It’s that time of year again folks…
Another long and intensifying awards season concludes this weekend as the 95th Academy Awards takes place in Los Angeles on Sunday evening (or Monday morning in the UK!).
Can Austin Butler sing his way to victory as Elvis Presley? Does Top Gun: Maverick have the speed to win? Will All Quiet on the Western Front make some noise in some big categories? And, could Cate Blanchett conduct her way toward a third Oscar success?
What we do know is that myself and millions of viewers will be keeping our eye on everything, everywhere, all at once…
Here are (most) of my final predictions…
BEST PICTURE
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
ELVIS
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
THE FABELMANS
TOP GUN: MAVERICK
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS
WOMEN TALKING
WILL WIN? – EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE – The acclaimed sci-fi adventure has blitzed its way towards a potential victory after scoring key wins at the Producer’s Guild and Screen Actor’s Guild Awards.
SHOULD WIN? – EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE – While Top Gun: Maverick is my favourite of this year’s Best Picture nominees, Everything has surpassed a lot of expectations and would be a far more deserving winner compared to recent choices like Moonlight and Nomadland. However, don’t count out the likes of Banshees or All Quiet!
IGNORED? – RRR – The action-filled Indian blockbuster was a huge hit with critics and audiences yet missed out on a historic Best Picture nod. Here’s hoping the Academy do the right thing in rewarding the film’s epic song ‘Naatu Naatu’….
BEST DIRECTOR
Todd Field, TÁR
Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Martin McDonagh, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
Ruben Östlund, TRIANGLE OF SADNESS
Steven Spielberg, THE FABELMANS
WILL WIN? – Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert – Their work on the hit sci-fi adventure looks likely to ensure that they become only the third co-directing duo to win this category after Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins (for West Side Story) and Joel and Ethan Coen (for No Country for Old Men).
SHOULD WIN? – Steven Spielberg – While The Fabelmans wasn’t his strongest outing, it’s still baffling to know that the legendary filmmaker has only won here twice throughout his remarkable career.
IGNORED? – Edward Berger (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT) – His film’s overwhelming nominations haul should have carried him to a nod in this category. The recent BAFTA win will certainly heal the wound!
BEST ACTOR
Austin Butler, ELVIS
Colin Farrell, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
Brendan Fraser, THE WHALE
Paul Mescal, AFTERSUN
Bill Nighy, LIVING
WILL WIN? – Austin Butler – We couldn’t help but fall in love with Butler’s brilliant portrayal of legendary musician Elvis Presley. The role has propelled him to stardom as well as important accolades like the Golden Globe and BAFTA.
SHOULD WIN?– Austin Butler – Though Brendan Fraser shook up the race with his recent Best Actor win at SAG, Elvis has performed well throughout awards season and should have enough momentum to help Butler sneak over the line.
IGNORED? – Gabriel LaBelle (THE FABELMANS) – His terrific portrayal of a young Steven Spielberg couldn’t quite garner enough votes to make the cut. A bright future awaits!
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, TÁR
Ana de Armas, BLONDE
Andrea Riseborough, TO LESLIE
Michelle Williams, THE FABELMANS
Michelle Yeoh, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
WILL WIN? – Cate Blanchett – With two Oscars to her name already, the Australian star has been a formidable favourite throughout awards season with crucial successes at the Globes and BAFTA. Though Yeoh is putting her under immense pressure, Blanchett is looking to join the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Meryl Streep and Frances McDormand in becoming a three-time Oscar-winning actress (and deservedly so!).
SHOULD WIN? – Michelle Yeoh – After recent wins at SAG and the Indie Spirit Awards, the seasoned Malaysian actress is bidding to become only the second actress of colour to win this category in the Academy’s long and tainted history. Make it happen Oscar voters!
IGNORED? – Danielle Deadwyler (TILL) – Her powerful portrayal of Mamie Till-Mobley was shockingly overlooked by the Academy and sparked a major backlash aimed at the campaigning tactics that led to Andrea Riseborough’s surprise nod. Will go down as one of the biggest snubs of recent times.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Brendan Gleeson, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
Brian Tyree Henry, CAUSEWAY
Judd Hirsch, THE FABELMANS
Barry Keoghan, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
Ke Huy Quan, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
WILL WIN? – Ke Huy Quan – After years of obscurity and limited roles in film, the former child star is well on course to claim a stunning win after a surge of award successes. Surely the biggest lock out of the four acting categories!
SHOULD WIN? – Ke Huy Quan – If you had told me a year ago that Short Round from The Temple of Doom was on course to win an Oscar, I would have laughed in your face. If there’s room for an upset, then it could come from Banshees starlet Barry Keoghan.
IGNORED? – Eddie Redmayne (THE GOOD NURSE) – Despite scoring a key hat-trick of mentions at the Globes, SAG and BAFTAs, the British actor fell short of making the Oscar cut despite a chilling turn as real-life serial-killer Charles Cullen.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Angela Bassett, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
Hong Chau, THE WHALE
Kerry Condon, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
Jamie Lee Curtis, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Stephanie Hsu, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
WILL WIN? – Kerry Condon – Though Angela Bassett had early momentum with her Globe win, the Irish performer has the double luxury of a BAFTA success and the international vote to help her prevail.
SHOULD WIN? – Kerry Condon – Her mesmerising performance as Colin Farrell’s feisty sister would be a deserving win for one of the industry’s more underrated actresses. However, don’t count out Bassett or even Curtis for the upset!
IGNORED? – Dolly De Leon (TRIANGLE OF SADNESS) – Virtually an unknown before last year, the Filipino actress was unable to nab a surprise Oscar nod after earning nominations at the Globes and BAFTA.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
LIVING
TOP GUN: MAVERICK
WOMEN TALKING
WILL WIN? – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
SHOULD WIN? – WOMEN TALKING
IGNORED? – SHE SAID
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (Martin McDonagh)
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert)
THE FABELMANS (Tony Kushner & Steven Spielberg)
TÁR (Todd Field)
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS (Ruben Östlund)
WILL WIN? – THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
SHOULD WIN? – EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
IGNORED? – AFTERSUN
BEST EDITING
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
ELVIS
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
TÁR
TOP GUN: MAVERICK
WILL WIN? – EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
SHOULD WIN? – EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
IGNORED? – THE FABELMANS
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS
ELVIS
EMPIRE OF LIGHT
TÁR
WILL WIN? – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
SHOULD WIN? – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
IGNORED? – TOP GUN: MAVERICK
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
BABYLON
ELVIS
THE FABELMANS
WILL WIN? – BABYLON
SHOULD WIN? – ELVIS
IGNORED? – EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
BABYLON
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
ELVIS
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS
WILL WIN? – ELVIS
SHOULD WIN? – ELVIS
IGNORED? – THE WOMAN KING
BEST MAKE-UP AND HAIRSTYLING
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
THE BATMAN
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
ELVIS
THE WHALE
WILL WIN? – ELVIS
SHOULD WIN? – ELVIS
IGNORED? – BABYLON
BEST SOUND
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
THE BATMAN
ELVIS
TOP GUN: MAVERICK
WILL WIN? – TOP GUN: MAVERICK
SHOULD WIN? – TOP GUN: MAVERICK
IGNORED? – EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
THE BATMAN
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
TOP GUN: MAVERICK
WILL WIN? – AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
SHOULD WIN? – AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
IGNORED? – DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (Volker Bertelmann)
BABYLON (Justin Hurwitz)
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (Carter Burwell)
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (Son Lux)
THE FABELMANS (John Williams)
WILL WIN? – BABYLON
SHOULD WIN? – BABYLON
IGNORED? – WOMEN TALKING
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, “Lift Me Up”
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, “This is a Life”
RRR, “Naatu Naatu”
TELL IT LIKE A WOMAN, “Applause”
TOP GUN: MAVERICK, “Hold My Hand”
WILL WIN? – RRR
SHOULD WIN? – RRR
IGNORED? – GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO (“Ciao Papa”)
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO
MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON
PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH
THE SEA BEAST
TURNING RED
WILL WIN? – GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO – The stop-motion animation has looked unstoppable this season after impressing both critics and audiences. Another Oscar beckons for Señor Del Toro!
SHOULD WIN? – TURNING RED – Harshly overlooked for a cinema release, the Pixar animation was one of the better Disney efforts of recent years (and way more enjoyable than Encanto!).
IGNORED? – WENDELL & WILD – Many expected this Netflix film to make the final cut only for voters to opt for The Sea Beast instead.
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (GERMANY)
ARGENTINA, 1985 (ARGENTINA)
CLOSE (BELGIUM)
EO (POLAND)
THE QUIET GIRL (IRELAND)
WILL WIN? – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT – Having scored a Best Picture nomination AND multiple BAFTA wins, the German war epic is locked and loaded to win here.
SHOULD WIN? – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT – The film has a ton of nods though Argentina, 1985 could surprise after its shock victory at the Golden Globes!
IGNORED? – DECISION TO LEAVE (SOUTH KOREA)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
ALL THAT BREATHES
ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED
FIRE OF LOVE
A HOUSE MADE OF SPLINTERS
NAVALNY
WILL WIN? – NAVALNY
SHOULD WIN? – ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED
IGNORED? – MOONAGE DAYDREAM
Be the first to comment on "The On-Screen Community’s final 2023 Oscar predictions"