Brutally Honest Oscar Voter Ballot No. 8 (original) (raw)
This is the eighth of eight “brutally honest” Oscar ballots shared with THR by Academy members, one of which will post each day leading up to the Oscar ceremony on Sunday, March 2. (Also available for you to review: the first, the second, the third , the fourth, the fifth, the sixth and the seventh.) Beware of spoilers. And remember, these voters’ views are not necessarily endorsed by Scott Feinberg or THR.
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VOTER PROFILE: This Oscar voter is a member of the Academy’s 377-member directors branch.
? BEST PICTURE
American Hustle is my favorite movie of the year, but I voted for Gravity because it’s an amazing accomplishment. The script is not a masterpiece — neither was _Titanic_‘s — but the beauty of its message becomes crystal clear upon a second viewing. It’s about the overall experience of rebirth.
**MY PICKS: (1) Gravity, (2) American Hustle, (3) Captain Phillips
? BEST DIRECTOR
[Alfonso] Cuaron is the biggest lock so far, and for a reason.
**MY PICK: Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)
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? BEST ACTOR
When is the last time someone had a year like he [Matthew McConaughey] had?
**MY PICK: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
? BEST ACTRESS
I had been leaning toward Amy Adams, but at a Q&A Sandra Bullock more or less talked me into voting for her — just hearing her talk about her process on the film and how she created an entire backstory for her character. She’s a charmer.
**MY PICK: Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
? BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
I didn’t know he [Jared Leto] had it in him.
**MY PICK: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
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? BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
I found her [Lupita Nyong’o] to be incredibly impressive.
**MY PICK: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
? BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
I thought it [the script of _Captain Phillips_] was really well done.
**MY PICK: Captain Phillips
? BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
I enjoyed everything about it.
**MY PICK: American Hustle
? BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Frozen was clearly the best.
**MY PICK: Frozen
? BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
It [_The Square_] is a pretty remarkable historical document.
**MY PICK: The Square
? BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
I think The Hunt is a really impressive film all around. I did not like The Broken Circle Breakdown — movies with actual child endangerment are upsetting. And I did not see The Great Beauty.
**MY PICK: The Hunt
? BEST ORIGINAL SONG
I voted for “Happy” because it’s just such a happy song. “Let It Go” is just such an obvious song, with nothing particularly great about it.
**MY PICK: “Happy” (Despicable Me 2)
? BEST SOUND EDITING
I was impressed by how gripping it [_Captain Phillips_] was, and I think the sound deserves some of the credit for that.
**MY PICK: Captain Phillips
? BEST SOUND MIXING
Gravity doesn’t deserve this one because none of those sounds were recorded on the set.
**MY PICK: Captain Phillips
? BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
A complete no-brainer.
**MY PICK: Gravity
? BEST ANIMATED SHORT
I saw it [_Get a Horse!_] when I saw Frozen and I found it charming.
**MY PICK: Get a Horse!
? BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
What an amazing story. People are eating it up.
**MY PICK: The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life
? BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
[_Helium_] was the most bearable of the five.
**MY PICK: Helium
**[Note: This voter was only available to discuss his selections in the aforementioned categories.]
Twitter: @ScottFeinberg