Oscars 2021: Scott Menzel’s Final Oscar Predictions

Well, everyone, we did it. We made it to the 93rd Annual Academy Awards. Normally, I live for awards season, but this year it was a chore to get through due to the expanded window with very few new films being added into the conversation. On the plus side, most of the nominated films highlight and celebrate inclusivity. In previous years, the Oscars drew a lot of controversy with the absence of female filmmakers and actors of color. So, while the awards season was definitely overly long, it is nice to know that some of the bigger issues from previous years are not present in this year’s ceremony.

Now, here are my final Oscar predictions, along with what films I want to win versus what will actually win. The 93rd Annual Academy Awards airs live on ABC beginning 5 pm PT.

Best Visual Effects

Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet

What I want to win: Love and Monsters

What will win: Tenet

Best Film Editing

The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

What I want to win: Promising Young Woman

What will win: The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Production Design

The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
News of the World
Tenet

What I want to win: Mank

What will win: Mank

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Pinocchio

What I want to win: Hillbilly Elegy

What will win: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Best Costume Design

Emma
Mank
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mulan
Pinocchio

What I want to win: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

What will win: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Best Sound

Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Sound of Metal

What I want to win: Sound of Metal

What will win: Sound of Metal

Best Documentary Short Subject

Colette
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha

What I want to win: A Concerto Is a Conversation

What will win: Colette

Best Live-Action Short Film

Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers
White Eye

What I want to win: Two Distant Strangers

What will win: Two Distant Strangers

Best Animated Short Film

Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You
Opera
Yes-People

What I want to win: If Anything Happens I Love You

What will win: Burrow

Best Original Song

Fight for You
Hear My Voice
Húsavík
Io Si (Seen)
Speak Now

What I want to win: Húsavík, Eurovision: Song Contest

What will win: Speak Now, One Night in Miami…

Best Original Score

Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul

What I want to win: Soul

What will win: Soul

Best Cinematography

Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7

What I want to win: Mank

What will win: Nomadland

Best International Feature Film

Another Round
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?

What I want to win: Another Round

What will win: Another Round

Best Documentary Feature

My Octopus Teacher
Collective
Time
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution
The Mole Agent

What I want to win: This is another category where it is hard to pick a favorite. It is a three-way tie between My Octopus Teacher, Time, and Crip Camp for me. I would be happy with any of them winning. 

What will win: Time

Best Animated Feature Film

Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul
Wolfwalkers

What I want to win: Over the Moon

What will win: Soul

Best Original Screenplay

Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari 
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

What I want to win: Promising Young Woman

What will win: Promising Young Woman

Best Adapted Screenplay

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father
One Night in Miami 
The White Tiger
Nomadland 

What I want to win: The Father

What will win: The Father

Best Director

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
Lee Isaac Chung, Minari 
Chloe Zhao, Nomadland
David Fincher, Mank
Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round 

Who I want to win: Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Who will win: Chloe Zhao, Nomadland

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Youn Yuh-Jung, Minari

Who I want to win: Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy

Who will win: Youn Yuh-Jung, Minari

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah 
Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami…
Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

Who I want to win: Again, this is a three-way tie for me between Paul Raci, Lakeith, and Daniel. If I were rooting for the real underdog here, it would be between Paul and Lakeith. I would love for one of them to be the upset. 

Who will win: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah 

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day, United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Who I want to win: I have been a Promising Young Woman supporter since day one, but I honestly wouldn’t hate seeing Vanessa Kirby take this from Carey. I love both of their performances, even though I do feel Promising Young Woman is a much stronger and far more entertaining film than Pieces of a Woman. 

Who will win: Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari

Who I want to win: It’s a toss-up between Anthony Hopkins and Riz Ahmed for me. Anthony’s performance is easily one of his best, as is Riz. They are incredibly complex performances that you only see once in a lifetime. This one is very tough, and I would be 100% happy with either one winning. 

Who will win: Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Best Picture

Mank
Judas and the Black Messiah
The Father
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Minari
Sound of Metal
Promising Young Woman

Who I want to win: My officially ranking of the above Best Picture nominees is as follows: Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, Judas and the Black Messiah, The Father, Minari, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Nomadland, and Mank. I would LOVE to see Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, or Judas and the Black Messiah take home the top prize. 

What will win: Nomadland 

Written by
Born in New Jersey, Scott Menzel has been watching film and television since he was three years old. Growing up, he watched as many movies as he could and was highly influenced by the films of Tim Burton, John Hughes, Robert Zemeckis, and Steven Spielberg. Scott has an Associate's Degree in Marketing, a Bachelor's in Mass Media, Communications, and a Master's in Electronic Media. He has been writing film reviews under the alias of MovieManMenzel since 2003 and started his writing career as a contributing critic at IMDB.com and Joblo.com. In 2009, Scott launched MovieManMenzel.com where he posted several of his film reviews but in 2011 decided to shut down the site when he launched We Live Film.com. In 2015, We Live Film became We Live Entertainment. The domain name change occurred after months of debate but was done so that he and his fellow staff members could write about anything and everything in the world of entertainment.

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