As a cinephile, the Academy Awards is one of my favorite times of the year. When films are having their Oscar push, the pundits are all analyzing the chances of performers and craftsmen winning, and some of the year’s best films are getting their time in the spotlight. And, by the end of the Oscars each year, we have the “Best Picture” winner. Over … Read More Collection: Academy Award Best Picture Winners
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Personally, “Nefta Football Club” was my favorite short of the Oscars, just because it went places that I didn’t expect it to go and it was very humorous for what it was. The front-runner is “The Neighbors’ Window,” which I found to be a little too creepy for my liking.
“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)” feels like the clear winner, as it broaches a topic that not only brings to light its topic but also entertains by capturing these dynamic young women. The only short that even has a chance of upsetting it would likely be the US’s “St. Louis Superman,” as its central character is extremely captivating.
The front-runner for this year’s Best Animated Short is the Sony Animations short, “Hair Love,” which played in front of “The Angry Birds Movie 2” and later “Jumanji: The Next Level” and was also my personal favorite. Pixar has it’s own short in contention with “Kitbull.” The rest of the contenders are foreign entries.
Every time a “Star Wars” film comes out and John Williams does the score, he gets nominated. The man now has 52 Academy Award nominations. Needless to say, he will not be winning his sixth Oscar this year, as the scores for “1917” and “Joker” are the front-runners.
What a year it is when we’re talking about a Martin Scorsese film being “unlikely” to win Best Picture. Top that off with a film that’s garnering ten nominations, at least as far as my projections, is “unlikely” to win all ten. I expect “The Irishman” to be completely shut out this year and that’s absolutely bonkers when you think of how prestigious Scorsese is. But it just goes to show you what kind of year we’ve had for movies.
Let’s just bask in the fact that absolutely no one nominated for this film has ever been nominated for an Academy Award before. Even the country of South Korea had yet to even gain a nomination. Now Bong Joon Ho and the rest of his crew can get their names in the history books. And “Parasite” is actually one of the Big Three, with runner-up status as we speak. The only reason it’s not front and center is because “1917” has been cleaning up the awards, from the PGA to the DGA to the Globes. “Parasite” has done well in its own right, winning the SAG Ensemble award as well as Best International Film at the Globes. It simply depends where the Academy leans.
“Ad Astra” was one of this year’s outliers, a film that was nominated nothing but one random award. In this case, it was nominated for Best Sound Mixing and kudos to the team for getting that recognition despite the film not landing anywhere in the Oscars. Will it win? Probably not. But it definitely has merits to be here. The entire category is filmed with Best Picture nominated film and right now it comes down to “1917” and “Ford v Ferrari” for the win.
Heading into the awards season this year, it felt like “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” might end up being the film to beat. However, then “1917” and “Parasite” came on the scene and started winning everything. Now, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” is still apart of the Big Three, remaining in the conversation, but being overshadowed by those other two films, which have been sweeping the season thus far.
Even though it’s clearly the film that relies on Visual Effects the most, “Avengers: Endgame” is actually considered the runner-up to “1917.” There will definitely be a lot of love for “1917,” but if you stop and think about the impact of visual effects on both films, “Avengers: Endgame” is definitely the actual front-runner. It just depends where the Academy voters land.
“Parasite” has this category locked up, so almost anything else is a non-starter. Even if that’s not the case and something does upset, it’ll likely be “Pain and Glory” and not “Corpus Christi.” The experts actually have it placed dead last, so the chances for it are not good.
Not apart of the Big Three (“1917,” “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” and “Parasite”) there’s very little chance for “Jojo Rabbit” to win. However, it is a front-runner in the Best Adapted Screenplay category after winning the WGA Award. Scarlett Johansson is still in contention for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role, although she’ll have to upset Laura Dern. The rest of the categories its nominated for seem fairly unlikely.
Chances are, it’s not going to win Best Picture, as three other film (“1917,” “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” and “Parasite”) seem to have a bigger claim to it, but it’s definitely in the range of possibilities for Joaquin Phoenix to win for Best Leading Actor and Hildur Guðnadóttir to win for Best Original Score.
Brad Pitt holds the front-runner spot in Best Actor in a Supporting Role, having been sweeping the season. However, when reading how some of the Academy voters were voting, Tom Hanks name was coming up a lot. The fact that he’s playing an actual historic figure and such a beloved one on top of that, this could designate a possible upset. My bets are still on no, but if there is an upset, it will likely be Hanks.
At the moment, “American Factory” seems to hold the front-runner status for one reason or another. “For Sama” and “The Cave” are very similar in subject matter, so the runner-up status likely drops to one of them. Personally, I feel like “For Sama” was the more engaging film, so for that I feel like “The Cave” falls to third place. However, reading Academy voters ballots that were released, “The Cave” was brought up quite a bit.
The mere fact that Rian Johnson made it here thrills me to no end. I loved “Knives Out” but did not see it getting anywhere near the Oscars. “Parasite” and “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” being part of the Big Three make them the front-runners here. But if there’s going to be a jaw-dropping upset, it might be “Knives Out” winning here.
Elton John is a huge international star that is beloved by millions. Saying his song is a front-runner just for that initial fact is no stretch of the imagination. Add to that, his song has been winning in other venues, including the Golden Globes, and it is definitely the odds-on favorite to win. Personally, I do adhere to the love. Not being a huge Elton John fan, I see the song for what’s it worth. Granted, the entire category is not very inspired, but the “Rocketman” song in particular is lost on me. Now, the only thing that points toward an upset here is the fact that “Rocketman” missed out on other categories this year like Best Actor in a Leading Role for Taron Egerton and even Best Costume Design. That tells me it didn’t have as much support as you’d expect. That being said, unless somehow “Frozen II” or “Harriet” get some support behind it, which their support are both dwindling, I would not expect an anything to be able to upset it.
As of right now, I have “Ford v Ferrari” winning two, possibly three, out of the four awards it’s nominated for. Yet, somehow, the experts place it dead last for the films in the Best Picture category. Other films, like “The Irishman” and “Little Women” I have winning zero awards and yet those are somehow ahead of “Ford v Ferrari.” That being said, there’s no way “Ford v Ferrari” wins Best Picture. The Big Three are currently “1917,” “Once Upon A Time In Hollywoood,” and “Parasite.”
Many were surprised that “The Lighthouse” didn’t garner any other attention from the Academy, especially with Willem Dafoe being a favorite of theirs. The cinematography, though stepping outside the box and deliviering something different, does not seem like Academy Award winning material, especially when you have Roger Deakins breaking ground with “1917.” The experts place “The Lighthouse” at the very bottom of the pack and although I do not necessarily agree with that, it does not have a very good chance of winning.
Nothing against the film, but I’m surprised “Harriet” got as much attention as it did. The fact that Cynthia Erivo showed up in during a stacked year for performances is quite the achievement. It reeks of voting for a person of color to get a nomination, but I don’t want to undermine Erivo’s accomplishments. Renée Zellweger is the clear front-runner with Scarlett Johansson right behind her. The experts place Erivo at the back of the pack.
The experts and I think “1917” holds the front-runner status on this category, but when you actually sit down and think about it, which films are dependent on their visual effects. The titles that come to mind are “Avengers: Endgame” (which was beloved this year) and “The Lion King” (which is Disney and that name means a lot). This film would not exist without visual effects and it does a decent job of breaking some ground. That being said, I do not feel like it was popular enough to get enough members behind it.
“Toy Story 4” is a Disney/Pixar film, so just by that fact alone it’s a front-runner. The company has a great track record for winning. However, sequels from the animation company are not always a guarantee. One thing that stands out to me is that “Klaus” swept at the Annie Awards. Yes, that’s a different voting body and the Academy members are much more general and may just gravitate toward “Toy Story 4” because of its name. But, I do believe “Klaus” or possibly even “How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” has a chance to upset.
At this point in the season, it would take a lot for anyone to usurp the front-runner Renée Zellweger. If anyone is, it seems more likely that it will be Scarlett Johansson. The experts place Charlize Theron as the next in line, but at that point, it will likely be a toss up anyway.
Just like Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best International Feature Film is basically locked as well, with “Parasite” being the absolute favorite, not only here but everywhere, so much so that it could translate into a Best Picture win. There’s no way there will be an upset but if by some miracle there is, I guess “Pain and Glory” would likely be the next in line.
Despite the uproar that director Greta Gerwig missed out on her directing nomination, “Little Women” holds very little chance of winning Best Picture. For one thing, it simply has not won anywhere else. On top of that, it’s been missing in places where it was favored to win, like the Writers Guild awards. The sympathy vote for Gerwig seems not existent and without that, it really stands no chance against the Big Three (“1917,” “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” and “Parasite”).
Experts place “1917” as the current odds-on favorite to win Best Picture. Apart of the “Big Three,” including “Parasite” and “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” “1917” leads them as the current front-runner. Right now, it seems the only way it won’t win is if “Parasite” ends up taking it all.
Instead of a performance like Jennifer Lopez in “Hustlers” getting the nomination, Kathy Bates ended up here with no chance of winning. Laura Dern has the front-runner status and the experts have Bates ranked last. I really wish JLo was here instead.
Currently, the Oscar experts have “American Factory” winning in a landslide. In my personal opinion, I don’t think it has enough heart to bring in the voters, something “Honeyland” and “For Sama” both have. I could see this one going in a different direction than the pundits are predicting.
As far as the experts are concerned, “How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” is dead last in the Best Animated Feature category, but let’s give credit where credit is due. Dreamworks and Dean DeBlois were able to bring all three of their “How To Train Your Dragon” films to the Oscars, and that’s a win in and of itself.
Never count out anyone that’s won two previous awards like Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez have, both for their work with Pixar. However, “Rocketman” is currently the favorite to win because it has been sweeping the awards season.
If the exclusion of “Frozen II” in the category is any indicator, there is definitely a chance for upset in this category.
Currently, the experts have “Toy Story 4” as the front-runner in the Best Animated Feature category, with “Klaus” ranked as the runner-up. That places “Missing Link” right in the middle. The leg up “Missing Link” has, however, is that it took the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature in what many consider an upset. Now, the Golden Globes are in no way, shape, or form a predictor in this category, but it does lead me to believe it has a better shot than experts lead on.
In the Best Picture category, there are currently the “big three,” which are the films with the best shot at winning. “Marriage Story” is not one of them. They include “1917,” “Parasite,” and “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.” I would even say “The Irishman” falls in somewhere ahead of “Marriage Story” as well.
Kudos to Diane Warren for getting here for an eleventh time, but the experts place her in dead last. As of now, “Rocketman” is the frontrunner, with “Harriet” and “Frozen II” coming in behind.
“The Two Popes” has no chance of winning Best Adapted Screenplay. “Jojo Rabbit” has been winning all the major awards, making it the current frontrunner, while “Little Women” and “The Irishman” both have better claims to a win.
The nomination for “I Lost My Body” seems to be its win of the year, as it really hasn’t won anywhere this awards season. “Toy Story 4,” “Missing Link,” and “Klaus,” on the other hand have won gold in several different places over the season.
Inexplicably, “Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil” is dead last according to the experts, with “Bombshell” remaining the odds on favorite.
Renée Zellweger has swept the awards season and there looks to be no stopping her. There’s no reason to believe she won’t win the Oscar as well.
Currently, the Oscar experts have “American Factory” winning in a landslide. In my personal opinion, I don’t think it has enough heart to bring in the voters, something “Honeyland” and “For Sama” both have. I could see this one going in a different direction than the pundits are predicting.
Right now, pundits have “American Factory” and “Honeyland” coming in before “For Sama,” but do not count it out, as it might just tug at the heartstrings more than those other two films can.
“American Factory” is currently the odds on favorite among the pundits, but showing up in both the Documentary and International Feature categories does get more eyes on this one. “Honeyland” also holds an edge over “American Factory” in the style department.
It might share the same name as the musical, but trust me when I tell you there’s no singing or dancing in this “Les Misérables.”
“HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING”RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes and Su Kim Director: RaMell RossProducers: Joslyn Barnes & RaMell Ross Writers: RaMell Ross & Maya Krinsky Cinematography: RaMell RossEditor: RaMell RossComposer: Scott Alario, Forest Kelley, and Alex SomersDistributor: The Cinema GuildRelease Date: September 14, 2018Run-time: 76 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: The dreams and everyday experiences of friends Daniel and Quincy, and also those of Boosie, … Read More 2019 Oscars Challenge: [4] “Hale County This Morning, This Evening” – Best Documentary Feature
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant,Nicole Holofcener, & Jeff Whitty Director: Marielle HellerProducers: Anne Carey, Amy Nauiokas, and David YarnellWriters: Nicole Holofcener and Jeff WhittyBased On: “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” by Lee IsraelCinematography: Brandon TrostEditor: Anne McCabeComposer: Nate HellerDistributors: Fox Searchlight PicturesRelease Date: October 19, 2018Run-time: 107 minutes MELISSA McCARTHY CHARACTER SYNOPSIS: As Lee Israel, Melissa McCarthy plays a biographer … Read More 2019 Oscars Challenge: [3] “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” – Three Nominations
Unlike the accountants of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Jimmy Kimmel will be returning to the Academy Awards for the second consecutive year. Infamously handing out the wrong envelope at the conclusion of the broadcast last year, the accountants were responsible for Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistaking the Best Picture winner to be La La Land, when really it was Moonlight. And although the producers of La … Read More Oscars Watch: Jimmy Kimmel to Host 90th Anniversary of the Oscars
Summer blockbuster season ends and immediately the masses are turning their heads to the Oscars. Of course, five months is a long time to wait for the nominations, but the ride to those nominations becomes half of the fun of this time of year. Instead of audiences racing to their local theater chains to catch the latest major motion picture blockbusters like “Transformers” or … Read More 2015 Oscars Challenge: 6th Annual Oscar Challenge: And So It Begins…
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