The race for best picture is going to be one of the toughest categories to call, as each of the films nominated was met with merit by audiences and critics alike. Initially I had this being a battle between Marriage Story and 1917. In recent weeks though, Parasite slowly crept in. Going off the technical achievements and the historical elements my mom is one 1917. However Parasite could win an upset.
Best Director is another strong race with all five directors worthy of the nomination. Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino are all returning nominees while Todd Philips and Bong Joon Ho are first-timers.
2020’s Best Actor race is clearly the year of Joaquin Phoenix. After viewing Marriage Story, I thought Adam Driver might perform an upset. However, Phoenix is long overdue for a win.
Similar to Best Actor, this isn’t that strong of a race. Renée Zellweger became Judy Garland and the Academy loves a film centered on Hollywood.
Next to Best Picture, this is the toughest category to call. From the moment we saw a promotional photo of Tom Hanks dressed as Fred Rogers, the assumption was he would win an Oscar. However, this past summer, Brad Pitt made some serious noise with his performance as stunt man in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Since his breakthrough in 1991, Pitt has yet to receive an acting Oscar, so he’s well overdue.
Sterling K. Brown for Waves, Jamie Foxx, and Rob Morgan for Just Mercy.
Similar to Best Actress, this category is another no brainer. Portraying a tough as nails lawyer, Dern has no real competition.
Filmmaker Minhal Baig takes audiences to Windy City for her third directorial effort in “We Grown Now” from Sony Pictures Classics. Baig also pens the screenplay, which is set in 1992. In the vibrant heart of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green, two inseparable pals, Malik (played by Blake Cameron Jones) and Eric (portrayed by Gian Knight Ramirez), transform their bustling neighborhood into a playground of dreams.
John Travolta returns to the world of bank robbing in “Cash Out” from Saban Films. Ives directs the film from a screenplay by Dipo Oseni and Doug Richardson. Mason (Travolta) is the leader of a high-end crew of thieves that includes his girlfriend Amelia (Kristin Davis), his younger brother Shawn (Lukas Haas), Anton (Quavo), Link (Nataku Yura), and Hector (Noel Gugliemi). Mason decides to hang it up for good after a double-cross from Amelia, who is undercover, spells a near-miss with the law.
The year was 1976, and Marvin Gaye was on top of the world. Three years earlier, he solidified his place as an R&B lover man with his groundbreaking album “Let’s Get It On .”For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to revisit Marvin’s follow-up, “I Want You.” The album “I Want You” marked a notable shift in Marvin Gaye’s musical direction, inspired by his relationship with Jan Hunter. Gaye’s music moved from his traditional Motown and doo-wop-influenced sound towards a more funky and light-disco soul. Despite this change, the album continued to explore the sexual themes in Gaye’s previous work, expanding on them further.
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1 thought on “Derrick’s 2020 Oscar Picks”
Saνed as a favorite, I love your website!
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