My Final 96th Annual Academy Awards' Predictions
Attempting To Nail All 23 Categories For The Super Bowl Of Film Award Shows
INTRODUCTION
Well the time has come. Oscar Sunday is this weekend as the 96th annual Academy Awards close out this awards season.
If you want more detailed thoughts on my thinking on why I believe a certain film or performance may currently be a contender in certain categories, and why I have them placed where I do in the running, look out for my much more in-depth piece on the matter that might be over at Ordinary Times by the time this is published.
BEST PICTURE
My Prediction: Oppenheimer
Upset Alert: Poor Things; The Holdovers
Dark Horse(s): Anatomy Of A Fall; The Zone Of Interest
Just Happy To Be Nominated: American Fiction; Barbie; Killers Of The Flower Moon; Maestro; Past Lives
My Vote: 1. Oppenheimer; 2. Maestro; 3. Killers Of The Flower Moon; 4. Poor Things; 5. American Fiction; 6. The Holdovers; 7. Anatomy Of A Fall; 8. The Zone Of Interest; 9. Past Lives; 10. Barbie
BEST DIRECTOR
My Prediction: Nolan (Oppenheimer)
Upset Alert: Glazer (The Zone Of Interest)
Dark Horse(s): Triet (Anatomy Of A Fall)
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Lanthimos (Poor Things); Scorsese (Killers Of The Flower Moon)
My Vote: Nolan (Oppenheimer)
BEST ACTOR
My Prediction: Murphy (Oppenheimer)
Upset Alert: Giamatti (The Holdovers)
Dark Horse(s): Cooper (Maestro)
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Domingo (Rustin); Wright (American Fiction)
My Vote: Cooper (Maestro)
BEST ACTRESS
My Prediction: Gladstone (Killers Of The Flower Moon)
Upset Alert: Stone (Poor Things)
Dark Horse(s): Huller (Anatomy Of A Fall)
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Benning (Nyad); Mulligan (Maestro)
My Vote: Stone (Poor Things)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
My Prediction: Downey (Oppenheimer)
Upset Alert: Gosling (Barbie)
Dark Horse(s): Ruffalo (Poor Things)
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Brown (American Fiction); DeNiro (Killers Of The Flower Moon)
My Vote: Downey (Oppenheimer)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
My Prediction: Randolph (The Holdovers)
Upset Alert: Blunt (Oppenheimer)
Dark Horse(s): Foster (Nyad)
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Brooks (The Color Purple); Ferrera (Barbie)
My Vote: Brooks (The Color Purple)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
My Prediction: Anatomy Of A Fall
Upset Alert: The Holdovers
Dark Horse(s): Past Lives
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Maestro; May December
My Vote: The Holdovers
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
My Prediction: American Fiction
Upset Alert: Barbie; Oppenheimer
Dark Horse(s): Poor Things
Just Happy To Be Nominated: The Zone Of Interest
My Vote: Oppenheimer
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
My Prediction: Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse
Upset Alert: The Boy And The Heron
Dark Horse(s): Elemental
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Nimona; Robot Dreams
My Vote: Elemental
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
My Prediction: War Is Over!
Upset Alert: Ninety-Five Senses
Dark Horse(s): Letter To A Pig; Pachyderme
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Our Uniform
My Vote: Ninety-Five Senses
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
My Prediction: The Zone Of Interest
Upset Alert: Society Of The Snow
Dark Horse(s): Io Capitano
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Perfect Days; The Teacher’s Lounge
My Vote: Perfect Days
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
My Prediction: Red, White, And Blue
Upset Alert: The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar
Dark Horse(s): Invincible; The After
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Knight Of Fortune
My Vote: The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
My Prediction: 20 Days In Mariupol
Upset Alert: Bobi Wine: The People’s President
Dark Horse(s): To Kill A Tiger
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Four Daughters; The Eternal Memory
My Vote: 20 Days In Mariupol
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
My Prediction: The ABCs Of Book Banning
Upset Alert: The Last Repair Shop
Dark Horse(s): Nai Nai And Wai Po (Grandma And Grandma); The Barber Of Little Rock
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Island Between
My Vote: Nai Nai And Wai Po (Grandma And Grandma)
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
My Prediction: “What Was I Made For?” (Barbie)
Upset Alert: “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” (Killers Of The Flower Moon)
Dark Horse(s): “I’m Just Ken” (Barbie)
Just Happy To Be Nominated: “It Never Went Away” (American Symphony); “The Fire Inside” (Flamin’ Hot)
My Vote: “The Fire Inside” (Flamin’ Hot)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
My Prediction: Oppenheimer
Upset Alert: Killers Of The Flower Moon
Dark Horse(s): Poor Things
Just Happy To Be Nominated: American Fiction; Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny
My Vote: Oppenheimer
BEST SOUND
My Prediction: Oppenheimer
Upset Alert: The Zone Of Interest
Dark Horse(s): Maestro
Just Happy To Be Nominated: The Creator; Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning
My Vote: Oppenheimer
BEST EDITING
My Prediction: Oppenheimer
Upset Alert: Anatomy Of A Fall
Dark Horse(s): Killers Of The Flower Moon
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Poor Things; The Holdovers
My Vote: Oppenheimer
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
My Prediction: Oppenheimer
Upset Alert: Poor Things
Dark Horse(s): Killers Of The Flower Moon
Just Happy To Be Nominated: El Conde; Maestro
My Vote: Maestro
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
My Prediction: The Creator
Upset Alert: Godzilla Minus One
Dark Horse(s): Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3; Napoleon
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning
My Vote: Godzilla Minus One
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
My Prediction: Poor Things
Upset Alert: Barbie
Dark Horse(s): Oppenheimer
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Killers Of The Flower Moon; Napoleon
My Vote: Poor Things
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
My Prediction: Poor Things
Upset Alert: Barbie
Dark Horse(s): Killers Of The Flower Moon
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Oppenheimer; Napoleon
My Vote: Poor Things
BEST HAIR & MAKEUP
My Prediction: Poor Things
Upset Alert: Maestro
Dark Horse(s): Oppenheimer
Just Happy To Be Nominated: Golda; Society Of The Snow
My Vote: Poor Things