A Lot is My Favorite Number

This is the year of the small movie. LOTS of small movies, and no clear front runner in my mind for Best Picture. Who will win? As Woody Allen quipped in one of his classic small movies (Manhattan), "A lot is my favorite number." (Google it for the pretext)

Woody has been nominated a lot, but indeed has won Oscars, which puts him out of the frontrunner status for Midnight in Paris, a sweet, wistful ode to Paris with a cute but not amazing cast. He won for one of his best - Annie Hall (director and screenwriting) and captured another writing award for the best ensemble - Hannah and Her Sisters. I would venture to say that his real Best Picture miss was Crimes and Misdemeanors.

That leaves Alexander Payne and The Descendants as a potential winner - another solid cast, lead by George Clooney, but the plot is depressing and the movie is not one that implants itself in memory they way many Best Pictures do.

War Horse and The Artist have gotten too many mixed reviews, and not enough Box Office, so I'd say those are out too.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close has potential -- I must admit, I read the book but like so many have not yet seen the movie - will that hurt it? I pick Max Von Sydow for supporting actor as a kiss instead. Hugo - hmmm, I think it will win some awards but not BP. The Brad Pitt duo, Moneyball and The Tree of Life - small and fluffy or just small. That leaves The Help. A great cast, a big box office, well-made despite its sappiness, a feel-good movie that just might win. Just like Forrest Gump, which surprisingly beat more serious brethren years back.

"Life is Like A Box of Chocolates," Forrest quipped. So are the Academy Awards - you never know what you might get. So cast your votes in the comments - who do YOU think will win?

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