Oscar favorites 2012

Instead of reprising the Oscar picking panel for the 7th time, our local newspaper chose not to do it. Another member of the panel asked us to submit our choices of who we like, rather than who we predict will win in the 6 top categories, with hopes that the paper will print it Sunday. Jack didn't write one this year, but here's my ballot, with one link each to my posts on babetteflix (of course, I have seen every one). My fellow picker informed us today our newspaper won't print her article either, so she submitted it to the editorial staff. I doubt it will get in, so here's my ballot anyway.

BEST PICTURE--Midnight in Paris
Let’s stay up late with Owen Wilson and fall in love in the old City of Lights. There are so many historical and comical details that I could watch it again and again, enjoying Allen’s trademarks in this new setting each time.

BEST DIRECTOR--Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Tied with The Cave of Forgotten Dreams for best 3D movie I’ve ever seen, Scorsese’s masterpiece is exhilarating, with magnificent photography, luscious sets, gadgets galore, a heart-warming story, and outstanding performances. It’s the other nominee I could watch many times more.

LEAD ACTOR--Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Although his character’s paramour jokes that she’s tired of silent actors’ mugging their exaggerated expressions and gestures, this is exactly what earns Dujardin my vote for his performance. Larger than life, this star of the 21st century silent movie leaves little to the imagination. And he can dance, too!

LEAD ACTRESS--Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
The magnificent chameleon gets my vote, despite formidable competition from her fellow nominees. With the help of her trusty makeup artist, she is completely believable as the doddering old Thatcher and the vibrant 40-something Prime Minister.

SUPPORTING ACTOR--Christopher Plummer, Beginners
As the ebullient 75-year-old discovering the joys of true love with a same-sex partner, Plummer brought smiles to our faces and tears to our eyes as his illness caught up with him.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS--Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Because her character still makes me laugh out loud and because I know how different it is from her own demure personality, I am choosing McCarthy’s pushy, boyish, heterosexual Megan.

There were 25 of us on the panel in 2006, Jack joined in 2009, and last year we were up to 50. 19 of those submitted ballots this year, and here are the statistics:

BEST PICTURE
Hugo 6, The Descendants 4, The Artist 3, Midnight in Paris 3, The Help 1, Moneyball 1, War Horse 1, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close 0, Tree of Life 0

DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese (Hugo) 6, Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris) 4, Alexander Payne (The Descendants) 4, Terrence Malick (Tree of Life) 3, Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) 2

LEAD ACTOR
George Clooney (The Descendants) 7, Jean Dujardin (The Artist) 7, Demian Bichir (A Better Life) 2, Brad Pitt (Moneyball) 2, Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) 1

LEAD ACTRESS
Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) 7, Viola Davis (The Help) 5, Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) 3, Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) 3, Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) 1

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christopher Plummer (Beginners) 10, Max von Sydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close) 5, Jonah Hill (Moneyball) 2, Nick Nolte (Warrior) 2, Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn) 0

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) 10, Octavia Spencer (The Help) 5, Jessica Chastain (The Help) 2. Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) 2, Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) 0

Here is the complete list of Oscar nominees, and take a look at my OCD and up-to-date list of nominations and wins sorted by title.

If you like awards shows, I also recommend the Independent Spirit Awards, Oscar's little brother, included every year in my list of nominees and winners. It will be airing live on the IFC channel tonight, Saturday 2/25/12 at 10pm Eastern Time, repeated at 10pm Pacific Time, and streaming live on yahoo movies, starting at 11am Pacific/2pm Eastern for the arrivals (I can't tell if the show will stream live but it's possible).