For some reason, this year, I felt the need to comment on some of my “should win" picks. (*Take it for what you think it’s worth.)
BEST PICTURE
Will Win: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Should Win: ??
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Will Win: Brendan Fraser, THE WHALE
Should Win: Austin Butler, ELVIS (*this might be the most difficult category for me. Colin Farrell’s performance in THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN is also remarkable. Geez. This one’s tough.)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Will Win: Ke Huy Quan, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Should Win: Ke Huy Quan, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Will Win: Michelle Yeoh, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Should Win: Michelle Yeoh, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Will Win: Jamie Lee Curtis, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Should Win: Kerry Condon, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (*This might be the single best performance of an actor in any category, in any movie, all year.)
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Will Win: GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO
Should Win: GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO (*even though the story is a complete MESS. But damn, the stop-motion is just too pretty. I also really liked SEA BEAST. Pirates! And sea monsters!! ;))
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Will Win: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Should Win: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
COSTUME DESIGN
Will Win: BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
Should Win: ELVIS (*just for those “Las Vegas Kung Fu” Elvis costumes alone.)
DIRECTING
Will Win: The Daniels, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Should Win: Steven Spielberg, THE FABELMANS (*Is FABELMANS a perfect movie? No. Is it even Spielberg at his best? Not really. But there is no better cinematic storyteller working today. Period. If you don’t believe me, go re-watch the sequence in the middle of the movie in which Sammy is editing the “family camping trip,” and tell me it’s not cinematic perfection (chef’s kiss).)
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Will Win: NA
Should Win: NA
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
Will Win: NA
Should Win: NA
FILM EDITING
Will Win: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Should Win: TOP GUN: MAVERICK
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
Will Win: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Should Win: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Will Win: THE WHALE
Should Win: ELVIS
ORIGINAL SCORE
Will Win: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Should Win: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (*the score for this movie annoyed/confused me at first, but over the two-and-a-half hour running time, it grew on me. Now, I can’t stop listening to it.)
ORIGINAL SONG
Will Win: “Naatu Naatu,” RRR
Should Win: “Naatu Naatu,” RRR (*This! This! THIS!)
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Will Win: BABYLON
Should Win: BABYLON (*the production design is the best thing about this movie.)
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Will Win: THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE
Should Win: THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE (*although I want to deduct points for the lack of an Oxford comma in the title. Grrrr.)
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
Will Win: NA
Should Win: NA
SOUND
Will Win: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Should Win: TOP GUN: MAVERICK
VISUAL EFFECTS
Will Win: AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
Should Win: AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Will Win: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Should Win: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Will Win: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Should Win: THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (*This movie is not perfect by any means, but the dialogue is some of the best I’ve heard in a long time. I mean, come on… “I am not putting me donkey outside when I'm sad.” — is enough to get my vote.