With only 55 hours until the 84th annual Academy Awards, there is a subtle shift that takes place where the event suddenly becomes less about the movies we’re supposed to be celebrating and more about the television show itself. Who’s presenting? How will Seth MacFarlane be received? Will Sean Connery be part of the James Bond tribute? Who will be bleeped for profanity?
For months, I’ve debated the merits of the top films, and my choices for the major awards have been etched in cement that dried long before the Golden Globes were even handed out. Lincoln was and is my favorite (this Oscars is as close as I’ll ever come to voting the straight Republican ticket), but now, I find myself pulled in a different direction. The question isn’t necessarily, “Who deserves to win?” but rather, “Whose victory and subsequent acceptance speech will make for the best television?” As someone who’s watched every Oscar ceremony on television since 1983 — I was a disappointed Right Stuff guy then, even though I’d yet to see it or any of its rival Best Picture nominees that year — I am not immune from these forces.
Click below for my list of who I want to see win the major categories, ignoring the actual on-screen performances and based purely on my existence as a couch-potato and Oscar broadcast nerd. These aren’t the selections to refer to when you’re filling out your Oscar pool, but don’t be surprised if they correspond with ABC’s hopes and dreams. READ FULL STORY »
