Thomas's Oscar Predictions for the 92nd Academy Awards
The Oscars air this weekend on Sunday, February 9th at 5pm PST. There are many worthy candidates nominated this year, but by the end of the prestigious ceremony, only one nominee in each category will win the top honor. Below are the list of nominees, who I think should win, and who I think will ultimately take home the golden statue.
With commentary regarding my choices for the 6 major categories, here are the nominees…
BEST PICTURE
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood
Parasite
What I Think Will Win
Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood
What I Want To Win
Parasite
My Reasoning: Parasite is easily my favorite movie of 2019, and the accolades it has received leading up to the Oscars certainly supports its position as a frontrunner for Best Picture. However, the Academy has a history of honoring films that honor the Hollywood industry. And with the reputation and clout that Quentin Tarantino carries, it’s easy to see how this award might tip in favor of Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood.
BEST LEAD ACTOR
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”
Who I Think Will Win
Joaquin Phoenix
Who I Want To Win
Adam Driver
My Reasoning: Both Adam Driver and Joaquin Phoenix are great actors, and both are very deserving of Best Actor for their roles in Marriage Story and Joker respectively. I just personally happen to appreciate Driver’s portfolio more, and am rooting for him and Netflix to scoop up this win. With that said, I think the Academy will likely recognize the more extreme nature of Phoenix’s role and send the award his way.
BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”
Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”
Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”
Renee Zellweger, “Judy”
Who I Think Will Win
Scarlett Johansson
Who I Want To Win
Scarlett Johansson
My Reasoning: Scarlett Johansson is nominated for multiple roles this year, which is difficult to achieve. But when she’s not playing a cunning spy alongside superheros, Johansson knows how to put on a strong performance. And with Marriage Story being such an emotionally driven film thanks in large part to her excellent acting ability, this should be the year that Johansson finally earns the much deserved award.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Who I Think Will Win
Brad Pitt
Who I Want To Win
Joe Pesci
My Reasoning: This is one of the categories that I’m indifferent about, so I’m personally going to root in favor of the best Netflix nominee. And while Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood benefits from the same prestige of talent as is involved with The Irishman, the topical Hollywood industry subject matter might give Brad Pitt the edge.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”
Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”
Florence Pugh, “Little Women”
Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”
Who I Think Will Win
Florence Pugh
Who I Want To Win
Florence Pugh
My Reasoning: Florence Pugh has had quite a successful year, starring in three well received films: Fighting with My Family, Midsommar, and Little Women. It’s a shame that her role in Midsommar will go unrecognized at the Oscars this year, but awarding her for her part in Little Women would be good enough for me.
BEST DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Todd Phillips, “Joker”
Sam Mendes, “1917”
Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”
Who I Want To Win
Bong Joon Ho
Who I Think Will Win
Sam Mendes
My Reasoning: Best Director is a highly contentious category this year, so it’s my personal bias for Parasite that skews my interest in this award going to Bong Joon Ho. However, the direction necessary to pull of what 1917 accomplished is astounding, and I get the sense that there’s enough compelling behind the scenes featurettes in circulation right now to demonstrate why Sam Mendes and 1917 deserves this and many of the technical awards.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost My Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
What I Think Will Win
Missing Link
What I Want To Win
Missing Link
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
“Dcera,” Daria Kashcheeva
“Hair Love,” Matthew A. Cherry
“Kitbull,” Rosana Sullivan
“Memorable,” Bruno Collet
“Sister,” Siqi Song
What I Think Will Win
Hair Love
What I Want To Win
Hair Love
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“The Irishman,” Steven Zaillian
“Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi
“Joker,” Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
“Little Women,” Greta Gerwig
“The Two Popes,” Anthony McCarten
What I Think Will Win
Joker
What I Want To Win
The Irishman
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Knives Out,” Rian Johnson
“Marriage Story,” Noah Baumbach
“1917,” Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino
“Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han
What I Think Will Win
Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood
What I Want To Win
Marriage Story
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“The Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto
“Joker,” Lawrence Sher
“The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke
“1917,” Roger Deakins
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson
What I Think Will Win
1917
What I Want To Win
The Lighthouse
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
American Factory
The Cave
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland
What I Think Will Win
Honeyland
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
“In the Absence,” Yi Seung-Jun and Gary Byung-Seok Kam
“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone,” Carol Dysinger
“Life Overtakes Me,” Kristine Samuelson and John Haptas
“St. Louis Superman,” Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan
“Walk Run Cha-Cha,” Laura Nix
What I Think Will Win
“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone”
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
“Brotherhood,” Meryam Joobeur
“Nefta Football Club,” Yves Piat
“The Neighbors’ Window,” Marshall Curry
“Saria,” Bryan Buckley
“A Sister,” Delphine Girard
What I Think Will Win
“The Neighbors’ Window”
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
“Corpus Christi,” Jan Komasa
“Honeyland,” Tamara Kotevska, Ljubo Stefanov
“Les Miserables,” Ladj Ly
“Pain and Glory,” Pedro Almodovar
“Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho
What I Think Will Win
Parasite
What I Want To Win
Parasite
BEST FILM EDITING
“Ford v Ferrari,” Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland
“The Irishman,” Thelma Schoonmaker
“Jojo Rabbit,” Tom Eagles
“Joker,” Jeff Groth
“Parasite,” Jinmo Yang
What I Think Will Win
Joker
What I Want To Win
Parasite
BEST SOUND EDITING
Ford v FerrarI
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of SkyWalker
What I Think Will Win
Ford v Ferrari
What I Want To Win
1917
BEST SOUND MIXING
Ad Astra
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
What I Think Will Win
Ford v Ferrari
What I Want To Win
Ford v Ferrari
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
“The Irishman,” Bob Shaw and Regina Graves
“Jojo Rabbit,” Ra Vincent and Nora Sopkova
“1917,” Dennis Gassner and Lee Sandales
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh
“Parasite,” Lee Ha-Jun and Cho Won Woo, Han Ga Ram, and Cho Hee
What I Think Will Win
1917
What I Want To Win
1917
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir
“Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat
“Marriage Story,” Randy Newman
“1917,” Thomas Newman
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” John Williams
What I Think Will Win
1917
What I Want To Win
Marriage Story
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” “Toy Story 4”
“I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”
“I’m Standing With You,” “Breakthrough”
“Into the Unknown,” “Frozen 2”
“Stand Up,” “Harriet”
What I Think Will Win
“Stand Up” Harriet
What I Want To Win
“Stand Up” Harriet
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
“Bombshell”
“Joker”
“Judy”
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”
“1917”
What I Think Will Win
Judy
What I Want To Win
1917
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
”The Irishman,” Sandy Powell, Christopher Peterson
“Jojo Rabbit,” Mayes C. Rubeo
“Joker,” Mark Bridges
“Little Women,” Jacqueline Durran
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Arianne Phillips
What I Think Will Win
Little Women
What I Want To Win
Little Women
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
“Avengers Endgame”
“The Irishman”
“1917”
“The Lion King”
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
What I Think Will Win
The Lion King
What I Want To Win
The Lion King
