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)
“Killers of the Flower Moon” (my rating 4.5/5 stars)
Explores the Osage murders in the early 20th century, where many Osage Indians were killed for their oil wealth, highlighting a significant period of exploitation and injustice in American history (Brutal, screenplay needs trimming)
“Maestro” (my rating 2.5/5 stars)
Biographical romantic drama that delves into the life of Leonard Bernstein and his wife, Felicia Montealegre. (Dull and pretentious, panned by critics and viewers)
"Oppenheimer” (my rating 4.5/5)
Epic biographical thriller chronicling the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist known as the "father of the atomic bomb.
(Very long, juggernaut blockbuster with no characters you care about)
“Past Lives” (my rating 5/5)
Romantic drama that follows childhood friends Nora and Hae Sung over 24 years, exploring the evolving nature of their relationship after life leads them on different paths (Sublime, with characters you care about)
“Poor Things” (my rating 2.5/5)
Bella Baxter is a young woman brought back to life by an eccentric scientist, resulting in her having the mind of a child. (Distasteful with no redeeming qualities)
Cool summary for those of us who have not kept up with the Oscar buzz😁