A few weeks ago I wrote an article detailing my reaction to the Oscar nominations and delivering my predictions for which films would take home the awards. I went a little overboard with my analysis, which resulted in me only covering Best Picture, Best director and the four acting categories. Only a few hours away from the Academy Awards, I’m back to cover the “Below The Line” categories. For your sanity and mine, I will be more succinct this time.
For Part One of my Oscar analysis, Click Here. To hear why the Academy Awards are going to suck this year, Click Here. If the Oscars aren’t your thing (though why did you click on this article if that’s the case?) check out our review for terrible movie “Serenity” by Clicking Here.
I’m going to skip “Best Animated Short,” “Best Documentary Short” and “Best Live-Action Short” since “Bao” is the only nominee I’ve actually seen. With that being said, “Bao” should win everything.
Oh, you mean it’s not nominated for everything? Fine. Let’s talk about what was actually nominated.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Prediction: Pixar has had a stranglehold on this category since its inception, winning 9 out of the 17 years that this category has existed (this number balloons to 12 out of 17 if we include Disney animated films). While “Incredible 2” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet” were both good to great films, I don’t believe Disney will take home the award this year. Personally, I enjoyed “Isle of Dogs” the most out of these five options, but it’s hard to bet against “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” right now. That takes the crown.
BEST 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
Prediction: Is there any point in even discussing this one? “Shallow” wins it, regrettably.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Favourite – Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara
First Reformed – Paul Schrader
Green Book – Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie and Peter Farrelly
Roma – Alfonso Cuarón
Vice – Adam McKay
Prediction: It’s rare that the film that wins Best Picture doesn’t win Best Director, and even rarer that the Best Picture winner doesn’t win Best Director or the screenplay category for which it’s nominated. I believe that will happen this year. “Roma” will win Best Picture but will fall short in both director and screenplay to “The Favourite,” which wholeheartedly deserves it.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
BlacKkKlansman – Spike Lee, Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott
Can You Ever Forgive Me? – Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty
If Beale Street Could Talk – Barry Jenkins
A Star Is Born – Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper and Will Fetters
Prediction: One would assume that this category will come down to one of the films nominated for Best Picture, which is a shame because both “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” and “If Beale Street Could Talk” were magnificently written. It’s a coin toss, so I’m going to go with my own personal preference on this one and say “BlacKkKlansman” wins the award. With Bradley Cooper winning for Best Song, this will allow the Academy to give Spike an Oscar.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Prediction: While it would be wonderful if one of these other films was recognized, especially “Cold War” or the extremely underrated “Capernaum,” it would be silly to pick any film other than “Roma.”
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Free Solo
Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers and Sons
RBG
Prediction: A difficult category to pick, this most likely comes down to more mainstream film “Minding the Gap” or “RBG.” I’m going to have to give it to “RBG.” I don’t think The Academy will be able to resist a Ruth Bader Ginsberg documentary, especially after the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh several months ago.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Black Panther – Ludwig Göransson
BlacKkKlansman – Terence Blanchard
If Beale Street Could Talk – Nicholas Britell
Isle of Dogs – Alexandre Desplat
Mary Poppins Returns – Marc Shaiman
Prediction: “Black Panther” has to win something, and here it is. Ludwig Göransson percussive score is definitely worthy of taking the prize.
BEST SOUND EDITING
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place
Roma
Prediction: Sound Editing is the art of pulling together all the sounds that you hear in a given film. Ironically, I believe “A Quiet Place” will take the prize here. Even the slightest sound was important and pushed the action forward.
BEST SOUND MIXING
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
Roma
A Star Is Born
Prediction: Musicals almost always perform well in the Sound Mixing category, so this is a toss-up between “A Star Is Born” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I’m going to pick “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The music was better. Fight me.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Black Panther
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Roma
Prediction: This is a difficult category. Every single one of these films has an argument for taking this award. Personally, I absolutely adored the look and feel of 1970s Mexico City in Roma. However, I’m going to have to go with the production design for “The Favourite,” simply because its beauty is prominently displayed throughout the film.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Black Panther
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Queen of Scots
Prediction: Sandy Powell is nominated twice in this category – for “The Favourite” and “Mary Poppins Returns.” Some might wonder if the dual nominations will lead to a cannibalization of votes, resulting in a film such a Black Panther grabbing the award. I don’t believe that’s going to happen, as I think most voters will bypass “Mary Poppins Returns” in favor of “The Favourite.”
BEST MAKE-UP & HAIRSTYLING
Border
Mary Queen of Scots
Vice
Prediction: “Border” probably should be considered, but who are we kidding? This goes to “Vice.” No competition.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Cold War
The Favourite
Never Look Away
Roma
A Star Is Born
Prediction: This goes to “Roma” in a walk.
BEST FILM EDITING
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Vice
Prediction: This honestly might be the hardest award of the night to pick, which is funny considering they almost didn’t air it on the award show to begin with. Every single one of these films was well edited, but in a crap shoot I’m going to go with “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It featured a heavy amount of editing, which I believe will resonate with the voters.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Avengers: Infinity War
Christopher Robin
First Man
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Prediction: How did “Ready Player One” get a nomination here? Is Spielberg holding people hostage? Regardless, this one should go to “Avengers: Infinity War.” Honestly, anything else would be a crime.
That’s it. If I accurately predict most of the winners I’ll never stop talking about it. If I get most of them wrong I will never mention this article again. Thanks for reading!
For Part One of my Oscar analysis, Click Here. To hear why the Academy Awards are going to suck this year, Click Here. If you want to hear about a bad movie from almost two decades ago, Click Here!
