Okay, it is more accurate to say I am telling you who I think should win, because, Hollywood. Never forget Birdman won best picture, Oppenboredom beat Barbie, and Gandhi beat E.T. So, there is that.
I’m not covering all the categories — only those I am conversant on. All of the documentaries are not available to me. I will take them in order listed on the official Oscar website.
Actor In A Leading Role– this should be Colman Domingo for Sing Sing. That is a great movie and he is great in it. Timothée might win, and that wouldn’t make me mad. If Adrien Brody wins I will shout and scream and say mean and ugly things.
Actor In A Supporting Role — Kierkan Culkin is the only appropriate answer.
Actress In A Leading Role — There is about a thirty-five minute period of time when Mikey Madison channels Marisa Tomei in Anora. That alone might give her victory, but the winner should be Fernanda Torres for I’m Still Here.
Actress In A Supporting Role — I hated Emilia Perez, but Zoe Saldaña ought to win.
Animated Feature Film — Honestly, all of these are good and better than many of the Best Picture nominations. Flow has a punchers chance, but the best of the amazing bunch is The Wild Robot.
Cinematography — Dune: Part Two is my pick. Some people are going to say The Brutalist, but I don’t think that was great cinematography. I think it was schizophrenic.
Costume Design — This is between Gladiator II and Wicked, and I think Wicked takes it.
Directing — I don’t like any of these, so I don’t have a favorite. Therefore, I believe Hollywood will pick Brady Corbet for that awful no good for anything terrible The Brutalist.
Film Editing — Editing and Sound usually go together, but I think Dune will win Sound and it is not nominated here. That puts me thinking Wicked will probably win editing.
International Feature Film — The usual technique is whichever one is nominated for best picture, but we have two here, plus Flow which his fantastic. But I think I’m Still Here wins this one.
Music (Original Score) — The Wild Robot. However, as awful as The Brutalist is, the soundtrack is really nice. It has a mid-century jazz sound. Just don’t look at the names of the individual songs because those are just as grotesque as the movie.
Music (Original Song) — A very lackluster offering this year, which is odd considering how many musicals and music oriented movies we had. The winner will be El Mal.
Best Picture — There are three contenders, IMHO: Wicked, Conclave, and I’m Still Here. Some would put Anora as a contender but I think that is the fever dream of overactive social media users. Conclave is the favorite, since it has done so well. I will not be mad if Conclave or Wicked win. However, I’m Still Here is the best movie that was nominated across all categories this year.
Production Design — Dune: Part Two
Sound — Dune: Part Two
Visual Effects — Dune: Part Two
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) — Conclave – the dialogue is so well done.
Writing (Original Screenplay) — A Real Pain. This movie is carried entirely by the acting and writing.