#112: My 2023 Oscar Hopes, Dreams, & Predictions

Buckle up!

Happy Oscars Weekend,

Award season comes to an end on Sunday with the 95th Academy Awards. I love the ceremony: The opening monologue, the musical numbers, the presenters awkwardly reading the teleprompter, all the glamor. I still get butterflies in the moments before the winner is announced.

The award carries weight. The artists want to win and it means a lot to them when they do. I love a heart-felt acceptance speech that is full of gratitude.

Typically, I only see about half of the best picture nominees, but this year I saw all but one!

Below are my rankings which are based on how much I enjoyed the film, then I list who I want to win (which isn’t always my favorite), and who I think will win.

What are your Academy Award hopes and predictions?

---

Best Picture

Note: Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to watch ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT. I hope to do a Source Material post on it in the future.

• What I Want to Win: Banshees of Inisherin. I can’t see it winning any of the other categories and it’s such a unique, sad, Irish film. I’d be shocked but delighted if it won.

• What I Think Will Win: Everything Everywhere All at Once. While this movie felt like a lot to take in at first, I’ve grown fonder of it as time passes. There are unforgettable emotional moments that hit close to home. It seems to be the heavy favorite to win and I’ll be glad if it does.

Adapted Screenplay

• Who I Want to Win and Who Will Win: Sarah Polley for Women Talking. With no directing nomination for Sarah Polley and a long shot for best picture, I think the writing award should go to this important film. The screenplay captured the spirit of the book (more to come in a future Source Material post).

Original Screenplay

• Who I Want to Win: Tar. Give Todd Field some love. The more I learn about his work on this movie, the more impressed I am. It’s a slow descent into madness as power and control slips away.

• Who I Think Will Win: Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Supporting Actress

• Who I Want to Win: Kerry Condon. She is so lovely, and her performance was touching and fiery in Banshees of Inisherin. I would love to hear her speech. Her BAFTA win gives me hope.

• Who I Think Will Win: Angela Bassett. I’d love to see her win too and it would be well deserved.

Supporting Actor

• Who I Want to Win and Who Will Win: Ke Huy Quan. This is a one-man race and I can’t wait to see him win. I’m hoping the camera catches a moment between him and Spielberg for a little Indiana Jones reunion.

Lead Actress

• Who I Want to Win: Michelle Yeoh. She is phenomenal.

• Who I Think Will Win: Cate Blanchett. This is one of the most difficult races because you can’t compare what these women did in their respective roles. It’s a toss-up but I had to commit.

Lead Actor

• Who I Want to Win: Colin Farrell. I’m noticing a pattern. Something about Banshees of Inisherin has stuck with me.

• Who I Think Will Win: Brendan Fraser. Austin Butler gave the performance of a lifetime with tons of energy, but I don’t think he’ll win!

Best Director

• Who I Want to Win: Steven Spielberg for The Fabelmans. I want to hear his acceptance speech for this movie. I adored the first half and thought the direction was flawless. The second half lost some steam.

• Who I Think Will Win: The Daniels for Everything Everywhere All at Once. I have a feeling the movie will win big all night.

Visual Effects

• What I Want to Win: Top Gun: Maverick. The seamless combination of digital and practical should be celebrated! The actors flew in real jets!

• What I Think Will Win: Avatar: The Way of Water. It felt real and immersive and there’s no way it doesn’t win.

Cinematography

• What I Want to Win: Top Gun: Maverick. Oh wait, it wasn’t nominated. This category is dead to me.

Sound

• What I Want to Win and What Will Win: Top Gun: Maverick. The visuals are impressive but what makes it believable is the sound that you feel down in your bone marrow.

Production Design

• What I Want to Win: Avatar: The Way of Water. I could not convince my brain that what I was seeing was made in a computer. It all felt real, whereas Elvis and The Fabelmans had that movie sheen of people playing dress up and living on sets and stages.

• What I Think Will Win: Babylon. I haven’t seen it, but I hear it’s the favorite.

Original Song

• What I Want to Win: Naatu Naatu from RRR. If this is not performed during the ceremony, I am boycotting. If it doesn’t win, I will roar, rise, and revolt.

• What I Think Will Win: Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Original Score

• Who I Want to Win: John Williams for The Fabelmans. He hasn’t won since 1994! We don’t know how much longer he’ll be around!

• Who I Think Will Win: Justin Hurwitz for Babylon. I suppose we don’t know how much longer he’ll be around either. I’ll be happy if either of them win.

Film Editing

• What I Want to Win and What Will Win: Everything Everywhere All at Once. I don’t think this is even close.

---

This post feels as long as the ceremony! I even left out several categories!

I’ll send you off with one more thing: David Ehrlich does truly incredible editing work and I’m insanely jealous of his talent. Check out his best of 2022 video, which is a nice tribute to the films of last year. The 3-minute Introduction is worth your time.

Have a great weekend, movie lovers.

Kyle