List Sunday - Oscar Predictions and Thoughts
Personally, I think the Oscars are meaningless, but seeing who and what wins is a good indication of the direction the film industry will take in the coming years. For the categories that I have any familiarity with, I included whom I would like to win. Otherwise, I am playing the odds though there are some that I think could be potential upsets, which are in bold.
Best Picture
Who will probably win: The Shape of Water
Who I would like to win: Phantom Thread. I loved Get Out and Lady Bird but I think winning an Oscar on the first outing would be detrimental to these first-time directors. I think Paul Thomas Anderson has come so far from his brilliant debut, and I would like to see him finally recognized.
Best Director
Who will probably win: Guillermo del Toro
Who I would like to win: Paul Thomas Anderson, See above.
Best Actor
Who will probably win: Gary Oldman
Who I would like to win: Timothee Chalamet. His sensitive, complex performance grounds the film and makes it compelling. Also, that end credits sequence is just stunning.
Best Actress
Who will probably win: Sally Hawkins
Three Billboard has been getting a bid of a bad rap in the media, which might affect its chances even though Frances McDormand is a powerhouse. More cynically speaking, the Academy loves to award people playing disabilities.
Who I would like to win: Margot Robbie. I forgot I was watching Margot Robbie and how can you forget watching Margot Robbie.
Best Supporting Actor
Who will probably win: Sam Rockwell
Who i would like to win: Willem Dafoe. Playing an ordinary guy without affecting an accent or some prominent physical characteristic is hard and underrated.
Best Supporting Actress
Who will probably win: Allison Janney
Who I would like to win: Laurie Metcalf. Such a beautifully complex and subtle performance. Pretty much every daughter who grew up with a strong mother could probably relate to this. Heck, probably a lot of men too.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Call Me By Your Name
Best Original Screenplay
Who will probably win: Three Billboards outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Who I would like to win: The Big Sick. The writing is really underrated since it seems like normal people are just talking, and the humor is effortlessly integrated into a really serious stoyr.
Best Foreign Film
A Fantastic Woman. I think Gabriela Vega should have been nominated for Best Actress.
Best Animated Film
Coco
Best Cinematography
Roger Deakins, Blade Runner 2049
Best Film Editing
The Shape of Water
Best Song
“Remember Me” from Coco
Best Original Score
Who will probably win: Phantom Thread
Who I would like to win: Phantom Thread. The score is so overpowering and such a complete work of art on its own that I feel this will be hard to ignore.
Best Documentary Feature
Faces, Places. Agnes Varda deserved an Oscar so long ago, and I cannot wait to finally see this film.
Best Documentary - Short Subject
Edith+Eddie
Best Live Action Short Film
Dekalb Elementary
Best Animated Short Film
Dear Basketball
Best Production Design
The Shape of Water
Best Visual Effects
War for the Planet of the Apes
Best Costume Design
Phantom Thread
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Darkest Hour
Best Sound Mixing
Dunkirk
Best Sound Editing
Dunkirk