Oscar Week: Oscar Predictions

We’re getting close to this year’s Academy Awards, and it’s time for Blast to make our predictions. While a lot has not changed since the nominations, some have, and the tides have changed, allowing “The King’s Speech” to enter Sunday as the odds-on favorite for just about every award. Check out who we think will win…

Jason Woods: The King’s Speech

I’m not entirely happy about this one. If The King’s Speech wins Best Picture, which I suspect it will, it will be several years in a row that I’ve had taken issue with the winner. “The Social Network,” my personal choice for Best Picture, led this race all season and had the momentum until the last month, when it switched to “The King’s Speech,” a standard Oscar vehicle that voters may resonate with for its familiar themes. I hope “Network” wins, but I see “Speech” taking home the Oscars, further hurting my once-inseparable bond with the Academy.

Will Peloquin: The King’s Speech

Suzanne Day: The King’s Speech

Jason: David Fincher, The Social Network

Even if “King’s Speech” wins Best Picture, David Fincher will land this prize. Perhaps it’s for all the fine work that he’s done in his career, or maybe its because I still believe “The Social Network” is the better film, but this is Fincher’s award.

Will: Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech

Suzanne: Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech

Jason: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

Will: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

Suzanne: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

Jason: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Will: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Suzanne: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Jason: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Will: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Suzanne: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Jason: Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

A lot of Oscar voters were mentioning earlier in the month that Melissa Leo slipped up with her own personal “Consideration” ads. I didn’t think she ever had a lock on this category, with the competition behind from co-star Amy Adams and a strong push from Helena Bonham Carter (remember, they LOVE “The King’s Speech). I think all the controversy and infighting leaves Hailee Steinfeld to be one of the younger winners in this category.

Will: Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Suzanne: Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s SpeechWith the swell of support in almost every branch for The King’s Speech in the guild phase of the awards season, I’m anticipating a sweep on Oscar night on its behalf. I’m almost certain that David Seidler, who has a pitch perfect PR story of overcomming a stammer in his youth like The King’s Speech’s subject, will triumph in the Adapted Screenplay category. My prediction of Helena Bonham Carter is shaky, but because the category has seemed wide open from the beginning and considering the sour reaction to presumed-frontrunner Melissa Leo’s personal ad campaign, I think HBC could easily ride the coattails of The King’s Speech’s sweep.

Jason: Toy Story 3

Will: Toy Story 3

Suzanne: Toy Story 3

Best Foreign Film:

Jason: Mexico, Biutiful

Will: Mexico, Biutiful

Suzanne: Mexico, Biutiful

Jason: David Seidler, The King’s Speech

This should be Nolan’s, but all the love for “The King’s Speech” shows that the Academy loves it, and it will likely land the screenplay prize. Besides, what about the Academy’s treatment of Nolan through “Inception” and “The Dark Knight” makes you think they’ll give him an Oscar?

Will: Christopher Nolan, Inception

Suzanne: David Seidler, The King’s Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Jason: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Will: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Suzanne: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Jason: Alice in Wonderland

Will: Alice in Wonderland

Suzanne: The King’s Speech

Jason: Alice in Wonderland

Will: Alice in Wonderland

Suzanne: The King’s Speech

Jason: If I Rise, 127 Hours

Will: If I Rise, 127 Hours

Suzanne: We Belong Together, Toy Story 3

Best Original Score:

Jason: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, The Social Network

Will: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, The Social Network

Suzanne: Alexandre Desplat, The King’s Speech

Jason: Inside Job

Will: Inside Job

Suzanne: Exit Through the Gift Shop

Jason: 127 Hours

Will: 127 Hours

Suzanne: The Social Network

Jason: Matthew Libatique, Black Swan

Will: Roger Deakins, True Grit

Suzanne: Roger Deakins, True Grit

Jason: The Wolfman

Will: The Wolfman

Suzanne: The Wolfman

Jason: Inception

Will: True Grit

Suzanne: Inception

Jason: Inception

Will: Inception

Suzanne: Inception

Jason: Inception

Will: Inception

Suzanne: Inception

Best Documentary (Short Subject):

Jason: Strangers No More

Will: Strangers No More

Suzanne: Poster Girl

Jason: The Lost Thing

Will: The Lost Thing

Suzanne: Madagascar, A Journey Diary

Jason: The Confession

Will: The Confession

Suzanne: Wish 143