Updated on December 10, 2021
This year’s Academy Award nominees have been announced. As usual, I’ll note which ones should win and (in my opinion) are likely to win, plus thoughts on the Oscar nominees.
A full list of nominees in all Oscar categories are available here. The ceremony will air on Sunday, March 2 at 7 PM Eastern/6 PM Central on ABC.
Animated Feature Film
- The Croods
- Despicable Me 2
- Ernest & Celestine
- Frozen
- The Wind Rises
Will win:
“Frozen.”
Should win:
While I’ve only seen “Despicable Me 2” (as of this writing), various reviews, etc. and the Academy’s tastes (Disney/Pixar often being a lock, no matter what they’re up against) would suggest “Frozen.” “Croods” and “Despicable Me 2” are probably too “lower tier” as films to win, while I’m guessing they won’t give the award to a foreign film like “The Wind Rises” or “Ernest & Celestine.”
Comments:
Odd that this year, “The Croods” managed to get nominated, but Pixar’s “Monsters University” was locked out. Unless they figured one film from Disney and/or its subsidiary Pixar was “enough,” and preferred “Frozen” over Mike and Sulley.
“The Wind Rises” is the final project by famed Japanese animated film director Hayao Miyazaki, who’s retiring. “Ernest & Celestine” is a Franco-Belgium effort.
Short Film, Animated
- Feral
- Get a Horse!
- Mr. Hublot
- Possessions
- Room on the Broom
Will win:
Not sure, but it won’t be “Get a Horse!”; Mickey’s been nominated nine times for Oscars, seven of those back in the Golden Age of animation, and won once, for 1941’s “Lend a Paw.” Never mind that was more of a Pluto cartoon, but I suppose a win’s a win for Disney’s most famous character.
Should win:
See above.
Comments:
The Academy prefers art house fare these days for this category, versus slapstick humor back in the Golden Age (the Academy had some sort of obsession with “Tom and Jerry,” given it won tons of Oscars). While I haven’t (as of this writing) seen the films in this category, I’d assume the most “artistic” one of the bunch will win.
Music, Original Song
“Alone Yet Not Alone” from “Alone Yet Not Alone”- “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”
- “Let It Go” from “Frozen”
- “The Moon Song” from “Her”
- “Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Will win:
It’ll be between “Frozen” and one of the live-action movies.
Should win:
Not sure, but suspect “Frozen” based on online praising of the film’s soundtrack, plus Disney’s general track record in this category in the past few decades.
(Update, 1/29/14) News came today of the disqualification of “Alone Yet Not Alone,” on the grounds of unauthorized campaigning techniques being used by the song’s creator (more details in this Entertainment Weekly article). Thus, one less song for the others to compete with.
Comments:
Not heard all the songs in this category, but it seems like there’s more choices this year than, say, in 2011, when the only two choices were “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” movie or “Real in Rio” from “Rio.”
