MovieMan Menzel’s Picks
Motion Picture, Drama
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse
My pick for best picture if The Descendants even though this is a really tough choice for me since I absolutely adored Hugo as well. I think The Descendants will win because how near perfect it is as a film. It mixes the perfect amount of drama with comedy, not to mention how amazing the direction and acting is.
Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture – Drama
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin
If you thought picking best drama was hard, then this category is an absolutely killer. I am going to be honest and say every single person on this list deserves the award this year. If I had to play favorites, I am going to say that Viola Davis will win, however, my personal pick would be for Meryl Streep, but she’s already won so many before so I say give it to Davis, who is simply incredible.
Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
This one is a toss between Michael Fassbender and George Clooney. I think Fassbender should win because of all the films that he has been in this year and how amazing every performance has been. Clooney is amazing, but Fassbender has one hell of a year starring in four great films.
Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
My Week With Marilyn
The fact that Bridesmaids is on this list is not only insulting, but it is also tells me that these award shows are attempting to appeal to the masses. The Artist is my hands down top pick for this category, with Midnight in Paris being a very close second.
Best Performance By An Actress in A Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Jodie Foster, Carnage
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Kate Winslet, Carnage
Again, Bridesmaids? I don’t think so and this is coming from a fan of Kristen Wiig. She is underrated that is for sure, but this performance was far from stellar. The top pick here is Michelle Williams for me, with Charlize Theron coming on as a close second.
Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brendan Gleeson, The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris
I really think Joseph Gordon-Levitt should get this award because he is just a remarkable actor. While, I found 50/50 to be a tad overrated, I did think that Gordon-Levitt knocked it out of the park. My second choice is for Jean Dujardin.
Best Animated Feature Film
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Puss in Boots
Rango
2011 was simply an average year for animated films. Cars 2 was one of the most criticized films of the year and I didn’t even see it. My pick is for Rango because I thought it was the most humorous and creative. My second pick would be Arthur’s Christmas but its a distant second for me.
Best Foreign Language Film
The Flowers of War (China)
In the Land of Blood and Honey (USA)
The Kid With A Bike (Belgium)
A Separation (Iran)
The Skin I Live In (Spain)
Hands down The Skin I Live In, with In the Land of Blood and Honey being a second choice because of how gritty and raw it was.
Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Give it to Octavia Spencer because she was just magnificent in The Help, however, like best actress this is a tough choice because everyone should get it.
Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
This is something that anyone who knows me will be extremely shocked to here. While I think Christopher Plummer should get it for Beginners. I do actually pick Jonah Hill (Yes, I can’t believe I am typing this) for Moneyball. He was absolutely amazing in a dramatic performance and goes to show that if he gave those obnoxious characters a break, I could actually like him as an actor.
Best Director – Motion Picture
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanvicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
This category is the hardest for me out of everyone. Its like a three way tie between The Artist, The Descendants, and Hugo. I would probably pick The Descendents and say Hugo for a extremely close second.
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants
Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Moneyball
The Artist just because of how simple yet touching and creative it was. I think it says something when you can make a film without audio and knock it out of the park. The second place would be Woody Allen because it was so different than a lot of other films that he has ever done before.
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Abel Korzeniowski, W.E.
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore, Hugo
John Williams, War Horse
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had the most amazing score out of all these films. It was loud and powerful. I loved it.
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“Hello Hello” — Gnomeo & Juliet
“The Keeper” — Machine Gun Preacher
“Lay Your Head Down” — Albert Nobbs
“The Living Proof” — The Help
“Masterpiece” — W.E.
I am so disappointed that not a single Muppets song is on here. That should have been nominated. My top pick is The Living Proof and my secondary pick is for Hello, Hello.
TELEVISION:
Best Television Series – Drama
American Horror Story, FX
Boardwalk Empire, HBO
Boss, STARZ
Game of Thrones, HBO
Homeland, Showtime
My pick is for Broadwalk Empire. My second choice is for Homeland.
Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series – Drama
Claire Danes, Homeland
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Madeleine Stowe, Revenge
Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness
Claire Danes for Homeland since she gives a knockout performance in every episode and I haven’t seen her this on the ball in such a long time.
Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series – Drama
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Kelsey Grammer, Boss
Jeremy Irons, The Borgias
Damian Lewis, Homeland
This is bias because I am going to pick Steve Buscemi for Broadwalk because I love his performance and the show, but Damian Lewis for Homeland might come in and steal it.
Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical
Enlightened, HBO
Episodes, Showtime
Glee, FOX
Modern Family, ABC
New Girl, FOX
I love Glee and deep down I want this to win because I am a huge Gleek, but the reality is that its not going to. My guess is New Girl, which is a good show, but if it wasn’t for Zooey Deschannel, it would be god-awful. The second pick would be Episodes, which I have not seen, but heard a lot of awesome things about.
Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical
Laura Dern, Enlightened
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Hands down for Zooey on this one. I absolutely adore her on New Girl. The second up will be Amy Poehler because as much as I love me some Tina Fey, she has won this award before and I think Poehler is so hysterical on Parks and Recreation.
Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
David Duchovny, Californication
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
My oh my, I have to say that I love Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock and root for him almost every year and this year is no different. My second pick is for Matt LeBlanc for Episodes.
Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
Cinema Verite, HBO
Downton Abbey, PBS (Masterpiece)
The Hour, BBC America
Mildred Pierce, HBO
Too Big to Fail, HBO
My pick is Mildred Pierce and Too Big to Fail as a second pick.
Best Performance By An Actress In A Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
Romola Garai, The Hour
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
Kate Winslet for the gold and my choice for second place is Diane Lane.
Best Performance By An Actor In A Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Idris Elba, Luther
William Hurt, To Big to Fail
Bill Nighy, Page Eight
Dominic West, The Hour
Bill Nighy is always amazing and should get the award, but the second choice would be William Hurt for To Big to Fail.
Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Series, Mini-Series, Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce
Evan Rachel Wood gets my top pick because the girl is amazing and always gets snubbed, but my second pick is for the wonderful and always amazing Maggie Smith.
Best Performance By An Actor in A Supporting Role in A Series, Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Paul Giamatti is always my top pick for anything he is in, but Tim Robbins will be a close second.
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Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
The Help
The Descendants
War Horse
The film that should win in my mind is Hugo, it was just a remarkable film, and a great love letter to cinema. It is still easily my favorite film of the year. What will win, it’s a bit of a mystery. I personally think Moneyball is going to sneak the win out, but The Help is another strong contender as well
Best Actress in a Motion Picture- Drama
Tilda Swinton- We Need to Talk About Kevin
Viola Davis- The Help
Rooney Mara- Girl with the Dragoon Tattoo
Meryl Streep- The Iron Lady
Glenn Close- Albert Nobbs
The actress that should win best actress is Rooney Mara for me. She gave a performance that was just unforgettable. It is also one of the toughest roles for an actor or actress of this year. Who will win, Viola Davis for The Help is the front runner to take home the Golden Globe, and The Oscar. Shes my choice to win
Best Actor in a Motion Picture- Drama
Ryan Gosling- Ides of March
Brad Pitt- Moneyball
Leonardo DiCaprio- J. Edgar
George Clooney- The Descendants
Michael Fassbender- Shame
The actor that I think should win here is Brad Pitt for Moneyball. He just engaged me from the start. He is also my pick to win to win the award tonight at the Globes.
Best Picture- Comedy or Musical
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
My Week with Marilyn
Midnight in Paris
What should win here for me is 50/50, a really funny and dramatic film with some great writing and performances. What will win, I think Midnight in Paris, despite it coming out early in the year, will sneak it out. The buzz for it right now is super strong, and I need to check it out.
Best Actress in a Motion Picture- Comedy
Jodie Foster- Carnage
Kate Winslet- Carnage
Charlize Theron- Young Adult
Kristen Wiig- Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams- My Week with Marilyn
For me, the choice is simple. Charlize Theron was not only the best comedic performance from an actress, but the best performance from an actress. She should and will take home the gold!
Best Actor in a Motion Picture- Comedy
Joseph Gordon Levite- 50/50
Ryan Gosling- Crazy, Stupid, Love
Brendan Glesson- The Guard Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Owen Wilson- Midnight In Paris
My pick for what should win is JGL, or Joseph Gordon Levite. He was not only really funny, but showed a lot of range with some really powerful moments. Who will win most likely is Jean Dujardin for The Artist, which I still need to see!
Best Animated Feature
The Adventures of Tin Tin
Arthur Christmas
Rango
Cars 2 *sigh*
Puss in Boots
What should win for me, I got to say Adventures of Tin Tin. The more I think about it, the more admiration I have for it. The animation is stunning, and it really is the best action movie of this year, and the past four to five years. What will win is Rango, which was a very entertaining western. I have no problem with it winning, just please no Cars 2!
