It is time for the Oscars! Well, almost! With the nominations coming up we thought we would sneakily jump in with our predictions for some of the main categories (apologies to some of the other categories we just haven’t seen them yet, but when it comes to our predictions for the awards we will have gotten caught up!).
This is one of those years that even the nominations are hard to work out whereas last year there were few surprises on who was going to get their nomination. So settle in, here we go!
Best Film
1917, Ford vs Ferarri, Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Parasite, The Irishman
Yes, you read that right, although the year is packed with choices, I think that the Academy will only allow 8 to be selected and not utilise the full 10 quotas. So that means Jojo Rabbit will miss out as well as Just Mercy and The Farewell. I feel they are great films (not so much on Jojo Rabbit), but it is such a tight year that they will cut some of those who should be in there.
Best Director
Martin Scorsese – The Irishman, Greta Gerwig – Little Women, Sam Mendes – 1917, Bong Joon-ho – Parasite, Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Greta Gerwig has been missing out for nominations for some unknown reason. I know the category is truly packed, but she really does deserve a nod. I feel she will beat out her husband Noah Baumbach and Todd Phillips for the final place, but with the other four getting so many nominations they seem certain.
Best Actress
Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story, Saoirse Ronan – Little Women, Renee Zellweger – Judy, Charlize Theron – Bombshell, Awkwafina – The Farewell
Lupita Nyong’o should get nominated here but I do feel as if Us has been forgotten due to it being released in January. Though she might sneak it with that last slot possibly being filled by Awkwafina, Nyong’o or Cynthia Erivo. It is very tight, but the first four are as locked as locked can be.
Best Supporting Actress
Laura Dern – Marriage Story, Jennifer Lopez – Hustlers, Margot Robbie – Bombshell, Florence Pugh – Little Women, Scarlett Johansson – Jojo Rabbit.
This category is probably the easiest to predict if we are honest, all of the nominees have been strong throughout awards season and it is unlikely that the Academy will stretch too far from it.
Best Actor
Joaquin Phoenix – Joker, Adam Driver – Marriage Story, Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory, Taron Egerton – Rocketman, Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
This was a close one, but due to the upward momentum that Taron Egerton has been receiving, I believe he and Antonio Banderas will pip Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy. Though do not be surprised if any of those four are in or out. Though expect Phoenix, Driver, and DiCaprio to be dead certs.
Best Supporting Actor
Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, Joe Pesci – The Irishman, Al Pacino – The Irishman, Willen Dafoe – The Lighthouse
Yes, I have gone for the longshot in Willem Dafoe for that last spot, but it could be taken by any of him, Song Kang Ho or Anthony Hopkins. Personally, I do not believe Pacino should be in there as all three other performances were stronger, but he has been there in almost every other awards show and I can’t see them breaking from that trend.
Best Original Screenplay
Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Parasite, The Farewell, Pain and Glory
I have an inkling that Knives Out might miss out here in place of Pain and Glory, but a number could get into there. The more we look at these categories the easier it is to predict and not as difficult as originally thought other than that fifth slot.
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Little Women, The Two Popes, The Joker
One of the easiest categories as not many will get close to these five.
Best Animated Film
Toy Story 4, Frozen 2, Missing Link, I Lost My Body, Klaus
The only film that could replace any of these five is How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, but it was not as great as it could have been, so that is why I have it missing out here, if it gets in, it will probably take I Lost My Bodys spot.
Best Documentary
Apollo 11, American Factory. For Sama, Honeyland, One Child Nation
The Cave could very well come in here with ease, but it should miss out this time. A strong category with all the possible nominees well within a chance of winning.
Best Original Score
1917, Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, Pain and Glory
Star Wars will probably get in there, but I haven’t seen it and nor do I want to, so I exclude it! A really tight category for who could win, but Joker should get in there as other than 1917 it is integral to the feel and atmosphere to the film. Without that score those films do not work as well, it is as simple as that.
Best Cinematography
1917, The Irishman, Joker, The Lighthouse, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Should anyone really care who is up for this category? If 1917 doesn’t win then I do not know what is happening really. Parasite could make it in, but I think that 5 is pretty dead set.
Best Foreign Film
Parasite, Pain and Glory, Les Miserables, Atlantics, Honeyland
Yes a double nod for Honeyland and one that is well deserved. Last year the best Foreign Film category was so up in the air that any of 8 films could have deservedly made it in. This year is a bit more certain, however.
Best Sound Editing
1917, Ford v Ferrari, Rocketman, Avengers: Endgame, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Welcome to the party Blockbusters! You have not been missed. The big films always come in the technical categories, but they won’t be in many of them this year as the other films are just that strong. I feel neither deserves to be here as Ad Astra for one should be right in there. But we know how the Academy goes.
Best Sound Mixing
1917, Ford v Ferrari, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Rockman, Avengers: Endgame.
Yes, literally a copy and paste job, boring I know, but usually, that is the case.
Best Visual Effects
Avengers: Endgame, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, The Irishman, The Lion King, Alita: Battle Angel
I will throw all sorts of fits if Alita Battle Angel isn’t in there. Absolute fits. But let’s get one thing out of the way here. The Lion King is an animated film, I do not care what technicalities there are, it’s computer-animated for the entire thing. Stop this silliness.
Best Editing
The Irishman, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Ford v Ferrari, 1917, Parasite
A bit of a hot take, but no Tarantino film since maybe Kill Bill has been edited well. There is too much fluff in there and for films that make it to over or near 3 hours, that is just too long. But it will get in. Joker could get in, but the first three are definites in my eyes.
Best Production Design
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Irishman, 1917, Little Women, Parasite
A close one to figure out as sometimes this category throws up an outsider, so Downton Abbey, Joker or Jojo Rabbit will be in or around there, but these are the five I think will make it in.
Best Costume Design
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Little Women, Rocketman, Dolemite is My Name, Downton Abbey
Should Downton Abbey really make it in here? I mean they already had the costumes from the TV series, so it is a bit of a cheat… Judy should get in instead, but it is a very, very long shot sadly. The other four are again, almost certs. This is getting easier…
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Bombshell, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Judy, Rocketman, Dolemite is My Name
I think Dolemite is My Name is an outsider, but it should get in there in front of Joker, though it is a tight one. But Bombshell will most likely prevail anyway, so it could all be a mute point!
Well, that’s it! What films have I missed? Are more, more deserving? Let’s find out soon how close I was! We will, of course, break down the nominations as soon as we receive them. Until then, let us know your thoughts!
