Awards Insights

Tag: oscars 2021

  • Golden Globe Nominations Announcement Aftermath

    Golden Globe Nominations Announcement Aftermath

    Finally, one of the most significant precursors in the Oscar race released its nominations.

    First and foremost, the pool of films that might be nominated has increased to 12 from the 10 that the AFI released last week. Now the list is: Da 5 Bloods, Judas and the Black Messiah, Mank, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Minari, Nomadland, One Night in Miami, Soul, Sound of Metal, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and now The Father and Promising Young Woman. We’ll find out on February 7th (Super Bowl Sunday) if Critics’ Choice adds anything to this list.

    A stat that I want to mention is that no Best Picture winner in at least the last 10 years has won the award without being at least nominated for a Picture award, Best Director, and Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes. This year, four films fit that criteria: Mank, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

    Stats tell us that these are the four films that can win Best Picture. Another stat, every Best Picture-winning film in at least the last ten years has been chosen as either one of the AFI’s Top 10 or as the recipient of their Special Award. Promising Young Woman is the only film that fails in this criteria.

    Mank wasn’t received too warmly so we’ree back to where we started a race between Nomadland and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

     

  • ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ is my new pick for Best Picture

    ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ is my new pick for Best Picture

    Judas and the Black Messiah is my new pick for Best Picture. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last night to glowing reviews (its Metascore is currently an 86). What a film needs to be to win in this day and age is timely/relevant and conventionally entertaining. 4 of the 5 last Best Picture-winning films (except for maybe The Shape of Water) could be put in both of those categories.

    Peter Debruge of Variety calls the film “explosive” and “indisputably timely” in his review and those are exactly the kind of words that I was looking for and I truly do believe that this film will win Best Picture.

    Nomadland is the frontrunner for most people and was my frontrunner but I do not think it is a conventionally entertaining movie. It has the most support from the critics, but like ‘Roma’ two years ago, it could falter because the average moviegoer might find it “boring”.

    From the reviews I have seen, ‘Judas’ is the opposite of boring and it is timely so it has everything it needs to win Best Picture. The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Promising Young Woman also have the qualities I mentioned above but Judas and the Black Messiah seems comparatively more relevant considering this past year with the massive racial justice protests we have seen across the country.

    So, with all that said, I’ll probably have Judas and the Black Messiah in the top spot in my predictions this month.

  • January Oscar Predictions

    January Oscar Predictions

    We’re at the stage in the game where we essentially know what films will be considered. In my view, there are 13 films that have a good chance to get a Best Picture nomination, the ten I put in my predictions and News of the World, Soul, and Sound of Metal. 6 of these films (Nomadland, ‘Trial’, Mank, ‘Ma Rainey’, Minari, and ‘One Night’) I think are essentially locked in for a nomination while the rest will probably shuffle around until nomination morning on March 15th.

    I was thinking of leaving out Da 5 Bloods from my nominations this month, but the film has continued to stay relevant in the race due to the enormous attention it has received from the critics’ awards in a variety of categories. It seems this film, even though it was released in June, will be remembered come Oscar nomination morning.

    At this point in the race, I think there are only 3 films that can win Best Picture Nomadland, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Judas and the Black Messiah. The first two have been widely-seen and are generally well-liked by both the critics and public. However, Judas and the Black Messiah has not been seen by the general public but early word is very good and if this movie makes a big impact with critics then this film will shoot up on this list.

    This is the first time I have Promising Young Woman in the top 10 and I think it will stay there since due to this category’s use of the preferential ballot, films with a passionate following benefit, which is something this film has in spades.

    I’m keeping The Father and News of the World as they are films that will likely appeal to the “old guard” of the Academy but at the same I don’t see as much passion behind them and something like Da 5 Bloods, Soul, or Sound of Metal could easily take up one of their slots.

    BEST PICTURE

    Nomadland (Searchlight)

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)

    Minari (A24)

    Mank (Netflix)

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)

    One Night in Miami (Amazon)

    Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.)

    The Father (Sony Classics)

    Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

    Promising Young Woman (Focus)

    Could Jump In: News of the World, Soul, Sound of Metal, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, First Cow, The United States vs Billie Holliday, Malcolm and Marie, On the Rocks, The Prom, Cherry

     

    Chloe Zhao does not look like she can lose this at this point in the race. Something may change but Zhao is the director of a top 3 Best Picture contender and has won essentially all of the critics’ awards so far for Best Director.

    To me, Zhao, Fincher, and Sorkin are all but assured a nomination with the bottom two slots being more of a question mark.

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Chloe Zhao – Nomadland

    David Fincher – Mank

    Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Regina King – One Night in Miami

    Lee Isaac Chung – Minari

    Could Jump In: George C. Wolfe – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Paul Greengrass – News of the World, Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods, Shaka King – Judas and the Black Messiah, Florian Zeller – The Father

     

    Like Zhao in director, there doesn’t seem to be a way that Boseman loses this. His performance has been getting plaudits from everywhere and while he is not far and away the leader in critics’ awards he has won at the ones that are more predictive of success at the Oscars.

    I had trouble leaving Yeun out of the top five and if Mank continues to receive a mostly tepid reception from the public and critics’ groups, Oldman might drop out. Ahmed, Boseman, and Lindo are the actors receiving the most attention from the critics’ groups and while I didn’t have Ahmed in here last month his performance (and his film for that matter) is gaining notices.

    BEST ACTOR

    Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Anthony Hopkins – The Father

    Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods

    Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal

    Gary Oldman – Mank

    Could Jump In: Steven Yeun – Minari, Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah, Tom Hanks – News of the World, John David Washington – Malcolm and Marie, Kingsley Ben-Adir – One Night in Miami

     

    Carey Mulligan is slowly but surely rising up the ranks as her performance continues to get more and more recognition. She and McDormand are getting most of the attention in this category from critics’ groups, but don’t underestimate Davis who would become only the second-ever Black woman to win in this category (Halle Berry won for Monster’s Ball in 2002).

    Zendaya is coming off a surprise Emmy win and her performance in Malcolm and Marie is being praised as one of the best of the year by the critics that have seen the film. That Emmy momentum could propel Zendaya in to the top five but she would likely replace either Kirby or Day.

    BEST ACTRESS

    Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman

    Frances McDormand – Nomadland

    Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman

    Andra Day – The United States vs Billie Holliday

    Could Jump In: Zendaya – Malcolm and Marie, Sidney Flanigan – Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Sophia Loren – The Life Ahead, Kate Winslet – Ammonite, Meryl Streep – The Prom

     

    Daniel Kaluuya is getting raves from the few reviews of Judas and the Black Messiah that are out there and I don’t really see him not being a nominee. Odom Jr. and Baron Cohen are definitely his Kaluuya’s main competition in this category and either of these actors playing historical figures could win.

    Paul Raci has (by far) won the most critics’ awards in this category and that catapults him into the top five this month. I don’t see him winning because his film is not a frontrunner but it’s definitely a possibility.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah

    Leslie Odom Jr. – One Night in Miami

    Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Paul Raci – Sound of Metal

    Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods

    Could Jump In: Bill Murray – On the Rocks, Mark Rylance – The Trial of the Chicago 7, Stanley Tucci – Supernova, Glynn Turman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, David Strathairn – Nomadland

     

    I don’t see anybody outside of my top six listed here getting nominated in this category. However, choosing that one actress that will get left out is difficult. But I’m going to go with Close since her film was widely panned.

    Maria Bakalova and Youn Yuh-Jung have won most of the critics’ awards in this category but they both have things working against them. Bakalova’s performance was in a comedy and as purely comedic performances hardly ever get nominated, Bakalova has to work through that barrier.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Amanda Seyfried – Mank

    Olivia Colman – The Father

    Ellen Burstyn – Pieces of a Woman

    Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

    Youn Yuh-Jung – Minari

    Could Jump In: Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy, Dominique Fishback – Judas and the Black Messiah, Jodie Foster – The Mauritanian, Helena Zengel – News of the World, Saoirse Ronan – Ammonite

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Promising Young Woman

    Mank

    Minari

    Judas and the Black Messiah

    Could Jump In: Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Soul, Da 5 Bloods, Palm Springs, Sound of Metal

     

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    Nomadland

    One Night in Miami

    The Father

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    First Cow

    Could Jump In: News of the World, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Pieces of a Woman, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, The United States vs. Billie Holiday

     

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    Soul

    Wolfwalkers

    Onward

    Over the Moon

    Earwig and the Witch

    Could Jump In: A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, The Croods: A New Age, Lupin III: The First, Trolls: World Tour, Demon Slayer

     

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    Mank

    News of the World

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    The Personal History of David Copperfield

    Mulan

    Could Jump In: The Midnight Sky, The Trial of the Chicago 7, One Night in Miami, The Prom, Tenet

     

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Nomadland

    Mank

    News of the World

    Tenet

    Judas and the Black Messiah

    Could Jump In: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Trial of the Chicago 7, One Night in Miami, Da 5 Bloods, The Midnight Sky

     

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Mank

    Emma

    Mulan

    The United States vs Billie Holiday

    Could Jump In: The Personal History of David Copperfield, News of the World, The Prom, Ammonite, The Trial of the Chicago 7

     

    BEST FILM EDITING

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Nomadland

    Mank

    News of the World

    One Night in Miami

    Could Jump In: Tenet, Judas and the Black Messiah, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Father, Da 5 Bloods

     

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Hillbilly Elegy

    Mank

    Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

    The United States vs Billie Holiday

    Could Jump In: Bill and Ted Face the Music, The Prom, Birds of Prey, Emma., Mulan

     

    BEST SOUND

    Sound of Metal

    Tenet

    The Midnight Sky

    Mank

    Soul

    Could Jump In: News of the World, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Prom, The Invisible Man

     

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    Tenet

    The Midnight Sky

    Greyhound

    The Invisible Man

    Mulan

    Could Jump In: Wonder Woman 1984, Mank, Sonic the Hedgehog, Birds of Prey, The One and Only Ivan

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Soul

    Mank

    News of the World

    Minari

    The Midnight Sky

    Could Jump In: Tenet, Da 5 Bloods, The Little Things, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    One Night in Miami

    The Life Ahead

    Over the Moon

    All In: The Fight for Democracy

    Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

    Could Jump In: The Prom, Trolls: World Tour, Miss Americana, The Outpost, The One and Only Ivan

     

    BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

    Dick Johnson is Dead

    Crip Camp

    All In: The Fight For Democracy

    Time

    Totally Under Control

    Could Jump In: Boys State, Collective, The Truffle Hunters, Welcome to Chechnya, John Lewis: Good Trouble, The Way I See It, MLK/FBI

     

    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

    Another Round

    Night of the Kings

    I’m No Longer Here

    Collective

    Quo Vadis, Aida?

    Could Jump In: A Sun, Charlatan, Two of Us, Dear Comrades!, The Auschwitz Report

  • Early October Predictions

    Early October Predictions

    Since the last time I posted a set of predictions so much has happened. I have already talked about Nomadland winning the Golden Lion and the TIFF People’s Choice Award, and the enormous buzz surrounding One Night in Miami, but I have not talked about the great reviews The Trial of the Chicago 7 is getting or how West Side Story has moved from this year to winter 2021.

    These developments and more factor in greatly to the race and I will elaborate on them as I go on.

     

    While Nomadland has received the best reviews out of every contender so far (it has a 98 Metascore), I think One Night in Miami will win as it will likely be appealing to the older members of the Academy (it is a “talky” film that centers around major historical figures) and the younger members as it is timely and relevant to the current moment. If enough people love One Night in Miami it will definitely win as it seems like it will have a very broad appeal.

    The top 4 (even though Mank still has not been seen) essentially feel locked for Best Picture nominations.

    BEST PICTURE

    One Night in Miami (Amazon)

    Nomadland (Searchlight)

    Mank (Netflix)

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)

    News of the World (Universal)

    Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.)

    Dune (Warner Bros.)

    The Father (Sony Classics)

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)

    Soul (Disney/Pixar)

    Could Jump In: Da 5 Bloods, Minari, Ammonite, Hillbilly Elegy, United States vs. Billie Holliday, On the Rocks, Respect, Tenet, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Stillwater, Cherry

     

    Even though Fincher is overdue, Mank has to receive at least an 86 metascore for him to win Best Director. Essentially, his film has to garner universal acclaim and while that is likely, details about the film are still very uncertain as we have not even gotten a trailer yet.

    Watch out for Shaka King in this category (and Judas and the Black Messiah in general) as the film’s trailer was amazing and if executed well the film seems like it will have just the right mixture of timeliness and entertainment value to do well at the Oscars.

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Chloe Zhao – Nomadland

    David Fincher – Mank

    Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Regina King – One Night in Miami

    Paul Greengrass – News of the World

    Could Jump In: Shaka King – Judas and the Black Messiah, Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods, Denis Villeneuve – Dune, George C. Wolfe – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Francis Lee – Ammonite, Florian Zeller – The Father, Sofia Coppola – On the Rocks

     

    This category has been pretty stable compared to others but this month I have Hopkins topping Lindo as The Father is having a great run on the festival circuit and I am starting to think that Da 5 Bloods may be slightly forgotten by the time ballots are filled since it was released in June and the Oscars are in April.

    BEST ACTOR

    Anthony Hopkins – The Father

    Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods

    Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah

    Gary Oldman – Mank

    Tom Hanks – News of the World

    Could Jump In: Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal, Steven Yeun – Minari, Kingsley Ben-Adir – One Night in Miami, Tom Holland – Cherry, Ben Affleck – The Way Back, Eddie Redmayne – The Trial of the Chicago 7, Matt Damon – Stillwater

     

    Vanessa Kirby shot up these rankings as her performance in Pieces of a Woman received absolutely stellar notices at both the Venice and Toronto film festivals (she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at Venice). However, I am not sure if her high placement will hold as Pieces of a Woman does not seem like it will be a major contender in any non-acting category.

    BEST ACTRESS

    Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Frances McDormand – Nomadland

    Michelle Pfeiffer – French Exit

    Kate Winslet – Ammonite

    Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman

    Could Jump In: Jennifer Hudson – Respect, Andra Day – United States vs Billie Holliday, Amy Adams – Hillbilly Elegy, Sophia Loren – The Life Ahead, Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman, Rashida Jones – On the Rocks, Jessie Buckley – I’m Thinking of Ending Things

     

    Even though critics have not seen it yet, Chadwick Boseman’s final performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom has generated a lot of positive talk and Boseman may receive his first Oscar nomination.

    I am still not sure if Sacha Baron Cohen or Eddie Redmayne is the lead in the Trial of the Chicago 7, but either way Cohen will probably get a nod for his work as Abbie Hoffman.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

    David Strathairn – Nomadland

    Yahya Abdul-Mateen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Leslie Odom Jr. – One Night in Miami

    Could Jump In: Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah, Bill Murray – On the Rocks, Mark Rylance – The Trial of the Chicago 7, Frank Langella – The Trial of the Chicago 7, Steven Yeun – Minari, Charles Dance – Mank

     

    It feels like déjà vu doesn’t it? Glenn Close and Olivia Colman are again the frontrunners in a category after Olivia Colman pulled off a stunning upset over Close to win Best Actress in 2019. Unlike that year, Close’s film Hillbilly Elegy is a larger contender than The Wife ever was and, as a result, Close will be even more of a contender this year if her performance is of the same pedigree.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy

    Olivia Colman – The Father

    Amanda Seyfried – Mank

    Saoirse Ronan – Ammonite

    Audra McDonald – Respect

    Could Jump In: Helena Zengel – News of the World, Ellen Burstyn – Pieces of a Woman, Youn yuh-Jung – Minari, Swankie – Nomadland, Meryl Streep – The Prom, Mary J. Blige – Respect, Abigail Breslin – Stillwater

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Mank

    Soul

    Minari

    Judas and the Black Messiah

    Could Jump In: Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Da 5 Bloods, On the Rocks, Promising Young Woman, Ammonite, Respect, Palm Springs

     

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    One Night in Miami

    Nomadland

    The Father

    News of the World

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Could Jump In: Hillbilly Elegy, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Dune, The United States vs Billie Holliday, French Exit, First Cow, Next Goal Wins

     

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    Soul

    Over the Moon

    Wolfwalkers

    Onward

    The Croods: A New Age

    Could Jump In: Connected, The Willoughbys, Trolls: World Tour, Lupin III: The First, Rumble

     

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    Mank

    Dune

    Mulan

    News of the World

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Could Jump In: The Personal History of David Copperfield, Ammonite, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Respect, One Night in Miami

     

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Nomadland

    Mank

    Dune

    News of the World

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Could Jump In: One Night in Miami, No Time to Die, Tenet, Judas and the Black Messiah, Da 5 Bloods

     

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Mank

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    The Personal History of David Copperfield

    Dune

    Ammonite

    Could Jump In: Mulan, Coming 2 America, Death on the Nile, Emma, One Night in Miami

     

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    Birds of Prey

    Dune

    Respect

    Mank

    The United States vs Billie Holliday

    Could Jump In: Mulan, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ammonite, News of the World, The Trial of the Chicago 7

     

    BEST EDITING

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Mank

    Nomadland

    Dune

    News of the World

    Could Jump In: One Night in Miami, Judas and the Black Messiah, Tenet, Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

     

    BEST SOUND

    Tenet

    Dune

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Sound of Metal

    Soul

    Could Jump In: News of the World, No Time to Die, Da 5 Bloods, Respect, The Invisible Man

     

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    Dune

    Tenet

    Greyhound

    Mulan

    Sonic the Hedgehog

    Could Jump In: Wonder Woman 1984, Birds of Prey, The Call of the Wild, No Time to Die, The One and Only Ivan

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Soul

    Dune

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Da 5 Bloods

    News of the World

    Could Jump In: Mank, Over the Moon, Ammonite, The United States vs. Billie Holliday, One Night in Miami

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    No Time to Die

    Over the Moon

    The One and Only Ivan

    One Night in Miami

    Giving Voice

    Could Jump In: Miss Americana, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Soul, Trolls: World Tour

  • Early June Oscar Predictions

    Early June Oscar Predictions

    With talk in the Academy of postponing the Oscars, these predictions may be farther from the ceremony than was initially thought. What got me to make a new set of predictions was the Cannes Film Festival unveiling their would-be participating films and some movements in the list reflect this announcement (especially in the International Feature category).

    Well, without further ado, here are my predictions.

    BEST PICTURE

    Mank (Netflix)

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Paramount)

    Nomadland (Searchlight)

    West Side Story (20th Century)

    Dune (Warner Bros.)

    Ammonite (Neon)

    Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

    Tenet (Warner Bros.)

    News of the World (Universal)

    Soul (Pixar)

    Could Jump In: Hillbilly Elegy, The French Dispatch, Stillwater, C’mon C’mon, Annette, On the Rocks, The Father, Minari, Next Goal Wins, I’m Thinking of Ending Things

    BEST DIRECTOR

    David Fincher – Mank

    Steven Spielberg – West Side Story

    Chloe Zhao – Nomadland

    Denis Vileneuve – Dune

    Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods

    Could Jump In: Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7, Christopher Nolan – Tenet, Francis Lee – Ammonite, Wes Anderson – The French Dispatch, Paul Greengrass – News of the World, Sofia Coppola – On the Rocks, Ron Howard – Hillbilly Elegy, Tom McCarthy – Stillwater, Leos Carax – Annette

    BEST ACTOR

    Gary Oldman – Mank

    Bill Murray – On the Rocks

    Tom Hanks – News of the World

    Joaquin Phoenix – C’mon C’mon

    Anthony Hopkins – The Father

    Could Jump In: Adam Driver – Annette, Matt Damon – Stillwater, Eddie Redmayne – The Trial of the Chicago 7, Michael Fassbender – Next Goal Wins, Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods, Ansel Elgort – West Side Story, Timothee Chalamet – Dune, Andrew Garfield – The Eyes of Tammy Faye, John David Washington – Tenet

    BEST ACTRESS

    Michelle Pfeiffer – French Exit

    Kate Winslet – Ammonite

    Frances McDormand – Nomadland

    Marion Cotillard – Annette

    Jennifer Hudson – Respect

    Could Jump In: Amy Adams – Hillbilly Elegy, Rachel Zegler – West Side Story, Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman, Jessie Buckley – I’m Thinking About Ending Things, Angelina Jolie – Those Who Wish Me Dead, Jennifer Lawrence – Red, White, and Water, Sidney Flanigan – Never Rarely Sometimes Always

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Tom Burke – Mank

    Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods

    David Strathairn – Nomadland

    Jesse Plemons – I’m Thinking of Ending Things

    Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Could Jump In: Benicio del Toro – The French Dispatch, Lucas Hedges – French Exit, Richard E. Grant – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Jonathan Majors – Da 5 Bloods, Tom Pelphrey – Mank, Mark Rylance – The Trial of the Chicago 7, Charles Dance – Mank, Marlon Wayans – Respect, Bill Murray – The French Dispatch

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Saoirse Ronan – Ammonite

    Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy

    Rashida Jones – On the Rocks

    Amanda Seyfried – Mank

    Abigail Breslin – Stillwater

    Could Jump In: Ariana DeBose – West Side Story, Gabby Hoffman – C’mon C’mon, Toni Colette – I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Lily Collins – Mank, Olivia Colman – The Father, Mary J. Blige – Respect, Elisabeth Moss – Next Goal Wins, Cherry Jones – The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Claire Foy – Louis Wain

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Mank

    Da 5 Bloods

    On the Rocks

    Ammonite

    Could Jump In: Soul, The French Dispatch, Tenet, C’mon C’mon, Annette, Stillwater, The King of the Staten Island, BIOS, Minari

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    Nomadland

    News of the World

    Hillbilly Elegy

    West Side Story

    Dune

    Could Jump In: Next Goal Wins, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Those Who Wish Me Dead, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Respect, The Prom, Mulan

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    Soul

    Onward

    Over the Moon

    Where is Anne Frank?

    Earwig and the Witch

    Could Jump In: Wolfwalkers, The Croods 2, Connected, The Willoughbys, Tom and Jerry, Trolls: World Tour

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    Tenet

    Mank

    The French Dispatch

    Dune

    West Side Story

    Could Jump In: Ammonite, The Trial of the Chicago 7, News of the World, Da 5 Bloods, Respect, Mulan, The Witches

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Dune

    Mank

    Tenet

    West Side Story

    The French Dispatch

    Could Jump In: Da 5 Bloods, Nomadland, Ammonite, Hillbilly Elegy, Annette, The Trial of the Chicago 7, News of the World

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Mank

    Ammonite

    The French Dispatch

    Dune

    West Side Story

    Could Jump In: Da 5 Bloods, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Respect, Coming 2 America, The Witches, Mulan, The Prom

    BEST FILM EDITING

    Mank

    Dune

    Tenet

    News of the World

    West Side Story

    Could Jump In: Da 5 Bloods, The French Dispatch, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Annette, Stillwater, Next Goal Wins, Nomadland

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    Mank

    The French Dispatch

    The Witches

    Dune

    Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

    Could Jump In: Mulan, West Side Story, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Wonder Woman 1984, The Prom, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Tenet

    BEST SOUND

    Tenet

    Dune

    West Side Story

    Da 5 Bloods

    No Time To Die

    Could Jump In: News of the World, Mulan, After Yang, Annette, Top Gun: Maverick, Black Widow, Respect

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    Dune

    Tenet

    Godzilla vs Kong

    BIOS

    Black Widow

    Could Jump In: Wonder Woman 1984, Top Gun: Maverick, Mulan, The Witches, No Time To Die, Sonic the Hedgehog, Doolittle

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Dune

    Soul

    Mank

    Da 5 Bloods

    Tenet

    Could Jump In: The French Dispatch, Annette, Ammonite, The Witches, BIOS, The Last Planet, Minari

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    No Time To Die

    Annette

    Soul

    The Prom

    Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

    Could Jump In: Mulan, West Side Story, Respect, Over the Moon

    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

    Druk

    Summer of ‘85

    Benedetta

    One Second

    The Story of My Wife

    Could Jump In: Gjirokastra, The Marco Effect, On a Half Clear Morning, Three Floors, Earwig and the Witch, Wake Up on Mars, True Mothers

     

  • Early May Oscar Predictions

    Early May Oscar Predictions

    On Tuesday the Oscars broke their silence and followed the Golden Globes in allowing films debuting on streaming services to be considered for the year’s top prizes. They also announced that they would merge the Sound Mixing and Sound Editing categories together into one encompassing Best Sound category, which they previously had until 1982. With that news here are my Oscar predictions!

    Mank, a film about the development behind Citizen Kane(!), seems to be the only movie that is without a doubt locked for an Oscar nomination. For all the other films you could make a case for why they wouldn’t be nominated.

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 is pretty much locked, but it could be just not up to par as Aaron Sorkin has had some misfires in the past.

    West Side Story could be seen as an old story told much too many times and therefore could be seen as irrelevant to the current moment. But, because In the Heights was moved to 2021, there will not be any other big musical about a diverse community this year.

    News of the World does not have any big names other than Tom Hanks and because of its genre, it’s a Western, it will not be nominated unless it’s outstanding on multiple levels.

    Da 5 Bloods is the latest Spike Lee joint and while Spike’s films are usually hit-and-miss with the Academy, he has gained momentum from his win in 2019 for BlackKklansman and if his movie turns out good, Da 5 Bloods will be nominated.

    Nomadland his Chloe Zhao’s follow-up from her 2017 critical darling, The Rider. Zhao is directing Marvel’s Eternals, which was moved from November to February 12th of next year. So she has momentum on her side and if her film, starring Frances McDormand playing a woman who lives as a modern-day nomad after she loses everything in the Great Recession, is exceptionally good, it should transcend its indie status and be nominated.

    Ammonite is also from a director who is coming off a critically-acclaimed 2017 film. Francis Lee, the director of God’s Own Country, is returning with a period piece starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. Anything with Saoirse Ronan has to be considered a player and with Kate Winslet adding to the pedigree, this should be the period piece that makes into the field.

    Hillbilly Elegy stars Amy Adams and Glenn Close in the story of a middle-class, Appalachian family. Ron Howard directed it, and while he can be a little iffy in terms of whether his films get nominations, the acting chops of Adams and Close should bring this movie an Oscar nod.

    Stillwater’s genre (it’s a dramatic thriller) necessitates that the movie has to be amazing to be nominated. Only the thrillers that have significant dramatic heft (like Three Billboard Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, Captain Phillips, and Parasite) can get a Best Picture nomination. However, that seems likely as the film’s director has already won an Oscar for Best Picture winner Spotlight.

    Because of all the post-production work that has to be done on Dune, it might not be finished in time for a release this year, but it probably will be and if Denis Villenueve is his usual self the film should be great. However, as a genre film it has to be beloved by critics and audiences to warrant a nomination. Still, there is usually one sci-fi film nominated every year (see: Black Panther, The Shape of Water, or Arrival) and Dune will be that movie, unless Tenet is absolutely amazing which it could very well be.

    BEST PICTURE

    Mank (Netflix)

    Trial of the Chicago 7 (Paramount)

    West Side Story (20th Century)

    News of the World (Universal)

    Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)

    Nomadland (Searchlight)

    Ammonite (Neon)

    Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix)

    Stillwater (Focus)

    Dune (If it is released, Tenet if it’s not) (Warner Bros.)

    Could Jump In: Tenet (Warner Bros.), On the Rocks (A24/Apple+), The French Dispatch (Searchlight), Next Goal Wins (Searchlight), Soul (Disney/Pixar), C’mon C’mon (A24), Minari (A24), Blonde (Netflix), Annette (Amazon), French Exit (Sony Classics), The Father (Sony Classics), The Midnight Sky (Netflix), I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Netflix), Respect (MGM), Greyhound (Sony)

     

    It’s crazy to think that the director of modern classics such as The Social Network, Fight Club, and Se7en hasn’t won an Oscar. Well, David Fincher is going back to the genre that almost got him his Oscar win (He almost won for The Social Network) with Mank, a film that chronicles Herman J. Mankiewicz’s development of the script for Citizen Kane. I don’t see anybody else winning this unless their film turns out to be an out-and-out Best Picture frontrunner. Lee, Sorkin, and Nolan all could easily jump into a nomination as well and if either of their films become frontrunners they will be frontrunners in this race as well.

    BEST DIRECTOR

    David Fincher – Mank

    Steven Spielberg – West Side Story

    Paul Greengrass – News of the World

    Chloe Zhao – Nomadland

    Denis Villenueve – Dune (if released this year, Spike Lee otherwise)

    Could Jump In: Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods, Aaron Sorkin – Trial of the Chicago 7, Christopher Nolan – Tenet, Tom McCarthy – Stillwater, Ron Howard – Hillbilly Elegy, Francis Lee – Ammonite, Leos Carax – Annette, George Clooney – The Midnight Sky, Wes Anderson – The French Dispatch

     

    While I don’t think Gary Oldman will win Best Actor for Mank (because he won 3 years ago, but maybe he will pull a Mahershala Ali and win twice in a short timespan), I am pretty much sure he will earn a nomination. On the other hand, Bill Murray, if nominated, could win. It’s one of those situations where he will either not be nominated or will be a frontrunner. Tom Hanks seems like a safe choice but he has been snubbed too many times in the past (Captain Phillips and Saving Mr. Banks) to not be skeptical about his placement. Joaquin Phoenix always gives great performances and coming off his win last season he should ride that momentum to a nomination. Mike Mills, the director of C’mon C’mon, has had success with directing actors to Oscar success in the past (Christopher Plummer won Best Supporting Actor for Mills’ Beginners) so Phoenix should get a nomination.

    Anthony Hopkins last won an Oscar in 1992 and the reviews he got out of Sundance for The Father were extraordinary. The film has been compared to Michael Haneke’s Amour, who’s Emmanuelle Riva was nominated for Best Actress at 85 years old and was the oldest to do so. Hopkins will be the oldest Best Actor nominee if nominated as he will be 83. However, Sundance films do not usually make big splashes in the Oscar race and Hopkins’ performance could be forgotten unless Sony Pictures Classics pushes him properly. Then we could see Hopkins up on the stage again.

    Matt Damon and Adam Driver also have significant chances of making it in to the Oscar race. Matt Damon if Stillwater becomes a major player and Adam Driver because he’s Adam Driver.

    BEST ACTOR

    Gary Oldman – Mank

    Bill Murray – On the Rocks

    Tom Hanks – News of the World

    Joaquin Phoenix – C’mon C’mon

    Anthony Hopkins – The Father

    Could Jump In: Matt Damon – Stillwater, Adam Driver – Annette, Michael Fassbender – Next Goal Wins, Ansel Elgort – West Side Story, Andrew Garfield – The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods, Daniel Kaluuya – Untitled Fred Hampton Project, George Clooney – The Midnight Sky

     

    This category was especially difficult to predict because only Kate Winslet, I think, is essentially locked for a nomination. She is in a period piece playing off Saoirse Ronan, so she should deliver a great performance. Frances McDormand is also pretty much locked, but there is a chance that she might just miss the cut come nominations morning.

    The rest have cases against them being nominated. Michelle Pfeiffer has not been nominated for an Oscar since 1993 so she has the “overdue” and “comeback” narratives behind her. However, the movie she is starring in might be too strange for the Academy’s taste (It has a talking cat in it) and Pfeiffer and her film could be ignored.

    Ana de Armas is playing Marilyn Monroe and while at first glance she seems like she could easily win for that role, the film’s director Andrew Dominik is making Blonde more experimentally and it might be too strange for the Academy’s taste.

    Jennifer Hudson is playing Aretha Franklin in Respect and if the movie turns out really good she will be a major, major player in the race. However, as this is director Liesl Tommy’s first film there are a lot of question marks about whether or not she can pull off an Oscar-worthy film on her first try.

    Amy Adams, Viola Davis, and Rachel Zegler have a high likelihood of getting nominations as well and they should absolutely not be counted out in this race.

    BEST ACTRESS

    Michelle Pfeiffer – French Exit

    Frances McDormand – Nomadland

    Kate Winslet – Ammonite

    Ana de Armas – Blonde

    Jennifer Hudson – Respect

    Could Jump In: Amy Adams – Hillbilly Elegy, Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Rachel Zegler – West Side Story, Jessie Buckley – I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Marion Cotillard – Annette, Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman, Sophia Loren – The Life Ahead, Mila Kunis – Four Good Days, Sidney Flanigan – Never Rarely Sometimes Always

     

    Tom Burke is playing Orson Welles in Mank and if he does a great job I don’t see the Academy not giving him the Oscar. Still, he is not a widely-known actor and may not have as large of a role in the film as we think he’ll have.

    David Strathairn has been a known character actor for years now and he is overdue for a second nomination and Nomadland should give him that opportunity. Still, we are not sure how big of a part he has in the film.

    Out of the 3 Spike Lee narrative films that have received an Oscar nomination all of them have been nominated for an acting Oscar. Based on this trend, Chadwick Boseman will likely get a nomination for Da 5 Bloods because he has the greatest name-recognition of anyone in the cast and because Spike Lee is great at directing performances.

    I am still not sure if Sacha Baron Cohen or Eddie Redmayne is the lead in The Trial of the Chicago 7 so I am going to cheat and put them both here. Someone from this stacked cast (also includes Mark Rylance, Frank Langella, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Jeremy Strong) will be nominated in this category for sure, we just have to see the film (or even a trailer) to see who it will be.

    Jesse Plemons in I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a slightly outside choice and he could be replaced by another actor from The Trial of the Chicago 7 or Mank, but I’m going to keep him here because every time Charlie Kaufman has been nominated for a Screenplay award (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) one of the actors in the respective movie has been nominated.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Tom Burke – Mank

    David Strathairn – Nomadland

    Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods

    Sacha Baron Cohen or Eddie Redmayne – The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Jesse Plemons – I’m Thinking of Ending Things

    Could Jump In: Matthias Schoenaerts – The Last Planet, Lucas Hedges – French Exit, Charles Dance – Mank, Steven Yeun – Minari, Richard E. Grant – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods, LaKeith Stainfield – Untitled Fred Hampton Project, Marlon Wayans – Respect, Mark Rylance – The Trial of the Chicago 7, Benecio del Toro – The French Dispatch

     

    This will be a battle between Ronan and Close that will last until much later in the Oscar season. Close has more of an overdue narrative than Ronan does, but will this be Close’s win? If Hillbilly Elegy becomes a top-5 player in the Best Picture race, Close is definitely winning this, but if not, the 26-year old, 4-time nominee Ronan will put up a real fight.

    On the Rocks could be a major player but even if it’s only a second-tier contender, Sofia Coppola’s film should give Rashida Jones her first Oscar nomination. Still, Coppola’s films haven’t been in the Academy’s good graces since Lost in Translation, so Jones’ nomination here still is a risk to predict.

    Abigail Breslin has not received an Oscar nomination since she was 10 years old (Little Miss Sunshine), but if Stillwater is excellent, Breslin and her co-star Matt Damon should be strong contenders for nominations. But the movie has to be an Oscar nominee or right on the cusp for Breslin to get a nomination.

    Someone from Mank will probably get in here and between Amanda Seyfried or Lily Collins, Seyfried has more name-recognition and therefore will probably have the larger role. Ariana DeBose of West Side Story could take Seyfried’s place here if West Side Story is a larger player.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Saoirse Ronan – Ammonite

    Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy

    Rashida Jones – On the Rocks

    Abigail Breslin – Stillwater

    Amanda Seyfried – Mank

    Could Jump In: Ariana DeBose – West Side Story, Gaby Hoffman – C’mon C’mon, Toni Colette – I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Meryl Streep – The Prom, Yuh-Jung Youn – Minari, Rita Moreno – West Side Story, Claire Foy – Louis Wain, Elisabeth Moss – Next Goal Wins, Olivia Colman – The Father, Lily Collins – Mank

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    Mank

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    On the Rocks

    Da 5 Bloods

    Soul

    Could Jump In: The French Dispatch, Ammonite, C’mon C’mon, Stillwater, Tenet, Annette, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Minari, Untitled Fred Hampton Project, Promising Young Woman

     

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    Nomadland

    News of the World

    Hillbilly Elegy

    Greyhound

    Dune

    Could Jump In: Those Who Wish Me Dead, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, West Side Story, Next Goal Wins, Zola, Passing, Respect, The Prom, After Yang

     

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    Soul

    How Do You Live?

    Onward

    Over the Moon

    Where is Anne Frank?

    Could Jump In: Connected, Scoob!, The Croods 2, Wolfwalker, Trolls: World Tour

     

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    Mank

    Dune

    The French Dispatch

    Tenet

    West Side Story

    Could Jump In: News of the World, Mulan, Ammonite, The Trial of the Chicago 7

     

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Dune

    Tenet

    Hillbilly Elegy

    Mank

    West Side Story

    Could Jump In: Nomadland, The French Dispatch, Da 5 Bloods, The Trial of the Chicago 7

     

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Mank

    Dune

    The French Dispatch

    Ammonite

    West Side Story

    Could Jump In: The Trial of the Chicago 7, Emma, Last Night in Soho, Coming 2 America, Blonde

     

    BEST FILM EDITING

    Dune

    News of the World

    Mank

    Da 5 Bloods

    Tenet

    Could Jump In: The French Dispatch, West Side Story, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Stillwater

     

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    Mank

    The Witches

    Dune

    Mulan

    The French Dispatch

    Could Jump In: Blonde, Wonder Woman 1984, The Trial of the Chicago 7, West Side Story, Ammonite

     

    BEST SOUND

    Tenet

    Dune

    Da 5 Bloods

    Greyhound

    West Side Story

    Could Jump In: After Yang, No Time To Die, News of the World, Last Night in Soho

     

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    Dune

    Tenet

    BIOS

    Godzilla vs Kong

    Wonder Woman 1984

    Could Jump In: Top Gun: Maverick, Greyhound, Mulan, A Quiet Place Part 2, Venom 2

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Dune

    Mank

    Annette

    Soul

    Tenet

    Could Jump In: The French Dispatch, Da 5 Bloods, Ammonite, BIOS, The Witches

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    No Time to Die

    Annette

    Soul

    The Prom

    Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

    Could Jump In: Mulan, West Side Story, Respect

  • Much-Too-Early 2021 Oscar Predictions!

    Much-Too-Early 2021 Oscar Predictions!

    With the end of one Oscar season, comes the beginning of the next and even though Oscar season will start in 6 months, why not try predicting a few of the contenders so we know what to look forward to.

    Here are my 2021 Oscar predictions.

    (Films are ordered in terms of their chance to win named award)

    BEST PICTURE

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    West Side Story

    Mank

    Hillbilly Elegy

    The French Dispatch

    News of the World

    Dune

    Nomadland

    Da 5 Bloods

    Nightmare Alley (Amsterdam, if it is released this year)

    Could Jump In:

    Amsterdam, Tenet, Ammonite, The Last Duel, On the Rocks, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, In the Heights, Macbeth, Respect, Blonde, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, King Richard, Prisoner 760, Harry Haft, Greyhound, Next Goal Wins, Soul, Stillwater

    Longer Shots:

    The Eyes of Tammy Faye, The Father, The Many Saints of Newark, Rebecca, Annette, Mob Girl, Fonzo, Good Morning, Midnight, United States vs Billie Holiday, Flag Day, Untitled Darren Aronofsky Film, Minari, After Exile, Mulan

    BEST DIRECTOR

    David Fincher – Mank

    Steven Spielberg – West Side Story

    Aaron Sorkin – Trial of the Chicago 7

    Denis Villeneuve – Dune

    Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods

    Could Jump In:

    Wes Anderson – The French Dispatch, Christopher Nolan – Tenet, Chloe Zhao – Nomadland, Sofia Coppola – On the Rocks, Paul Greengrass – News of the World, Ridley Scott – The Last Duel, Ron Howard – Hillbilly Elegy, David O. Russell – Amsterdam, Guillermo del Toro – Nightmare Alley, Charlie Kaufman – I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Niki Caro – Mulan, Lee Isaac Chung – Minari, Joel Coen – Macbeth, Francis Lee – Ammonite

    BEST ACTOR

    Gary Oldman – Mank

    Will Smith – King Richard

    Anthony Hopkins – The Father

    Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods

    Adam Driver – The Last Duel

    Could Jump In:

    Tom Hanks – News of the World, Denzel Washington – Macbeth, Eddie Redmayne – Trial of the Chicago 7, Joaquin Phoenix – C’mon C’mon, Bill Murray (Likely is supporting), Christian Bale – Amsterdam, Bradley Cooper – Nightmare Alley, Daniel Kaluuya – Jesus Was My Homeboy, Michael Fassbender – Next Goal Wins, Anthony Ramos – In The Heights

    BEST ACTRESS

    Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Kate Winslet – Ammonite

    Jennifer Hudson – Respect

    Amy Adams – Hillbilly Elegy

    Frances McDormand – Nomadland

    Could Jump In:

    Rachel Zegler – West Side Story, Ana de Armas – Blonde, Margot Robbie – Amsterdam, Cate Blanchett – Nightmare Alley, Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Michelle Pfeiffer – French Exit, Jennifer Lawrence – Red, White, and Water, Marion Cotillard – Annette, Frances McDormand – Macbeth, Jessie Buckley – I’m Thinking of Ending Things

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Bill Murray – On the Rocks

    Willem Dafoe – Nightmare Alley

    Mark Rylance – Trial of the Chicago 7

    David Strathairn – Nomadland

    Timothee Chalamet – The French Dispatch

    Could Jump In:

    Sacha Baron Cohen – Trial of the Chicago 7, Andrew Garfield – The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Tom Burke – Mank, Oscar Isaac – Dune, Jesse Plemons – I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Giancarlo Esposito – Da 5 Bloods, Michael B. Jordan – Amsterdam, Frank Langella – Trial of the Chicago 7, Peter Sarsgaard – Harry Haft, Matt Damon – The Last Duel

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy

    Saoirse Ronan – Ammonite

    Ariana DeBose – West Side Story

    Toni Colette – Nightmare Alley

    Olivia Colman – The Father

    Could Jump In:

    Amanda Seyfried – Mank, Annette Bening – Death on the Nile, Octavia Spencer – The Witches, Meryl Streep – The Prom, Jodie Comer – The Last Duel, Gaby Hoffman – C’mon C’mon, Rooney Mara – Nightmare Alley, Abigail Breslin – Stillwater, Rebecca Ferguson – Dune, Vicky Krieps – Harry Haft

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    Trial of the Chicago 7

    Mank

    The French Dispatch

    On The Rocks

    Ammonite

    Could Jump In:

    Tenet, Soul, Last Night in Soho, C’mon C’mon, Da 5 Bloods, Amsterdam, Next Goal Wins

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    West Side Story

    News of the World

    Hillbilly Elegy

    Nomadland

    Macbeth (if Macbeth does not release this year, I’m Thinking of Ending Things will take this spot)

    Could Jump In:

    I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Dune, Nightmare Alley, The Last Duel, Those Who Wish Me Dead, In The Heights, Greyhound