The biggest night in Hollywood is upon us and the 91st Oscars is set to have plenty of eyes on it after all of the controversy going into it. From questionable changes to the show (that have since been rolled back) to the decision to not have a specific host there is a lot of mystery surrounding how this years show will be. But the focus in the end should be on the films and the people nominated and a celebration of their achievements in the 2018 year. Below I will run through my predictions for each of the categories as well as indicating who I’d personally like to see win.
My prediction will be highlighted in RED
Whereas who I personally would like to see win the most will be highlighted in GREEN.
If you don’t see an option highlighted in GREEN that’s because it’s the same as my prediction.
Best Picture
Black Panther
BlaKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice
The Best Picture line-up is yet again another strong one with a great variety of films. The big take-away here is the fact that the superhero genre has finally been recognised properly with the nomination of Black Panther. I personally don’t think the film is good enough to be up here as there are other films I think are more deserving. It’s great though to see the academy branching out to different genres for the big award. Personally I would love to see Green Book bring home the prestigious award as I was mesmerised by just how incredible it was. However I see Alfonso Cuarón‘s Roma going home with the win and taking with it a number of other awards. Both all-round incredible projects and no matter which way it goes I will be totally fine with it.
Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book
I honestly believe this award is a two-horse race between Rami Malek for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury and Christian Bale for his performance as Dick Cheney. I’ve only heard good things about Bale’s performance which was a standout in Vice so he could take it. Rami Malek though is the reason you see Bohemian Rhapsody as he completely embodies Freddie Mercury, disappearing into the role. Bradley Cooper and Viggo Mortensen I do believe have outside chances at stealing it and they too would deserve it but this is going to one of the top two. I’d personally like to see Viggo take it home because it’s a bit overdue.
Actress in a Leading Role
Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
Glenn Close, The Wife
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Lady Gaga, A Star is Born
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
This is another pretty stacked category where I can see any of the nominees taking this one home. I have not seen The Wife, so I can’t speak much on Glenn Close‘s performance but all signs are pointing to her winning the gold so she’s my prediction. However I believe Lady Gaga, Olivia Colman, and Yalitza Aparicio all have a strong chance of stealing it from Glenn. I personally think Lady Gaga had the strongest performance of any this year with Yalitza coming in at a close second so if either of them won it I’d be ecstatic. But I’ll play it safe with Glenn as my pick.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman
Sam Elliott, A Star is Born
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Rockwell, Vice
This is one of the few categories this year that I believe is an absolute shoe-in. Mahershala Ali‘s performance in Green Book is riveting and I don’t see anyone else coming close to this. His performance is so good it would compete with the lead actor nominees. Sam Elliott was great in A Star is Born and I’m sure the rest of the nominees were great in their respective films but this is Mahershala’s night and I don’t see anyone taking that from him.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams, Vice
Marina de Tavira, Roma
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite
This award is a little tougher to pick as there’s some definite favourites going up against who I’d love to see win. Both Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz have a shot but I believe both being nominated for the same award will actually hurt both of their chances and neither will take it. Marina De Tavira has an outside chance for Roma so seeing her win would be great but I’m putting my money on Regina King. I believe she will overcome the competition and walk away with her first Oscar from her first nomination.
Directing
Spike Lee, BlaKkKlansman
Paweł Palikowski, Cold War
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Adam McKay, Vice
Directing is typically a very tough one to pick each year and there are definitely some good candidates here. I’m one who believes that the winners of Best Picture and Directing should be one and the same but that’s not always the case. It’s a shame to not see Peter Farrelly nominated here for Green Book and Bradley Cooper not being nominated for A Star is Born is a pretty big snub. But as for who is nominated I believe this is Alfonso Cuarón‘s win as his work on crafting Roma is exquisite. Yorgos Lanthimos could be an outside chance with his first directing nomination, as could be some of the other nominees but I’m putting all my chips on Cuarón.
Cinematography
Cold War
The Favourite
Never Look Away
Roma
A Star is Born
This right here is going to be a definitive win for Roma without a doubt. A Star is Born and The Favourite specifically boast some incredible cinematography and if either of those were to win then I wouldn’t be complaining. But Roma may as well be the definition of incredible cinematography this year because every single second is crafted to perfection. Even if you don’t resonate with the story being told, the cinematography is enough to draw your full attention on its own. I din’t see anything coming out with this win so should be a pretty straightforward prediction.
Animated Feature Film
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
For years Disney has dominated this category each and every year with one of their animated films winning 10 of the last 11 years. This year they have two film in the running with Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet but I think they’ll have to wait until next year to get another shot at glory. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a film I actually missed last year but the way award season has headed I can’t see it losing to anything. As great as I thought Ralph Breaks the Internet was I don’t think it can overcome the momentum that Spider-Man has going for it. It’ll be interesting to see but I think this is as good as done.
Film Editing
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Vice
This is a difficult category to pick this year with no option really standing out above the others so it could go a number of different ways. Considering the change in directors that Bohemian Rhapsody had to overcome that could throw the odds in its favour. But then again Vice has been getting some good rapport for its strong editing. The Favourite and Green Book could also stand a good chance here but who knows. I’ll say Vice will take this award home but I would like to see Bohemian Rhapsody win so it doesn’t go home from the Oscars too empty-handed.
Music (Original Score)
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
If Beale Street Could Talk
Isle of Dogs
Mary Poppins Returns
I personally see this one going anywhere from Mary Poppins Returns to Black Panther to even Isle of Dogs. It’s odd seeing Mary Poppins Returns make an appearance as you wouldn’t really think of the score when it comes to that film but it seems to have hit home with some. I’m going to take a punt and say BlacKkKlansman takes this one home but if Black Panther wins it or another nominee I wouldn’t be any less satisfied.
Music (Original Song)
“All the Stars”, Black Panther
“I’ll Fight”, RBG
“The Place Where Lost Things Go”, Mary Poppins Returns
“Shallow”, A Star is Born
“When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings”, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
This is another definitive win as nothing is going to come close to taking this from Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A Star is Born. “Shallow” is the best original song of the year both in and out of the context of the film so I don’t see anything else providing any competition. Sure “All the Star” or “The Place Where Lost Things Go” could come out on top but nothing deserves the win more than “Shallow”
Sound Editing
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place
Roma
The generation of sounds was the most crucial element of A Quiet Place. My favourite movie of the year relied on sound to drive every thill, every scare, and every piece of horror in the entire film. The attention to detail in sound editing was phenomenal across the entire film especially when it altered sound to create the effect of hearing through a specific character. I don’t think there is a film more deserving of the award than A Quiet Place but with all of the traction First Man is getting for its use of sound in space I see it taking the win. There is also a strong chance that Bohemian Rhapsody comes out and takes it but I think this is going to either of A Quiet Place or First Man.
Sound Mixing
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
Roma
A Star is Born
Sound Mixing, which is different to Sound Editing is a little tougher to pick this year as there are a couple of films that expertly mixed sounds to build a powerful aural landscape. Bohemian Rhapsody did this amazingly well especially during the large-scale concert sequences which were just mesmerising. That’s why I think it will bring it home but this could just as easily go to either A Star is Born or First Man. Black Panther could be the dark horse that may pull out a surprise but I feel like the other nominees I’ve mentioned are too strong for that to happen.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
BlacKkKlansman
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
If Beale Street Could Talk
A Star is Born
Here we get to the writing categories in which the winners are typically films that are nominated for Best Picture or deserve to be up there but just weren’t strong enough to win so they get recognised for their screenplay. Here I see A Star is Born getting that recognition as this is a riveting, emotional, and heart-wrenching story that hit me more than anything else this year. It’s expertly written and despite being the third rendition of this story in history it still stands out which is impressive. BlacKkKlansman could also come in and steal the show as it also won’t take home the big one but we’ll have to wait and see.
Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Favourite
First Reformed
Green Book
Roma
Vice
What’s interesting here is seeing First Reformed make a surprise appearance that I don’t think many were expecting. That being said, I don’t think it has a chance and this may be a two-horse race between Green Book and The Favourite. Green Book is what I think should and will win but The Favourite could very well steal it. Roma also has a strong chance but I feel that with the other awards it’s nominated for and more likely to win this one won’t go its way. This is an award I’m looking forward to because it may be a major surprise.
Visual Effects
Avengers: Infinity War
Christopher Robin
First Man
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Here we have the award all the big blockbusters fight over each year and honestly it could go either way. In recent years none of the Star Wars films have taken home the win so I’ll say Solo: A Star Wars Story will see the same result. I would love to see Ready Player One get recognised for the effects it used in creating the virtual world of the Oasis. But I feel like this is Avengers: Infinity War‘s game to lose because not only was it arguably the biggest event film of the year but the visual effects were astounding.
Predictions in Additional Categories
Production Design
Black Panther
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Roma
Costume Design
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Black Panther
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Queen of Scots
Documentary (Feature)
Free Solo
Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers and Sons
RBG
Documentary (Short Subject)
Black Sheep
End Game
Life Boat
A Night at the Garden
Period. End of Sentence.
Foreign Language Film
Capernaum
Cold War
Never Look Away
Roma
Shoplifters
Makeup and Hairstyling
Border
Mary Queen of Scots
Vice
Short Film (Animated)
Animal Behaviour
Bao
Late Afternoon
One Small Step
Weekends
Short Film (Live Action)
Detainment
Fauve
Marguerite
Mother
Skin
Everything Movie Reviews 