OSCARS PICKS & PREDICTIONS

After viewing the 13 films that are required to watch all of the Oscar Nominees in the “Major” Categories, the BankofMarquis fearlessly presents PICKS & PREDICTIONS - naming what WILL win the Oscar and what SHOULD win. The nominees are listed in order of preference by the BankofMarquis.

BEST DIRECTOR

A bit of a runaway, as the Best Directing work this year coincides with one of the best Directors of this generation who has NOT won an Oscar.

5). YORGOS LANTHIMOS, Poor Things : The biggest disappointment of the Oscar season. The elements were there, they just didn’t gel into anything compelling. Blame needs to fall on the Director for that.

4). MARTIN SCORCESE, Killers of the Flower Moon: A return to form for “Marty” (after such middling fair as THE IRISHMAN and SILENCE). He proved he still can bring it…and that is enough.

3). JONATHAN GLAZER, The Zone of Interest: An interesting film for someone who doesn’t make films nearly often enough.

2). JUSTINE TRIET, Anatomy of a Fall: A strong showing for a Director to keep an eye on.

1). CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, Oppenheimer: Arguably, the Best Director of the past 20 years, Nolan SHOULD and WILL (finally) win his first BEST DIRECTOR Oscar.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

This one looks to be a runaway as one Actress has pretty much swept the other Awards in this category.

5). AMERICA FERRERA, Barbie: If there is an Oscar for “Best Monologue”, she would win hands down. But…a monologue does NOT an Oscar winning performance make.

4). DANIELLE BROOKS, The Color Purple: The best thing in an otherwise disappointing adaptation of the Broadway Musical that was based on the 1980’s film that was, in turn, based on the book by Alice Walker.

3). JODIE FOSTER, Nyad: The film that most of you have not seen - and you should. Foster’s performance is strong, but pales in comparison to the lead performance in her own film.

2). Da’VINE JOY RANDOLPH, The Holdovers: A very strong performance in a film filled with strong performances. Randolph has pretty much swept the awards season this year and WILL WIN the Oscar.

1). EMILY BLUNT, Oppenheimer: Randolph’s awards wins overshadows the strong, subtle work that Blunt has put in on this film and is the performance that SHOULD WIN the Oscar (but she won’t, Randolph will win).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

The “bet the mortgage” category of the evening. This category features a performance by a performer that checks all the boxes.

5). MARK RUFFALO, Poor Things: Not even the Best Supporting Actor performance in his own film - that would be Willem DaFoe.

4). STERLING K. BROWN, American Fiction: A fun, flashy supporting turn in one of the “little darlings” of the awards season (and rightfully so). But Oscar worthy? No.

3). RYAN GOSLING, Barbie: He’s just Ken. But he is NOT going to be an Oscar winner.

2). ROBERT DeNIRO, Killers of the Flower Moon: It’s good to see that this performer can still bring his fastball to roles when required.

1). ROBERT DOWNEY, JR., Oppenheimer: He was terrific as the bad guy in this film. Downey SHOULD and WILL win the Oscar (bet all you got on it).

BEST ACTRESS

The strongest category, top to bottom, of any of them. One can make an argument that any one of these performances is “Oscar worthy”.

5). SANDRA HULLER, Anatomy of a Fall: In any other year, she should be a strong contender for the Oscar, but not this year.

4). LILY GLADSTONE, Killers of the Flower Moon: This ranking might look like the BankofMarquis disliked her performance - and nothing can be further from the truth. She was terrific and WILL WIN THE OSCAR (deservedly so), there are just 3 other performances that were better.

3). CAREY MULLIGAN, Maestro: The current “leader in the clubhouse” for “Best Actress to NOT win an Oscar”. She will go home empty-handed again this year, but not because she doesn’t deserve it. She was the best thing in a pretty average film.

2). EMMA STONE, Poor Things: If there is going to be an upset, this just might be it. Stone gives a bravura performance as the lead in a film that seems to be gaining steam heading into the Oscars. This will be one to watch - but odds are she will fall just short.

1). ANNETTE BENING, Nyad: The performance that blew me away the most this year. Check out NYAD, it’s an underrated film and Bening’s performance is the reason why and is the performance that SHOULD win the Oscar.

BEST ACTOR

The closest race of the night will turn into a “coin-flip” 2 man race

5). BRADLEY COOPER, Maestro: Ah…no.

4). COLMAN DOMINGO, Rustin: A strong performance that can’t overcome a weak script.

3). JEFFREY WRIGHT, AMERICAN FICTION: The most subtly funny performance of the year. Subtle doesn’t win Oscars.

2). CILLIAN MURPHY, Oppenheimer: Ask me tomorrow and this performance and the one at #1 could be flipped. If Oppenheimer sweeps the Oscars, his performance could be swept right in (and that would be fine), his performance is “Oscar worthy”.

1). PAUL GIAMATTI, The Holdovers: Strong, sensitive, funny and sad well performed by a performer that is well liked in the industry. All ingredients that add up to an Oscars win and Giamatti SHOULD and WILL win the Oscar.

BEST PICTURE

This category looks like a runaway as 1 film towers over the rest.

10). PAST LIVES: It’s an honor just to be nominated.

9). MAESTRO: Ah…no.

8). POOR THINGS: Gaining momentum in the lead up to the Oscars. If any film is going to pull an EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE style upset, this would be it - and that would be too bad, as it isn’t all that good of a film.

7). THE ZONE OF INTEREST: Will have to settle for Best International Film.

6). ANATOMY OF A FALL: Will have to settle on the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year.

5). KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: Too long and slow to win the top prize.

4). BARBIE: A pleasant surprise and cultural phenomenon. That will have to do.

3). AMERICAN FICTION: The biggest surprise of the Oscar season. If you haven’t seen this wry, subtle satire, do yourself a favor and check it out.

2). THE HOLDOVERS: The biggest heart and best performances (top to bottom) of all of the Oscar Nominees.

1). OPPENHEIMER: What else is there to be said about this film. Only this…it is the film that SHOULD WIN and WILL WIN the Oscar this year.

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