It’s been a whirlwind of viewing and a blur of awards activity since the nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards were announced just a few short weeks ago, and this is the first year in quite some time that I have fallen behind in my viewing schedule. Some of that is due to additional podcasting and working responsibilities, but much of it is due to the tighter awards season window. Thankfully, the academy is going back to a late-February ceremony next year which will give us all a little more breathing room.
I was able to squeeze in most of the major nominees – and will still try to fit in a few of the short films before the ceremony begins at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time, but I know I’ll be playing catch up throughout most of the year. While it was lovely to finally see Marriage Story and The Irishman – both films absolute masterpieces that I am eager to revisit years from now – I was struck by the mediocrity of many nominees that I caught up with during this year’s Oscar run – from the current frontrunner 1917 (a technical exercise in search of a soul) to films like Ford v Ferrari, Bombshell, and Judy.
Still, no matter how bad (or mediocre) the nominees or winners, I love the Oscars and will be rooting for my favorites (Parasite and Little Women and The Irishman) to sweep all of the categories. So here are the films that I think will win, should win, and some possible spoilers. I’ll also be updating this throughout the night with the actual winners. And you can listen to the conversation Robert Taylor and I had on the subject earlier today.
Happy Oscars, everyone!
Complete List of Predictions, Preferences, Possible Spoilers, and Winners
Best Picture
-
-
- 1917
- Ford v Ferrari
- The Irishman
- Jojo Rabbit
- Joker
- Little Women
- Marriage Story
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
- Parasite
-
Prediction: 1917
Preference: Parasite (or The Irishman, or Jojo Rabbit, or Little Women, or Marriage Story, or Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood)
Spoiler: Parasite
Winner: Parasite
Best Director
-
-
- Bong Joon-ho – Parasite
- Sam Mendes – 1917
- Todd Phillips – Joker
- Martin Scorsese – The Irishman
- Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
-
Prediction: Sam Mendes
Preference: Bong Joon-ho
Spoiler: Bong Joon-ho
Winner: Bong Joon-ho
Best Actor in a Leading Role
-
-
- Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory
- Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
- Adam Driver – Marriage Story
- Joaquin Phoenix – Joker
- Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes
-
Prediction: Joaquin Phoenix
Preference: Adam Driver (or Antonio Banderas)
Spoiler: None
Winner: Joaquin Phoenix
Best Actress in a Leading Role
-
-
- Cynthia Erivo – Harriet
- Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story
- Saoirse Ronan – Little Women
- Charlize Theron – Bombshell
- Renée Zellweger – Judy
-
Prediction: Renée Zellweger
Preference: Scarlett Johansson (or Saoirse Ronan)
Spoiler: Charlize Theron
Winner: Renée Zellweger
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
-
-
- Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
- Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes
- Al Pacino – The Irishman
- Joe Pesci – The Irishman
- Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
-
Prediction: Brad Pitt
Preference: Joe Pesci (or Al Pacino)
Spoiler: None
Winner: Brad Pitt
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
-
-
- Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell
- Laura Dern – Marriage Story
- Scarlett Johansson – Jojo Rabbit
- Florence Pugh – Little Women
- Morgot Robbie – Bombshell
-
Prediction: Laura Dern
Preference: Laura Dern (or Florence Pugh, or Scarlett Johansson)
Spoiler: Scarlett Johansson
Winner: Laura Dern
Best Adapted Screenplay
-
-
- The Irishman – Steven Zalilian
- Jojo Rabbit – Taika Waititi
- Joker – Todd Phillips & Scott Silver
- Little Women – Greta Gerwig
- The Two Popes – Anthony McCarten
-
Prediction: Jojo Rabbit
Preference: Little Woman
Spoiler: Little Woman
Winner: Jojo Rabbit
Best Original Screenplay
-
-
- 1917 – Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns
- Knives Out – Rian Johnson
- Marriage Story – Noah Baumbach
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood – Quentin Tarantino
- Parasite – Bong Joon-ho & Han Jin-wan; story by Bong Joon-ho
-
Prediction: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Preference: Marriage Story (or Knives Out, or Parasite)
Spoiler: Parasite
Winner: Parasite
Best Cinematography
-
-
- 1917
- The Irishman
- Joker
- The Lighthouse
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
-
Prediction: 1917
Preference: The Lighthouse
Spoiler: None
Winner: 1917
Best Film Editing
-
-
- Ford v Ferrari
- The Irishman
- Jojo Rabbit
- Joker
- Parasite
-
Prediction: Parasite
Preference: Parasite
Spoiler: The Irishman
Winner: Ford v Ferrari
Best Costume Design
-
-
- The Irishman
- Jojo Rabbit
- Joker
- Little Women
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
-
Prediction: Little Women
Preference: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Spoiler: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Winner: Little Women
Best Production Design
-
-
- 1917
- The Irishman
- Jojo Rabbit
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
- Parasite
-
Prediction: 1917
Preference: Parasite
Spoiler: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Winner: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
-
-
- 1917
- Bombshell
- Joker
- Judy
- Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
-
Prediction: Bombshell
Preference: None (None of the nominees really stood out to me this year)
Spoiler: None
Winner: Bombshell
Best International Feature Film
-
-
- Corpus Christi
- Honeyland
- Les Misérables
- Pain and Glory
- Parasite
-
Prediction: Parasite
Preference: Parasite
Spoiler: None
Winner: Parasite
Best Animated Feature Film
-
-
- How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World
- I Lost My Body
- Klaus
- Missing Link
- Toy Story 4
-
Prediction: Toy Story 4
Preference: I Lost My Body
Spoiler: Klaus
Winner: Toy Story 4
Best Documentary – Feature Film
-
-
- American Factory
- The Cave
- The Edge of Democracy
- For Sama
- Honeyland
-
Prediction: American Factory
Preference: Honeyland
Spoiler: For Sama
Winner: American Factory
Best Documentary – Short Subject
-
-
- In the Absence
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)
- Life Overtakes Me
- St. Louis Superman
- Walk Run Cha-Cha
-
Prediction: St. Louis Superman
Preference: In the Absence
Spoiler: Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)
Winner: Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)
Best Music – Original Score
-
-
- 1917 – Thomas Newman
- Joker – Hildur Guðnadóttir
- Little Women – Alexandre Desplat
- Marriage Story – Randy Newman
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – John Williams
-
Prediction: Joker
Preference: Marriage Story (or Little Women)
Spoiler: 1917
Winner: Joker
Best Music – Original Song
-
-
- Breakthrough – “I’m Standing With You,” music and lyric by Diane Warren
- Frozen II – “Into the Unknown,” music and lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
- Harriet – “Stand Up,” music and lyric by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo
- Rocketman – “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” music by Elton John, lyric by Bernie Taupin
- Toy Story 4 – “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” music and lyric by Randy Newman
-
Prediction: Rocketman
Preference: Rocketman
Spoiler: Harriet
Winner: Rocketman
Best Sound Editing
-
-
- 1917
- Ford v Ferrari
- Joker
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
-
Prediction: Ford v Ferrari
Preference: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Spoiler: 1917
Winner: Ford v Ferrari
Best Sound Mixing
-
-
- 1917
- Ad Astra
- Ford v Ferrari
- Joker
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
-
Prediction: Ford v Ferrari
Preference: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Spoiler: 1917
Winner: 1917
Best Visual Effects
-
-
- 1917
- Avengers: Endgame
- The Irishman
- The Lion King
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
-
Prediction: 1917
Preference: Avengers: Endgame
Spoiler: Avengers: Endgame
Winner: 1917
Best Animated Short Film
-
-
- Dcera (Daughter)
- Hair Love
- Kitbull
- Memorable
- Sister
-
Prediction: Hair Love
Preference: Memorable
Spoiler: None
Winner: Hair Love
Best Live Action Short Film
-
-
- Brotherhood
- Nefta Football Club
- The Neighbors’ Window
- Saria
- A Sister
-
Prediction: Brotherhood
Preference: None (I’ve only seen one of the nominees)
Spoiler: Sariahs
Winner: The Neighbors’ Window
