Best Picture Power Rankings: Week Four

1. The Artist (NO CHANGE)
It's the undeniable frontrunner, but I firmly believe it will "only" be the critics' darling. I just have a feeling this race is going to get very crazy going down the stretch. But it leads Critics Choice and Golden Globe nominations, and has a nice helping of SAG nods.

2. The Descendants (UP ONE)
The Globes come up waving Alexander Payne's banner. It could be a big year for him once we get out of the critics.

3. The Help (UP ONE)
It scored the most of any film at the SAGs (don't underestimate that voting body), and matched that with four Globes nods.

4. Hugo (UP ONE)
It tied The Artist for most Critics Choice awards, and I can see it running off with the Best Picture and/or Best Director Golden Globe. Voters are gonna go with their heart on this one.

5. War Horse (DOWN THREE)
I have no doubt it's getting in. But a semi-weak showing at the Globes -- no directing nod for Spielberg, no screenplay mention -- means it might not be the late-season power player. Or, that could just be the Globes being weird.

6. Midnight in Paris (UP THREE)
Oh yeah. Nothing makes me happier than seeing Midnight in Paris grabbing SAG Ensemble mentions and Golden Globe nominations for Woody Allen in director and screenplay. Like Hugo, voters are going to respond to it in an emotional kind of way.

7. Moneyball (DOWN ONE)
It's being very quiet out there, with a mention of Brad Pitt here, a screenplay nomination there. It got nominated for Best Picture at the Globes, even though it's very possible it could just be nominated for Pitt and the screenplay at the Oscars. Maybe it's my own blind love for this movie, but I still see it sticking the finish.

8. The Tree of Life (UP THREE)
There's just something about The Tree of Life I keep coming back to. It's definitely more of a critics' movie than an Academy movie, but is it "too big to ignore" -- not in the blockbuster way, but in a different kind of "event movie" way? People who are passionate about it are very passionate, and it could earn enough No. 1 votes to sneak in. Maybe.

9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (DOWN TWO)
Completely shut-out from the Golden Globes, eh? That doesn't bode well for your Oscar chances, mates. Even The Reader had Globe nominations.

10. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (BACK)
I know it doesn't have a great chance, but I needed a reason to knock off Harry Potter.

Off the list: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2; Beginners

They try so hard! - Golden Globes response

The Globes want so hard to seem relevant, especially after last year when they were openly mocked by their own host for nominating The Tourist, among other awful decisions. And yet, they brought that same host back. While I've stopped believing the Globes are good for determining who will win the Oscar -- winner of the BP Globe has won the Oscar only once since 2004 -- it's about finding similarities. If many groups are nominating the same people, that's who you bet on for the Oscar.

So here are a few "Huzzahs!" and "Boos!" about this year's nominees. You can read the list in the post below. These are in no particular order; just the order I thought them in.

Harry Potter is dead. No Ensemble nod at the SAG. No Picture nod from the Critics Choice. No screenplay nods, no directing nods. Warners might still try to funnel energy into this campaign, but it's not happening. No one really cares about the franchise in the awards circuit. Besides, they already have a "kids" movie, and it's called Hugo. And it's better.

What's up with Melissa McCarthy? The Globes nommed Bridesmaids for Picture and Wiig for Actress, but the scene-stealing supporting role goes without a mention. The same week, she gets nominated for Critics Choice and SAG awards. She's quite the big question mark as far as the Oscars are concerned.

George Clooney's winning a Golden Globe. The man got four nominations. Producing, directing, and co-writing The Ides of March, and acting in The Descendants. If that's not proof that the Globes want stars to feel loved, I don't know what is. Oh yeah, Ryan Gosling got a Best Actor nod for Crazy, Stupid Love. I really like that movie, but c'mon guys. C'mon.

Hugo is coming. I still can't believe how well it's doing. Usually movies that I feel strongly about either don't play in the big game, or are minor players. Hugo is poised to go toe-to-toe with The Artist at the Critics Choice and the Globes. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if HFPA gives Marty another statue. They love him a lot more than the Academy.

Swinton and Mara are wild cards. Because Michelle Williams was in "Comedy" at the Globes, both Rooney Mara and Tilda Swinton got in "Drama Actress." I suspect only one will make it to the Oscar ballot in that fifth slot. Game on. Also, there's that whole Charlize Theron thing to worry about -- will the Academy care at all for "Young Adult"?

Thanks, Globes, for Viggo. For some reason, no one else has nominated Viggo Mortensen for Best Supporting Actor. So, if nothing else, I really like the Globes for this. It's one of the best performances anyone gave all year, in my book. Especially as a supporting role to Fassbender's Jung.

Midnight in Paris makes its case. With a SAG Ensemble nod and four Globes nods including Picture, Director, and Screenplay, Woody Allen's best movie in twenty years has its cards on the table. It will either just make the race in the Oscars or get shut out entirely.

Extremely Loud is on mute. Even though I haven't seen it, I have no desire to. Completely shut out at the Globes, only a few nods at the Critics Choice (even if one was a Best Picture), it definitely takes a tumble. Of course, the Academy loves Stephen Daldry for reasons unknown. So I'm not totally basking in this shut-out just yet.

Tinker is nowhere. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is one of the best reviewed movies of the year, so why no Globes love? Why no love from virtually anywhere? Will Gary Oldman even get an Oscar nomination at this rate? Color me confused.

'Descendants,' 'Artist' stand tall in Globes noms

Best Picture, Drama

The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse

Best Picture, Comedy/Musical

50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Carnage
Midnight in Paris
My Week With Marilyn

Best Director

Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris
George Clooney for The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
Alexander Payne for The Descendants
Martin Scorsese for Hugo

Best Actress, Drama

Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis in The Help
Rooney Mara in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Actor, Drama

George Clooney in The Descendants
Leonardio DiCaprio in J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender in Shame
Ryan Gosling in The Ides of March
Brad Pitt in Moneyball

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh in My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks in Drive
Jonah Hill in Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen in A Dangerous Method
Christopher Plummer in Beginners

Best Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo in The Artist
Jessica Chastain in The Help
Janet McTeer in Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer in The Help
Shailene Woodley in The Descendants

Best Actress, Comedy

Jodie Foster in Carnage
Charlize Theron in Young Adult
Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams in My Week With Marilyn
Kate Winslet in Carnage

Best Actor, Comedy

Jean DuJardin in The Artist
Brendan Gleeson in The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 50/50
Ryan Gosling in Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris       

Best Screenplay

Midnight in Paris
The Ides of March
The Artist
The Descendants
Moneyball

Best Foreign Language Film

A Separation (Iran)
The Flowers of War (China)
The Kid With a Bike (Belgium)
In the Land of Blood and Honey (USA)
The Skin I Live In (Spain)     

Best Original Score

The Artist
W.E.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
War Horse

Best Animated Feature

The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Best Original Song

"Hello Hello" from Gnomeo and Juliet
"Lay Your Head Down" from Albert Nobbs
"The Living Proof" from The Help
"The Keeper" from Machine Gun Preacher
"Masterpiece" from W.E.       

Nomination Leaders

6 - The Artist
5 - The Descendants
4 - The Ides of March, Midnight in Paris, The Help, Moneyball 

Toronto Film Critics pick 'Tree of Life'

Toronto Film Critics Best of 2011

Best Picture: The Tree of Life
Best Director: Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life
Best Actor: Michael Shannon in Take Shelter
Best Actress: Michelle Williams in My Week With Marilyn
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer in Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain in Take Shelter
Best Screenplay: Moneyball
Best Foreign-Language Film: Mysteries of Lisbon
Best Documentary Feature: Nostalgia for the Light
Best First Feature: Attack the Block
Best Animated Feature: The Adventures of Tintin

'The Help' leads SAG nominees

Screen Actors Guild Award Nominees

Best Ensemble

The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris

Best Actor, Lead Role

Demian Bichir in A Better Life
George Clooney in The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin in The Artist
Brad Pitt in Moneyball

Best Actress, Lead Role

Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis in The Help
Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin 
Michelle Williams in My Week With Marilyn

Best Actor, Supporting Role

Kenneth Branagh in My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer in J. Edgar
Jonah Hill in Moneyball
Nick Nolte in Warrior
Christopher Plummer in Beginners

Best Actress, Supporting Role

Berenice Bejo in The Artist
Jessica Chastain in The Help
Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer in Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer in The Help       

'Artist,' 'Hugo' continue to rise in BFCA noms

Critics Choice Award Nominees 2011

Best Picture

The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

L.A. critics honor 'Descendants,' Malick

Los Angeles Film Critics Association 2011
Best Picture: The Descendants
Best Director: Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life
Best Actor: Michael Fassbender in Shame, A Dangerous Method, X-men: First Class and Jane Eyre
Best Actress: Yun Jung-hee in Poetry
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain in Coriolanus, The Debt, The Help, Texas Killing Fields, Tree of Life
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer in Beginners
Best Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi for A Separation
Best Music: Hanna
Best Production Design: Dante Ferretti for Hugo
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for The Tree of Life
Best Documentary: Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Best Animation: Rango