The Academy Awards are this Sunday, so to celebrate, here are my picks (films I want to win) and predictions (films I think are going to win). After the Oscars, I will write again to reflect on how true my predictions were.
Note: I will not be writing about every category because some categories include an array of films where I have not seen the majority of them.
Best Cinematography:
My pick for Best Cinematography is “Nosferatu.” The shot with the shadow Count Orlock’s hand soaring over gothic Germany is incredibly eerie and one of my favorite shots of all time; however, I think “The Brutalist” will actually win because of how many people are talking about it.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
My pick for Best Adapted Screenplay is “Sing Sing,” a film that I think should’ve gotten nominated for Best Cinematography, too. “Sing Sing” is a tight and beautiful film that draws you close to its characters, and it mostly does this through its outstanding screenplay, but it is very likely that “A Complete Unknown” will win. “A Complete Unknown” is the epitome of a modern-day Hollywood movie and screams “Oscar season.” It is one of the most talked-about movies of the year, and I feel it has a good chance of winning everything it was nominated for.
Best Original Screenplay:
My pick for Best Original Screenplay is 100% “Anora.” I thought this was one of the best films of the year, and this is another film I’m surprised didn’t get nominated for Best Cinematography. “Anora” is equally hilarious, devastating and moving, and has one of the best endings out of any film this year. Director Sean Baker is incredible at depicting lower-class subjects, and he does this flawlessly in “Anora” through the screenplay. That being said, I think “The Brutalist” will actually end up winning the award. “The Brutalist” is another film I think has a great chance of winning every award it was nominated for.
Best Original Score:
My pick for Best Original Score is “Challengers” even though it didn’t get nominated. The “Challengers” score is one of the best pieces of music (not even just film scores) of this whole century, and it is wild it didn’t get nominated. Out of the films that actually got nominated, my pick and prediction is “Conclave.” Volker Bertelmann won Best Original Score for “All Quiet on the Western Front” in 2023, so it is likely he will win again for “Conclave,” a score that is dark and moving, similar to that of Hans Zimmer.
Best Supporting Actor:
My pick for Best Supporting Actor is Yuriy Borisov. He was hands down the best part of “Anora.” Although he had very few lines, you could always tell what he was thinking from his facial expressions, which is a sign of an incredible actor. I think he has a good chance at winning, but it’s likely that Kieran Culkin will beat him with his performance in “A Real Pain.”
Best Director:
My pick for Best Director is, of course, Sean Baker. “Anora” will be a future classic and is already a part of The Criterion Collection, “a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films on home video.” My prediction is Brady Corbet, again, just because of how acclaimed “The Brutalist” has become.
Best Actress:
My pick and prediction for Best Actress is Mikey Madison. Ever since her performance in “Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood,” she has been in my mind as someone who could become a big name in Hollywood, and she did that exceptionally in “Anora.”
Best Actor:
My pick for Best Actor is Colman Domingo. Domingo is another actor who once I saw him in “Euphoria,” I didn’t understand why more people weren’t talking about him. I was excited when he got the lead in “Sing Sing,” and he delivered another incredible performance. My prediction is tied between Timothée Chalamet and Adrien Brody, but I think Timothée Chalamet has a slightly higher chance of winning.
Best Picture:
My pick for Best Picture is “Anora,” and I think it has a very possible chance of winning, but I also think “A Complete Unknown” and “The Brutalist” also have a high chance of winning. It seems like these two have been the biggest movies of 2024. If I had to pick one to win, though, I think “The Brutalist” has a slightly higher chance of taking home the award.
The Oscars premiere on ABC Sunday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m.
