In the days leading up to the 84th Academy Awards, FilmBuffOnline will be offering profiles on all the nominees in the major categories. Some may be well know, others might be new to you, but if you need a refresher on these talented nominees, here it is.

The Artist

Producer: Thomas Langmann

Release date: November 25, 2011

Box office gross as of February 1, 2011; $41,169,740 (Domestic: $17,030,695, Foreign: $24,139,045)

IMDB Synopsis: Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break.

Number of Oscar Nominations: 10 (Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Achievement in Art Direction; Best Achievement in Cinematography;Best Achievement in Costume Design; Best Achievement in Directing; Best Achievement in Film Editing; Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score; Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role; Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role; Best Writing, Original Screenplay)

Other honors for this film:

Won, Best Film, The 2011 Washington DC Film Critics Association Awards.

Won, Best Picture, New York Film Critics Circle.

Won, Best Picture, Boston Society of Film Critics.

Won, Best Picture, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Won, Best Picture-Musical or Comedy, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Won, Best Feature Film, 2012 Producers Guild Awards.

Won, Best Film, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Nominated, Best Feature, 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 97% (178 Positive Reviews, 5 Negative)

Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: A crowd-pleasing tribute to the magic of silent cinema, The Artist is a clever, joyous film with delightful performances and visual style to spare.

Dissenting Opinion: “Ignores everything that’s fascinating and memorable about the silent-film era, focusing instead on a patchwork of general knowledge, so eroded of inconvenient facts that it doesn’t even qualify as a roman à clef.”–Jamie N. Christley, Slant Magazine.

Official Site: http://weinsteinco.com/sites/the-artist/

The Descendants

Producers: Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor

Release date: November 16, 2011

Box office gross as of February 1, 2011; $86,086,672 (Domestic: $59,186,672, Foreign: $26,900,000)

IMDB Synopsis: A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident.

Number of Oscar Nominations: 5 (Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Achievement in Directing; Best Achievement in Film Editing; Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role; Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay)

Other honors for this film:

Nominated, Best Film, The 2011 Washington DC Film Critics Association Awards.

Won, Best Picture, 37th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.

Nominated, Best Picture, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Won, Best Picture-Drama, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Best Feature Film, 2012 Producers Guild Awards.

Nominated, Best Film, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 90%  (192 Positive Reviews, 22 Negative)

Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: Funny, moving, and beautifully acted, The Descendants captures the unpredictable messiness of life with eloquence and uncommon grace.

Dissenting Opinion: “From beginning to end, everything that happens in “The Descendants” feels false.”–Chris Hewitt, St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Official Site: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thedescendants/

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Producer: Scott Rudin

Release date: December 25, 2011

Box office gross as of February 1, 2011; $21,960,998 (Domestic only)

IMDB Synopsis: A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Number of Oscar Nominations: 2 (Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role)

Other honors for this film:

Nominated, Best Picture, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 46% (59 Positive Reviews, 69 Negative)

Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close has a story worth telling, but it deserves better than the treacly and pretentious treatment director Stephen Daldry gives it.

Dissenting Opinion: “It’s a unique journey that’s equal parts sympathy card and celebration of human resilience.”–Richard Roeper, RichardRoeper.com.

Official Site: http://extremelyloudandincrediblyclose.warnerbros.com/index.html

The Help

Producers: Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan

Release date: August 10, 2011

Box office gross as of February 1, 2011; $205,313,398 (Domestic: $193,613.398, Foreign: $35,700,00)

IMDB Synopsis: An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maid’s point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.

Number of Oscar Nominations: 4 (Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role; Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role x2)

Other honors for this film:

Nominated, Best Picture, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Best Picture-Drama, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Best Feature Film, 2012 Producers Guild Awards.

Nominated, Best Film, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 76% (149 Positive Reviews, 47 Negative)

Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: Though arguably guilty of glossing over its racial themes, The Help rises on the strength of its cast — particularly Viola Davis, whose performance is powerful enough to carry the film on its own.

Dissenting Opinion: “”The Help” comes out on the losing end of the movies’ social history. The best film roles three black women will have all year require one of them to clean Ron Howard’s daughter’s house. It’s self-reinforcing movie imagery.”–Wesley Morris. Boston Globe.

Official Site: http://www.dreamworksstudios.com/films/the-help

Hugo

Producers: Graham King, Martin Scorsese

Release date: November 23, 2011

Box office gross as of February 1, 2011; $90,001,874 (Domestic: $59,301,874, Foreign: $30,700,000)

IMDB Synopsis: Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.

Number of Oscar Nominations: 11 (Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Achievement in Art Direction; Best Achievement in Cinematography;Best Achievement in Costume Design; Best Achievement in Directing; Best Achievement in Film Editing; Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score; Best Achievement in Sound Editing; Best Achievement in Sound Mixing; Best Achievement in Visual Effects; Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay)

Other honors for this film:

Nominated, Best Film, The 2011 Washington DC Film Critics Association Awards.

Won, Best Film, National Board of Review.

Nominated, Best Picture, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Best Picture-Drama, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Best Feature Film, 2012 Producers Guild Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 94% (177 Positive Reviews, 11 Negative)

Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: Hugo is an extravagant, elegant fantasy with an innocence lacking in many modern kids’ movies, and one that emanates an unabashed love for the magic of cinema.

Dissenting Opinion: “It’s as if David Copperfield wandered into a History of Film lecture. Maybe it isn’t a great idea to wait till you’re nearly 70 to make your first kid movie.”–Kyle Smith, New York Post.

Official Site: http://www.hugomovie.com/

Midnight In Paris

Producers: Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum

Release date: May 20, 2011

Box office gross as of February 1, 2011; $148,333,649 (Domestic: $56,473,065, Foreign: $91,860,584)

IMDB Synopsis: A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.

Number of Oscar Nominations: 4 (Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Achievement in Directing; Best Achievement in Art Direction; Best Writing, Original Screenplay)

Other honors for this film:

Nominated, Best Picture, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Best Picture-Musical or Comedy, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Best Feature Film, 2012 Producers Guild Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 93% (179 Positive Reviews, 14 Negative)

Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: It may not boast the depth of his classic films, but the sweetly sentimental Midnight in Paris is funny and charming enough to satisfy Woody Allen fans.

Dissenting Opinion: “Pure Woody Allen. Which is not to say great or even good Woody, but a distillation of the filmmaker’s passions and crotchets, and of his tendency to pass draconian judgment on characters the audience is not supposed to like.”–Richard Corliss, Time Magazine.

Official Site: http://www.sonyclassics.com/midnightinparis/

Moneyball

Producers: Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz, Brad Pitt

Release date: September 23, 2011

Box office gross as of February 1, 2011; $106,781,156 (Domestic: $75,605,492, Foreign: $31,175,664)

IMDB Synopsis: The story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.

Number of Oscar Nominations: 7 (Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Achievement in Film Editing; Best Achievement in Sound Mixing; Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay;Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role; Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role)

Other honors for this film:

Nominated, Best Picture, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Best Picture-Drama, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Best Feature Film, 2012 Producers Guild Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 95% (203 Positive Reviews, 11 Negative)

Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: Director Bennett Miller, along with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, take a niche subject and turn it into a sharp, funny, and touching portrait worthy of baseball lore.

Dissenting Opinion: “Those who enter the cinema unstirred by either the sport or by the joys of stats are unlikely to come out converts.”–Catherine Shoard, The Guardian.

Official Site: http://www.moneyball-movie.com/site/

The Tree of Life

Producers: Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Dede Gardner, Grant Hill

Release date: May 27, 2011

Box office gross as of February 1, 2011; $54,303,319 (Domestic: $13,303,319 , Foreign: $41,000,000)

IMDB Synopsis: The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence.

Number of Oscar Nominations: 3 (Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Achievement in Cinematography; Best Achievement in Directing)

Other honors for this film:

Runner-Up, Best Picture, 37th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.

Won, Best Picture, San Francisco Film Critics Circle.

Nominated, Best Picture, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 84% (203 Positive Reviews, 38 Negative)

Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: Terrence Malick’s singularly deliberate style may prove unrewarding for some, but for patient viewers, Tree of Life is an emotional as well as visual treat.

Dissenting Opinion: “[Malick is] a meticulous visionary who knows where to place a camera, but he hasn’t a clue about how to tell a story with simplicity and coherence.”–Rex Reed, New York Observer.

Official Site: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thetreeoflife/

War Horse

Producers: Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy

Release date: December 25, 2011

Box office gross as of February 1, 2011; $111,380,706 (Domestic: $75,980,706 , Foreign: $35,400,000)

IMDB Synopsis: Young Albert enlists to service in WWI after his beloved horse, Joey, is sold to the cavalry. Albert’s hopeful journey takes him out of England and across Europe as the war rages on.

Number of Oscar Nominations: 6 (Best Motion Picture of the Year; Best Achievement in Art Direction; Best Achievement in Cinematography; Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score; Best Achievement in Sound Editing; Best Achievement in Sound Mixing)

Other honors for this film:

Nominated, Best Picture, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Best Picture-Drama, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Best Feature Film, 2012 Producers Guild Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 76% (149 Positive Reviews, 46 Negative)

Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: Technically superb, proudly sentimental, and unabashedly old-fashioned, War Horse is an emotional drama that tugs the heartstrings with Spielberg’s customary flair.

Dissenting Opinion: “It’s overlong, painfully earnest and sometimes even hokey.”–Christy Lemire, Associated Press.

Official Site: http://www.warhorsemovie.com/

In the days leading up to the 84th Academy Awards, FilmBuffOnline will be offering profiles on all the nominees in the major categories. Some may be well know, others might be new to you, but if you need a refresher on these talented nominees, here it is.

Glenn Close

Nominated for: playing the title character, a woman pretending to be a man in 19th century Ireland, in Albert Nobbs.

Other honors for this role:

Nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Where you might know her from:

Close has had a long and varied career. Her most memorable roles are as Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction, Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil in Dangerous Liasons, and Sunny von Bulow in Reversal of Fortune. Most recently, she is known for her role of Patty Hewes in the TV show Damages.

History with Oscar:

Glenn Close has five prior Oscar nominations.

1983: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, The World According to Garp (lost to Jessica Lange, Tootsie).

1984: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, The Big Chill (lost to Linda Hunt, The Year of Living Dangerously).

1985: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, The Natural (lost to Peggy Ashcroft, A Passage to India).

1988: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Fatal Attraction (lost to Cher, Moonstruck).

1989: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Dangerous Liasons (lost to Jodie Foster, The Accused).

Viola Davis

Nominated for: playing Aibileen Clark, an African-American maid who provides insight into the lives of the black servantry the 1960′s South in The Help.

Other honors for this role:

Nominated, Best Actress, Washington DC Film Critics Association.

Won, Best Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Won, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Nominated, Best Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Where you might know her from:

You might remember her fromher Oscar nominated role of Mrs. Miller in Doubt or from her recurring roles as Donna Emmett on the TV series Law and Order: Special Victims Unit or as Lynda P. Frazier on The United States of Tara television program.

History with Oscar:

Viola Davis has one prior Oscar nomination.

2009: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Doubt (lost to Penélope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona).

Rooney Mara

Nominated for: playing Lisbeth Salander, a computer hacker who investigates a missing persons case in  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Other honors for this role:

Nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Where you might know her from:

Outside of her showy cameo in The Social Network, Mara’s only major screen role was as Nancy in 2010′s Nightmare on Elm Street remake.

History with Oscar:

This is Rooney Mara’s first Oscar nomination.

Meryl Streep

Nominated for: playing controversial British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Other honors for this role:

Nominated, Best Actress, Washington DC Film Critics Association.

Won, Best Actress, New York Film Critics Circle.

Nominated, Best Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Won, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Won, Best Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Where you might know her from:

Her almost yearly appearances on the Oscar telecasts.

History with Oscar:

Meryl Streep has sixteen previous Oscar nominations and two wins. If you need to have a pee break or get a snack, you should probably do so now. This is going to take a while.

1979: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, The Deer Hunter (lost to Maggie Smith, California Suite).

1980: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Kramer vs. Kramer (Won).

1982: Best Actress in a Leading Role, The French Lieutenant’s Woman (lost to Katharine Hepburn, On Golden Pond).

1983: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Sophie’s Choice (Won).

1984: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Silkwood (lost to Shirley McLaine, Terms of Endearment).

1986: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Out of Africa (lost to Geraldine Page, A Trip to Bountiful).

1988: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Ironweed (lost to Cher, Moonstruck).

1989: Best Actress in a Leading Role, A Cry in the Dark (lost to Jodie Foster, The Accused).

1991: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Postcards from the Edge (lost to Kathy Bates, Misery).

1996: Best Actress in a Leading Role, The Bridges of Madison County (lost to Susan Sarandon, Dead Man Walking).

1999: Best Actress in a Leading Role, One True Thing (lost to Gwyneth Paltrow, Shakespeare in Love).

2000: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Music of the Heart (Lost to Hilary Swank, Boys Don’t Cry).

2003: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Adaptation (lost to Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chicago).

2007: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, The Devil Wears Prada (lost to Helen Mirren, The Queen).

2009: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Doubt (lost to Kate Winslet, The Reader).

2010: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Julie & Julia (lost to Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side).

Michelle Williams

Nominated for: playing a fragile Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn.

Other honors for this role:

Won, Best Actress, Washington DC Film Critics Association.

Won, Best Actress, Boston Society of Film Critics.

Nominated, Best Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Won, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy , The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Nominated, Best Female Lead, 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Where you might know her from:

Even though she has been noticed and received much critical acclaim for her work in films such as Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine and Shutter Island, she will probably always be remembered for her role of Jen Lindley in Dawson’s Creek.

History with Oscar:

Michelle Williams has two prior Oscar nominations.

2006: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Brokeback Mountain (lost to Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener).

2011: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Blue Valentine (lost to Natalie Portman, Black Swan).

In the days leading up to the 84th Academy Awards, FilmBuffOnline will be offering profiles on all the nominees in the major categories. Some may be well know, others might be new to you, but if you need a refresher on these talented nominees, here it is.

Bérénice Bejo

Nominated for: playing young ingenue whose career as an actress skyrockets with the introduction of sound in The Artist.

Other honors for this role:

Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, Washington DC Film Critics Association.

Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Nominated, Best Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Where you might know her from:

She has primarily acted only in Europe, but American audiences may remember her as Christiana in A Knight’s Tale.

History with Oscar:

This is Bérénice Bejo’s first Oscar nomination.

Jessica Chastain

Nominated for: Playing Celia Foote, a naive Southern housewife in The Help.

Other honors for this role:

Won, Best Supporting Actress, New York Film Critics Circle Award (Awarded for her roles in The Tree of Life and Take Shelter as well).

Won, Best Supporting Actor, 37th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards  (Awarded for her roles in Coriolanus, The Debt, Texas Killing Fields, The Tree of Life and Take Shelter as well).

Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Where you might know her from:

If you haven’t seen the numerous other films she put out last year, perhaps you remember her from her recurring role as Assistant District Attorney Sigrun Borg on the TV series Law and Order: Trial By Jury.

History with Oscar:

This is Jessica Chastain’s first Oscar nomination.

Melissa McCarthy

Nominated for: Playing Megan, a gruff and raunchy sister-in-law-to-be in Bridesmaids.

Other honors for this role:

Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, Washington DC Film Critics Association.

Won, Best Supporting Actress, Boston Society of Film Critics.

Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Where you might know her from:

She is on TV every week, playing Molly in Mike & Molly, a role for which she won an Emmy.  

History with Oscar:

This is Melissa McCarthy’s first Oscar nomination.

Janet McTeer

Nominated for: playing Hubert, an energetic, cross-dressing artist in Albert Nobbs .

Other honors for this role:

Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Nominated, Best Supporting Female, 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Where you might know her from:

Fans of BBC America might recognize her from her many roles in various British TV series. Fans of the live stage might know her from extensive stage work, most recently on Broadway taking over the role of Veronica in God of Carnage. And those of you with good ears might recognize her voice as the narrator of Velvet Goldmine.

History with Oscar:

Janet McTeer has one previous Oscar nomination.

2000: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Tumbleweeds (Lost to Hilary Swank, Boys Don’t Cry).

Octavia Spencer

Nominated for: playing Minny Jackson, an outspoken and combative maid in The Help.

Other honors for this role:

Won, Best Supporting Actress, Washington DC Film Critics Association

Won, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Won, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Won, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.

Won, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.

Where you might know her from:

She has played numerous roles on television. including Constance Grady on Ugly Betty, Serenity Johnson on Halfway Home, and Arvina Watkins on Raising the Bar.

History with Oscar:

This is Octavia Spencer’s first Oscar nomination.

Last night, The British Academy of Television and Films Arts gave out their awards. Oscar favorite The Artist took home seven awards, including Picture, Director (Michel Hazanavicius) and Actor (Jean Dujardin). And Oscar favorites Octavia Spencer and Christopher Plummer took home awards for the Supporting categories for their work The Help and Beginners respectively.

These awards aren’t much of a surprise. However, the woman who won Best Actress might throw a spanner in the works of many an Oscar office pool–Meryl Streep took home the award for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Viola Davis? Watch out!

It might be easy to write this win off (and her Golden Globe win as well) as the British (and, in the Golden Globe’s case, the international media) honoring Streep for her sterling portrayal of a person who was an iconic figure in European and British history. However, there are a lot of British members in the Academy and Streep holds a lot of respect within the organization. I think that makes it fair to say that the Best Actress Oscar has become a two person race.

Below is a list of the rest of the winners from last night:

Picture

The Artist

Actor

Jean Dujardin – The Artist

Actress

Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady

Director

Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist

Supporting actress

Octavia Spencer – The Help

Supporting actor

Christopher Plummer – Beginners

Animated film

Rango

Documentary

Senna

Outstanding British film

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Film not in the English language

The Skin I Live In

Outstanding debut

Tyrannosaur

Adapted screenplay

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan

Original screenplay

The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius

Production design

Hugo – Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo

Cinematography

The Artist – Guillaume Schiffman

Makeup and hair

The Iron Lady – Mark Coulier, J. Roy Helland, Marese Langan

Costume design

The Artist – Mark Bridges

Editing

Senna – Gregers Sall and Chris King

Sound

Hugo – Philip Stockton, Eugene Gearty, Tom Fleischman, John Midgley

Original score

The Artist – Ludovic Bource

Rising star award

Adam Deacon

Academy fellowship

Martin Scorsese

Outstanding contribution to British cinema

John Hurt

Special visual effects

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Tim Burke, John Richardson, Greg Butler and David Vickery

Short animation

A Morning Stroll – Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe

Short film

Pitch Black Heist – John Maclean and Geraldine O’Flynn

Via: Guardian

Convential wisdom states that whoever wins at the Screen Actors Guild Awards has the best chance to take home an Oscar. If so, three “sure things” have gotten a little more sure and one toss-up category has become just a little more clearer.

The “sure things” are Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer for The Help and Christopher Plummer for Beginnings, all who were odds on favorites for an Oscar before the SAGs, each won in their respective categories. Their SAG wins are pretty much confirming what everyone already expected.

However, Jean Dujardin winning the prize for Best Actor does tell us something new. He has been an award year favorite, yet behind Academy favorite George Clooney in the odds to win an Oscar.  His win here throws that paradigm out the window and slingshots Dujardin into being the odds on favorite to take home a statue on February 26th.

The Help taking home the big award for the night has cause the Internet to ask “Did The Help Sink The Artist‘s Oscar Chances……?” and “Did “The Help” Change The Oscar Game?,” meaning that the Best Picture race has just got a little bit more interesting. It hasn’t. These writers just failed to notice that The Help won for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, not Best Picture. With Davis, Spencer and Jessica Chastain’s names appearing on many an awards ballot this year and with a cast that also features actresses the caliber of Sissy Spacey, Allison Janney, Cicely Tyson and Mary Steenburgen–just to name a few–the film NOT winning for best ensemble would be a shock. But the SAG’s don’t have a Best Picture and great ensembles do not necessarily equate to great pictures. So, the film’s win here does nothing to help its chances on Oscar night.

Here are a list of the nominees for the awards, with the winners in bold.

Films

Ensemble

The Artist

Bridesmaids

The Descendants

WINNER: The Help

Midnight in Paris

Lead actress

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs

WINNER: Viola Davis, The Help

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Lead actor

Demián Bichir, A Better Life

George Clooney, The Descendants

Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar

WINNER: Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Supporting actor

Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn

Armie Hammer, J. Edgar

Jonah Hill, Moneyball

Nick Nolte, Warrior

WINNER: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Supporting actress

Bérénice Bejo, The Artist

Jessica Chastain, The Help

Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

WINNER: Octavia Spencer, The Help

It’s that time of year again. Tomorrow, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the nominees for the 84st Annual Academy Awards.

Every year there are snubs and surprises, thrills and controversies. There is no way of knowing who will be nominated, especially in a year when the Best Picture nominees could be 5 films, or ten films, or any number in between.  We here at FilmBuffOnLine, who believe the day nominations are announced should be a National holiday, are going to try and handicap the process for you.

We will try to tell you, in the most non-committal way possible, who we think are Almost Certain to get a nomination, who Definite May Be nominated, and whose nomination is a Outside Shot in the major categories (the four acting categories, Best Director, and Best Picture). We are trying to cover all bases, but don’t come to us if you lose money on your Oscar Nomination pool.

Best Actor:

Almost Certain:

George Clooney, The Descendants; Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Definite Maybe:

Michael Fassbender, Jane Eyre, X-Men: First Class, A Dangerous Method or Shame; Leonardo DiCaprio, J Edgar; Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Outside Shot:

Demián Bichir, A Better Life; Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid Love, Drive, or The Ides of March; Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Clooney and Dujardin have won the most hardware this year, which not only make them a lock to be nominated, but also likely one of them will be taking home the award.

Fassbender has been great in a lot of films (listing X-Men: First Class was a bit of a joke, he’ll most likely get the nod for Shame, but I think he gave an Oscar worthy performance in that film) so he is practically a lock for a nomination. The next two are about 50/50 of getting in. The Academy seems to have something against DiCaprio, and his performance as J. Edgar Hoover while not horrible (he got a lot of nods for other awards for it), was not amazing enough to overcome that film’s lackluster performance critically or financially. Brad Pitt eked out a couple of wins along the way (most notably, the New York and Boston critics), and while Moneyball was well received, I don’t see it as 100% Oscar material.

If DiCaprio and Pitt don’t get nominated, there are worthy choices waiting to take a spot. Bichir was great in a small film with a limited release that opened over the summer. These all work against him, but he is deserving of a nod. Gosling, like Fassbender, was great in a lot of films this year, and has been nominated before, but none of the films he was in seem to pass Oscar muster. Oldman was flat out amazing in Tinker Tailor, but his subtle performance might be lost on Oscar voters.

Best Actress

Almost Certain:

Viola Davis, The Help;  Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady; Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin; Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Definite Maybe:

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs

Outside Shot:

Bérénice Bejo, The Artist; Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene; Charlize Theron, Young Adult

On paper, this seems to be the category that seems to have the least wiggle room. Davis, Streep, Close, Swinton and Williams are all in the type of roles that Oscar voters seem to trip over giving nominations to. But in every round of nominations, there are bound to be surprises, and this category is ripe for one.

Bejo and Olsen have the best chance of breaking in, in my opinion. But Bejo is getting pushed for Best Supporting Actress instead of Lead, even though she essentially had a lead role. Olsen got good notices in her role, but suffers from the same “too early/too small handicap” that Bichir has. Theron has received nods for Best Actress in the Golden Globes (where there are nominations for comedy and drama) and the Critic’ Choice Awards (where there are six nominees). She has an Oscar pedigree, but Young Adult could very well be seen as less than Oscar worthy.

Best Supporting Actor:

Almost Certain:

Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn; Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Definite Maybe:

Albert Brooks, Drive; Jonah Hill, Moneyball

Outside Shot:

Nick Nolte, Warrior; Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method; Andy Serkis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes or The Adventures of Tintin; Armie Hammer, J Edgar; Tom Hardy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Plummer has won the Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice award Supporting Actor, making him a lock for an  Oscar nomination, if not the actual award. Branagh has been consistently nominated for his apt portrayal of Laurence Olivier, so he could get the nod as well. Slightly less certain but highly possible are nomination of two actors best known for comedy, Brooks and Hill, for playing against type. After that, place your bets. Will Nolte’s “sports mentor” role make the grade? Will Mortensen’s change of pace role as Sigmund Freud catch the Academy’s attention? Will the Academy make a statement and move towards the future by giving Serkis the nod for his superior motion-capture work? Does the Academy like J Edgar more than the critics and the general public do, thereby swing the nod to Hammer? Will Hardy represent Tinker Tailor‘s stellar cast with a nomination? Will it be another cast member? Or will the film be ignored?

Best Supporting Actress

Almost Certain:

Octavia Spencer, The Help; Bérénice Bejo, The Artist

Definite Maybe:

Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids

Outside Shot:

Jessica Chastain, The Help or Take Shelter; Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs; Carey Mulligan, Shame; Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

What I said for Christopher Plummer above also applies to Spencer. The only chance Bejo doesn’t get nominated here is if she gets nominated for Best Actress. But that race is crowded so I think she’ll land here. She is deserving.

The only thing keeping me from making McCarthy almost certain is the Academy’s apparent hatred of the comedy. They do not like to give nominations from comedies, no matter how good the role or film is. This time, though, I think they’ll make an exception.

After that, pick two. Chastain and Woodley might have a slight advantage, but McTeer has a good chance and Mulligan could sneak in.

Best Director:

Almost Certain:

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist; Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Definite Maybe:

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris;  Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Outside Shot:

David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life; Bennett Miller, Moneyball; Steven Spielberg, War Horse or The Adventures of Tintin; Tate Taylor, The Help

Hazanavicius is definitely most deserving and Scorsese won the Golden Globe, so they should both be nominated. After that, Payne is almost a lock, as is Allen, due to the number of nominations they received. After that, well, ot depends. Fincher got a Directors Guild nomination, Malick has been on a lot of west coast critics awards list, which might be a barometer of how the Academy will go. Miller might ride the surprising accolades Moneyball is getting this award season with a nomination. And months ago, it looked like it wouldn’t be a question if Spielberg would be nominated, but for which film. Now, here he is, a long shot for any nomination at all. Weird. And Taylor has to be consider taking into account the number of great performance that came from that film.

Best Picture:

Almost Certain:

The Artist; The Descendants

Definite Maybe:

Hugo; The Help ; Midnight in Paris

Outside Chance:

The Tree of Life; War Horse; Moneyball; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; The Adventures of Tintin; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or just about any other film out there that has a miniscule amount of buzz.

Not having a definite number of nominees beforehand really plays havoc with the prognosticating business. I tried to pick out the five most likely films to get nominated, but with the possibility of five more, well, it could be any film of a certain stature.

So, what do you think? Am I on to something, or totally wrong? I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.

The Help (Disney, 2,511 Theaters, 137 Minutes, Rated PG-13): if the amount of people I see on my travels reading the book this film was based on is an accurate tool to measure buzz for a movie, then this film has the makings of a majorly big hit. However, as someone who not read the book and who has no interest in it, I don’t know what to expect from this film.

Oh, I know what the plot will be. A young girl named Skeeter who wants to be a writer discovers a story right in her Southern hometown–the way the white matronly ladies treat their African-American help. The story is good enough to get her a book deal, but when the ladies in town see through her thinly veiled characters to see that Skeeter is talking about them, all heck breaks loose.

However, I’ve seen ads for the film that make it look like a thoughtful look at the civil rights struggles in the 60s, and I’ve seen ads where it looks like a wacky class comedy. When I see two diametrically opposed ad campaigns such as that, it makes me think hucksterism is involved. Not that it matters, because all the fans of the book I’ve spoken to can’t wait to see the film. But as an outsider, I am wary