Awards Insights

Tag: Oscars

  • 2021 Oscar Nominations List: ‘Mank’ leads with 10

    2021 Oscar Nominations List: ‘Mank’ leads with 10

    Best Picture

    “The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics) 

    “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.) 

    “Mank” (Netflix) 

    “Minari” (A24) 

    “Nomadland” (Searchlight Pictures) 

    “Promising Young Woman” (Focus Features) 

    “Sound of Metal” (Amazon Studios) 

    “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix) 

    Best Director

    Thomas Vinterberg (“Another Round”)

    David Fincher (“Mank”) 

    Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”) 

    Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) 

    Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”) 

    Best Actor in a Leading Role

    Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) 

    Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) 

    Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”) 

    Gary Oldman (“Mank”) 

    Steven Yeun (“Minari”) 

    Best Actress in a Leading Role

    Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) 

    Andra Day (“The United States v. Billie Holiday”) 

    Vanessa Kirby (“Pieces of a Woman”) 

    Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”) 

    Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) 

    Best Actor in a Supporting Role

    Sacha Baron Cohen (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”) 

    Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) 

    Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night in Miami”) 

    Paul Raci (“Sound of Metal”) 

    Lakeith Stanfield (“Judas and the Black Messiah”)

    Best Actress in a Supporting Role

    Maria Bakalova (‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) 

    Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”) 

    Olivia Colman (“The Father”) 

    Amanda Seyfried (“Mank”) 

    Yuh-jung Youn (“Minari”) 

    Best Animated Feature Film

    “Onward” (Pixar) 

    “Over the Moon” (Netflix) 

    “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” (Netflix) 

    “Soul” (Pixar) 

    “Wolfwalkers” (Apple TV Plus/GKIDS) 

    Best Adapted Screenplay

    “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Mazer, Jena Friedman, Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Nina Pedrad

    “The Father,” Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller

    “Nomadland,” Chloé Zhao 

    “One Night in Miami,” Kemp Powers 

    “The White Tiger,” Ramin Bahrani 

    Best Original Screenplay

    “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Screenplay by Will Berson, Shaka King; Story by Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas

    “Minari,” Lee Isaac Chung 

    “Promising Young Woman,” Emerald Fennell 

    “Sound of Metal.” Screenplay by Darius Marder, Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder, Derek Cianfrance

    “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Aaron Sorkin 

    Best Original Song

    “Fight for You,” (“Judas and the Black Messiah”). Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas

    “Hear My Voice,” (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”). Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite

    “Húsavík,” (“Eurovision Song Contest”). Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson

    “Io Si (Seen),” (“The Life Ahead”). Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini

    “Speak Now,” (“One Night in Miami”). Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth

    Best Original Score

    “Da 5 Bloods,” Terence Blanchard 

    “Mank,” Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross 

    “Minari,” Emile Mosseri 

    “News of the World,” James Newton Howard 

    “Soul,” Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste 

    Best Sound

    “Greyhound,” Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman

    “Mank,” Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin

    “News of the World,” Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett

    “Soul,” Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker

    “Sound of Metal,” Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh

    Best Costume Design

    “Emma,” Alexandra Byrne 

    “Mank,” Trish Summerville 

    “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Ann Roth 

    “Mulan,” Bina Daigeler 

    “Pinocchio,” Massimo Cantini Parrini

    Best Animated Short Film

    “Burrow” (Disney Plus/Pixar)

    “Genius Loci” (Kazak Productions) 

    “If Anything Happens I Love You” (Netflix) 

    “Opera” (Beasts and Natives Alike) 

    “Yes-People” (CAOZ hf. Hólamói) 

    Best Live-Action Short Film

    “Feeling Through” 

    “The Letter Room” 

    “The Present” 

    “Two Distant Strangers” 

    “White Eye” 

    Best Cinematography

    “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Sean Bobbitt 

    “Mank,” Erik Messerschmidt 

    “News of the World,” Dariusz Wolski 

    “Nomadland,” Joshua James Richards 

    “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Phedon Papamichael 

    Best Documentary Feature

    “Collective” (Magnolia Pictures and Participant) 

    “Crip Camp” (Netflix) 

    “The Mole Agent” (Gravitas Ventures) 

    “My Octopus Teacher” (Netflix) 

    “Time” (Amazon Studios) 

    Best Documentary Short Subject

    “Colette” (Time Travel Unlimited) 

    “A Concerto Is a Conversation” (Breakwater Studios) 

    “Do Not Split” (Field of Vision) 

    “Hunger Ward” (MTV Documentary Films)

    “A Love Song for Latasha” (Netflix) 

    Best Film Editing

    “The Father,” Yorgos Lamprinos

    “Nomadland,” Chloé Zhao 

    “Promising Young Woman,” Frédéric Thoraval 

    “Sound of Metal,” Mikkel E.G. Nielsen 

    “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Alan Baumgarten 

    Best International Feature Film

    “Another Round” (Denmark) 

    “Better Days” (Hong Kong)

    “Collective” (Romania) 

    “The Man Who Sold His Skin” (Tunisia)

    “Quo Vadis, Aida?”(Bosnia and Herzegovina) 

    Best Makeup and Hairstyling

    “Emma,” Marese Langan, Laura Allen, Claudia Stolze

    “Hillbilly Elegy,” Eryn Krueger Mekash, Patricia Dehaney, Matthew Mungle 

    “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson

    “Mank,” Kimberley Spiteri, Gigi Williams, Colleen LaBaff

    “Pinocchio,” Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli, Francesco Pegoretti

    Best Production Design

    “The Father.” Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone

    “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton

    “Mank.” Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale

    “News of the World.” Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan

    “Tenet.” Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas

    Best Visual Effects

    “Love and Monsters,” Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox 

    “The Midnight Sky,” Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins

    “Mulan,” Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram

    “The One and Only Ivan,” Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez

    “Tenet,” Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher

  • Post Oscar Nominations Analysis

    Post Oscar Nominations Analysis

    NOMINATIONS BY FILM
    (2 or more)

    Mank (Netflix) — 10
    The Father (Sony Pictures Classics) — 6
    Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.) — 6
    Minari (A24) — 6
    Nomadland (Searchlight) — 6
    Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios) — 6
    The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix) — 6
    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) — 5
    Promising Young Woman (Focus Features) — 5
    News of the World (Universal) — 4
    One Night In Miami (Amazon Studios) — 3
    Soul (Walt Disney) — 3
    Another Round (Samuel Goldwyn Films) — 2
    Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon Studios) — 2
    Collective (Magnolia Pictures/Participant) — 2
    Emma (Focus Features) — 2
    Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix) — 2
    Mulan (Walt Disney) — 2
    Pinocchio (Roadside Attractions) — 2
    Tenet (Warner Bros.) — 2

    Source: Deadline

    BEST PICTURE

    Here the biggest snubs were the exclusions of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and One Night in Miami, which both received nominations from the PGA and the SAG. I hadn’t predicted The Father getting in but it did and also received nominations in Adapted Screenplay and Editing, which technically makes it a contender for a Best Picture win. Speaking of Best Picture contenders, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Sound of Metal, and the previously-mentioned The Father all received nominations in Screenplay and Editing which are traditional requirements for a Best Picture. However, only the first three have a real chance of winning. Nomadland is still my favorite to win here.

    Another interesting to note is that only three films from streamers were nominated (Mank and The Trial of the Chicago 7 for Netflix and Sound of Metal for Amazon), which shows that even in this year where everything was online the Academy is still exercising their bias against streamers. This also is probably one of the reasons behind the exclusions of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) and One Night in Miami (Amazon).

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Thomas Vinterberg got in and Aaron Sorkin was left out. European directors oftentimes get a surprise inclusion here (Pawel Pawilkowski did the same thing two years ago) and Vinterberg continued that trend. And rightfully so as Vinterberg as made some modern classics with The Celebration and The Hunt. This inclusion all but cements the fact that Vinterberg’s Another Round will win Best International Feature Film. Nonetheless, Chloe Zhao will be winning this.

    Aaron Sorkin was snubbed here, which doesn’t damage his film’s chances at Best Picture immensely as Green Book director Peter Farrelly wasn’t nominated in this category either, but The Trial of the Chicago 7 now has to win Original Screenplay if it wants to win and it has stiff competition there with Promising Young Woman.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    The biggest surprise here was Lakeith Stanfield’s inclusion with his Judas and the Black Messiah costar Daniel Kaluuya. While there is a potential that the two actors may split votes, I still believe that Kaluuya has this one in the bag.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Even after that surprise Golden Globe win, Jodie Foster did not receive an Oscar nomination. The Mauritanian, which was nominated for five BAFTAs, was completely shut out today. Glenn Close, who was nominated for a Golden Raspberry for her performance in Hillbilly Elegy also received an Oscar nomination for that performance (this is the first time that has happened in the 21st century). She actually has a chance to win the Oscar but I don’t think she will due to the Razzie nomination. This is one of those categories where I could see any one of the five ending up as the winner, but if Bakalova wins at SAG she will win it all here as she already has a win at the CCA. Youn Yuh-jung also has a high chance of winning here as the Academy loves Minari but probably has no other place to award the film. Again, SAG is important because I doubt she can win here without winning at SAG first.

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    Judas and the Black Messiah getting this and two Supporting Actor nominations shows that it has support from the Academy. However, it missed out on Editing so I doubt it can win Best Picture. That goes for Minari as well as it also got a nomination here but missed out on Editing. Mank, the nominations leader, was snubbed here so it has no chance at winning Picture as it was snubbed in Editing as well.

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was surprisingly snubbed here as well, this time in favor of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and The White Tiger. The support for Borat here brings me to believe that Maria Bakalova should transcend the fact that here film is a comedy and win in Best Supporting Actress, but I’ll just have to see what happens at SAG.

    BEST FILM EDITING

    Promising Young Woman’s inclusion here is great for it and with this nomination it cements itself as a top-3 Best Picture contender along with fellow Editing nominees The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Nomadland.

    Most people have The Trial of the Chicago 7 winning here but in at least the last six years, the Editing branch has leaned more towards genre films that are not top-2 Best Picture contenders. So, as a result, Sound of Metal is the film that I think will win here.

    Past Best Editing Winners:

    2020 Oscars – Ford v Ferrari

    2019 – Bohemian Rhapsody

    2018 – Dunkirk

    2017 – Hacksaw Ridge

    2016 – Mad Max: Fury Road

    2015 – Whiplash

    All of these films were Best Picture nominees but not top-2 Best Picture contenders, which leads me to believe that Sound of Metal, which fits this criteria, will win this category.

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS 

    This category loves to award CGI-heavy films with little practical effects so I should have known Love and Monsters would pop in here as opposed to Welcome to Chechnya (which surprisingly missed out in Documentary Feature as well). Tenet will probably win this in the end like Interstellar and inception before it.

     

  • February Oscar Nominations Predictions

    February Oscar Nominations Predictions

    Key:

    CCA – Critics Choice Awards

    SAG – Screen Actors Guild Awards

    GG – Golden Globes

    AFI – American Film Institute pick

    WGA – Writers’ Guild

    USC – USC Scripter awards

    As I explain in this post, I think there will be eight nominations in this category this year and my eight picks are, as of right now, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, Mank, Minari, One Night in Miami, Da 5 Bloods, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. If Judas and the Black Messiah ends up with a PGA nomination, I think it will be the 9th nominee.

    BEST PICTURE

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 – CCA, SAG, GG (Drama), AFI

    Nomadland – CCA, GG (Drama), AFI

    Promising Young Woman – CCA, GG (Drama)

    Mank – CCA, GG (Drama), AFI

    Minari – CCA, SAG, GG (Foreign), AFI

    One Night in Miami – CCA, SAG, AFI

    Da 5 Bloods – CCA, SAG, AFI

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – CCA, SAG, AFI

    Judas and the Black Messiah – AFI

    The Father – GG (Drama)

    Could Jump In: Sound of Metal – CCA, AFI, News of the World – CCA, Soul – AFI, First Cow, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, The Mauritanian

     

    While I do think the backlash to Spike Lee not getting a nomination at the Globes could vault him to a spot here, Emerald Fennell looks poised to take her position here on the strength of Promising Young Woman’s upward surge.

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Chloe Zhao – Nomadland – CCA, GG

    David Fincher – Mank – CCA, GG

    Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7 – CCA, GG

    Regina King – One Night in Miami – CCA, GG

    Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman – CCA, GG

    Could Jump In: Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods – CCA, Lee Isaac Chung – Minari – CCA

     

    If Lindo gets BAFTA he will be nominated but if Yeun does he will get nominated because I think it is very likely that the foursome of Boseman, Hopkins, Ahmed, and Oldman will be nominated at BAFTA as well (especially because three of them are British).

    BEST ACTOR

    Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – CCA, SAG, GG (Drama)

    Anthony Hopkins – The Father – CCA, SAG, GG (Drama)

    Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal – CCA, SAG, GG (Drama)

    Gary Oldman – Mank – CCA, SAG, GG (Drama)

    Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods – CCA

    Could Jump In: Steven Yeun – Minari – SAG, CCA, Tom Hanks – News of the World – CCA, Tahar Rahim – The Mauritanian – GG (Drama), Ben Affleck – The Way Back – CCA, Kingsley Ben-Adir – One Night in Miami

     

    This slate of five seems essentially locked as nobody on the outside looking in seems like they have enough to jump in. However, this could be that surprise category where someone like Sidney Flanigan jumps in at the last second.

    BEST ACTRESS

    Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman – GG (Drama), SAG, CCA

    Frances McDormand – Nomadland – GG (Drama), SAG, CCA

    Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – GG (Drama), SAG, CCA

    Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman – GG (Drama), SAG, CCA

    Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holiday – GG (Drama), CCA

    Could Jump In: Zendaya – Malcolm & Marie – CCA, Amy Adams – Hillbilly Elegy – SAG, Sidney Flanigan – Never Rarely Sometimes Always – CCA

     

    Even though I am not sure about his film getting nominated for Best Picture, Daniel Kaluuya, I think, will win this as his performance as exactly the kind of performance the Academy likes to award in this category. The question here is who will be the two men that will fill the last two spots? Well, I think Raci should be getting one of them and it will be between Murray and Boseman to fit the last spot. Apple+ really has only one thing to campaign this Oscar season and that is Bill Murray in On the Rocks so going by that I’m going to place Murray here instead of Boseman.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah – CCA, SAG, GG

    Leslie Odom Jr. – One Night in Miami – CCA, SAG, GG

    Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7 – CCA, SAG, GG

    Paul Raci – Sound of Metal – CCA

    Bill Murray – On the Rocks – CCA, GG

    Could Jump In: Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods – CCA, SAG, Jared Leto – The Little Things – SAG, GG

     

    SAG does have a habit of nominating young people in this category so I expected Zengel to get a nomination there. However, she also received a nomination from the Globes so maybe she has more of a chance than I had thought. But I am still going to hold off on picking her just yet.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Olivia Colman – The Father – CCA, SAG, GG

    Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy – CCA, SAG, GG

    Amanda Seyfried – Mank – CCA, GG

    Youn Yuh-Jung – Minari – CCA, SAG

    Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm – CCA, SAG, GG (in lead)

    Could Jump In: Helena Zengel – News of the World – SAG, GG, Ellen Burstyn – Pieces of a Woman – CCA, Jodie Foster – The Mauritanian – GG, Dominique Fishback – Judas and the Black Messiah

     

    Trial and the Chicago 7 and Promising Young Woman have both received nominations at Critics Choice, the Golden Globes, and from the WGA. Mank received nods from the Globes and the CCA and was not eligible for the WGA. Minari and Soul were also not eligible for nomination from the WGA.

    The dilemma with this category is that I am pretty sure about the first four receiving nominations but the last slot could be filled by either Soul, Judas and the Black Messiah, or Sound of Metal. Sound of Metal received nods from both the CCA and the WGA. I am going to go with ‘Judas’ because it is the biggest Best Picture contender of the three, but Sound of Metal and Soul both have a great chance here. Also, I still have a small feeling that Judas and the Black Messiah can win Best Picture (especially after watching it) and it needs this nomination to do that.

    But it is also true that there is usually at least one film in the Original Screenplay nominated five that does not get a Best Picture nod.

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 – CCA, GG, WGA

    Promising Young Woman – CCA, GG, WGA

    Mank – CCA, GG

    Minari – CCA

    Judas and the Black Messiah – WGA

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

     

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    Nomadland – CCA, GG, USC

    One Night in Miami – CCA, USC, WGA

    The Father – CCA, GG

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – CCA, USC, WGA

    First Cow – CCA, USC

    Could Jump In: News of the World – CCA, WGA, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm – WGA, The White Tiger – WGA

     

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    Soul – GG

    Wolfwalkers – GG

    Over the Moon – GG

    Onward – GG

    Bombay Rose

    Could Jump In: The Croods: A New Age – GG, No. 7 Cherry Lane, The Willoughbys, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

     

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    Mank – CCA,

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – CCA

    News of the World – CCA

    Tenet – CCA

    Emma. – CCA

    Could Jump In: Personal History of David Copperfield – CCA, The Midnight Sky, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Mulan

     

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Nomadland – CCA

    Mank – CCA

    News of the World – CCA

    Tenet – CCA

    Minari – CCA

    Could Jump In: Judas and the Black Messiah, The Trial of the Chicago 7 – CCA, One Night in Miami, First Cow, Da 5 Bloods

     

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – CCA

    Mank – CCA

    Emma. – CCA

    News of the World

    Mulan – CCA

    Could Jump In: The Personal History of David Copperfield – CCA, Promising Young Woman – CCA, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, The Glorias, The United States vs Billie Holiday

     

    BEST FILM EDITING

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 – CCA

    Nomadland – CCA

    Mank – CCA

    Tenet – CCA

    Sound of Metal – CCA

    Could Jump In: The Father – CCA, Judas and the Black Messiah, News of the World, Da 5 Bloods, Promising Young Woman

     

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – CCA

    Hillbilly Elegy – CCA

    Emma. – CCA

    Mank – CCA

    Birds of Prey

    Could Jump In: Pinocchio, The United States vs Billie Holiday – CCA, Promising Young Woman – CCA

     

    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

     

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    Tenet – CCA

    The Midnight Sky – CCA

    Mank – CCA

    Mulan – CCA

    Birds of Prey

    Could Jump In: Welcome to Chechnya, Soul, The One and Only Ivan

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Soul – CCA, GG

    Mank – CCA, GG

    News of the World – CCA, GG

    Minari – CCA

    Da 5 Bloods

    Could Jump In: Tenet – GG, CCA, The Midnight Sky – GG, CCA, The Trial of the Chicago 7, The Little Things

     

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    One Night in Miami – GG, CCA

    The Life Ahead – GG, CCA

    Judas and the Black Messiah – GG, CCA

    All In: The Fight for Democracy

    Eurovision Song Contest – CCA

    Could Jump In: The Trial of the Chicago 7 – GG, Minari, Giving Voice

     

    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

    Another Round – CCA, GG

    Collective – CCA

    Two of Us – CCA, GG

    Quo Vadis, Aida?

    Night of the Kings

    Could Jump In: La Llorona – CCA, GG, I’m No Longer Here, Dear Comrades!

     

    BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

    Time – CCA

    Dick Johnson is Dead – CCA (win)

    Collective

    Crip Camp – CCA

    Boys State

    Could Jump In: Welcome to Chechnya, All In: The Fight for Democracy, The Truffle Hunters

     

    BEST ANIMATED SHORT

    If Anything Happens I Love You

    Burrow

    Out

    Kapaemahu

    Opera

    Could Jump In: The Snail and the Whale, To Gerard

     

    BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

    The Letter Room

    The Human Voice

    Two Distant Strangers

    White Eye

    Da Yie

    Could Jump In: Feeling Through, The Present

     

    BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

    Colette

    Hunger Ward

    A Love Song for Latasha

    What Would Sophia Loren Do?

    The Speed Cubers

    Could Jump In: Abortion Helpline, This is Lisa, A Concerto is a Conversation, Do Not Split

  • ‘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

  • Late December Oscar Predictions

    Late December Oscar Predictions

    The critics’ awards have just started up and while they likely will not influence the Oscars as much as they have done in the past (because this year’s ceremony is in April and that is pretty far off from the critics’ awards which happen mostly in January), they still provide an indication of what films the critics will be pushing this Oscar season. This year, Nomadland (which was expected) and First Cow (less expected, but still expected) have performed very well at these early critics’ awards. Da 5 Bloods has also benefited greatly from these awards and I feel more confident about having the Spike Lee feature in my Best Picture lineup. Mank, however, has not gotten the success expected for it in these awards and while it definitely will get a Best Picture nominations its chances of winning are sliding slowly.

    Since most of these critics’ awards are only considering movies that came out in the 2020 calendar year, films that will likely release in 2021 like Judas and the Black Messiah are not eligible. However, I think that if ‘Judas’ is as good as I hope it will be and receives at least an 86 Metascore once it releases it has a great shot at winning Best Picture. That’s because, as it is right now, there are no films that feel like true frontrunners. No film so far has hit the timely and conventionally entertaining combination a film needs to have to win Best Picture. I think ‘Judas’ could have that combination but I’m going to stay cautious on it until it releases.

    But, if nothing changes it will be between Nomadland and The Trial of the Chicago 7 as they both have critics’ support (Nomadland much more than ‘Trial’, but still), timeliness or relevance, and accessibility to wide audiences.

    I am going to be talking a lot about the critics’ awards that are happening all around the country throughout the post, however I think it is important to mention that they have a diminished influence on the final outcome due to the Oscars being moved later in the year. So they are less relevant and while they still will likely provide an indication of where the Oscars will go I think it is important to exercise caution when using them to create your predictions. Also, only four significant critics’ bodies have released their winners at the time of this post so there are more than a dozen more to go and therefore the people who have won so far may not be a great indication of who the critics’ bodies are going to align towards when all is said and done.

    BEST PICTURE

    Nomadland

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Mank

    Minari

    One Night in Miami

    The Father

    Judas and the Black Messiah

    Da 5 Bloods

    News of the World

    Could Jump In: Soul, Promising Young Woman, First Cow, The United States vs. Billie Holliday, Pieces of a Woman, The Mauritanian, Tenet, Sound of Metal, The Prom, Another Round

     

    Chloe Zhao seems like the clear frontrunner at this point. However, even though Mank has not received as much love as most thought it would, Fincher still has that overdue narrative going as he has never won an Oscar in his storied and prolific career. Still, Zhao has received the most acclaim this year by far so I think she has the best shot at winning this.

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Chloe Zhao – Nomadland

    David Fincher – Mank

    Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Regina King – One Night in Miami

    George C. Wolfe – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Could Jump In: Lee Isaac Chung – Minari, Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods, Florian Zeller – The Father, Paul Greengrass – News of the World, Kelly Reichardt – First Cow, Shaka King – Judas and the Black Messiah, Kornel Mondruzco – Pieces of a Woman

     

    Chadwick Boseman seems like a lock to win this category even though we are four months away from the ceremony. His performance is being lauded throughout the industry as spectacular and nobody else in this category is getting nearly the amount of recognition as he is so I don’t really see something happening here unless something changes drastically on the road to the Oscars.

    I also think Hopkins, Lindo, and Oldman are pretty much cemented for nominations as they all are getting notices from critics (especially Lindo, who has won Best Actor at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, and Hopkins who has won Best Actor at the Boston Film Critics Circle Awards). At this stage, the fifth spot is, in my mind, between Steven Yeun for Minari and Riz Ahmed for the Sound of Metal. Since Minari is a film that I think will get a Best Picture nomination I think Yeun will get in but do not count out Ahmed as he delivers a powerful turn in Sound of Metal.

    BEST ACTOR

    Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Anthony Hopkins – The Father

    Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods

    Gary Oldman – Mank

    Steven Yeun – Minari

    Could Jump In: Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal, Kingsley Ben-Adir – One Night in Miami, Tom Hanks – News of the World, Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah, Ben Affleck – The Way Back, George Clooney – The Midnight Sky, Colin Firth – Supernova

     

    Viola Davis is one of the best actors of her generation and that power is really expressed in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom where, according to the critics’ consensus, she gives one of her career-best performances. Frances McDormand also has been getting a lot of positive attention for her performance in Nomadland and while I don’t see her winning this I think that she should not be counted out.

    Of the four significant critics’ groups that have released their winners so far, Sidney Flanigan has won two of them. What this shows is that critics are trying to make sure that Academy voters do not forget Never Rarely Sometimes Always and its lead actress. Promising Young Woman’s wins in Best Actress and Best Screenplay at Los Angeles also continue that trend of critics reminding Academy voters of films that were talked about pre-COVID.

    BEST ACTRESS

    Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Frances McDormand – Nomadland

    Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman

    Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman

    Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holliday

    Could Jump In: Sophia Loren – The Life Ahead, Sidney Flanigan – Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Meryl Streep – The Prom, Kate Winslet – Ammonite, Amy Adams – Hillbilly Elegy, Michelle Pfeiffer – French Exit, Rashida Jones – On the Rocks

     

    This race is by far the most wide-open of the acting races. I don’t feel as confident about any of these men getting a nomination as I do about the frontrunners in most other categories. I feel like this category is very subject to change, but I do think that if Judas and the Black Messiah ends up as good as I hope it will be and becomes a contender for a Best Picture win, Kaluuya might win this category for his portrayal of Fred Hampton.

    The four critics’ awards have gone to three different people here: Chadwick Boseman for Da 5 Bloods, Paul Raci has won two for Sound of Metal, and Glynn Turman won one today for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Of these three, I think that Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will be the bigger Best Picture player so I think that Turman will receive his first Oscar nomination for his performance this year. However, don’t be surprised if Boseman becomes a double nominee or if Raci breaks into the top five.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Leslie Odom Jr. – One Night in Miami

    Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah

    Bill Murray – On the Rocks

    Glynn Turman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Could Jump In: Mark Rylance – The Trial of the Chicago 7, David Strathairn – Nomadland, Stanley Tucci – Supernova, Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods, Paul Raci – Sound of Metal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen – The Trial of the Chicago 7, Frank Langella – The Trial of the Chicago 7

     

    Even though Mank is falling off a little bit, Amanda Seyfried is staying strong. Her performance has continued to be talked about and while she has not won a critics’ group award yet she was the runner-up at both Boston and Los Angeles which is good for a performer from a more mainstream film like Mank.

    Minari’s Yuh-Jung Youn and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’s Maria Bakalova have split the critics’ awards so far, but I am hesitant to add Bakalova to the top five due to the Academy’s long-standing bias over comedic acting. However, the quality of her performance became national news due to its victim so she might be in the top five by next month.

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Amanda Seyfried – Mank

    Olivia Colman – The Father

    Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy

    Ellen Burstyn – Pieces of a Woman

    Yuh-Jung Youn – Minari

    Could Jump In: Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Helena Zengel – News of the World, Saoirse Ronan – Ammonite, Swankie – Nomadland, Dominique Fishback – Judas and the Black Messiah, Jodie Foster – The Mauritanian, Ariana DeBose – The Prom

     

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 is an Aaron Sorkin film and as it is also a big Best Picture player I think it is virtually locked for a nomination. Mank also seems like a lock here and the screenplay being from David Fincher’s late father, Jack Fincher, can only help its chances.

    Promising Young Woman and Never Rarely Sometimes Always have both one screenplay award a piece but I think that Promising Young Woman is more likely to get a nomination due to its scathing social commentary.

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Mank

    Minari

    Soul

    Promising Young Woman

    Could Jump In: Judas and the Black Messiah, Da 5 Bloods, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Palm Springs, On the Rocks, The Forty Year-Old Version, Sound of Metal

     

    While Nomadland isn’t really a “talky” film there are many profound nuggets of wisdom found throughout the screenplay and that could push it through. The Father, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and One Night in Miami are all based on plays so they may be more appealing in this category as voters love the powerful monologues seen throughout theater-based films.

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    Nomadland

    The Father

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    One Night in Miami

    News of the World

    Could Jump In: First Cow, Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Pieces of a Woman, The White Tiger, The Mauritanian, The Prom

     

    Even though Wolfwalkers has one most of the critics’ awards, Soul is very critically-acclaimed and is an original Pixar movie so it’s hard to see this going to Wolfwalkers.

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    Soul

    Wolfwalkers

    Over the Moon

    Earwig and the Witch

    Onward

    Could Jump In: The Willoughbys, Trolls: World Tour, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, The Croods: A New Age, Rumble

     

    This award often rewards nostalgia like it did last year when Once Upon a Time in Hollywood won here. Mank’s impeccable recreation of 1930’s Hollywood is going to appeal to that nostalgia and the film seems like an early lock in this race.

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    Mank

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    News of the World

    Mulan

    One Night in Miami

    Could Jump In: The Personal History of David Copperfield, Tenet, The Midnight Sky, Emma, The Trial of the Chicago 7

     

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Mank

    Nomadland

    News of the World

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Tenet

    Could Jump In: The Midnight Sky, One Night in Miami, Minari, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Da 5 Bloods

     

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Mank

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Emma

    The Personal History of David Copperfield

    Mulan

    Could Jump In: News of the World, One Night in Miami, Ammonite, The Prom, The World to Come

     

    BEST FILM EDITING

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Mank

    Nomadland

    News of the World

    Judas and the Black Messiah

    Could Jump In: One Night in Miami, Da 5 Bloods, The Father, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Minari

     

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    Mank

    The Prom

    Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

    Birds of Prey

    Could Jump In: Hillbilly Elegy, Mulan, Emma

     

    BEST SOUND

    Tenet

    Sound of Metal

    Mank

    Soul

    The Midnight Sky

    Could Jump In: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, News of the World, The Outpost, The Invisible Man, Wonder Woman 1984

     

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    The Midnight Sky

    Tenet

    Wonder Woman 1984

    Mulan

    Sonic the Hedgehog

    Could Jump In: The Invisible Man, Birds of Prey, Greyhound, Mank, Greenland

     

    I feel like Soul might be the only locked nomination in this category as Soul has been getting love from the critics’ groups (it won at both Los Angeles and Boston Online) and it is rare that an animated film gets recognition in any category from these critics’ groups.

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Soul

    Mank

    The Midnight Sky

    News of the World

    Minari

    Could Jump In: Tenet, Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Let Them All Talk

     

    Diane Warren has received 11 Oscar nominations without a win and with a relatively weak slate in this category this may be her year to finally win the prize as she wrote a song for The Life Ahead.

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    The Life Ahead

    Over the Moon

    One Night in Miami

    The Trial of the Chicago 7

    Trolls: World Tour

    Could Jump In: The Prom, The Outpost, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, The One and Only Ivan, Eurovision Song Contest

     

    Another Round did amazing at the European Film Awards and even though it is a slightly unconventional winner here it is from the respected Thomas Vinterberg who has directed the masterpieces Festen and The Hunt. And even though critics have not quite taken to it at the level they have for past winners, (its Metascore is a 79, and while that is pretty good it is a far cry from the past two winners in this category: last year’s Parasite at 96 and 2018’s Roma at 96 as well) I think it is the frontrunner as of now. Still, I think that it needs a little bit more for it to be in the Best Picture nomination conversation like past winners have been.

    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

    Another Round

    Collective

    Night of the Kings

    Quo Vadis, Aida?

    I’m No Longer Here

    Could Jump In: A Sun, The Auschwitz Report, My Little Sister, Charlatan, Notturno, Never Gonna Snow Again

     

    BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

    Totally Under Control

    John Lewis: Good Trouble

    Crip Camp

    Collective

    Dick Johnson is Dead

    Could Jump In: Boys State, Time, All In: The Fight for Democracy, MLK/FBI, Welcome to Chechnya

  • ‘One Night in Miami’ emerges as the first legitimate Best Picture contender

    ‘One Night in Miami’ emerges as the first legitimate Best Picture contender

    The film that has created the biggest noise at the Venice International Film Festival so far has been Regina King’s directorial debut, One Night in Miami and, based on the reviews released so far, it will likely be a Top 5 Best Picture contender.

    Regina King’s directorial debut starring Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr. is “set on the night of February 25, 1964… [and] follows a young, brash Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) as he emerges from the Miami Beach Convention Center the new Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World. Against all odds, he defeated Sonny Liston (Aaron D. Alexander) and shocked the sports world. While crowds of people swarm Miami Beach to celebrate the match, Clay – unable to stay on the island because of Jim Crow-era segregation laws – spends the evening at the Hampton House Motel in Miami’s African American Overtown neighborhood celebrating with three of his closest friends: Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge). During this historic evening, these icons, who each were the very representation of the Pre-Black Power Movement and felt the social pressure their cross-over celebrity brought, shared their thoughts with each other about their responsibilities as influencers, standing up, defending their rights and moving the country forward to equality and empowerment for all black people. The next morning, the four men emerge determined to define a new world for themselves and their community.” (From IMDb).

    The film seems perfectly timed for the current moment in America and the Academy has been leaning toward relevant (or what they think is relevant) films in years past as shown by their picks for (2015’s Spotlight, 2016’s Moonlight, 2018’s Green Book, 2019’s Parasite) Best Picture. The Academy also leans toward films that are set in the past (in the last 3 years, six of the Best Picture nominees each year were not set in current day), which is another box that King’s film checks. Another prerequisite that a film must pass before reaching Oscar glory is being accessible to wide audiences and according to Jonathan Romney’s review for the Guardian, the film is “immensely watchable”, which is exactly what a film needs to be to win Best Picture.

    From this information the film is definitely a top 5 Best Picture contender, the question is, where else will it be nominated? As the film starts from Cassius Clay’s perspective, it is likely that Eli Goree will be submitted for Best Actor, while the rest of the ensemble will probably be entered in for Best Supporting Actor. From the reviews I have read, it seems that while all the performances are great, Kingsley Ben-Adir’s portrayal of Malcolm X is the standout. He is a relative newcomer so this will likely be his breakout role.

    Kemp Powers’ screenplay (adapted from his own play) has also been praised and he could receive two writing nominations this year as he also co-wrote (and co-directed) the screenplay for Pixar’s Soul. The last person to be nominated in both Adapted and Original Screenplay in the same year was Francis Ford Coppola in 1974 for the Godfather Part II and The Conversation (he won for the Godfather sequel).

    In the below-the-line categories critics have lauded Tariq Anwar’s editing (he is a two-time Oscar nominee for American Beauty and The King’s Speech), Tami Reiker’s cinematography, Page Buckner’s production design, and Terence Blanchard’s jazz-infused score (he is a one-time Oscar nominee for BlacKkKlansman and also created the score for this year’s Da 5 Bloods).

    While this news came out after I published my September predictions, check those out here!

  • 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

  • PARASITE WINS BEST PICTURE!

    PARASITE WINS BEST PICTURE!

    It has been a great Oscar season and the show was great with Parasite pulling a Moonliht-like upset over 1917.

    (Winners are indicated in bold)

    BEST PICTURE

    1917

    Parasite

    Jojo Rabbit

    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    Joker

    The Irishman

    Little Women

    Marriage Story

    Ford v Ferrari

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Sam Mendes – 1917

    Bong Joon-Ho – Parasite

    Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    Martin Scorsese – The Irishman

    Todd Phillips – Joker

    BEST ACTOR

    Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

    Adam Driver – Marriage Story\

    Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory

    Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes

    BEST ACTRESS

    Renee Zellweger – Judy

    Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story

    Charlize Theron – Bombshell

    Cynthia Erivo – Harriet

    Saoirse Ronan – Little Women

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    Joe Pesci – The Irishman

    Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

    Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes

    Al Pacino – The Irishman

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Laura Dern – Marriage Story

    Scarlett Johansson – Jojo Rabbit

    Florence Pugh – Little Women

    Margot Robbie – Jojo Rabbit

    Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    Parasite

    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    Marriage Story

    1917

    Knives Out

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    Jojo Rabbit

    Little Women

    The Irishman

    Joker

    The Two Popes

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    1917

    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    The Irishman

    Joker

    The Lighthouse

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Little Women

    Jojo Rabbit

    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    The Irishman

    Joker

    BEST FILM EDITING

    Ford v Ferrari

    Parasite

    Joker

    Jojo Rabbit

    The Irishman

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    Bombshell

    Joker

    Judy

    1917

    Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    1917

    Parasite

    Jojo Rabbit

    The Irishman

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Joker

    1917

    Little Women

    Marriage Story

    Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    Rocketman

    Harriet

    Frozen 2

    Breakthrough

    Toy Story 4

    BEST SOUND EDITING

    1917

    Ford v Ferrari

    Joker

    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

    BEST SOUND MIXING

    1917

    Ford v Ferrari

    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

    Joker

    Ad Astra

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    1917

    The Lion King

    Avenegers: Endgame

    The Irishman

    Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    Klaus

    Toy Story 4

    Missing Link

    I Lost My Body

    How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

    BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

    American Factory

    For Sama

    Honeyland

    The Cave

    The Edge of Democracy

    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

    Parasite

    Pain and Glory

    Les Miserables

    Corpus Christi

    Honeyland

    BEST ANIMATED SHORT

    Hair Love

    Kitbull

    Memorable

    Sister

    Dcera (Daughter)

    BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

    Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)

    St. Louis Superman

    Walk Run Cha-Cha

    In the Absence

    Life Overtakes Me

    BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT

    The Neighbor’s Window

    Brotherhood

    Nefta Football Club

    Saria

    A Sister