I’ve slacked a bit on venue and movie reviews of late, but with today (Sunday) bringing us the Oscars, I thought it was high time to dig into the bigger categories and make some predictions. When I used to run an Oscar Pool, I added fun categories like the dress color of the Best Actress winner and facial hair choice by the Best Actor winner. The Red Carpet is almost as watched as the ceremony itself.

I tend to skip the Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Film Editing categories. Hard for me to tell what is technically good or not. I’m also going to skip the Documentaries this year. I’m going to focus on the main categories and ones that are closer to my heart.

Best Supporting Actress

To Think I Used to Like Laura Dern…
  • Kathy Bates in Richard Jewell – the mother of the title character
  • Laura Dern in Marriage Story – the icy attorney in this Divorce drama
  • Scarlett Johansson in JoJo Rabbit – no idea her character, but the 1st of 2 nominations this year
  • Florence Pugh in Little Women – Didn’t see this one either
  • Margot Robbie in Bombshell – her first nomination for the Bombshell herself

Prediction: The winner will be Laura Dern. She is the heavy favorite in this category. Her portrayal of the seemingly nice, but cut throat attorney in Marriage Story turned my stomach from recent experience.

Best Supporting Actor

  • Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – Actually Mr. Rogers in this one, but not the lead
  • Anthony Hopkins in Two Popes – Another one I gotta see
  • Al Pacino in The Irishman – Splits the vote with his co-star
  • Joe Pesci in The Irishman – People lauded his performance as a non-Pesci role, but I was underwhelmed
  • Brad Pitt in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood – The big star plays 2nd to Leo, but got all the buzz.

Prediction: Brad Pitt has been winning the other awards, and he has been nominated before. I like him to win given that everyone loves this guy, and the field is not loaded this year. Pitt’s first Oscar. Plus, he is really the main star in the movie in my view.

Cinematography

  • Rodrigo Prieto (The Irishman) – Not really sure how many complicated shots in this one.
  • Lawrence Sher (Joker) – A really gritty movie with lots of difficult scenes
  • Jarin Blaschke (The Lighthouse) – This is an acid trip movie for me, but I guess Cinematography was pretty good.
  • Roger Deakins (1917) – The war movie looked big and bold, but have yet to see it.
  • Robert Richardson (Once Upon A Time in Hollywood) – Plenty of action and interesting shots here, but not super technical.

Prediction: Not as clear here, but it is going to come down to 1917 and Joker here, I believe. I’m not 100% sure what the Academy wants to see, but I’m going to say Joker wins this one. It was unique unlike 1917 which is the next in a long list of war movies for consideration – that will likely win.

Costume Design

  • Sandy Powell and Christopher Peterson (The Irishman) – period costumes, but nothing special to me.
  • Mayes C. Rubeo (JoJo Rabbit) – I haven’t seen this one, but the colorful costumes looked really fun.
  • Mark Bridges (Joker) – Again, really definite style in this one. I’m biased here, and really liked it.
  • Jacqueline Durran (Little Women) – Not sure I saw anything special here, but the favorite in the category..
  • Arianne Phillips (Once Upon A Time in Hollywood) – Again, Tarantino period which looked authentic, but just ok.

Prediction: I think it will come down to JoJo Rabbit and Joker here. I believe the Academy really likes the art direction, in general, for Joker. So, I think it will win again. Although everyone is picking Little Women.

Makeup and Hairstyling

Bombshell Is the Favorite in Hair and Make Up – You can see why
  • Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan and Vivian Baker (Bombshell) – I really liked the design here, so a real contender.
  • Nicki Ledermann and Kay Georgiou (Joker) – Again, very distinct style here not sure the clown make up but all the characters.
  • Jeremy Woodhead (Judy) – I haven’t seen it yet, but making Renee look like Judy is a trick for sure. She did look just like her..
  • Paul Gooch, Arjen Tuiten and David White (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) – Seems like a logical choice
  • Naomi Donne, Tristan Versluis and Rebecca Cole (1917) – I don’t see this for this movie, but yet another nomination.

Prediction: I really believe in the Joker and its art design will be a contender. However, Bombshell is the pick here.

Best International Film

Not Just A Great Foreign Film

Prediction: Parasite is up for Best Picture overall, so that is all you have to know. Really great movie, and it’s a shame Les Mis was out this year against it.

Original Score

  • Hildur Guonadottir (Joker) – An ominous tone throughout.
  • Alexandre Desplat (Little Women) – The multi Oscar winner is always a threat.
  • Randy Newman (Marriage Story) – Interesting how I don’t remember the music much from this movie.
  • Thomas Newman (1917) – I’m sure this will be the favorite.
  • John Williams (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) – Good to see John Williams back in the mix.

Prediction: I’m not sure on this category at all. I’m going to say that either 1917 or Joker will win it. I’ll be consistent and stick to Joker.

Original Song

  • I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away (Toy Story 4) – Randy Newman has won in these movies before, but again?
  • Love Me Again (Rocketman) – I really loved this movie, and it is the favorite in the category.
  • In Standing With You (Breakthrough) – Haven’t even heard of this movie.
  • Into The Unknown (Frozen II) – A really favorite with the kids, but not sure of a repeat for Frozen.
  • Stand Up (Harriet) – I don’t have to hear this song to know it is inspiring.

Prediction: Stand Up from Harriet gets my pick. Seems like the most meaningful song of the bunch. Although, Elton John will probably win this one.

Animated Feature Film

  • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – another sequel up for this award
  • I Lost My Body – A French movie from what I can see
  • Klaus – A movie about Santa Claus in Spanish
  • Missing Link – A unique movie from the US created films
  • Toy Story 4 – Can this one win another one, really?

Prediction: I like the Missing Link movie here. Very unique animation over the more realistic US films. So, that is my pick.

Best Visual Effects

  • Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Matt Aitken and Dan Sudick (Avengers: Endgame) – Incredible for sure.
  • Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser and Stephane Grabli (The Irishman) – The de-aging left me wanting more.
  • Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Elliot Newman (The Lion King) – Wasn’t this a CGI/animated movie?
  • Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler and Dominic Tuohy (1917) – War movies always get nominated in this category.
  • Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tuback and Dominic Tuohy (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) – Tuohy nominated for 2 movies, nice!

Prediction: I’m going blockbuster here – either Avengers or Star Wars. Both were really cool visually, but Endgame was better. Avengers take it.

Adapted Screenplay

  • Steven Zaillian (The Irishman) – Please, no!
  • Taika Waititi (JoJo Rabbit) – I really like this guy, and I’ll be pulling for him, but not sure it is his year.
  • Todd Phillips and Scott Silver (Joker) – Hard not to like this one, again.
  • Greta Gerwig (Little Women) – Isn’t this the 3rd version of this movie…
  • Anthony McCarten (The Two Popes) – I just watched this. Really interesting take on the story.

Prediction: I really think Joker will take this one, too. A very unique take on the comic book character. Sure The Two Popes may win this, but I want Joker or JoJo here.

Original Screenplay

  • Rian Johnson (Knives Out) – A fun Agatha Christie type story
  • Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) – Pretty authentic and on point story.
  • Sam Mendez and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917) – Hard to imagine how this came together without a source.
  • Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon A Time in Hollywood) – Tarantino could definitely win this one.
  • Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won (Parasite) – This gripping story has my vote.

Prediction: Parasite will win. This story is something you would never imagine occurring naturally. Plus, this movie will not win best picture, so this is an offering to counter that.

Best Actress

  • Cynthia Erivo in Harriet – My ex was in a movie with her, and she is a rising star. Looked like a great performance, but not this year to win.
  • Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story – Not sure she is deserving, but a credit her for 2 nominations in 2 very different movies.
  • Saoirse Ronan in Little Woman – an extremely talented actress, but not this year.
  • Charlize Theron in Bombshell – another nomination for Charlize, and she looked great in this one but this year is a lock.
  • Renee Zellweger in Judy – Just watched it, and she was incredible. Very sad movie, and great performance.

Prediction: Zellweger in Judy is the lock here.

Best Actor

Phoenix Is a Lock
  • Antonio Banderas in Pain and Glory – Solid work here for Banderas, but no shot.
  • Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood – Leo is the king of nominations now, but Pitt will get hardware this year.
  • Adam Driver in Marriage Story – Really good performance here, but no way.
  • Joaquin Phoenix in Joker – The heaviest favorite in any category.
  • Jonathan Pryce in The Two Popes – He was excellent, but 2nd doesn’t get anything.

Prediction: Joaquin Phoenix has been cleaning up all awards season, so Sunday will be no different. I’m more excited in what he will say in his speech this time.

Best Director

  • Martin Scorsese (The Irishman) – He is a great director, but that movie was far from his best.
  • Todd Phillips (Joker) – From Old School to an Oscar nom, love this guy’s career path. I don’t think he will get the award though.
  • Sam Mendes (1917) – I’m looking at a correlated parlay here.
  • Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon A Time in Hollywood) – Sure, he can win, but I don’t think so.
  • Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) – Probably should win this award, but he won’t.

Prediction: Sam Mendes will win for 1917, don’t ask me why, but the Academy loves the war movies sometimes. I haven’t seen it to say why, but I believe this award will correlated to the Best Picture selection.

Best Picture

Your 2020 Best Picture
  • Ford v Ferrari – I really loved this move, the pace, the acting. I think Bale was incredible and Damen was great, too. Sad to see the Academy did not agree.
  • The Irishman – Still not sure what all the buzz was about. Too long in a story that really didn’t captivate me. Plus, I will get crushed for this, but I think the movie would have been better with younger/less known actors than the legends.
  • JoJo Rabbit – A fun and imaginative movie, which seemed in the vein of the Wes Anderson.
  • Joker – I think you can see what I thought about the movie, but it won’t win the big award.
  • Little Women – No, not a movie that has been re-made over and over.
  • Marriage Story – Really good movie, depressing and hard to watch at times, but super solid.
  • 1917 – Just a gut feel here.
  • Once Upon A Time in Hollywood – I’m not a Tarantino fan per se, but this movie was really great. Ending kinda typical for him, but interesting take on a historical situation.
  • Parasite – I’m rooting for this Korean film. Not sure the Academy has the stones to give the big prize to a truly foreign film with subtitles.

Prediction: 1917 will win. Don’t ask me why, but like Argo which surprised many, I think it will take home the hardware. Not necessarily the best movie of the year, but the one the Academy can live with.

Let me know your predictions.

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.