Our 2013 Oscar Predictions

Before the Oscars are announced on Monday 25 February (Australian time) we’re making our predictions of who will take out this year’s top awards. You can view


Nina Kenwood, Online Manager


Best Picture: Argo

Best Director: Steven Spielberg, Lincoln

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Sally Field, Lincoln

Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: Silver Linings Playbook

Best Writing, Original Screenplay: Django Unchained


Despite the much discussed fact Ben Affleck hasn’t been nominated for Best Director, I think Argo has too much momentum coming into the Oscars to not take out Best Picture, after winning at the Golden Globes, the BAFTAS and the Critics Choice Awards. Plus it was a terrific (if slightly forgettable) film.

I haven’t actually seen Lincoln yet, so I’m basing my decision off the fact that I don’t think the Academy voters will be able to resist Steven Spielberg or Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Director and Best Actor respectively. I loved Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in Silver Linings Playbook – she really made the movie for me – so I’m hoping to see a Best Actress win for her (I also think she’ll be best dressed on the night.)

For Best Supporting Actor, I think Christoph Waltz was a highlight of Django Unchained and should just beat out Philip Seymour Hoffman to win. I know Anne Hathaway is very much the favourite to win for Best Supporting Actress but as this article points out, some of the most famous upsets and surprise wins in Oscar history have occurred in the Best Supporting Actress category and I have a feeling there might be an unexpected win for Sally Field this year.

In the writing awards, Silver Linings Playbook is a lock for winning Best Adapted Screenplay. David O. Russell did a fantastic job of taking the core elements of the book and turning them into something else entirely in the film. And Django Unchained has such a bold, crazy script that I can’t see anyone else but Quentin Tarantino winning Best Original Screenplay.



Lou Fulco, Music and Film Specialist


Best Picture: Argo

Best Director: Steven Spielberg, Lincoln

Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis, Lincoln

Best Actress: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables

Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: Silver Linings Playbook

Best Writing, Original Screenplay: Django Unchained

Best Documentary Feature: Searching For Sugar Man


First, let me say this. It is an absolute disgrace that Ben Affleck is not nominated for Best Director. His movie Argo will most surely win Best Picture, and deservedly so. As each previous Awards ceremony this season has given Affleck the honours there must have been a few people looking for shadows in the windows of their swanky L.A. studio offices. Lincoln is of course a wonderful film (Daniel Day-Lewis will most certainly claim the statue for Best Actor) and Steven Spielberg won’t knock back the award now he looks set to take it home but that bad taste at the back of my throat Steven is, well. It just doesn’t taste that good.

I’m picking Silver Linings Playbook for the Adapted Screenplay nod. It’s a strong cast and an entertaining film that maybe in any other year could’ve achieved more. Best Documentary Feature is a shoe in for Searching for Sugar Man. It’s a great story and it’s good to see an artist now getting his due rewards.

Best Actress is a toss of the coin. Jennifer Lawrence is getting better with every film and she could easily take the gold but I personally have a thing for Jessica Chastain (heart skips a beat) and having seen her in Take Shelter, The Help and Texas Killing Fields, she has easily made the transition to being able to carry a film in her own right.

Les Misérables in any other year would give our Hugh the gong (he is amazing) but alas, Daniel Day-Lewis pulled more punch with the Americans. Anne Hathaway seems to be the supporting flavour of the year. Like her or hate her you cannot deny her obvious talent and willingness to tackle such widely varied roles. Bad luck goes to Sally Field in this category. You can’t have everything Lincoln … or can you?

(As if the Oscars aren’t rigged. I’ve seen West Wing. The President can do whatever he wants.)

And finally, any awards night would not be the same without the industry’s nutty professor taking home an award. Quentin Tarantino has again put together a cast of thousands to make up the genius that is Django Unchained.



Bronte Coates, Online and Readings Monthly Assistant


Best Short Film (animated): Fresh Guacamole


Just a small prediction from me as all I can really add to the above nominations is a resounding I totally agree. Daniel Day-Lewis is terrific in Lincoln, Anne Hathaway is heartbreaking in Les Misérables and really, what can Philip Seymour Hoffman do wrong?

My vote for the Best Animated Short is for Fresh Guacamole from PES (featured below). The gorgeous animation is simple and stunningly effective, from the avocado spilling out the side as it’s sliced open to that broken corn chip at the end. I swear I can’t watch this video without being hit with an instant craving for guacamole myself and with that said… BRB.