It’s been 14 long, horrible months and with these Oscar’s it seems like the film not with the most momentum, but the most endurance gets across the line to win. I personally, cannot wait for this awards season to finally come to a close, though remember this dear reader, we are now only 10 months away from the next Academy Awards, and 7 or so months away from awards season starting back up again… God help us. Let’s get into it!
Best Picture
The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Mank, Minari, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Winner – Nomadland
It is hard to remember a time when Nomadland wasn’t the favourite for Best Picture, and nothing has really come near it since its release. Sure films have come up due to their popularity, but none have ever truly challenged which is quite surprising considering the calibre of the final eight.
Best Actor
Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Gary Oldman (Mank), Steven Yeun (Minari)
Winner – Chadwick Boseman
The sentimental pick is Boseman and he for sure deserves an award, just in my opinion he isn’t in the film long enough to warrant lead and thus this award should really go to Anthony Hopkins who delivers one of if not the best performance of his career here in The Father. Expect this to be a very close call though and try not to be overly surprised if Hopkins pips Boseman.
Best Actress
Viola Davis (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Andra Day (The United States Vs. Billie Holliday), Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of A Woman), Frances McDormand (Nomadland), Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman)
Winner – Carey Mulligan
For the longest time it felt like this was McDormand’s to lose, yet as time went on her performance became less of the talking point about Nomadland in comparison to what Chloe Zhao achieved with her film. Mulligan’s performance has long been a crowd faviourite and it would be a surprise if she didn’t get the win. Is she doesn’t look over at Andra Day as the surprise pick.
Best Supporting Actor
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)
Winner – Daniel Kaluuya
Ever since Judas and the Black Messiah was released Kaluuya has been the favourite and with good reason as well. With a category that had some bizarre decisions to begin with it seemed like a no brainer for him to win. As easy as a choice as it comes this year.
Best Supporting Actress
Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent MovieFilm), Glenn Close (Hillbilly Elegy), Olivia Colman (The Father), Amanda Seyfried (Mank), Yuh-Jung Youn (Minari)
Winner – Yuh-Jung Youn
In a category that will only bring me happiness as long as Glenn Close doesn’t win, it seems as if the favour is with Yuh-Jung Youn as she has been winning quite a good amount around her and with Minari not likely to win anything else this year, she has to win it. Even if that means fan favourite Bakalova misses out.
Best Director
Another Round (Thomas Vinderberg), Mank (David Fincher), Minari (Lee Isaac Chung), Nomadland (Chloe Zhao), Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell)
Winner – Chloe Zhao
So much is on Zhao’s side here as the strongest aspect of Nomadland is its direction and cinematography, it makes her the firm favourite. My personal choice would have been Lee Isaac Chung, but Zhao deserves this one and while I am certain the Oscars never likes first time winners that means something big for culture (wink wink) this is a race that isn’t as close as it needs to be.
Best Film Editing
The Father, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Winner – The Trail of the Chicago 7
The Trail of the Chicago 7 isn’t going to win anything else this year and we all know that nowadays the Academy loves to spread out the love a bit and with Zhao being the editor for Nomadland, it feels as if this was going to be between Chicago 7 or The Father.
Best Original Screenplay
Judas and the Black Messiah, Minari, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, The Trail of the Chicago 7
Winner – Promising Young Woman
With such a mixed if all too familiar field it was always going to be field to pick one of these five. While I would have (again) went for Minari) it just seems Promising Young Woman’s script has stuck most with audiences and critics and I think that will translate here on the big stage.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Borat: Subsequent MovieFilm, The Father, Nomadland, One Night in Miami, The White Tiger
Winner – The Father
Without a doubt The Father is the strongest film here and without having to put 100 people on the stage if Borat wins. But nothing comes close to how effective that script is for The Father and due to the power of the film, it seems like a home run to me.
Best International Feature
Another Round, Better Days, Collective, The Man Who Sold His Skin, Quo Vadis, Aida?
Winner – Another Round
I remember seeing Another Round during the London Film Festival in October and falling in love with it then, that hasn’t changed and in comparison to the rest of the nominee’s it is still the one that stands out. A no brainer for me.
Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah, Mank, News of the World, Nomadland, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Winner – Nomadland
As with direction, the cinematography is the strongest aspect of the film as it looks astounding. Nothing really compared to how technology gorgeous this film is. Mank could win, but I truly don’t see it happening. But not a winless night for Mank…
Best Production Design
The Father, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mank, News of the World, Tenet
Winner – Mank
Mank will get something from the night as said previously the Academy love to spread it out, plus it’s a film about films so how could it not win something. Mank has been winning left, right and centre in this category and it is hard to see that changing.
Best Sound
Greyhound, Mank, News of the World, Soul, Sound of Metal
Winner – Sound of Metal
Imagine a film like Sound of Metal NOT winning for Best Sound! While I truly hate that they have combined two categories into one here (to save time) this was a film that looked like the only option for the Oscar.
Best Costume Design
Emma, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mank, Mulan, Pinocchio
Winner – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
If you had asked me a couple of months ago I would have for sure said that Emma was winning here. Period drama? Costume? How could it not, it always does. Yet here we are with Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom being the one that I think will get the win. This is a tight race though as it is a three way fight with Emma and Mank too far behind.
Best Original Score
Da 5 Bloods, Mank, Minari, News of the World, Soul
Winner – Soul
Soul is so far in the lead that no one has even considered what could challenge it. Either way it is certain Trent Reznor is taking away an Oscar tonight.
Best Original Song
Fight For You (Judas and the Black Messiah), Hear My Voice (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Husavik (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga), Io Si (The Life Ahead), Speak Now (One Night in Miami
Winner – Speak Now
Húsavík could push Speak Now all the way and for such a fun film it isn’t a bad shout, but the power of Speak Now and particularly when watching in time with One Night in Miami, it helps bring the whole film together. An unforgettable song that should win.
Best Documentary Feature
Collective, Crip Camp, The Mole Agent, My Octopus Teacher, Time
Winner – My Octopus Teacher
Let’s get things straight, this shouldn’t win, it really shouldn’t, but it is going to and I guess we just have to live with that fact. With Time being such a strong documentary, it deserves the win and then there is even The Mole Agent, yet My Octopus Teacher is the one sadly going to win, endurance and momentum is on its side.
Best Animated Feature
Onward, Over the Moon, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Soul, Wolfwalkers
Winner – Soul
The same as the documentary feature, the bigger most seen film is going to win, but when you compare Soul with Wolfwalkers, there is only one winner in my (slightly) biased Irish eyes. Wolfwalkers is animation and while it should win, it won’t and that is such a shame.
Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters, The Midnight Sky, Mulan, The One and Only Ivan, Tenet
Winner – Tenet
This could be a tighter one that some may think, but I find it difficult to see Tenet not winning here, with The Midnight Sky its closest competitor there is really little challenges here and with Tenet doing quite well during all of awards season in this category. An easy win…
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma, Hillbilly Elegy, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mank, Pinocchio
Winner – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Hillybilly Elegy’s mediocracy deserves zero, nothing, nada, ziltch. Mank has small touches, but it is the work on Pinocchio that will push Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, but I fear not enough people have seen Pinocchio make this a two-horse race, another well-deserved win for Ma Rainey.
Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette, A Concerto is a Conversation, Do Not Split, Hunger Ward, A Love Song For Latasha
Winner –Colette
With an almost last minute switch to A Concerto is a Conversation I have decided to stick with Colette. This is such a tough category to choose from, but Colette has just enough to win.
Best Animated Short
Burrow, Genius Loci, If Anything Happens I Love You, Opera, Yes-People
Winner – If Anything Happens I Love You
I big two horse race here between the brilliant If Anything Happens I Love You and Opera. If any of the well deserving other nominees pip them it will be a shock, I am plumping for If Anything is it really got to me when I randomly caught it many months ago. Such a gut punch of a surprise.
Best Live Action Short
Feeling Through, The Letter Room, The Present, Two Distant Strangers, White Eye
Winner – Two Distant Strangers
Two Distant Strangers is another that has had such a good marketing push that it makes it a shoe in, add that up with the fact that its timing with a certain trail makes it one that is hard to choose against.
That is all from us today, come back tomorrow when we see how well we did and remember to stay safe and not to have too many drinking games tonight. It could get messy! Until next time!