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Jan 10 2020
Oscars 2020 Predictions: My Final Guesses Comments (0)

Giphy-1Will Hollywood continue to share the raft with Leo? (GIF via GIPHY)

Here are my predictions — not my personal picks — for what I think will be the Oscar nominees come Monday morning.

When it comes to Best Picture, I'm torn, because it's hard to predict how Hollywood voters will respond to Bombshell. I kind of think they will treat it like Vice, which was nominated. It also scored a SAG nomination, which only offers slots to five casts.

On the other hand, I feel like Charlize Theron — considered a lock for a nomination for that film — may be left out; she has been ignored recently, and the prosthetic nature of her performance could hurt her.

I think Jojo Rabbit and Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood 71DIYFHebjL._AC_SY741_are going to speak to voters most broadly (the Academy adores WWII and films about Hollywood), and I think Parasite will be the film they most admire, so it will also get many nominations. The Irishman will do well due to nostalgia, as it's a vintage Scorsese film that happened to be made in 2019.

I wound up including Joker in Best Picture, but in spite of its accolades and the Academy's male slant, I don't know ... will they realize it's not a superhero flick?

The category in which I foresee the biggest surprises is Best Actress. I keep feeling Alfre Woodard will somehow creep in, as what the hell else does she have to do, other than what she did in Clemency? I also think Awkafina is going to make the cut due to her high profile. I think she will be rewarded as the face of The Farewell.

I'm uncertain that Cynthia Erivo's place for her performance in Harriet is secured, but I'm even less certain that Lupita Nyong'o will be recognized for a horror film, although Us was no Hereditary, so may not have scared off voters.

I remain convinced Adam Sandler is well-liked and will somehow muscle in last-minute for Best Actor for Uncut Gems.

What are you picks? Here are mine:

Giphy-5Family plot (GIF via GIPHY)

Best Picture

Bombshell

The Irishman

Jojo Rabbit

Joker

Little Women

Marriage Story

1917

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Parasite

If it goes to 10, but I don't think it will, I would add Ford v Ferrari.

Best Director

Boon Joon-ho, Parasite

Sam Mendes, 1917

Martin Scorsese, The Irishman

Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit

Alternate: Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story

Best Actor

Leonardo Di Caprio, Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

Adam Driver, Marriage Story

Taron Egerton, Rocketman

Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems

Alternate: Robert De Niro, who has been snubbed a lot for The Irishman. (It's the eyebrows.)

Best Actress

Awkwafina, The Farewell

Cynthia Erivo, Harriet

Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story

Alfre Woodard, Clemency

Renée Zellweger, Judy

I suppose Charlize Theron for Bombshell is the main one I'm leaving out.

Best Supporting Actress

Laura Dern, Marriage Story

Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit

Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers

Florence Pugh, Little Women

Margot Robbie, Bombshell

Tough category to infiltrate, but if anyone can, it's Kathy Bates for Richard Jewell. (Unpleasant subject matter for Hollywood liberals, though.)

Best Supporting Actor

Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Song Kang-ho, Parasite

Al Pacino, The Irishman

Joe Pesci, The Irishman

Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

I remain hopeful that Song Kang-ho pulls this off, but I couldn't find a spot for Alan Alda in Marriage Story, and I think his status as a saint might help.

Best Adapted Screenplay

The Irishman

Jojo Rabbit

Joker

Little Women

The Two Popes

Best Original Screenplay

The Farewell

Knives Out

Marriage Story

Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

Parasite

Best Foreign Language Film

Atlantics

Honeyland

Les Misérables

Pain and Glory

Parasite

Best Cinematography

The Irishman

1917

Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

Parasite

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

I wouldn't be shocked if Portrait of a Lady on Fire wound up scoring here or somewhere else; it was tragically ineligible for Best Foreign Language Film, and perhaps enough voters know of this snub to give it some Cold War-style momentum?

Best Costume Design

Dolemite Is My Name

Downton Abbey

Little Women

Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

Rocketman

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Bombshell

Joker

Judy

Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

Rocketman

Best Editing

Ford v Ferrari

The Irishman

1917

Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

Parasite

Best Production Design

The Irishman

Little Women

1917

Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

Parasite

Best Visual Effects

Avengers: Endgame

The Irishman

The Lion King

1917

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Original Score

Joker

Little Women

Marriage Story

1917

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Original Song

Aladdin

Frozen II

Harriet

The Lion King (Spirit)

Rocketman

Best Sound Editing

Ad Astra

Avengers: Endgame

Ford v Ferrari

1917

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Sound Mixing

Avengers: Endgame

Ford v Ferrari

1917

Rocketman

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Best Documentary Feature

American Factory

Apollo 11

For Sama

Honeyland

One Child Nation

Best Documentary Short

After Maria

Fire in Paradise

Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone

Stay Close

Walk Run Cha-Cha

Best Animated Feature

Frozen II

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

I Lost My Body

Missing Link

Toy Story 4

Best Animated Short

Hair Love

Dcera (Daughter)

Kitbull

The Physics of Sorrow

Sister

Best Live Action Short

Brotherhood

Little Hands

The Neighbors' Window

Refugee

A Sister

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