Around Oscar season I really miss my job as a newspaper film critic. Predictions and end-of-the-year best lists were my favourite columns to write. I’m currently not contracted to a paper but *hooray!* I have a blog so I’ll put my predictions here for the 90th Annual Academy Awards that will be airing on ABC this Sunday, March 4th at 5 pm PST.
Best Picture: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
This is a close race, between Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Shape of Water. Personally, I adored Three Billboards and would like to see it win everything, but many critics are now calling for The Shape of Water to win. It’s too bad The Post fell so far out of awards consideration so early, but it couldn’t seem to generate the same excitement as the two frontrunners. I think Three Billboards deserves to win and I’ll be pulling for it all night.
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro
If I were handing out the trophies, I’d pick Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk, for the following reasons: he’s never been nominated before, Dunkirk was a marvel of unique and risky storytelling, and The Dark Knight/The Dark Knight Rises. Enough said. Jordan Peele also has a real shot for his impressive and much-loved directorial debut Get Out, but I think the prize will go to Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water.
Actress in a Leading Role: Frances McDormand
Ahhh, Frances. I’ve always loved her work, but this role was literally written for her and she crushes it in every moment of every scene. As the grieving, furious mother who will stop at nothing to see justice for her dead daughter in Three Billboards, McDormand commands respect while demonstrating subtle compassion all the way through the film. This win comes at exactly the right time for the Me Too/Time’s Up movement and Frances McDormand is the brave, authentic and feminist hero I’ve been waiting for.
Actor in a Leading Role: Gary Oldman
He’s been the frontrunner the whole season. His physical transformation to play Winston Churchill is the kind of thing Oscar voters adore. Plus, Oldman has only been nominated for one other Academy Award in his distinguished career, which is bonkers. This is his year for The Darkest Hour. No one else is even close.
Actress in a Supporting Role: Allison Janney
I haven’t seen I, Tonya yet and hope to rectify that as soon as possible, but Laurie Metcalf’s awards momentum as the frustrated mom in Lady Bird seems to have been eclipsed by Janney’s outlandish portrayal of Tonya Harding’s nut job parent. Everyone I know who has seen the movie loved Janney most of all. Between the bowl cut, the glasses, the fur coat and the bird, she’s set for Oscar gold.
Actor in a Supporting Role: Sam Rockwell
Like Frances, Sam Rockwell is a favourite performer for me (and for many of his peers in Hollywood). He’s a character actor who is finally getting his due by playing a mean, dim, racist cop in Three Billboards who would be hard to like in a lesser-actor’s hands, but Rockwell plays him with a certain relatable charm. His character’s journey through rock bottom is moving and he comes out the other side a better version of himself. And that story is something worth rooting for.
Bonus Predictions:
Best Original Screenplay: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (can you tell that I loved this movie??!)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Call Me by Your Name
Enjoy the show! (Even if Jimmy Kimmel is hosting. Sigh. Why not Seth Meyers or Trevor Noah or Amy Schumer?).
Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Let me know before Sunday night!
I must admit that I wouldn’t voluntarily choose to see Dunkirk, but my husband had been waiting for months for this one, so I booked it as our anniversary date.