My Thoughts On The Oscar Nominations

Full Disclosure....I have yet to see ALBERT NOBBS, THE TREE OF LIFE, A SEPARATION, and EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE.  So I can't truly weigh in on where I stand with those films, but hopefully within the next few weeks I will be completely caught up. But here are my thoughts regarding the inclusions, exclusions, and my picks so far for this year's Academy Awards in the major categories....

BEST PICTURE

What The Academy Will Choose:  THE ARTIST

What I Would Choose:  THE ARTIST

What Shouldn't Be On The List:  THE DESCENDANTS
                                                      HUGO
                                                      WAR HORSE

What Should Be On The List, But Isn't:  THE IDES OF MARCH
                                                                  MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
                                                                  BRIDESMAIDS

BEST ACTOR

Who The Academy Will Choose:  George Clooney in THE DESCENDANTS

Who I Would Choose:  Brad Pitt in MONEYBALL

Who Shouldn't Be On The List:  Gary Oldman in TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

Who Should Be On The List, But Isn't:  Michael Fassbender in SHAME

BEST ACTRESS

Who The Academy Will Choose:  Viola Davis in THE HELP

Who I Would Choose:  Meryl Streep in THE IRON LADY

Who Shouldn't Be On The List:  Rooney Mara in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Who Should Be On The List, But Isn't:  Elizabeth Olsen for MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Who The Academy Will Choose:  Christopher Plummer in BEGINNERS

Who I Would Choose:  Christopher Plummer in BEGINNERS

Who Shouldn't Be On The List:  Jonah Hill in MONEYBALL

Who Should Be On The List, But Isn't:  George Clooney in THE IDES OF MARCH

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Who The Academy Will Choose:  Octavia Spencer in THE HELP

Who I Would Choose:  Melissa McCarthy in BRIDESMAIDS

Who Shouldn't Be On The List:  Berenice Bejo in THE ARTIST (I believe it was a leading role)

Who Should Be On The List, But Isn't:  Bryce Dallas Howard in THE HELP

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Who The Academy Will Choose:  THE ARTIST written by Michel Hazanavicius

Who I Would Choose:  MIDNIGHT IN PARIS written by Woody Allen

Who Shouldn't Be On The List:  MARGIN CALL written by J. C. Chandor

Who Should Be On The List, But Isn't:  MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE by Sean Durkin

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Who The Academy Will Choose:  THE DESCENDANTS written by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash

Who I Would Choose:  MONEYBALL written by Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, and Stan Chervin

Who Shouldn't Be On The List:  THE DESCENDANTS written by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash

Who Should Be On The List, But Isn't:  THE HELP written by Tate Taylor

BEST DIRECTOR

Who The Academy Will Choose:  Michel Hazanavicius for THE ARTIST

Who I Would Choose:  Michel Hazanavicius for THE ARTIST

Who Shouldn't Be On The List:  Alexander Payne for THE DESCENDANTS

Who Should Be On The List, But Isn't:  George Clooney for THE IDES OF MARCH