It is April 25 when the 93rd Academy Awards are going to take place. In the following paragraphs, we have presented our top predictions for the most significant categories.
Best film
A couple of clear trends are perceptible in the Oscars of this year: genuine stories, as well as the experience of marginalized folks in the US. A couple of movies also intersect with depictions of the identical real-life figure, assassinated Black Panther Fred Hampton, who has been depicted in Judas and the Black Messiah as well as The Trial of the Chicago 7. However, it is evident that Nomadland happens to be the frontrunner after winning quite a few awards including best movie from the Golden Globes, the Independent Spirit Awards, and the Baftas.
• The Father
• Sound of Metal
• Mank
• Nomadland
• Promising Young Woman
• The Trial of the Chicago 7
• Minari
• Judas and the Black Messiah
Best director
For the first time in the history of the Oscars, more than 1 female has been nominated as the best director. Chloé Zhao happens to be the first female of color that has got the nomination for this particular category. Otherwise, The Crown star Emerald Fennell might end up winning for her first appearance as director and writer with the movie Promising Young Woman. Another director who was nominated for the award is David Fincher for his film Mank which is actually his 3rd Oscar nomination.
• David Fincher in Mank
• Thomas Vinterberg in Another Round
• Emerald Fennell in Promising Young Woman
• Chloé Zhao in Nomadland
• Lee Isaac Chung in Minari
Best actor in a leading role
While Steven Yeun, the Minari star, is the first Asian American who has got the nomination for the best actor, senior statesmen Anthony Hopkins and Gary Oldman who already have won an Oscar before are also nominated for the best actor award. Riz Ahmed, who is the first Muslim to get a nomination in this category, is also there. However, the question is that whether it will be possible for the Academy to resist a posthumous award for Chadwick Boseman who passed away last year following a couple of career-best performances in Da 5 Bloods and Black Bottom.
• Anthony Hopkins in The Father
• Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal
• Steven Yeun in Minari
• Gary Oldman in Mank
• Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Best actress in a leading role
Carey Mulligan first received a nomination for an Oscar in the year 2009 for the role played by her in An Education, regarding a schoolgirl who was manipulated by a man who was older than her in age. Consequently, it is probably fitting that her most recent nomination happens to be for her performance as female fighting against sexual exploitation. In the meantime, Viola Davis has been nominated for his film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Andra Day for the movie The United States v. Billie Holiday. Powerful solo performances have also been given by Vanessa Kirby in the movie Pieces of a Woman and Frances McDormand in the film Nomadland. However, it is quite tough to predict the eventual winner in this category.
• Andra Day in The United States v. Billie Holiday
• Carey Mulligan in Promising Young Woman
• Viola Davis in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Frances McDormand in Nomadland
• Vanessa Kirby in Pieces of a Woman
Best actor in a supporting role
Paul Raci, who happens to be a Vietnam veteran and a long-time working actor is a wild card entry right here. Leslie Odom Jr. plays the role of singer and musician Sam Cooke in the film One Night in Miami while Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya might split the vote for the aficionados of Judas and the Black Messiah. In particular, Daniel Kaluuya has done remarkably well in other awards. Although the role played by a comic actor is preferred by the Academy which can help Sacha Baron Cohen, his turn in the film The Trial of the Chicago 7 is not that flamboyant in the shortlist.
• Daniel Kaluuya in Judas and the Black Messiah
• Lakeith Stanfield in Judas and the Black Messiah
• Sacha Baron Cohen in The Trial of the Chicago 7
• Paul Raci in Sound of Metal
• Leslie Odom Jr. in One Night in Miami
Best actress in a supporting role
Even though Glenn Close has received a nomination for the 8th time, Hillbilly Elegy, Netflix’s rural drama did not manage to get kind reviews. Olivia Colman who ended up winning the award for best actress a couple of years ago might win another Oscar for the role played by her in The Father. On the other hand, Yuh-jung Youn might be amongst the few actors who have won an Oscar for performances without any English on the screen (together with the likes of Robert De Niro, Sophia Loren, Benicio del Toro, Roberto Benigni, and Marion Cotillard). In the meantime, it is Maria Bakalova who has been nominated for her heroism in the Borat sequel, especially in a violent scene when she faces Rudy Giuliani.
• Glenn Close in Hillbilly Elegy
• Amanda Seyfried in Mank
• Maria Bakalova in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
• Olivia Colman in The Father
• Yuh-jung Youn in Minari
Best original screenplay
Even though Trial of the Chicago 7 by Aaron Sorkin happens to be a piece of history, it is hardly innovative from an author reputed for adapting true stories. Almost identical historic ground is covered by Judas and the Black Messiah with a more scornful tone which might draw the attention of the Academy. The script authored by Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman might likewise galvanize the voters.
• The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Aaron Sorkin)
• Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell)
• Minari (Lee Isaac Chung)
• Judas and the Black Messiah (Shaka King, Will Berson; Story by Shaka King, Will Berson, Keith Lucas, Kenny Lucas)
• Sound of Metal (Abraham Marder, Darius Marder; Story by Derek Cianfrance, Darius Marder)
Best animated movie
Apple TV Plus has received a couple of nominations: best audio for Greyhound, as well as a possible nod for the animated movie Wolfwalkers. The stop-motion animation experts Aardman have received one more nomination for Shaun the Sheep, although one cannot ignore Pixar as well.
• A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (Netflix)
• Onward (Pixar)
• Soul (Pixar)
• Wolfwalkers (Apple TV Plus)
• Over the Moon (Netflix)
