Awards season is coming to a close, and the 91st Academy Awards are almost here. For all of the movie lovers out there, awards season is a great time; we get to see which of our favorite movies are recognized for their greatness, and which ones are left behind. Nearly all of the major awards shows have come to pass, including the Golden Globes, the Critics Choice Awards and many of the guild awards shows. The BAFTAs, on Feb. 10, were the last major awards to be handed out before the Oscars on Feb. 24. Without further ado, here is the awards season wrap up! I will include both who I want to win an Academy Award, as well as who I think will win one in all of the major categories!
Best Animated Feature: From “Toy Story” to “Coco”, Pixar tends to win this category every time they make a film, and very few Pixar films have not won this award. However, I think that total may grow, due to the release of “Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse”. While “Incredibles 2” was a fantastic film in its own right, “Spiderman” was a stunning feat of animation, and the story was unlike anything viewers had seen before in an animated superhero film.
Who I want to win: “Incredibles 2” Who Will Win: “Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse”
Best Cinematography: If there’s going to be a runaway winner in a category, this will be the one. “Roma” has racked up all but two of the cinematography awards this season, and the movie is stunningly shot.
Who I want to win: “Roma” Who Will Win: “Roma”
Best Screenplay: This award is split up into two categories at the Oscars-- Adapted and Original-- but it is not like this at every award show. Both races are coming down to the wire too: in Adapted Screenplay, “BlacKkKlansman,” “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” and “If Beale Street Could Talk” are all neck and neck. Likewise with the Original Screenplay category, “The Favourite” and “First Reformed” are both top contenders. With no wrong answer, it will be a good one to watch!
Who I want to win: “BlacKkKlansman” and ”The Favourite” Who Will Win: “If Beale Street Could Talk” and ”The Favourite”
Best Supporting Actress: I have always loved the supporting actor/actress categories because these performers always put on just as good a show as their fellow lead actors and actresses. Regina King from “If Beale Street Could Talk” seems to be running away with this one, but both Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone from “The Favourite” also have picked up a few awards this season.
Who I want to win: Regina King Who Will Win: Regina King
Best Supporting Actor: In this category, Mahershala Ali from “Green Book” has been on fire. Ever since he won a few years ago with “Moonlight,” he has been cast in so many different films and TV shows. Many agree he is the front runner once more, but don’t count out Richard E. Grant from “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” who also has picked up quite a few awards this season.
Who I want to win: Mahershala Ali Who Will Win: Mahershala Ali
Lead Actress: This award pretty much seems to be a race for second place between Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”), Lady Gaga (“A Star is Born”), Toni Collette (“Hereditary”) and Glenn Close (“The Wife”). The favorite so far is thought to be Olivia Colman for her role in “The Favourite,” but do not count out any of the other women just yet. Glenn Close won at the Golden Globes, Lady Gaga has star power behind her and McCarthy delivered a phenomenal performance in her own right.
Who I want to win: Lady Gaga Who Will Win: Olivia Colman
Lead Actor: This category just might be the most interesting of the year. Ethan Hawke from “First Reformed” has been winning awards right and left, but he still feels somewhat left out. When it comes down to it, the award is between him and nearly every other nominee, including Rami Malek from “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Bradley Cooper from “A Star is Born,” Viggo Mortenson from “Green Book” and Christian Bale from “Vice.” This one is absolutely up for grabs.
Who I want to win: Rami Malek Who Will Win: Rami Malek
Best Director: This award is another way to gauge the winner of Best Picture, so it obviously will be close. The assumed favorite so far seems to be Alfonso Cuaron from “Roma,” and he would be hard pressed to lose the award at this point. However, Spike Lee from ““BlacKkKlansman” and Yorgos Lanthimos from “The Favourite” are lurking in the shadows, hoping to steal this one for themselves.
Who I want to win: Spike Lee Who Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron
Best Picture: There are eight different films nominated this year: “BlacKkKlansman,” “Black Panther,” “Green Book,” “The Favourite,” “A Star is Born,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Roma” and “Vice.” It feels like a weak year for Best Picture, with really none of the films wholeheartedly getting my vote. The odds on favorite so far is “Roma,” with its directing, writing and cinematography awards, but there is a very real chance that “Green Book,” “The Favorite” or “BlacKkKlansman,” could come away with the award.
Who I want to win: “BlacKkKlansman” Who Will Win: “The Favourite”
And there you have it! The Academy Awards will be on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. Be sure to tune in to see who wins. Don’t just take my word for it-- watch all the nominees yourself and pick your favorites. Happy watching.
Awards Season Breakdown and Oscars Predictions
