Joss Whedon

My 2012 Oscar Nomination Predictions


The Academy of Motion Picture Sciences will announce their nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards on Thursday, January 10, 2013.

Here are my 2012 Oscar nomination predictions (in order of probability) along with the actual nominations in blue:Argo

Best Picture

Predicted Nominations:

  • Argo
  • Zero Dark Thirty
  • Lincoln
  • Silver Linings Playbook
  • Les Misérables

If Six Nominations:

  • Life of Pi

If Seven Nominations:

  • Django Unchained

If Eight Nominations:lincoln-movie-poster

  • Moonrise Kingdom

If Nine Nominations:

  • Beasts of the Southern Wild

If Ten Nominations:

  • The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Other Possible Contenders:

  • The Master
  • Amour
  • The Dark Knight Rises
  • Skyfall

Other Note-Worthy Films:

  • The SessionsSilverLiningsPlaybook
  • Flight
  • The Impossible
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  • Hitchcock
  • Promised Land
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
  • Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
  • The Hunger Games

Best Director

Predicted Nominations:

  • Ben Affleck, Argo
  • Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
  • Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
  • David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbookzero_dark_thirty_ver3_xlg
  • Ang Lee, Life of Pi

Other Possible Contenders:

  • Tom Hooper, Les Misérables
  • Michael Haneke, Amour
  • Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
  • Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master
  • Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom

Other Note-Worthy Directors:

  • Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
  • Ben Lewin, The Sessions
  • Sam Mendes, Skyfall
  • Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises
  • Gus Vant Sant, Promised Land
  • Robert Zemeckis, Flight Les-Miserables-2012-Movie-Poster
  • Peter Jackson, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
  • John Madden, The Exotic Marigold Hotel
  • Lasse Hallström, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
  • Joe Wright, Anna Karenina
  • Juan Antonio Bavona, The Impossible
  • Sacha Gervasi, Hitchcock

Best Actor

Predicted Nominations:

  • Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
  • John Hawkes, The Sessions
  • Denzel Washington, Flight
  • Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook 
  • Hugh Jackman,  Les Misérables

Other Possible Contenders:life_of_pi_movie_poster_1

  • Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
  • Richard Gere, Arbitrage 
  • Denis Lavant, Holy Motors
  • Anthony Hopkins, Hitchcock

Other Note-Worthy Performances:

  • Jean-Louis Trintignant, Amour 
  • Jamie Foxx, Django Unchained
  • Ben Affleck, Argo
  • Daniel Craig, Skyfall
  • Matthew McConaughey, Killer Joe
  • Suraj Sharma, Life of Pi
  • Matt Damon, Promised Land
  • Bill Murray, Hyde Park on Hudson
  • Christian Bale, The Dark Knight Rises
  • Jack Black, Bernie
  • Ewan McGregor, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen & The Impossibledjango-unchained-poster
  • Jake Gyllenhaal, End of Watch

Best Actress

Predicted Nominations:

  • Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
  • Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
  • Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
  • Naomi Watts, The Impossible
  • Helen Mirren, Hitchcock

Other Possible Contenders:

  • Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
  • Rachel Weisz, The Deep Blue Sea 
  • Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Other Note-Worthy Performances:moonrise_kingdom_ver2

  • Keira Knightley, Anna Karenina
  • Laura Linney, Hyde Park on Hudson 
  • Deanie Yip, A Simple Life
  • Judi Dench, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
  • Maggie Smith, Quartet 
  • Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Smashed 
  • Meryl Streep, Hope Springs 
  • Emily Blunt, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
  • Emayatzy Corinealdi, Middle of Nowhere

Best Supporting Actor

Predicted Nominations:

  • Alan Arkin, Argo
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
  • Tommy Lee Jones, Lincolnbeastssouthernwild
  • Javier Bardem, Skyfall
  • Robert DeNiro, Silver Linings Playbook

Other Possible Contenders:

  • Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
  • Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained
  • William H. Macy, The Sessions
  • Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike 

Other Note-Worthy Performances:

  • Samuel L. Jackson, Django Unchained 
  • Jason Clarke, Zero Dark Thirty
  • Dwight Henry, Beasts of the Southern Wild
  • Ezra Miller, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  • Eddie Redmayne, Les Misérables
  • John Goodman, Flight or ArgoBest Exotic Marigold Hotel
  • Hal Holbrook, Promised Land
  • Russell Crowe, Les Misérables

Best Supporting Actress

Predicted Nominations:

  • Sally Field, Lincoln
  • Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
  • Helen Hunt, The Sessions
  • Amy Adams, The Master
  • Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Other Possible Contenders:

  • Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy
  • Ann Dowd, Compliance
  • Samantha Barks, Les Misérablesbatman-dark-knight-rises-fire-regular-reprint-movie-poster
  • Judi Dench, Skyfall 

Other Note-Worthy Performances:

  • Jennifer Ehle, Zero Dark Thirty
  • Emma Watson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  • Pauline Collins, Quartet
  • Kelly Reilly, Flight
  • Kerry Washington, Django Unchained
  • Helena Bonham Carter, Les Misérables
  • Frances McDormand, Promised Land
  • Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook

Best Adapted Screenplay

Predicted Nominations:

  • Chris Terrio, Argo
  • Tony Kushner, Lincoln
  • David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbookamy-adams-new-the-master-poster
  • David Magee, Life of Pi
  • Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Other Possible Contenders:

  • Lucy Alibar & Ben Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
  • Ben Lewin, The Sessions 
  • Ol Parker, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
  • William Nicholson, Les Miserables

Other Note-Worthy Adapted Screenplays:

  • Tom Stoppard, Anna Karenina
  • Jose Rivera, On The Road
  • Jacques Audiard & Thomas Bidegain, Rust and Bone
  • Christopher & Jonathan Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises 
  • Judd Apatow, This is 40
  • John Logan, Patrick Marber, Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, Skyfall amour_2_movie_poster
  • John J. McLaughlin, Hitchcock
  • Simon Beaufoy, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
  • Ronald Harwood, Quartet

Best Original Screenplay

Predicted Nominations:

  • Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty
  • Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
  • Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master
  • Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola, Moonrise Kingdom
  • Rian Johnson, Looper

Other Possible Contenders:

  • Michael Haneke, Amour
  • John Gatins, Flight 
  • Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano, The Intouchablesskyfall
  • Ava DuVernay, Middle of Nowhere
  • Reid Carolin, Magic Mike

Other Note-Worthy Original Screenplays:

  • Martin McDonagh, Seven Psychopaths 
  • Matt Damon & John Krasinski, Promised Land 
  • Sergio G. Sanchez, The Impossible 
  • Dan Fogelman, The Guilt Trip
  • Sarah Polley, Take This Waltz 
  • Joss Whedon & Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods

Best Animated Feature

Predicted Nominations:

  • Brave
  • Frankenweeniesessions_ver2
  • ParaNorman
  • Wreck-It Ralph
  • Rise of the Guardians

Other Possible Contenders:

  • Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
  • The Painting (Le Tableau)
  • From Up on Poppy Hill
  • The Rabbi’s Cat
  • Hotel Transylvania
  • A Liar’s Autobiography – The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman 

Other Note-Worthy Animated Films:

  • Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
  • The Pirates! Band of Misfits
  • Zarafaflight-movie-poster1
  • Ice Age: Continental Drift

Best Foreign Language Film

Predicted Nominations:

  • Amour
  • The Intouchables
  • A Royal Affair
  • Kon-Tiki
  • No

Other Possible Contenders:

  • War Witch
  • Sister
  • The Deep
  • Beyond the Hills110237_glg

Other Note-Worthy Foreign Films:

  • Rust and Bone
  • I Wish
  • The Kid with a Bike
  • Once Upon A Time in Anatolia
  • Holy Motors
  • Tabu
  • The Loneliest Planet
  • The Turin Horse
  • Oslo, August 31st 
  • Lore
  • Our Children
  • Barbara

Best Documentary Feature

Predicted Nominations:the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-poster

  • Searching for Sugar Man
  • The Gatekeepers
  • How to Survive a Plague
  • The Invisible War
  • This is Not a Film

Other Possible Contenders:

  • The Imposter
  • Detropia
  • The Waiting Room
  • Bully
  • Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
  • Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
  • The House I Live In
  • Chasing Ice
  • Ethelhitchcock-final-movie-poster
  • 5 Broken Cameras

Other Note-Worthy Documentaries:

  • The Queen of Versailles
  • The Central Park Five
  • Samsara
  • West of Memphis

Best Original Song

Predicted Nominations:

  • Skyfall, Skyfall
  • Suddenly,  Les Misérables
  • Learn Me Right, Brave
  • From Here to the Moon and Back, Joyful Noise
  • Abraham’s Daughter, The Hunger GamesPromised-Land-Movie-Poster-300x444

Other Possible Contenders:

  • Still Alive, Paul Williams Still Alive
  • For You, Act of Valor
  • Not Running Anymore, Stand Up Guys
  • Touch the Sky, Brave
  • Ancora Qui, Django Unchained

Other Note-Worthy Songs: 

  • Safe & Sound, The Hunger Games
  • Dull Tool, This is 40
  • Breath of Life, Snow White and the Huntman
  • Strange Love, Frankenweenie
  • When Can I See You Again, Wreck-It Ralph
  • Still Dream, Rise of the Guardians

Countdown to the 100 Best Scary Movies of All-Time (80 to 76)


80.     

The Cabin In The Woods (2012)

The best scary movie to come out of 2012, The Cabin in the Woods is a film directed and co-written by Drew Goddard (Cloverfield) and co-written by Joss Whedon (The Avengers). Not since Scream has a movie so successfully and originally deconstructed the slasher film genre. The film tells the story of five college students who spend a weekend at a cabin in the woods only to be stalked by deranged killers. The twist to the story is that a secret, covert group is watching their every move via hidden cameras. The movie is clever and funny and yet, at the same time, extremely scary and exciting to watch. It is on one level a parody and commentary on the stupidity and violence in scary movies today. On another level, it is a thrilling story that takes many twists and turns before reaching its exciting climax.  There is even a surprise appearance from a movie legend. Goddard and Whedon (who had worked together previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) wrote the script in just three days.  The movie was released to highly positive reviews and went on to gross over 65 million worldwide.

79.     

Peeping Tom (1960)

Coming out the same year as Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Peeping Tom is a British made film directed by Michael Powell (Black Narcissus). Powell was a renowned British filmmaker who in partnership with Emeric Pressburger worked under the name “The Archers” to create a number of classic films in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Peeping Tom is the story of a serial killer who films his murders using a movie camera, which also doubles as his murder weapon. The film is a well-crafted, psychological thriller—a chilling look at society’s voyeuristic interest in murder through the medium and safety of film. Upon its initial release, the film was so shocking and controversial in its subject matter and depiction of murder that the movie received a large amount of negative criticism and press. As a result, Powell had difficulty finding substantive film work after the project. Years later, the movie went on to attract a cult following and is considered today to be a masterpiece by many modern film critics.  

78.          

Evil Dead II (1987) & The Evil Dead (1981)

Evil Dead II is considered by many critics to be the best in the Evil Dead series of horror movies. Directed by Sam Raimi (Drag Me to Hell) and starring his high school buddy Bruce Campbell, the movie was promoted as being a sequel to the original 1981 The Evil Dead movie—though it really is a separate story with a similar theme and characters.  Ash (Campbell) and his girlfriend visit a cabin in the woods only to be possessed by demons after playing a recorded reading from an ancient text. Later, four others join Ash at the cabin only to be caught up in the demonic antics. The movie is, at times, extremely funny and clever, as well as being scary and horrific. Evil Dead II received mostly positive reviews from the critics and was a moderate success at the box office. Entertainment Weekly ranked the movie #19 on their list of “The Top 50 Cult Films.” Equally good is the original The Evil Dead movie which was also directed by Sam Raimi (Spiderman) and also featured Bruce Campbell as Ash.  A group of five college students travel to a cabin in the woods only to be possessed and killed by demons. The original is scarier and not as comedic as Evil Dead II. The Evil Dead also received mostly positive reviews, but was only a modest success at the box office. Both films have gone on to become cult classics. The third film in the series is Army of Darkness.

77.     

The Uninvited (1944)

The Uninvited is one of the first Hollywood films to take a serious look at haunted houses—most earlier Hollywood films depicted ghosts solely for comedic purposes. This supernatural tale directed by Lewis Allen (in his directorial debut) features Ray Milland (Dial M For Murder) and Ruth Hussey (The Philadelphia Story) as a brother and sister  who purchase a seaside estate in England only to discover the house is haunted. Together, they must unravel the dark mystery of the house before it can claim another victim. The film is both charmingly delightful and frightening with an intriguing murder mystery story and complex characters hiding dark secrets.  The score and the cinematography (nominated for an Academy Award) are both hauntingly beautiful. The Uninvited was well received upon its initial release and is today considered to be a classic.

76.     

The Changeling (1980)

The Changeling is a Canadian haunted house movie directed by Peter Medak (The Krays) and featuring George C. Scott (The Exorcist III) and his real life wife Trish Van Devere (The Hearse).  Following the tragic deaths of his wife and daughter in a car accident, a composer (Scott) moves across country and into a spooky old mansion. Here, Scott’s character needs to uncover the mystery behind the hauntings and bring peace to the restless spirits. A well-crafted and skillfully directed film, The Changeling’s many strengths include its compelling murder mystery storyline, strong performances and hauntingly effective art direction, cinematography and score.  The Changeling was the winner of 8 Genie awards in 1980, including best Canadian film. The film is #54 on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments.

Best of Buffy the Vampire Slayer


Scary, witty, funny and poignant, Buffy the Vampire Slayer  tells the story of Buffy, a girl who wants to be normal but struggles with a powerful destiny. It is truly a groundbreaking television program — well written and directed — it uses the supernatural occurrences as metaphors for its coming of age story lines. Buffy the Vampire Slayer has also spawned a whole generation of similar programs with supernatural coming of age stories. 

In order, here are my favourite episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer:

 #1: Hush, Season 4, Episode 10 (1999): 

The Gentlemen, evil creatures from a fairy tale, first steal the voices of everyone in Sunnydale and then seek to kill them by removing their hearts.

A truly creepy and frightening episode, as the victims are unable to cry out for help.

Can’t even shout, can’t even cry
The gentlemen are coming by
Looking in windows, knocking on doors
They need to take seven and they might take yours
Can’t call to mom, can’t say a word
You’re gonna die screaming but you won’t be heard.

 #2 Innocence, Season 2, Episode 14 (1998): 

After Buffy loses her virginity to Angel, Angel loses his soul from experiencing a moment of true happiness and lashes out with cruelty. 

The story becomes a metaphor for the experience of growing up and the feelings around discovering your sexuality. 

Angelus: You got a lot to learn about men, kiddo. Although I guess you proved that last night.

#3 The Body, Season 5, Episode 16 (2001):

Buffy must deal with the unexpected death of their mother.

A truly heartbreaking depiction as the audience also experiences Buffy’s numbness and shock at losing someone close.  

Buffy: She’s cold. 911 Operator: The body is cold? Buffy: No, my mom!

#4 Restless, Season 4, Episode 22 (2000):

Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles have nightmares in which they are pursued by the same mysterious figure.

One of the most fascinating and realistic depictions of how surreal, comical and horrifying our dream worlds are like.

I have no speech, no name. I live in the action of death. The blood cry, the penetrating wound. I am destruction, absolute, alone.

#5 Once More, with Feeling, Season 6, Episode 7 (2001): 

Everyone in Sunnydale is under a spell that causes them to burst into full musical numbers through which they reveal their innermost secrets.

I wonderful mash-up of two seemingly disparate genres — musical horror — that works with unexpectedly fun and poignant results. 

Sweet: What a lot of fun
You guys have been real swell.
And there’s not a one
Who can say this ended well.
All those secrets you’ve been concealing.
Say you’re happy now
Once more with feeling.
Now I gotta run.
See you all
In Hell.

#6 Passion, Season 2, Episode 17 (1998): 

As Jenny Calendar searches for a way to restore Angel’s soul, Angel steps up his torment of Buffy and her friends with tragic results.

This is one of the most tragically unsettling episodes in the series — revealing a world where no one is safe.

Angelus: Passion. It lies in all of us. Sleeping…waiting…and though unwanted…unbidden…it will stir…open its jaws, and howl. It speaks to us…guides us. Passion rules us all. And we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments. the joy of love…the clarity of hatred…and the ecstasy of grief. It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion, maybe we’d know some kind of peace. But we would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank. Without passion, we’d truly be dead.

# 7 Normal Again, Season 6, Episode 17 (2002): 

Buffy realizes that she is in a mental asylum and that her whole life has all been really playing out in her delusional mind … or has is it?

The episode focuses on Buffy’s desire to lead a normal life away from all the supernatural drama and violence. Here, she has to make the difficult choice of which reality she wants to stay in.

Buffy: I was in an institution. There were doctors, and nurses and other patients, they told me that I was sick… I guess crazy. And that Sunnydale and all of this, none of it was real.  Xander: Oh, come on, that’s ridiculous! What, you think this isn’t real just because of all the vampires, and demons, and ex-vengeance demons, and the sister that used to be a big ball of universe-destroying energy? 

 #8 The Wish, Season 3, Episode 9 (1998):

Cordelia thinks that Buffy is the cause of all her problems and wishes that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale, plunging Cordelia into an alternate Universe where vampires control the town.

This episode is a fun and twisted take on It’s A Wonderful Life.

Giles: Cordelia Chase. What did she wish for? Anyanka: I had no idea her wish would be so exciting! ‘Brave new world.’ I hope she likes it.

 #9 Killed by Death, Season 2, Episode 18 (1998):

While hospitalized with a severe flu, Buffy battles a demon that sucks the life out of sick children.

Next to Hush, this is the most creepy and terrifying episode in the series.

Ryan: He comes at night. The grown-ups don’t see him. He was with Tina. He’ll come back for us. Buffy: Who? Ryan:
Death.

#10 Tabula Rasa, Season 6, Episode 8 (2001): 

Willow casts a spell that accidentally causes everyone to forget who they are.

This is a very funny episode, as each person has to re-invent and re-discover themselves with comic consequences.

Giles: [now under the impression he and Spike are father and son] What did I name you, anyway? Spike: [reads a label in his coat] “Made with care for Randy”. [horrified] Randy Giles!?  Why didn’t you just call me “Horny Giles”, or “Desperate-for-a-Shag Giles”!? I knew there was a reason I hated you!