When theaters shut down temporarily in 2020, the question on everyone’s mind was what would happen at the Oscars in 2021. Well, theaters briefly opened back up in the fall of 2020, and this Sunday, the 93rd Academy Awards will honor the best films of 2020 and early 2021. Check out my picks for who will take home the gold.
BEST PICTURE
Nominees
- THE FATHER
- JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
- MANK
- MINARI
- NOMADLAND
- PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
- SOUND OF METAL
- THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Will Win – NOMADLAND
Should Win – JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Deserved a Nomination – ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI & DA 5 BLOODS
The Best Picture Award is the one that everyone looks forward to finding out who wins. Outside of Frances mcdormand, I did not particularly care for it, Nomadland is a critic favorite and I do not see anything upsetting it. Personally, though, Judas and The Black Messiah was a stronger overall film. Furthermore, it is a crime that One Night in Miami is not here.
BEST DIRECTOR
Nominees
- THOMAS VINTERBERG – ANOTHER ROUND
- DAVID FINCHER – MANK
- LEE ISAAC CHUNG – MINARI
- CHLOÉ ZHAO –NOMADLAND
- EMERALD FENNELL – PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Will Win – Chloé Zhao for Nomadland. On the one hand, Hollywood loves a movie about itself, so in that regard, I could place money on David Fincher for Mank. However, Chloé Zhao has cleaned up this year at other awards ceremonies, so the crème de la crème of movie awards should not be any different.
Should Win – Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman. Fennell came across as a seasoned pro in her debut. Of all the nominees, her film stuck with me with most.
Deserved a Nomination – Regina King for One Night in Miami
BEST ACTOR
Nominees:
- RIZ AHMED –SOUND OF METAL
- CHADWICK BOSEMAN –MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
- ANTHONY HOPKINS –THE FATHER
- GARY OLDMAN –MANK
- STEVEN YEUN –MINARI
Will Win – Chadwick Boseman. The passing of Mr. Boseman in August of last year still hurts fans to this day. Awarding him Oscar gold will cement his legacy even more. However, even if Boseman had not passed away, he delivers two monologues in the film that will stick with me for years to come.
Should Win – Chadwick Boseman
Deserved Nominations – Kingsley Ben-Adir for One Night in Miami and Delroy Lindo, for Da 5 Bloods.
BEST ACTRESS
Nominees
- VIOLA DAVIS- MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
- ANDRA DAY- THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY
- VANESSA KIRBY- PIECES OF A WOMAN
- FRANCES MCDORMAND – NOMADLAND
- CAREY MULLIGAN – PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Will Win – Frances mcdormand. While Andra Day provided a much-deserved upset at the Golden Globes, I do not see lightning striking twice for her at the Oscars.
Should Win – As I alluded to earlier, outside of Frances mcdormand, I did not care for Nomadland. Frankly, mcdormand could do the role in her sleep. 2021 is a strong year for WOMEN in search of an Oscar, and they are all worthy, in my opinion.
Deserved A Nomination – Rosamund Pike for I Care a Lot.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Nominees
- SACHA BARON COHEN –THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
- DANIEL KALUUYA & LAKEITH STANFIELD – JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
- LESLIE ODOM, JR.-ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI…
- PAUL RACI- SOUND OF METAL
- LAKEITH STANFIELD – JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Will Win – Daniel Kaluuya. I know many folks were confused about Daniel’s placement in the supporting category. I think the studio was playing chess to improve his chances of winning. The bigger question was Lakeith Stanfield’s placement in this category when he was the lead in the film. Nevertheless, I knew the Oscar gold was Daniel to lose from the moment I saw the movie.
Should Win – Daniel Kaluuya
Deserved a nomination – Jesse Plemons for Judas and the Black Messiah
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Nominees
- MARIA BAKALOVA –Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
- GLENN CLOSE –HILLBILLY ELEGY
- OLIVIA COLMAN –THE FATHER
- AMANDA SEYFRIED-MANK
- YUH-JUNG YOUN –MINARI
Will Win – Yuh-Jung Youn. I think everyone who saw Minari saw a bit of his or her grandmother in Youn Yuh-Jung’s character of Soon-Ja from Minari. For that, alone, I think she is taking home the Oscar gold.
Should Win – Glenn Close. I am in the minority of critics who enjoyed Hillbilly Elegy. After eight nominations and no victories, Close is well overdue for Oscar gold.
Deserved a Nomination – Dominique Fishback for Judas and the Black Messiah
What do you think of my picks for Oscar Night? Respectfully let me know in the comments.
Tune into the Oscars this Sunday on ABC
