For decades the Academy Awards had ignored their issue they had with the lack of diversity and their nominations. Thankfully they have worked to improve this situation. The latest trend that the Academy has been working on, is finding a way to get younger and more casual movie goers to watch. To accomplish this, the Academy has started to nominate more fan-favorite pictures. But is this a good idea? Personally, I don’t hate it. But I will admit that if you told me 10 years ago that a Top Gun sequel would be nominated for best picture, I would’ve thought you’ve gone mad. But this is the universe we live in now. Time will tell if this will help improve viewership.
Once again we have 10 nominations for best picture, and they are all very different. This wide range gives the voters more choices, and I like that. On a personal level I did not gravitate towards one movie in particular. Movies like The Fabelmans and Tar touch on plot and themes that attract my interest. Then you have a film like Everything Everywhere All At Once that took me by surprise, and it received the most love this year.
But who will be our big winners this year? Trying to decide which way the wind will blow when it comes to all the politics involved in winning can be difficult. Last year I did very well in my predictions. But can I repeat? Well that’s what I am here to do, so let’s do this!
Best Picture
Who will win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Who I want to win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Best Director
Who will win: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Who I want to win: Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans”
Best Actor
Who will win: Austin Butler, “Elvis”
Who I want to win: Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”
Best Actress
Who will win: Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Who I want to win: Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Best Supporting Actor
Who will win: Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Who I want to win: Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Best Supporting Actress
Who will win: Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Who I want to win: Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Original Screenplay
Who will win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Who I want to win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Adapted Screenplay
Who will win: “Women Talking,” Sarah Polley
Who I want to win: “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” Rian Johnson
Animated Feature
Who will win: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
Who I want to win: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
Production Design
Who will win: “Elvis”
Who I want to win: “Elvis”
Costume Design
Who will win: “Elvis”
Who I want to win: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Ruth E. Carter
Cinematography
Who will win: “Elvis,” Mandy Walker
Who I want to win: “Elvis,” Mandy Walker
Editing
Who will win: “Top Gun: Maverick”
Who I want to win: “Top Gun: Maverick”
Makeup and Hairstyling
Who will win: “Elvis,” Mark Coulier, Jason Baird and Aldo Signoretti
Who I want to win: “The Batman,” Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike Fontaine
Sound
Who will win: “Top Gun: Maverick,” Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor
Who I want to win: “Top Gun: Maverick,” Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor
Visual Effects
Who will win: “Avatar: The Way of Water,” Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
Who I want to win: “Avatar: The Way of Water,” Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
Score
Who will win: “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Volker Bertelmann
Who I want to win: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Carter Burwell
Song
Who will win: “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”; music by M.M. Keeravaaani; lyric by Chandrabose
Who I want to win: “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”; music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler
Documentary Feature
Who will win: “Navalny”
Who I want to win: “Fire of Love”
International Feature
Who will win: “All Quiet on the Western Front”
Who I want to win: “All Quiet on the Western Front”
Animated Short
Who will win: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”
Who I want to win: “My Year of Dicks”
Documentary Short
Who will win: “The Elephant Whisperers”
Who I want to win: “The Elephant Whisperers”
Live-Action Short
Who will win: “Le Pupille”
Who I want to win: “An Irish Goodbye”