An Open Race

If we think back over the last years in the history of the Oscars, in regards to the coveted Best Picture category, they were veritable 'dead certs'. Think The Hurt Locker vs. Avatar, The King's Speech vs. The Social Network, or even the one horse race that was the glory of The Artist last year. In a year where Steven Spielberg's lavish drama Lincoln (to be reviewed in a later entry) leads the running with twelve nominations, there is still no clear outright contender to walk away with the statuette later this evening. And this is no bad thing. I for one will be rooting for several of this year's contenders (granted, some more than others) but I simply cannot call it. This very conundrum clearly highlights what an exciting year it has been for film, when any one of the nine candidates could be seen walking away with the award. However, if I was kidnapped, stripped naked and flaggelated with a wet towel into submission, Argo would be the two syllables leaping off my tongue. Following its success in the Best Picture category at the Baftas, it has the feel of a film the Academy goes for; the plucky underdog with that little bite. Also one must wonder whether Academy voters will be feeling guilty over the much maligned snub of its director, the seemingly unstoppable Ben Affleck. On a night when the statuette for Best Director is surely to go to Spielberg will Affleck be celebrating after all? I suspect so. 

The acting categories are also somewhat ambivalent, Supporting Actor and Best Actress, being the two categories dividing the critics. Tommy Lee Jones, Christoph Waltz, Alan Arkin and Philip Seymour Hoffman are all going for their second little gold man, with Robert De Niro hoping to bag his third for Silver Lining's Playbook. This solidifies this year's Supporting Actor category as the toughest to call. Given any other year, each of these boys could walk away with the award. This year though, it's Waltz (Bafta win two weeks ago) or Tommy Lee Jones. Both amazing performances in Django Unchained and Lincoln respectively, I will go to sleep a happy bunny if either of these get rewarded for what are masterclasses in the art of acting. Supporting Actress, we all know is going to Anne Hathaway for Les Mis and I'll run naked through the streets of Liverpool if Mr. Day-Lewis does not make Oscar history tonight, being set to become the only actor to win three Oscars in the Best Actor category. Best Actress could also be on the road to Oscar History with Emmanuelle Riva, the oldest ever nominee in the category (celebrating her 86th birthday the day of the ceremony!) in contest with the youngest ever actress in the category. Nine year old Quvenzhané Wallis I suspect won't beat Riva for her devastatingly sublime performance in Amour, but is yet another example of the diversity being celebrated at tonight's ceremony. 

          One thing is for certain. Tonight's Oscars won't be dominated by one film and I will be gripped with a tiny bit more excitement tonight when, contrary to previous years, it's anyone's race. I think today would be a good day to name a racehorse, however. If you wanted a sure win then no other name will do - Arise Mr. President...