It’s Oscar season. A time of year celebrated by cinephiles, casual movie viewers, and people who enjoy watching slaps alike. The biggest ceremony in Hollywood is coming up, and RamPage has got you covered with a definitive guide of our picks and predictions for this year’s Academy Awards.
Best Picture
The Holdovers – Although I’m not usually one for heartwarming movies, even my bitter heart was thawed by this lovely Christmas dramedy set at an all boys school in Massachusetts. Alexander Payne’s film is truly lovely, and although it may not quite have the technical brass to compete with the heavyweights, it’s an excellent film and I don’t think anyone would be disappointed if it won the award.
American Fiction – With all due respect to Cord Jefferson’s sharp satire, it’s just not good enough. Yes, it’s a clever and entertaining movie, but it sure isn’t the best movie of the year.
The Zone of Interest – Full disclosure, I haven’t seen this. However, critics have been impressed by the Holocaust drama by Jonathan Glazer, and who am I to disagree? I doubt that it will win the award, but it’s certainly not impossible. (Note from the editor: The movie was extremely bland and had little to no plot. Although the cinematography was amazing, I don’t see this taking home a win.)
Barbie – Is “Barbie” a lovely, rewatchable comedy? Absolutely. It is most definitely not a frontrunner for Best Picture, however. Similarly to “American Fiction,” it falls into the “honor to be nominated” category.
Oppenheimer – The leader of the pack, sweeping all the other awards shows thus far. That being said…I don’t think it should win. It’s a very good biopic, but there are better movies in the category that I think deserve it more.
Poor Things – Speaking of better movies, “Poor Things” is great! I’d be perfectly happy to see Yorgos Lanthimos’ fantasy/coming-of-age/Frankenstein/comedy/drama/adventure take home the prize. It certainly has a shot to be the one to unseat “Oppenheimer” and nab the top spot.
Past Lives – This movie is really, really, really great. The debut feature from Celine Song, this romantic drama may not have quite enough momentum to win Best Picture, but I firmly believe that in ten years we’ll still be talking about its beauty, a feat that many of this year’s nominees may not manage.
Anatomy of a Fall – Although it’s been somewhat divisive, I am firmly of the opinion that Justine Triet’s courtroom drama is a bonafide masterpiece. If it were up to me, I’d give the movie Best Picture without hesitation. Unfortunately, it’s not up to me, and I doubt that Academy voters will make the right decision, because when do they ever make the right decision?
Maestro – Eh. Probably shouldn’t have been nominated.
Killers of the Flower Moon – It’s not nearly as potent as some of the other films in the category, but it’s certainly solid. Plus, Martin Scorsese directed it, which can’t hurt its odds.
Who Will Win: Oppenheimer
Who Should Win: Anatomy of a Fall
Biggest Snub: The Iron Claw
Best Actress
Emma Stone, Poor Things – As if it was up for debate, her performance in “Poor Things” solidified the fact that Emma Stone is simply unbelievable. She adds tremendous humor and pathos to the Lanthimos’ film and pulls off a relatively difficult part with ease. Stone is certainly a frontrunner this year, and for good reason.
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon – Stone’s big competition in this category. Gladstone’s breakout part is extremely impressive, albeit very different from Emma Stone’s. Her restraint and subtlety is exceptional, and you can’t deny that she’s got a decent shot at the award.
Annette Bening, Nyad – The Academy feels like they have to nominate someone from a biopic every year, so…here we are. I don’t think anyone is truly taking Bening seriously, but good for her getting the nomination, I suppose.
Carey Mulligan, Maestro – I haven’t seen her in this, but I’ve heard she’s pretty good! I doubt that she can keep pace with Gladstone and Stone, however.
Sandra Huller, Anatomy of a Fall – I’m trying as hard as I can to not be biased, and don’t get me wrong, Stone and Gladstone are both spectacular, but Sandra Huller is on another planet! She’s unbelievably good in this, and has to speak in two different languages, neither of which are her native one. To be able to manage such a convincing and heartrending performance in French and English is simply masterful.
Who Will Win: Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Who Should Win: Sandra Huller, Anatomy of a Fall
Biggest Snub: Greta Lee, Past Lives
Best Actor
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers – Genuinely excellent. Giamatti gives a truly great performance in the movie, and I would love to see him earn a much-deserved Academy Award after years of underappreciated performances.
Bradley Cooper, Maestro – No! Who cares! Cooper overacts this thing like there’s no tomorrow, and in turn the film (which he also directed) is perhaps the most Oscar bait-y Oscar bait that has ever Oscar baited.
Colman Domingo, Rustin – Yet another biopic nomination. He’s a talented actor in the form of his life with projects coming left and right, but he has no chance of winning.
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer – Probably the frontrunner in this category. He gives a very strong performance, and I wouldn’t be upset (or surprised) if he nabbed the award.
Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction – Although he almost certainly won’t win, Wright does some very sweet stuff in this movie, and you feel an ocean of empathy for him. Like all the actors in this category, it’s very nice to see him recognized for his work that has so often flown under the radar.
Who Will Win: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Who Should Win: Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Biggest Snub: Nicolas Cage, Dream Scenario
Best Supporting Actress
America Ferrera, Barbie – I’m not denying that she was great in that one scene, but overall I don’t think she’s necessarily up to snuff for this award.
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple – Also very unlikely to win it, but congratulations to her on getting nominated.
Da’Vine Randolph, The Holdovers – Yeah, she’s winning it. Having already dominated in just about every other award show you can think of, Randolph is the strong favorite, and rightfully so. She gives an excellent performance, and when (not if) she wins it’ll be wholly deserved.
Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer – She was barely in this! This category isn’t the strongest, and the Academy defaulted back to the old “just pick somebody from a biopic” method for her nomination. I’m not saying she was bad, I’m just saying she was on screen for sixteen minutes and didn’t have all that much to do in that time.
Jodie Foster, Nyad – I love Jodie Foster, you love Jodie Foster, we all love Jodie Foster. That being said, she’s barely a contender in this race. Keep an eye out for her at next year’s Emmys, though, after her spectacular work in “True Detective: Night Country.”
Who Will Win: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Who Should Win: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Biggest Snub: Deki Lhamo, The Monk and the Gun
Best Supporting Actor
Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things – I don’t think anyone would be upset if he won. Ruffalo put in a very entertaining performance as the debonair adventurer Duncan Wedderburn, effectively showing off his impressive comedy chops. That said, he didn’t have too much dramatic material to do.
Robert de Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon – It’s Robert de Niro, doing his thing for three and a half hours. What more can I say?
Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer – He’s the favorite in this category, but I can’t say I completely understand why. For me, he just didn’t really…do much. Unfortunately, as was established earlier, I have no say in the Academy’s voting process, so it’s likely that the veteran actor will earn the prize.
Ryan Gosling, Barbie – The most controversial pick of the bunch. In all honesty, I don’t know if he deserved this. Yes, he was very funny, but not much else. In all honesty, I’d go as far as to say that “Barbie” didn’t deserve nominations in any of the major categories.
Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction – Although he’s a longshot to win it, Brown killed it. His screen time is limited but he makes the most of it with multiple moving monologues that really tug at your heartstrings. He does a great job, and in a year with so many snubs, it was nice to see him get the nomination.
Who Will Win: Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Who Should Win: Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction
Biggest Snubs: Charles Melton, May December; Harris Dickinson, The Iron Claw; Jeremy Allen White, The Iron Claw; Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers; Willem Dafoe, Poor Things; Janne Hyytiäinen, Fallen Leaves; Milo Machado Graner, Anatomy of a Fall, John Magaro, Past Lives (it’s safe to say I was not thrilled with the Academy’s choices)
The Best of the Rest
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
Best Original Screenplay: Anatomy of a Fall
Best Adapted Screenplay: Poor Things
Best Cinematography: Oppenheimer
Best Original Score: Poor Things
Best Original Score: “I’m Just Ken,” Barbie
Best Editing: Anatomy of a Fall
Best Production Design: Poor Things
Best Costume Design: Poor Things
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Society of the Snow
Best Sound: The Zone of Interest
Best Visual Effects: Godzilla Minus One
Best International Feature: The Zone of Interest
Best Animated Feature: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Best Animated Short: Ninety-Five Senses
Best Live Action Short: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Best Documentary Feature: Four Daughters
Best Documentary Short: Nai Nai and Wài Pó
