It's my favorite time of year, people. The Oscars are right around the corner! This year's award show season has been quite untraditional, so I'm definitely ready for a reason to celebrate. I was thrilled to be able to squeeze in 6 of the 10 nominated movies, and I have a few favorites for sure. Enjoy celebrating on Sunday, however your heart desires.
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I'm Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
Should Win: I adore the variety here. But it is extremely difficult to compare The Substance to Wicked to A Complete Unknown, which is always problematic when it comes to award shows. These were all certainly some of the best films I've seen all year, but the grotesque, dark humor from The Substance is vastly different from the soaring theatrical production of Wicked. While I enjoyed them both, I was most surprised by Emilia Pérez and will be pulling for that to take home the gold. (Shoutout to Anora though. Worth the watch, if you haven't.)
Will Win: The Brutalist. At time of press, I have not yet seen this film. At 3.5 hours, it will take me about a week to get through, so I'm waiting to stream this one at home.
Best Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
Should Win: I feel pretty ill-equipped to make a stance here, having only seen 2 of the performances (Chalamet and Fiennes). While both were outstanding, they don't stand a chance. Adrien Brody has swept everything this season, and he is a tremendous actor, so I'm sure he deserves what would be his second Oscar. (Chalamet and Domingo are two personal faves who will eventually get their due.)
Will Win: Adrien Brody.
Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here
Should Win: Demi Moore is one of those actors who is great in everything she does. She's a veteran movie star who, for some reason, was never taken seriously enough to ever get a nomination. Her fearlessness and vulnerability in The Substance was brilliant - I couldn't take my eyes off her. She gets my vote, though Mikey Madison's performance in Anora was a breath of fresh air and a great preview of what's sure to be a strong career.
Will Win: Demi Moore.
Best Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Should Win: I'm only slightly biased here. I've loved Kieran Culkin since 2002's The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys, so naturally, I'm thrilled he is finally getting some major reocgnition. But all favoritism aside, he was truly perfectly cast in the role of Benji in A Real Pain. If there ever was the perfect role for an actor, this is it. I do think the film should have been nominated too, giving a little more credit to the fabulous Jesse Eisenberg.
Will Win: My man Kieran.
Best Supporting Actress
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Should Win: I was team Grande until I saw Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez. I cannot say enough good things about both of these women in these roles. Grande absolutely slayed as Glinda the Good Witch, but Saldaña was really the heart and soul of Emilia. I'm honestly not sure why she wasn't nominated for Best Actress. She was so much more than supporting.
Will Win: Zoe Saldaña.
Best Director
Anora, Sean Baker
The Brutalist, Brady Corbet
A Complete Unknown, James Mangold
Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard
The Substance, Coralie Fargeat
Should Win: This category is very interesting to me. Anora, Emilia Pérez and The Substance don't strike me as films that are traditionally recognized at the Oscars, so I am delighted to see them and their directors get some recognition. Of course, I think Jon M. Chu (Wicked) was robbed of a nomination. Of these films, my favorite was Emilia Pérez, so my vote goes to Jacques Audiard.
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