OSCARS PICKS & PREDICTIONS

Homework complete! All the (relevant) films have been viewed just in time for the presentation of tonight’s Oscars ceremony.

Without further ado, the BankofMarquis presents OSCAR PICKS AND PREDICTIONS, predicting who WILL win and who SHOULD win (in many cases, NOT the same answer) in the “Major” Oscar categories – Picture, Actor & Actress, Supporting Actor & Actress and Director. All categories will be shown in Ranked Order.

Oh…for those of you scoring at home – the BankofMarquis predicted ALL the winners last year (I just hurt my arm patting myself on the back).

The picks:

BEST DIRECTOR – should be a runaway for the team at #1

5). Ruben Ostlund, TRIANGLE OF SADNESS – 1/3 of a good movie does NOT an Oscar winner make

4). Stephen Spielberg, THE FABELEMANS – Will have to be content with his 3 OTHER Oscars

3). Todd Field, TAR – Could be a darkhorse winner (he won’t be, but he COULD be)

2). Martin McDonagh, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN – The only true contender of this group.

1). Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE – This pair SHOULD and WILL win the Oscar

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – 3 terrific performances will fall short to a “Lifetime Achievement” Oscar

5). Stephani Hsu, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE… - Only the 5th best performance in her own film (3 of them are Oscar nominated as well…the 5th one is veritable, 95 year old character actor James Hong). That’s not saying that her performance wasn’t good (it was) it just isn’t as good as 4 others in EVERYTHING, including a performance that is on this list.

4). Angela Bassett, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER – The Academy will not be able to resist giving one of the Queens of Hollywood her long overdue Oscar, even though it is not even close to her best performance. Bassett WILL win the Oscar.

3). Hong Chau, THE WHALE – A remarkable performance in a remarkable film. She deserves the Oscar, but won’t come close to winning it.

2). Kerry Condon, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN – In any other year, she would be a serious contender for this award…but not this year.

1). Jamie Lee Curtis, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE… - My favorite supporting performance of 2022 and I would be THRILLED if Curtis pulls off the upset with a win here, she SHOULD win (but will lose to Bassett)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – “Bet The Farm” on this category

5). Judd Hirsch, THE FABELMANS – 40+ years between Oscar nominations will have to be his prize for what is, really, an extended cameo.

4). Brian Tyree Henry, CAUSEWAY – One of the biggest surprises for me. A quiet, strong performance. Hopefully, this nomination will jumpstart him to more quality roles.

3). Brendan Gleeson, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN – Didn’t want to nominate him in LEAD Actor role – so he wouldn’t compete against his co-star. His reward? Competing against his co-star.

2). Barry Keoghn, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN – Keoghn and Gleeson will take votes off of each other, which opens the door wide for…

1). Ke Huy Quan, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE – Short Round is going to win the Oscar. His performance SHOULD AND WILL WIN.

BEST ACTRESS – 2 very strong performances at the top of this category

5). Ana De Armas, BLONDE – Knocking this strong impression of Marilyn Monroe down a peg or 2 was the moments when De Armas’ Cuban accent snuck through

4). Michelle Williams, THE FABELMANS – My vote for “Best Working Actress Today That Has NOT Won An Oscar” (Benedict Cumberbatch and/or Michael Fassbender is the male equivalent). This will NOT be rectified this year.

3). Andrea Risborough, TO LESLIE – Some controversy over this nomination – and that’s too bad for it takes away the focus on the talented Ms. Risborough’s wonderful performance.

2). Michelle Yeoh, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE – My sentimental favorite, and if EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE gets on a major roll, she COULD pull the upset.

1). Cate Blanchett, TAR – The finest performance of the finest actress working today. Ms. Blanchett SHOULD and WILL win the Oscar. And I never want to spend another moment with this character.

BEST ACTOR – The most interesting category as 4 out of 5 of these nominees has a legit shot

5). Paul Mescal, AFTERSUN – One of these things is not like the others

4). Bill Nighy, LIVING – A fine “capper” to a long, distinguished career could elevate Nighy to the victory.

3). Colin Farrel, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN – Farrell has rounded into a top-notch dramatic actor and this performance is very “Oscar-worthy”.

2). Austin Butler, ELVIS – Amazing performance/impression of ELVIS and Butler could, legitimately sneak in and win the prize in this category.

1). Brendan Fraser, THE WHALE – Hollywood loves a comeback and Fraser’s performance is so good that voting for him because of the performance AND the comeback is a-ok with me. Fraser SHOULD and WILL Win the Oscar.

BEST PICTURE – Sorry TOP GUN: MAVERICK, you don’t stand a chance

10). TRIANGLE OF SADNESS – The middle 1/3 of this film is Oscar Worthy. The rest? Not so much

9). TOP GUN: MAVERICK – “The movie that saved movies” will have to be the title that this film has, not “Best Picture Oscar Winner”.

8). THE FABELMANS – Steven Spielberg’s passion project was NO passion for me

7). AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER – Should clean up with the technical awards, will get shutout here

6). TAR – Blanchette’s performance is where this film should (and will) win the Oscar

5). WOMEN TALKING – The biggest surprise of the Oscar season for me. Will have to settle for the Oscar Nomination bringing more eyeballs (including mine) to this fine, fine film.

4). ELVIS – Butler’s performance makes up for some misfires in this Baz Luhrman splashy epic

3). THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN – In any other year, this small, well directed and acted film would be a strong contender

2). ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT – If any film has a chance to pull the upset it is this unblinking look at the folly of war.

1). EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE – The favorite film of the BANKOFMARQUIS in 2022, WILL and SHOULD win the Oscar for Best Picture

And you can take all of these predictions to the Bank(ofMarquis)

Enjoy the Oscars!