It’s one of the most exciting times of the year for many movie buffs and this year is certainly no exception. I’m delighted to see a few of my own personal hopes and earlier predictions come to fruition this awards season, led by Glenn Close’s nomination for THE WIFE. 

Like Jell, I won’t cover each individual category in this post. Rather, here are my predictions and preferences for this year’s nominees in the acting, writing, directing and best picture categories. Once all of the awards have been announced, I shall update this post with the winners.

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES

BLACK PANTHER (3 ½ stars)
BLACKkKLANSMAN (3 ½ stars)
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (4 stars)
THE FAVOURITE (4 ½ stars)
ROMA (4 ½ stars)
GREEN BOOK (4 ½ stars)
A STAR IS BORN (4 stars)
VICE (4 stars)

WHICH FILM DO I WANT TO WIN?

WHICH FILM DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

It shouldn’t be this way when selecting the best movie of the year, but ultimately the final decision will largely depend on one factor – politics! That is to take nothing away from ROMA, which is a sublime film and would be a deserving winner. But if the Academy would like to piss Donald Trump off and make a statement of their own, then what better way to do so than award the top prize of the night to a film that hails from the country he so adamantly wishes to separate with his wall.

The Winner Is…

BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEES

Alfonso Cuaron for ROMA
Yorgos Lanthimos for THE FAVOURITE
Spike Lee for BLACKkKLANSMAN
Adam McKay for VICE 
Pawel Pawlikowski for COLD WAR

WHICH DIRECTOR DO I WANT TO WIN?

Adam McKay for VICE

WHICH DIRECTOR DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

Alfonso Cuaron for ROMA

First and foremost, it is so good to see such diversity in ethnicity of these nominated film directors. Again, Alfonso Cuaron would be a thoroughly deserving winner for ROMA, but I just slightly favour the smarts that Adam McKay applied to VICE.

The Winner Is…

Alfonso Cuaron for ROMA

BEST ACTRESS NOMINEES

Yalitza Aparicio for ROMA
Glenn Close for THE WIFE
Olivia Coleman for THE FAVOURITE 
Lady Gaga for A STAR IS BORN 
Melissa McCarthy for CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? (3 ½ stars)

WHICH ACTRESS DO I WANT TO WIN?

Glenn Close for THE WIFE

WHICH ACTRESS DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

Glenn Close for THE WIFE

Her first Oscar nomination came in 1983 for a supporting role in THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP. Since then, Glenn Close has been nominated a further six times (including this film) without ever winning. Surely now, with one of the best ever performances (if not the best!) of her career, this is her time.

The Winner Is…

Olivia Colman for THE FAVOURITE

BEST ACTOR NOMINEES

Christian Bale for VICE
Bradley Cooper for A STAR IS BORN
Willem Dafoe for AT ETERNITY’S GATE 
Rami Malek for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY 
Viggo Mortensen for GREEN BOOK

WHICH ACTOR DO I WANT TO WIN?

Rami Malek for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY 

WHICH ACTOR DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

Rami Malek for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY 

No other nominee blew me away more than Rami Malek’s scintillating portrayal of Freddie Mercury. This is a true star-making performance that simply must be awarded.

The Winner Is…

Rami Malek for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS NOMINEES

Amy Adams for VICE
Marina de Tavira for ROMA
Regina King for IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (Yet to See)
Emma Stone for THE FAVOURITE
Rachel Weisz for THE FAVOURITE

WHICH SUPPORTING ACTRESS DO I WANT TO WIN?

Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz for THE FAVOURITE

WHICH SUPPORTING ACTRESS DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

Regina King for IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

This is purely due to her Golden Globe victory and word of mouth, as I am yet to see IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK.

The Winner Is…

Regina King for IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR NOMINEES

Mahershala Ali for GREEN BOOK
Adam Driver for BLACKkKLANSMAN
Sam Elliot for A STAR IS BORN
Richard E. Grant for CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Sam Rockwell for VICE

WHICH SUPPORTING ACTOR DO I WANT TO WIN?

Mahershala Ali for GREEN BOOK

WHICH SUPPORTING ACTOR DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

Mahershala Ali for GREEN BOOK

Sam Rockwell is a close second, but Mahershala Ali is exceptional in GREEN BOOK. He is also in most of the film, so is unlucky to miss out on a leading role nomination. Or perhaps not, as I’m expecting Rami Malek to clean up that category, no matter who he’s up against!

The Winner Is…

Mahershala Ali for GREEN BOOK

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY NOMINEES

THE FAVOURITE
FIRST REFORMED (3 ½ stars)
GREEN BOOK
ROMA
VICE

WHICH SCREENPLAY DO I WANT TO WIN?

WHICH SCREENPLAY DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

It won the Golden Globe but has been the subject of controversy, which could very well derail its chances. I’m still betting on GREEN BOOK to be the winner though.

The Winner Is…

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY NOMINEES

A STAR IS BORN
THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS (4 stars)
BLACKkKLANSMAN
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK 
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?

WHICH SCREENPLAY DO I WANT TO WIN?

WHICH SCREENPLAY DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

Honestly, I find this field tougher to predict, so it’s a wild guess considering I haven’t seen the film yet.

The Winner Is…

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY NOMINEES

THE FAVOURITE
NEVER LOOK AWAY (Yet to See)
ROMA
A STAR IS BORN
COLD WAR

WHICH CINEMATOGRAPHY NOMINEE DO I WANT TO WIN?

WHICH CINEMATOGRAPHY NOMINEE DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

It is so good to see two films that are shot in black and white be nominated for Best Cinematography, but ROMA simply must win this award. The camerawork here is stunning, outstanding and up there with the best I’ve ever seen in any film.

The Winner Is…

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE NOMINEES

FREE SOLO (4 stars)
HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING (Yet to See)
MINDING THE GAP (Yet to See)
OF FATHERS AND SONS (Yet to See)
RBG (4 stars)

WHICH DOCUMENTARY FEATURE DO I WANT TO WIN?

WHICH DOCUMENTARY FEATURE DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

Though I’ve seen just two of the nominees in this field, the word of mouth surrounding documentary MIND THE GAP has been very strong. With 51 award wins around the world, and counting, I’m predicting its 52nd will be this Academy Award.

The Winner Is…

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE NOMINEES

INCREDIBLES 2 (3 ½ stars)
ISLE OF DOGS (4 stars)
MIRAI (Yet to See)
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (Yet to See)
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (Yet to See)

WHICH ANIMATED FEATURE DO I WANT TO WIN?

WHICH ANIMATED FEATURE DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

With rave reviews from critics, audience love all around the world and its Golden Globe victory, it’s close to impossible seeing another animated film triumph over this one.

The Winner Is…

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM NOMINEES

CAPHARNAÜM (4 ½ stars)
COLD WAR (3 ½ stars)
NEVER LOOK AWAY (Yet to See)
ROMA (4 ½ stars)
SHOPLIFTERS (3 ½ stars)

WHICH FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM DO I WANT TO WIN?

WHICH FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM DO I PREDICT TO WIN?

If ROMA takes out the Best Picture award, then it just has to win the Best Foreign Language Film prize too, doesn’t it? For me, the extraordinary CARHARNAÜM only just edges ROMA. What an incredible story it would be if my slight favourite does indeed win!

The Winner Is…

The 91st Academy Awards ® will take place on the 24th of Feb at 5pm GMT-8 (25th Feb at 12pm AEDT)

Compiled by Leigh for Moviedoc
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