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
