85th Academy Predictions: August Update

Well summer is almost over and awards season is about to begin.  Before it begins, however, I will be making one last round of predictions for next year's Oscars.  With trailers out from every single major contender other than Lincoln guesses can know legitimately be made as to who will be in contention for Oscars.  With this summer being kind of lackluster look for fall and winter films to dominate the major categories.  However, Moonrise Kingdom and Beasts of the Southern Wild have been able to remain in the conversation.  They have to be seen as legitimate contenders for Best Picture nominations.    Meanwhile The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel features an ensemble filled with respected actors who could sneak into the supporting categories (especially the weak supporting actress category).  The only other film that has been released in theaters thus far that might be in the Oscar conversation is Magic Mike.  Matthew McConaughey has been having a career revival this year so don't be surprised if the Academy rewards him with an Oscar nomination for the film.

Best Picture

-Argo

-Beasts of the Southern Wild

-Hyde Park on Hudson

-Les Miserables

-Lincoln

-The Master

-Moonrise Kingdom

-The Sessions

Best Director

-Ben Affleck, Argo

-Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master

-Roger Michell, Hyde Park on Hudson

-Steven Spielberg, Lincoln

-Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Lead Actor

-Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

-Clint Eastwood, Trouble With the Curve

-John Hawkes, The Sessions

-Bill Murray, Hyde Park on Hudson

-Joaquin Phoenix, The Master

Best Lead Actress

-Helen Hunt, The Sessions

-Keira Knightley, Anna Karenina

-Jennifer Lawrence, The Silver Linings Playbook

-Laura Linney, Hyde Park on Hudson

-Quvenshane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Supporting Actor

-Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained

-Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master

-Jude Law, Anna Karenina

-William H. Macy, The Sessions

-Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike

Best Supporting Actress

-Amy Adams, The Master

-Judi Dench, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

-Sally Field, Lincoln

-Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables

-Kerry Washington, Django Unchained

Best Adapted Screenplay

-Anna Karenina

-Argo

-Beasts of the Southern Wild

-Lincoln

-The Silver Linings Playbook

Best Original Screenplay

-Amour

-Hyde Park on Hudson

-The Master

-Moonrise Kingdom

-The Sessions

Best Animated Film

-Brave

-Paranorman

-The Rabbi’s Cat

-Rise of the Guardians

-Wreck-It-Ralph

Best Art Direction

-Anna Karenina

-Beasts of the Southern Wild

-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

-Les Miserables

-Prometheus

Best Cinematography

-The Dark Knight Rises

-Django Unchained

-Life of Pi

-The Master

-To the Wonder

Best Costume Design

-Anna Karenina

-Dark Shadows

-Les Miserables

-Mirror Mirror

-Snow White and the Huntsman

Best Film Editing

-Argo

-The Dark Knight Rises

-Lincoln

-The Master

-Zero Dark Thirty

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

-Dark Shadows

-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

-Hyde Park on Hudson

Best Original Score

-Beasts of the Southern Wild

-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

-Lincoln

-The Master

-Moonrise Kingdom

Best Sound Editing

-The Avengers

-The Dark Knight Rises

-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

-Prometheus

-Zero Dark Thirty

Best Sound Mixing

-The Dark Knight Rises

-Django Unchained

-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

-Les MIserables

-Zero Dark Thirty

Best Visual Effects

-The Avengers

-The Dark Knight Rises

-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

-Life of Pi

-Prometheus