As
always, my Oscar picks are the nominees I’d like to see win rather than the
ones I necessarily expect to win. Looking at my nine favorite categories, here
are the ones I’m rooting for. Although I did pretty well this year, there are a
few movies that I didn’t catch, so I’ve noted whatever I might be missing in
the various categories.
Best Picture: Jojo Rabbit – There are a number of great movies on
this list, especially Parasite, Little Women, 1917, and Marriage Story.
But I’m still carrying a torch for Jojo
Rabbit, even though I know it really isn’t in the conversation here. My
favorite movie of the year – I love it so much, and even though it didn’t get
as much love as I’d have liked to see for it in the other categories, it’s
still my pick for Best Picture. (Note: I haven’t seen Joker.)
Best Leading Actor:
Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes) – I wavered a lot between Pryce and
Adam Driver, and in the end, I had to give Pryce just a slight edge, even though I loved both a lot. Pryce’s performance
just draws me in so well. (Note: I haven’t seen Antonio Banderas in Pain and Glory or Joaquin Phoenix in Joker.)
Best Leading Actress:
Renée Zellweger (Judy) – This is a tough category filled with
a lot of strong performances, but this is an instance where I have to go with
the consensus. Faithful rendering of Judy Garland aside, Zellweger definitely
made me feel all the emotions in this movie.
Best Supporting Actor: Tom
Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the
Neighborhood) – Honestly,
while all these performances are obviously good, none of them really make me
go, “Give that man an Oscar!” I ultimately went with Hanks; I wouldn’t say he quite nails Mr. Rogers’s voice and
demeanor, but the emotional beats of the performance are right on the money.
Best Supporting Actress:
Margot Robbie (Bombshell) – Another tough one. I leaned really
hard toward Florence Pugh, and I loved Scarlett Johansson in Jojo Rabbit, but even though both of
those actresses are in superior films, Robbie is just stunningly good in this
role, especially in the scene in Roger’s office. (Note: I haven’t seen Kathy
Bates in Richard Jewell.)
Best Original Screenplay: Parasite – A no-brainer, even though there are
other strong contenders here. Parasite is
just so expertly conceived and put together. Every moment counts, and it brings
comedy, pathos, and existential horror in spades, weaving in thoughtful
commentary throughout.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jojo Rabbit – I loved Little Women and was very impressed with The Two Popes, but I really
need Jojo Rabbit to win this one.
Absolutely incredible – so, so, so
good. This is probably the award I’m more invested in than any other. (Note: I
haven’t seen Joker.)
Best Director: Parasite – I really liked Sam Mendes’s work in 1917 as well, but I go back to how expertly
every single instant in Parasite
comes together, and that’s on Bong Joon Ho. He steered that ship, and it
couldn’t be what it is without his fingerprints carefully nudging every scene
into exactly the right place. (Note: I haven’t seen Joker.)
Best Cinematography: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood – Not to take away from 1917’s amazing technical achievement,
and I’d be perfectly happy with that film winning, but I tend to gravitate
toward really intentional, beautifully-framed shots, and that was my reaction
to Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’s
cinematography. (Note: I haven’t seen Joker
or The Lighthouse.)
No comments:
Post a Comment