Oscars 2013: Predict the Best Picture Winner!

Argo is the frontrunner, but Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty and Les Misérables also compete

By John Boone Feb 22, 2013 11:45 PMTags
Oscar Predictions, Zero Dark Thirty, Silver Linings Playbook, Les Miserables, Life of PiUniversal Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, The Weinstein Company

The 85th annual Oscars (it's not the Academy Awards anymore, people) is mere days away, which means it's time for you to finalize your prediction on the biggest category of the night.

Which of the five nominated films will win Best Picture? Your choices are:

Argo: Though Ben Affleck was snubbed for a Best Director nomination, his film—about the CIA's covert plot to extract American diplomats from revolutionary Iran—is the frontrunner for the big win, having already won the BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Award.

Zero Dark Thirty: A onetime favorite for the award, the saga of the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden (starring Best Actress nominee Jessica Chastain) picked up the National Board of Review Best Film award but has lost some steam since.

David James, SMPSP

Lincoln: Another leader of the pack, Steven Spielberg's biopic of the president (starring Best Actor nominee Daniel Day-Lewis) won the AFI Award for Movie of the Year.

Beasts of the Southern Wild: A favorite at both Sundance (where it won Grand Jury) and Cannes, the gothic bayou tale (starring Best Actress Quvenzhané Wallis) is considered a beloved underdog.

Silver Linings Playbook: Director David O. Russell's sorta-rom-com about a biopolar man reclaiming his former life has gotten more attention for its acting (by Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, etc.) than for the movie as a whole.

Life of Pi: Visionary Ang Lee's adaptation of the classic novel about a boy and tiger has picked up a handful of cinematography awards, but will the Oscars honor the film itself...or all those amazing visual effects?

Amour: So far this award season, the harrowing look at love in death (starring Best Actress contender Emmanuelle Riva) has practically swept the Best Foreign Film category, but the real test will come when it goes head-to-head with non-imports.

Django Unchained: Quentin Tarantino's controversial Western has picked up the BAFTA and Golden Globe for Original Screenplay, but seems to be a longshot for the title of Best Picture.

Les Misérables: Anne Hathaway is a guaranteed win for the musical theater adaptation and it did win Best Picture, Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes. But will the music play on when it's up against the dramatic fair?

Poll

Oscar Predictions: Best Picture

Who will win Best Picture at the 2013 Oscars?
Amour
2.1%
Argo
43%
Beasts of the Southern Wild
1.6%
Django Unchained
6.2%
Les Misérables
14.1%
Life of Pi
4.7%
Lincoln
11%
Silver Linings Playbook
14.2%
Zero Dark Thirty
3.1%