Oscars Preview

The Academy Awards is a more uptight version of the Golden Globes. The stars don’t sit at big round tables, chatting with each other over food and cocktails. Instead, we get a more straight-laced, behaved award show, where (what is perceived to be) the top prize in Hollywood is given away – a statue of a little golden man.

The Oscars are a big deal to the rest of America, too. Last year, an estimated 39.3 million people tuned in. to watch the show. That’s 11 million more viewers than this year’s Grammy Awards had watched it too.

The 2013 Academy Awards are on at 8 p.m. On Feb. 24 on ABC and will be hosted by “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane. I’ve seen a number of the nominated movies throughout the past year, so, just like a sporting event, I have some favorites that I will be rooting for.

The leader right now among the nine nominated films seems to be “Argo.” Ben Affleck stars in and directs the based-on-a-true-story movie about a CIA operation to rescue six U.S. diplomats during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. It is a fun, edge-of-your-seat film that includes the best catchphrase of any in 2012, “Ar-go (f@#!) yourself.” Affleck’s character said it every time he took a shot of alcohol.

“Lincoln” included some spectacular acting, but I found it a tad boring. Lengthy congressional arguments just aren’t my thing. “Django Unchained” is perhaps Quentin Tarantino’s best movie yet. It might be my favorite this year, but it probably won’t win. “Silver Linings Playbook” was smart, sexy and funny; however, I just don’t think it’s of Best Picture caliber. “Zero Dark Thirty” was another crowd-pleaser, and if “Argo” doesn’t win, this realistic depiction of the hunt for Osama bin Laden just might. I haven’t seen the other four films, but I’ve heard good things.

I’d put money on it now: Daniel Day-Lewis is a shoe-in for his portrayal of the 16th President in “Lincoln.” The British actor may not be a household name here in the States, but he’s without a doubt the most skilled actor I’ve ever watched. Joaquin Phoenix also delivered a stellar performance in “The Master.” Check that out if you get the chance.

Insiders say Jennifer Lawrence is the frontrunner among the leading ladies. She was definitely a breath of fresh air in “Silver Linings Playbook,” where she starred opposite Bradley Cooper. Still, I wouldn’t count out Jessica Chastain, who anchored “Zero Dark Thirty.”

This stacked category includes Robert De Niro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Arkin and Tommy Lee Jones. But it’s the Austrian-born Christoph Waltz who will pull out a win here for his portrayal as the fast-talking Dr. Schultz in “Django Unchained.”

I haven’t seen “Les Misérables,” but Anne Hathaway seems destined to win. She recently won a Golden Globe for the role, so she’s got that Catwoman momentum. She stole the show in the “Les Misérables” trailer with her heartbreakingly tearful singing. Those tears just happen to be the very thing that Oscars are made of.