My Oscar predictions, 2012 (Update: 19/24)

Jean Dujardin stars in "The Artist"

And so goes another Oscar ceremony. I thought this year's awards were a classy, subtle show. There weren't gimmicks or desperate grabs for a younger audience. Billy Crystal was casual and charming. As far as surprises go, there were only two for me... "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" winning Best Film Editing and Meryl Streep taking home her third Oscar. Well, I'm sad for perceived frontrunner Viola Davis, but she'll have her Oscar soon. Streep went 12 nominations in a row without winning, so I'll let her have it. Maybe now there won't be a seemingly annual threat of Streep taking a statuette from another deserving actress. (Although, if she deserves it, she deserves it.)

My predictions were pretty good this year. I got 19 out of 24 correct and four of the winners in my missed categories were my alternate picks (Film Editing being the only complete flub).

Best Picture

"The Artist" WINNER (alt. "Hugo")

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist" WINNER (alt. Martin Scorsese, "Hugo")

Best Actor
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist" WINNER (alt. George Clooney, "The Descendants")

Best Actress
Viola Davis, "The Help" (alt. Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady" WINNER)

My dream Oscar ballot, 2012

The 84th Academy Awards are this Sunday and though you've already seen my top 20 films of 2011, I also want to share what I would've nominated in other categories. While my ten Best Picture nominees are my top ten films; my other 'nominees' have shifted a lot in the past couple of months since I've been able to revisit certain films, catch some that I missed earlier and really get to see certain players make their case on the press circuit. It's a fun time of year, but I'm looking forward to some resolution on Sunday. Anyway, here is my 'dream Oscar ballot.'

AJFF: "Intimate Grammar" (****1/2)

Roee Elsberg and Evelyn Kaplun star in "Intimate Grammar"

Many great films polarize their audience more than a presidential election. Take 2011, for instance. We had "The Tree of Life," "Melancholia" and "The Artist" seemingly split audiences down the middle between undying love and intense hatred. "Intimate Grammar" seems to be one of these films. While it is usually easier to tell why so many people fail to connect with a film that is loved by some; in this case, I just can't figure it out.

Nir Bergman's "Intimate Grammar," based on a beloved 1991 novel by David Grossman, is a beautiful film. While not an overly complicated film, each character boils over with complexities and the growing pains of a young nation are mirrored in the growing pains, both physical and emotional, of a young boy.

AJFF: "This is Sodom" (***)

Assi Cohen stars in "This Is Sodom"

"This is Sodom" managed to shatter all sorts of box office records, going on to become Israel's highest grossing film in nearly 30 years. The film was produced out of Israeli TV hit "Eretz Nehederet," a sketch show similar to "Saturday Night Live," so it is no wonder the film's outrageous humor covers all the bases; raunch, slapstick and satire.

Beth Grant, Carrie Preston among special guests at 2012 Macon Film Festival

Carrie Preston (top) and Beth Grant to showcase
films at 2012 Macon Film Festival.

With 125 films from around the globe screening, numerous workshops and after parties; the 7th annual Macon Film Festival promises to be the event's biggest year yet. Four special screenings highlight this year's fest.

On Thursday, February 16th, Grammy Award winning music video producer Joseph Uliano will showcase a collection of his work. The Dublin native is currently an executive producer at Wondros, a production collective out of Los Angeles that also houses such names as David O. Russell, Trent Reznor and Antoine Fuqua.

George Clooney's Oscar nominated film "The Ides of March" will screen at the Cox Capitol Theatre on Friday, the 17th. Political strategist and Macon native, Jay Carson, was the inspiration for Ryan Gosling's character in the film and will be in attendance.