Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Scott Pask, The Book of Mormon
2) Donyale Werle, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
3) Derek McLane, Anything Goes
4) Beowulf Boritt, The Scottsboro Boys

Who Will Win:
Scott Pask, The Book of Mormon

Should Have Been Nominated:
Klara Zieglerova, Sister Act

Scenic Design of a Play

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Ultz, Jerusalem
2) Todd Rosenthal, The Motherf*cker with the Hat
3) Mark Wendland, The Merchant of Venice
4) Rae Smith, War Horse

Who Will Win:
Todd Rosenthal, The Motherf*cker with the Hat

Should Have Been Nominated:
Derek McLane, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

Lighting Design of a Musical

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Brian MacDevitt, The Book of Mormon
2) Ken Billington, The Scottsboro Boys
3) Howell Binkley, How To Succeed in Business…
4) Peter Kaczorowski, Anything Goes

Who Will Win:
Brian MacDevitt, The Book of Mormon

Who Should Have Been Nominated:
Kenneth Posner, Catch Me If You Can

Lighting Design of a Play

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) David Lander, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
2) Mimi Jordan Smith, Jerusalem
3) Paule Constable, War Horse
4) Kenneth Posner, The Merchant of Venice

Who Will Win:
Paule Constable, War Horse

Who Should Have Been Nominated:
Malcom Rippeth, Brief Encounter

Costume Design of a Musical

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
2) Ann Roth, The Book of Mormon
3) Martin Pakledinaz, Anything Goes
4) Catherine Zuber, How to Succeed in Business…

Who Will Win:
Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Who Should Have Been Nominated:
Catherine Zuber, Women on the Verge…

Costume Design of a Play

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Jess Goldstein, The Merchant of Venice
2) Mark Thompson, La Bete
3) Catherine Zuber, Born Yesterday
4) Desmond Heeley, The Importance of Being Earnest

Who Will Win:
Catherine Zuber, Born Yesterday

Who Should Have Been Nominated:
Ann Hould-Ward, A Free Man of Color

Sound Design of a Musical

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Brian Ronan, The Book of Mormon
2) Steve Canyon Kennedy, Catch Me If You Can
3) Brian Ronan, Anything Goes
4) Peter Hylenski, The Scottsboro Boys

Who Will Win:
Brian Ronan, The Book of Mormon

Who Should Have Been Nominated:
Jon Weston, How to Succeed in Business…

Sound Design of a Play

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Simon Baker, Brief Encounter
2) Christopher Shutt, War Horse
3) Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Jerusalem
4) Acme Sound Partners & Cricket S. Myers, Bengal Tiger…

Who Will Win:
Christopher Shutt, War Horse

Who Should Have Been Nominated:
M.L. Dogg, The Pee-Wee Herman Show

My Predictions
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
The Town
Toy Story 3
True Grit

My Ballot
Another Year
Blue Valentine
Fair Game
Inception
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
The King’s Speech
Never Let Me Go
Rabbit Hole
The Social Network
Somewhere

Best Actor

My Predictions
Javier Bardem, Biutiful
Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours

My Ballot
Stephen Dorff, Somewhere
Aaron Eckhart, Rabbit Hole
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine

Best Actress

My Predictions
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

My Ballot
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Lesley Manville, Another Year
Ruth Sheen, Another Year
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Best Supporting Actor

My Predictions
Christian Bale, The Fighter
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

My Ballot
Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech
Justin Timberlake, The Social Network

Best Supporting Actress

My Predictions
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

My Ballot
Marion Cotillard, Inception
Elle Fanning, Somewhere
Kiera Knightley, Never Let Me Go
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Dianne Wiest, Rabbit Hole

Best Director

My Predictions
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
David O. Russell, The Fighter
Christopher Nolan, Inception
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
David Fincher, The Social Network

My Ballot
Mike Leigh, Another Year
Derek Cianfrance, Blue Valentine
Christopher Nolan, Inception
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
David Fincher, The Social Network

Best Adapted Screenplay

My Predictions
The Social Network
The Town
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter’s Bone

My Ballot
Fair Game
The Ghost Writer
Rabbit Hole
The Social Network
The Town

Best Original Screenplay

My Predictions
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech

My Ballot
Another Year
Blue Valentine
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech

Best Film Editing

My Predictions
Black Swan
Inception
The King’s Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

My Ballot
Blue Valentine
Inception
The Social Network
Somewhere
The Town

Best Cinematography

My Predictions
Black Swan
Inception
The King’s Speech
Shutter Island
True Grit

My Ballot
Blue Valentine
Inception
The King’s Speech
Never Let Me Go
The Social Network

Best Art Direction

My Predictions
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
Inception
The King’s Speech
Shutter Island
True Grit

My Ballot
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
Inception
The King’s Speech
Never Let Me Go
The Social Network

Best Costume Design

My Predictions
Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
The King’s Speech
Made in Dagenham
True Grit

My Ballot
Black Swan
Burlesque
Inception
The King’s Speech
Never Let Me Go

Best Makeup

My Predictions
Alice in Wonderland
Barney’s Version
The Way Back

My Ballot
Black Swan
Burlesque
Inception

Best Visual Effects

My Predictions
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
Inception
Iron Man 2
Tron: Legacy

My Ballot
Black Swan
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
Inception
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
The Social Network

Best Original Score

My Predictions
How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
The King’s Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

My Ballot
Another Year
Inception
The King’s Speech
Never Let Me Go
The Social Network

Best Original Song

My Predictions
“You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me”, Burlesque
“Coming Home”, Country Strong
“If I Rise”, 127 Hours
“I See The Light”, Tangled
“Shine”, Waiting for ‘Superman’

My Ballot
“Bound to You”, Burlesque
“You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me”, Burlesque
“Coming Home”, Country Strong
“Give in to Me”, Country Strong
“Me and Tennessee”, Country Strong

Best Animated Feature

My Predictions
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

My Ballot
The Illusionist
Tangled
Toy Story 3

Best Documentary Feature

My Predictions
Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Inside Job
Restrepo
Waiting for ‘Superman’

My Ballot
Catfish
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Waking Sleeping Beauty
William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe

The Nominees/What Should Win:
1) The Social Network
2) The King’s Speech
3) Inception
4) Black Swan
5) The Fighter

What Will Win: The King’s Speech
What Should Have Been Nominated: Blue Valentine

Best Picture–Musical/Comedy

What Should Win:
1) The Kids Are All Right
2) Burlesque
3) Alice in Wonderland
4) Red
The Tourist

What Will Win: The Kids Are All Right
What Should Have Been Nominated: Easy A

Best Actor–Drama

Who Should Win:
1) Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
2) Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
3) Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
4) James Franco, 127 Hours
5) Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

Who Will Win: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
Who Should Have Been Nominated: Stephen Dorff, Somewhere

Best Actress–Drama

Who Should Win:
1) Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
2) Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine
3) Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
4) Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Halle Berry, Frankie & Alice

Who Will Win: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Who Should Be Nominated: Lesley Manville, Another Year

Best Actor–Musical/Comedy

Who Should Win:
1) Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs
2) Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp, The Tourist
Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version
Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack

Who Will Win: Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
Who Should Have Been Nominated: John C. Reilly, Cyrus

Best Actress–Musical/Comedy

1) Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
2) Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right
3) Emma Stone, Easy A
4) Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs
Angelina Jolie, The Tourist

Who Will Win: Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Who Should Have Been Nominated: Gwenyth Paltrow, Country Strong

Best Supporting Actor

Who Should Win:
1) Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
2) Jeremy Renner, The Town
3) Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
4) Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech
5) Christian Bale, The Fighter

Who Will Win: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Who Should Have Been Nominated: Justin Timberlake, The Social Network

Best Supporting Actress

Who Should Win:
1) Mila Kunis, Black Swan
2) Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
3) Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom
4) Amy Adams, The Fighter
5) Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Who Will Win: Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Who Should Have Been Nominated: Dianne Wiest, Rabbit Hole

Best Director

Who Should Win:
1) David Fincher, The Social Network
2) Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
3) Christopher Nolan, Inception
4) Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
5) David O. Russell, The Fighter

Who Will Win: David Fincher, The Social Network
Who Should Have Been Nominated: Mike Leigh, Another Year

Best Screenplay

What Should Win:
1) The Social Network
2) Inception
3) The Kids Are All Right
4) The King’s Speech
5) 127 Hours

What Will Win: The Social Network
What Should Have Been Nominated: Rabbit Hole

Best Original Song

What Should Win:
1) “Coming Home” Country Strong
2) “You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me” Burlesque
3) “Bound to You” Burlesque
4) “I See The Light” Tangled
5) “There’s A Place for Us” The Chronicles of Narnia…

What Will Win: “You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me” Burlesque
What Should Have Been Nominated: “Give In To Me” Country Strong

Best Original Score:

Who Should Win:
1) The Social Network
2) The King’s Speech
3) Inception
4) 127 Hours
5) Alice in Wonderland

What Will Win: Inception
What Should Have Been Nominated: Never Let Me Go

Best Animated Film

What Should Win:
1) Toy Story 3
2) Tangled
3) The Illusionist
4) How To Train Your Dragon
Despicable Me

What Will Win: Toy Story 3
What Should Have Been Nominated: —-

Best Foreign Film

The Nominees:
1) I Am Love
Biutiful
The Concert
The Edge
In A Better World

What Will Win: Biutiful
What Should Be Nominated: —-

Best TV–Comedy

What Should Win:

1) 30 Rock
2) Nurse Jackie
3) Modern Family
4) The Big C
5) Glee
The Big Bang Theory

What Will Win: Glee

Best Actor–TV/Comedy

Who Should Win:
1) Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
2) Steve Carrell, The Office
3) Matthew Morrison, Glee
Thomas Jane, Hung
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Who Will Win: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Best Actress–TV/Comedy

Who Should Win:
1) Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
2) Tina Fey, 30 Rock
3) Laura Linney, The Big C
4) Lea Michele, Glee
Toni Collette, The United States of Tara

Who Will Win: Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie

Best TV–Drama

The Nominees:
1) Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
The Good Wife
Mad Men
The Waking Dead

What Will Win: Boardwalk Empire

Best Actor—TV/Drama

The Nominees:
1) Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House

Who Will Win: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire

Best Actress–TV/Drama

The Nominees:
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Piper Perabo, Covert Affairs
Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy
Kyra Sedgwick, The Close

Who Will Win: Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Best Miniseries/Made-for-TV-Movie

The Nominees:
1) You Don’t Know Jack
2) Temple Grandin
Carlos
The Pacific
The Pillar of the Earth

Who Will Win: Carlos

Best Actor–Miniseries/TV Movie

The Nominees:
1) Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack
2) Dennis Quaid, The Special Relationship
Idris Elba, Luther
Ian McShane, The Pillars of the Earth
Edgar Ramirez, Carlos

Who Will Win: Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack

Best Actress–Miniseries/TV Movie

The Nominees:
1) Claire Danes, Temple Grandin
Hayley Atwell, The Pillars of the Earth
Judi Dench, Return to Cranford
Romola Garai, Emma
Jennifer Love Hewitt, The Client List

Who Will Win: Claire Danes, Temple Grandin

Supporting Actor–Television

Who Should Win:
1) Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
2) Chris Colfer, Glee
3) David Straitharn, Temple Grandin
Scott Caan, Hawaii Five-O
Chris Noth, The Good Wife

Who Will Win: Chris Colfer, Glee
Who Should Have Been Nominated: Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock

Best Supporting Actress–Television

Who Should Win:
1) Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
2) Jane Lynch, Glee
3) Hope Davis, The Special Relationship
4) Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Julia Stiles, Dexter

Who Will Win: Jane Lynch, Glee
Who Should Have Been Nominated: Eve Best, Nurse Jackie

The best, smartest thriller in years, Inception was the perfect thinking man’s (or woman’s) summer popcorn movie.  Great performances all around, especially Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon Levitt, and Cillian Murphy–but the star of the show is director/writer Christopher Nolan.  His intense dedication to the material is the foundation upon which the black holes of the film thrive in.

9. Never Let Me Go
Directed by Mark Romanek, Written by Alex Garland, Adapted from the book by Kazuo Ishiguro
Watch the trailer

A masterful adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s surely brilliant book (I haven’t read it yet), the futuristic science fiction drama chronicles the life of three young people being raised by the government for the harvesting of their organs.  This film succeeds where many others in the genre don’t because of the intense focus on their three protagonists and making a film about the humanity of people created as a sub-human class.  Haunting score, beautiful cinematography, and a career-best performance from Keira Knightley.

8. Catfish/Exit Through The Gift Shop
Directed by Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman/Directed by Banksy
Watch the trailer for “Catfish”
Watch the trailer for “Exit Through The Gift Shop”

Two of the most talked about documentaries this year had lingering questions to audiences about the factuality and possible “truthiness” or outright fraud of the filmmakers.  Those who try to qualify these films based on sorting out the reality of them miss the point.  The two docs, one following a Facebook romance gone wrong, the latter a genius of modern art created out of thin air, are two of the most exciting films of the year.  Seeing Catfish on opening weekend before the story became its relationship with truth, I was only left with one of the most suspenseful afternoons I’d had in the theatre in a long time, and honestly I don’t care what’s real: it’s great filmmaking either way.  Documentary filmmaking by way of gonzo journalism may be a new loop for moviegoers but left us with two of the best movies of the year.  Or maybe it’s all true.  I don’t know, and I don’t really care.

7. Somewhere
Directed and Written by Sofia Coppola
Watch the trailer

Very similar in tone and style to her previous masterpiece Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola has created a beautiful (if lesser) film about the blossoming of a father-daughter relationship years too late.  While she is very familiar in themes to the aforementioned work, it fits nicely as a companion piece and a West Coast answer to the craters of loneliness and depression of being a stranger in a strange land.  Incredible breakthrough performance from Elle Fanning, and Stephen Dorff masters Coppola’s unique filmmaking style with ease.

6. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Directed by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg
Watch the trailer

The best documentary of the year, and the best show business documentary ever, is a sympathetic portrait of a resilient comedy icon.  Unlike the brash comedienne, the filmmakers take no cheap shots, never making Rivers a caricaturization, and never resorting to pity.  Beginning as Rivers stares in horror at the stark white of her booking calendar, we see a woman resorting to any gig and any opportunity to make money to desperately cling to her lifestyle, and more importantly to any love or admiration she can muster from audiences.  The film’s climax at her Comedy Central Roast sent chills down my spine in a way few documentaries manage.

5. The King’s Speech
Directed by Tom Hooper, Written by David Seidler
Watch the trailer

The King’s Speech is predictable, formulaic and at times cliche.  Yet, it uses formula and even cliche so well in its favor–it is a beautifully crafted and exciting film filled with wonderful performances from the entire cast.  It’s just absolute A-class filmmaking, and will surely become an instant classic of the British film canon (as well as something every high school history teacher will play the week before winter break for the entirety of secondary education.)

4. Another Year
Directed and Written by Mike Leigh
Watch the trailer

Mike Leigh’s tender portrait of over-the-hill Brits Tom and Gerri (the understated and undeniably brilliant Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen), and their influx of houseguests throughout the course of the year, most notably Gerri’s co-worker, Mary (Lesley Manville in the best performance of the year) who swallows wine and desperation by the bottle full.  It is rare for something so moving to rarely let the smile (brought upon by those saucy Brits) ever leave your face.

3. Rabbit Hole
Directed by John Cameron Mitchell, Written by David Lindsay-Abaire
Watch the trailer

The film adaptation of one of my favorite plays of the last decade rarely disappoints.  While director John Cameron Mitchell occasionally doesn’t trust the material enough to steer away from swelling music and a few dips into melodrama territory, the words on the page are illuminous enough to shine through a few poor choices in an otherwise flawless film.  Nicole Kidman turns in her best performance since Moulin Rouge and The Hours a decade ago as a grieving mother trying to grapple with a return to normalcy months after the death of her son.  Dianne Weist is indescribably wonderful, while Aaron Eckhart, Tammy Blanchard, Sandra Oh and Miles Teller all give remarkable performances in a nearly perfect cast.

2. Blue Valentine
Directed by Derek Cianfrance, Written by Derek Cianfrance, Joey Curtis & Cami Delavigne
Watch the trailer

Blue Valentine hits you like a sucker punch to the gut, the pieces of which I’m still sorting out after yesterdays viewing.  The debut feature film from director Derek Cianfrance is moody, gritty, romantic and disturbing–and uniquely different from anything I’ve ever seen in movie theatres.  Ryan Gosling is a performing dynamo, layering his character Dean shot by shot, and is both attractive and repellent in perfect measure.  Michelle Williams does not disappoint and matches Gosling beat-for-beat.  The intensity of the film will likely lead to it being a turn-off to a lot of people, and I can foresee criticism of it being overwrought but not a moment felt false to me.

1. The Social Network
Directed by David Fincher, Written by Aaron Sorkin
Watch the trailer

The defining movie of the millennial generation, The Social Network‘s Mark Zuckerberg is an anti-hero at the level of American Beauty‘s Lester Burnham, Cuckoo’s Nest‘s McMurphy, or dare I say it The Godfather‘s Michael Corleone.  And what makes this one generation-defining is that Zuckerberg will scour you with his words but refuse to make eye contact.  As someone’s whose college experience was defined in part (probably too large a part) by Facebook, and by living in a generation of unparalleled self-confidence and drive mixed with debilitated interpersonal social skills, I have yet to see an artistic expression that so accurately foreshadowed the crisis of personality that will be had when people of the millenial generation control the country.  Zuckerberg, as the first of it to break through on his own as an international business tycoon, is both timely to the minute and as classic in inspiration and structure as a character in Shakespearean tragedy.  Sorkin is on top of his game in writing one of the best screenplays in years, and Fincher creates a thrilling story that never dulls for its two hours.  I could have gone for another hour, I’m not sure I’ve ever felt that way at the end of a movie before.

Honorable Mentions:

Waking Sleeping Beauty/Trailer

Documentary with extremely limited release chronicles the golden age of Disney animation from The Little Mermaid through The Lion King after a string a failures in the 80′s left the department dead in the water.  You should Netflix it, definitely a captivating watch.

Fair Game/Trailer

I’m a sucker for a good political thriller, and this one does not disappoint.  Shying away from exploiting its overt leftist tendencies, Naomi Watts and Sean Penn make the story more human than political.

Easy A/Trailer

Best teen comedy since Superbad.  Its achingly clever, fast, and always fun.  Emma Stone is a comedic dynamo, and definitely an upcoming talent to watch.

Burlesque/Trailer

When your aim is obviously to make the campiest, most frivolous, most instantly cult classic and midnight show mainstay as Burlesque, you have to give them due credit for succeeding so admirably.  And Cher is legit incredible, I mean, f’realizes.  Plus, X-Tina can belt her face off.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World/Trailer

So clever, so fun.  Loved pretty much every second of it.  And Michael Cera isn’t annoying in this!

Outstanding Performances of the Year (in alphabetical order)

Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right

Stephen Dorff, Somewhere

Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

Andrew Garfield, Never Let Me Go & The Social Network

Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine

Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole

Keira Knightley, Never Let Me Go

Mila Kunis, Black Swan

Lesley Manville, Another Year

Jeremy Renner, The Town

Dianne Wiest, Rabbit Hole

10) Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies, The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (Manhattan Theatre Club)

Highlights: Amazing Laura Linney performance, Very solid supporting turns from Brian D’Arcy James, Eric Bogosian, and Alicia Silverstone, Topical play that delicately masters tough subjects with dignity and driven purely by character

9) The Boys in the Band by Mart Crowley, Transport Theatre Group

Highlights: Environmental production which made the tension of the penthouse living room both deliciously voyeuristic and made what could have been a chestnut of a “Virginia Woolf” rip-off a timely, immediate powerhouse

8 ) When The Rain Stops Falling by Andrew Bovell, The Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre (Lincoln Center Theatre)

Highlights: Uniformly terrific ensemble in a ingeniously directed Australian epic spanning hundreds of years, Mary Beth Hurt sitting in that chair drinking her bottle of wine was one of the most powerful theatrical images of the year

7) Enron by Lucy Prebble,  The Broadhurst Theatre

Highlights: Daring, bold, inventive, and incisive; Enron’s flop was a tough-pill for me to swallow as one of my favorite new plays of the year–it is really unfortunate that this couldn’t attract an audience

6) The Divine Sister by Charles Busch, The Soho Playhouse

Highlights: Sinfully delightful drag nun farce that produces more laughs in 90 minutes than almost anything I’ve ever seen

5) Brief Encounter by Noel Coward (adapted by Emma Rice), Studio 54 (Kneehigh Theatre, presented by Roundabout Theatre Company)

Highlights: Brilliant stage craft, wonderfully charming, little gems of Noel Coward tunes, and a sing-a-long jam session in the lobby after the show

4) A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, The Walter Kerr Theatre

Highlights: Bernadette Peters, Elaine Stritch, glorious Sondheim score, best replacement casting ever

3) Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris, Playwrights Horizons

Highlights: Best new play of the year offers a sucker punch to the “enlightment” of race relations in the age of Obama, deliriously wonderful performance by Christina Kirk, great ensemble in a first-class production

2) The Scottsboro Boys by John Kander, Fred Ebb & David Thompson, The Lyceum Theatre/The Vineyard Theatre

Highlights: Best new musical in years, a Kander & Ebb score on par with Cabaret and Chicago, Susan Stroman, Perfect ensemble, John Cullum’s Interlocuter rivaling Joel Grey’s Emcee in brilliance

1) Angels in America by Tony Kushner, Signature Theatre Company

Highlights:  First-class production of the 7-hour Tony Kushner masterpiece which manages to never bore, tire, or outstay its welcome, Zachary Quinto, Michael Grief’s sleek direction

This is certainly not an exciting year for new musicals.  The line-up of nominees is downright anemic compared to recent years, and it’s easy to imagine any of last years also-rans winning the race outright next to this bunch.  However, there is a bright spot, and that is Fela! This exciting and electric new work from Bill T. Jones is a natural successor to insurgent musicals like Passing Strange and the original Hair, which push the natural limits of musical theatre storytelling to present something dynamic and thrilling that relates to its audience on terms not necessarily comfortable for the traditional Broadway audience.  Part concert, part dance piece, part performance art, and part book musical–Fela! is a bright spot on a rather dim season.  The Musical race also includes the earnest American Idiot, which tries too hard to say too much in its pulsing 90 minutes, but features more bright spots than dull ones.  Memphis, the only original book musical of the bunch, feels wholly unoriginal.  It is a musical about black music in the South written by white people from New Jersey, whose ideas of southern culture of the ’60s seems to be drawn only from bad movies.  However, it does have bright moments, and despite all that’s wrong with it, I did enjoy myself.  Lastly is the rock musical with absolutely no edge, Million Dollar Quartet, which presents a fated night at Sun Records with Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins as an ineffectual tribute concert with a failed attempt at plot and conflict.  The music is great, but it is generally performed without spirit or connection, and I would much rather watch a videotaped concert than this show.  The saving force of the show is Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis, who transcends the bad material and stunted performers around him, and for that he should be rewarded as a Featured Actor.

What Should Win Rankings:

1) Fela!

2) American Idiot

3) Memphis

4) Million Dollar Quartet

What Will Win: Memphis

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Everyday Rapture

Best Revival of a Musical

I adored the charming revival of Finian’s, was thoroughly impressed (though not entirely in love) with Ragtime, enjoyed A Little Night Music but found the production itself to be lacking, and loathed the La Cage revival that didn’t quite know what it wanted to be.  Guess which one is going to win…but I’ve hated Tony winners in the past, and will hate them in the future.  I am excited that they picked the most enjoyable number, The Best of Times, for their Tony performance.  I am also saddened by the Promises, Promises snub, which many others hated but I found absolutely delightful.

What Should Win Rankings:

1) Finian’s Rainbow

2) Ragtime

3) A Little Night Music

4) La Cage aux Folles

What Will Win: La Cage aux Folles

What Should Have Been Nominated: Promises, Promises

The Other Categories

Best Play/Revival of a Play

Best Actor/Actress in a Musical

Best Actor/Actress in a Play

Best Featured Performances

Best Costume/Scenic Design

All Other Categories

Nomination/Win Breakdowns

Fela!
11 nominations, 6 Should Wins, 3 Will Wins

La Cage aux Folles
11 nominations, 0 Should Wins, 4 Will Wins

Fences
10 nominations, 0 Should Wins, 3 Will Wins

Memphis
8 nominations, 1 Should Win, 5 Will Wins

Ragtime
7 nominations, 0 Should Wins, 0 Will Wins

Red
7 nominations, 1 Should Win, 5 Will Wins

A View From The Bridge
6 nominations, 4 Should Wins, 0 Will Wins

The Royal Family
5 nominations, 2 Should Wins, 0 Will Wins

Enron
4 nominations, 1 Should Win, 0 Will Wins

A Little Night Music
4 nominations, 1 Should Win, 0 Will Wins

Promises, Promises
4 nominations, 0 Should Wins, 1 Will Win

Everyday Rapture
2 nominations, 2 Should Wins, 0 Will Wins

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Memphis (Music by David Bryan, Lyrics by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan)

2) Enron (Music by Adam Cork, Lyrics by Lucy Prebble)
[I couldn't find a clip of just the music, but there are a few clips of it in this PBS story, which is actually a pretty good recap of what I thought was the best show of the year, and also it's second biggest flop]

3) Fences (Music by Branford Marsalis)

4) The Addams Family (Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa)

Who Will Win: Fences (Music by David Bryan, Lyrics by David Bryan & Joe DiPietro)

Best Book of a Musical

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Everyday Rapture, by Sherie Rene Scott and Dick Scanlan

Sherie Rene Scott: Topeka: the Kickapoo word for a good place to dig for potatoes.  Topeka town motto; Latin, not Kickapoo: reductio ad absurdium, which I think means really, really absurd.  Population: 117,893…churches.  And our family worshipped at all but one or two, after we ditched the Mennonites.  We got tired of the whole “good works” thing.  ”Raise your own fucking barn!” my dad used to say.  We’d laugh.

2) Fela! by Jim Lewis & Bill T. Jones

3) Memphis by Joe DiPietro

4) Million Dollar Quartet by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux

Who Will Win: Memphis by Joe DiPietro

Should Have Been Nominated: American Idiot by Michael Mayer and Billie Joe Armstrong

Best Direction of a Play

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Gregory Mosher, A View From The Bridge

2) Michael Grandage, Red

3) Kenny Leon, Fences

4) Sheryl Kaller, Next Fall

Who Will Win: Michael Grandage, Red

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Rupert Goold, Enron

Best Direction of a Musical

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Bill T. Jones, Fela!

2) Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime

3) Christopher Ashley, Memphis

4) Terry Johnson, La Cage aux Folles

Who Will Win: Terry Johnson, La Cage aux Folles

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Michael Mayer, Everyday Rapture

Best Choreography

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Bill T. Jones, Fela!

2) Rob Ashford, Promises Promises

3) Lynne Page, La Cage aux Folles

-Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away

Who Will Win: Bill T. Jones, Fela!

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Sergio Trujillo, Memphis

Best Orchestrations

1) Aaron Johnson, Fela!

2) Daryl Waters & David Bryan, Memphis

3) Jonathon Tunick, Promises Promises

4) Jason Carr, La Cage aux Folles

Who Will Win: Daryl Waters & David Bryan, Memphis

Should Have Been Nominated: Tom Kitt, Everyday Rapture

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Mark Henderson, Enron

2) Neil Austin, Red

3) Brian MacDevitt, Fences

4) Neil Austin, Hamlet

Who Will Win: Neil Austin, Red

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Russel H. Champa, In The Next Room

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Robert Wierzel, Fela!

2) Donald Holder, Ragtime

3) Nick Richings, La Cage aux Folles

4) Kevin Adams, American Idiot

Who Will Win: Kevin Adams, American Idiot

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Howell Binkley, Memphis

Best Sound Design of a Play

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Adam Cork, Red

2) Adam Cork, Enron

3) Acme Sound Partners, Fences

4) Scott Lehrer, A View From The Bridge

Who Will Win:  Adam Cork, Red

Listen to the sound design nominees

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Dan Moses Schreier, Sondheim on Sondheim

2) Robert Kaplowitz, Fela!

3) Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen, A Little Night Music

4) Jonathon Deans, La Cage aux Folles

Who Will Win: Robert Kaplowitz, Fela!

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Brian Ronan, American Idiot

A very weak category leaves me no one that I’m incredibly enthusiastic for, just largely a group of talented actors in small or poorly written parts.  However, Levi Kreis is the sole lifeblood in the clumsy jukebox revue Million Dollar Quartet, and deserves the award for that impossible job.  Fitzgerald was magically charming in Finian’s, and Bobby Steggert was the shining standout of the Ragtime ensemble with a bright future.  Personally, I would have chosen American Idiot‘s Stark Sands over all of them.

Who Should Win Breakdown:

1) Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet

2) Christopher Fitzgerald as Og in Finian’s Rainbow

3) Bobby Steggert as Mother’s Younger Brother in Ragtime

4) Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family

5) Robin de Jesus as Jacob in La Cage aux Folles

Who Will Win: Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet

Should Have Been Nominated: Stark Sands as Tunny in American Idiot

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

This Tony should be Lansbury’s sixth–she takes a supporting role and owns the Walter Kerr Theatre with it as the commanding master of ceremonies over the Sondheim revival A Little Night Music.  Everyone seems to have Finneran fever, which I don’t understand in the least.  The role is very funny, due to Neil Simon and Hal David’s writing; however, Finneran does very little as the part would have to be cast with someone with no comic timing at all to mess it up, but I couldn’t help but leave thinking of handfuls of musical commedienes who could have really pulled out all the stops for Marge.  Finneran is largely mediocre, and will get a Tony for it.  Oh well.

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music

2) Lillias White as Funimilayo in Fela!

3) Barbara Cook as Herself in Sondheim on Sondheim

4) Katie Finneran as Marge MacDougall in Promises Promises

-Karine Plantadit as Kate in Come Fly Away

Who Will Win: Katie Finneran as Marge MacDougall in Promises Promises

Should Have Been Nominated: Terri White as Dottie in Finian’s Rainbow

Best Featured Actor in a Play

The five nominees give strong performances.  Redmayne has the edge of having a leading role in a supporting category, and it’s a shame that it will probably prevent great work like that of Jon Michael Hill, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Stephen Kunken from getting recognized.

What Should Win Rankings:

1) Jon Michael Hill as Franco Wicks in Superior Donuts

2) Eddie Redmayne as Ken in Red

3) Stephen McKinley Henderson as Bono in Fences

4) Stephen Kunken as Andy Fastow in Enron

5) David Alan Grier as Henry Brown in Race

Who Will Win: Eddie Redmayne as Ken in Red

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Brian D’Arcy James as James Dodd in Time Stands Still

Featured Actress in a Play

Another strong group, with the dramatic turns of A View From The Bridges‘ Scar-Jo and Jess-Hec, the comedic tour de force of Jan-Max, and the matronly charm of Ro-Hare.  I would be happy with any of these four winning, with a personal preference towards Hecht.  Maria Dizzia, while often good, gave too clunky of a performance for Tony gold, and I would have traded her slot for Enron‘s Marin Mazzie.

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Jessica Hecht as Bea in A View From the Bridge

2) Scarlett Johannson as Catherine A View From The Bridge

3) Jan Maxwell as Maria in Lend Me A Tenor

4) Rosemary Harris as Fanny Cavendish in The Royal Family

5) Maria Dizzia as Mrs. Daldry in In The Next Room (or the vibrator play)

Who Will Win: Jan Maxwell as Maria in Lend Me A Tenor

Should Have Been Nominated: Marin Mazzie as Claudia Roe in Enron

This movie-star packed category includes four dynamic leading men, and Jude Law.  While I don’t love Alfred Molina’s performance fully, it is a capable and dense take on Mark Rothko.  Christopher Walken is a marvel as he manages to milk every moment in a pretty bad play, but makes it something that is wholly enjoyable, almost entirely on his own.  Liev Schrieber and Denzel Washington both give absolutely incredible turns in two of the best roles of dramatic literature.  This should be a two-man race, but I think Tony voters could be swayed by the pretentious critical darling, Red, and its star Molina.  The real crime of this category though is the snub of Norbert Leo Butz in Enron who gave a world class performance with his take on Jeffrey Skilling, but was sadly overlooked.

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Liev Schreiber, A View From The Bridge

2) Denzel Washington, Fences

3) Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane

4) Alfred Molina, Red

5) Jude Law, Hamlet

Who Will Win: Denzel Washington, Fences

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Norbert Leo Butz, Enron

Leading Actress in a Play

Another wonderful category of performers, with four performances I adored, and Valerie Harper, who gives a performance that isn’t exactly Tony-nomination material, but is certainly a wonderful scenery-chewing delight.  If any of the other four were to win, I would be very pleased.  I’ll throw in a nod to Carrie Fisher as well, who gives a much more human take on campy scenery chewing for the fifth slot.

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Linda Lavin, Collected Stories

2) Laura Linney, Time Stands Still

3) Viola Davis, Fences

4) Jan Maxwell, The Royal Family

5) Valerie Harper, Looped

Who Will Win: Viola Davis, Fences

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Carrie Fisher, Wishful Drinking

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Paul Tazewell, Memphis

2) Marina Draghici, Fela!

3) Matthew Wright, La Cage aux Folles

Who Will Win: Matthew Wright, La Cage aux Folles

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, The Addams Family

Costume Design of a Play

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Catherine Zuber, The Royal Family

2) David Zinn, In The Next Room (or the vibrator play)

3) Costanza Romero, Fences

4) Martin Pakledinaz, Lend Me A Tenor

Who Will Win: David Zinn, In The Next Room (or the vibrator play)

Who Should Have Been Nominated: Jane Greenwood, A View From The Bridge

Scenic Design in a Musical

Who Should Win Rankings:

1) Christine Jones, American Idiot

2) Derek McLane, Ragtime

3) Marina Draghici, Fela!

4) Tim Shortall, La Cage aux Folles

Who Will Win: Marina Draghici, Fela!

Should Have Been Nominated: David Gallo, Memphis

Scenic Design of a Play

1) John Lee Beatty, The Royal Family

2) Santo Loquasto, Fences

3) Christopher Oram, Red

*Alexander Dodge, Present Laugher (did not see before closing)

Who Will Win: John Lee Beatty, The Royal Family

Should Have Been Nominated: Anthony Ward, Enron