro, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Contenders: Tommy Lee Jones, “Lincoln” or Christoph Waltz, “Django Unchained”
Christoph Waltz deservedly won this.
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, “Les Misérables” CORRECT
Contender: Sally Field, “Lincoln”
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, “Django Unchained” CORRECT
Best Animated Feature: “Brave” CORRECT
Best Documentary: “Searching For Sugar Man” – everyone should watch this amazingly moving documentary.  CORRECT
PS. Skyfall by Adele is a cracker, and definitely a winner, but the movie is about as award-worthy as all other Bond movies, i.e. not at all. CORRECT
MY SCORE:  8/10 CORRECT

Stephen O'Donnell is a lifelong recruiter, internet enthusiast, fadgadget and peripatetic writer.

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