Can you believe how crazy this year has been for the Academy Awards? First there was that news about a “Popular Film” category being added in the middle of the year. Thankfully that didn’t happen. Then there was the whole Kevin Hart fiasco that led to the show having no host, we’ll see how that works out. Then there was the idea to not perform all the songs nominated for best song, that was a mistake. Then there was the completely asinine idea to not broadcast four awards in an attempt to save a few minutes. Thankfully, that idea was tossed out after multiple big name directors and a shit-ton of film twitter spoke out against it. #presentall24 worked! Great job, guys! We won!
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if the Oscar ceremony lasted seven hours. I’ve complained before about having to stay up too late, especially in the years I was pregnant, but I really don’t mind. I love it. Following these films has kinda become my life’s work (if you can’t tell by this insane blog) and I would stay up all night to watch the Oscars. I say, give the world of film its one night and stop trying to cut it short.
Anyway, let’s play that one game I like where we pretend that we can only have 5 best picture nominations. Like it’s the good old days before 2009. My pick 5 would be:

The Favourite, Roma, Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman and Vice
My official predictions are…
Actor: Rami Malek
Actress: Glenn Close
Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali
Supporting Actress: Regina King
Director: Spike Lee
Original Screenplay: The Favourite
Adapted Screenplay: BlacKkKlansman
Cinematography: The Favourite
Film Editing: Vice
Production Design: Black Panther
Costume Design: Black Panther
Makeup and Hairstyling: Vice
Original Score: BlacKkKlansman
Original Song: Shallow from A Star is Born
Sound Mixing: Bohemian Rhapsody
Sound Editing: A Quiet Place
Visual Effects: Solo
Best Documentary: Free Solo
Short Documentary: Period. End of Sentence.
Animated Feature: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Foreign Language Film: Roma
And Best Picture? Honestly, I have no idea what The Academy will pick. The more I study the Oscars the more it seems like the actual winner of this award does not matter. Some losers become better remembered classics than most winners. Many times we can look back at a runner up and say we “weren’t ready” for the one to win. I think that’s what we’d say if Roma loses, since there’s never been a foreign language film taking home the big prize. Safe winners would be A Star is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody or Green Book. Vice is political enough to split votes, I would be surprised if it won, but it would be cool if it did. It would be very cool if Roma, The Favourite or BlacKkKlansman won.
But in all honesty, I hope Black Panther wins. I know that sounds cheesy and what every twelve year old wants, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. To bring such amazing diversity and empowerment to kids in superhero form is great, but to do it so amazingly well that appeals to the masses and keeps an amazing story, then hell yeah it should win. Black Panther is my personal pick for best picture. Eat your heart out, you fancy Academy voters.
Enjoy Oscar night!