Hosted annually in the cinematic epicenter of Los Angeles, the Academy Awards, celebrating its 97th year, are set to take place on March 2. As Oscar nominations cast a wide net, ranging from historical entertainment films to musicals and heart-clenching comedies, the film industry continues to showcase its ever-evolving storytelling and innovation at the Awards.
All of the movies nominated are well deserving, but there aren’t enough Oscars for each nominated film, soundtrack or actor. Here are my picks for the most deserving winners.
Actor in a Leading Role: Adrien Brody (Falcon pick), Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Ralph Fiennes, Sebastian Stan
Brody played László Tóth in “The Brutalist,” a drama and historical film about escaping post-World War II Europe. Cementing his legacy as a record-breaker in the film industry, Brody put on a performance that was praised by even the most discerning critics. However, it would also be wonderful to see Colman Domingo from “Sing Sing” win this Oscar for his expressive performance as Divine G, an inmate a part of an acting reform group trying to help others feel the same release acting offers him.
Actress in a Leading Role: Demi Moore (Falcon pick), Cynthia Erivo, Karla Sofía Gascón, Mikey Madison, Fernanda Torres
Moore stands out for her role as Elisabeth Sparkle in the science fiction horror film, “The Substance.” Her acting in “The Substance” was widely praised for her heartfelt performance, portraying a life with body insecurities in the age of social media.
Actor in a Supporting Role: Kieran Culkin (Falcon pick), Yura Borisov, Edward Norton, Guy Pearce, Jeremy Strong
Culkin’s heartbreaking performance as Benji Kaplan in “A Real Pain” leaves no question as to why he is the top nominee. I full-heartedly believe he deserves this Oscar for the perfect portrayal of a lost soul who struggles on a trip to Poland to remember his grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. Every facial expression and change in tone captured the tense environment and added emotional effect to the storyline.
Actress in a Supporting Role: Zoe Saldaña (Falcon pick), Monica Barbaro, Ariana Grande, Felicity Jones, Isabella Rossellini
Saldaña’s performance as Rita Mora Castro in “Emilia Peréz” was electrifying. Moreover, considering the awards she already received for Emilia Peréz at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Award and other prestigious film competitions, an Oscar for the performance would hardly be a surprise.
Best Picture: “Anora,” (Falcon pick) “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “I’m Still Here,” “Nickel Boys,” “The Substance,” “Wicked,”
With the number of draw-dropping films in contention, from “The Substance” to “Wicked,” the Best Picture is a difficult category to win. That being said, “Anora” is expected to win this Oscar for its storyline — a young woman from Brooklyn marries a Russian oligarch; and the oligarch’s parents are set on tearing it down — as well as its wonderful production. “The Brutalist” is a close second in predictions for their portrayal of leaving a post-war environment and having the opportunity to live the American dream.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay): “Conclave,” (Falcon pick) “A Complete Unknown,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Nickel Boys,” “Sing Sing”
If it were up to me, “Sing Sing” would be the winner of this category without a second thought. Based on a true story, “Sing Sing” captures the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program and what it means to change someone to enter back into society. The film is overlooked because of its limited marketing and the lesser-known actors — most of them acting as themselves — meaning “Conclave,” a crowd-favorite, plot twist-filled mystery and thriller, will likely end up winning this award.
Music (Original Song): “El Mal,” (Falcon pick) “The Journey,” “Like A Bird,” “Mi Camino,” “Never Too Late”
Once again, an unfortunately underrated “Sing Sing” will be overlooked, along with its final song. “Like A Bird” is a lyrically strong piece sung by Adrian Quesada’s soulful voice. However, the likely winner will be “El Mal” from “Emilia Peréz,” which is frankly my least favorite song on the nominations list because the lyrics confront the hypocrisy of criminals actions which contradicts the movie scene where criminals are turning in the locations of bodies.
The Oscars represent the most distinguished and respected film competitions, but its choices aren’t always popular with moviegoers. When it comes down to it, the winning films are usually chosen because an actor is well known; as a result, the truly best movies and performances are often overlooked.
As just one example, the action thriller “Twisters” was deserving of nominations this year but failed to secure them due to the larger competition in the popular categories. “Sing Sing,” although nominated, will likely go overlooked during the ceremony — but who knows, maybe the Oscars will surprise us and a sleeper like “Sing Sing” will win a category.
