98th Oscars Picks & Predictions

98th Oscars Picks and Predictions

The Oscar race this year has come down to a 2 picture race.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER took the early lead and looked to be the shoo-in for BEST PICTURE, but SINNERS is making a late charge and just might nip OBAA at the wire.

Here are the BankofMarquis Picks and Predictions for this year’s Oscars (nominees listed in reverse order of preference):

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

5). ELLE FANNING, Sentimental Value: Walks a tightrope very well as an actress that is just not right for the part she is playing.

4). WUNMI MOSAKU, Sinners: If Sinners gets on a run, she just might win (but don’t count on it).

3). INGA IBSDOTTER LILLEAAS, Sentimental Value: The secret glue that holds this film together

2). AMY MADIGAN, Weapons: Just might sneak into the winner’s circle, but (much like Demi Moore in last year’s THE SUBSTANCE), I think the Academy will fall short of honoring a performer for a role in horror film.

1). TEYANNA TAYLOR, One Battle After Another: WILL and SHOULD win. Her character dominates the first part of this film and hangs over the rest like a dark cloud.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

5). JACOB ELORDI, Frankenstein: Uh…no.

4). DELROY LINDO, Sinners: See Wunmi Mosaku above.

3). BENICIO DEL TORO, One Battle After Another: The most pleasant performance of the year, but will fall short of winning the award.

2). STELLAN SKARSGARD, Sentimental Value: Could win as a “career achievement” award. His performance is very good, but it should be in the LEAD ACTOR (not Supporting) category

1). SEAN PENN, One Battle After Another: WILL and SHOULD win. the performance that has stuck with me the longest.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

5). KATE HUDSON, Song Song Blue: The best thing in a mediocre film.

4). RENATE REINSVE, Sentimental Value: Strong performance, will have to be happy with the nomination.

3). EMMA STONE, Bugonia: Not even the best performance in her own movie (that would be Jesse Pleimons who was not even nominated).

2). ROSE BYRNE, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You: In any other year, this performance should be a strong challenger, but not this year.

1). JESSIE BUCKLEY, Hamnet: The “bet the mortgage” performance/win of the year. She has won EVERY Major award (and deservedly so). She SHOULD and WILL win.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

5). WAGNER MOURA, The Secret Agent: The “Emperor’s New Clothes” of Oscar Nominees this year. You are not a “true artist” if you don’t respect/understand the subtlety of this performance. I am here to tell you that the Emperor Has No Clothes.

4). MICHAEL B. JORDAN, Sinners: WILL win. Whether or not Sinners goes on a run, this feels like the award that this film will get regardless.

3). ETHAN HAWKE, Blue Moon: A VERY good performance. The problem is that you can SEE him performing.

2). LEONARDO DiCAPRIO, One Battle After Another: The Best performance by Leo in quite some time. A serious role with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.

1). TIMOTHEE CHALAMET, Marty Supreme: SHOULD win, but he won’t because he, unwisely, shot off his mouth. That’s too bad because it is a heckuva performance.

CASTING - A New Category for this year

5). THE SECRET AGENT - The Emperor Has No Clothes

4). MARTY SUPREME - Lots of interesting faces in this film.

3). HAMNET - Buckley and Paul Mescal (who should have be nominated) lead a strong cast

2). ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: Well Cast Top to Bottom

1). SINNERS: In this version of Sinners vs. OBAA, Sinners WINS (and SHOULD win).

DIRECTOR

5). JOSH SAFDIE, Marty Supreme: Unwavering in his commitment to his vision.

4). CHLOE ZHAO, Hamnet: Directed Buckley to one of the best performances in years.

3). JOACHIM TRIER, Sentimental Value: A highly personal film, and it shows

2). RYAN COOGLER, Sinners: If Sinners gets on a run…

1). PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON, One Battle After Another: Will and Should win his first (finally) Oscar after 14 nominations (some for Writer, some for Director, some for Best Picture).

PICTURE

10). FRANKENSTEIN: Uh…no.

9). THE SECRET AGENT: The Emperor Has No Clothes

8). F1: Marvelous, visceral race scenes, but Best Picture? A formulaic, “blah” story sinks any chances.

7). MARTY SUPREME: Besides some wonderful performances, there’s not much else here to root for (certainly NOT the main character).

6). HAMNET: Emotionally charged, well acted, gorgeous to look at.

5). TRAIN DREAMS: One of the biggest surprises of the Nominees for the BankofMarquis, LOVED the Cinematography.

4). BUGONIA: Always a fan of a Lanthimos/Stone team-up, but it’s just too weird to be seriously considered.

3). SENTIMENTAL VALUE: Will have to settle for the “consolation prize” of Best International Feature.

2). SINNERS: Could easily take the top prize

1). ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: SHOULD and WILL win (but just barely)

And…because no one asked, here is who will win in the other categories:

Adapted Screenplay: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Original Screenplay: SINNERS

Original Score: SINNERS

Animated Feature Film: K-POP DEMON HUNTERS

Original Song: “Golden”, K-POP DEMON HUNTERS

Animated Short Film: Either RETIREMENT PLAN or BUTTERFLY. My coin flip says…BUTTERFLY

International Film: SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Cinematography: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER will win (it has won this category in most of the other awards shows), but TRAIN DREAMS should win.

Sound: F1 (but don’t be surprised if SINNERS - for the music through the ages fever-dream sequence - steals this one)

Editing: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Production Design:  FRANKENSTEIN

Costume Design: FRANKENSTEIN

Hair and Make-Up: FRANKENSTEIN

Visual Effects: AVATAR FIRE & ASH

Documentary Feature: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

Documentary Short: ALL THE EMPTY ROOMS

Live-Action Short: TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA

And…you can take these to the Bank (ofMarquis)