2013 Academy Awards Nominations

This morning the contenders where released for the 85th Academy Awards and I must say, I’m pretty surprised with the outcome. There were some serious snubs this year that I don’t think anyone saw coming. Anyway here’s the list…

Best Picture

• Amour
• Life of Pi
• Argo
• Lincoln
• Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Silver Linings Playbook
• Django Unchained
• Zero Dark Thirty
• Les Miserables

Actor in a Leading Role

• Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
• Joaquin Phoenix in The Master
• Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
• Denzel Washington in Flight
• Hugh Jackman in Les Miserables

Actress in a Leading Role

• Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
• Quvenzhane Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
• Naomi Watts in The Impossible
• Emmanuelle Riva in Amour

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Alan Arkin in Argo
• Robert De Niro in Silver Linings Playbook
• Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
• Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln
• Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Amy Adams in The Master
• Sally Field in Lincoln
• Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables
• Helen Hunt in The Sessions
• Jacki Weaver in Silver Linings Playbook

Animated Feature Film

• Brave
  
• Frankenweenie
• ParaNorman
• The Pirates! Band of Misfits
• Wreck-It-Ralph

Cinematography

• Anna Karenina
• Django Unchained
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Skyfall

Costume Design

• Anna Karenina
• Les Miserables
• Lincoln
• Mirror Mirror
• Snow White and the Huntsman

Directing

• Michael Haneke for Amour
• Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Ang Lee for Life of Pi
• Steven Spielberg for Lincoln
• David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook

Documentary Feature

• 5 Broken Cameras
• The Gatekeepers
• How to Survive a Plague
• The Invisible War
• Searching for Sugar Man

Documentary Short

• Inocente
• Kings Point
• Mondays at Racine
• Open Heart
• Redemption

Film Editing

• Argo
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Silver Linings Playbook
• Zero Dark Thirty

Foreign Language Film

• Amour
• Kon-Tiki
• No
• A Royal Affair
• War Witch

Makeup and Hairstyling

• Hitchcock
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• Les Miserables

Music–Original Score

• Anna Karenina
• Argo
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Skyfall

Music–Original Song

• “Before My Time” from Chasing Ice
• “Everybody Needs a Best Friend” from Ted
• “Pi’s Lullaby” from Life of Pi
• “Skyfall” from Skyfall
• “Suddenly” from Les Miserables

Production Design

• Anna Karenina
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• Les Miserables
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln

Short Film Animated

• Adam and Dog
  
• Fresh Guacamole
• Head Over Heels
• Maggie Simpson in “The Longest Daycare”
• Paperman

Short Film Live Action

• Asad
  
• Buzkashi Boys
• Curfew
• Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw)
• Henry

Sound Editing

• Argo
  
• Django Unchained
• Life of Pi
• Skyfall
• Zero Dark Thirty

Sound Mixing

• Argo
  
• Les Miserables
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Skyfall

Visual Effects

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
  
• Life of Pi
• Marvel’s The Avengers
• Prometheus
• Snow White and the Huntsman

Writing Adapted Screenplay

• Argo
  
• Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Silver Linings Playbook

Writing Original Screenplay

• Amour
  
• Django Unchained
• Flight
• Moonrise Kingdom
• Zero Dark Thirty

Now that all the nominations have been made, I’m going to try and take the next month and a half to see as many of these films as I can so I make my predictions for who will win.

30 Day Movie Challenge: Day #23

Day 23. Movie That Inspires You

OMG so many movies to choose from in this category! I find that most movies have some sort of inspiration to them so it really just depends on the mood you’re in.

• Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)–The sisters come back to Delores’s show to get her back as Sister Mary Clarence to teach music to a group of students in their parochial school which is doomed for closure. One of the girls, who is the most talented of the bunch, is forbidden to sing by her mother, although the choir has made it to the state championship. A group of stereotypical incompetent monks tries to stop them. Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Najimy, Maggie Smith and Lauryn Hill. It’s a great story that teaches kids to follow their dreams and that it only takes one person to inspire many. I absolutely love this movie!! Especially all the songs. They have wonderful voices!

• Mulan (1998)–To save her father from death in the army, a Chinese maiden secretly goes in his place and becomes one of China’s greatest heroes in the process. Starring the voice of Eddie Murphy as Mushu. Way to go Disney for bringing in the girl power. Mulan finally breaks the barrier for princesses. She doesn’t need a prince in shinning armor to come save her. She’s gonna be doing all the saving herself. LET’S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

• Pay It Forward (2000)–A young boy attempts to make the world a better place after his teacher gives him that chance. Starring Kevin Spacey, Haley Joel Osment and Helen Hunt. I have a love/hate relationship with this movie. It’s just too damn sad. But the idea that if you reach out to three people and that chain continues, is an inspiring one. The world really can be a better place.

• Remember the Titans (2000)–The true story of a newly appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit. Starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris and Ryan Hurst. It’s a great story about young people putting aside their differences and realizing their similarities. It’s moving to know that things like this really did happen and that people do truly stand up for what they believe in.

• Soul Surfer (2011)–A teenage surfer girl summons the courage to go back into the ocean after losing an arm in a shark attack. Starring AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Lorraine Nicholson, Kevin Sorbo and Carrie Underwood. The real story of Bethany Hamilton is a truly moving one that plays out so well in this movie. I figure if a girl who lost her arm is able to do so much and help so many people, I could do great things too.

What movie inspires you??