Oscar Predictions 2021

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!

Oscar Predictions 2020

Wow, that was one hell of a year. I have not been out to a theater since early March 2020, so all the Oscar nominated films I watched were all in the comfort of my own home. And while that’s a nice convenience, I miss the theater. The darkness, the huge screen, the trailers, being surrounded by strangers who are also wrapped up in a story for a while. I’m happy to wait until it’s safer, but can’t wait to get back out there. 

But before that, it’s time to make some Oscar night predictions! Let’s start with a little game where I pretend it’s the ye olde days where the Best Picture nominees were limited to 5. I think they would be: 

Sound of Metal, The Father, Promising Young Woman, Minari and Nomadland

Thanks for playing. Anyway, onto my official Oscar predictions:

Lead Actor: Chadwick Boseman RIP #WakandaForever 

Lead Actress: seen 3/5, but loved Carry Mulligan’s performance and hope she wins

Supporting Actor: I have not seen One Night In Miami, but feel like the other 4 are wide open, I’d personally like to see Sacha Baron Cohen win for fun (he might hate it!) and I think he did a great job in TTOC7

Supporting Actress: I think this will go to Yuh-Jung Youn, but I’d be very happy to see Maria Bakalova win this.

Director: I’m so excited to see two very deserving women in this category!!! And honestly, I’d be happy if anyone besides Fincher wins here, but I’m pulling, and rooting for my ladies. My official prediction: Chloé Zhao for the win! 

Original Screenplay: This is a tough one to choose…why not Sound of Metal?

Adapted Screenplay: I’ll be honest, I want Borat to win this one. Do I think it will win? No. So let’s pick The Father, cause I think that writing deserves a win.

Cinematography: This is the big thing Mank has going for it, but I think the beautiful shots in Nomadland are going to win. 

Editing: The Trial of the Chicago 7, so much of that film works directly because of the editing. 

Production Design: Only seen 3/5 (What?! You haven’t seen Tenet?!) I know, calm down you Nolan fanboys. But I’ll side with the Citizen Kane fans today, Mank for the win.

Costume Design: Emma. 

Sound: Sound of Metal just makes sense.

Makeup and Hairstyling: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. I mean, did you SEE Viola!? 

Original Score: Maybe it’s because it’s my toddler’s favorite movie right now because he loves the music...Soul. 

Original Song: I looove Husavik from Eurovision Song Contest. 

Visual Effects: How have I only seen Mulan in this category? How? Oh yeah, the pandemic. Officially skipping this one.

Documentary Feature: Crip Camp

Animated Feature: Soul is the obvious choice, but Wolfwalkers could come outta nowhere and take it and I wouldn’t mind if they do.

Animated Short: If Anything Happens I Love You, a 12 minute film has never made me cry so hard. 

And Best Picture…. Last year was so obvious, but I don’t see any big winner standing ahead of the rest this year. It’ll probably be Nomadland, but I could see Chicago7, Judas or Promising Young Woman taking it as well. And while Hollywood loves Hollywood, I don’t see Mank taking top prize. My official prediction: Nomadland.

Thanks for reading and sticking around another year. I’m glad we made it. Have a great Oscar night!

Oscar Predictions 2018

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!

Oscar Predictions 2017

Welcome to Oscar weekend! As we get ready for the Academy Awards on Sunday night, let me share my picks and predictions. First, let’s pretend it’s the old days where only 5 films were nominated for Best Picture. My picks would narrow the running down to:

Three Billboards             Get Out                      Lady Bird        The Shape of Water            Dunkirk

Animated Feature: Coco, no doubt.

Production Design: The Shape of Water

Original Score: While I’m always rooting for John Williams, I think this comes down to The Shape of Water and Phantom Thread. Coin toss: Phantom Thread

Original Song: I have so much love for Coco, and I’m hoping Gael García Bernal performs Remember Me and it wins.

Makeup and Hairstyling: After Suicide Squad won last year, no one cares about this category. I’d go with Darkest Hour.

Visual Effects: All these effects are so deserving, why not Star Wars?

Sound Editing: Dunkirk

Sound Mixing: Dunkirk

Film Editing: I’ve yet to see Baby Driver or I, Tonya so this is a shot in the dark: Dunkirk

Costume Design: Phantom Thread

Cinematography: I think this comes down to Dunkirk or The Shape of Water. Coin toss: Shape of Water

Adapted Screenplay: How have I only seen 2 of these? I have no confidence in this pick, Call Me By Your Name

Original Screenplay: It’s hard for me to pick, they’re all so great. Get Out

Director: While I’m rooting for Gretta Gerwig, I think this is going to be Guillermo del Toro’s year.

Supporting Actress: Laurie Metcalf from Lady Bird

Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson in Three Billboards

Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards

Actor: Will the Academy award Day-Lewis in his final role or finally aknowldege Oldman? I say it’s Gary Oldman’s time

Best Picture: This category has been so unpredictable in the past few years. Sometimes it awards what is culturally relevant, which doesn’t narrow it down very well here. With Hollywood’s involvement in the MeToo movement, I think it will be Three Billboards to take it all.

Thank you for joining me for another Oscar race and wonderful year of film. Have a fantastic Oscar night!

Predictions for the 85th Oscar Nominations

The time has come again!  Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards will be revealed Thursday morning, but I have some idea of how a few categories will play out.  What follows are my predictions, fueled by seeing only a handful of my Best Picture hopefuls and basic internet buzz.

Best Picture

• Lincoln
• Les Mis
• Argo
• Zero Dark Thirty
• Django Unchained
• The Master
• Silver Linings Playbook
• Life of Pi
• Moonrise Kingdom
• The Impossible
• or just maybe…Cloud Atlas

Director

• Spielberg – Lincoln
• Ang Lee – Life of Pi
• Tarantino – Django
• Ben Affleck – Argo
• Bigelow – Zero Dark Thirty

Actor

• Daniel Day Lewis – Lincoln
• Hugh Jackman – Les Mis
• Denzel Washington – Flight
• Joaquin Phoenix – The Master
• Bill Murray – Hyde Park on Hudson

Actress

• Naomi Watts – The Impossible
• Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty
• Helen Mirren – Hitchcock
• Marion Cotillard – Rust and Bone
• Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

Supporting Actor

• Leonardo DiCaprio – Django Unchained
• Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained
• Javier Bardem – Skyfall
• Alan Arkin – Argo
• Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master

Supporting Actress

• Anne Hathaway – Les Mis
• Sally Field – Lincoln
• Maggie Smith – Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• Helen Hunt – The Sessions

Cinematography

• Life of Pi
• Skyfall
• Cloud Atlas
• The Impossible

Animated Feature

• Brave
• Frankenweenie
• Wreck-It Ralph
• Paranorman

Visual Effects

• Cloud Atlas
• The Dark Knight Rises
• Life of Pi

Makeup

• Cloud Atlas
• Lincoln
• The Impossible

Original Song

• Touch the Sky – Brave
• Skyfall – Skyfall
• Safe and Sound – Hunger Games
• Suddenly – Les Mis
• Sugar Rush – Wreck-It Ralph

There you have it.  I feel like many of those are long shots that I am quietly rooting for and others are a blind guess.  We’ll see how far off I am Thursday morning.  How are your predictions similar or different?

Oscar Predictions

No matter how much you study The Academy Awards, making Oscar predictions is never going to be perfect (unless this one is).  To some extent, it will always be a guessing game.  Anyway, here are my predictions, educated and otherwise.  Enjoy!

Best Actor:

Though I have not seen Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or A Better Life, I believe the race here narrows down to Clooney and Dujarden.  George is terrific in The Descendants, but considering how Jean has already won more awards for his role, I would bet on him.  And I think The Academy would like to see him win with that big, infectious smile on his face.

Best Actress:  

Poor Streep has so many nominations, but so few wins.  I doubt that will change this year, because Viola Davis as just stunning in The Help.

Supporting Actor:

There has been so much buzz over Christopher Plummer’s performance in The Beginners that I have to agree with the hype.  I’m dying to see that movie.

Supporting Actress:

I really believe this will go to Octavia Spencer.  Have I mentioned how great the acting is all throughout The Help?

Director:

Honestly, this category feels very close.  Each nominee has great reason to win and should be proud of the work they have produced.  While Michel Hazanavicius feels like a favorite, I’m convinced that Martin Scorsese should win for Hugo.

Original Screenplay:  

The fluidity of Midnight in Paris has me convinced that Woody Allen will win this award.

Adapted Screenplay:

I feel this is a close one between Hugo and The Descendants.  After mulling it over, going back and forth, I think this will go to The Descendants.

Cinematography:  

Don’t laugh, but part of me thinks The Tree of Life really deserves this one.  However, my gut wants to go with Hugo.

Art Direction:

This should go to the one movie that kept my eyes completely astounded (and not just because of it’s wonderful use of 3D), Hugo!

Sound Mixing:  

Honestly, I feel like I just guess at the sound categories.  The nominee that stands out the most here to me is War Horse.  I’m a sucker for vintage explosions and thunderous galloping.

Sound editing:  

Again, War Horse.

Film Editing:  

Hmm, tricky dance routines and a dog that I’m sure did not always behave, I’ll have to pick The Artist.

Original Score:  

Did I not make this clear in my review?  The Artist!

Animated Feature:

Rango!

Best Picture:

The big kahuna.  This year, I believe this only comes down to two films of similar theme and idea: Hugo and The Artist.  While The Artist has all the hype propelling it forward, I cannot forget Hugo and how it was one of the best films I had seen in years.  Honestly, I feel that Hugo has more merit, but The Academy would love to award a simple silent film.  I do feel this is a tossup between the two, and if any other film is awarded, I will be very shocked.  Going with my heart here, I want Hugo to win.

Have a great Oscar night, everyone!