A scene from Hamilton, with creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, center, as the first secretary of the Treasury. OK, this is the year to jump into the Tony Awards pool. The problem is you have to find people who do not know that Hamilton is likely to sweep the musical categories. Or you have to know which of the three featured actors in Hamilton will emerge triumphant. Even if you … [Read more...]
Hap’s (not-so-) fearless Tony predictions
Oy, this is not a good year for sticking one’s neck out and predicting the Tony winners this Sunday evening (8 p.m., CBS-TV). There are no front-runners, like The Book of Mormon, which won in every category in which it was nominated and pundits could look prescient. I’m thinking the honors are going to be spread around so that all shows can have bragging rights and a chance … [Read more...]
Oscar predictions: ‘12 Years’ for picture, McConaughey for actor
Several of the acting categories in the 86th annual Academy Awards appear to be locked up, but the top statuette for Best Picture is headed towards a photo finish this Sunday evening. By most accounts, 2013 was a solid year at the movies, with an array of first-rate releases. Nine films received the required 5 percent of first-place votes and, therefore, are in the running to … [Read more...]
Oscar predictions: It’ll be ‘Argo’ for Best Picture
Being snubbed for a Best Director Oscar nomination may turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to Ben Affleck. No, there are no write-in votes allowed for the Academy Awards, so Affleck will not get a statuette this Sunday night for helming the involving, suspenseful, occasionally accurate Argo. But ever since he was passed over for a nomination, there has been a … [Read more...]
Oscar predictions: ‘Artist,’ Clooney, Streep, Plummer, Spencer
2012 will officially become the year of the silent, black-and-white film after Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony. That is when The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius’s clever homage to the early days of the movies will be anointed as the best picture of the year. Of course, it is not. The Descendants is, but there is no denying the groundswell of affection in Hollywood for the band of … [Read more...]