It’s that time of year again— Oscar nominations are out! Here are my picks and predictions for film’s biggest night of the year:

Best Picture

Nominees

  • All Quiet on the Western Front
  • Avatar: The Way of Water
  • The Banshees of Inisherin
  • Elvis
  • Everything Everywhere All at Once
  • The Fabelmans
  • Tár
  • Top Gun: Maverick
  • Triangle of Sadness
  • Women Talking

My prediction: Everything Everywhere All at Once

My pick: Everything Everywhere All at Once

The movie of the year for so many of us! I don’t know how to put it in words because it’s just so much at once (no pun intended). With the performances, writing, and direction, I would not be opposed to the cast and crew taking home all the major nominations.

Best Leading Actor

Nominees

  • Austin Butler (Elvis) 
  • Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin) 
  • Brendan Fraser (The Whale) 
  • Paul Mescal (Aftersun) 
  • Bill Nighy (Living) 

My prediction: Austin Butler (Elvis) 

My pick: Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin) 

This is undoubtedly the best performance I have seen from Colin Farrell. He skillfully navigates the range of emotions required for the character, from loneliness to rage to pride and back to loneliness. It feels as though you’re discovering his character along with him. His chemistry with the other actors is amazing—his relationship with Kerry Condon (Siobhan) especially struck me.

Best Leading Actress

Nominees

  • Cate Blanchett (Tár)
  • Ana de Armas (Blonde)
  • Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie)
  • Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans)
  • Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

My prediction: ?

My pick: Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

I think this is the category people have been most torn on. My first thought was Michelle Yeoh, but Cate Blanchett was also phenomenal. I was not able to see Andrea Riseborough’s performance, but I’ve heard a lot of great things. I’m still not so sure about this category, but if I had to pick someone, it would be Michelle Yeoh. Let’s see which way it goes!

Best Director

Nominees 

  • Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin)
  • Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
  • Steven Spielberg, (The Fabelmans
  • Todd Field (TÁR)
  • Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sadness)

My prediction: Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans

My pick:  Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans

It’s so beautiful to see one of the greatest storytellers of all time finally tell his own story. Spielberg feels like a safe pick, but also the right one.

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees

  • Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin)
  • Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway)
  • Judd Hirsch (The Fabelmans)
  • Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)
  • Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

My prediction: Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

My pick: Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

I will not stand for anything other than Ke taking this award home. This was the acting comeback of a century. My choice for runner-up is Barry Keoghan, but I’m still rooting for Ke.

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees

  • Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
  • Hong Chau (The Whale)
  • Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin)
  • Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
  • Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

My prediction: Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

My pick: Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Stephanie Hsu getting this nomination after being shut out all awards season feels bittersweet. It strikes me how her performance was completely overlooked, particularly with the amount of range and emotion she had to portray while essentially playing two characters. Although there’s so many excellent people in this category, my guess is it will go to Angela Bassett, which I would not be mad about. Though, I also hope Kerry Condon gets her flowers this award season at least once.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominees

  • “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian Stokell
  • “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” Rian Johnson
  • “Living,” Kazuo Ishiguro
  • “Top Gun: Maverick,” Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks
  • “Women Talking,” Sarah Polley

My prediction: “Top Gun: Maverick,” Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks

My pick: “Women Talking,” Sarah Polley

If you loved the book, you’ll love the film. Such an excellent adaptation and powerful story with incredible performances. The writing is exceptional and deserves to be awarded. 

Best Original Screenplay

Nominees

  • “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Martin McDonagh
  • “Everything Everywhere All at Once,”  Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert 
  • “The Fabelmans,” Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner
  • “Tár,” Todd Field
  • “Triangle of Sadness,” Ruben Östlund

My prediction: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Martin McDonagh

My pick: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Martin McDonagh

This is one of those films where they could have had the worst actors (which they absolutely did not) and it still would have been good enough because it was so well-written. The acting was phenomenal, but it was the dialogue that made this movie. Entirely deserving of this award!

Best Film Editing

Nominees

  • The Banshees of Inisherin, Mikkel E.G. Nielsen
  • Elvis, Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond
  • Everything Everywhere All at Once, Paul Rogers
  • Tár, Monika Willi
  • Top Gun: Maverick, Eddie Hamilton

My prediction: Everything Everywhere All at Once, Paul Rogers

My pick: Everything Everywhere All at Once, Paul Rogers

I think this one is a given. 

The seamless editing through the various time periods, locations, and story arcs was done so flawlessly, and creates a sense of cohesion that is both visually stunning and emotionally impactful. 

Best Original Song 

Nominees

  • “Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman, music and lyrics by Diane Warren
  • “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and BloodPop 
  • “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; lyrics by Tems and Ryan Coogler
  • “Naatu Naatu” from RRR, music by M.M. Keeravaani; lyrics by Chandrabose  
  • “This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once, music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; lyrics by Ryan Lott and David Byrne 

My prediction: “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and BloodPop

My pick: “This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once, music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; lyrics by Ryan Lott and David Byrne 

I found myself wanting to pick a different song so I wouldn’t keep choosing EEAAO for everything, but quality speaks for itself. When I watched the movie for the first time, I immediately searched for the end credit song, and the fact that it was an original score made it all the more notable for me. (My runner up for this is Naatu Naatu from RRR—so good.)

Best Costume Design 

Nominees

  • Babylon, Mary Zophres
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ruth Carter
  • Elvis, Catherine Martin
  • Everything Everywhere All at Once, Shirley Kurata
  • Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Jenny Beavan

My prediction: Babylon, Mary Zophres

My pick: Elvis, Catherine Martin

Bringing a biopic to life is no easy feat, but Catherine Martin led an amazingly impressive portrayal.

That’s about it! While there are many other categories worth discussing, I wanted to focus on the ones I felt most knowledgeable and passionate about. The nominees this year are truly exceptional, representing a diverse range of stories, perspectives, and styles that are all worthy of recognition. I’m excited to see the ceremony unfold and to see all the nominees, whether they are my personal picks or not, receive the recognition they deserve for their outstanding work.

What are your Oscar picks? Let me know in the comments below!

Advertisement