Initial Reaction...???

So, I'm not trying to complicate things, but Meryl Streep was a pleasant upset.

Excited to FINALLY see an American win for playing a Brit, rather than visa versa, but Viola Davis seemed like a lock.  My B.

HowEVA, Jean Dujardin still won Best Actor, despite the Clooney luvin.  Also The Artist won Best Picture, as COMPLETELY expected, and some very moving speeches by both Dujardin (his vocalized George Valentin role was hilars) and Director Michel Hazanavicius.

Hugo did have a mini sweep, winning 5  awards in technical departments, tying The Artist.  The only other film that won multiple awards is The Iron Lady, both of which were surprising to me.

Still in awe, I'm going to sign off for the next few hours, after the celebrations have a look back.

Oscar Countdown

I been waaay to many places in the last week, including to what seems like every movie theater in Los Angeles County because I've been living and breathing the Oscars.  The culmination of all my anticipation results in mass posts and no sleep still trying to see all the movies.

Finally, the best day of the year has arrived.

But if your trying to find what to expect, don't over complicate the predictions (*coughEWcough*).
I've never been so disappointed by mainstream Oscar coverage, the best coverage I've seen in right here on KTLA, unfortunately they won't be on the red carpet (and neither will I curtsey of OTRC).

For all of you who think they know whats going on, or those of you who are just trying to figure it out I'll tell you lightly
The Artist will sweep.

It won't win every award, but thinking that any other film has a shot a Best Picture or Director is painfully optimistic.  Jean Dujardin also won the SAG so we can expect him to have a well prepared speech (he's probably desperately practicing his english in the mirror right now).

The Descendants has been making a large push from marketing very wisely, so Jean does have some competition from George Clooney.  We all know where good marketing gets your film, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was not well received by critics but was on every billboard and bus stop here in L.A. and thus slid in for a Best Picture Nomination.  That's how it's been since the beginning Oscar history, but when it comes to winning, you can't usually buy awards, you have to win the guild awards and get general support from your guild.  Everyone loves George, but he's won an Oscar and will have many more opportunities to win.

The moral of the story is- IT'S NOT COMPLICATED!!!
Last year, we heard all the Oscar "experts" pick David Fincher for best Director, despite the fact he lost the DAG, and apparently, Hallie Steinfeld was a "lock" for Best Supporting Actress.
This year I'm hearing that the Oscars love to spread the love around to different films, which has been true of recent years, but not this year.  The Artist should sweep in the same way we saw Slumdog Millionaire, and Return of the King take home numerous awards.

For a complete list of predictions, best bets, and straight up sensical picks check out the predictions tab, I'll be on live tomorrow from the AMPAS Pickford Center.

Sag winners