The road to the Oscars is always filled with anticipation and excitement, and this year is no exception. As we approach the big night, several races remain wide open, making it impossible to predict the winners with certainty. While awards from esteemed industry bodies like DGA, PGA, BAFTA, and SAG offer some insights, the Academy always has its surprises in store. One burning question lingers: Will the Academy follow its own path or unanimously crown Christopher Nolan’s epic “Oppenheimer”? Let’s dive into the races that are still up for grabs.
BEST ACTOR
This category is packed with talent, featuring five exceptional actors who have delivered captivating performances. Paul Giamatti stands out with his portrayal of a complex yet benevolent teacher in “The Holdovers,” earning recognition with Golden Globe and Critics Choice wins. However, Cillian Murphy’s mesmerizing portrayal of the brilliant mind behind the atomic bomb in “Oppenheimer” could steal the spotlight. And let’s not forget about Bradley Cooper, who has accumulated 12 career nominations and hopes to take home his long-awaited victory for “Maestro.” With Netflix’s strong campaign, the streamer aims to convert the film’s seven nominations into wins.
ORIGINAL AND ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The screenplay battles are anything but predictable, especially after “Barbie” switched categories from original to adapted. The delay in the WGA Awards further complicates the prediction process. In the original screenplay race, the French courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall” and the heartwarming holiday dramedy “The Holdovers” seem to be the frontrunners. The former has already won the Golden Globe, which could serve as a clue to its Oscar success. As for the adapted screenplay category, there are numerous potential outcomes. Will Cord Jefferson’s satirical dramedy “American Fiction” secure a win? Or will Tony McNamara finally receive the recognition he deserves for “Poor Things” after missing out on “The Favourite”? And what about the looming presence of “Oppenheimer” sweeping the awards, with Christopher Nolan potentially winning for both director and screenplay?
PRODUCTION DESIGN AND COSTUME DESIGN
For the first time in two decades, five films – “Barbie,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Napoleon,” “Oppenheimer,” and “Poor Things” – are competing in both production design and costume design categories. This rare alignment last occurred in 2003 when “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” emerged victorious. “Barbie” impresses with its vibrant settings and homage to the iconic doll, while “Poor Things” combines period elegance with futuristic whimsy. These categories often differ from the Best Picture winner, so they become crucial for your Oscar pool.
This Week’s Winner Picks
- Best Picture: “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures)
- Directing: Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures)
- Actor: Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers” (Focus Features)
- Actress: Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Apple Original Films)
- Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures)
- Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers” (Focus Features)
- Original Screenplay: “Anatomy of a Fall” (Neon) – Justine Triet, Arthur Harari
- Adapted Screenplay: “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures) – Christopher Nolan
- Animated Feature: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (Sony Pictures) – Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal
- Production Design: “Poor Things” (Searchlight Pictures) – Shona Heath, James Price, Szusza Mihalek
- Cinematography: “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures) – Hoyte van Hoytema
- Costume Design: “Poor Things” (Searchlight Pictures) – Holly Waddington
- Film Editing: “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures) – Jennifer Lame
- Makeup and Hairstyling: “Maestro” (Netflix) – Kazu Hiro, Kay Georgiou, Lori McCoy-Bell
- Sound: “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures) – Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo, Kevin O’Connell
- Visual Effects: “Godzilla: Minus One” (Toho) – Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi, Tatsuji Nojima
- Original Score: “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures) – Ludwig Göransson
- Original Song: “Barbie” – “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell
- Documentary Feature: “20 Days in Mariupol” (PBS) – Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, Raney Aronson-Rath
- International Feature: “The Zone of Interest” (A24) – United Kingdom
- Animated Short: “Letter to a Pig” (Miyu Distribution) – Tal Kantor, Amit R. Gicelter
- Documentary Short: “The Last Repair Shop” (L.A. Times Studios/Searchlight Pictures) – Ben Proudfoot, Kris Bowers
- Live Action Short: “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” (Netflix) – Wes Anderson, Steven Rales
As the Oscars draw near, the excitement continues to build. With these five races still too close to call, movie fans and industry insiders alike eagerly await the winners. May the best predictor win!