The Oscars: Who Should Have Won

Best Picture
Who won- The Artist
Who should have won- The Tree of Life/The Help: Well, the movie that everyone knew was going to win did. However, I don't think it should have. Sure, it was "inventive", and it was an entertaining movie (as entertaining as a silent movie in this time period could be). Now, on we move to The Tree of Life. Now, that was an inventive movie. A two and a half hour journey through the cosmos, and a small southern family where a boy discovers himself and his role in the universe. A 17 minute history of creation had patrons seeing the movie leave and ask for refunds. Now, does this film have a definitive story that The Artist did? No. The story was there, but Oscar voters don't usually like the story unless it's hitting them in the face with a baseball bat. But just the things Terrence Malick was able to achieve was stunning. It was a masterpiece, and really made you look at your life in a broader spectrum than just yourself. And then we have The Help. Has a movie like this been done before? Yes. But not in the same context. The Help boasted some of the most amazing performances of the year, with Viola Davis in one of the most emotional roles in film this year (more on this later), Octavia Spencer in an Oscar winning supporting role, Emma Stone, and the love-to-hate performance of Bryce Dallas Howard. And the entire film was expertly crafted and adapted from the novel of the same name, with a lasting message that can resonate with everyone. I believe either of these two movie deserved the Oscar over The Artist.

Best Director
Who won- Michel Hazanivicius, The Artist
Who should have won- Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life: See above.

Best Actor
Who won- Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Who should have won- George Clooney, The Descendants: Sure, Dujardin did a fantastic job acting without actually saying anything. But George Clooney had a masterful performance. Mixing raw emotion, anger, humor, and everything in between, Clooney should have beat newcomer Dujardin and taken home the trophy.

Best Actress
Who won- Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Who should have won- Viola Davis, The Help: Ah, the category I've been itching to write about. The win from last night was bullcrap. Did Meryl Streep have a good performance as Margaret Thatcher? Yes. But it's been done before. Meryl Streep has been nominated 17 times, and has only won 3 times, including last night. Now, I wonder why that is. Viola Davis brought an emotion that rarely is seen in film, and certainly inspired a large group of people with her performance. She was phenomenal, and should have walked home with the trophy. Meryl Streep's performance was good, yes, but overrated and incomparable to Viola Davis.

Best Supporting Actor
Who won- Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Who should have won- Alan Rickman, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2: Why Alan Rickman has not been nominated before for his role as Professor Severus Snape, I do not know. His role in the Harry Potter films was one of the most accurate and well cast from the books, and his performance in the last film, especially in the Prince's Tale scene, was stunning. He should have at least gotten a nomination. But, alas, the Academy frowns upon such fantasy roles.

Best Supporting Actress
Who won- Octavia Spencer, The Help
Who should have won- Octavia Spencer, The Help: One of the only awards of the night that I thought was given to the right person. Octavia was spectacular as Minnie Jackson, and rightfully deserved the trophy.

Overall, it was a very predictable, yet disappointing ending to the awards season.

Show rating: C