Kwei’s Film Reviews--20: Who Will Take Home the Gold? Predicting the 2024 Oscar Winners

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)

“The Zone of Interest” (my rating 3.5/5)

Historical drama centered around Rudolf Höss, the Auschwitz commandant, and his wife Hedwig living their idyllic, oblivious domestic life while Nazi atrocities occur beyond their garden wall. (While chilling and horrifying, the film lacks momentum and everyone appears exhausted. Best actor: the horse)

Kwei’s pick: “Past Lives” (unlikely to win, but it is the best of them all)

Prediction: “Oppenheimer” (likely to sweep the night)

There's no shortage of Oscar buzz and speculation! Predicting Oscar winners is always fraught, and there are always potential Oscar upsets. We’ll soon know!