Today is the big day! For now, I am going to keep this post more positive and optimistic and simply talk about this year's nominations and my predictions and hopes. In another post I may discuss some of my disappointments with this past year's general output of quality films.
I have now officially seen all of the Best Picture nominees as well as a healthy dose of other general nominees. Generally, I am going to predict all of the categories, even though, for some of the categories, I have not seen any of the nominations at all. Therefore, for a category such as Best Documentary Short, my thoughts will likely be quite arbitrary and possibly based on something as trivial as the name or subject of the piece...
Jump further down the list for the 'bigger' awards.
Short Film (Animated)
Prediction - Bao
Hope - Bao
Short Film (Live)
Prediction - Skin
Hope - Fauve
Production Design
Prediction - First Man
Hope - The Favourite
Makeup and Hairstyling
Prediction - Vice
Hope - Mary Queen of Scots
Costume Design
Prediction - The Favourite
Hope - The Favourite
Sound Editing
Prediction - Bohemian Rhapsody
Hope - First Man
Sound Mixing
Prediction - Bohemian Rhapsody
Hope - Bohemian Rhapsody
Music (Original Score)
Prediction - If Beale Street Could Talk
Hope - Black Panther
Visual Effects
Prediction - Ready Player One
Hope - Ready Player One
Documentary (Feature)
Prediction - RBG
Hope - Free Solo
Documentary (Short)
Prediction - Period. End of Sentence
Hope - A Night at the Garden
Film Editing
Prediction - Bohemian Rhapsody
Hope - Vice
Music (Original Song)
Prediction - Shallow (Lady Gaga)
Hope - Shallow (Lady Gaga)
Star is Born was a decent film in my eyes but not one that I feel deserves any of the major awards. It is undeniable though that, in classic Gaga fashion, Shallow is a rousing and catchy tune that should take home the prize.
Foreign Language Film
Prediction - Roma
Hope - Shoplifters
This is one of the strongest outputs this category has had in recent memory. To me, Shoplifters was one, if not the best film I saw all year (I will be writing about this in a future article). However, it is also up against two of the bigger heavyweights of the year - Roma and Cold War - and so its chance of winning the Oscar may be a bit of a stretch.
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Prediction - The Favourite
Hope - First Reformed
First Reformed, and Paul Schrader historically, have been snubbed at this year's the Oscars. Schrader should have won it many years ago for Taxi Driver and/or Raging Bull, and, in a just world, should have a good shot at it here again with First Reformed.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Prediction - BlacKkKlansman
Hope - BlacKkKlansman
Animated Feature
Prediction - Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse
Hope - Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse
Yes. Just, yes. One of the most entertaining and visually stunning I've seen in recent years. The innovative new form of animation used makes it feel that you are watching a true comic book film. Plus, it has Nic Cage.
Cinematography
Prediction - Cold War
Hope - Roma
In my opinion, both of these are beautifully shot films. I feel I have not given enough love to Roma in my selections here (it is a good film and worth seeing) and therefore I hope for it to take home this award.
Supporting Actor
Prediction - Mahershala Ali
Hope - Mahershala Ali
For more discussion here, take a look at my recent review of Green Book. The two actors in the film elevate Green Book to new heights. Ali brings a needed vulnerability to the character of Dr. Shirley making it difficult to turn your eyes away from any scene he is in.
Supporting Actress
Prediction - Regina King
Hope - Regina King
I am not alone in thinking that Beale Street deserved more nominations than it received. King gives a moving and memorable performance in the film and I hope that Beale Street is able to take home at least one award.
Directing
Prediction - BlacKkKlansman
Hope - BlacKkKlansman
This is one of a few categories where the winner may be one who has been 'due' for many years. Spike Lee has been in the business for decades now, continuously creating important and provocative films about black America. BlacKkKlansman may not be his best, but he does deserves an Oscar and unfortunately we cannot reverse the clock.
Lead Actor
Prediction - Rami Malek
Hope - Willem Dafoe
This category is a bit unfair as I am rooting for a film I have yet to see. Simply, I am an avid Dafoe fan and so would love to see him take home the big award. Malek does give a strong performance as Freddie Mercury and I would understand why he may ultimately take home the award.
Lead Actress
Prediction - Glen Close
Hope - Olivia Colman
Unfortunately, I have not seen The Wife for which many predict Close will win her long-deserved Best Actress award. As I have seen The Favourite I throw my stones in with Colman who, along with her two supporting actresses, gives a memorable performance as the eccentric and ailing, Queen Anne.
Picture
Prediction - Green Book
Hope - The Favourite
I wouldn't necessarily take an issue with the award going to Green Book or Roma. Both are good films though the former is quite standard-fare and the latter can be quite slow-moving at times. Neither of these are true faults in the films. Of recent, I am simply in the mindset of looking for a film that is more outside-of-the-box, one that grabs our attention and sticks in our minds for other reasons than simply being a 'well-made movie'. My pick therefore is the zany, out-of-place, time piece that is The Favourite. An idiosyncratic piece of non-fiction with very modern sensibilities about Queen Anne and the two women closest to her. It is worth a watch by anyone who enjoys a little quirkiness and humour in their stories about history.
I have now officially seen all of the Best Picture nominees as well as a healthy dose of other general nominees. Generally, I am going to predict all of the categories, even though, for some of the categories, I have not seen any of the nominations at all. Therefore, for a category such as Best Documentary Short, my thoughts will likely be quite arbitrary and possibly based on something as trivial as the name or subject of the piece...
Jump further down the list for the 'bigger' awards.
Short Film (Animated)
Prediction - Bao
Hope - Bao
Short Film (Live)
Prediction - Skin
Hope - Fauve
Production Design
Prediction - First Man
Hope - The Favourite
Makeup and Hairstyling
Prediction - Vice
Hope - Mary Queen of Scots
Costume Design
Prediction - The Favourite
Hope - The Favourite
Sound Editing
Prediction - Bohemian Rhapsody
Hope - First Man
Sound Mixing
Prediction - Bohemian Rhapsody
Hope - Bohemian Rhapsody
Music (Original Score)
Prediction - If Beale Street Could Talk
Hope - Black Panther
Visual Effects
Prediction - Ready Player One
Hope - Ready Player One
Documentary (Feature)
Prediction - RBG
Hope - Free Solo
Documentary (Short)
Prediction - Period. End of Sentence
Hope - A Night at the Garden
Film Editing
Prediction - Bohemian Rhapsody
Hope - Vice
Music (Original Song)
Prediction - Shallow (Lady Gaga)
Hope - Shallow (Lady Gaga)
Star is Born was a decent film in my eyes but not one that I feel deserves any of the major awards. It is undeniable though that, in classic Gaga fashion, Shallow is a rousing and catchy tune that should take home the prize.
Foreign Language Film
Prediction - Roma
Hope - Shoplifters
This is one of the strongest outputs this category has had in recent memory. To me, Shoplifters was one, if not the best film I saw all year (I will be writing about this in a future article). However, it is also up against two of the bigger heavyweights of the year - Roma and Cold War - and so its chance of winning the Oscar may be a bit of a stretch.
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Prediction - The Favourite
Hope - First Reformed
First Reformed, and Paul Schrader historically, have been snubbed at this year's the Oscars. Schrader should have won it many years ago for Taxi Driver and/or Raging Bull, and, in a just world, should have a good shot at it here again with First Reformed.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Prediction - BlacKkKlansman
Hope - BlacKkKlansman
Animated Feature
Prediction - Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse
Hope - Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse
Yes. Just, yes. One of the most entertaining and visually stunning I've seen in recent years. The innovative new form of animation used makes it feel that you are watching a true comic book film. Plus, it has Nic Cage.
Cinematography
Prediction - Cold War
Hope - Roma
In my opinion, both of these are beautifully shot films. I feel I have not given enough love to Roma in my selections here (it is a good film and worth seeing) and therefore I hope for it to take home this award.
Supporting Actor
Prediction - Mahershala Ali
Hope - Mahershala Ali
For more discussion here, take a look at my recent review of Green Book. The two actors in the film elevate Green Book to new heights. Ali brings a needed vulnerability to the character of Dr. Shirley making it difficult to turn your eyes away from any scene he is in.
Supporting Actress
Prediction - Regina King
Hope - Regina King
I am not alone in thinking that Beale Street deserved more nominations than it received. King gives a moving and memorable performance in the film and I hope that Beale Street is able to take home at least one award.
Directing
Prediction - BlacKkKlansman
Hope - BlacKkKlansman
This is one of a few categories where the winner may be one who has been 'due' for many years. Spike Lee has been in the business for decades now, continuously creating important and provocative films about black America. BlacKkKlansman may not be his best, but he does deserves an Oscar and unfortunately we cannot reverse the clock.
Lead Actor
Prediction - Rami Malek
Hope - Willem Dafoe
This category is a bit unfair as I am rooting for a film I have yet to see. Simply, I am an avid Dafoe fan and so would love to see him take home the big award. Malek does give a strong performance as Freddie Mercury and I would understand why he may ultimately take home the award.
Lead Actress
Prediction - Glen Close
Hope - Olivia Colman
Unfortunately, I have not seen The Wife for which many predict Close will win her long-deserved Best Actress award. As I have seen The Favourite I throw my stones in with Colman who, along with her two supporting actresses, gives a memorable performance as the eccentric and ailing, Queen Anne.
Picture
Prediction - Green Book
Hope - The Favourite
I wouldn't necessarily take an issue with the award going to Green Book or Roma. Both are good films though the former is quite standard-fare and the latter can be quite slow-moving at times. Neither of these are true faults in the films. Of recent, I am simply in the mindset of looking for a film that is more outside-of-the-box, one that grabs our attention and sticks in our minds for other reasons than simply being a 'well-made movie'. My pick therefore is the zany, out-of-place, time piece that is The Favourite. An idiosyncratic piece of non-fiction with very modern sensibilities about Queen Anne and the two women closest to her. It is worth a watch by anyone who enjoys a little quirkiness and humour in their stories about history.
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