It’s that time of year again. The Academy Award nominees are about to be announced, and on March 7, the Oscars will be awarded. This means that you have only a few weeks to prepare for the most important part of the Oscars to the ordinary citizen: The Oscar betting pool. Whether you’re playing for $1000, $10 or bragging rights, betting on the Oscars is the only way to fully enjoy the experience. In that spirit, here are a few tips for winning your Oscar pool.
Track Other Awards Shows
The Golden Globes voters and the Academy voters aren’t the same group, but they’re the same TYPE of group. Watching how the Golden Globes and other awards shows goes can give you a good guideline as to what your Oscar picks should be. Also, pay attention to any Hollywood buzz you hear. There is an element of politics to these awards shows and unlike, say, the guy on the other end of that 900 number you call every Sunday morning, if a Hollywood insider says a nominee is a lock for a particular category, they probably are.
Pair Correctly
The film that wins Best Director wins Best Picture. Always, always, always. Well, OK, not ALWAYS, but only four times in the last twenty years has the Best Picture Oscar failed to go to the film that won Best Director. If you’re playing the odds, put the same film in the Best Director and Best Picture slots. You can thank me later.
See the Foreign Language Films
Field goals win playoff games and foreign language films win Oscar pools. That one point can make the difference between film buff obscurity and Oscar glory. Go see these films and read all the reviews you can so you can make an informed choice. Everyone else is just going to pick the first French title they see.
Bet with Your Head, not with Your Heart
Forget about who you WANT to win. This is the Academy, and there are certain “Academy” pictures and “Academy” performances. Hopefully you’ve watched enough Oscars by now to get a feel for what those are. If you’re struggling with choosing between the “obvious” choice and the one you really think was the best, don’t count on the Academy to look beneath the surface and pick the upset. Go for the slam dunk.
There you go. That’s all you need to win your Oscar pool.
Note: Following the above tips in no way guarantees you will win your Oscar pool.
Comments
Oscar De La Globe
January 29th, 2010 - 1:21:03 PM
Thank you so much Mr. CBerger, without your tireless efforts, I would never have a chance at this year's Oscar pool! Not since I KNEW Sly's seminal piece of art/landmark movie, Oscar, was going to be cut out of the awards shows for insider politics (damn you Spielberg, damn you to Hades)have I felt as confident as I do right now.
1
James
January 29th, 2010 - 3:20:02 PM
If Craig Berger says it, you can take it to the bank... I've won 3 years straight, and this year I really feel the pressure!! You have to go with the mistakes you know the Academy will make, as opposed to who the awards SHOULD go to... sometimes they get it right, but bank on the sentimental faves, as well as the FACT that it is the Academy of Arts and SCIENCES!!! Avatar, folks. Sandra Bullock, folks. Though Meryl Streep as Julia Child is one of the finest performances I have EVER seen.
2