Man, weren't we just here? The last Oscars ceremony was less than a year ago - 11 months back to be exact. And yet, it feels like a lifetime ago, in part because the Hollywood tempo has completely shifted. While last year's prestige films depicted more than their fair share of doom and gloom, this year's awards contenders have a more youthful, hopeful flair. Indeed, it seems heartfelt family drama CODA may overtake moody western The Power of the Dog for Best Picture after all. (And love for Belfast has seemingly fallen off the face of the planet). As much as I loved TPotD, I wouldn't mind if a female-driven film took the top prize again this year, especially since it's so rare the Academy honors stories about women to begin with.
During this long awards season I wrote about the psychological turmoil now found in animated kids films and how many of 2021's female protagonists used their marriages to gain power. Overall, what I most appreciated seeing this year was a return of big, walloping film performances after more than a year of quiet rage on screen. No matter what, though, The Power of the Dog remains my no. 1 film of last year.
Here are my predictions for the 94th Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Will win: CODA
Might upset: The Power of the Dog
Should have been nominated: In the Heights
My personal pick: The Power of the Dog
Best Director
Will win: Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog)
Might upset: Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car)
Should have been nominated: Denis Villeneuve (Dune)
My personal pick: Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog)
Best Actor
Will win: Will Smith (King Richard)
Might upset: Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog)
Should have been nominated: Simon Rex (Red Rocket)
My personal pick: Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog)
Best Actress
Will win: Penelope Cruz (Parallel Mothers)
Might upset: Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye)
Should have been nominated: Lady Gaga (House of Gucci)
My personal pick: Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter)
Best Supporting Actor
Will win: Troy Kotsur (CODA)
Might upset: No one.
Should have been nominated: Jared Leto (House of Gucci)
My personal pick: Troy Kotsur (CODA)
Best Supporting Actress
Will win: Ariana DeBose (West Side Story)
Might upset: No one.
Should have been nominated: Kathryn Hunter (The Tragedy of Macbeth)
My personal pick: Ariana DeBose (West Side Story)
Best Original Screenplay
Will win: Belfast
Might upset: Licorice Pizza
Should have been nominated: Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar
My personal pick: Licorice Pizza
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will win: CODA
Might upset: Drive My Car or The Power of the Dog
Should have been nominated: West Side Story
My personal pick: The Lost Daughter
Best Film Editing:
Will win: The Power of the Dog
Might upset: King Richard or Dune
Should have been nominated: The Velvet Underground
My personal pick: The Power of the Dog
Best Animated Feature Film:
Will win: Encanto
Might upset: Flee
Should have been nominated: Ron's Gone Wrong
My personal pick: Encanto
Best International Feature:
Will win: Drive My Car
Might upset: The Worst Person in the World
Should have been nominated: Parallel Mothers
My personal pick: n/a
Best Documentary – Feature:
Will win: The Summer of Soul
Might upset: Flee
Should have been nominated: The Velvet Underground
My personal pick: n/a
Best Original Score:
Will win: Dune
Might upset: The Power of the Dog
Should have been nominated: Cyrano
My personal pick: Dune
Best Original Song:
Will win: “No Time to Die" (No Time to Die)
Might upset: “Dos Oruguitas” (Encanto)
Should have been nominated: "Just Look Up" (Don't Look Up)
My personal pick: “No Time to Die" (No Time to Die)
Best Cinematography:
Will win: Dune
Might upset: West Side Story or The Power of the Dog
Should have been nominated: Belfast
My personal pick: The Power of the Dog
Best Production Design:
Will win: Dune
Might upset: West Side Story
Should have been nominated: The Green Knight
My personal pick: The Tragedy of Macbeth
Best Costume Design:
Will win: Cruella
Might upset: Dune
Should have been nominated: House of Gucci and Licorice Pizza
My personal pick: Cruella
Best Makeup and Hairstyling:
Will win: The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Might upset: Dune or Coming 2 America
Should have been nominated: n/a
My personal pick: House of Gucci
Best Visual Effects:
Will win: Dune
Might upset: Spider-Man: No Way Home
Should have been nominated: n/a
My personal pick: Dune
Best Sound:
Will win: Dune
Might upset: No one.
Should have been nominated: n/a
My personal pick: Dune
THE BEST OF THE REST
Best Animated Short Film: Bestia
Best Documentary – Short Subject: When We Were Bullies
Best Live Action Short Film: The Long Goodbye