BONUS POST: OSCARS 2025
A quick pitch on who I'd like to win
Once again, Oscars season is upon us, and having it this late in the year (as compared to early February when it used to be) means that everything is drawn out and usually chalk by now. Partially, this is because of all the guilds that hand out there awards, plus other shows like the Critics, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, etc. So, by this point, we are usually sitting around waiting just to have an award handed out to a film that has basically had its name engraved on the statue since January. However, this past year has proved to be a truly up in the air race.
Emilia Pérez seemed to be the front runner when nominations were announced, seeing as it lead the pack with 13 nominations1 and won the Globe for Best Comedy/Musical; but then the tweets2 came out - and they were bad. So now, no one knows where this stands and what it could win, if anything at all. But that was not the only film embroiled with controversy. I’m Still Here came out with a black face scandal for Fernanda Torres from a sketch 17 years ago. The Brutalist used AI not just to aid the actors voices, but for the actual designs of the fucking architecture3! There are a lot of minuscule things that films get attacked for at this time of year, but for a year when nothing seemed certain, it has gone even more haywire.
We’ll have an interesting night to hand out awards ahead, but I wanted to once again list of who I’d like to win in every category I have knowledge of (so no docs or shorts).
Actor in a Leading Role
Ralph Fiennes - Conclave
I am no Brody hater, and in The Brutalist, he is fantastic. Like every other category this year, this is a great race and one that is up in the air. The AI stuff hurts but he is still phenomenal. I think, though, being a prior winner hurts him. Ralph would just be such a fun win and a long deserved one. Timmy, while learning to play guitar and sing, will have his time, and while I still have not Sing Sing (release it on streaming you cowards!) Colman will have other shots. Give it to Ralph in, surprisingly, the least controversial film of the year.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Yura Borisov - Anora
Kieran has this locked up at this point, but Yura brings so much to this film I’d generally be fine with anyone here winning except probably Norton.
Actress in a Leading Role
Mikey Madison - Anora
My stance has not changed since I originally saw this film. Love Demi, and it seems to be leaning her way especially after the Karla shit unleashed, but come on. Anora!
Actress in a Supporting Role
Zoe Saldaña - Emilia Pérez
Look, there is a lot wrong with this film. But as I stated before, Zoe is spectacular and everyone loves her. I feel like she might be the one who steals the lone win for this film on the night for her performance, regardless of her own black face thing. If not, would love for Ari to snag this one.
Animated Feature Film
I watched this again and I was wrong. This is a perfect film. Give it to Flow, you fucking cowards.
Cinematography
Greg Fraser - Dune: Part Two
The part two narrative amongst movies is tiring and annoying. This film is being slighted so wildly in every category and should absolutely win. Have you seen that desert!?
Costume Design
Paul Tazewell - Wicked
This one is hard because they’re all great period pieces. And while Wicked has twenty years of a stage presence to base original ideas off of, the costume designs made this world pop so much.
Directing
Sean Baker - Anora
This film should not work and yet it goes through three different cycles of story telling that are all amazing. Denis should be here but he’s not. Therefore, this should go to Sean.
Film Editing
Sean Baker - Anora
This is a weird category that tends to be a greater harbinger of Best Picture more often than not. We can virtually erase Emilia from any and all wins going forward, and Wicked while being a true blockbuster epic, is 2 hours and 40 minutes…for part one. The musical is 2 hours and 40 minutes for the entire thing. Conclave is a fun romp and editing a thriller is an art, but what Sean does in Anora is subtle and incredible.
International Feature Film
Flow
Originally, I was going to protest this award because Kneecap was not nominated. HOWEVER our sweet little cat is. Now with Emilia being gone, I think Flow has a great chance of coming up in this category. Realistically, this could go to I’m Still Here, and it being nominated for Best Picture is a solid indicator as well. But Flow is streaming on HBO Max, so it may have a chance!
Makeup and Hairstyling
Pierre Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli - The Substance
This is truly a great and stacked category where, I don’t think there would be any true loser if any of these films win, but what The Substance made you feel upon watching it is an experience I haven’t had compared to most other things I have seen.
Music (Original Score)
Daniel Blumberg - The Brutalist
The grandiose soundscape created for the Goliath this movie is (on a truly tiny budget) is phenomenal. Being invited straight into that by the score on the boat is a large reason this movie is what it is. Realistically, this should be another Trent and Atticus win, but for some reason the academy doesn’t like to recognize greatness.
Music (Original Song)
“Like a Bird” - Sing Sing
*Throws dart at category* Sure.
Best Picture
This is my ranking of the 10 nominees:
Dune: Part Two
Anora
Conclave
The Brutalist
The Substance
Wicked
I’m Still Here
A Complete Unknown
Emilia Pérez
Like I’ve said before, Dune: Part Two was the best film I saw last year. I promise, I’m not trying to be the comic book nerd who believes sci-fi and super hero movies are the best art and those people are an unacknowledged fan base. I’m not at all. This film though, did so many things I cannot comprehend and that I’ve never seen before. I was fully enraptured and immersed in the theater. It’s a perfect film and will not win probably anything, sadly. Happy to see Nickel Boys nominated though.
Production Design
Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales - Wicked
I truly hope it’s between this film or Nosferatu. The scale and scope of what they physically produced here is whimsical and magnificent.
Sound
Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill - Dune: Part Two
Do you remember the sand worm scene? Because I do. Civil War should have been nominated though.
Visual Effects
Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer - Dune: Part Two
Another great category where anyone would be a winner and I wouldn’t inherently be mad. But Dune should win. This is also how I found out that Robbie Williams is a monkey.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes - Nickel Boys
I have not read the book, but what RaMell accomplished here stylistically while being able to tell a heart-wrenching tale is phenomenal.
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Jesse Eisenberg - A Real Pain
I have been ringing the Anora alarm, I get it. But let me tell you something: I love Jesse Eisenberg. All this film is is natural and fluid dialogue that keeps you engaged. It’s funny, it’s emotional, it’s everything. I want need Jesse to win this badly.
Having the most nominations isn’t a guarantee for anything. Just look at the recent history for both Mank and The Irishman.
1. How do you forget you said shit like that online. 2. When you become famous, just delete the old account and get a new one. Just delete the tweets. It’s not fucking hard.
I have less of an issue with the accent help since Hungarian is a wild and hard language. More of an issue with the use of it to present the awesome nature of human creativity and the challenge of creation. And you just use AI and are okay with it. AI has obviously been a hot topic and major issue in this industry the past few years, but what the fuck.