THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES ARTS AND SCIENCES 96TH OSCAR CEREMONY IS MARCH 10, 2024
Predicting Oscar winners: Academy Awards forecasts and my picks.
Let’s see how many I get right. Due to sheer volume, I have not posted every single category
[Disclaimer: YouTube clips and images are posted in the spirit of fair use, not for financial gain]
Best Documentary Feature Film
“Bobi Wine: The People’s President:" Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp, John Battseck
Gripping story of Ugandan singer and opposition leader Bobi Wine's presidential campaign against the long-standing ruler Yoweri Museveni, highlighting his fight for democracy in the face of an oppressive regime.
"The Eternal Memory:” Maite Alberdi
Moving documentary that traces the journey of Chilean journalist Augusto Góngora and his wife, actress Paulina Urrutia, as they navigate the challenges of Alzheimer's disease
“Four Daughters:” Kaoutha Ben Hania
Touching story of a Tunisian mother, Olfa, and her four daughters, focusing on the disappearance of her two older daughters.
“To Kill A Tiger:” Nisha Pahuja
A traumatized family in Jharkhand, India, seeks justice after their teenage daughter is brutally raped.
“20 Days In Mariupol:” Mstyslav Chernov
Follows Chernov and his colleagues during the siege of Mariupol after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kwei’s pick: “20 Days In Mariupol"
Prediction: “20 Days In Mariupol"
Best Performance By An Actor in a Leading Role
Bradley Cooper: “Maestro”
Colman Domingo: “Rustin"
Paul Giamatti: "The Holdovers"
Cillian Murphy: “Oppenheimer"
Jeffrey Wright: “American Fiction"
Kwei’s pick: Colman Domingo
Prediction: Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer" is likely to sweep several categories due to its scope and prior wins); less likely, Paul Giamatti
Best Performance By An Actor in a Supporting Role
Sterling K Brown: “American Fiction"
Robert De Niro: “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Robert Downey Jr: “Oppenheimer”
Ryan Gosling: “Barbie”
Mark Ruffalo: "Poor Things"
Kwei’s pick: Sterling K Brown
Prediction: Robert Downey Jr (“Oppenheimer" is likely to sweep several categories due to its scope and prior wins)
Best Performance By An Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening: “Nyad” (excellent performances but poorly marketed and publicized)
Lily Gladstone “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Sandra Hüller: “Anatomy of a Fall”
Carey Mulligan “Maestro”
Emma Stone: “Poor Things"
Kwei’s pick: (tough call) Lily Gladstone or Sandra Hüller
Prediction: (tough call) Lily Gladstone or Emma Stone
Best Performance By An Actress in a Supporting Role
Emily Blunt: “Oppenheimer”
Danielle Brooks: “The Color Purple"
America Ferrera: “Barbie”
Jodie Foster: “Nyad”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph: “The Holdovers"
Kwei’s pick: Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Prediction: Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Achievement in Cinematography
“El Conde:” Edward Lachman
“Killers of the Flower Moon:” Rodrigo Prieto
“Maestro:” Matthew Libatique
“Oppenheimer:” Hoyte van Hoytema
“Poor Things:” Robbie Ryan
Kwei’s pick: Hoyte van Hoytema (“Oppenheimer”)
Prediction: Hoyte van Hoytema
Achievement in Directing
“Anatomy of a Fall:” Justine Triet
“Killers of the Flower Moon:” Martin Scorsese
“Oppenheimer:” Christopher Nolan
“Poor Things:” Yorgos Lanthimos
“The Zone of Interest:” Jonathan Glaze
Kwei’s pick: Justine Triet or Christopher Nolan
Prediction: Christopher Nolan
Best International Feature Film of the Year
“lo Capitano:” Italy (a movie with echoes of the novel “Last Seen In Lapaz”)
“Perfect Days:” Japan
“Society of the Snow:” Spain
“The Teachers’ Lounge:” Germany
“The Zone of Interest:” United Kingdom
Kwei’s pick: “lo Capitano”
Prediction: “Society of the Snow"
Original Screenplay
“Anatomy of a Fall:” Justine Triet and Arthur Harari
“The Holdovers:” David Hemingson
“Maestro:” Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer
“May December:” Samy Burch
“Past Lives:” Celine Song
Kwei’s pick: “Past Lives:” Celine Song (a superb movie)
Prediction: “Anatomy of a Fall:” Justine Triet and Arthur Harari
Best Motion Picture of the Year
“American Fiction:” (my rating 4.5/5 stars)
A Black writer is unexpectedly successful when he writes a stereotypical “Black"novel
(Hilarious film that will resonate with writers)
“Anatomy of a Fall” (my rating 4.5/5 stars)
A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder as her partially blind son faces a moral dilemma; ambiguous ending.
(Best actor: the dog)
“Barbie” (my rating 3/5 stars)
Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, exploring their journey of self-discovery in both Barbieland and the real world after Barbie faces an existential crisis. (Sorry, I don’t get it.)
“The Holdovers” (my rating 4.5/5 stars)
A strict classics teacher at a New England boarding school is forced to chaperone a small group of students with nowhere to go during the Christmas break.
(Funny and poignant)
Cool summary for those of us who have not kept up with the Oscar buzz😁