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THE JUSTICE | TUESDAY, January 15, 2013
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013 | THE JUSTICE
The 85th Academy
Awards By JESSIE MILLER JUSTICE EDITOR
Who’s who this award show nomination season ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Jonathan Olley/MCT
Amour Life of Pi Argo Lincoln Beasts of the Southern Wild Silver Linings Playbook Django Unchained Zero Dark Thirty Les Misérables
Awards
At nine years old, Quvenzhané Wallis is the youngest actress ever nominated for an Oscar for her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild, in which she was strikingly adorable, and completely deserves a win for Best Actress.
By ELI KAMINSKY
JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
RECORD OF THE YEAR
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
“Lonely Boy”–The Black Keys “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” – Kelly Clarkson “We Are Young” – fun. “Somebody That I Used to Know” – Gotye “Thinkin’ Bout You” – Frank Ocean “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift
Alan Arkin Robert De Niro Philip Seymour Hoffman Tommy Lee Jones Christoph Waltz
I tend to lean away from supporting chart-topping, formulaic pop hits by artists the likes of Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson and even Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, though after eliminating “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) and the granted, catchy but unrealistically immature and blatant “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” The Black Keys’ garage-rocking “Lonely Boy,” fun.’s anthemic“We Are Young,” Gotye’s Peter Gabriel-esque“Somebody That I Used to Know, and Frank Ocean’s soul-showered hit, ”Thinkin’ Bout You” are left. I am torn between “Lonely Boy” and “Thinkin’ Bout You” and “We Are Young,” though I lean towards “Thinkin’ Bout You” for beautiful poetry and spirituality, not to mention his incredible vocal performance.
After winning an Oscar for his role in Little Miss Sunshine, Alan Arkin’s role in Argo is a definite reminder of his prowess as an actor. He was unforgettable as a quirky grandfather and proves he is equally worthy in his role as a fake movie producer.
Though each of these movies deserves its coveted Best Picture spot, narrowing down to a single champion proves incredibly challenging because each film shines in its own way. However, I’m incredibly disappointed that Moonrise Kingdom didn’t make the list; the raw emotion and innocence captured my attention, leaving me declaring it the best movie I had seen in a long time. But when it comes down to it, I must say that Zero Dark Thirty has my vote for its impeccable cast, fast-paced action and drama, historical acuity and ability to keep me entertained for the entire two and a half hours. I was left truly speechless by the film that so deftly told the story of a post 9/11 world and the justice America sought out.
Detroit Free Press/MCT
ALBUM OF THE YEAR PHOTO COURTESY OF Creative Commons
Abaca Press/MCT
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Bradley Cooper Joaquin Phoenix Daniel Day-Lewis Denzel Washington Hugh Jackman
In this category, Daniel Day-Lewis is a shoe-in for his role in Lincoln, mainly for how he basically became the character and developed such deep understanding of our 16th president.
Sally Field Helen Hunt
The moment the nominees for supporting actress were released, Anne Hathaway immediately caught my eye. As Fantine in Les Misérables, Hathaway blew me away with her passionate voice and ability to truly portray the tragedy her character experiences, especially in her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream.”
BEST ROCK SONG
Abaca Press/MCT
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM Brave Frankenweenie ParaNorman The Pirates! Band of Misfits Wreck-It Ralph
BEST NEW ARTIST
El Camino – The Black Keys Some Nights – fun. Babel – Mumford & Sons Channel Orange – Frank Ocean Blunderbuss – Jack White This year’s Album of the Year list gives me the most difficulty in choosing my favorite of any category before. That’s really a trend of the 2013 Grammy nominations. The past musical year (October 2011 through early September 2012) saw the releases of a lot of excellent music. The Black Keys, fun. Frank Ocean and Jack White all released some of the greatest music of their careers, in many cases launching them into the depths of superstardom. Again, as with Record of the Year, Frank Ocean just barely pulls ahead, although The Black Keys could very easily be awarded this honor as well. Unlike the rest of the pop world, Ocean’s songs push boundaries both musically and lyrically, shining with incredible control of his beautiful voice.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Amy Adams Anne Hathaway Jacki Weaver
The 55th
Grammy
Jessica Chastain Jennifer Lawrence Emmanuelle Riva Quvenzhané Wallis Naomi Watts
Foxlight Pictures/MCT
BEST PICTURE
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“Freedom at 21” – Jack White “I Will Wait” – Mumford & Sons “Lonely Boy” – The Black Keys “Madness” – Muse “We Take Care Of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen
Ironically, choosing the best animated film may actually be the hardest category to pin down, of which Brave and Wreck-It Ralph are my top contenders. Honestly, both merit a golden statuette—Brave for its life lessons and value of family and Wreck-It Ralph for sheer entertainment with a touch of the meaning of friendship. After a mental leap of faith, I choose you, Brave.
Jack White and The Black Keys have been nominated for many categories, and have been perhaps neglected in this list because of a barely better release in the same category. However, “Freedom at 21” and “Lonely Boy” are definitely the two standouts for Best Rock Song, both embodying a typical “rock” vibe. It is certainly almost impossible to choose between the two tracks. That being said, “Freedom at 21” wonderfully combines the grungy and bluesy garage rock of White’s former band, The White Stripes, with his new, more vintage and hipster rock and roll sound.
PHOTO COURTESY OF Pixar Animation Studios
Alabama Shakes fun. Hunter Hayes The Lumineers Frank Ocean
It would be great to see Alabama Shakes, the unlikely Southern blues rock band that delivers with the force of a thousand Janis Joplins snag this award, because, although I am prone to support Frank Ocean, I don’t really consider him a true “new” artist, since he received significant recognition for his work with Kanye West and Jay-Z on several singles from their collaborative effort, Watch the Throne. Boys & Girls was the Alabama Shakes’ first recognized release and they absolutely killed it on every single song.
BEST ROCK ALBUM El Camino – The Black Keys Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay The 2nd Law – Muse Wrecking Ball – Bruce Springsteen Blunderbuss – Jack White All five albums nominated for this All five albums nominated for category were incredible, with the exthisof category ception Muse’swere The incredible. 2nd Law, which However, the rock albums However, of was indeed a strong release. highest quality certainly the rock albums of were highest quality White’s Blunderbuss and wereJack certainly Jack White’s BlunderWrecking Ball, with bussSpringsteen’s and Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball, being thethe clear withWrecking WreckingBall Ball being clear winner. Springsteen’s first album winner. Springsteen’s first album 2009’s relatively weak Worksincesince 2009’s relatively weak Working on a Dream, experiments with on a ing Dream, experiments with every every musical genre Springsteen musical genre Springsteen could conin his unstoppably jure could in hisconjure unstoppably brilliant mind. brilliant mind. Though, the pheThough, the phenomenally written nomenally written album most album is most notable for its is extreme notable for its extreme political political focus, epitomizing every focus, epitomizing every middlemiddle-class cause Springsteen has Springsteen has ever class sungcause about. In this era of ever politisung about. In this era of political cal and social turmoil, Wrecking Ball social turmoil, Wreckingalbum. Ball is theand most relevant American is the most relevant American album.
Los Angeles Times/MCT
Oakland Tribune/MCT
PHOTO COURTESY OF Creative Commons DESIGNED BY RACHEL BURKHOFF AND NAN PANG /the Justice