Sunday, February 24, 2019

Predictions for 91st Annual Academy Awards


I was 10-0 last year, heading into the final Best Picture announcement. And then the bottom fell out. The Shape of Water took top honors, besting Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and delaying my quest for a perfect Oscars until this year. Hope springs eternal, and I'm going all-in on my favorite movie of the year (Green Book) versus Netflix's Roma (and deep pockets.) Can a 135-minute B&W marathon about nothing, upset one of the year's most entertaining movies? Let's hope not. Can yours truly finally claim perfection? Time will tell.

Best Picture: Green Book. I'm probably wrong, but this is the best film of the year, and the Academy (hopefully) agrees. Sorry Roma.

Best Actor: Rami MalekBohemian Rhapsody. Assuming he get's past the stigma of Bryan Singer, Mr. Robot wins his first Oscar. Otherwise, watch out for Christian Bale (Vice.)

Best Actress: Glenn CloseThe Wife. Signed, sealed, delivered, it's Glenn's.

Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala AliGreen Book. He won two years ago for Moonlight, but that shouldn't stop the Academy from getting it right (again.)

Best Supporting Actress: Regina KingIf Beale Street Could Talk. See Best Actress. Practically a sure thing.

Best Director: Alfonso CuarónRoma. Did I mention it's in black & white?

Best Animated Feature: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. If Incredibles 2 wins, I'm going to bed.

Best Cinematography: Roma. Can Cuarón win Best Director and Cinematography? Probably so.

Best Foreign Language Film: Roma. If anyone else wins (and it's a strong field) I'd be shocked. Shocked.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Can You Ever Forgive Me? The team of Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty is getting a whole lot of love (and deservingly so) for spicing up Lee Israel's 2008 memoir; but they'll have to upset Spike Lee's BlackKkKlansman to do it. My money's on Holofcener/Whitty.

Best Original Screenplay: The Favourite. It's a kooky (but good) film, and deserves something. Original Screenplay should suffice.