Happy Oscar weekend, everyone! Congrats on making it through another harrowing year. I’m so happy to go back to the movie theaters, even if I still wear a mask during the show (except when shoveling popcorn into my mouth).
Let’s start off with a little game I like to play every year and narrow down the Best Picture nominees to a top five. I believe this year those top five would be…
CODA, The Power of the Dog, Belfast, Westside Story and Nightmare Alley
Anyway, thanks for indulging me. Onto my official Oscar night predictions:
Lead Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch or Will Smith seem tied. I would not mind Andrew Garfield winning, but he seems unlikely. Will Smith for the win.
Lead Actress: Wait, how have I only seen one of these movies? Are movies with brilliant leading women not worthy of Best Picture or something? Ugh, I respectfully pass.
Supporting Actor: I’d love to see Troy Kotsur take this, but he seems like a longshot.
Supporting Actress: Kirsten Dunst. Nuf said.
Director: I would love to see Jane Campion win this, but as long as it’s not Paul Thomas Anderson I’ll be ok.
Original Screenplay: Belfast
Adapted Screenplay: CODA
Cinematography: All of the nominees are beautifully filmed in their own spectacular fashion, it’s hard to pick a winner. My dark side wants Nightmare Alley, but I’m guessing the Academy will pick The Power of the Dog here.
Film Editing: I think King Richard excels here.
Production Design: I think Dune is destined to win this one, even over my beloved Nightmare Alley.
Costume Design: My black little Disney heart would love to see Cruella take this, but I think it will go to Dune.
Best Sound: West Side Story
Makeup and Hairstyling: I didn’t see all of these….so why not Cruella.
Original Score: I think Hans Zimmer is well overdue for another win. Dune.
Original Song: As much as I’d like to see Lin Manuel Miranda EGOT, I think they chose the wrong song to submit. They would have won with We Don’t Talk About Bruno. Belfast and Van Morrison for the win.
Visual Effects: I was honestly very impressed with Shang Chi’s effects, so I say they’ll upset Dune here.
Documentary Feature: Flee
Animated Feature: I will lose my f*cking shit if The Mitchells vs the Machines loses this one! I wish it were up for best picture. Anyway, Disney is playing it too safe lately and needs to up their game when we’ve got amazing, fun and visually creative movies like this.
International Feature Film: I think Drive My Car is pretty much a given here.
Best Picture: I really didn’t care which movie won this, until I saw CODA. Now I will be crushed if anything else wins. I want just a simple, sweet, heartwarming story about ordinary people to win. Is that so hard? But honestly, as long as it’s not Dune or Licorice Pizza I’ll get over it. CODA for the big win!
The Best Picture Project 
Did you ever see One Night of Love for 1934? It has popped up on Apple TV recently. You can see it for $3.99.
A few other films I have been having trouble popped up on Apple TV as well, so it might be worth your trouble to look.
I do need to see One Night of Love, thanks for the information! I don’t keep AppleTV very long, only kept it an extra month to catch up on Ted Lasso. I’ll try to check it out soon. Thanks!
Did you ever find Hollywood Revue of 1929?
It’s available on the Internet Archive. They also have Shanghai Express, another one I was having trouble finding.
I liked Shanghai Express a lot. I haven’t watched the Hollywood Revue yet. I’ll get to it in the next few weeks.